Author Archives: Seattle Pockets

Feeling excess stress and anxiety? This can help.

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

ICYMI: I’ve shared two new videos with quick, effective techniques to help lower stress and anxiety in your body and mind. My gift to you. 

It’s important that we let ourselves feel all our feelings right now AND it’s also vital to manage excess levels of stress and anxiety throughout the day to protect our minds and bodies and increase our feelings of peace and resilience.

You can view these videos (and other posts with great stress/worry-reduction tips) in a variety of ways:

Check out the posts in my Facebook Group: Reframe Your Brain

Scroll through posts on my Medium Blog at keridwyn.medium.com

Check out my IG TV posts at instagram.com/keridwyn

As my Mom said to me today, “Keep Breathing.” 

Sending you love,

Keridwyn

I write for SeattlePockets.com as my hobby. My day job is Mindset Coach & Hypnotherapist.

P.S. Not on my Comfort the Mind mailing list yet?  Sign up here. 

Seattle Restaurant Week special offers continue through Nov 21

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

by Keridwyn Deller

Seattle Restaurant Week is back! Adjusting for the pandemic, Seattle Restaurant Week is available every day of the week* and many restaurants are offering delivery or takeout options.

Lunch for $20 and Dinner for $35. Some restaurants are sticking with the three-course-dinner model while others are breaking the mold with “cocktails & tacos” package or make-at-home pizza kits.

The website is very search-friendly, so you can search by who is doing takeout/delivery, vegetarian and vegan options, neighborhood and more.

I like the “Eat Local First” option – restaurants with menu items that include 50% or more ingredients grown or made in Washington are highlighted as offering a Eat Local First designation.

Check out all the offerings here. Too many to choose from? I invite you to think which restaurants in town you would grieve the most if they were to disappear and start there. These restaurants depend on Seattleites who can afford it to visit them. If it’s within your means, take a night off from the kitchen and support some of our many amazing restaurants.

SRW FAQ PAGE.

What restaurants are you supporting and do you want others to support? Share in the comments on this blog post or my Seattle Pockets Facebook post.

*I believe some restaurants like ESR are offering SRW deals only certain days they are open, while others offer the deals ever day they are open, so check the website/restaurant of the place you want to visit.

Image via SRW Facebook page

Giveaway: Seattle Chocolate!

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

Seattle Chocolate truly is my favorite chocolatier. The flavors are creative, super approachable and delicious. They are women owned and a local Seattle company and they give back (they have donated over 4 MILLION servings of food via foodbanks).

I’m giving Seattle Chocolate away to two winners. Enter on Facebook by watching my quick video & commenting on the video here.

For those of you without Facebook accounts (or if you are taking a social media break), you can enter by commenting on this blog post.

Your post should include a flavor you love or want to try.

Photo via instagram.com/seattlechoc

Giveaway ends 9/27/2020 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Weekly Roundup: approachable neuroscience, chickpea smash, scattergories, good shows, and more (9/12/2020)

Posted in Food & Drink, Health, Miscellaneous Awesome, Staying in by

Hey there, it’s been a bit. Turns out some hobbies are harder during this stage of pandemic. You finding that too? Oof.

Let’s jump in. Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

My friend and colleague Lori Hammond recently introduced me to Stanford professor and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman. I’m now going down a youtube rabbit hole, finding videos from podcasts he’s appeared on this summer. He makes neuroscience approachable and is right up my alley, in connection to my work as a Hypnotherapist. He posts on Instagram at instagram.com/hubermanlab (you can view IG posts online even if you don’t sign up for instagram). For more from him, search his name on your podcast app and of course youtube.

Andrew Huberman, (approachable and charismatic Neuroscientist and Standford Professor)

I would love Andrew to be a guest on Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us (my favorite podcast right now).

Unlocking Us is recently back with more episodes, as is another podcast favorite, the funny and interesting pod By the Book with hosts Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer. Funny enough, pre-pandemic they planned this season to have many home-self-help books. AND they just released an episode on one of my favorite books, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo (follow her on FB and IG). Everyone in the United States should read this book.

Ijeoma Oluo, bestselling author and rad thought leader

I’m in the middle of reading Kindred (a book written in the 1970s about a black woman who travels back in time to the 1800s during slavery in the United States). It’s good, powerful, interesting writing. You can listen to the audiobook on Scribd, which is like netflix for audiobooks/ebooks/sheet music – use my link HERE to get 2 months free. You can cancel before your trial is up if you don’t love it and you won’t be charged but I personally LOVE this app and use it a bunch. When you get 2 months free, I get a month free, and that makes me really giddy, so thanks!

I’ve also enjoyed the YA books/audiobooks from Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give and On the Come Up. Highly recommended. Check out links to all the books I’ve read this year so far, here. I love Goodreads and following friends on there is a great way to find new-to-you books to love. My most recent online bookclubs were for the books The Power and Circe and I recommend both of those books (though if your nervous system is on overload right now, you may want to skip The Power for now.)

Another thing that’s brought me joy lately, that I think you might like knowing about is: chickpea toast. Out of avocados? Open a can of garbanzo beans, rinse them, add a splash of water, some mayo and mustard, za’atar spice and a dash of salt. You can mix up some chopped bell pepper or add tomato or arugula on top, and put it on toast. Done! My favorite snack.

Some movies I’ve enjoyed lately include:

Eurovision (super goofy, I’m not always a fan of comedies like this but I imagined my dear friend with an infectious laugh next to me and thoroughly enjoyed it)

Moana (rewatch – one of Disney’s best movies ever)

The King of Staten Island (not sure if I would have watched this if I hadn’t heard Judd Apatow’s interview on Unlocking Us, glad I did. It’s heavy but carthartic and also has good laughs)

The King of Staten Island

Hamilton (of course)

Shows I’ve enjoyed lately:

(besides Youtube podcast videos featuring Andrew Huberman)

Love on the Spectrum (I’d love to hear what you thought of this if you are on the autism spectrum or are close with someone who is)

Padma Lakshmi Taste the Nation

There are a few shows I recommend if you are ok with humor that goes way past the line (not for the easily offended or younger watchers). If that interests you, message me on FB or my contact form and I’ll fill you in. 🙂

To find where a show or movie is streaming, visit the terrific website or app, Just Watch. Cool cool cool. Thanks to the folks who created this, you make my life easier.

Oh, and a great website in case you’re curious if a show or movie is appropriate for a younger watcher or a squeamish or easily offended watcher: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Games:

I’ve enjoyed revisiting Scattergories recently. Great for the whole family or a group of friends and works well via zoom (Send a text of the list you’re using to everyone before you start the timer. If you don’t have a letter dice you can use a site like random.org with the numbers 1 to 26. Or just pick a letter. FYI, the original game’s dice doesn’t include the letters Q, U, V, X, Y, and Z.

—

So, friend, reader, what have you been reading, watching, playing, listening to, making (simple recipes only, please), supporting?

Sending you love and wishing you moments of ease.

Love, Keridwyn

Me, enjoying a sunscreen-and-shade sunny Seattle day…before the smoke

My niece is hosting a Blood Drive – please donate at one of the many locations!

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

My niece Nara (who is heading into her senior year of high school) is organizing a two-week virtual blood drive this summer to help recruit blood donors for Bloodworks Northwest and is looking for people to commit to donating. Donating blood is one of the quickest and easiest ways to save lives. With just an hour of your time, you could save three lives.

She will have a designated two week period (likely sometime in late August) when you can donate at ANY Bloodworks donor center or pop-up location (using her specific 4-digit code). She needs at least 25 committed donors before she can schedule the donation period. Message me (Keridwyn) via private message at fb.com/keridwyn or keridwyn.com/contact if you are interested in donating blood.

If you would like more information on donating blood visit https://www.bloodworksnw.org/ or I can connect you to Nara to answer questions. There is an urgent need for blood donations this summer and donating blood is essential for the health of our community. Go to https://www.bloodworksnw.org/about/news/coronavirus to learn how Bloodworks is working to keep blood donors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donating blood is a direct way to help patients in need and have a positive impact in your community. Your single donation could help three people. Let’s see how many donations we can get!

(Note: I used most of the copy she wrote, with her permission, to help her get the word out to more people. Feel free to share this post to help us spread the word. Thank you!)

Giveaway: Enter to win $50 to spend at the local biz or non-profit of your choice

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

by Keridwyn Deller

Want $50 to spend?

Hey there! I’ve created a short poll to help guide me in my next video offering. Will you take a quick minute and fill it out? You’ll be entered to win $50 to spend at ANY small business or non-profit of your choice. And it will be a great help to me!

Click here to take the poll.

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it.

If you want to give a shout out to your favorite non-profit or local business, share it in the comments below.

Seattle Pockets is back! Weekly round-up: Netflix Parties, Sarahs, Scribd, and a Seattleite I’m inspired by

Posted in Free in Seattle, Giveaways & Special Offers, Health, Miscellaneous Awesome, Staying in by

Half-way through July! I’m finding ways to keep myself active, learning, and content during this stage of the pandemic. I had a bit of a pause on the blog but I’m back now!

Today, I share some ways I’ve been spending my down time, in case you want to join me:


Yoga: you gotta start somewhere

After decades of declaring I wanted to “get into yoga,” the time is finally here. Thanks to the “Yoga & Movement Encouragement Group” I started on Facebook, I can finally say I have a personal yoga practice. I’ve been enjoying Sarah Beth Yoga on Youtube (she’s got a nice list of Beginner yoga videos that are just 10-15 minutes, which is right for me at this time). 

I did 21 days in a row then thought I would go to 2-3 days a week and increase the time I spent on my mat on those days. Well, unfortunately that plan didn’t work out: I ended up doing ZERO yoga for nine days in a row. So, now I am back to the mat with a “daily yoga routine.” Even in just nine days without yoga after 21 days with yoga, I noticed my body was a bit more achy and tight, so I’m excited to be back to the mat. This time around, I’m using the mindset of “I do yoga every day” rather than counting days.

Arm Workout: 5 minutes a day

My pal Samantha Lamb, who is part of my movement encouragement group, shared the daily arm workout program she liked . . . now I’m hooked! I’m already noticing a difference. While I’m not a fan of the title of the course (and guessing the site named it, not the teacher, as Sarah Rector has zero body-shaming in her program), the DailyOm 14 day arm challenge offers arm workouts using small weights at just 5 minutes a day. I did the 14 days and the restarted the program and plan on continuing this for the days to come. Being just 5 minutes a day makes it easy to do it and get through it.

What I’ve been watching

Thank you to the creators of Netflix Party! I’ve enjoyed watching shows with friends while staying home and staying safe during the pandemic (connecting via the chat feature while we watch the show together). Some of the shows I’ve enjoyed watching via NP include

  • Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – travel to Italy, Japan, Mexico, and California with the charming and approachable chef and author Samin Nosrat.
  • Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker “The inspiring story of trailblazing African American entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker who built a haircare empire that made her America’s first female self-made millionaire.” – IMDB
  • Hollywood Not for the faint of heart. A wild ride with delightful casting.
  • Dead To Me (Season 2) Dark, twisty, funny.
  • When They See Us Intense and based on a true story. This mini-series was recommended to me by multiple antiracist mvoies/shows to watch lists.

Other shows I’m watching or recently have watched that I recommend include:

  • Dear White People (the series) “At a predominantly white Ivy League college, a group of black students navigate various forms of racial and other types of discrimination.” – IMBD
  • Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (if you haven’t seen Hannah Gadsby: Nanette yet, watch that first). One of the best solo performers of our time, maybe ever.
  • The Morning Show. Great casting. An inside look at a morning tv show, centering around #MeToo plot lines.
  • Upload Goofy sci-fi with a fun concept. “A man is able to choose his own afterlife after his untimely death by having his consciousness uploaded into a virtual world.” -IMBD
  • Palm Springs It’s not often I laugh out loud at movies and shows but this comedy is so good!
Um, who has a pool I can socially distance hang in soon? I’ll bring my own floaties!

Curling up with some good books

I discovered Scribd this year (basically the “netflix” of books/audiobooks/magazines/sheetmusic). I’m hooked! They normally just give 2 weeks for free but if you sign up with my link you get TWO MONTHS free (and if you’re on a budget you can cancel before your two months runs out and you won’t be charged). I love being able to read and listen to my hearts content, rather than subscription plans that allow just one audiobook a month or charge you if you want more. Sign up with my link here: https://www.scribd.com/g/8gjtsr (You get two months free of Scribd and I get one month free!)

I just finished The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (WOW so good!) on Scribd and am now enjoying Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. My mom (Seattle Pockets blogger Jeanne Deller) and dad recently listened to The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (narrated by national treasure Tom Hanks). They recommend both of these books.

Seattleite I’m inspired by

Journalist Omari Salisbury has been doing an incredible job covering the protests in Seattle, including the experiences at CHOP. His livestreams and replays are an excellent source of news of what is truly happening in Seattle. Check out his links, here.

I’ll be back to blog again soon. Sending love to you, reader! Drop me a line or send me a message if you have suggestions of (safe) entertainment in the coming weeks and months. More about me: linktr.ee/keridwyn – Keridwyn

Giveaway: Like comedy? Enter to win an All-Access Pass to the online “Coast to Coast Roast”

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome by

What’s that? You say it’s been too long since I hosted a giveaway? I agree, friend. Here’s your chance to enter to win a prize that will add more laughter to your life in the coming weeks. We all need that!

Today, I’m giving away an All-Access Pass to the online “Coast to Coast Roast” presented by Helium Comedy Club. I’ll pick the winner tonight!

Learn more on the website here.

Read on to learn how to enter to win.

Helium Comedy Club has partnered with 24 cities and 48 local comedians to bring more laughter to folks – watch from the comfort of your own home The roast began May 7 and continues until May 22. You can purchase tickets for an individual roast or get an All-Access Pass to see all of the shows.

The roast will be hosted by Joe List (Season 2 of Netflix’s The Stand Ups) and Mark Normand (Inside Amy Schumer).

To enter to win:

  1. Comment on this blog post or on the Giveaway Facebook post
  2. Click this link to visit their website.

For more info and tickets for the roast, click here. The net proceeds are going to Mental Health America.

Giveaway ends 5/9/2020. Winner will be contacted via email or Facebook messenger. All local, state, and federal rules apply.

“What should I watch next?” Keridwyn’s TV show recommendations

Posted in Miscellaneous Awesome, Staying in by

Looking for a new-to-you show or movie to stream?

Here’s a list of shows I have enjoyed.  I update this occasionally.

Updated 10/28/2020

To find out where each show or movie is streaming and to read a synopsis, search the title on justwatch.com – a very handy website.

If you are easily offended, please read up before watching shows, as not all of these are appropriate for kids or easily-offended adults.  I use commonsensemedia.com  to see if a show is going to be too violent/gory for me. This is a good source for folks who want to keep it PG/PG13.
HERE WE GO…TV SHOWS AND MOVIES I RECOMMEND
I LOVED:
Hannah Gadsby – Nanette (stand up show / one person show but deals with heavy subjects also funny and incredible) and Douglas. (Watch Nanette first)
The Good Place (Give it a few episodes)
Neal Brennan – 3 mics  (stand up show/one person show but deals with depression. Excellent)
Fleabag (not for the easily offended)
Orphan Black (especially the first season)
—
Funny:
Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (people break into song and dance – so fun.)
Upload (a cute guy gets uploaded to the afterlife)
The Kominski Method
Mike Birbiglia – The New One (stand up – his other stand up is good too)
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Grace & Frankie
I’m Sorry (not for the easily offended – I love her)
The comedy central yotube channel is also great and they offer some full standup specials at cc.com
Dry bar standup on YouTube
Onward (Pixar – on Disney+)
Muppet Moments (very short clips – on disney+ and youtube)
Middleditch and Schwartz (really unique improv show with 2 dudes)
Dead to Me
Community
Garfunkle and Oates (youtube videos)
Flo and Joan (similar to Flight of the Concords comedy music but their own unique style and songs)
Eurovision (movie – super goofy. I’m not usually a fan of this type of comedy but this one got me)
Sweet:
Kindness Diaries
Great British Bake Off
Making It (crafting competition show)
Glee
Queer Eye
Zoey’s Infinite Playlist (dance numbers – yay!)
Some Good News (youtube) – was more relevant in early pandemic days
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Love on the Spectrum
Padma Lakshmi Taste the Nation (Tour the United States with Padma as she experiences food culture of different immigrant groups)
Salt Fat Acid Heat (the host is so delightful – I wish there were more than 4 episodes but every one is a delicious treat.)
Sing On (singing competition without annoying judges – they are based on accuracy of hitting notes like the original singer)
Historical/Historical Fiction:
The Crown
Downton Abbey
Self Made
Hollywood (not super accurate, but a fun watch)
Drama:
This is Us
Law and Order SVU
Black Mirror (not for the easily offended)
Broadchurch
Criminal U.K. – each episode exists on their own
When They See Us (based on The Exonerated Five – formerly known as the Central Park Five)
Grey’s Anatomy
Mindhunter (FBI in the 1970s studying serial killers)
The Handmaid’s Tale
Unbelievable (trigger warning, detectives trying to find a serial rapist. Really well done show though, I was glad I watched it)
Dramedy
This Way Up
Russian Doll
Orange is the New Black
Jenny Slate : Stage Fright
Hollywood
Casual
Catastrophe
Master of None
Living with Yourself
Action / Suspense/Intense – I usually can’t do violence and gore but the quality of these shows made it worth it for me:
The Boys (gory but I love the characters and plot)
Sherlock
Killing Eve (not for the easily offended)
Hunters (Takes place in 1977 of people hunting Nazis living in disguise in America)
Watchmen
Orphan Black
Movies:
(movies I’ve seen from March 2020 on that I recommend)
The King of Staten Island
Palm Springs (I laughed a bunch)
Moana (pretty sure this is my favorite Disney movie)
The Lovebirds (movie – funny/goofy/cute movie with silly action movie plot line)
Hamilton
Eurovision (super goofy but made me laugh)
Bill & Ted Face the Music (does justice to the first movie vibe – light and goofy if you liked the first one)
Have been out for a while but I enjoyed when I watched them:
Rome
Parenthood
Six Feet Under
The Sopranos
Deadwood
West World (season 1 and 3)
United States of Tara (Toni Collette as a mom with DID/multiple personalities and Brie Larson plays her daughter)
Mad Men
The One I Love (movie – a sort of a Black Mirror-lite story)
BONUS! Podcasts I like:
Unlocking Us (Brene Brown)
Sawbones
By the Book
The Hilarious World of Depression
Good Job Brain (they don’t release new episodes but their old ones are fun – trivia show)
NPR Life Kit
—
Based on what you see here, let me know if there are shows you recommend I check out!
*personal taste subject to change as time goes on
wang-john-CZ6PG4ozU9c-unsplash
Photo by Wang John, used with permission