Swim & Serve Success!

We had such a good time getting together to serve last week. As we arrived, we munched on delicious salads and chatted together.

We tied a quilt, pieced by our lovely Stake Relief Society President, Diana Leytham, to be donated to a local charity.

And assembled all the donated items into kits for families who are rushed to the Cancer Care Center at Children's Hospital. There were so many items that we were able to put together fifty kits!

Thank you to all those who attended and all who attended in spirit by sending donations. We know the kits will be greatly appreciated by many families at Children's Hospital.

The Best of Seattle: Getting Away

The Results are IN!

The results from our last few polls are in! Check below to see where the sisters in our ward shop, who they recommend for doctors and dentists, and what they like to do in the summertime!

Stay tuned for a few more polls!

The Best of Seattle: Staying Healthy

What family doctor do you recommend?
Polyclinic-Broadway location: Dr. Susan Baumgaertel ("She has phenomenal bedside manner and participates in Your Partnership in Health program.")
UWMC Family Medical Center

What pediatrician do you recommend?
Sand Point Pediatric (2 votes!)
UWMC-Roosevelt Pediatric Clinic (2 votes!)
NW Pediatrics: Dr. Alberda
Polyclinic Pediatrics

What OB/GYN or midwife do you recommend?
Northwest Hospital and Medical Center: Dr. Dana Blackham
Northwest Women's Healthcare: Drs. Johanssen, Smith, or Bomke
Swedish Healthcare for Women (in Nordstrom Tower on Madison): Dr. Karen Jones
UW Nurse-Midwives (moving to NW Hospital)
Women's Health Care Center at UWMC-Roosevelt: Dr. Wendy Lorentz, Dr. Viska Mendriatta, Dr. Sarah Prager

What dentist do you recommend?
Dr. Andy Nelson (LDS, in U-District)
Dr. Carry
Drs. Green and Pietsch (office on 35th)
Dr. Heidi Hackett
Dr. Jon Way (pediatric dentist in Sandpoint)
Dr. Ty Etheridge (great for kids)
Vendeland Dentistry (in Renton): Dr. Vendeland or Dr. Chen

What other health care practitioner do you recommend?
Swedish Weight Loss Services: Dr. Rick Lindquist (weight management, prescribes a whole foods diet and lifestyle options)

The Best of Seattle: Summertime Results

There were a lot of exclamation points in our responses about Seattle summers! We sure love 'em!

What is your favorite Seattle summertime activity that doesn't cost a dime?
Beaches! Matthews Beach, Magnuson Beach, Richmond Beach, Edmonds Beach
Ferry ride out to Jetty Island (Plan to spend a few hours there before the ferry can bring you back!)
Go to the Ballard Locks and see the salmon
Take photos of the beautiful surroundings!
Take walks!
Wading Pools

What do you like to do that costs a little money?
Canoeing on Lake Washington (2 votes!) ($8.50/hour or $5/hour for students)
Colman Pool in West Seattle (saltwater pool right by the Sound) ($3.25 to 4.75/person)
Columbia Tower Observation Deck ($5 or $3 for students)
Fremont Outdoor Movies ($5 per person)
Lynnwood Aquatic Center
Mariner's games
Movies at Northgate ($1)
Paddleboarding in Lake Union ($13/hour)
Summer camps through Community Centers
Water taxi from Alki Beach (free parking + amazing skyline view) to the pier ($7 round trip per person)

What's your favorite park?
Carkeek Park (2 votes!)
Volunteer Park (has a free conservatory) (2 votes!)
Gas Works
Madison Park Beach
Saint Edward Park
Wallingford Park
Washington Park and Arboretum

These and other great parks can be found on the Seattle Parks & Rec website.

Wading pools are another summertime favorite. The wading pools at Wallingford Park and Green Lake got our votes!

What do you do to escape the heat when the temperature rises?
Dip feet in the water at Discovery Park
Bellevue Mall
Turn bathtub into kiddie pool
Drink slushy fruit drinks
Stand in the ice cream aisle at the grocery store
Sit under the umbrellas at University Village and let kids play in the fountains
Go to the beach!
Wading pools

The Best of Seattle: The Necessary Details

Well, the results are in, and for things like groceries, gas, and haircuts, we like to stay close to home! Most of the stores and services we liked are right here in our own neighborhood.

Where do you do your grocery shopping?
25% QFC
18% Safeway
10% Fred Meyer
10% Trader Joe's
10% Winco
7% Costco
4% Farmers' Market
4% Grocery Outlet
4% Madison Market
4% Rising Sun Farms
4% Walmart

Where is the best place to buy gas?
50% Costco
14% Chevron (on 25th near U Village)
7% 7-11 (on Sandpoint)
7% AM/PM
7% Arco
7% QFC (on 145th & 15th)
7% Shell

Where else do you find yourself shopping at least once a week?
25% Target
19% Another Grocery Store (Safeway: 13%, Trader Joe's: 6%)
12% Drug Store (Bartell: 6%, Walgreens: 6%)
13% Fred Meyer
13% Rising Sun Farms (fruit stand on 65th and 15th)
6% Amazon.com
6% Jo-Ann Fabric
6% Sam's Club

Where do you go to get your hair cut?
20% Liz Bohan
20% Tricia Holdaway
13% Ten Pachi
13% GM Aveda Institute (plan on taking some time for this one!)
7% Gene Juarez
7% Great Clips
7% Seven
7% Tonic
7% Vain (Belltown)

And a few bonus recommendations: a sister in the ward likes Elite Electrology for electrolosys and Angela at Maristella Spa Services for waxing!

For reference, there are two Costcos near our ward boundaries: one at 1175 North 205th Street in Shoreline (north of us) and one at 4401 4th Avenue South in SoDo (south of us). There are two Jo-Ann Fabrics, but the one in Ballard is tiny and not really worth the drive. We'd recommend going to 15236 Aurora Ave N (right on the way to Costco!)

The Best of Seattle: Staying Healthy

The Best of Seattle: Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?