Mmmm Cuisine

The birth of Mmmm Cuisine has finally come. We are now proud owners of our first business. As of Thursday last week we got our license from the State of Washington. Website to come shortly.

Girls on the Run

Yestarday Nicole ran a fun run 5K for womens health. Enjoy the photos.Nuun super hero running team. Nicole is in the black and neon tights, and our friend ally is to the right. Mama and Buttas

What winter in Seattle does to a pug

Buttas misses the sun!!!!

Bainbridge Island

A few weeks back we got to finally visit Bainbridge Island. Its a short 35 minute ferry ride across Eliot Bay. Here are some photos.This is looking back at the city from the ferry.
Seattle Sea port with a very faint view of Mt. Rainer

View of West Seattle

Us with a view of the city.

Gnocchi the Walrus again!!!

So gnocchi had another reaction to something and got well just look at the photo. She's all better now. Our sensitive little pug.

Movember Update

Thanks to everyone that donated to our Movember team we raised $460.00. Movember is an annual, month-long celebration of the moustache, highlighting men's health issues - specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

Movember at last....

Now you see it..... Please donate money to our movember team!!!

Movember

So I have decided to join a global movement that is bringing much needed attention to cancers that affect men. I'm doing this by growing a Moustache this Movember, the month formerly known as November. The funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LIVESTRONG).

To make a donation, you can either: * Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/119441/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account , or

* Write a check payable to Movember Foundation, referencing my Registration Number 257 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726.

All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Prostate Cancer Foundation will use the money raised by Movember to fund research to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation will use the money raised by Movember to fund: * The LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance program which has the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for young adults with cancer between the ages of 15 and 40.

* Research initiatives to further understand the biology of adolescent and young adult cancers. For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used go to: http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/

Thank you for your support and check back every few days to see how the stache is growing.

Foraging

Last Monday I went foraging with a my banquet chef and his friend who is a sous chef for the Palace Ballroom. It was so much fun and rewarding to forage and hunt for your own food! We were just past Emunclaw near Yakima. I would love to give you directions but they were just shy of blindfolding me and sticking me in the trunk until we showed up to the "location". Here is a picture of what a Chantrelle mushroom looks like. I brought home about 15 lbs! Anyone want a mushroom?

Not only was it rewarding and fun it was scary as hell! I was lost in the Forest for about an hour and a half. No! I did not cry :)

5K Update.... I didn't die...

I finished the 5K in just about 29 minutes. It isn't a fantastic time but considering I have not worked out as much as I wanted to before hand, I am very happy! Below is a video of the 5K finish. I am the one who the white shirt around her waste. Isn't Darryl a great camera man?

5K Today!

Today I am going to run a 5k. Please think happy thoughts... this is my first 5K since 5th grade... updates to follow including pictures, times and hospital to send flowers too in the event.... well for the inevitable...

Wish me Luck!

Walk to Cure Diabetes!!!

Hey! My generous cousin Chrissy, you all may know her as one of the beautiful brides maids, is walking for yet another cause, it seems like only yesterday we were walking for hunger! This time Chrissy is walking to for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Her team (Kacie's Krusaders) has a goal of $1000. Lets all contribute to Chrissy's cause! The walk is October 3rd, 2009!!! Time to make a move...

Click the link below for Chrissy's personal page with her personal goal on it. Keep in mind that there is more then just personal goals, the Foundation is looking to raise $105 million to help fund research for a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications
http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87467719

Pumpkin Spice Latte Season!!!

Yes the leaves are turning... The air is cooling.... the sun comes up later.... It is point blank not as warm out as it was just a few weeks ago... Fall is in the air...
It is not official until Pumpkin Spice Lattes make their seasonal debut. Thank you Starbucks...
I encourage everyone to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is my favorite specialty coffee ever.
Sorry Dunkin Donuts.... If you could just penetrate the presence that Starbucks has made it Washington I would no doubt be blogging about you.
So everyone, raise your steamy mugs up to your chapped lips and rosie cheeks and enjoy the sweetest season there is, Pumpkin Spice Latte Season.

*** Please note that the Pumpkin Spice Latte in the picture is a custom blend for Nicole Bell, not all Spice Lattes are created with this precision. Tall Triple Non Fat Pumpkin Spice Latte No Whip

Nicole encounters Lovie Smith....

I know, I know... he is the anti packer.... But when the Bears are staying at my hotel you have to be nice to them. That and they are gigantic people.

So I bumped into Lovie while making sure the buffet looked good and trying not to be stepped on by football players by the elevators... I smiled at him and he said "how you doing miss?" I said "Fabulous!" He looked at me awkwardly and in my head all I heard was "don't mention the game... don't mention the game...don't mention the game...don't mention the game...don't mention the game..." so I said to him... "Big game today ehhh." He said .. "umm yeah".

Thanks God the elevator came!

Katie walks

So here is a link to YouTube where you can see a video of of favorite niece, Katie, learning to walk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BOAIXV5uFo&feature=player_embedded

Enjoy!

View from the roof top patio...

There will be very few evenings left that the view from the roof top will look this amazing. The cold, dark rainy season will be approaching soon. Off on the other side of the Puget Sound you can see the Olympic Mountian Range and the globe in the picture with the eagle a top it is the globe of the "fallen" Seattle PI News Paper. I wish that was my boat out there.... It was a perfect evening...

Happy Belated Birthday Ma Pienta!

Happy Birthday mom!

Don't feel bad everybodies birthday is belated on our blog... that is just how we roll... You will learn that.

Buttas birthday wish is that getting old smells like this.... God she is a gross little dog....

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Belated Bithday Nathan!

Nathan is my wonderful cousin Chrissie and her husband Robs beautiful little man. He is a whole year older.... and I am late for it, like all the other birthday posts that I posted this year. This is a picture from forth of July weekend back in bean town. Darryl and the Nate-Dog.

Happy Birthday Nate-Dog!!!

The great Pug Vacation at La Casa del Wolf

While we were on the Islands the pugs spent some quality time at La Cases Del Wolf. Here are some pictures and brief commentary...

Gnocchi: First we were very sad, where is momma?

Buttas: Then we got to play dress up! Gnocchi's harness is HUGE on me!

Pugs: Then we got to play with our friend Shakespeare.

Buttas: Look I can chew too!

Shakes: Hey! Gimmie that back!

Gnocchi: Bath time! Buttas, you first, then Doug's head...Gnocchi: I think Doug likes this! Wash. Rinse. Repeat!Gnocchi: Don't play coy with me! I know you like it!

Thanks Deb and Doug! We know they had a great time and were taken great care of!

Thanks, Shakes for sharing your toys!

Hawaii August 2009

Check out the Photos from our trip!

Hawaii August 2009

Gnocchi the Walrus????

Poor Gnocchi went to the vet today and had an allergic reaction to one of the shots they gave her. When Darryl brought her home her little face looked all puffy, swollen and red and she was also trying to itch it off... Poor little walrus look-a-like.... She is giving Caleb a run for his money.

In case you are concerned we brought her back to the vet and they gave her benadryl and some shot and her face swelling is going down. Poor little Diva pug.

Someone is 31!

Happy 31st Birthday, Darryl!

Happy Birthday Babe! You are as young as the woman you married... :)
Thats right.... I went there!

HAWAII

We had the honor to travel to Hawaii to attend the Wedding of Aaron and Myra Nakama. While we were there for that we decided to take some much needed time to spend with family, friends and then some time just the two of us.

The two of us at North Beach on Oahu
Sunset at Germaines Luau, Oahu

Cyndy (Ma Bell) and Judy (Ma Jegl) at Waimao Beach, Oahu

Remember Gilligan's Island? This is the China Mans Cap they show during the opening song.

A photo link to follow.....

Caleb the Walrus.....

So once upon a time there was a pug named Caleb who was loved by a Canadian woman (my mother) who loved through food... Because she loved through food Caleb transformed into a Walrus...

He is the same age as Gnocchi.... seriously, they have the same mom!!! Look at Gnocchis picture!

Back to Caleb......

Mooooo..... I mean ...... argh? No that is a pirate...... well, you get the picture....

Whatever noise a walrus makes, he is making that right now!

Happy 50th Birthday Dad! ahum.... another belated birthday...

So my dads birthday is July 17th. Think of it like a St. Patrick's Day celebration in July.... I think that is how he looks at it :).

Darryl and I flew to Boston 4th of July weekend to surprise my dad for his birthday. On the 4th our family threw him a surprise party.

This picture was taken after Darryl and I showed up at the Red Sox Game (which, ironically, they were playing the Mariners.... Fun... Oh and the Damn Mariners won.... FML) to surprise him. Thankfully for my incredible brother, David, we were able to pull this off. Thanks David. Oh, and sorry about Davids finger, I think he sprained it and it is stuck up. Either way it was the only non blurry picture from the game.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!! ahum.... belated that is.

On July 1st was our gorgeous little nieces first birthday. Unfortunately we got caught up in life and haven't blogged for a bit. Here is a picture of our little gem.

This is Katie and her fabulous dad on the beach. You can see more pictures of Katie growing up and learn more about the Northern Bells at http://northernbells.blogspot.com/.

Happy Birthday and we miss you, Katie!

Love Uncle Darryl and Auntie Nicky

An August hike hiked too soon....

We went hiking with some friends from our building, Gary, Nick, Grant and John.. oh yeah, and 2 pugs and an awesome Calhoun named Louie... We set out to hike to Rachael lake in the Cascade Mountain Range and we were unable to make it to the lake because of the time of year, the size of the rivers we needed to cross and the snow we had to truck through. All in all it was a gorgeous hike, the pugs made it nearly 3 miles before needing to be carried and no one was eaten by a bear. Successful hike if you ask me. Who would even think of bringing pugs on a difficult hike you might ask. Well those people who are smitten with their little boogies. Here are some photos from our trip.This is near the beginning of the hike, do you see that gorgeous waterfall??? I heard it is suppose to be tiny... damn melting snow!

There is the waterfall I was talking about...

Darryl and Nick... The beginning of the end....

So we momentarily went in the wrong direction. Gnocchi decided she was no longer going to walk and was happy sitting on this rather large rock. I don't blame her, there is no snow there.

My feet are so cold.... yet my body is sweating..... Poor Buttas was confused... yet again...

It was like 75 degrees outside and the snow was not going anywhere.
Is that Dr. Evil and Mini Me?!?

Nah! Just kidding, that is Darryl and our friend Gary. How sweet are these guys? They look like twins carrying the lazy pugs. In the pugs defense they hiked quite a bit for city dogs.

And for those of you who are wondering and i know you are wondering... Gary is single.... Just an FYI.

This is Louis McDougalfie, Gary's Dog and the pugs boy friend. This is the most well behaved dog I think we have ever met. Oh! And he deals with the pugs too!

US.

It was a two day hike. Needless to say the pugs were not so keen on hiking out. This is me and Gnocchi in the "front pug loader". Oh to be a mother :)