Although summer doesn’t officially start until later this month, it has certainly felt like summer here in the PNW. The sun has been out, local farmers markets have started opening, and I finally turned on my fan for the first time this year.
Here’s what I’ve been up to in May:
What I’m watching:
The Devil Wears Prada 2
I went to the movies again and saw The Devil Wears Prada 2. I liked it! I don’t think it quite captured the magic of the first movie, but I enjoyed it all the same. I was especially glad that the main cast returned—I don’t think the movie would have worked without them. The story was entertaining, although I did feel like they softened Miranda Priestly’s character. She wasn’t nearly as harsh or blunt as she was in the original film, which I understand was probably meant to reflect how both society and the workplace have changed over the years.
Still, Miranda’s sharp quips and brutal honesty were some of my favorite things about the character, so I was a little disappointed to see less of that side of her. Even so, it was fun catching up with Miranda, Andy, Nigel, and Emily after all these years.
The Buroughs
I also started watching The Boroughs on Netflix. This science fiction series is produced by some of the same people behind Stranger Things, and I think that influence is pretty obvious. I’m really enjoying it so far, although I can’t quite believe that some of my favorite actors, like Geena Davis and Bill Pullman, are now considered senior citizens. In my mind, they’re all still young.
Project Runway
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve been rewatching Project Runway from the very beginning. I was a faithful viewer for years, but I eventually stopped watching when I no longer had cable. I’m now getting into seasons I’ve never seen before and am currently on season 11. I’m almost certain I missed this one because it was a teams season, and I definitely would have remembered that. It’s been so much fun revisiting old contestants and seeing outfits I had completely forgotten about.
What I’m eating:
Focaccia Pizza
I made this focaccia pizza from The Practical Kitchen, and it turned out great. I mixed up the dough the night before and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight. I was honestly shocked by how much it expanded from the tiny dough ball I started with. I think it may have been because I used instant yeast instead of active dry yeast, which is what I usually use.
After this experience, I might be converting to instant yeast. It worked so well!
I did overcook the pizza a little bit—the cheese was definitely more browned than intended. The recipe mentioned covering it with foil if it started browning too much toward the end, which I’ll definitely do next time.
Salt & Straw Ice Cream
A new Salt & Straw location opened in downtown Bellevue, so I walked down there a couple of weekends ago to grab a scoop. I don’t think I’ve ever had Salt & Straw before, even though they’re known for their adventurous flavors. Unfortunately, some of the flavors on the menu didn’t really appeal to me, so I played it safe and ordered the salted, malted, chocolate chip cookie dough.
The ice cream was good, but can we talk about the price?
One scoop cost $7.
Seven dollars.
For one scoop of ice cream.
It was tasty, but I don’t think it was that tasty, and I can’t see myself becoming a regular customer.
What’s making me happy:
I’ve been riding the light rail to and from work for a couple of months now, and I’m really enjoying it. It’s only about five to ten minutes faster than taking the bus, so there’s not a huge time savings. But there’s just something about sitting on a train instead of a bus that I prefer.
The train doesn’t get stuck in rush-hour traffic, although there are occasionally delays that leave the cars more crowded than usual. Even so, the commute feels more relaxing. There’s also a busker who plays the cello at the station when I’m heading home from work, and it adds such a lovely atmosphere to the end of the day.
Overall, May felt like the unofficial start of summer, and honestly, I’m not mad about it.
See you next month!
Sounds like some fun adventures. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is definitely on my list to see!
It was a fun time!