Month / August 2017

by Jenn Jones

Best Kid-friendly Restaurants and Bars in Seattle

Forget that frozen four-cheese pizza… every now and then, it’s good for us to go out and grab a nice (or at least, nicer) meal with our families.  Going out to dinner doesn’t have to be inherently stressful or expensive (or LAME!) with little ones – you’ve just got to pick the right place.

One truth I’ve discovered… it’s all about location, location, location.  There might be a super trendy, kid-friendly spot in Georgetown where kids eat free every night but you bet your happy hour hummus plate I am not driving more than 10 minutes to get my family seated for dinner.  Looking for an awesome restaurant or bar to grab a bite and a brew? Check out our favorite local watering holes in Northeast Seattle:

Watershed Pub and Kitchen : Look, when the hostess hands your two year old a dixie cup full of used crayons, you know they fully expect those crayons to be thrown on the ground at least a dozen times during your one hour meal.  I’ve never felt so free to let our daughter be “spirited” or “accidentally” draw on the table yet it felt like the food and beverage selection was nice enough for a date night out.  If you’re a planner like me, you’ll appreciate that they update their draft beer selection on their website daily.  Don’t forget to bring your empty growler so you can enjoy some craft beer or cider long after the kids go to sleep. (Northgate, 10104 3rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125)

2C Thai Bistro & Spirits: When you walk into a restaurant, you will know if it is kid-friendly by the way the hostess greets your kid.  Do they take three Sasquatch-sized steps back in horror and disgust?  Probably not the dinner spot for you.  Step into Thai2C on Lake City and the entire staff will come out to greet your sticky kid and shower you with flowery compliments.  This place has the best chicken pad thai in the whole city (yeah, I said it) and the service is terrific from start to finish.  Moments after sitting down, the owner came out to say hello to our daughter and give her a plastic cup, silverware and then get this… she handed her a sheet of sparkly fish stickers.  Enjoy those stickers, darling… mommy and daddy are enjoying their pad see ew and crispy basil chicken. (Lake City, 12506 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125)

Great State Burger:  If you’re into local, organically raised grass-fed beef, this is your haven.  If you’re into things that taste really, really good, this is your haven also.  Their burgers are so delicious, you will undoubtedly steal bites off your kid’s plate when they’re not looking.  Great State has some awesome outdoor seating on their rooftop patio, ideal for the nicer Seattle days.  Your kids will be mesmerized as the bikers and runners breeze by on the Burke Gilman Trail so you and your honey can maybe have a conversation between bites of crinkle cut fries. (Bryant, 3600 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105)

Elliott Bay Brewing: Ya’ll, Lake City is on the rise!  This truly feels like the closest thing we have to a NW “Cheers” pub, where everybody knows your name.  Grab an organic, hand-crafted ale and order some ridiculous “No Doubt Stout Pulled Pork Sliders.”  Elliott Bay Brewing is all about sustainability but even if you don’t plan dinner about mother earth (insert judgey eyes here), your taste buds will still appreciate the delectable breads and brews which are additive-free and preservative-free.  The dining space is huge with ample seating for your whole family.  It’s loud enough that if your kid yells a bit, no one will look up from their IPA but not too loud where you won’t be able to swap stories about your day.  Happy hour runs 3-6pm (weeknights only) so grab your diaper bag or backpack of distracting goodies and park in the back lot. (Lake City, 12537 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125)

Mioposto: This is the spot we bring our friends and family who are visiting Seattle which tells you that the food is high quality, the service is spot-on and the ambience is dreamy.  It’s got that idyllic brick interior that makes you feel worlds away.  Can’t go to Rome on a Tuesday after work? Oh well, Mioposto will do.  Our go-to is the Proscuitto Arugula pizza with their happy hour house wine (HH is from 4-6pm daily).  Does your kid like pizza and garlic bread?  Do you like to feel a little fancy while eating pizza and garlic bread, as is your God-given right as a grown adult?  Done deal.  Just get there before the dinner rush – it’s a cozy spot and fills up quick after 6pm. (Bryant, 3426 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105)

Tsui Sushi: Now that you’re a parent, do you think your sashimi eating days are over?  Nope. Tsui Sushi refreshes your sushi-loving soul with their fresh, affordable and sizable rolls and nigiri.  Plenty of seating will make your family’s happy hour experience divine (happy hour runs 5-10pm daily!) If you’re worried your kiddo won’t like sushi as much as you do, order some edamame and let them go crazy with soy sauce.  I’m not even kidding, they will give your kid child-friendly chopsticks that look like sumo wrestlers plus a plastic cup for water as soon as you sit down.  It’s like they want you and your wackadoodle family there or something. Your little ones might not be able to resist trying a California roll once they pick up those rubbery training chopsticks and hear the staff’s encouragement. (Green Lake, 6421 Latona Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115)

Eureka!: A few moments after being seated, your waiter will bring your kid a plate of healthy goodies like watermelon, avocado and/or carrots at no additional charge.  If that doesn’t scream kid-friendly, I don’t know what does.  While your kid munches on their freebie appetizer, you’ll have a moment to pick your drink of choice from their lengthy beverage list, chalk full of craft beers and small-batch spirits.  Try the Cowboy burger, fish tacos or share a few smaller plates off the happy hour menu (which runs daily from 2-6pm). They don’t take reservations though so get there early to put your name in, then head across the way to Amazon’s bookstore.  Our wait time has never been more than 10 minutes. (Bryant, 2614 NE 46th St, Seattle, WA 98105)

Mama Stortini’s: If your family eats on the later side, you can always count on Mama Stortini’s at Northgate.  The have plenty of tables and can seat large parties with no wait, post 6pm.  Their happy hour is ridiculous – running ALL DAY Sunday and Monday, plus 3-6pm every other day of the week.  And goodness, that happy hour menu is extensive!  It’s the length of a normal menu with something for everyone.  Our favorites include: Roasted Tuscan Meatballs, Drive-in Cheeseburger, and the Grilled Salmon Sliders plus wine because #mamassippycup. The wait staff makes it a point to stoop down to say hello to your kid and supply the token box of four crayons with activity page.  I’ve never felt judged for the mess we’ve inadvertently left on the floor at Mama Stortini’s.  Which reminds me… tip well, fellow parents. (Northgate, 401 NE Northgate Way #1103, Seattle, WA 98125)

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by Jenn Jones

Books to Read in 2017, Part 1

Each year, Tyler and I set goals for ourselves as individuals as well as a few shared goals (take a trip to a new place, save up a certain amount of money, etc.)  In previous years, my goals have included trying 2-3 new recipes per week, having better boundaries with technology, and taking a class at the University of Washington.  While our goals vary from year to year, they always include a reading goal.  This year, I kicked it up to 15 books in 2017.  Also, true story, we made our 2017 goals a quarter of the way through the year… because that’s life sometimes.

It doesn’t always feel like there are enough minutes in the day to read something for myself but that’s where my beloved Audible subscription comes in.  I can listen to books while I”m folding laundry, on my way to work, or while getting ready in the morning. I went through at least half of these books on Audible.  The other half, I read on my Kindle mostly before bed (with the brightness turned waaaay down low because #marriagemeanscompromise).

My 2017 reading list so far has included…

1. Smart Girl, Rachel Hollis

3rd book in Hollis’ trilogy so I was already attached to the characters.  It’s nice to have a series that isn’t technically a teen novel or overtly sexualized.  Just a good, ol’ fashioned romance novel. Easy and fun read, great for a vacation.  7/10

2. Talking As Fast As I Can, Lauren Graham

Have you ever seen Gilmore Girls? No?  Stop reading this and go binge watch every single episode and then read this book.  And if you also love Parenthood (wait, how could you not?), you’ll love the behind scenes look into Lauren Graham’s life.  8/10

3. Influence, Robert Chaldini

Want to get people to do stuff? There are some practical and genuine ways to influence those around you.  I worried it would just make me into a master manipulator but instead, it gave me insight into what motivates others.  Longer read with a large dose of psychology. 8/10

4. It Ends with Us, Colleen Hoover

Umm. No. I thought this was a romance novel.  It was more about stalking / a physically abusive relationship / death… I was unprepared and kind of sad.  Maybe the title should have tipped me off?  4/10

5. In a Dark, Dark Wood, Ruth Ware

Another creepy one… but this time, I was ready! If you like being spooked, it’s a decent page turner. Ware also wrote “Woman in Cabin 10” which I think I liked even better. 7/10

6. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg

Okay, so I’m like 4 years late to this party but… This is a must read – for men and women.  I read this a few weeks after returning to work from parental leave and it was especially engaging as a newly working mom. Has anyone read her newest book, Plan B?  It’s next on my list. 9/10

7. Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty

So confession, I started watching this TV show and then right before watching the last episode, I bought the book. The book was great, the TV show was fantastic. If you’ve already watched the show, I’d still recommend the book.  There are some big differences (the show is set on the white sandy beaches of Carmel, California while the book is set in Australia!) 8/10

8. Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance

Whoa.  This book is all the rage right now for good reason.  The storyline is heartbreakingly moving.  A real page turner for our current economical time in America. Also, Bill Gates read it and liked it soooo…. 10/10

by Jenn Jones

Working Moms: How to Avoid the Shame Spiral

Around Addie’s 2nd birthday, I posted some observations about her as a real and unique little person as well as some of my reflections on motherhood, specifically what it’s like to be a mom who is also working outside of the home.  It garnered responses like “Wow, someone else is right there with me in this” and “Thank you for sharing, can you do it more often so I feel slightly less crazy?” So friends, back to the blog I go…

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The makers of the Audible are my heroes.  They make my 15-30 minute commute purposeful, might I even say, enjoyable.  It’s a monthly subscription for $14.95 per month and worth every bit of my sanity.  Plus when you’re at dinner parties and people begin to share what fancy books they’ve read recently, you can have something better to contribute that your deep musings on the latest edition of, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” (Why does the teacher look so mad? That is such a diverse classroom of children… way to be ahead of your time, Eric Carle!)

My most recent audiobook: Of Mess and Moxie written by Jen Hatmaker.  I’m only three chapters in (AKA one round trip commute to and from the office) and my mommy worldview has already been blown to pieces.  I’ve also laughed out loud a noteworthy amount of times because Hatmaker’s commentary is both moving and hysterical.

My favorite part so far — Jen’s youngest daughter, Remy, asked her to come have lunch at her elementary school sometime that week.  Jen consulted her calendar and found that she had her workdays already booked up.  She told her daughter that she couldn’t come.  After breaking the news to Remy, she sulked around the house for a while and then came up to Jen and said, “It’s alright, Mom.  I forgive you.”

And Jen’s reaction is priceless:

No. Nope. No ma’am. Forgiveness is offered for someone who has wronged you.  Not a mother who has a job during your 11:10am lunch slot…  My work is not a sin against you, child of sorrow. Most moms on the entire earth work, in fact.  I refused to sink into a shame spiral because I didn’t grant my snowflake’s particular wish, especially because we spend most of every day in the same house together.  A few years ago, that would have sent me to the prayer closet, wringing my hands, yet again, at how often I wound my children.  I might have let that seep into my thoughts, poisoning my hope for their healthy childhoods and our future relationship.  I may have immediately compiled a list of all the moms who would have dropped everything, rearranged an entire day to make it happen.  The ones who already eat at their kid’s school twice a week…  Instead I said, ‘Sorry kid.  Have a great day.  See you at 2:45.’ And shocker… she was fine.  You guys, the kids are fine.  We are fine.

Oh, this is gold.  I think the line that was especially sobering to me was “most moms on the entire earth work.” When did not working outside the home become the goal in my mind?? Before I had Addie, I remember pleading with my stay at home mom friends… “I just don’t want to work… I want to be home… How can I make this happen?” But what I was really thinking was, “I SHOULD be home.  To be a good mom, I NEED to be home.”  But how does that apply to all of the women who actually don’t even have the choice?  Does this mean that there are only good moms in countries, family units, cities that have the financial security or family support to even have that choice?  Nay.

But I had a choice – and I chose to work.  And there are moments, I feel that “shame spiral” creep in… What if I can’t always be there to put her to bed because I have a work dinner? What if her hair is a bit “cutting edge” sometimes because I’m not always the one getting her ready in the morning? If she still sometimes cries as I walk out the door to head to work, does she know I still love her like crazy? Am I totally screwing her up by working – moreover, am I willingly CHOOSING to screw her up?  In these moments, I’ll look to Hatmaker’s sage wisdom:

“No. Nope. No ma’am…  My work is not a sin against you…  You guys, the kids are fine. We are fine. ”

See you at 4:30pm, Addie girl.

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