Grind time at g6 — wrapping up July, celebrating David's birthday at La Mar, and swapping the usual client mixer for handmade treat baskets.

A busy anniversary week ends with a relaxing weekend at the SOMM hotel — and some honest reflections on what it means to be empty nesters, together.

A Portland business trip, a Pike Place Market visit with old friends, and honest reflections on saying goodbye to a client the right way.

World Cup fever, Love Island debates, and the moment we'll never forget — Ben proposed to Isabelle right in the middle of a semi-final delay.

A new sales hire, a baby niece visit, and a weekend at a Ballard favorite — a reminder of why supporting small businesses never gets old.

Hannah turns 24, a new Operations Coordinator joins the team, and all four kids are home at once — a full house, a full heart, and a big week for g6.

A quick work trip to Ohio brings coffee, community, and a new favorite travel bag that's changing how this on-the-go entrepreneur packs.

Rain couldn't dampen this one — celebrating Isabelle's Master's degree, exploring DC with Grandpa Eddie, and a surprise engagement that changed everything.

A sun-soaked couples' trip to Palm Springs — pool days, Joshua Tree at dusk, and a hidden-gem spa that beats any hotel day pass.

A mellow birthday week filled with family, an old yearbook, new client wins, and a Mother's Day movie night that hit just right.

Back from Vegas, back to reality — a coffee date at Pioneer Square's newest hotspot Gloom, a visit from an old middle school friend, and a Sounders game that turned into "bring your wife to your favorite sport night."

On Sunday, we opted for David to take a photo in front of the Hello Kitty Cafe branded with Bruno Mars and send it to Madi.  That seems like a reasonable merch momento, right?  Sunday, we pooled for a few hours and then went to dinner at Vic and Anthony’s which led us to my first adventure on Fremont Street.  Wow.  It was like being in another world compared to the Strip.  I don’t have a strong desire to go back but I love the energy.   We took photos with some Chippendales - we didn’t buy them (so no evidence) and some things can just remain between David and I.  HA!

For the first time in 16 years, I didn’t host Easter.  Devin went to see Morgan Jay in Eugene, OR, Maleah’s family was coming to see them on Easter, Eddie was in Arizona, Isabelle’s never really home on Easter because it’s so close to her finals week.  And, I quite frankly forgot to send an invite to the fam so with Eddie away, too, we had an idea to go out to brunch.  We went to Ascend for Easter brunch.   I didn’t think it was going to be as pricey as it was…but still worth all the time and effort to just go somewhere and be served!  Hannah and Madi came home and we had a great time.  We went to W in Bellevue - David taught Madison how to play pool. 

I was very excited to support the soft open of Cafe Lolo.  They had a Pop Up at Three Full Sacks last fall and I’ve been rooting for them to be in their own space cooking their delicious food.

Our clients, Conjure Catering, had their last Pop Up Event at Holy Mountain Brewing in the Phinney neighborhood.  I invited the whole G6 Retail Renovation Team to join in celebrating their last hurrah and celebrate their upcoming birth.  Sadly, we didn’t get photos of the food.  The food is incredible.  Ryan and Cooper are so talented - Ryan’s genius-ness with these dishes make it easy eating.  I am looking forward to the next time they cook!  We cannot wait to do more work with Conjure Catering as they expand their business.

I packed myself up, David had to work to finish the Laurelhurst Project, and headed to Portland early morning.  Madison was home and Hannah was on her way to help with Obi-Wan.   I left early in the morning and got to Portland early in time for brunch.  We had a mission to do Flattop and Salamander for their boozy brunch.  Sunday morning was busy so we went over to Bialy Bird to explore their bialys.  We ordered one and Devin had his first drink, a mimosa with yuzu sake. 

Hannah officially moves out this week.  Her accident has made this experience anti-climatic as we work on getting her a new vehicle and prepare for her moving.  Hannah’s moving an hour away from us and it’s hard to believe I can’t walk down the hall to chat or eat dinner together decompressing the day.  Or best of all, listening to her and Obi-Wan wrestling throughout the house.

A week of work and prepping for Hannah to move out.  Devin was home for spring break.  Devin spent all of his spring break working.  The perks of having kids who are baristas, I get to visit them at work.  We occasionally geek out on coffee. 

Week 8 actually ended with a Doomsday (February 19th) tradition of something going horribly wrong.  February 19th, 2019, Isabelle, after a visit home from college, ended up in the hospital with bacterial meningitis.  February 19th, 2020, our house experienced a catastrophic flood from our primary bathroom that put us out of our house just before the pandemic for 9 months. 

This week was interesting.  Business always fluctuates, and I think that what I do know is that it's unpredictable.  I think David and I have run on adaptability since the beginning of our marriage with 4 kids.  We understand that things change, and we gotta roll with it.  I will say, he is better at it than I.  I can definitely wiggle through chaos better, but he is very good about woozah-ing the tough shit and pushing forward.  I dwell…a little.  Okay, maybe a lot.