Often seemingly out of nowhere ~ my foodie self appears. Enthralled by the local food scene, and the community that surrounds it, a mood will strike and I will find myself hearting up Instagram posts ranging from sugar coated baked goods to health/environment focused Meat Free Monday meals (say that one five times fast).
A few months back, I attended a Seattle Foodies Instameet and since then I have been thinking more about the role of food and community building in the age of Instagram.
I have followed a number of local foodies and have begun to seek out unique cuisine in my travels. I have learned new hashtag lingo. I am delighted to see that a good food snap can lead to an interesting cross cultural or cross neighborhood dialogue/meetup.
Naturally, when I learned a Pie Instameet at A La Mode Pies was going to be led by my delightful friend Seattle Dessert Geek aka Jess Tupper I knew this was a chance to be part take part in something especially delicious. Every time I hang w/ Jess I seem to find myself consuming food that is wonderful, unique, and memorable… Also, I like pie ~ basically because I’m human.
The Blue Hawaiian – signature pie of A La Mode & lovely Elvis Tribute 🙂Mexican Chocolate Mousse – My chosen sliceCookies & Cream – this one was my bestie’s favorite.Instagrammer @SeattleOnTheRun aka Page snapping the magical Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse (also seen w/ me in the featured photo at the top of the post)
While people do complain about a world filled with people, “just posting pictures of food online”, I have seen friendships and professional growth develop through Internet foodie culture. For me, becoming a #SeattleFoodie is an entirely delicious experience.
It’s International Women’s Day & to celebrate I made three YouTube playlists, yep three, one for each channel. On my main channel, Amara In Seattle, is a playlist of videos that inspire me, many of these are among my all time favorite YouTube videos for various reasons, explained below.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s Ted Talk: Your elusive creative genius
It would often happen on the way to an old job, that I would suddenly feel like I must MUST write something down. In this Tedtalk writer, Elizabeth Gilbert, highlights the value of that feeling & helped me to make changes into a Big Magic filled creative life.
There is a moment of true friendship that is captured during this episode of YouTube comedian Mamrie Hart’s show, You Deserve a Drink, when things go terribly wrong. This video highlights why these three women are pillars of YouTube culture, in large part because they care about each other in the way we all want our friends to.
Finishing with Sprinkle of Glitter – Louise Pentland
When long time British YouTube creator, Louise Pentland, decided to step away from her established YouTube formula to be more honest and direct with her audience it was risky. Inspiring and truly brave, Louise is leading the way in the development of YouTube as a platform for evolving dynamic creators.
Meghan Tonjes – ‘This Year’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
This is probably not Meghan Tonjes favorite song, it was early in her music career and launched her to video success (and landed her on Ellen!), but for me the lyrics continue to be inspiration whenever I need a reminder that this moment and year is part of my journey.
Too Emotional – Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik has stood off to the side from me for a long time. I didn’t watch Blossom as a child but it was there in all its uniquely dressed glory. Her channel is new, but tackles subjects that are very open and raw, using her Big Bang Theory celebrity to open important digital dialogues like this one on feelings.
Living The Mr. Kate Lifestyle – Mr. Kate
I have watched Mr. Kate build her one-of-a-kind channel to over 1 million subscribers through hard work and strange colorful ideas. When this video debuted it brought Kate into my view, and I have watched her be silly, weird, creative, and brilliant ever since. Kate showed me that YouTube offered a one of a kind amazing opportunity. She also inspired me to realize there is room for different kinds of lifestyle channels, helping me to form Amara In Seattle.
Climbing Mt. Fuji – Sharla In Japan
Sharla took me up Mt. Fuji and in the process helped shape my vision for my travel channel, Amara Not In Seattle ~ a place to share travel as I see it: in beautiful experiences. Videos that feel like you are right there, experiencing those one of a kind travel moments.
House Tour – Rosanne Pansino
Ro is the queen of YouTube growth and improvement but it is the way she designed her home, to also be her workspace, that inspired me to see her as a model #girlboss. This design is inspiring, downright clever, and got me to begin dreaming about how Amara In Seattle could blow past expectations. Also, Ro is also a Seattle gal, so I may be a little delightfully bias.
25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes – Wendy’s Lookbook
This vid sparked the idea that I want to learn technical video creation skills for artistic reasons, as well as practical ones. The information is presented in such an entertaining way that it immediately got me thinking: I wish I could do that. Now, when I get stuck learning a program or digital process I return to this tutorial to be inspired.
Wild Flag – Romance
There is a moment in this music video when Carrie Brownstein rocks out so hard it answered a question I’d had most of my life: what instrument is for me. This video helped put an electric guitar in my hands and is filled with strength and silliness. The video for Romance is a good reminder that badass and goofy can and should go together.
Check Out the Other Amara In Seattle International Women’s Day Activities:
What happened in Vegas did anything but stay there.
I was in the Paris Hotel taking a momentary break from a new media marketing conference to scroll through Instagram. It was just supposed to be a momentary digital refresher before going back the professional grind. That was before Sebastian Unleashed, an adorable mini American Eskimo mix, appeared in my feed.
A true Seattleite, Sebastian wakes to the smell of coffee. He snuggles with his nearest and dearest while reading the morning news. He is quiet and likes to take naps in his favorite chair. And when it is time to leave the house, Sebastian often walks to his favorite Space Needle view point, Kerry Park, to clear his head and Instagram.
After hours of panels discussing about the importance of seizing the social media in the moment, I decided to send a query to the Seattle based pup to see if he would like to do a collaboration when I returned to home.
The result is the social media puppy love story you see below.
The day we met started with drinks at Fremont Coffee Company.Sebastian is a great listener.There was a modeling stop at Theo Chocolate Factory.Then we bundled up for a walk by the lake.There was fun, laughter, & silly faces.Sebastian was a little shy.Maybe, he was just camera shy.But in the end, he turned out to be the perfect social media valentine.
By seizing the social media moment Sebastian, his owner, & I have just begun a relationship of wonderful digital & irl adventures ~ I for one am glad that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there.
See Sebastian’s YouTube debut & some behind the scenes moments on the vlog channel:
I am going to LA in 2 days… I repeat I am going to Los Angeles in 2 Days!
New to content creation on YouTube I was delighted to learn that the YouTube Space in LA was having a YouTube 101 event led by Jacques Slade aka Kustoo open to all creator levels.
Was it too crazy to sign up for an event 3 states away that was happening in 9 days?! Unsure, I called my peeps doing a quick friend survey as to the feasibility of the idea. The result: It was just crazy enough to be brimming with the potential for an amazing story.
Excited about the idea of a whirlwind pop-up trip to LA, I decided to attempt to sign-up… and I got an error message… trying again and again with the same result.
Instead of closing my laptop and giving up, I made one last attempt, creating the video below to explain my wild idea to directly to YouTube.
I’d pretty much figured that would be the end of the story… but for some reason the next morning I tried one last time… and managed to register.
Since then it has been a delightful series of moments of pure #internetmagic.
I am typing this just 2 days away from the adventure and I couldn’t be more excited!
I am writing this dressed as Captain Amar-ica at Ada’s Technical bookstore in Capitol Hill, Seattle… or Scare-attle as I am calling it today. It is Halloween and it is raining, natch.
But before November takes hold I am going to revel in Halloween magic. For me that began with the creation of the story time video below where I tell of few of my favorite 90’s Halloween memories.
May yours be spooky and inspiring, filled with creativity, adventure, and excitement. Now I’m off consume a whole lot of pumpkin spice, while I still can.
Best Adventures,
Captain Amar-ica In Seattle Scare-attle.
P.S. behold the raindrops on my glasses…even as Cap I cannot escape the rain. 🙂
When was the last time you were submerged in classical music? If you are like me, the answer is simple: never.
Emerald City Music would like to change that by making classical music accessible and part of the lives of all music lovers. They provide access to top notch chamber music that is comfortable and affordable. Classical music experiences where no tie is required and you can feel totally at ease wearing your comfy sweater and jeans.
Intrigued, I grabbed my camera, threw on a bright orange skirt, and headed into the light sprinkle of Seattle rain to experience an Emerald City Music concert for myself. And I am so glad I did.
It started with mingling around a photo booth. There was popcorn, chocolate, and an open bar. There was a general ease in the atmosphere.
The program showcased The Dover Quartet who played through Beethoven’s life with small educational chats in-between pieces. The musicians took turns explaining the life and history of the music, their roles as performers, and even touching on what made these particular pieces valuable to them personally.
As the music flowed, I began to see Beethoven in a new light. First as a student of music displaying a hint of oncoming dissonance. Then as the evening moved on, I felt his evolution into full force rebellion further complicated by the knowledge and emotion of his encroaching hearing loss. The gripping sounds of an all-consuming calling being snuffed out by a cruel unstoppable deadline.
At the end I stood up with all the other attendees, we were astonished. Violin, viola, and cello strings had been shredded. It turns out The Dover Quartet doesn’t just play classical music, they tell human stories in song.
Filing out of the concert space, the rain continued to softly beat down on the roof of 415 Westlake, it was a perfect Seattle moment; unexpected, gripping, and calling on me to grow as a person. Beethoven was no longer the name of an old dead classical musician relevant only to the upper crust but kind of punk rocker from long ago. He felt the things that inspire artists, he took chances, and he created a story I needed in my life.
Invigorated and with a bit of popcorn in my teeth, I instagramed in joy at my new love for Beethoven. Emerald City Music had been victorious and I was happy, there was new music in my life.
I am so excited. I just keep saying that. At the start of this month, I begin uploading Amara In Seattle videos and within a week I had launched all three Amara In Seattle channels.
Making the decision to start early, while I am still in a learning phase was hard, but I find that creating is about learning as you go. There are many things I am working to improve, but I am thrilled to dig in and grow. To start. To take one step at a time. But most of all, I am excited to start interacting with all of you, amazing digital rock stars.
I hope you will join me on these of strange, beautiful, and fun adventures by subscribing, liking, sharing, and interacting with the three AIS channels:
Amara In Seattle (#AIS), the main channel. Here we adventure in the pacific northwest looking at history, events, pop culture, Americana, geekery, music, books, technology, social media, DIY, thrifting, vintage, retro, nostalgia and all kinds of other cool stuff.
Amara Not In Seattle (#ANIS) is a travel channel. A place for us to get lost traveling from exotic locales to local experiences, these are life enriching journeys. And to help your travels, there will also be travel tips, tricks, books, and reviews.
Amara In Seattle Vlogs (#AISV) is the catchall. A place to do random stuff like unboxings, DITLOs, super random talking, bloopers, internet trend videos, behind the scenes fun and other such vlogish things. http://bit.ly/2dTHKZF
As I keep saying, I am… well… so excited and I hope you are too. It’s going to be such fun!
Questions? Ideas? Leave me a comment on one of the channels above or send an email to: amarainseattleinfo@gmail.com
Business, Press, Events or Collaboration Inquiries, please email: amarainseattlebusiness@gmail.com
Grey, Meredith – a soft cosy color perfect for a calm cup of tea on a doctor’s day off
Burnt Pumpkin – the classic spiced orange
Sunlight Leaf – calm yellow that hints at its history as a green
Cosy Leopard – a napping wild print
Emerald City – inspired by the deep green sparkles off of Elliot Bay
Officer Olive – hardly camoflauge more like punk rock
Blueberry Jam – berry picking season is over but flavor is not
Empress Purple – a royal splash of eggplant
Licorice in Amsterdam – tangy dark sweetness
Sparkles – it’s up there twice on purpose
Picking clothing for the season change is as much about what you already have as what you want to add.
I challenged myself to create a palette that infused classic autumn colors with unexpected elements. Choosing classics like burnt orange. Developing new seasonal ideas, such as blueberry jam. And adding in some fun by doubling down on the sparkles!.
Keep an eye out for these style elements on the Amara In Seattle Instagram and please let me know in the comments how you would add these style elements into your fall 2016 fashion journey.
Best Adventures,
At the end I stood up with all the other attendees, we were astonished. Violin, viola, and cello strings had been shredded. It turns out 
Amara In Seattle 