Seattle Travel Diary + Shopbop sale picks

Last week I was in Seattle for a siblings trip, chaperoning my 13-year-old brother to visit my middle brother (who lives there). Nick and I were “treated” to a firsthand preview of life with a rambunctious teenager. While there, I got lots of requests for a Seattle food post – unfortunately, my brothers were more interested in video games than eating, so we didn’t get to try as many spots as I’d have liked. We did get what we went for, though: a satisfying dose of soup dumplings and mother nature!

Wallace Falls Hike (~1 hr north)

My brother Ed goes hiking, skiing and/or mountain climbing every weekend (seems like the norm for Pacific Northwesters!) so I asked him to take us on an easy preggo-friendly hike. Wallace Falls turned out to be a peaceful trail with various waterfall viewing points at different distances (under 6 miles round trip if you go all the way to Upper Falls) which was perfect for me! There was a fusion diner / Vietnamese place near the base that I wanted to eat at afterwards but they were closed that day … bummer!

Wineries & Breweries

On our way back, my brother mentioned there were several wine tasting options in Woodinville, a town about halfway home from where we were hiking. This could be a fun stop on your way home from a leisurely morning hike!

University of Washington

My brother informed me that it was blossom season at UW, then probably instantly regretted it as I proceeded to spend a whole afternoon taking photos there. I imagine the situation in Japan during peak sakura season must be similar, with the blossoms being outnumbered by tourists with selfie sticks ; )

The quick eats in the vicinity of UW campus were good and diverse, including a satisfying fresh udon & tempura place that reminded me SO much of Hawaii’s Marukame Udon, and a yummy build-your-own pizza chain that’s ubiquitous in the city (it was perfect for an affordable kid-pleaser meal).

Pike Place Market

This was Nick’s first time in Seattle, so we had to do the classic tourist stop at Pike Place. We watched fish get tossed around, ate cheese samples at Beecher’s, and waited in a long line at Piroshky Piroshky for sweet & savory pastries. The Skagit Valley tulip festival just kicked off, but since it’s over an hour north and I was outnumbered by disinterested males, I had to settle for a bouquet at the market!

Dumpling Face-off

Din Tai Fung (DTF) is always a must-stop when I visit the west coast … those bite sized, meticulously folded, soup-filled dumplings with vinegary dipping sauce are little pouches of joy. I also wanted to try a local chain, Dough Zone (DZ), to compare. DZ’s star dish is allegedly their Q Bao (a seared, larger juicy bun), but they didn’t have them when we went so we’ll never know! We did surprisingly enjoy these addictive A-choy leaves with sesame dressing, though.

Our consensus was the soup dumplings were better at DTF (although not by a wide margin), the pan fried dumplings were better at DZ, and the service was better at DTF by a landslide. And oh, can’t forget the dessert selection at DTF … mini steamed bao filled with either chocolate, sweet red bean, or taro, and then there’s this massive shaved ice that turned heads from all the diners around us! I do wish they had fruit toppings instead of just the traditional Asian ones though (boba, jellies, taro, red bean, mochi).

Here’s another look at my tunic while we were touring my brother’s office at Microsoft – I’m also wearing the sale jeans, seamless bra, and sunglasses mentioned earlier! This tunic is very lightweight and on the flowy side (forgiving for big meals or a bump). Compared to the popular Leith tunic which was too long and oversized for me, this one in petites is better for a shorter frame. The neckline still goes a little low for me, so I secure it with a tiny safety pin or fashion tape, or just wear a cami.

Shopbop Sale Picks

I also wanted to mention Shopbop’s big bi-annual sale which just kicked off today with VERY few designer exclusions (the best I’ve seen in years)!! They have free shipping & returns to several international countries. Below, I rounded up some longtime favorites + maternity staples I’ve been relying on so far!

Undergarment must-haves:
Several items from my underwear staples guide are on sale! Comparing 2 of my fave sticky bra solutions:

1. Bristols 6 Nippies (Update: found them fully in stock & 25% off at Bloomies) – Don’t waste your time and $ on other “breast petal” options, because these good quality ones can be re-worn well over a dozen times. They come in sz 1 / B which are 3″ wide or sz 2 / C for 4″ wide. I’ve gotten both light and medium shades and either works for my skin tone. I gently hand wash mine in warm water after every few wears, and always store them shaped on the plastic cups inside the box. I also bought the non-adhesive ones since my friend says they actually stay on very well!

Pros: So comfy, free and light, you’ll forget you’re wearing anything. Seriously an addictive feeling! Cons: No support or push up features. If it’s cold and you have raging headlights, it may still show through fitted light-colored or white clothing.

2. Adhesive Nubra – More of a true bra compared to the Nippies. I’ve worn this push-up one multiple times and they also have a lower-priced Feather Lite style. Bloomingdales also has this particular style at $40 with 25% off. My favorite aspect of these is you can create some cleavage on even small chests! The key is to start sticking the Nubra on the outer edge of one breast, then push it in towards the center while simultaneously “scooping” in the other breast to create cleavage. Secure this scooped position by sticking on the rest of the Nubra. It holds pretty well, especially under a fitted garment.

Pros: In the world of backless and stick-on bras, this offers some support and creates adjustable levels of cleavage. Cons: May still not be enough support for very busty ladies. Update: Laticia helpfully shared in the comments that Feather Lite Nubra sz D is a “miracle worker” on her 30DDD frame!

Shoes shoes shoes – starting in sz 4:
– Sam Edelman Yaro – The perfect block heeled minimalist sandal starting in sz 5, with a variety of neutral shades to flatter your skintone. From light to dark there’s Oatmeal, Golden Caramel, Brown, and also a rose gold metallic!

– Ferragamo shoes – ALL included in sale, along with their handbags and belts! My favorite are the Vara low pumps – feminine and classic.

– Stuart Weitzman shoes – also all included in sale, even their signature Nudist and Nudistong (lower 90mm) minimalist sandals.

– Hermes sandal dupes – If you like the minimalist “H” slides, Steve Madden has similar for less in sz 5+.

– Sam Edelman Tinsley rain boots – (see on me here & here) The reviews on Shopbop are all over the place but I LOVE these! I commute in them regularly even when there’s no sign of rain. To the point of a reviewer who said these rub at the ankles, I did wear high socks or tights the first few times to break them in.

– Hunter Tour boots – The recent Hunter for Target collab is so fun & colorful, however the only rain boot they have for women in the collection looks very wide and angled at the top opening, so I’ll be sticking to my beloved Tour boots for inclement weather. So light & comfortable (for rubber boots), I have them in 3 colors – see my outfit posts featuring them.

Maternity:
– Ingrid & Isabel Bella Band in sz 1 (also sold at Nordstrom) – These have been a wardrobe-saver for me since week 10, so much that I got multiple colors. One end of this stretchy band has a rubberized grip to hold up the un-zipped pants, and the other end can be folded down or worn up over the belly. It’s comfy and works well on my low-to-mid rise jeans and pants, like the BR Sloans.

– Ingrid & Isabel Active pants / leggings in XS (see on me in the hiking photo below) – My first piece of maternity clothing (worn on heavy rotation!). These are sturdy, thick and opaque. The cropped length is good for petites, the back has a cute crossover style, and I love that the waist can also be worn folded down or over the belly!

– Maternity designer denim, including the mama version of my favorite white J.Brand jeans!