This week’s Splurge vs. Steal!

Happy Thursday dear readers! Have you had a good week? Ours has been busy but fantastic! Brett got dressed up as a redneck and hit up WWE with some pals on Tuesday, while I've been sweating my booty off at my first few times practicing Bikram Yoga.

Yes, it’s been an interesting week to say the least, and we sure are ready for the weekend! What are you up to? What?? You’re staying in town?! PERFECT! There are some great things happening that you should take advantage of!

Welcome to this week’s Splurge vs. Steal!

It’s baaaaaaaack! Seattle's eccentric and kitschy Moisture Festival!

I know what you’re thinking… “Moisture Festival? What the HECK does that mean?!”

It’s a festival held here in Seattle that includes a long series of performances in multiple locations across the metro area, starting today, March 11th.

What kind of performances?? Moist ones??

Well, no. Not really. From family-friendly varietè shows to sexy and saucy burlesque shows, there is something here for everyone.

Intrigued?? Me too.

According to the Seattle PI last year, “Combining traditional European vaudeville and variety acts such as aerial artists, jugglers, dancers, comedians and can-can girls, the Moisture Festival is a month-long celebration of physical arts taking place at three [five this year] different venues. Most shows are family-friendly, but the festival does have a series of late-night burlesque shows for ages 21 and older.”

So head on over to their website and check out the different attractions and venues, schedules, and what people are saying about this fabulous fest!

Tickets range from $10 (comedy/varietè) to $20-something (burlesque/varietè) and can be purchased here. Moisture Festival is on through the 4th of April, so be sure to check it out!

*Photos courtesy Moisture Festival Website*

Okay, smarty pants!

Time to show off your brain skills and impress your sweet with TRIVIA NIGHT!

Every Friday Night at 8pm, the Monkey Pub (5305 Roosevelt Way NE, (206) 523-6457) offers trivia night for only $3 per player!

The 1st place team receives the entire pot o’ cash, so there’s some opportunity to actually MAKE money on this Date Night!

What’s better? After Trivia is over, they open up the mic for KARAOKE night! Trivia + Karaoke = THE MOST AMAZING DATE EVER! And for only $3 plus a few more bucks for some beer and some Costco Dogs (yes, they have Costco Dogs!), you can have a blast of a time for less than $20!

And who knows, brush up on your random pop culture trivia and you may just end up taking home more than you came with! Fan them on Facebook HERE.

Healthy Date Night!

March 4th, 2010:Greenlake Run and Tacos Guaymas!

She Said:

So... Brett and I have decided that twice a month, we're going to do a "Healthy Date Night." Yes, we've noticed our pants fitting a bit snugger after all our dinners out... We realize that we can have our Date Night and still be healthy and still have fun. So, that's what we're trying to do. And we started it with last Thursday's Date Night!

Since I started dating Brett (back in 2007), I've been trying to get him to run Green Lake with me.

Yes, three years later and still no luck.

Until last week!

I told him the perfect induction into our Healthy Date Nights would be finally running the 3.2 miles around one of Seattle's most beautiful neighborhoods.

So that's just what we did!

We parked on Greenlake Way and 66th, did a few stretches, took some big deep breaths, and were off!

We're both runners, and by "runners" i mean that i run about 3.2 miles 3 times a week, and Brett comes with me about once every two weeks. So we run, but by no means do we ever run far or fast. So we were able to keep up an average pace while still holding a conversation. It's such a beautiful run, especially at night, but can get pretty dark, so just be careful.

And also, don't feel you have to run it. Greenlake is a great spot to have a lazy stroll, hand in hand with your sweetie!

The great thing about running Greenlake is, afterwards you have a ton of great restaurants within a walking vicinity to head out to for a bite and a beer (you deserve it! you just burned a ton of calories!). That's just what Brett and I did.

We walked the 8 blocks over to Tacos Guaymas, a Mexican restaurant that happens to be a neighborhood favorite.

This was apparent as the place was packed! WE found a seat at the bar, and promptly ordered a water and a beer each.

Glancing over the menu while munching on free chips and salsa, we noticed this place has everything you would ever want to order! From a healthy vegetarian, no cheese/no sour cream/no guacamole Guaymas Burrito (what i ordered, $8.25) to a bit more robust meals like the Carne Asada (what Brett ordered, $13), they have it all!

The food was good, but nothing to scream home about (we'll always be partial to Jalisco's on Queen Anne!). Still a great place to whet the whistle after a good hard jog...

So, if you're looking for something healthy, cheap, where you can enjoy the great outdoors, this is definitely a Date Night for you!

xo,

Mandy

RATINGS:

Tacos Guaymas
www.guaymasgreenlake.com
6808 East Green Lake Way North
(206) 729-6563

Romance: Greenlake: 4/Tacos Guaymas: 2

Cool Ambiance/Interior: 3: It's your average Mexican restaurant!

All Around Service: 3: They were really busy and kept forgetting to bring us things. But they were really busy, so we assume that’s why. And also, we were STARVING after the run, and we get cranky when we get hungry!

Cost: $$ = entrees from $8 – 13: Great price for a ton of food!

Would we recommend it? 4: Yes! Good, cheap, healthy date night!

She Said:

Show your creativity.

When going on a date, whether it’s the first date or you’ve been married for 25 years… one piece of advice rings true for every situation: Show your creativity.

What do you know about this woman you want to impress? What are her likes and dislikes? In order to plan a great date, it has to be something that really interests her. A lot of guys do the standard "take her out to dinner" thing and just hope for the best. That's just not the right way to do it. You need to think outside the dinner box, and show her you thought about her when you planned this date.

[Paintball at Gasworks Park, 10 Things I Hate About You]