Making amends with the Red Balloon Co.

When I first heard that a big old chain like Red Balloon Company was taking over my beloved Rainbow Grocery space, I was pretty bummed in that "There goes the neighborhood" kind of way. I LOVE my neighborhood. It is our little happy corner of a big city that still has the good parts of the small town vibe.
With more bars opening and condo developments tearing down other hipster hangouts further down the hill, it is slowly losing some of it's charm. Parking is getting harder to come by, and at Beer'O'Clock you get more and more drunken weirdos howling at the moon. But, for the most part, it is still full of friendly familiar faces and one of the coolest video stores in the city. So, not all is lost.
My tune has changed about the Red Balloon. I will admit, I spent most of the last year pretending it wasn't there. I have walked past it and not allowed myself to be tempted by the curious looking gag gifts and colorful children's toys. I just stuck my nose in the air and walked on by. In my head it was a show of solidarity for the good old Rainbow and all of the friendly faces that used to work there. I loved them, dreads, wheatgrass and all. I mean, where am I supposed to get my fresh squeezed Apple and Beet juice now?!?
About a week ago, a million things all went wrong at the same time and I found myself in a horrible position. I was hosting a birthday party and I still had not purchased anything that needed to be purchased before said party. I had no time to make the trek out to any of my next closest options, I had to make due in my own neighborhood. At first I was going store to store. I actually had completely forgotten Red Balloon was even there.
I was coming up empty and getting desperate, then I remembered the cool little shop that carries neat little Mexican imports on 15th. I thought it could not hurt to try.
On my way there, I realized I had completely overlooked the most obvious place, the big giant party store right under my nose! The Red Balloon Co!! I was desperate and I was running out of time. It was a very now or never moment.
I went through the giant glass doors with big cheery balloon bunches bookending them . I had already convinced myself that they would only have things for kid's parties or else it would all be extremely over priced. The more I looked around it became clear to me that this was not the case. The store was full of things for people of every age, and shockingly it was all very reasonably priced! I managed to get everything I needed and then some! I even spent about $20 less than I thought I was going to!
So, I am officially a Red Balloon convert. I know it is late coming, but welcome to the neighborhood. I'm glad to have you. (Now if you would just start serving freshly squeezed apple and beet juice we'd be 100% square.)

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons
With the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message
"Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by

Please send get well wishes...

In the first 20 seconds of this video (The Posies- Conversations) there is a man with a white beard who is "Talking to God" and Jon hands him a cell phone. He is actually our good friend and neighbor, Buck. I've lived in my neighborhood since 1997 and every day I pass Buck when I am walking home or going to the store. He is always out shopping, or getting coffee, or visiting with neighbors and always has a kind word and stops to chat. He is well loved and a great neighbor! Practically a local celebrity! I've never heard him say a bad word against anyone. I think he is a really cool human being.

He has been really sick and in ICU for over a month now. I'm super worried about him. They say he is getting better, and everything he has going on are things he should recover from, but it is just a matter of him keeping his spirits up and them getting ahead of the thing ailing him.
My idea is to have people from all over send a post card wishing him well. I think getting post cards from all over the world would REALLY lift his spirits. He is such a good guy, I think he would be so tickled.

If you are interested, you can send the postcards to me and I will collect them over the next two weeks and send them all to him in a big bundle and flowers. I think it would be a wonderful surprise for him!

If you are interested in participating, you can send the cards to my office:
The Stranger
ATT: Michelle Auer
1535 11th Ave 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98122


Feel free to link this or repost if you think you might have a FL that is interested! Thanks!

January 10th, 2008 - Boom, Boom, Boom...

Today I tried out the new neighborhood noodle joint, Boom Noodle. It was yummy!

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!!!

Today is our very first snow day! Bree, Darian and I were at Smith trying out their new Brunch menu for the very first time (I will get to that in a minute) when the snow started to fall. At first it was a surprising light sprinkle, but by the time we payed the bill, it was a full on blizzard! (OK, I might be exaggerating a tad, but it was coming down pretty fast, and sticking!)

We had plans today, but having dealt with Seattle drivers on snow days we cancelled them right away and decided to do "at home" stuff today.

As for brunch at Smith; the place was empty, it took forever to get our food, the menu choices were strange and there were no basic breakfast option (ie. Eggs, toast, pancakes) Just a lot of weird stuff wrapped in stuff. The closest was steak and eggs, making it not too kid friendly.
When I got my food, after waiting for almost 30 minutes, it was ice cold.
But, the waiter was super nice! He was everything you would want in a waiter, polite, funny, attentive.
So yes, if they improve the menu I will be back just on the good the customer service, but for now, we will probably stick to 22 Doors (Which have been hit and miss as well) or else Coastal Kitchen (Who always have a loooong wait on the weekends.)

Since it was snowing and I had some over ripe bananas on hand I decided to make this easy banana bread!
The only thing I changed in the recipe was that I added about a tsp of cinnamon and a 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder to lighten it up. It worked like a charm!
It has a very light smooth taste to it. I personally prefer my breads with a smooth texture but this recipe would lend well to add ins. I bet dried fruits like cherries or cranberries, nuts or even chocolate chips would be good in this one!
The other thing I liked is that I didn't have to go to the store. This is all pretty common stuff to have on hand and it takes very little effort to make. So, the next time you have three bananas that have gone past their prime on hand, I suggest you make this bread instead of throwing them away.
As an added bonus, it fills the house with the amazing scent of baked banana bread. It smells like Christmas!

EASY BANANA BREAD

3 bananas, well mashed
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 c. flour (1 c. can be whole wheat)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas in mixing bowl. Add sugar, eggs and oil, mixing well each time. Sift dry ingredients together and add to banana mixture. Pour in greased 5x9 loaf pan and bake 55-60 minutes.

SEATTLE: Give something up and give something back!

Do something good.
The other night, when my daughter and I were at The QFC I noticed that they have the pre-packed holiday donation bags out on the shelves again.
I grabbed a $10 bag and threw it on my cart without a second thought.

Darian looked at me and asked, "What is that, Mom?"
"Oh, well, these bags have food in them and when we buy a bag it gets donated to a homeless shelter or a food bank." I explained
"What does it have in it?" she asked
"Well, probably canned goods and non-perishable items. You know, stuff that can last without being refrigerated, but is still nutritious."
"Wow, that is really cool, Mom. I hope everyone does this! It seems so easy!"
"I'm sure everyone does, they have $5 and $10 bags, people spend that on coffee in a day!"

Then we got to the checkout and we purchased our groceries and our bag and Darian grabbed the bag excited to turn in our donation.
The checker pointed at the large barrels at the front of the store and she skipped over to it to put the bag in. When she got to the barrel she stopped and looked at me with a look of confusion.
"Mom, it is empty." she said flatly
I walked over to her and looked in the barrel. She was right, there were two bags in there and one of them was the one we just donated. While, on the other hand, the store is bustling with people and we are at a store that is on the edge of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Seattle.
I asked if they had just been emptied. The checker said, "No."

As we were walking home, Darian and I got to talking about why I donate. I explained to her that when she was just a brand new baby I didn't have a lot. And when I moved to Seattle to go to school, she and I were really on our own in the new city and sometimes we really had to rely on the kindness of friends and strangers. I'm lucky, because I have a family that will always be there for me if I need them, I just try not to lean on them unless absolutely necessary. So, when I was on my own in a new city with a small child and not a relative in sight, it meant that I had to turn to outside assistance a few times in those first years. And because of those organizations, I was able to find safe daycare and go to school and make the very good life that I have now.

Darian then asked me why people didn't just give up their Lattes or cigarettes for one day and buy a bag of food. If everyone did that, they would fly through those bags.
And you know what? She is right!

Why don't we give up some $5-10 daily comfort habit for one day and use that money to purchase one of these bags?

See, when I was originally purchasing the bag, I just threw it into my cart without saying anything and had my inquisitive daughter not asked me about it, I might have purchased it and never thought about it again. I'm glad she asked questions, because it opened a dialogue and made her feel like she was a part of the giving process.
If you give something up, that you are used to having, for that one day you will be reminded of why you are giving it up and it will give you an opportunity to reflect on your life and community and how blessed you are to have the option of having comfort items in your life. For some people, good food is a comfort item!

Also, I asked the store manager, and he told me that when you buy one of these bags, that donation stays in your neighborhood! It goes to the closest food bank or mission to that store! So, you will be giving directly to your neighbors! That has to make you feel good!

So, between now and Dec 31st, I challenge you:
Give something up and give something back!

Here is the blurb about the program that is on the http://www.foodlifeline.org website (The people in charge of this)
Nov. 1, 2007 -Dec. 31, 2007

Share Your Feast this Holiday Season
Share Your Feast at your local QFC store beginning November 1! Keep your eye out for the pre-packed $5 and $10 bags of groceries to purchase and donate to Food Lifeline. Food Lifeline volunteer groups have been working hard at our Shoreline Repack Center packing bags for this annual holiday drive held by QFC. If you prefer, you can shop for specially marked items throughout the store or simply make a donation at the register when you check out.

Full Sail Brewery and Kendall-Jackson Wines are again partnering with QFC, so be sure to look for Share Your Feast items when you're buying your holiday beverages. Food Lifeline will receive $1 from each case of beer sold and $2 from every case of wine sold.