Belles of the Sound

I’m torn about telling you all about my latest find. On one hand, I want everyone to know about this fabulous new place. But on the other hand, I want to keep it all to myself! Well, I guess I’ll let you in on the secret, just don’t tell anyone, okay?

I was at a friend’s birthday a few weeks ago and the always adorable Monica Guzman was in attendance. Monica always looks cute, but she had on the most stylish outfit ever! It was the perfect combo of a feminine little slip dress layered with a cardigan and leggings then topped off with a funky necklace and fashionable cowboy boots. While complimenting her, Monica let me in on the secret, the slip dress and boots came from Vintage Angel Company. I immediately let my BFF know we needed to plan a shopping trip to this magical place!

About a week later I made a trip with a couple girlfriends and this store did not disappoint! The owner, Susie, restores and reinvents vintage boots and clothes. The Fremont shop opened in June and is a sister store to The Vintage Closet in Phinney Ridge. There are hand-dyed tutus, lacy slip dresses, funky jewelry and boots galore! There are cowboy boots, high-heeled boots, knee-high boots… all super cute and AFFORDABLE! I fell in love with a pair of knee-high, tan leather Aldo boots for $38. Most of the boots were $38 or $58, far more reasonable than the $200-300 price tag of most new boots. And these ones are broken in for you!

Vintage Angel Company is open Thursday – Sunday and can be found across the street from the Lenin statue. I suggest you check it out! Unless you wear size 10 shoes, then you should stay away!

Also, don’t tell anyone, but they are having a FABULOUS $15 boot sale this weekend! Shh! Let’s keep it just between us!

So you’re thinking of getting rid of your car? Maybe you just read about the Walk. Bike. Ride. Challenge from fellow Belle, Kara. Or maybe you’ve already done the challenge and you’re ready to make it a permanent commitment. It could be that you want to reduce your carbon footprint or save some cash. Or your car was totaled after you slid on the ice into a semi-truck on I-5. (Maybe that was just me) Whatever the reason, I’ll give you tips on living a carless life in Seattle.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been without my car for 2 ½ years. I was addicted to my car before. I loved the freedom of being able to get behind the wheel and go anywhere. I even once dreamt I took a road trip to Iran in my Dodge Neon. All that to say, I LOVED my car! Giving it up was really hard, but I learned a lot that I can now pass on to you!

Buses

The buses in Seattle are alright, if you know how to use them. Also, it helps if you want to go to downtown. Getting to other neighborhoods can be tricky.

• When you are going towards downtown, you will pay as you enter the bus so you must enter at the front. If you are leaving downtown, you will pay when you get off the bus. It helps to always have your fare ready.
• ORCA Cards: ORCA Cards work like cash on most of the public transportation in the area. You just tap your card on the ORCA reader on the right as you enter the bus. You can get an Orca Card either online, at the transit customer service office, or at the ticket machines at any of the lightrail stops. You can also register these online so you can add money or get a replacement if you lose your card.
• OneBusAway: Seriously, this is the best app ever for Seattle bus riders! You can see when your bus will actually arrive at your stop! Sure, there are a few buses that don’t have GPS or whatever, but for the most part the info is right on. You can even save your most frequent stops for easy access.
• Google Maps: As great as OneBusAway is, it isn’t great if you aren’t sure which bus you need to take. If you need to figure out how to get from point A to point B on the bus, I recommend you check Google Maps.

Zipcar

Sometimes you just need a car. Going to the grocery store on foot or the bus can be tough if you’re getting more than two bags of food. Trips to IKEA or Costco by bus are laughable. These are the times you need a car for a few hours. Zipcar can do that for you.

• There are two plans you can sign up for, depending on how often you plan to drive. If you won’t drive much, do the Occasional Driving Plan. There is a $60 annual fee and $25 one time application fee.
• Hourly rates start at $7.75. Costs increase depending on the car you reserve.
• Check with your employer, some companies have discounts with Zipcar.
• Insurance, gas and 180 free miles are included in your fee.
• Do Not take a Zipcar on a road trip unless you want to pay far more than renting a car.
• Be sure to return your car on-time! There is a $50 if you are even a minute late!

Neighborhoods

Some neighborhoods are more bus-friendly than others. And some neighborhoods are more walkable. If you are going to go carless, you want a neighborhood that is both. I used to live in Ballard, a very walkable area. However, the bus lines from Ballard really only go downtown. It made for an easy commute to work in the morning, but getting to any other neighborhood was hard. And most of my friends lived in Belltown or Queen Anne. So I moved to Belltown and my life is much easier!

• Most of the buses in Seattle are going in and out of downtown. This makes it challenging to get from neighborhood to neighborhood. The closer you live to downtown or at least several major bus lines, the easier your life will be.
• Make sure you have plenty of amenities in walking distance. You won’t want to spend your whole life on a bus, so having plenty to do nearby will be important. You can always check your Walk Score.
• Consider where you work, where your friends live and where you spend most of your time. The less you have to commute, the better.

If you’re thinking of getting rid of your car, try it for a month. What have you got to lose? I still miss my car some days, but the buses, Zipcar and Belltown have made my life so much easier!

What do you think about going carless in Seattle? 

The weather is FINALLY heating up and all over the city folks are having backyard cookouts, cocktails on the roofs, tossing frisbees in the parks and tanning on the beaches. Whichever summer activity you prefer, it’s always made better with some kickin’ tunes!

A couple things about me: 1) I love music! I pretty much always have a song playing in my head. 2) I have very eclectic taste in music. Anything from classical to R&B, show tunes to pop, I love it all! Except metal. I’m not really a fan of metal.

Since Spotify just launched in the U.S., I’ve been playing around with their service and put together my very own Ultimate Summer Playlist. It’s has 95 songs and about 5 hours of music for your listening pleasure. To give you a taste of the long and diverse playlist, I’ve included my top 20 tracks below. Check it out, play it at your cookout, and tell me what you think!

• All Summer Long by Kid Rock
• Amber by 311
• American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
• Catch My Disease by Ben Lee
• Cruel Summer by Bananarama
• Firework by Katy Perry
• Friday, I’m in Love by Dryden Mitchell
• Girl by Beck
• Groove is in the Heart by Deee-lite
• Hot Stuff by Donna Summer
• Huddle Formation by The Go Team
• LDN by Lily Allen
• Lovefool by The Cardigans
• Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
• Sometimes the Sun by The Lashes
• Sunny Hours by Long Beach Dub Allstars
• Sunshine by Matt Costa
• Vacation by The Go-Go’s
• Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves

What songs would you add to the playlist? What is your favorite summer song?

Last night I was able to go see an early screening of The Change-Up, thanks to my friend Kristy’s popularity and high Klout score. I was excited to see this movie because I like Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann and Olivia Wilde. Oh, and I’m going to marry Ryan Reynolds – even if he doesn’t know it yet. So any movie with him is two hours well-spent, right? Well, maybe not.

Honestly, I didn’t have very high expectations for the plot. It’s a pretty old idea… two folks who are each in a rut in their own life and long for the life of the other person. The grass is always greener, right? It’s a story that’s been done before, but I hoped the writers of The Hangover could make it fresh and funny. Instead what you get is Freaky Friday with a lot of brainless potty humor. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good fart joke once in a while, but it was a bit much in this movie.

So Ryan Reynolds is Mitch, a character that feels like we caught up with Van Wilder 10 years after graduation and he’s still doing nothing with his life. And he still has daddy issues. Jason Bateman is the responsible, family-man, workaholic, Dave. Both characters were clichés that seemed to lack any real depth.

It was funny at times for sure. The crowd at Regal Meridian 16 last night seemed to really enjoy it. It’s a great cast and all of the actors have excellent comedic timing. I just don’t think they had the best material to work with. It was incredibly predictable and overly simplistic. Some of the plot lines that were supposed to tug at our heart-strings felt forced, like Mitch and his father. There were also a few sound issues and plot inconsistencies that bothered me.

Overall, it was OK, but not great. Mostly, I’m glad I didn’t have to pay for it. And I got to see Ryan Reynolds half naked a few times! The Change-Up opens in theaters around the country on August 5, but unless you check your brain at the door, I recommend you do something else. Like check out the Concerts at the Mural with Hey Marseilles that night. At least that is this Belles opinion.

Did you see it? What did you think?

It’s been quite a week for me and the end of it all I find myself back on the dating market. I’m pretty much always the single girl, and I’m comfortable with that… but let’s be honest – we’d all like to meet that special someone, right? But until Mr. Perfect-for-Me comes along, I’m going to have fun with my friends and enjoy my single life.

Part of enjoying my single life means dating. In all honestly, I kind of suck at dating so I think I need practice to get better. So back to online dating I go! But this time, I’m going to keep these suggestions and tips in mind. It’s a collection from my past experiences and my friends’ sage advice.

Online Dating Tips:

• It’s a Numbers Game – It’s like applying for a new job. You don’t just apply for one position and stop, right? Online dating is the same way. You have to start many conversations and go on lots of first dates to find someone you might be interested in getting to know better. My personal philosophy is to get to the first date quickly rather than spend forever emailing back and forth. I’d rather know if we have any chemistry before I get too invested.

• Pay Attention to Red Flags – Make sure you know what you’re looking for in a potential significant other. What values are most important to you? What are your deal-breakers? Not to sound clinical about it, but you have to have some sort of check-list in mind to know if someone is right for you. If the guy doesn’t fit what you want or he shows himself to be a jerk early on, WALK AWAY! My friends will tell you; this is my personal struggle in my dating life. Let’s just say, I’m working on it!

• Read the OKCupid Blog – Seriously, it’s hilarious, informative and fun! You can learn about everything from the best profile pictures to graphs about sex. Even if you aren’t doing the online dating thing, it’s just fun to read!

• Have Your Friends Write Your Profile – I work in marketing and PR, but it can still be hard to sell yourself. I recommend you have your friends help you write your profile, or at least review it for you. As another Belle mentioned before, EVERYONE says they are laid back, fun, adventurous, blah blah blah! Try to get creative and have fun with it.

• Above all, BE YOURSELF! – The point is to have fun and to potential meet someone you want to spend time with, so be yourself! You are a rock star and a catch! The right person will see that and never let you go.

If online dating isn’t your thing, or you want another way to meet people, I recommend getting involved. Whatever activities you enjoy, find a group that likes the same things. I know plenty of couples that have met doing Seattle Works, Underdog Sports and even karaoke! Whatever your pleasure, I’m sure there is a group you can join!

Finally, if you’re on Twitter follow @TheSingleWoman and @PattiStanger. They give advice, offer perspective and make you laugh!

So, what do you think? Have you done the online dating thing? Any additional tips? Any horror stories? Let me know in the comments. Also, wish me luck!

Life has been a bit stressful lately, so when a friend asked if I wanted to spend a day at the Olympus Spa in Lynnwood, I jumped at the chance. I’ve been to Banya 5 in South Lake Union a few times, so I sort of knew what to expect from the various soaking pools and saunas. However, the Olympus Spa is a women-only, naked spa. I must admit, that made me a bit nervous.

Like most women, I’ve struggled with body image issues in my life. While I think I’ve made great strides in accepting my body as it is, there are still times the insecurities sneak in. Walking into the Olympus Spa and stripping down to my birthday suite, I was nervous and feeling exposed.

As we got into the first soaking tub, my friend said, “Puberty would’ve been a lot easier if there was more nakedness!” Looking around the spa, there were so many different shapes and sizes. As women, we often believe we are the only ones with flaws. OF COURSE I’m the ONLY person with a few extra pounds on my belly, right? We focus so much on what we perceive to be our major flaws, we forget to see our own beauty. All around me were sparkling eyes, stunning smiles, sexy curves and some very cool tattoos. And while most of us in the spa won’t be gracing the covers of Cosmo anytime soon, we are all beautiful!

I recommend you grab your gorgeous girlfriends and head to the spa for a little relaxation and rejuvenation! And remember, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Fantastic Reminder from Kristi Waite (http://www.kristiwaite.com/)

They say summer in Seattle doesn’t really start until July 5^th. At least that’s when the we finally get some sunshine. So that means summer starts this weekend, and there are plenty of activities in Seattle in the summer to keep you busy! Here are a few of my favorites:

Movies

• Fremont Outdoor Movies – kicks off this weekend with the Red, White and Dead zombie festival. Outdoor movies Saturday nights through July and August.
• Movies at the Mural – Head to Seattle Center to watch a movie in the shadow of the Space Needle starting on July 30.
• Redhook’s Moonlight Cinema – Head out Woodinville to catch some of the best 80’s flicks to celebrate Redhook’s 30^th birthday!
• Movies at Marymoor Park – these Wednesday night viewings are especially family friendly with classics like Wizard of OZ and Up.

Music

• Zootunes – Catch some fantastic music like Brandi Carlile and the Go-Go’s at the Woodland Park Zoo, dates throughout the summer.
• Capitol Hill Block Party – July 22-24 come up to The Hill for music, fun and friends including performances by The Head and The Heart and TV on the Radio.

Food & Drinks

• Seattle International Beer Festival – July 1-3 try some of the tastiest brews from around the world at the Seattle Center
• The Bite of Seattle – Taste the best the northwest has to offer all in one place, July 15-17.

Miscellaneous

• Let’s Go Sailing – Take advantage of all the water around Seattle, grab some friends and go for a boat ride!
• Shakespeare in the Park – Get a dash of culture and watch The Bard’s classics in parks all over the city. This year The Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra will be performed, beginning July 8.

What do you like to do in the summer? Did I miss your favorite event? Let me know your favorite summer activity or event in the comments!

Everyone does top 10 lists, they are so last season! Or something like that. So I’ll be different and give you my top 8 list.

This Thursday is the third Twestival Seattle. As a volunteer coordinator, I want to let everyone know about this fantastic event. What is Twestival Seattle? It is a Twitter festival that uses social media for social good. Previous Twestival Seattle events raised over $11,000 for the global cause Charity:Water and the local charity YouthCare. On March 25th, Twestival events will be held around the globe to raise money for Concern Worldwide.

But why should YOU be there?

1) Check out a cool aerial show!

Twestival Seattle is being held at Emerald City Trapeze, so this won’t be the same old tweetup! Attendees will have a chance to see an amazing aerial show by some of the best performers in the northwest. Do you want to fly through the air with the greatest of ease? 60 lucky people will get a chance to take a swing or two and you could be one of them if you email Shauna Causey.

2) Hang out in a cool venue!

Most social media networking events in Seattle sell out, which means they are PACKED! While it is terrific that Seattle has such an active community, most venues just can’t handle the crowd. Emerald City Trapeze is different. It is a two-level building with lots of open space and a fun, funky character. You won’t have to worry about being packed in like sardines at Twestival Seattle!

3) Enjoy some drinks!

Twestival Seattle’s fantastic drink sponsors Fremont Brewing Company, The Magnificent Wine Co. and Hansen Beverage Company will be providing tasty beer, wine and soda!

4) Have some food!

Elegant Gourmet Catering will be supplying all guests with delicious food while they mix and mingle.

5) Enter the raffle to win cool prizes!

Wonderful local Seattle businesses have donated all kinds of cool items that you could win! With just a $5 ticket (or 5 for $20), you could win one of many prizes including hotel stays, dinners, a karaoke party, handmade jewelry, a month of boot camp, a massage, and much more!

6) Meet some of the most awesome folks in Seattle!

The social media and tech community in Seattle is full of incredible people! You might be friends on Facebook, talk with them on Twitter or read their blogs, but it’s time to come out from behind the computer. Come meet, or reconnect, these friendly people in real life!

7) Network with influencers and decision makers!

Some of you might be looking for a job, just like I was a few months ago. Events like Twestival Seattle are fantastic opportunities to network with some of the most influential people in Seattle. Networking helped me get my job, and it could help you, too!

Do something good!

Beyond the drinks, food, fun and swag… this event is about raising money for an outstanding cause, Concern Worldwide. Your contributions through registration and raffle tickets will help Concern Worldwide provide education to children in the poorest countries on the globe. By having an entertaining night, you could help make a brighter future for a child. Really, what better reason do you need?

So register now, before this incredible event sells out!

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Karianne is our first official guest Belle! She is a social media rockstar in Seattle, and can be found at @Karianne.