Katherine Chloé Cahoon

Ladies, these tips are straight from a man who specializes in training people to get the gold—in the Olympics. Rusty is a recruitment coach. But he’s no Gunnery Sergeant. His tactic is to train with positive encouragement. Lately, I’ve been training for the Couch Potato Olympics. It goes like this…sit on the couch, watch the athletes compete, and vicariously feel like you’re in top shape. I figured it was time to actually get those molecules moving, so Rusty is giving me a kick-start. Let’s hope I can walk tomorrow:)

Rusty was kind enough to take a break from training and reveal some of his dating tips:

You Won’t Reach the Dating Podium by Ignoring a Guy. When I asked Rusty for one thing that confused him about girls, he answered, “Just one?” Then he proceeded to narrow down the list to, “How they talk to guys that they like. They ignore them. Men want the initial conversation to come from a woman sometimes.”

Get High Scores in Confidence. “Be comfortable in your own skin.” Rusty may be a super-fit trainer, but he is “attracted to girls of all shapes and sizes.” What’s most important to him is the connection she has with him, and that she is self-confident. He explained, “If she’s a sweat pants girl, go for that. If she likes to get dressed up, that’s fine too, but it has to feel right to her.” In other words, a woman shouldn’t get done up in something that feels uncomfortable just to impress a man because she’ll give off an uncomfortable aura instead of an appealing one.

No One Likes to Talk with a Wall. A one-sided conversation is an immediate turn-off. Rusty is drawn to a girl who is “engaged in what we’re doing and shows interest.” We can all handle that!

I told Rusty that I’m am arm wuss, so amongst dispensing dating tips, he helped me pump iron. Well, he pumped iron. I rocked my one-pound pink weights! Don’t think I’m qualifying for the Olympics anytime soon:)

And yet, besides my dress, there’s nothing blue about it! I’m quite happy with this holiday, but I couldn’t unglue my eyes from this gown when I spotted it. I think a girl should wear something she loves on love day—regardless of the color.

Whether you’re in a romantic relationship or not, I hope you enjoy the day and surround yourself with friends and family. Everyone has someone to love!

Tadashi Shoji Cobalt Dress and Alexis Bittar Cuff Bracelet.

We all know the saying “get a room,” but seriously, could Valentine’s Day be any more memorable for a couple than if they spent it on a steamy getaway to a charming hotel? Here are three such hot spots sure to supercharge your love life…and I’m sure there’s something like them near you.

Romance at The Plaza. New York is vacay paradise. And The Plaza offers suite accommodations with chocolate truffles, champagne, breakfast in bed and flowers.

Paris – the City of Love. Hotel du Triangle d’Or, with its music-themed contemporary vibe, provides an escape that will “seduce you in three words: art, wellness and evasion.” Here, the love-enhancing package includes drinks, a relaxing steam room and a “romantic box.” I don’t know what that means, but I’m intrigued!

Caribbean Interlude. Fresh flower petals, chocolate-covered strawberries, and an intimate couples’ massage—need I say more?! All of this can be yours at the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean.

Who could top that for a Valentine dinner? If your relationship has entered monotonous mode, this concoction should send it sizzling tout de suite. And if your romance is already on fire, the dish is sure to ignite more sparks.

I’d love to take credit for coming up with this creation, but it all goes to Jencen. The meal is elegant, romantic, easy to make, and adaptable to any budget. If you’re flush, splurge on a premium steak. If you’re watching that bottom line, choose something economical, use spices already on hand, and take veggies from your fridge. Either way, you’ll have a hit. Here’s how Jencen and I did it in 12 easy steps and about 45 minutes:

Shopping List for Two: 1) flavoring – five garlic cloves and one large shallot, three tbs. dissolvable coffee, one tbs. cocoa powder, two tbs. parmesan cheese, ¼ tsp. rosemary, and salt to taste, 2) six medium red potatoes, 3) steak, 4) shrimp, 5) butter, 6) wines – chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon (½ cup each), 7) ½ cup cream, 8) olive oil, 9) ½ cup beef stock, 10) broccolini 11) heart-shaped cookie cutter, and 12) two kabob skewers.

First, mince the garlic, removing any sprouts to avoid a bitter taste. Press the side of your knife into the minced garlic to squeeze out moisture. Then mince your shallots.

Second, mix the spices for your steak rub. The three key ingredients are dissolvable coffee, cocoa powder, and parmesan cheese. If you don’t use anything else, your rub will still be scrumptious. We hit up the spice rack and added a dash of All-Spice, Cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder and Brazilian cinnamon.

Third, mix your spices.

Fourth, rinse the potatoes. Don’t scrub them because that will remove the red skin and detract from your beautiful presentation. Potato sprouts collect dirt easily, so cut them all out. Then slice the potatoes into one-inch cubes, place them in hot water, and put the pan on the stove for 15 minutes on medium high heat.

Fifth, dry your steaks with a paper towel so the spice rub will stick evenly, and put on the rub.

Be generous in doing this because when you grill the steaks, juices will escape and drip most of the rub off. The remaining rub will infuse the meat.

Sixth, wash and peel your shrimp. Put them in a frying pan with butter on medium-high heat. Once the butter melts and the shrimp starts to simmer, add garlic. You’ll want to wait until then so the garlic won’t burn and become bitter. Once the garlic starts to turn golden brown, add chardonnay. Flip the shrimp, put a lid on the pan, and let them simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Seventh, begin grilling your steaks while the shrimp and potatoes simmer. Rotate the steaks between 10 and 2 o’clock on your grill to create perfect grill marks.

Eighth, make your mashed potatoes using a recipe by a former Four Seasons sous chef who trained Jencen. Start by putting a stick of butter in a pan. Place cut-up garlic on top of it, let the butter melt, start to sauté the garlic, and add salt to taste. Pour cream into this concoction and stir until blended. Then let it simmer for ten minutes. This will reduce the cream, creating a savory Alfredo-like sauce. While this is cooking, pour the water off the potatoes and mash them.

Ninth, create your wine reduction gravy. Coat a sauce pan with olive oil and pour off the excess. Heat the oil on medium, add ¼ cup shallots and stir until they turn clear. Add ½ cup red wine and ½ beef stock. Simmer until only half the liquid remains.

Tenth, once your steak is cooked with the perfect grill marks, reduce the heat to keep it warm while you pour your Alfredo-like cream from the frying pan into the mashed potatoes. Mash some more, and add salt to taste. Make the consistency of the potatoes thin because they will thicken as they cool down.

Eleventh, sauté the rest of the shallots and garlic in butter for five minutes while soaking broccolini in a bowl of hot water. Then add the blanched broccolini to the pan.

Twelfth, design a romantic display. Press your mashed potatoes into a heart-shaped cookie cutter on a plate and pass a knife across the top of the cutter to level off the potatoes. Pull the cookie cutter straight up and the heart will remain. Add your steak and pour the wine reduction gravy over it. Make a heart with two shrimps by placing them face-to-face on a kabob skewer stick and prop it up against the steak and potatoes. Garnish with broccolini.

Tantalizingly delicious! The five aphrodisiacs are chocolate, coffee, shrimp, rare steak and wine—that’s straight from the chef.

As I was perusing my past pictures this morning, I came across these ones from a glammed-out Topshop event.

Nordstrom showcased extra merchandise – items not even sold online – packed the place with stylists and makeup artists, set up a photo-taking station like those at movie premieres, and brought in beloved NYC fashion blogger Christine Cameron, of My Style Pill.

Topshop is famous for its fashions so, naturally, I wore one of their dresses to the event—but I quickly became turned on to their makeup. They feature shimmer palettes that can cause any eye color to pop and be described in two words that make my heart sing and keep my credit card intact…“Reasonably Priced.”

This gorgeous makeup artist rolled out the red lipstick and shined up my eyes by combining their Game On and Nebula palettes. All of these colors are compatible, so you can experiment with confidence.

Then this makeup maven gave my cheeks a natural glow. A similar product to the one she used in Topshop’s line is the Glow Highlighter. The entire look she created – from the red lips to the bright eyes – radiated romance. So pucker up girls! The ideal Valentine’s Day threesome is you, your man and Topshop. And if you’re sidestepping the traditional dating day, you can wear this line as a proud, independent woman!

Today, I’m featuring a guy who’s a total CATCH. From that reference, the title of this post, and this picture, I bet you can guess his background! Billy had a professional overseas baseball career playing for teams in South Africa and Australia.

You might recognize Billy from the Meeting Men Monday and Travel Thursday banner pictures on my homepage. It’s only four days until Valentine’s Day, so he’s an ideal man to share with you four of his dating insights.

Opposites Don’t Always Attract. When it comes to a woman’s interests, Billy believes that she can be just as captivating whether she shares his or not. As he explained, “Sometimes opposites attract, but other times similarities attract.”

Sexy Straight Out of Bed. Billy is most attracted to a woman when she is in her “natural state”—meaning, when she has no makeup on and has just rolled out of bed. See girls, I said you’d love Billy.

Worth the Wait. When this guy really likes a girl, he’s in no hurry to get physical fast because he wants to take the time to get to know her and build a relationship that could last a long time.

Speaking of a Long Time. Billy likes, “long, slow, deep kisses that last three days”.

Okay, I think that’s a good place to wrap up!

Here’s an Instagram video with some footage of the fun we had taking our website pictures. You’ll see that we got drenched from the pouring rain, but that didn’t stop us!

https://instagram.com/p/kOk29XifHv/

This Anthropologie floral dress looks like it belongs in an award-winning flower garden! So that’s exactly where I headed in it.

If you’re interested in seeing this garden, and hearing the awesome story of the woman behind it, check out my last Travel Thursday post.

If you have the privilege of attending the flower show, besides viewing breathtaking gardens, you can visit an assortment of unique venders like JOHNBob, who describes his wares as “cool junk.” But let me tell you, there is no junk on the premises—only cool antiques.

And then there’s Bob Bowling Rustics, specializing in adorable everything.

Photos courtesy of Mom and her little purse camera:) Attending the Garden Show is a family tradition.

Ferocious perseverance is what took world-famous glass-and-metal artist, Ginny Ruffner, from a near-fatal auto accident to an against-all-odds recovery and reemergence on the global art stage. I will be forever grateful for knowing her and helping to build her garden at the acclaimed Northwest Flower & Garden Show—running now through February 9^th at Seattle’s Convention Center.

Ginny’s garden, Artful Delight, is a visual feast of her Smithsonian-quality art expertly woven into an array of both rare and native plants. The Show features an abundance of award-winning displays – including 50 Shades of Orchids – and the Wine Garden, where you can enjoy refreshments amid this extraordinary view.

Each of Ginny’s metal and glass pieces has a story, and is infused with her unique charm, wit and personality. As Ginny explained while we were hard at work on the garden, “My favorite piece is always the next one.”

Ginny’s own story will always be one of my favorites. Her doctors were certain that she could not survive that accident, and urged her family to disconnect the life support…explaining that even if she proved them wrong, she would be completely paralyzed. But her family knew what Ginny was made of and refused to give up on her. The world was given a gift when Ginny fought her way back, one fiber of her body at a time. Ginny is an inspiration to anyone facing any type of challenge.

It’s not every day that a girl gets to learn how to cook French cuisine from an award-winning chef. Here are the steps to creating the delicious Black Cod en Papillote. My favorite one is last… Eat it!

All you need to impress your friends with this entrée is to follow Jencen’s simple steps.

Here’s your shopping list to make dinner for two: 1) black cod – two fillets, 6 oz. each, 2) one bunch of carrots, 3) one bunch of asparagus, 4) one daikon radish, 5) ¼ cup butter, 6) one tbs. chopped green onion, 7) ¼ cup coconut oil, 8) ¼ tsp. ginger, 9) ½ tsp. smoked paprika, 10) salt to taste 11) one lemon, 12) ¼ cup white wine, 13) extra virgin olive oil, and 14) parchment paper.

First, Jencen created the herb butter with ingredient nos. 5-10, and one tbs. of lemon zest that he grated from the lemon (#11). Then he chopped up the veggies and salted them. You can play around with your choice of veggies. We used carrots, asparagus and daikon…the hues were beautiful together.

Next, we each traced a half oval on a piece of folded parchment paper and cut it out.

The third step was to slightly sauté the carrots in olive oil. Any vegetable you choose that is so dense it will not cook in the parchment paper with the rest of this concoction needs some pre-cooking.

We unfolded our paper and placed our veggies on ½ of it, creating a colorful bed for the fish.

Then we rinsed the cod and laid it on the veggies. Jencen had bought the fish at market that morning, right after it was caught. A top chef wouldn’t settle for less!

We smeared the herb butter on top of the filets.

Then we pushed two slices of lemon into the butter.

And added the wine.

We folded over the parchment paper and crimped the edges to make it airtight.

Then we cooked our creations for 15 minutes at 375°. To test if your fish is done, stick a sharp knife through the parchment. When you open the paper, put your masterpiece on a dish and squeeze your remaining lemon over the cod.

The parchment paper kept all the flavor and moisture trapped inside while everything was cooking. That made our entrées so soft and savory that they practically melted in our mouths!

I’m getting ready to help the renowned artist, Ginny Ruffner, build her display garden for the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Ginny’s masterful glass and metal creations are permanently featured in over 40 museums worldwide—and in the fanciful garden of her Seattle home. It’s no wonder that the Arboretum Foundation begged her to let them recreate it for the show. If you met Ginny, you’d realize that everything about her is a work of art, even her hair. She has a long, curly mane with a personality of its own. Since I’ll be working with Ginny today, it’s only fitting to coiffure my own hair in a creative way. I hope she likes it!

Since I’ll be bending over working with plants, I’ve decided to do a braid to keep my hair out of the way…but in honor of Ginny I’m working in colorful stands of yarn. And I’m creating this style as I go along. First, I’m clipping up the top part of my hair. Then I’m tying several strings of yarn in a variety of colors to the remaining hair. Yarn is easy to work with because it’s not slippery. To spice up the style, I’m mixing in some shimmer yarn.

Helpful Hints: If you try this, choose yarn that is fairly thick so the colors don’t get lost in your hair. Precut each strand so that it will blend in seamlessly with your hair length…and you won’t risk accidently cutting off your own hair by trying to even everything up:)

Next, I’ve decided on a Fishtail Braid. I love this type because it looks fancy, but is deceptively easy. If you want this look, all you have to do is divide your hair into two equal-sized pieces.

Take a small strand of hair from the outer edge of the left piece, pull it over the rest of that left piece, and place it into the right piece.

Then repeat the process on the right. Keep doing this on alternate sides until your braid is completed. Some people worry about making a perfect braid, but I don’t. I think there’s a charm to a messy, loose, bohemian look…especially when gardening with a famous artist!

All you need to complete this look is to tie the end of the braid together with some remaining yarn. I braided my yarn first… You can also add a tiny braid that swoops from your part down to your fishtail, like I did.

I’ll try to squeeze in taking a few pictures while I help Ginny create the garden. Then you can see it on Travel Thursday – with more about this show – and learn why she is as famous as her art.

Since I was little, I’ve made up words…not in school papers though. I learned early on that teachers don’t allot A’s for creativity! ARTISTocrat in the “Katherine Dictionary” is someone who has achieved the highest level of artistic excellence. That perfectly describes Jencen.

He’s a professional-level pianist, and an award-winning cook who relies on his sense of smell more than recipes. He’s talented and attractive, but doesn’t have an ounce of egotism. He is one of the most genuine, thoughtful guys I’ve ever met.

Since February – the Valentine month – is now officially in play, while Jencen and I cooked, I got the inside track on his view of romance.

On each Meeting Men Monday this month, I’ll feature a different guy with a unique background and divulge his dating tips. Without further ado, here are Jencen’s thoughts.

The Passion Play. Jencen explained, “If a girl wants to up her chances of a guy liking her, she should show him her interesting side. The more passions she has, the more interested and passionate a guy becomes toward her.”

A Speed Demon Won’t Win the Dating Race. When I asked Jencen for his #1 date deal-breaker he said, “A girl who eats faster than me.” And that wasn’t his only food analogy. After all, he IS a chef!

Cooking and Romance…How Different Are They? Jencen says that he is most drawn to a girl who “appeals to all of my senses.” He likes women who are attractive, have great personalities, and smell good. Okay ladies, where’s that perfume? If you’re going out with a chef who cooks by sense of smell, you can see how important that would be.

When it comes to Jencen’s kissing style, he says, “The tongue is the garnish. Not the main course.”

I think that sums it up! For Wild Card Wednesday, I’ll give you the step-by-step recipe to the delicious French dish Jencen and I cooked.

WIN WIN WIN!!! The celebratory screaming in Seattle is taking over the town. It won’t stop until sunrise. Then we’ll only take a temporary pause during work…that is if we go to work…and we’ll crank the party back up in the evening. We are so proud of our boys!

Super Bowl mania is at fever pitch, so it’s the perfect time to call in the Triplets of Boom, a secret dancing Seahawks Fan Squad!

https://instagram.com/p/j2DIssCfGG/

As you can see, I’m ridiculously hyped for the game. Here are some tips for showing your team spirit regardless of who you are cheering on…but it’d better be the Seahawks 😉

Team Pride from Head to Toe. It’s not enough to just wear your team’s colors, painting your face is practically a rite of passage, whether you’re at a party or the stadium! But a lot of people complain that the paint feels uncomfortable and refuses to come off post-game. I solved that by getting a kids’ face-painting kit at a costume store. The colors go on fast, stay put, are gentle to skin, and wipe off in two swipes with a makeup remover pad.

Keep Your Eyes On the Game. Girls, eye makeup is another way to show your team devotion. The above picture uses Seahawks colors from the Heart Breaker Palette by Sugarpill Cosmetics. If you can’t get your hands on one, go to MAC Cosmetics. They’re notorious for having a wide array of theatrical tones, so you’re covered regardless of which team you’re rooting for.

Cheer Like the Best. Us Seahawks fans are wild with pride. It’s no wonder we’re known for being the loudest. At the last game, we set a crowd noise record at over 137 decibels. To put things in perspective, an aircraft carrier is generally around 140 db. So if you’re lucky enough to attend the game in person, pack a pair of earplugs. I know this tip isn’t sexy, but your ears will thank me later:)

Stop Your Shivering. Here’s another tip for stadium-goers. This will be the first Super Bowl held outdoors with snow and strong wind in the forecast. Keep warm in something like Gerbing’s Puffer Jacket. It has a battery-operated heating system that can go as high as 135 degrees.

Keep Security on Your Side. The only bags allowed at the Super Bowl are clear plastic, PVD, or vinyl ones that don’t exceed 12x6x12 inches. But there aren’t any rules for clothing pockets. The Scottevest Travel Vest contains an ample amount…quite sneaky. With it, you’ll have room for all of your necessities, camera included.

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Universities report that students are opting out of the traditional semester abroad and in to fly-by European tours lasting as little as a week. So basically, they’re learning something like Roman culture by waving at the Coliseum as their group is herded to the next attraction. And their version of bonding with locals is saying, “Excuse me” as they knock into them while trying to keep pace. This is what I call the Twitter version of study abroad.

These students are shortchanged in so many ways. Some of my best European memories came only after I had spent serious time in a location. When I lived in London, I thought I knew every inch of downtown. Then I discovered a gem tucked away in the arts district.

This restaurant is listed as a favorite in my book, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. It’s shaped like a miniature theater, complete with a stage and acclaimed opera singers. Patrons dine at tables in the balcony, boxes, and orchestra pit. A total no-miss, right? Oddly enough, none of my friends were interested. I didn’t let that stop me. I made a brunch reservation for one and the host seated me at the only table onstage, right next to the pianist.

This was my waiter. By the sixth delicious course, I was completely in heaven but totally stuffed. He thought I had stopped eating because I was unsatisfied with my roast, so he brought me a complimentary chocolate mousse cake!! I made so many friends there that I forgot I had come alone. I wouldn’t have found this gem if I’d been moving through England like a freight train on a one-week trip.

The Wall Street Journal’s Melissa Korn said of the new, abbreviated study abroad, “Those trips may not be much cheaper than a semester or full year abroad, once financial aid is factored in…” She’s right. And at many universities this is true even if you don’t have financial aid. In my book, I tell how it’s done.

Who’s excited for the Super Bowl? It could be a tough game with heavy snow, fierce wind, and superstars on both teams. So I’m prepping to help out my boys – the Seahawks – should Chancellor get injured;) Just kidding! If I were really standing in for our strong safety, there would be nothing safe about the game. But I will be in full cheer-on mode come Sunday. Go Hawks!