what i'm loving right now...

(las rakas- Panamanian city slang for people from the ghetto, whose stigma they are trying to remove)

Who's on vacation?

Cute Overload is a website dedicated to cute animal pictures and videos.

Bailey the Unknown Reindeer is a video making the rounds this year...


Can You See the Sunset from the Southside asks Can you see Santa from the Southside? and offers many Christmas songs you may have forgotten about to download for free. I got them all, but I am excited about Wham's Last Christmas and Debbie Gibson's Sleigh Ride.


The cute shelter dog of the week is...Lucy!

I love looking at stores Top Ten gift lists! Showpony is the store owned by former owner of Olivine. Check out her Top Ten list...so great! My wallet has been saved from the snow!

And I leave you with The Funky 16 Corners Hot Pants under the covers with James Brown mix! This site is amazing, download a playlist and put it on and get ready to party...good times!

This morning I am knitting beer cozies for the Ale Asylum holiday craft fair. I was enjoying the quietness of the house, but then decided to check out some happy stuff on youtube...sometimes the internet is awesome!

the best new stuff...

I said yesterday that the blog was up to Topher from now on...he looked surprised and I guess I lied. School started a week and a half ago and I am already nursing a cold. I am glad it is Friday and surprised to have any energy right now. My new job is the lead teacher for a Kinder, 1st and 2nd grade self-contained classroom at the same school I was at last year. Right now we only have 5 students and it has been an amazing start to the year. I have an awesome Instructional Assistant who has worked in our room for 10 years, a blessing for me.

I like to make lists, for readers, but also for us to keep track of cool stuff we like, so here goes:

Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves album Roll With You is Soul-riffic! I can not wait to check them out live. We have been getting into Soul music lately, it just makes you do the happy dance!

The Numark TTi USB Turntable allows you to transfer vinyl to your ipod. Sweet!

Oliver's Twist on Phinney Ridge has Truffled Popcorn that is to die for! If you like truffles of course, it is a unique combination and the place is really cozy and arty.

We are happy that How To Cook A Wolf is within walking distance from our house. We celebrated last Thursday there and it was sublime. I love the open and half open kitchen trend in Seattle, it makes the dining experience feel more intimate, comfortable and familar. Topher was excited to see Geoduck (pronounced gooeyduck) Ceviche on the menu and as usual I ordered half raw tuna and it was goooood!

And last but not least....I heard the New Kids on The Block were back, but me, I always perfered a more urban flavor. I have been waiting for this video to pop up on Youtube, New Edition doing the classic Candy Girl. Enjoy your weekend playas!