a little off topic...

who doesn't a good moustache?

I have had a big surprise up my sleeve for the last few months.  Anyone who knows me, knows I can't keep secrets, so it was a big deal to keep my big trap shut for so long.  Back in April I contacted Bryce from  White Moustache to schedule an eating tour through the city.  Really, it was a dream come true.  We would get picked up in his fancy grub wagon, chauffeured around the city to some of the best Seattle eateries, and dropped back off at our house.  No cabs, no searching for parking, a tour, drinks, food, included in the price--just don't forget to tip your guide!  For two busy parents, who don't travel far outside our bubble in Ballard, I was more than excited for the big day to arrive.

Back to the secret keeping.  I didn't tell Dale what was going on.  I set alarms throughout the day telling Dale to stop eating, take a shower, be at the front door etc.  He knows Bryce from White Moustache so when doorbell rang, Dale was quite confused. SURPRISE!!!

somewhere on our journey

So we loaded up and set on out on our eating tour of Seattle.  It was as much of a surprise for me as it was for Dale.  I had no idea where we were being carted off to. We have lived in Seattle for 8 years and Bryce was sharing some incredible hidden stories about Seattle that made me feel like a visitor.

Our first stop was a quick run into The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Co downtown for some pancake and bacon cupcakes.  Let me just say, if Dale and I were ever to have another wedding, this would be our cake.  Sweet, savory, candied bacon, Italian buttercream frosting.  TO DIE FOR.

candied bacon, maple italian buttercream frosting, yum

We headed up the hill, to Capital Hill's Skillet Diner.  Immediately, we were introduced to some awesome people and seated in a cozy booth.  While Bryce told us about the beginnings of Skillet in an airstream truck, we started in on our first course: pork belly sliders paired with a sturdy cocktail named "toronto". O.M.G.  The house infused maple syrup, the cheese sauce, the pork belly, it all melted in your mouth. For our second course, we were given an angry corndog and a spicy margarita made with house infused jalepeno tequila. Another goldmine.  The flavors were spot on and not too spicy but a good preparation for our next stop.

what's left of the toronto, sturdy and flavorful

We loaded up and headed through the underbelly of Seattle.  We journeyed along Ranier Ave S, crossing through the Central District and Judkins Park into popular Columbia City.  Bryce wowed us with his knowledge of Seattle and its dark history and old jazz scene.  Our next stop, Island Soul , was a highlight of the night.  We were given a house made cocktail called a "jaspura" made with cucumber, mint, chartreuse, st. germain, cachaca and a float of sparkling wine. It was cool and refreshing and a perfect pair for our spicy jerk chicken, seafood fritters, and tostones. The tostones were prepared perfectly, light and salty.  Of course, Bryce gave us the inspiration to dip our coconut corn muffins into the jerk chicken sauce.  I think I am in love with Caribbean food.  Holy hell it was sinfully delicious.

tostones: aka the world's best fried plaintains

At one point, I looked across the table and Dale was smiling like a king.  He had forgotten all his worries, shed off his stress and anxiety, and was content.  After two years of working hard, long hours at a job that is never done, he was in paradise.  The night could have ended here and it would have been perfect.  But Bryce had bigger plans.

hot sauce fit for a king

We hoped in the car and drove across to White Center.  I think most Seattleites either choose to ignore White Center or simply don't know it exists.  I came across White Center last summer during some teaching experiences and was enlivened by the rich culture and diversity.  I was impressed with the commitment to community that some have made. Our stop at Proletariat Pizza proved just how committed this community is with their "White Center Monday" deal: bring in any receipt from a White Center business and receive $5 off. Alas, I digress.  The pizza we had was like breakfast for dinner: coppa ham with soft baked eggs, cheese, and peppery arugula all paired with a flavorful Schooner Exact Ale-liance IPA.  As if this wasn't enough, we hopped across the street to Full Tilt Ice Cream to savor some Vietnamese Mint Ice Cream that was a creamy red-hot ice cream which helped all our previous eating experiences digest.

 coppa & egg pizza with delicious IPA

Bryce wanted to end our night on a classy note.  So we headed to Cantinetta in Wallingford. We were greeted by a friendly faces, a warm and cozy banquet style table, and lace curtains that reminded me of my grandmother's vintage dining room.  We were quickly given a glass of Rubio Tuscana red wine and a bowl of house-made wild boar tortellini in a parmesan brodo. The pasta was expertly made, sealed perfectly, and both savory and light. Dale and I savored every last bite, holding hands with happiness and fullness.  For our final dessert of the night, we had some Nutella filled zeppole served with creme fraiche. I am a desert-whore but I would commit myself to these tasty nutella filled gems.  I told Dale I might need to get pregnant again, just so I can eat them guilt-free every day.  They were warm, gooey, and the perfect way to end the night.

happy (full) bellies can't hide behind white moustaches

4 hours, 6 stops, 3 desserts, 5 drinks, and 7 dishes later we found ourselves saying good-bye.  It was kind of hard to say good-bye. I couldn't decide if I wanted to hug Bryce or take him inside for coffee and more stories.  Bryce is hilarious, knowledgeable, and passionate about his job.  Back in April I told him I wanted to "wow" Dale and he over-exceeded my expectations.  Bryce knows people. Without communicating with Dale, Bryce hit every "bucket list" item that Dale has mentioned to me over the past few months: Caribbean food, big corn dog, tortellini, ham & egg pizza.  Dale and I couldn't stop eating, it was all delicious.  We were able to relax, really relax, knowing everything from parking to ordering was taken care of.

headed to White Center, way outside our "bubble"

Along the way we had great conversation.  We shared our inspirations, dreams, goals.  Bryce encouraged us, complimenting Dale's talent, my photography business, our love for each other.  Not only did we have a great eating tour of Seattle but I think we made a great friend a long the way.

Of course, I have one question. Bryce said that our tour was a play on the "glorious gastro" which meant less food than the other tours as drinks were paired into the mix.  I don't know about you, but 7 dishes and 3 desserts was a lot of food!  I might need to wear some sweatpants and fast for two days before going on a different tour!

sunset from the grub wagon

What else is left to say? Those in Seattle, local or visiting, I HIGHLY suggest you look into White Moustache Tours.  Whether it is a date or large group, you will be spoiled with a unique and delicious food tour through Seattle...just leave the skinny jeans at home.


If you do book a tour, tell 'em I sent you. And because I love supporting unique small businesses, be a gem and like some of these places on Facebook!

White Moustache--https://www.facebook.com/whitemoustache
The Yellow Cupcake Co--https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Yellow-Leaf-Cupcake-Co/125941704138577?ref=ts
Skillet Diner--https://www.facebook.com/SkilletStreetFood
Island Soul Restaurant---https://www.facebook.com/pages/Island-Soul-Restaurant/135118209750?ref=ts
Proletariat Pizza--https://www.facebook.com/pages/Proletariat-Pizza/157664661453
Full Tilt Ice Cream--https://www.facebook.com/fulltilticecreams
Cantinetta--https://www.facebook.com/CantinettaSeattle

the boys loved our souvenirs 

Dads & Grads Giveaway!!!

So, who tell me, why are you proud of a dad or grad in your life?

florida vacation {Seattle Family Photographer}

We got back late on Tuesday from our first family vacation.  It was the first time Dale and I have ever flown together with the kids---as expected it was WAY easier than my usual haul of two kids, a stroller, and carseats BY MYSELF.  We had such a wonderful time and shared so many firsts as a family.  The weather was warm, the company wonderful, and we really had time to relax.

Kannon and Clark had been looking forward to our airplane ride for weeks.  They were so excited to see the airplanes and kept telling everyone "we are going on an airplane."  Clark was a little nervous during take-off but he soon passed out for the remainder of the flight.  Kannon on the otherhand enjoyed playing with his cars and watching us soar through the clouds.

We stayed with my aunt and uncle and their adorable furball, Duncan.  Trust me, there is nothing better than sitting on their porch, drinking beer, and catching up while watching a thunderstorm.  We spent 7 nights doing this, but I could happily spend my life doing this.  Family is so paramount.

Clearly, the kids enjoyed their time here.

We went on an airboat ride.  Both Kannon and Clark enjoyed the experience and kept pointing out alligators and birds.  While it was thrilling, their were moments of discomfort and white knuckles as we soared through the everglades. 

Both Dale and I got to hold an alligator.  The skin was soft and really this guy was quite the cutie.  The boys both enjoyed touching the alligator tail before finding a giant pig (more about that later).

We went to Cocoa Beach and dipped our feet in the warm Atlantic ocean.  I could have stayed in that bathwater warm ocean for hours.  The sand was soft, the breeze cool, and watching the kids chase waves was heaven.  Kannon LOVED the waves and was ready to march in by himself before my aunt stopped him!  Clark preferred burying himself in sand.  

On Mother's Day, we took another boat ride, a much calmer pontoon boat, through Winter Park, Fl.  It cruised through the canals and lakes narrating the history of the area and the HUMONGOUS beachfront homes.  The boys loved the floating through the canals--it was an oasis.

I took so many pictures on the trip that Kannon finally got the hang of "smile".  His first few attempts were a little wonky as he tried to force a smile, but his final attempt was pretty darn adorable. Cute.

Winter Park, FL is probably one of my more favorite little towns in the world.  It sits just outside Orlando and is home to Rollins College.  The streets are pebblestone and lined with patio cafes, wine bars, vintage candy stores, ice cream shops, and more.  On Mother's Day, everyone (and their mom, lol) were out walking.  We watched the train go by.  We sat at the park and played in the fountain.  We topped it all off with a nice seat at a wine bar, called Diva, and met the NICEST server we have ever met.  Dale wanted to hire her for Revel.  

We went to Epcot Center at DisneyWorld.  This was a true highlight of the trip! We debated over which park to go to but settled on Epcot because it seemed to be better for the kids age group and our interests in the World Showcase.  It was perfect.  We enjoyed tame, educational rides that had the boys begging for more.  Their favorite was the Nemo ride where we rode through a little aquarium with project images from Finding Nemo.  We ate lunch at the Coral Reef Cafe and had front row seating right next to the aquarium.  The boys devoured their pizza while sharks and turtles swam by.  

They fell asleep in the stroller giving Dale and I a chance to laze around the World Showcase sampling beer from every country.  Morocco, Japan, and the UK were our favorites.  

We spent our last hours sipping beer and smelling the sweet gardenias in my aunt's yard.  Oh, it was so hard to leave.  The boys said goodbye to every single lizard that they saw before we headed to the airport.

There was a thunderstorm approaching so we sat on the runway waiting with 12 other planes to take off.  For 40 minutes Dale and I contemplated ways to runaway from our responsibilities and just live in Florida.  After we finally took off, the boys fell asleep and I began to excited about returning home.  I was relieved to have two feet on the ground and be back to sleeping in my bed.  

Overall, the vacation was wonderful.  We will have so many memories to share and we can't wait to plan our next family vacation.  The boys are still having a rough time adjusting back, but they were overjoyed to see our dog, Emma, spring through their bedroom door in the morning.  It is back to work.  Dale is back to his 6 days a week, working doubles, and I have jillions of photos to edit from our trip, and two newborn sessions this weekend.  How quickly it must all end? 

Ferry Fun {Seattle Family Photographer}

By the time you read this I will be traveling with my family across the country to Florida.  Back in January we booked tickets to Orlando to visit my aunt and uncle and we have been anxiously counting down the days.  Well, the day has finally come and hopefully all will go well.  We will be traveling with a 1 1/2 year old, a 2 1/2 year old and two- 4 hour flight segments.  Oh, geez!!I will be sure to post photos when we come back!

Speaking of travel, in March, we went to San Juan island to visit family and I am just now getting around to uploading our photos. We had a smooth, casual trip boarding a ferry on a beautiful Pacific Northwest day.  The boys loved walking on the beach, collecting rocks, and throwing sticks for Emma.  We had a wonderful time and will hopefully go back soon!

{Sneak Peak} Sarah & Enrique

My cousin planned a wedding in a week and chose me as her photographer.  I was more than excited to jump a plane with my kids, best friend (and second shooter), to watch Sarah & Enrique exchange nuptials.  The wedding was beautiful, even with stormy clouds that missed the outdoor ceremony by 10 minutes.  We celebrated the two with plenty of cake and champagne watching the rain fall in sheets.  I still have a lot of photos to edit but I couldn't hide these few.  What a joy!  Congrats Sarah & Enrique!

Staci Devlin Designs {Seattle Photographer}

I met Staci, a sweet lady who frequents Revel, today for a photoshoot of her amazing jewelry, from Staci Devlin Designs.  I will admit it was hard to stay focused when all I could do was dream about how awesome her jewelry would pair with my dress, shoes, and everything else in between.  It was so fun to be creative with her creations.  I cant wait to do it again!

Happy Easter {Seattle Photographer}

From the words of my kid's touch and feel Easter book:

"Easter is a joyful time, of love, and life, and Spring. 

Wish your friends and neighbors, Happy Easter everyone!!!"

And so we celebrate: love, life, and Spring.

We decorated eggs using natural dyes, like spinach, blueberry, and turmeric.

We used rubber bands and crayons to make them stripy and wonderful.

We had little helpers carefully drop eggs into our lucious dyes. 

We waited and waited and were surprised with how beautiful our little eggs turned out.

And finally, Easter arrived.  We shared our baskets, excited and grateful for friends and family. 

And we stared at our pretty little eggs.

Island Life

These are a bit over due.  I have been spectacularly busy since our return from California and haven't made time to edit and upload photos.  Sorry. 

We went to San Juan Island last week and had a fabulous, albeit snowy time!  We drove to the ferry in snow-covered, unplowed roads and really debated staying another day.  As it turns, our timing was perfect as San Juan and the rest of Western Washington continued to get snow dumps, wind, and bone-chilling temperatures.  Here is a sneak peak of some of our pics.  More to come!

{Seattle Family Children Maternity Babies Photographer} Holiday Mini-Sessions!

It is not too late to get those family photos in time for Christmas cards!  

Book a mini-session between 

October 15-November 15 

and 

I will waive the session fee and include a complimentary 8x10 print

For more information please contact Kat at 

happymamaphotography@gmail.com

or at 206.257.0514

Fall Changes

After a lovely summer in Coeur d'Alene, ID relaxing and photographing so many beautiful people, places, and things I am happy to announce that Happy Mama Photography is heading back to Seattle beginning 

September 1.   

I will be offering a welcome back fall discount and waiving all session fees. 

Contact me to book your session today!