This is Gas Works Park, and I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it. Right on Lake Union, old coal gasification plants (which reminds me of Howl's Moving Castle, or some sort of foreign land found in Hayao Miyazaki's films), beautiful landscaping designed by architect Richard Haag, the view of downtown Seattle across the water is amazing. I love the zigzag pathways, green grass, and the benches. I could probably spend all day here, taking photos. So glad my mom and I decided to make a pit stop here. If I had a car, I'd be visiting here weekly (probably after the Fremont Flea Market). Just beware of the dog poop, it seemed to be everywhere! Seriously dog owners, don't be lazy.

On another note, only 11 days til Christmas! It's my favorite holiday, I wish I could last all year round. I just watched the Glee Christmas episode, and it hit me as I watched Rory and Sam talk about being away from their families, that this will be my first Christmas away from home. SURE I've pretty much worked EVERY Christmas since 2003 (thank you Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Honolulu Advertiser and Billabong Waikiki), but I always came home to a hot meal and my family, and I'd at least used to be able to spend the morning opening presents with them. Except one year I remember working Christmas Eve night (probably at the newspaper) and then opening Christmas morning at the Bong, opening presents at the Citron house with Priya. Last year I came home to lobster and steak cooked by my sister, and was watching Return of the Jedi. What will I do this year with Wayne? We have been invited to spend it with my cousin Chiemi, Odessa, and Oveena and their families in Bremerton. But after watching glee, I thought it would be nice volunteering at a food bank or somewhere where they provide meals for the homeless or less fortunate. I've googled a few places, but I can't seem to find any open on Christmas. I'm gonna keep searching... wish me luck.

On Mom's last Sunday here, we visited the Fremont Sunday Market. It was filled with a ton of vintage finds, great street food, and locally made products. I found a great mirrored tray for my jewelry for only $5. There was a lot of old furniture there, real antiquey pieces that I wished I had found before I buying my entire room from iKea. If you do go, I highly recommend eating the naan bread. It is made fresh to order, and it is amazing. You can order it with Indian food, but since I don't Indian, I just wanted the naan.

Ala Moana Center, Christmas 2010, with my favorite ladies

Saw this on Tiera's blog and being a Christmas lover, I decided to give it a whirl.

1, Egg nog or hot chocolate? Apple Cider! I do love that Starbs start selling the salted caramel hot chocolate tho.

2, Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped, and sometimes you can tell when he got lazy and just put in a gift bag.

3, Colored or white lights on the tree/house? My family does colored, and sometimes my dad uses the moving kind, oh we fancy, huh.  Our little tree has white, we went with a red and silver theme.

4, Do you hang mistletoe? I ALWAYS hang mistletoe, and I keep it up ALL year long, you never know when it comes in handy. I find it quite charming. 

5, When do you put up your decorations? Right after Thanksgiving. Currently missing the Citron house decorations (our stockings lined over the bar, the wreath the Anna stole from somewhere, the singing snowman, the homemade ornaments, Priya's tinsel).

6, What is your favorite holiday dish? My grandma's candied yams! Then all of our traditional New Years decorations.

7, Favorite holiday memory as a child? We used to always do the same thing for years... wake up, wash up (my parents make us get ready before opening presents, lame right), present opening, go to grammsy's house for breakfast and have her and gramps open their gifts (while listening to either Na Leo or Yanni Christmas Albums), come back home watch Star Wars (it usually was on during the holidays), then head over to my Aunty Dee-Dee's house for Christmas dinner. We haven't done this in a good 8 years sadly.

8, When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm a smart girl, I kinda figured it out, especially when my parents suggest we leave out beef jerky, instead of cookies.

9, Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? NO WAY, my family is totally against opening gifts early.

10, How do you decorate your Christmas tree? My mom is a Hallmark ornament collector, we put our favorites and new ones that we bought this season (we're putting up an awesome Harry Potter one this year, I have my The Office ornaments too!). The Citron tree was always covered with an assortment of handmade and store bought ornaments Priya and my mom would donate, I also would buy Hello Kitty or Sanrio ornaments. Here in Seattle, I bought cute little ornaments from iKea and Target, our centerpiece ornament is a glee ornament I found at Target. 

11, Snow! Love it or dread it? I have mixed feelings, I'm sure I'll hate it the day it screws me over as I try to get to work ON TIME.

12, Can you ice skate? Heck yes, Ice Palace whaaaat.

13, Do you remember your favorite gift? My iPod touch was pretty sweet, I'd been wanting one for a long long time. Also seeing my skateboard under the tree in high school. 

14, What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Family and friends.

15, What is your favorite holiday dessert. Anything my sister makes, also lately my cousin Keola has been bringing Otto Cake to our family functions, how can you not love some Otto Cake.

16, What is your favorite holiday tradition? Driving up the street or through downtown to look at lights on houses.

17, What tops your tree? An Angel.

18, Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I love giving gifts!!!!!! I love love love shopping for people.

19, Cande canes: Yum or yuck? I love candy canes.

20, Favorite Christmas show? Hands down: A Charlie Brown Christmas Special.

21, Saddest Christmas song? Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles. Oh and Christmases When You Were Mine by Taylor Swift (song was on repeat last year hard core).

22, Favorite Christmas song? See list below:

1. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - 'N Sync (ok really the whole 'N Sync Christmas album)
2. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah
3. This Christmas - Chris Breezy
4. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
5. Last Christmas - Glee Version
6. Christmastime in Hollis - Run DMC
7. The Chipmunk Song - Alvin and the Chipmunks
8. And So This Is Christmas - John Lennon
9. Christmastime is Here - The Vince Guaraldi Trio
10. Mele Kalikimaka - Reel Big Fish
11. I Wont Be Home for Christmas - Blink-182
12. My Only Wish (This Year) - Britney Spears
13. Hey Santa - Wilson Phillips
14. It Must've Been Ol' Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.

Hair is finally long enough for a fishtail braid! I feel like I've been trying to grow out my hair for over a year!!!

Century Link Field

Brains vs. Muscle.

Some photos from last month's highlights... didn't realize I forgot to post these. Wayne's first soccer game and Halloween at Kona Kitchen. I was Hermione, Wayne was a kid pretending to be Superman. People don't dress as slutty up here, I think it has to do with the weather.

When my mom came to visit last week, we road tripped it down to Portland. We had one goal... shop, SHOP our little wallets out. With no sales tax (seriously EVERY state should have no sales tax), we headed to the Woodburn Outlets because they had a The North Face store! When I was in Hawaii I'd see all the mainland kids with North Face backpacks, and think, North Face, never heard of it, is it big or something?!? Moving here, I learned just how essential AND expensive North Face is. Everyday at work, I'd pass our sportswear department and longingly gaze at the down and weather proof North Face jackets. I just started working, there is no way I could afford one, even with discount! Unfortunately tho I left both of my debit cards and ID at home, thank goodness I had my credit card. We were able to find a nice North Face down jacket, an amazing Nike 6.0 raincoat, and a few pairs of roxy jeans. I also scored some good accessories too. We got both jackets for under $200! Amazing right? I was in shopping heaven, until we headed back into Portland and hit up Lloyd Center. Now I haven't been to Lloyd Center in 6+ years, and it wasn't how I remember it. I remember this great big mall, hustling and bustling with great stores, the ice rink in the middle. But when we went, it was kind of... well how do I put this politely... ghetto. It was worse than Pearlridge, and it was empty, lots of stores had closed down. and it seemed smaller. I told my mom I think it's because Ala Moana expanded, my mall standards are too high. So far my favorite malls/shopping areas I adore are (in order): 1, South Coast Plaza. 2, Fashion Show Mall. 3, Ala Moana. 4, Walnut Creek. 5, Soho. 6, Irvine Spectrum.

Thank goodness for facebook status updates, because my friend Kaliko commented on my Portland update and reminded me to hit up Voodoo Donut. I had seen the donut joint many, many, many times on The Food Network and Travel Channel, and me being a donut lover I had to try it out. I had the Maple Bacon Bar, and yes it did live up to the hype. There were so many interesting flavors, I'll have to go back soon for a visit!

A few photos from Sunday's field trip to Fremont and Gasworks Park. More to come later, as my mom visited for over a week :) and I was able to get some good field trips in with her. The holidays are coming up fast, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, soon it will be 2012. Where did 2011 go. I noticed I didn't blog much, too busy trying make the most out of every minute of life.
Weather has been sucky lately, but I've noticed if it rains it's not as cold as when it isn't raining. I've been contemplating taking a photography class in the spring. I wonder if UW has an outreach college like at UH. haha. The best thing about the weather is wearing all the nice fall clothes - boots, sweaters, tights, knee socks. I love it.
Work is busy busy busy. Who knew department store/mall working is more tiring than supervising a buncha monkeys at billabong.