All Day Party

I hope y'all had a great weekend! I'm not from the south, but sometimes I like to pretend. Especially when I'm in such a country mood after another great concert. This weekend I saw Darius Rucker (from Hootie and the Blowfish) and Rascal Flatts. Not only did we tailgate, we had a pre-tailgating party with lots of MJ tunes and delicious food. What could be better than a night under the stars dancing to "Summer Nights" and other great songs? Nothing.

Al Fresco Friday Evening

D.C. is full of summer attractions and entertainment, and Jazz in the Sculpture Garden is a perfect example. On Friday evenings, hundreds of locals bring their blankets, pack their picnics, and park themselves on the grass or near the fountain as the sounds of a jazz band fill the air. Crackers, cheese, and wine are found on most blankets, including ours. It's the perfect way to wind down after a long week.

This Friday, we headed to a new restaurant after the Garden, and the ambiance was perfect. Sequoia has fantastic views of the Potomac as you sit amongst lit trees on the upper level terraces, enjoying the breeze on a warm summer night. What a wonderful Friday!

Rooftop Dinner

Whenever Lyn announces she’s cooking, all other plans go right out the window – and that includes the gym. Last night she wowed us with some yummy tilapia tacos, homemade pico de gallo and chipotle sauce. Her friend brought homemade guac and blue tortilla chips, and I promptly stuffed my face, finishing before everyone else did.

Not only was it the perfect light summer dinner, we ate it in the perfect summer setting – our patio rooftop overlooking the city.

I haven’t yet shared that I’m moving soon, but I can tell you that nights like last night make that reality pretty painful.

(In case you can't tell, the view includes - well, a panoramic of the entire city - the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. You can't see it in this picture, but we also see the Kennedy Center, Georgetown, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon. Amazing.)

Spontaneous Treat

A local custard shop must be delicious if the President takes his girls there for a weekend treat. And if it is, in fact, worthy of a Presidential visit, it's something I have to try . . ASAP. So just hours after reading about The Dairy Godmother today, I was hopping in my car solo to order a cup of custard . . before dinner even! And I will report that it was every bit as delicious as I had expected. The Rice Krispy sundae left me wanting more of their sweet chocolate custard, soft homemade marshmallows, rice krispies, and whipped cream.

I'll be back . . soon!

Saturday Night

Well, I didn't wear the sandals this weekend . . but I did pull out a New York City find, one I picked up on the sidewalk in Soho, paired with a new Via Spiga belt from Nordstrom (big sale find) and a Brooklyn flea market leaf necklace. I flipped my bangs the opposite direction, automatically giving them a flippy look, and grabbed some black wedges. It was fun, and so was the night. I met another boy (not the guy in this picture), and my girl friends and I grabbed late night pizza with him and his friends. Saturday made me want to get dressed up more often. :)

Father's Day

I've just returned from a full day, but I can't head to bed without acknowledging the fact that it's FATHER'S DAY, because I have such a great dad! I'm so thankful that I know my dad, he and I have a special bond, and he has always made me feel loved and provided for.

I asked my mom to send along a few old photos of us, and I love what she found.



In only two weeks, I will be at the lake with Dad, as we share our love of the water and skiing on one. I can't wait! Get the boat ready, Dad!



One of my favorite first memories of dad are our goodnight hugs and nose rubs. He's always been a very good hugger, and couch cuddler.

I love you, Dad!

Weekend Hopes

This weekend, I hope:

. . it doesn't rain too much!

. . I can catch up on sleep (because I've gotten about 6 hours per night this week versus my regular 7, which makes a big difference!).

. . the fun I have makes up for the yet again postponed trip to the Shore house.

. . the estimate on my boo-boo'd car isn't too terrible. The dent is six months old.

. . I find the perfect outfit to pair with my new sandals, featured above. I am in love with them! Nordstrom is trouble.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Country Concert #2

Oh George, the country music artist of the decade, the honky-tonking "King of Country"; I just can't get enough.

This past weekend, George Strait was performing at an outdoor amphitheater, along with Julianne Hough and Blake Shelton. Our gang of thirteen filled up our cars with food, drinks, chairs, and cornhole and began tailgating a few hours before the concert. One of my favorite things about these tailgates has been watching two different groups of my friends get to know and enjoy each other. To see the boating boys give hugs and joke around with my other friends just makes me so happy!

Upon arriving, we poured our favorite beer . .



. . fired up the grill for burgers and dogs . . usually we have paper plates to serve them on . .



. . pulled out the cornhole . .



That is, until the fun police came by and shut us down. Apparently cornhole is not allowed in these parking lots because either a) people could trip over it, b) beanbags could hit cars, c) it's considered a drinking game (anyone will tell you this isn't true). All reasons have been given us by these men in yellow at various times (as in, they obviously don't have a specific reason for not allowing it), which is why we have a hard time obeying this silly rule. But we do . . until they walk away.



Once the concert had begun, the storm clouds started rolling in . .



But we ignored them and continued to dance away . .



We even snuck up to the back row from our blankets on the lawn. Of course, a security guard promptly asked me to move.



We saw some real characters on the lawn, as well. My favorite was this couple, both carrying some chew in their back pockets, as they dipped and spit together. The Confederate flag is seen all over in Virginia . . out in the country, that is.



I enjoyed my extra large can of Miller Lite and some delicious french fries.



And I didn't even mind when the rain came down.



I actually like wavy rain hair.



And I can't wait for the next concert, only one week away!

What I've Been Eating

Between dancing, a fun country concert, and an evening on the river, I also fit in a couple of delicious meals at restaurants I hadn't yet tried this weekend.

On Friday evening, my roommates and I headed to Old Town Alexandria for a tiny little sushi place that Lyn swore was amazing. She was right! MOMO served some very unique sushi rolls, including one with avocado, crab, and pineapple, as well as a deep fried roll with crab and bbq sauce on top. Oh.my.goodness was it good!



And like many places do, they served us a delicious bowl of miso soup with tiny bits of tofu. I have to be honest, I included this part just to gross my dad out.



Every time I eat sushi, I'm faced with the decision of whether or not to use chopsticks. Thanks to my Asian roommate, I went with chopsticks this time, as she is an ever-so-patient teacher, and no matter how many times she shows me, I have to re-learn it all over again.



On Sunday, I asked my guy friend TK to come to brunch. A gorgeous day for an outdoor brunch in Georgetown, we chose to eat at perhaps the most European-feeling restaurant in the whole neighborhood (at least in my experience).



The crowd at Leopold's Kafe seems strictly local and very diverse, and the food was completely divine and perfectly unique. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find our meals on the online menu, but I ordered a cheddar omelet with arugula (and oh, it tasted much better than it sounds), and TK went with blueberry buckwheat pancakes.



Since European cafes are known for their pastries, I had to order dessert, as well. I can't recall exactly what was in this deliciousness, but it did include very subtle bits of coconut, pineapple, and . . well, something else delectable!





It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Mini Interview!

How fun to have a little interview with one of my favorite bloggers, over at Slice of Pink. Thanks, Janet, for including me!

Thank goodness these five questions are easy to answer!

1. How will you celebrate summer?
The celebration has already begun and will continue in the form of lake days, bar-b-ques, outdoor concerts and tailgates, brightly colored toenails, tennis matches, and lots and lots of ice cream and gelato. My favorite season ever!

2. Which celebrity do you find deeply fascinating?
This is one of those questions that won't always receive the same answer. And my response today is . . Lil' Wayne. I'm completely serious. He's a gangsta, and a rapper, and he claims to BE music. Watch his interview with Katie Couric and try not to become a little fascinated yourself. Sure, there are plenty of rappers out there, but this guy does have some serious talent to go with his serious attitude. I don't know what it is, but I find him extremely interesting, and a little frightening.

3. Reagan had bowls full of jelly beans; Obama, M&Ms. If you were elected President, what would the official White House candy be?
Hot Tamales, hands down.

4. Describe a perfect Saturday.
Of course boating and water-skiing always makes for a pretty perfect Saturday, but let's pretend that isn't an option . . . Not wanting to waste a minute, I would wake up bright and early and go for a run along the Potomac to the National Mall. After a nice long shower, I'd put on a comfortable dress and head to Georgetown for a yummy brunch and a little sale shopping (which, believe me, I never let myself do). I'd stop by a farmer's market and pick up some pretty flowers for the week, too. Then I might pick a neighborhood and go exploring, take some pictures, wander into some shops, and eat some ice cream (all with a good friend tagging along). The day would end at an outdoor party with a big group of friends, grilled food, good music, and lots of laughs. I think that sounds pretty perfect.

5. What was your favorite childhood toy?
My Barbies, for sure. I would play with them for hours all by myself. Although I was a social child, I loved playing Barbies alone. It was where my imagination could go anywhere it wanted. I created my own little soap opera with my many dolls, never changing their names or their outfits, just continuing to make up stories about their lives. I knew their history, the breed of dog they owned, the car they drove, and sometimes even their favorite food. I created my own little world there under the steps . . and this is why my mother is not allowed to ever give them away! :)

I Love My Hood

If you'd like to get a tour of my neighborhood, check out this hilarious video! I hang out at all of these places, and I can relate to everything this dude raps about.

Just for a point of reference, my part of the city is Rosslyn. I guess I'm one of those girls that can pay the rent . . now you know why I share a room - some one bedrooms in my high-rise are $2000!

Back on the Lake!

In October, eight months sounded like forever. Eight whole months until the lake would be warm enough for boating again.

And this weekend, that eight months finally came to an end. Willie and I wanted to dance, we were so happy!



The weather was warm, the sunscreen was on, and the five of us spent all day cruising the biggest lake in Virginia. It felt good to be back.

I was reunited with my beloved ski, got up on the first try, and went until my arms were shaking from fatigue. In fact, they're still very sore.



As always, we docked at our favorite lake café for lunch. I ordered the made-from-scratch pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries dusted in cinnamon sugar.





And while we were cruising back to the loading dock, I'm sure I heard Willie agree that it was the perfect first day of the season.

Daytripping

How far would you drive for just one store you loved? Over three hours?

Because that's exactly what The Girl and I did on Saturday. We drove a very long distance for Garden Ridge.



The Girl had a few items in mind for her bedroom and backyard, and I, remembering how much I loved it in Austin 10 years ago, went along for the ride.

I tried to be helpful when it came to selecting patio furniture. For instance, I gave a thumbs down to these:



And I tried to convince The Girl that flamingos didn't have to look tacky.



I also kept my eye open for cute things that might fit in my apartment. I got the cute part down, although I'm not exactly sure where my new pillows will fit. Between the two of us, we ended up with a very full cart.



And we'd worked up quite an appetite, too. With Virginia Beach not far away, we decided to find some outdoor seating and enjoy a lunch by the ocean.



My crab cake sandwich was delicious!



And it was at this lunch that we both concurred . . we don't like public beaches. At all. So rather than walking around in the sand or dipping our toes in the saltwater, we peaced out immediately after lunch.



See? Too many people for me!



But it wasn't time to head home yet. We were driving through Williamsburg and that meant stopping by the outlets. The J. Crew outlet to be specific. And this one was chock full of quality, on-sale items, several of which ended up coming home with me. Yippee!

Williamsburg is a very cute and historic town, and we saw something of particular interest when taking the wrong exit. Statues of Presidents! We had to stop. Unfortunately, the charge seemed far too expensive to tour a bunch of cement heads. Instead, we attempted to catch a glimpse from the adjoining parking lot.



It was a day full of shopping, nature, AND history. Very worth the long drive!

Free Bird

I don't know what it is about a weekday afternoon, but having it FREE makes me incredibly happy.

I left work early today. My boss is out of the country, making my job much less demanding and allowing me to work a regular 8 hour work day, or in today's case, to leave at lunchtime.

I felt almost giddy as I changed into frayed denim shorts, a tank top, and flip flops for a sushi lunch with KC. After dropping her at the airport for a trip to Florida, I spent the rest of the afternoon playing tennis and lounging by the pool with my currently jobless roommate. We fit everything in just before the thunderstorm rolled in. I'm now showered with a full night ahead of me . . and to think, I would still be at work right now!

Praise God for this day off!

Not Quite Cookies

I arrived home from work this evening at 9:30. All I wanted was a good supper . . and some cookie dough. The cookie dough that was supposed to be baked into cookies two nights ago, but I had a bit of a disaster in the kitchen. This is what I get for beginning to bake so late in the evening.

At some point, I'll write more about my banana bread-baking obsession, where it originated, and how it's going. But for now, I'll just say that my original plans to bake a loaf were ruined when I realized that the bananas were too far gone. There is a small window of opportunity if you want perfectly ripe bananas, and once again, I had missed it.

So instead I decided on s'mores cookies. I had some graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bits leftover from a cookout, so perfect, I thought! And I still stick to my story that I followed all the directions. But why did my cookies end up like this?:



It's times like these that I wish my kitchen-savvy roommate wasn't out of town. She would've had enough smarts to tell me that it needed more flour.

The cookies were so bad that upon attempting to scrape them off the cookies sheet, they ended up in a pile of crumbs!



Fortunately my other roommate was still thrilled and happy to eat the mess on the plate.



I tried a second batch only to accidentally tip the sheet mid-bake when adding the marshmallows. Oops!



By the time my mess had been cleaned up, it was way past my bedtime. Why can't I be content to just sit and do nothing one night a week? This failed attempt at productivity should keep me on the couch and out of the kitchen for at least a little while.

Great Meadows

Feeling spontaneous, I took up my fashionable guy friend on the offer of accompanying him to a small fashion show out in the Virginia countryside. We'd get in free, he said, courtesy of his friend, the corporate sponsor, and we could eat and drink to our hearts' content.

I'd never been to a fashion show, and it sounded fun enough, so upon selecting a somewhat preppy ensemble, I said I'd go and off we went!

The day didn't go as planned, and we never ended up seeing the postponed show, but food there was and a polo match, too.



Completely unfamiliar with equestrian sports, I was highly entertained observing the game, but not at all attracted to the men in their boots and hats.



Small talking with the kiss-you-on-the-cheek yuppies of Northern Virginia is not my scene, but I can't say the same for my friend. He apparently has quite a thing for older women and spent much of the time flitting from one to the other. After chatting with this Omahan (woohoo!), he was finally content to go.



But before we drove away, I suggested a photo shoot . . not knowing what I had just started . .









Having modeled previously and hoping to do more, this guy was eating. it. up. I took several photos of him by himself, as well as fun shots of us together, and I have to admit, I was loving the camera myself.







What can I say, I was so excited to be outdoors in the beautiful countryside. I love Virginia!



I've since been called, texted, and emailed about our next photo shoot. I think I've created a monster! But I'm secretly excited to have found someone who loves posing for the camera as much as I do.