Scrub-a-dub-dub....

Why Laundry Mats are 10 times better than your regular at home washer and dryer.

1. If you have a large amount of garments that need to be washed, then it is logically easier to take them to the laundry mat and get it down all at once.
2. It takes less time to get it all done.
3. It's a great place to people watch, catch up on your homework assignments or indulge in that book you have had no time to read. 
4. There are a lot of cute college guys who you can occasionally get a glimpse of. (Also cute college girls, such as myself. *wink*)
5. If you just moved into a new place like I just did then, chances are you have a shitty washer/dryer. Most of the time. Or you don't have one in your unit and the laundry room is always occupied by your neighbors clothes. I can load up to a few garments, at a time, which takes way to long to wash and dry, and is crap for how much I pay for rent. Boo on that. 
6. It normally takes up to 2 hours for 1 cycle of clothing to finish at home. Where as it takes 45 minutes to an hour at the laundry mat. Did I mention it takes less time to get it all done?

And so, this is my theory on why laundry mats are better. This is my opinion and you can agree or disagree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Good advice: If you need change for parking, this is the best place to get it. Enjoy.



“I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry, because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life?”  ~Anonymous

The day before Autum began.

Walking through a park, the man slightly stumbles. I sit on a bench watching him walk towards my direction. The air is stall this morning and I think to myself, I wonder if it's going to rain later? It's a bit cold, but my steamy green tea latte keeps my hands warm. The man approaches me, smoking his cigarette, filling his lungs with cancer. He pauses a few feet away from me. Takes the last puff of his small cigar that contains over 600 ingredients, and smiles at me with his yellow decayed teeth. To think of what he just inhaled sickens me, he might as well just licked the ground, but I smiles back politely. I watch the wind lightly brush through the trees. Tickling it. The leaves move in a way, as if the tree is laughing. I smirk to myself, wondering what it would be like to be a tree. I wonder what kind I would be. So I sit there watching people, one of my favorite pastimes. People walk their dogs, jog past me, and some stroll through as if they have no exact destination. In the distance the children play, jumping around and making weird noises, somewhat reminding me of a bunch of little monkeys in a zoo at feeding time. The wind caresses my face. I sit. I am content.



"I woke up this morning with a funny taste in my head
Spackled some butter over my whole grain bread
Something tastes different, maybe it's my tongue
Something tastes different, suddenly I'm not so young"
      ~Die Alone, Ingrid Michaelson

Curiosity Killed The Cat...

I recently just got two kittens from my mother. She found 8 of them on her property in a tree stump. I hesitated to get a cat, but she said she had a black, male kitten that was very sweet. Perfect! Free kitten! Well, when I got to her place, there were two. A brother and a sister. Of course, my first thought was, "I can't afford to take them both." My second thought was, "If I separate them, I risk the chance of them not only of immense loneliness and mental cat problems later but I would feel so bad." So out of the kindness of my heart and motherly instincts, I naturally took them both. Now I am a 'mother' to a 9 month old puppy, Francois and two black month old kittens, Chanel and Lucas (Jacques was his original name, but I found myself calling him Lucas instead, he looks like one). So here I am with 3 pets, the 4th one coming soon. A fish. No worries. I can handle it. Plus, I figured, if you get a dog you have to get a cat then you have to get a fish for the cat. I don't know. Just sounds like the right thing to do. My last fish was killed by a drunk idiot who put beer in his fish tank while i wasn't looks. She said she thought he needed a drink and was also angry at him for killing (eating) my pet snail, Gary. Hmmm... Idiot.
Moving along...

I wanted to recommend for the pet lovers out there some tips, places to take your pet, and if your going out of town spots to keep them if you don't have a sitter. Most of these sites are located in the Seattle area. But you can easily google all in your area.




Parks:
  I recommend taking your dog to on of these parks from Exploredog. My favorites to take mine to are: Magnuson Park because it's huge and volunteer park because it's right outside my front door.
Off leash parks are tricky though. So make sure your dog has all their shots.

Daycares:
Downtown dog lounge  is by far my favorite place to take my dog. He love it there. Just a little DL just from them. "Downtown Dog Lounge is devoted to the well-being and socialization of your four-legged family member. All DDL locations have dog daycare and dog boarding 7 days a week including 24/7 supervision. We also feature full service dog grooming salons at each of our locations. We have a variety of dog training classes as well as one-on-one sessions with our on-staff dog trainers. Check out or dog daycare, boarding, grooming and training pages for more information on our services and package options available."  See.


Pet Stores: I love going to MudBay. They have everything. They are friendly, convenient and always has the best stuff for your pet. Petco is also another place I go if I am trying to save. A lot of daycare or grooming place will have coupons for both of these places. For food, I recommend  giving your dog either Natural Balance or Dogwell. They are the best and your pet will love you more than ever.

 TIPS:
    •    Make sure your pets water bowls are always full. 
    •    Take them out regularly. They can't just get up and excuse themselves to the restroom when ever they need to tinkle. It's part of your responsibility to take them out.
    •    Exercise is very important. Take them for runs, swimming or a simple game of fetch for 20-30 minutes twice a day.
    •    Love your pet. Show them that they are appreciated. Praise them with treats and toys. A happy pet= a happy you.
I hope that this is helpful. I didn't put too much on cats because I just got them but I love cats more. Shhhh Don't tell the pooch. *wink* So if you think I am missing something in this blog or have any questions, feel free to comment. Meow for now. XO

"You can't help that. We're all mad here." - The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger? Say whaaaaaaaaaat?!

More like hidden bars in plain sight. What do I speak of, you may ask? Hmmm, something... effortless. This is not a bar you find college students making out in every crevice of the establishment or being loud and obnoxious. Nor is this the bar you will find Euro trash with big hair, too much makeup and dresses so short and tight, your afraid it's going to snap off and hit you in the face. No. You wont find douche bags wearing Ed Hardy here. But what you will find is something a little more... simple. A great place, that you and your friends can go for a drink and feel comfortable. Hidden away in your own neighborhood in the depths of intoxicating sanity. This tranquil place is what you call a speakeasy bar.  *wink*

    The History behind speakeasy bars started in the 1920's and lasted into the early 30's, during that time which it was illegal to sell, buy or transport any alcohol in the USA. Therefore creating a place where people can come, have a good time and keep it on the hush. I suppose that's how the name came about. But what do I know, I wasn't even born yet. The owners of these "speakeasy" establishments mainly got their source of "inventory'' from bootleggers. Mind you, these were times of Prohibition and so there was a lot of organized crime and actual gangsters who ran all this. Very interesting if you ask me, I always felt like i would have been someones Bonnie if I was back in that time. Well, now that you have gotten a brief history of the topic, let's move on. Shall we? I am introducing this into my blog because I believe that they are the new scene. Here are a couple speakeasy themed bars (as it is legal now) that may come of interest to you, if you live in the Northwest area or are visiting:                               

• Tavern Law, Located on Capitol Hill, 1406 12th Avenue, Seattle WA 98122. Open daily 5pm-2am.  Supposedly, they have a phone that is located at the entrance you have to pick up to gain access into the upstairs speakeasy. This is pretty cool. You've got to admit it. Hands down.  http://www.tavernlaw.com/
• The Hideout, Located on First Hill, 1005 Boren Avenue, Seattle WA 98104. Business Hours varies. I have not been here yet, but have heard nothing but good things. They serve food and top notch liquor. Can anyone ask for more when your trying to have a good time?  http://www.hideoutseattle.com/
•  Knee High Stocking Co, Also located on Capitol Hill, 1356 East Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98122. Open everyday, 6pm to close. This place is naughty and nice. Did you not see the name? All I can think is: Sex Appeal. Rawr. Don't leave without having some of their mouth watering food and My Absconded French Girlfriend cocktail. Too die for. Yum. http://www.kneehighstocking.com/
• Bathtub Gin & Co, Located Downtown, 2205 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121. Not sure of business hours but this place is amazing. I went here for my sisters birthday and I loved it. Amazing staff. Owner is very laid back and hospitable. It almost reminded me of a pirates den. Or something to that effect....

Well, that is all I have. I am sure if you live somewhere other than the amazing Northwest you can find something similar, but i doubt it. I know your thinking, "Wow, she just blabbed about a speakeasy??? what is she doing?!" Chill out. Not many people even know about this blog. So, hey... Do me a favor....Fuggetaboutit kid and Speak Easy. 


“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” ~Frank Sinatra


Aubrei R. Albin

Monday morning delight

Mondays are my power days. And eating a healthy meal in the morning is crucial. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and some people are in such a hurry to get out the door, they forget to feed their bodies and brains. I would like to share with you a meal that only takes minutes to prepare and cook.

What you will need: 

•  Medium Red Potato
• 2 Medium Free Ranged egg
• 1 large white mushroom
• 1/2 Tomato
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1 tblsp real butter
• 1 teaspoon Heavy Whipped Cream (optional)
• Sprinkled with Love

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min

Take out a medium pan (non stick is always better), place it on oven over medium. Place your butter in the pan, let it melt then add your red potatoes. Followed by your mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook for about 5 min, occasionally stirring. Use your spatula to blend in your red onions and garlic. Sprinkle a pinch of basil and stir until golden brown. Take 2 eggs, place in a bowl, add a little heavy whipped cream and beat for 30 seconds. Add to pan evenly.  Wait 30 seconds. Turn over or mix, cooking for another 45 seconds or until eggs are fluffy. Add a pinch of Love and place on plate.

If you want to add Hashbrowns and toast( I despise toast. Unless it's crumpets...YUM.) that's cool, but I usually try to eat a lot of fruit with my mornings. Maybe add some sausage. And you have to have your OJ or English Grey/ Breakfast tea. I am on a break from coffee for a little bit, we broke up. Yes, it was a terrible and I don't want to talk about it but if you want to enjoy some coffee in the morning then be my guest. At least my Rich Creaminess is putting a smile on someones face..... *sniffle sniffle*            
*Cough*
Anyways....        
            Hope you enjoyed, and you can always add your own twist to it. Add less, add more, what ever makes your mouth happy. Just remember that breakfast is an amazing meal.

Bon appetite!

"If music be the food of love, play on."
William Shakespeare

When in doubt. don't pull the trigger....

Bang Bang, Shoot Shoot. I feel like someone has taken a gun, put it to my head and pulled the trigger. I have been laying here in my own misery, contemplating the night before. Time flies when your having too much fun and there is always a consequence for every action. Hence why I am laying in bed with a missive hangover. The one that's just sitting over my shoulder snickering to it's self for doing a good jobs work, making my day a living hell. I didn't know that one person could get this sick just from having a few drinks too many. One thing I love about this life is what you learn from your experiences. I have learn a very, valuable lesson from my choices last night: Drinking dirty martinis can be like a loaded gun that you bring to a knife fight. It's always messy. So I have been wallowing in this painful state all day. Back and forth from the bathroom, hugging my porcelain prince, wishing it would have been last night I was sick instead of today. Not being able to move without wanting to vomit. Head pounding as if it's been beaten with a sledgehammer. Fever so high, my cold, wet washcloth gets warm after a minute. Ah, the joys of being in my mid 20's and wanting to rebel against the night. And so we learn. And we live. Feeling this pain only makes me feel ever more alive. It also makes me laugh. It makes me want to crawl into a hole. But it mostly makes my short life of only 24 worth every minute that passes and giving me stories to take with me as a get older with time.

"I was still interested in the youth rebellion but never-the-less I stopped being a victim. Stopped trying to attack the establishment realizing that it takes too much of your energy. "
~Vivienne Westwood

Photography meets Brilliance.

I recently just came across this artist who's work is amazing. I actually wouldn't mind being apart of. It gives me quite a pleasure to introduce Tyler Shields: http://www.tylershields.com/

Here is some of his work that I find absolutely enticing.

These are just a little taste of his work. He is amazing and as someone who is aspiring to become a photographer (amongst other things), it's great to see someone who also loves interesting things such as the above. It's naughty, dirty, and incredibly brilliant.

"If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning. "
C. S. Lewis


Hope you enjoy. XO
Aubrei R. Albin

Figuring it all out.

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. Ready to conquer the world one heartbeat at a time. Looking out over the Puget Sound, I breathe in, taking in the beauty, capturing a moment I will never get back. I close my eyes and let the wind softly caress my face. Circling around me. Tickling me with a warm touch. Open my eyes and I see it all now. Love is in the air.
  ~Aubrei Albin


I wanted to share some things with my lady readers , that I find interesting. First one is a blog that I often read and swear by.  http://guru-girls.com/  They give you tips on how to keep your body healthy, how to eat right, fashion and amazing tips you can use for everyday living.


The second is a blog about creation. http://jubella.com/  Baking, Cooking, Sewing, Decor and Design, Weddings and if you have little ones...they have a section for that too. I am an artist, so having a place to go when I have a brain freeze or just want to take up a new hobby is a great feeling. I hope that this will inspire and intrigue you. Have a wonderful morning and rest of the day. XO

Au revior!!

Aubrei R. A.

Turning over a new leaf.

She sat there, refreshed from her morning shower. The water still lingering upon her warm skin. And contemplated what adventure she would seek for today.....
    Starting October 2, 2010, I will be taking a Creative writing class for Fall Quarter. This will not only be helpful to my new class  but also to the books I am going to publish someday soon. Opening my world up with a few drops of words, that I splatter onto a page. Giving my audience a taste of pure rebellion, curiosity, and youth. My passion and thirst for life will always thrive.

Aubrei Richale' Albin

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."
  --  Oliver Wendell Holmes