Love This Life

Hiding Place

2012-01-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

Ok . . I’m going to write a post with no pictures. Just say no to picture pressure. It’s part of why I rarely blog anymore. That, and this blog ain’t pretty. But I’m doing this for me. I know I have very few readers anymore, but is that really why I blogged in the first place? I lost sight of why I began blogging, but I want to come back.

I know I’ve said it before but long-distance wedding planning + a wedding workout plan + pre-marital reading and counseling + a long-distance relationship + a full-time job + job-hunting + an upcoming move + a gazillion expenses = A LOT. There are normally a million thoughts running through my brain, but now? It’s a little out of control.

The importance of silence cannot be underestimated. I absolutely need those times where I get quiet, mentally put each and every thought on the shelf, sit before the Lord and say “I’m ALL Yours. Talk to me.”

That list up there is all important, but He’s the most important. He loves me, AND He’s got it all under control.

I could plan my wedding down to the last detail, but what matters is the covenant I will make before the Lord that day and preparing my heart for that.

I could work out every day and be the healthiest I’ve ever been, but my identity and beauty is in Him.

I could read a million books and talk to a dozen people about marriage, but above all, I will need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and receive His grace on a daily basis If I’m to be a godly wife.

I could apply for a hundred jobs, but He knows which one is right for me and when to open that door.

I could save as much as possible to pay for the honeymoon, the ring, furniture, moving, and more, but why stress when He is my provider, and He will give me everything I need?

And you know what? This wedding and this life isn’t all about me. In the midst of the busyness, I want to love God and love people.

So life may be busy and crazy, but sitting at His feet each day . . that’s where it’s at! It’s not busy and crazy there. It’s sweet, it’s peaceful, . . my very own hiding place with my very best friend. All else just fades away. . .

Psalm 143:8 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

2 Samuel 22:31 “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 91:1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Mark 1:35 “It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.”

Christmassy New York

2011-12-22T22:23:00.001-05:00

New York was a b-last last week, but as soon as I said goodbye to D, I was ready to click my heels and return to DC, NOT spend a lonely night at my hotel. Also, sleeping on the 5^th floor is not the best, and honking horns awakened me just five hours after going to bed. This is why I waver on my feelings for that city. One minute I am in love with her, and the next I am ready to go.

But back to my trip . .

The first order of business on a very cold Tuesday was to get a cup of hot cocoa in my hands. I got off at Columbus Circle and enjoyed a teensy one from Grom. It was super delicious, but I was a little disappointed they were out of dark chocolate.

I wandered through the Holiday Market on the corner of Central Park and then headed to cookies. I mean, heading to lunch would’ve made more since, given the time of day, but this is me, you know.

The one reason I was glad to have booked a hotel in Upper West was Levain Bakery. I probably would not have made it had I been staying in another part of town. It was a little awkward lugging my suitcase and tote and purse down those itty bitty steps into that teensy weensy bakery and back out again, but those cookies are worth all that trouble. Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever! And the Chocolate Peanut Butter is possibly even better. I cannot – or will not - eat them without milk, however, so as I’ve done in the past, I saved them for home. Warmed in the microwave with ice cold milk. Perfection.

After checking into my room, it was time to get party-ready. Minus my hair. For that, I headed to the Flatiron District and pampered myself with a blowout at Drybar. While it was a fun experience, I wish my stylist had given a better scalp massage, and the Cosmopolitan style didn’t take very well with my hair – a shocker, since my hair holds curl extremely well. I love the vibe, the interior and the offering of champagne, and I would recommend it as a fun, inexpensive way to treat yourself sometime.

Let me now make a suggestion as to what NOT to do in NYC and that is walk a mile in 4 ½ inch heels that you have yet to break in, and you have wide feet. Oh wait, that’s me. Let’s just say that I wore flat boots to the Christmas party and didn’t care one bit that they weren’t so stylish. New shoes broken in, feet broken.

After said torturous walk, I was at the Empire State Building to meet my man. He was working on the 38^th floor for the day, and he came down to meet me, get me a building pass and escort me to the TOP.

He flashed the office executive pass to every guard we met, and they replied “Excuse me, right this way”. We even had our very own elevator for part of the ascent. Perfect for making out in. Just kidding. Sort of. For those few minutes up, I was feelin’ like a Very Important Person.

It was insanely windy up there and coooold, which made taking eleventy pictures of a stranger feel like it took an hour. But it was still romantic and such a cool experience. I had never been to the top, but I would encourage anyone to pay the $22 it costs for a ticket. And go at night – although your pictures might not turn out very well. And that is the basis upon which every decision should be made, am I right?

Moving on. The holiday party was fun, and I was shocked by just how welcoming and friendly all of his colleagues were – New Yorkers and Charlotteans alike. We ate Italian food, drank wine, and watched as each person gave out a superlative award and gift.

D and I ended the night strolling down 5^th Avenue past a couple of department store windows . . .

. . ending up at Rock Center to see the tree, which was NOT LIT UP. How dare they? And before midnight? That makes twice we have seen the tree unlit. Ah well. Maybe next year?

And that was the end of the trip. I might be leaving out the part where I cried dramatically when he dropped me off at my hotel, but I like to focus on the positive. And starting Friday, I will see him for eleven consecutive days! Wheee! And Merry Christmas!

A NYC Reunion

2011-12-13T11:23:00.001-05:00

- on the train en route to NYC -

It's been just over 2 weeks since I left D in Charlotte. There have been plenty of texts and lots of evening Skype chats, some in which he 'tucks me in', and he is the last person I talk to and pray with before turning over and going to sleep.

Today I'm taking the train up to New York City to attend his company's holiday party and hold his hand. It is an expensive 22 hour trip when you take the train and hotel room into consideration . . but it's already worth it. I just wish I didn't have to share him with all his colleagues, many of which he'll be meeting for the first time (as the company is based in NYC).

I plan to treat myself to my favorite cookies and a blowout before the party. Levain Bakery and Drybar, here I come. If you're going to New York, you've gotta do it right.

I don't think I've ever been so excited on a Tuesday.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T22:50:00.002-05:00

*My Thanksgiving Meal with D's Family*

There is so much to say.

For starters, I will do a belated Thanksgiving shout-out (although giving thanks could never be belated).

I have a pretty sweet set-up in life right now, and I am thankful for it every day. It’s true that my fiancé just moved about 350 miles away from me and my job has become so dull and boring, but in the midst of that, there is so much to be thankful for that I hardly notice the negative.

My boss has given me so much flexibility. He knows I’m looking for work in Charlotte. He’s cool with me tele-working whenever the need may arise. And he will look the other way if my resume happens to be up on my screen – or a wedding website, of course. I do struggle with feeling guilty about this lack of work to do, but I’ve concluded that I have to consider it a blessing and enjoy it while it lasts.

I am only three days into this long distance thing, so I can’t give it a proper assessment, but I will say that it has already brought even more anticipation for the future. I know the holidays will fly by, and then we will be left with only 100 days of waiting. I am thankful for Skype. And I am thankful for Priceline, through which I just I booked a hotel in New York. In two weeks, D’s company is having their Christmas party there, and I get to go! I can't wait! Nevermind that seeing him for a whole 6 hours will be the biggest tease. At least I get to see him.

I am thankful for my future in-laws, and I am thankful for my own family and friends. I am thankful my grandma’s chemo treatments are said to be working, and I am thankful that last week’s car repair cost me a few hundred less than expected (even if it was still a very painful bill).

This weekend, my cousin Erica is visiting, and I’m glad to have a guest for the first weekend away from D. We have some dinner reservations and a trip to Mount Vernon planned. Hopefully I don’t wear her pregnant self out!

*Me and D at the Capitol on Thanksgiving Morning*

I am so very thankful for him. He is caring, patient, fun, godly, talented and hot! And he is my perfect complement. I love you, babe!

One Month

2011-10-11T00:09:00.000-04:00

I've been engaged for a month now, and on top of productive, it has been a sweet and exciting month. I'm looking forward to our wedding day, but everyone was right about the engagement period - it is really special and a time to enjoy, not rush through.

We've set our date for April 14th, 2012. That is six months away from this Friday! Just enough time to plan the wedding and get pre-marital counseling. Why wait any longer?

This month, we . . booked our venues, had our first pre-marital counseling session, opened our registries (just), decided on colors, chose bridesmaid dresses, looked at invitations, and did lots of brainstorming.

And this past weekend, I found my dress!

Through all of these things, we are really just so excited to start our life together.

I feel so blessed that I get to marry my very best friend. He is perfect!!! (for me)

In case you care to see . .

2011-09-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

My Ring and Other Happenings . .

2011-09-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

Oh, LIFE. Life is good. And super busy these days.

After two trips to the jeweler, my ring finally fits! It’s true what they say – having a ring on your finger really kills your productivity. I’d rather wave it around and watch it sparkle than respond to emails.

I am so, so glad I didn’t pick it out or even tell him what I wanted. D did an awesome job, and I love it. It’s so much more special to me knowing that he didn’t just fulfill a request.

It’s also been fun to have him involved in the planning process thus far, as he wants to discuss every part of it and share his opinions. The opinion-sharing is valued, but I won’t say we agree on everything either. Let’s just say it’s facilitating some more discovery of who each of us are, haha.

The next month looks especially crazy for us, and we’re trying to take it all day by day. Tonight we drive to Charlotte for an entire not-even-day to discover if the Queen City will be our future home. On the one hand, it’s incredibly exciting, but I think we’re still in process mode wondering what it will be like leaving a city that has become my, and has always been his home. I love it here so much . . but I love my fiancé way more.

In other exciting news, my mom will be here in just one week to shop for my gown, and the following weekend I have the honor of being a bridesmaid in a dear friend’s wedding in Hilton Head. I will most definitely need to post pictures of the event, along with my visit to HH and Savannah!

Let's get started, October! :)

What I've Been Up To

2011-09-20T08:56:00.001-04:00

Hope to be back soon!

Five Happy Things

2011-09-02T16:27:00.002-04:00

I’m in the middle of an ‘end of summer’ post. Maybe it will make up for my delinquency these past few months?

In the meantime, here are some things bringing me a little happiness lately:

1. Peach fro-yo with coconut shavings. Oh, Yogen Fruz. (I am ordering everything peach these days, because the season is almost over - sob.)

2. My PNC Virtual Wallet bank account. You may question my sanity when I say I’ve spent a few hours this week ‘playing’ with my new bank account. But, this account set-up rocks. It gives me 3 accounts for spending, short-term savings (set-aside money), and long-term (no touch) savings. Instead of remembering how many withdrawals are pending or which bills are coming up, I can set money aside in advance and always know exactly how much I have to spend. It’s also an easy way to save more.

3. Allegra, Nasonex, and eye drops. My throat, eyes, nose, and ears are thanking me.

4. Pinterest. Oh my. I was slow in signing onto this new craze, but if you follow me, you know about my obsession these days. It’s a fun and easy way to catalogue pretty images that inspire me and help me to narrow down my style. I already had a gazillion posts starred on Google Reader, so now I can go back and pin the photos I love.

5. The upcoming 3-day weekend, of course. We’re spending a day in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I can’t wait to discover a new, pretty place and eat some good food.

Happy Labor Day!

Back We Go

2011-08-11T16:55:00.010-04:00

Here are a few pictures of my LAST trip to Nebraska before I leave for my NEXT trip to Nebraska tonight. {I have pictures with other family, but for some reason I can't get any more to load!}

This trip is my birthday present. And lucky D, his birthday present from my parents is also a plane ticket to Nebraska. It's the only thing that was on his list. ;)

D will have been to Nebraska 3 times in 8 months now, and hopefully he will continue discovering more of its positive attributes. :)

So yes, we are headed back to my home state only 5 weeks after we left. But this time I plan to waterski. The lake level was too high last time.

I am crossing my fingers for Grandma's angel food cake and some sweet corn, too.

Happy Weekend!

Almond-Crusted Salmon with Pico and Feta

2011-08-08T13:32:00.003-04:00

Hello there!

I have a great, easy recipe for you all! Danny and I tried it last night and will definitely be making it again. The original recipe calls for homemade pico de gallo, but I took the cheaper/easier route and bought some pico-like salsa instead.

Almond-Crusted Salmon with Pico and Feta

Salmon fillets

Mixed greens

Pico de gallo-like salsa or homemade pico

Feta cheese

Red wine vinegar/olive oil

Salt and pepper

Almonds, finely chopped

First, salt and pepper your fillets. Then coat them with the finely chopped almonds. Heat a skillet to hot, with just enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Cook the fillets (about 2 minutes on each side). Remove pan from heat. (I chose to peel the skin off the bottom of the fillets after cooking.)

Toss the mixed greens in red wine vinegar and olive oil. Place fillets on top. Cover with pico de gallo-like salsa and top with feta cheese.

Easy and delicious!

{Thank you, House Beautiful magazine.}

Strollin'

2011-07-29T18:30:00.002-04:00

It may be 102 degrees at 7pm, but I still notice the prettyness of D.C.
{Walking to dinner near the White House}

All I Need

2011-07-29T16:04:00.002-04:00

I am in serious need of some fro yo (or sorbet like the above) and at least 7 hours of sleep. I haven't had a night like that all week.
I'm trying to maintain some focus at work (you can see it's working) before heading out for my 3rd delicious dinner of the week, this time at the historic Old Ebbitt's in D.C.
And then I will probably fall asleep to a movie with D. Per usual.
Happy Weekend to ya!

Grilled Chicken and Peaches with Chipotle-Peach Dressing

2011-07-22T18:34:00.001-04:00

Here it is!

Grilled Chicken and Peaches with Chipotle-Peach Dressing Quick Recipes: bonappetit.com

Very similar to another reader's Bon Apetit recipe involving peaches and BBQ sauce. See the comments in my last post!

Ages

2011-07-22T18:19:00.002-04:00

Guess what, you guys – it is almost D’s birthday! Just a few more days ‘til I can make him a cake, give him his gift, and treat him to a delicious dinner and as many Belgian beers as his heart desires (which fortunately won’t be too many, since he’s not a big drinker). The one small downside to this birthday thing is that . . I’m feeling a little bit jealous. Not because I wish it were my birthday (that’s coming soon enough next month), but because of his age, his glorious age. A young 27, while I am weeks away from the big 3-0. Hold me.

Still, I'm glad I snagged a younger man . . just like I wanted. :)

More peaches!

2011-07-22T10:25:00.001-04:00

After making a delicious summer salad with peaches the other day (mesclun, peaches, chicken, sunflower seeds, basil, champagne vinaigrette), I was craving peaches yet again. You've gotta love seasonal produce!

Lyn and I made this peach chipotle chicken dish on the grill last night, and it was quick, easy, and delicious. Despite the adobo sauce, it was not even spicy. Thanks, Bon Apetit!

I'll try to post the recipe soon!

Pizza Night

2011-07-21T11:03:00.002-04:00

Hello friends! I'm back, I'm fairly tan, and I've been too busy to blog about it.
I've needed some catch-up time with the girls so Lauren invited us over to make pizzas and salads last night. Deeelish!
My sweet friend KC joined us via video chat from her new place in San Antonio. She was eating a burrito as usual. We made "must-read" book lists and gabbed til Lauren's eyes got droopy and she kicked us out.
Now doesn't that sound more fun than blogging?

Happy 4th!

2011-07-01T09:16:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July weekend, Everyone!!

It’s been 6 months, and I’m flying home to Nebraska for my favorite holiday. The Biscuit is coming along, and I’m excited for him to experience the festivities with me.

I am praying constantly that a) our flights would be on time, especially since we’re on different ones and b) the water level at the lake would go down, so I can actually ski – it will be my only chance this summer!

In addition to fireworks, food, and {potential} boating, we’ll be celebrating this lady’s 80th birthday with a surprise family dinner and time of blessing. I have my note all written up, and I hopefully I won’t break into tears when sharing it with her. She is such an awesome grandma.

Have a wonderful, warm weekend!

Spontaneous Flowers

2011-06-20T17:32:00.001-04:00

I had a great weekend with the guy who gave me this lovely orchid. Maybe I'll write about it later. :) . .

Happy Friday!

2011-06-17T16:24:00.002-04:00

I took a spontaneous day off today to watch my wonderful friend graduate from her residency program at Walter Reed Army Hospital / Bethesda Naval Hospital. Yay for Dr. Katie (KC)!

We had lunch at Chef Geoff's with friends and some family and then . . cupcakes, what else?

Which should I try first? Coconut, white raspberry, chocolate peanut butter chip, lemon blossom, hazelnut, or milk chocolate?

These are the kind of fun decisions everyone should have on a Friday. Decisions with a side of milk. :)

Magnolias

2011-06-15T18:21:00.002-04:00

I'm typing my first post from my smartphone, so fingers crossed that it works!

I thought I hated this magnolia tree, which houses a million birds that love to go on my car when I'm parked in the driveway. . BUT I took a moment to admire the blooms today and now I want to cut one down and drink in the lovely scent.

Florida Weekend

2011-06-04T13:09:00.005-04:00

D and I spent a long weekend in Florida last month, and despite a brief rainstorm and a gnarly sunburn {I got FRIED}, we had a wonderful time.

Our primary reason for taking the trip was The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach. TPC Sawgrass was a gorgeous course to say the least, and I loved seeing new and familiar pro golfers teeing off up close. Although not as skilled or knowledgeable as D, I love to golf and even watch it on occasion. The Golf Channel just so happens to be a client of D's, so they supplied us with some free tix for the last two days of the event.

We spent a fair amount of time at the 17th hole, a tough one in which the golfers needed to hit their drive out to the island green. Here is a glimpse of the gallery looking on.

During a three hour rainstorm, we took cover at Urban Flatbread and indulged in the s'mores/peanut butter cup dessert.

We also swung by the beach to dip our toes in the water.

In addition to the tournament, we stayed with my cousins in Celebration one night, grilling out burgers and watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the nearby Polynesian Resort.

We also spent an evening with my D.C. friend Lauren at her family's home. You can see why I never wanted to leave. ;)

Lauren's friend was able to get us into Magic Kingdom for FREE the next day, a special treat since I had never been to that park. A Monday in May meant short or no lines for all the rides, too!

All in all, a too short but lovely trip south!

Brunch at a Brewery

2011-06-02T13:03:00.000-04:00

On my list of Favorite Things In the Whole World is definitely Having Brunch with my Boyfriend.

This typically happens every Sunday after church, and lately it has involved patios and adult beverages.

Mad Fox Brewing Company is one of my preferred places to dine these days, and we experienced their brunch for the first time this past weekend.

It started with three flavors of donuts . . one being caramel bacon. Insert drooling here.

And it ended with an egg and brisket burrito.

{Picture a huge burrito.}

Um, yes.

It's a good thing we've done P90X a couple of times this week. That's all I'm sayin'.

Memorial Day Pie

2011-06-01T17:49:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite things about this past weekend was the small BBQ we had at D's place. We were invited to another cookout, but were set on having our own . . even if it meant it was just the two of us.

Fortunately, we ended up with five guests for some yummy food, nice conversation and a little game of cornhole.

I referred to the grilling edition of Food Network Magazine (I love it!) for a few recipes, including dessert:

While beginning to bake, I had a few moments of panic when I realized that D did not own the following necessary items called for in the recipe:

1. a food processor
2. a fine mesh sieve
3. vanilla extract

Baking should not be done at a boy's house. Duh.

I began referring to the dessert as "Banana Cream Crunch" with the expectation that the sugar cone crust I had crumbled with my own two hands was not going to be much of a firm crust.

But! I was proven wrong, and the PIE was liked by all. A successful BBQ, I'd say!

Memorial Day Ending

2011-06-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

All I will say about this weekend is that a) it was perfect and b) it ended with this:

. . . and the Cosby Show on Netflix.

Aaaaah . . .

Mom and Dad Visit D.C.

2011-05-25T23:04:00.003-04:00

Hello Lovely Blog Friends! There is much to catch up on. Since last I wrote, my parents came to town for a fun 5 day visit, and The Biscuit and I went down to Florida for an extended weekend ourselves.

First things first, though - let's start with my parents' trip.

As soon as they got into town, I took them straight to my favorite BBQ place, Rocklands. It was a cool night, perfect for eating at the picnic tables outside.

The next morning, we drove down to Colonial Williamsburg for the day, the largest living history museum in the country. I already loved Williamsburg before this trip, but I had never spent time touring the more historic part of town. Let me tell you, I was soaking it up.

I couldn't believe how well the actors made you feel as though you were back in time, as we observed them at work on a farm, in a cobbler's shop, a seamstress shop and more. We certainly didn't allow enough time to see as much as we would've liked.

I'm not sure what you'd call those flutes they're playing, but they were helping to reenact an historic scene.

This maze was hidden behind the Governor's Palace, and we attempted to find our way through.

And here is the Governor's Palace, restored to look exactly as it did in the 1700s, both inside and out.

And here is perhaps a pantry . . and a place to store your wigs? :)

We wandered through the Merchant Square, and I recommended we eat at the Cheese Shop, a place my roommate has taken me a few times before. Mmm, delicious sandwiches.

Among other activities, my parents and D's parents went up to Baltimore to enjoy the Inner Harbor and catch the Orioles v. Yankees game at Camden Yards.

I chose to wear my Yankees hat, much to his dismay.

It was Easter weekend, and we spent part of the day with my cousin and his family in Bethesda. It was too pretty outside to not take pictures in our Sunday best.

We were happy to also have my cousin Josh and his wife Erica in town from Chicago. In addition to family time on Easter, we visited the Newseum together, and hid from the heavy rain at the Lincoln Memorial.

Before seeing my parents off, I took them to . . well, to my orthodontist appointment, followed by Counter Burger and an introduction to gelato.

Mom and Dad say they plan to come at least once a year from now on, and I can't wait until they visit again!

Food Trucks

2011-05-09T20:27:00.003-04:00

D.C. is one of several cities across the country that has recently been flooded with . . food trucks.

Not Schwanns man food trucks, but trucks that park in different parts of the city each day to sell their specialties to lunch-goers.

There's a lobster truck, a mac n cheese truck, a pie truck, a kabob truck, a taco truck, a pizza truck, and the list goes on.

I ventured out for lunch the other day and found several trucks parked on the GW campus.

After much deliberation, I finally decided on Sabor'a Street arepas, because I had no idea what an arepa was! Turns out it consists of two thick corn flour patties with meat (or fish or cheese or eggs) piled in between. I ordered the mojo beef brisket (with a unique pico de gall0), and it was incredibly delicious, served with yucca and a lime aioli sauce on the side.

I almost walked away without stopping by Curbside Cupcakes. Almost.

Snackin' and Parents' Visit

2011-04-19T23:50:00.005-04:00

Mmm, try this:

Toasted chips and Port Salut cheese. It's delish!

My parents arrive tomorrow for 5 days! I have lots of fun planned, and hopefully this means plenty of posts to come. Happy "Friday" to me! :)

Girls Weekend

2011-04-08T16:45:00.002-04:00

This weekend, I'm getting away to Williamsburg with my Katies. One Katie is happily celebrating a birthday, and the other is sadly moving away in a few months.

Both are good reasons for some girl time.

Have a great weekend!

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

2011-04-07T23:45:00.002-04:00

The Biscuit loves Snickerdoodles.

So when we stumbled upon the Snickerdoodle Cookie flavor of Ben & Jerry's the other week, we took it to his place and devoured it.

It was so delicious that when I got the urge to bake last weekend, Snickerdoodle cupcakes happened. Let's just say I'm glad we decided not to eliminate desserts completely from our diets . . . just six days out of the week.

Becoming a Basketball Fan

2011-04-02T14:04:00.003-04:00

This year, I have watched more basketball than ever before. And I've liked it! At the beginning of the season, I probably scored a C- on the NBA quiz D gave me, but I've since learned a lot about proper pronunciation (hehe) and who plays where.

This week, D and I went to our 3rd NBA game this month. Wizards v. Heat. This time we weren't in a suite, and you know I really missed the free food. :)

Nonetheless, it was an exciting game. A fight on the court and three players kicked out.

I've now seen Kobe, Blake Griffin, LeBron, DWade, and Chris Bosh play ball. And D is so proud that I know all of their names. :) p.s. I LOVE Blake Griffin.

Mr. Styles

2011-03-29T23:04:00.004-04:00

Today the Biscuit was unofficially 'voted' the best-dressed guy in his division at work. Duh. :) He's so handsome.

Here he is, one of two guys that actually dressed appropriately for our country-themed party last weekend. It's nice not having to dress your man.

Use Your Imagination

2011-03-28T21:48:00.002-04:00

Hello Friends!

I’m alive and well (especially after a 3-day weekend), and I keep taking pictures of all that I’ve been up to, but I just can’t find, er make, the time to post them. Problem.

So instead, just close your eyes and imagine a row of elephants standing on their hind legs, because that’s what I saw the other night at the circus. Also, how on Earth do they walk up the tightrope with someone standing on their shoulders??

Ok, now close your eyes and picture two thick pieces of French toast with shaved turkey and crumbles of bacon in between . . soaked in maple syrup, of course. It was delicious!

As was the chicken sandwich with goat cheese, grilled pineapple, and apricot sauce. I made that combination up, and you’ve gotta try it!

I can’t believe this month is almost over, but I’m so ready for April! On top of finicky weather, it’s been an expensive month for me. Remember, I’m on a major saving kick (or should I say I’m embracing a new saving lifestyle), but this month made it harder. I had to purchase a bridesmaid dress, a plane ticket, Black Keys concert tickets, a kickball registration, and a couple of Living Social deals . . ok, maybe the “deals” were unnecessary.

Happy Last Week of March! Here's a warm bowl of soup for those of you in chilly temps.

What are you looking forward to in April? Please tell me! Hello? Are you still there? ;)

Five Things

2011-03-08T22:51:00.002-05:00

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm popping in to give a little update on everything that's been happening around here. Ok, not everything - just five things.

For starters, the Biscuit went country dancing with me and my friends! And I am happy to report that the boy has rhythm.

A friend from Nebraska sent a random text requesting that BBQ Fritos be shipped to his address. Apparently this particular flavor of fattening chips is no longer distributed in the Midwest. I was happy to agree to the silly favor, and even the woman at the post office thought it deserved a special box to avoid chip-crushing. {And yes, that would be Samoa ice cream on the belt next to the chips. Yum!}

D and I went to the driving range, and I think I doubled my skill level in one afternoon. As much as I love golf, I'm pretty rusty, and D happens to be an awesome teacher. We can't wait for golf season to get here! {Btw, his swing is perfection. I love it.}

I spent the other morning on Capitol Hill. There is something about the feeling I get walking down the halls of the House office buildings . .

We got the hook-up and watched the Wizards vs. Timberwolves from a suite at the Verizon Center. I must admit that the high school State quarter-finals game we watched earlier that day was MUCH more exciting.

Ok, I'm off to bed and to hopefully read a bit in my new book "Praying God's Word". I'm eating it up so far!

Saving is Fun!

2011-03-01T19:23:00.000-05:00

I did it! I made it through a 2 month spending freeze, purchasing NOTHING for myself. Zip, zero, nada dollars on me.

Ok, I did buy one thing. An oven mitt. I found it amongst all the adorable Valentine's Day kitchen goodies, and I couldn't resist. I didn't feel too guilty about losing the $3, though. True, it could've gone in my savings account, but that mitt really came in handy when I baked chocolate peanut butter cupcakes the next day.

So yes, I went 2 months sans purchases. It was so fun and painless, too. And wow, my savings account looks pretty awesome right now.

D was very proud of me {and hopefully pretty impressed, hehe}, so when we walked through J.Crew the other day {and I almost didn't want to walk through, because that is the opposite of fleeing temptation}, he encouraged me to break the freeze and buy this cute top I was eyeing.

So I did. But truth be told, saving would have been way more fun.

Happy Friday

2011-02-25T13:58:00.001-05:00

Hope you all have a fun weekend planned! Perhaps starting things off with a Happy Hour?

That's what I did last weekend at Chef Geoff's. Half-price burgers and cheaper pizzas and . .

Supermugs!

Here I am about breaking my wrist with that sucker. It was heavy! And I most definitely did not drink it all by myself. Or even half of it. It's not even mine. But it made for a ridiculous picture. :)

Biscuits

2011-02-24T22:52:00.003-05:00

Does anyone remember forever and ever ago (like 4 years) when I mentioned the term "biscuit" here?

I didn't think so.

Either way, I had to take this picture the other night.

Biscuit eating a biscuit. GOLDEN BROWN.

A Happy V-Day

2011-02-17T12:03:00.002-05:00

On Monday, I had a Valentine for the first time ever, and while I was never one to be very sad about my singleness, it was definitely special to share the holiday with someone other than my girlfriends. But not just anyone . .

You guys, he took me to one of my favorite restaurants for a four-course meal. It was so delicious!

I ate things like duck confit . .

and rockfish with onions and mushrooms and a pumpkin seed sauce . .

and a chocolate tart with pistachio crumbles . .

And my tastebuds were very, very happy about it. They were rejoicing for the rest of the night.

I was also given 2 cards {I love cards} and this pretty gold horn necklace. He knew I'd been wanting something dainty and gold, and this is perfect!

In turn, I got a little bit crafty and made a little book of all the stuff I love about him. There's a lot of stuff. And I gave him a CD . . and a card.

Look how happy I was. Very. :)

Good Stuff

2011-02-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

Happiness is . .

triple dates . .

and toasted marshmallow shakes {or milky way malts}

We grabbed some dinner at Good Stuff Eatery last weekend, and I'm ready to go back! This time I tried the burger with a fried egg on top + regular fries + seasoned fries {with rosemary and thyme} + the shake. Because that's how it's done.

Crazy Snow

2011-02-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

Did you hear about the nightmare that was our traffic during last week's wintry mix? Awful. I spent 2 1/2 hours driving a distance that normally takes 11 minutes. But I can't complain when others spent 9 or more hours on the road. I'm thinking perhaps the government will let people out a bit earlier when snow is in the forecast.

It sure was pretty, though. And once I made it to a warm and cozy house, I was happy to have it snow. Plus, I had come prepared with groceries a delicious dinner of mushroom risotto, flounder, broccoli, and a fresh baguette.

Raise your hand if you haven't had snow lately. It seems as though everyone is experiencing crazy weather lately. When will Spring get here??

I'm Still Eating

2011-01-20T23:56:00.005-05:00

I'm checking in again. One week later, instead of a month. Progress! :)

This week has been relatively uneventful, but tomorrow D and I drive to Harrisonburg, Virginia. Woohoo! I've been there only once before for a stop at Starbucks and a super quick JMU campus drive-by . . but D will be giving me a proper tour this weekend, which includes a basketball game on Saturday and hopefully some delicious bagels {I've heard they're the best ever}. We'll be staying with his very good {married} friends who I met just a few weeks ago. I'm excited.

I know I haven't written about food for awhile, but don't worry, I'm still enjoying some good meals. In fact, my boyfriend takes me out to eat so much, it's a miracle I haven't gained any weight.

Last weekend alone, we ate at Rustico {our 2nd 3 hour meal there in a week - mmm yummy beer, roasted mushroom pizza, and great convos}, Los Tios {steak with fried eggs on top and caramelized onions, don't mind if I do}, Ozzie's Italian restaurant {wine, lasagna, rigatoni, and dessert with his cousins}, Cafe Bonaparte {crepes!} and Fire Works {for more pizza}.

It was all delicious. But again, pb&j with D would make me equally happy. Just sayin'. :)

p.s. Did I mention he came to Nebraska with me after Christmas? It was fun!

p.p.s. I'll try to write a non-D-centric post next time. Try. :)

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-12T20:19:00.013-05:00

I’ve only been back on the blogging scene for a week and I’ve been welcomed with a blog award from Pink Sun Drops! This makes me especially happy because she is one of the first bloggers I ever stumbled upon, and hers was one that encouraged me to keep posting.

I loved reading about her life in California (now Austin) with her husband and two adorable sons. I was inspired by her desire to invest in her family, and intrigued by how she embraced her role as a young mom. Like me, she enjoys good food and new experiences, and three years ago, we were able to meet up for some fun in Austin – ice-skating on the roof of Whole Foods, a little hike up Mount Bonnell, delicious BBQ in the middle-of-nowhere, and some live country music on SoCo.

The rules upon receiving this award are the following:

Rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about this award.

Here are my 7 random things:

1. I'm in the middle of a two-month spending freeze right now. And by that I mean that only food and absolute necessities are allowed to be purchased – and that includes “fancy” food. The first month has been a bit of a breeze, and I’ve only been tempted to pick up a magazine or buy a groupon here or there. I’ve said no to things like Restaurant Week - *tear* - and a ski trip that keep a nice chunk of money in the bank where it belongs. D has been my “encourager” on #1, and I will admit that he makes it much more motivating. I have fun doing nothing but talking to him (which is free), and if he doesn’t think I need new clothes, I must not . . for at least another month or two. :)

2. I'm so excited to file my taxes. I know it sounds strange. As a single person, claiming zero is like an automatic savings plan.

3. I'm in the middle of a really good book right now called “Manhunt”. I love historical nonfiction, and the detailed story of the search for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, has me on the edge of my seat. It’s amazing how much information the author was able to dig up to give such a fascinating play-by-play of events. Thanks for the book, D!

4. I want to practice cooking more often . . with D, at least. It’s way more fun to do it with him. Last Sunday, we made baked ravioli, green beans with caramelized onions (except that I messed up the onions), and rolls. Let’s just say I learned a few things. I have a lot to learn. Right now, I’m a little intimidated in the kitchen, and I know only practice will build my confidence.

5. If I had one day all to myself right now, I’d work out, have a long time of prayer, Bible reading and worship with the Lord, and go through all my design magazines that are piling up unread. I’d like to create a folder with magazine clippings of spaces I love. I need to file images away on my laptop, too.

6. Pertaining to style, I feel like I have none these days. The first thing I think when getting dressed every day is not “what cute outfit can I put together?”, but “what warm outfit can I put together?”. Not that you can’t be warm and fashionable, but after I shower, I’m in too much of a hurry to GET WARM CLOTHES ON BODY to give much thought to style.

7. I think my favorite thing to wear right now is the white Rebel Yell hoodie D gave me for Christmas. It is so cozy! I saw Jessica Simpson (back when I loved her) wearing one of their t-shirts years ago and checked out the brand, but couldn’t bring myself to splurge. Glad D did it for me . . although I know it helps when you get a discount. :)

Here is my list of 10 stylish bloggers I'm loving these days:

The Fashionista Foodie. I personally know this stylish blogger, and it was so fun to discover that we shared many similar interests, like food, fashion, and blogging. She's been posting some delicious recipes that I'm dying to try!
The Style Activist. A personal friend of Fashionista Foodie, I've just begun reading her blog. I love the outfits she puts together! Check out her blog roll for lots of other great fashion blogs.
Kendi Everyday. I find so much inspiration here for everyday outfits. I'm pretty sure I would wear every outfit she does. Check out her 30 for 30 Remix "challenge".
Cupcakes and Cashmere. My favorite "lifestyle" blogger, Emily doesn't play it safe when it comes to food and fashion. She's always mixing up fabulous ensembles and trying challenging new recipes.
Whoorl. I love Sarah's witty, sometimes sarcastic, commentary on everything from mommyhood to hair. She actually has a blog about hair and hair products, as well. I also love that she sold me 3 of her like-new J.Crew suits for the price of one jacket. :)
Girls Like Cars Too. Another real life friend with an eye for beautiful things. She may like cars, but she also loves design, photography, and though she never posts pictures of herself, the girl knows how to dress!
In the Tweeds. Ok, so here is another stylish blogger I know personally. With a passion for interior design, she's having lots of fun (post-remodel) decorating her new home in Mississippi.
Mama Loves Papa. You can have four small children and be a stylish mommy. Morgan proves it. I don't know how she manages to look so cute while also dressing/feeding/raising her little ones, but she does!
Jewels. From Alabama to NYC, from school to full-time job, Julie is having fun exploring the city and sharing her adventures and love of design on her blog.
Bryn Alexandra. Bryn is one of my very favorite design bloggers with taste very similar to mine. It's been exciting to watch her venture down a new career path in interior design. I'm amazed at all she's accomplished in such a short time.

----So there you have it. Ten stylish bloggers I love. Have fun checking out their blogs if you haven't already! Thanks again, Pink! xo

New York City

2011-01-10T17:59:00.003-05:00

I am back-tracking over a month by posting pics of New York City, but I can't let the trip go unmentioned. It was too much fun!

D and I decided to go explore the city the weekend after Thanksgiving, our long list of things-to-see in hand. Fortunately our interests overlap and complement each other well.

Eating, shopping, sightseeing, we did it all.

One of my favorite things to see, that I'd only walked past before, was the Trinity graveyard in the Financial District. I love history, and seeing tombstones from the late 1700s, many worn down to almost nothing, was fascinating.

This marker for a 9 year old who passed away in 1761 especially had me captivated.

We spent most of our time walking through Soho, and if you can believe it, I was not the one with a long list of stores to visit. I was, however, probably the one who spent the most money once inside the stores.

I stopped in Kim Kardashian's shop, Dash . .

. . and spotted the nearest Anthropologie after wandering the cobblestone streets. {I picked up a cute blue blouse and salmon-colored corduroys at the Chelsea Anthro the next day.}

This boy loves him some shoes, and he was wishing he could create his own Nikes at the Sportswear shop.

As is to be expected when visiting NYC, we sought out some really good pizza, and we found it . . and waited a long time for it at Lombardi's. I didn't know until we got there that it was America's very first pizzeria. It was delicious!

My favorite meal of the trip was at A.O.C., a French restaurant in Greenwich, that we stumbled upon after my blocks-long quest for Magnolia Bakery {I think D heard "I'm pretty sure it's this next block" x5} - not because they're my favorite cupcakes, but because . . it's so cute!

We ate by candlelight, somehow not stuffing ourselves with too much bread, and I enjoyed the Risotto de la Mer with shrimp, scallops, salmon, thinly sliced carrots and a balsamic glaze. I will attempt to make this at home {with the help of my roommate, most likely}.

In addition to Ground Zero, Christmas windows on 5th Ave, and all that shopping, we also had fun at Chelsea Market. Don't ask how many bakeries we visited, though.

We also walked through the Hell's Kitchen flea market, admiring the vintage clothes and trinkets, but not buying a thing.

We sat on a bench in Central Park sipping our City Bakery hot chocolate . .

. . and then headed to Rockefeller Plaza for some memorable and expensive ice skating. The tree wasn't lit yet, but the atmosphere was still pretty magical . . in my opinion. I'm not sure D had stopped thinking about the cost yet. :)

We walked through Times Square, Dylan's Candybar, and the Union Square Holiday Market during our trip, and we ended it all with the best breakfast ever at Locanda Verde in Tribeca.

Hellooo hazelnut french toast, I miss you.

Oh, how I love New York. It's taken me awhile, but I do.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-06T00:28:00.001-05:00

In the past 5 1/2+ years, this may be the longest I've stayed away from the blog, and I promise there's a very good reason for it. I found something a little more fun than hanging out on my laptop.

His name is Danny. Never mind getting a great, new, challenging job this year (although I'm tremendously grateful for it); he is definitely my favorite part of 2010.

While I am typically a constantly-camera-toting girl, I have been more busy living in the moment these days and enjoying getting to know someone without documenting everything. No worries, I've still gotten some pics, though. :)

For example, the night we met:

The reason we met is partially due to these sweet tickets he had to the Nationals game . . to which I was invited by my good friend KC who was seeing his roommate. Confused?
Basically, I went to this game as her wingman, person #4, and it was a very good decision.

The four of us coupled off, as could be expected, and talked for awhile after the game with this beautiful view of the Capitol:

It suppose it might have been romantic if I was thinking of him as anything more than a nice guy I had just met . . . but I didn't start thinking that until the next day. . and I've talked to him every day since. He's way more than just nice. :)

I can't wait to make more memories {and maybe document them} in 2011!

Meet G

2010-11-18T23:23:00.003-05:00

How hard is it to update the blog? Very, apparently.

But I'm checking in to say hello, goodnight, and oh - here is an adorable pic of the sweetest little 1 year old I know. I went back to Nebraska . . . well, a month ago . . celebrated her 1st birthday and learned that her mommy (my best friend) is expecting in June! Yay! Another 'niece' or 'nephew' to love.

Gracie is a girl after my own heart.

Feels like Fall

2010-10-10T20:56:00.002-04:00

Bad blogger here. Between getting a new job and hanging out with a new person, I've been a busy girl this month. Not that the busyness is anything new. I've also been taking an online photography class, but unfortunately have not been very good about practicing the new tips.

I'm getting closer and closer to accepting the fact that it's Fall. The leaves are turning, the temps are dropping, and Halloween is right around the corner. Despite the warm Sunday we had today, I did two very Fall-ish things to begin to ease myself into the new season. I ate pumpkin spice fro-yo and baked an apple cake {with apples I bought at Eastern Market}. Pretty soon, I'll be getting a pumpkin for the front porch and donning my boots. Pretty soon . . but not yet. Fall is a beautiful season in Virginia, but Fall turns to Winter, and Winter is no good.

My favorite thing about Fall is the football. I've been to a Skins game this season, as well as the Virginia Tech/Boise State game {sad face}, and best of all, I'll be spending this Saturday afternoon in Memorial Stadium as we Huskers {hopefully} give the Longhorns a proper farewell before exiting what's left of the Big XII conference. I am so so excited! {*I'll also be attending my best friend's daughter - Baby Grace's - 1st birthday party this weekend. She's my favorite!}

Last weekend I did something Fall-ish, too. I checked grape stomping off my "must do" list. See?:

And there were firepits and wine and BBQ. Ok, maybe I am ready for Fall.

Pie for Fall

2010-09-18T00:39:00.000-04:00

With Fall here and temps getting cooler, you are going to want to make this. Trust me.

I won a pie bake-off in my office with this deliciousness, and I can't wait to make it again. Full disclosure, I used a store-bought pie crust. My time is very valuable to me. :)

2_ and one month

2010-09-14T00:04:00.005-04:00

I can't believe I've been twenty-whatever for an entire month now. {Maybe if I don't say it out loud, I'll forget how old I am?} It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating in Nebraska.

This picture is me at my happiest. I've just eaten some of my favorite foods and desserts at the lake {thanks to my mom and grandmas} with people I love, and I'm getting one more ski in before the sun sets.

Mmm, Grandma's baked beans, Mom's potato salad, fresh watermelon and sweet corn, grilled burgers and zucchini . . Why does summer have to be over?

Growing up, there was always an August Birthdays celebration one Sunday of the month where four cousins' birthdays were celebrated, two or three cakes were made, and we all spent the day on the lake. For as long as I can remember, Grandma made angel food cake with a delicious butter and sugar frosting for that party - so that's exactly what I asked her to make this year.

I had to have a chocolate cake, too, of course. And Mom's hot fudge. And apparently wear a shirt that said LAKE PARTY - wow, that is some big font.

Dad is the best boat driver in the world, by the way. And he kicks up some amazing spray when he skis. So jealous. :)

On my actual birthday, some friends and family joined me at the Mexican restaurant I've grown up loving. Fortunately my tastes have matured and grown from scrambled eggs and tortillas to beef enchiladas, flour chips and cheesy bean dip. I've always liked the fried ice cream, though.

And I'm sure some of you might be wondering if there were any cupcakes. Thanks to my friend Sarah, there were! It was so sweet of her to bring me four delicious flavors when I spent time with her, our other friends, and their kids that day. The cupcakes were a big hit, and all the little girls were excited to tell me which ones were their favorites.

It was a great 29th birthday, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way.

What I've Been Up To

2010-08-13T17:20:00.003-04:00

Hello Blog Friends! It's been a great month-long sabbatical over here. I'll be honest - I won't be surprised if I take another one.

Over the past 4-ish weeks, I've seen a good friend get married {at the beautiful St. John's Episcopal - "the Presidents' church"} and danced up a storm at the fun reception. If I could get a band that great at my future wedding, I would hands-down get a band.

I've also nearly melted several times due to the oppressive temps we've had. Can you imagine 50 days of 90+ degrees and humidity? It ain't comfortable. Especially when 20 of those days were over 95!

I've floated down the Shenandoah in a tube {mimosa in hand, haha} and grilled out in the countryside with the Appalachians in the distance.

I've indulged my inner history nerd with a day trip to Gettysburg and a tour of the battlefields, stopping by the side of the road for heirloom tomatoes and the best peaches I've ever had.

And, much to even my surprise, I've purchased another ticket to Nebraska. Two times in 6 weeks?! I've never done that before. But when I thought of all the places I could fly for my birthday, the one that sounded the best was home. And KC is coming with me!

I'm off to a Nationals ballgame and to finish packing before tomorrow! . . Have a great weekend!

Sore Throat from Hell

2010-07-17T07:31:00.006-04:00

I wish I wasn't up quite yet, after only 5 1/2 hours of sleep. But the swollen glands in my throat won't let me sleep. It's been 6 days of this, and it's only been more painful the past three. Fifteen more minutes 'til ibuprofen time. Last night I couldn't sleep because it hurt so bad.

Yesterday it ruined my river tubing trip. I spent the day on the couch instead.

I'm thankful for my bossy little roommates who have prepared glasses of salt water for gargling and urged me to get plenty of rest. When I suggested watching a movie yesterday, I was met with "I think it's naptime, L."

The doctor says it's only a viral upper respiratory infection, so just keep downing the pain killers and this too shall pass.

What are the chances it passes before my friend's birthday party tonight? . . .

Fortunately I've picked up a couple good books to read while resting. One is an 800+ page history book called "What Hath God Wrought", covering the period of 1815-1848.

In the first 62 pages, I have already learned a lot. Here are a few notable tidbits:

In the beginning of the 19th century, people bathed, at most, once a week. At the time, one doctor from New England actually stated that 4 out of 5 of his patients didn't bathe from one year to the next! CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE!?

They were smart about one thing, though. They wore lots of clothing, despite hot temperatures and humidity, because they believed the sun was bad for your skin. I say, who cares if you have wrinkles when you smell bad?!

By 1815, more people had been brought to America from Africa (through the slave trade) than from Europe! UNBELIEVABLE and SAD.

Sojourner Truth began her fight for freedom when, after being emancipated, she sued to get her 5 year old son back. He had been illegally sold out of state just before she became free. {She had been sold away from her parents at the age of 9.} Her son was returned to her.

Here is an excerpt I love:

"The man who got ahead in often primitive conditions did so by means of innate ability, hard work, luck, and sheer willpower. An important component of his drive to succeed was a willingness to innovate and take risks."

America!

I will stop now for those of you that don't enjoy history so much.

The other book I purchased is "Same Kind of Different as Me", a true story about "a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together". I've heard it's incredibly good.

If I can't sleep, I might as well read.

I'd like to also share a clip from last week's "So You Think You Can Dance". Although I don't watch the show, I stumbled up on it, and I'm obsessed. Click here, because embedding didn't work.

Happy July!

2010-07-09T19:07:00.004-04:00

Helloooo!

Much has happened since I last posted, most importantly a week-long trip home to Nebraska. When will I learn that one week is not enough? Ten or eleven days is perfect. Maybe when I receive more paid time off . . although I'm not certain that will ever happen, as I have a pretty sweet deal as it is.

But I digress.

It was hard coming back to D.C./Virginia, and I actually shed a few tears. It may not help that I am bored out of my mind at work these days, and I'm dying for something new. How did work go from intense, long days to filing my nails and juggling gchat convos?

But I digress again!

The weekend is here, and despite the disastrous condition my room is in, I'm not turning down the chance to be social. Hopefully tonight will involve a new spot downtown, and tomorrow I'm seeing Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum and Love & Theft in concert! Yeeehaw!

p.s. I am missing my 10 year high school reunion this weekend. I loved high school, but Facebook has provided me with enough life updates to keep me satisfied. Plus, Tim and Lady A totally beat out people I never hung out with in high school anyway. Word?

I will leave you with a little fireworks video I made to one of my current favorite songs. If you appreciate a little hip-hop in your life or the lovely vocals of Alicia Keys, you'll want to click play. :)

"Fireworks" by Drake from LP on Vimeo.

Summer Days

2010-06-25T23:58:00.002-04:00

While I am waiting for my amazingly delicious banana bread to finish baking, I thought I'd update the blog. {At least I hope it's as delicious as it was when my colleague baked it the other day. Remember my quest for the perfect banana bread? I may have found it.}

I'm sort of baking it for a World Cup/pool party tomorrow, but let's be honest, I'm really just using that as an excuse.

Life has been incredibly busy so far this summer, as it always seems to be. Country concerts, boating, jazz in the Sculpture Garden, baseball games {Go Strasburg!}, kickball, and both a cousin and a friend in town to visit.

Shae has visited six times in the four years I've lived here, and it's fun to have her know all my friends and rather than sightsee, just go with the flow when she's in town. This visit, we stopped by a Mexican place on Capitol Hill for margaritas and chips and salsa and had dinner at the Waterfront with friends followed by a favorite hangout spot to end the night.

Thanks to a friend, I was able to see Stephen Strasburg's home opener for the Nationals, despite it being a sold out game. It was an awesome night to cheer for the Nats. Fourteen strikeouts!

Our kickball season has come to a close, and I'll really miss those nights with friends as planes flew just over our heads right next to the Potomac. Gorgeous setting, and winning most of our games was pretty fun, too!

It felt great to be back at the lake again with good friends. For some reason chocolate donut holes have become our morning pre-boating treat.

My cousin Joy came to town {in addition to my aunt and uncle} to visit her brother and his family, and I was able to see her each day she was here! We met up at the Nats game Friday night {where I introduced her to Giffords ice cream}, spent all day Sunday with my family for Father's Day . . and I stole her on Saturday for pool time, an Italian dinner with friends and a night at the Waterfront. Being the talented stylist she is, she offered to do a fun rope braid in my hair for the night.

Just a few more days before I head home to Nebraska for the Fourth of July. It's been six months since I've been home, and I couldn't be more excited!

Memorial Weekend in NC

2010-06-14T22:37:00.003-04:00

Well, that was quite a hiatus I took.

And it felt pretty good. I don't want to force myself to blog when I'm just not feelin' it. Life has been busy, and I've been enjoying it.

Memorial Day weekend was fantastic.

Our first stop was this beautiful vineyard in the-middle-of-nowhere North Carolina.

All guests were invited to the rehearsal dinner, and this was the beautiful spot.

We took plenty of pictures, drank some wine, and ate great BBQ. KC and I also scoped the tables for cute boys, naturally.

There was time for a quick golf scramble the day of the wedding, and I was lucky enough to have a real competitor on my team. It was no thanks to my poor shots that we won.

The wedding was held at an even more beautiful vineyard, much more expansive than the last. Rolling hills, acres of vines, and mountains in the distance.

I'm guessing this tent wasn't cheap to rent, which is why Sunday weddings are a great idea! Keep the tent from Saturday's extravagant celebration. I want someday, I want!

The wine. The wine.

And the very adorable and happy couple.

After a very late night of celebrating, KC and I drove east to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Five and a half hours east! More hours than I had just slept.

It was worth it when we arrived here.

Oceanfront is where it's at!

However, I almost preferred the house last year. While not as large, it was a private beach with much prettier sand dunes, in my opinion. But hey, I'm certainly not complaining!

I spent most of the time with my Katies. :)

And you know I ate plenty of food, as well.

Crab legs at the seafood buffet

And more North Carolina BBQ

It was a wonderful weekend, complete with a very nice tan.

Happy Memorial Day!

2010-05-29T08:23:00.003-04:00

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I'm off for five days of fun in North Carolina!

First, a vineyard wedding for a beautiful friend out in western NC.

{I went to her hair and make-up run-through two weeks ago. Eeee, so fun!}

All are invited to both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding and reception, so it will be a fun-filled weekend!

And after the party is over, KC and I will meet up with friends in the Outer Banks {only a SIX hour drive from the wedding spot, so good thing we're staying through Wednesday}.

I doubt this year's trip to OBX will be as life-changing as the last, where I made many new friends, including two of my current roommates, but I'm sure it will be just as fun!

I have to give a shout-out to a wedding I'm sad to be missing back in Nebraska. My Best Friend's little bro is tying the knot with a wonderful girl! I wish I could be two places at once. It's so strange to think that I remember his 11th birthday so clearly. Boy, do I feel old! :)

Runzas

2010-05-27T22:02:00.005-04:00

When my friend Tony made his very first trip to Nebraska last month on business, I naturally recommended a few places for him to eat. He was staying in Lincoln's Haymarket neighborhood, right off the University of Nebraska campus, the school I attended my freshman year.

He took me up on both of my recommendations, and came home with a recipe for one of them. His colleague in Nebraska had told him that he could make his very own Runzas. As much as I missed this amazing Nebraska "ovenstuffed" sandwich, it was nothing I'd ever tried at home myself. But I was certainly up for it!

The recipe at first seemed a little bit daunting, but after baking kolaches a few months ago, making the dough from scratch didn't sound so awful.

Tony got to work cooking the beef, and I mixed up the dough.

The kneading took plenty of muscle! Meanwhile Tony had the easy job of cutting up cabbage and onions. :)

I grew so impatient waiting for the dough to rise, that I sent Tony out for back-up dough along with mushrooms and swiss to add to some of our Runzas.

But eventually the dough did rise, and we were ready to roll it out and fill it up!

Unlike the original Runza, ours were shaped in triangles, and I was nervous to see how they would turn out.

But I have to admit, they were delicious! No, they weren't nearly as good as the real deal, but worth making from scratch again? Definitely!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try!:

Runza Recipe

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup sugar
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
FILLING:
1 pound lean ground beef
2 small onions, chopped
4 cups chopped cabbage
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, place 1-3/4 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Heat milk, water and shortening to 120 degrees F-130 degrees F. Pour over flour mixture; add the eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended. Beat 3 additional minutes on high. Stir in the remaining flour; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes Place dough in a greased bowl; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, brown beef and onions in a skillet. Add the cabbage, salt and pepper; cook until cabbage is wilted. Punch dough down; roll into 12/6-in. squares. Top each square with 1/3 cup meat mixture. Fold into triangles. Pinch edges tightly to seal and place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot

Summer Began This Weekend

2010-05-23T23:36:00.003-04:00

It rained this weekend. A lot. But that didn't stop me from enjoying it.

On Friday night, the weather was still perfect - no humidity and a gentle breeze with 80 degree temps. It was the right night for another Nats baseball game with a big group of church friends. Boo to the Nats losing by two runs, though!

On Saturday morning, I helped out at the food pantry again. It's a fun place to serve, but I will admit to sneaking just a little more food that I'm supposed to into some of the bags. I read the names of the people and the number of children, as well as their ages, and sometimes I think they need an extra fruit roll-up or a box of cookies in addition to crackers. It's funny when I go out to meet the names on the paper, and they look through the bag, taking out the very thing I thought they might like. :) Most of them are very grateful, and it is touching to hear their prayer requests, many of them for their family members' education and future, as well as jobs for themselves. As a food lover, it makes me even more thankful for the fresh food I'm able to enjoy, in addition to the other ways the Lord has more than provided in my life.

Just as the rain began on Saturday, we headed off to our first tailgate and country concert of the summer! By the time we arrived in the lot, it was coming down hard, so a few of us hid out in the back of the Jeep with all the food!

We had a brief intermission from the rain, so the boys fired up the grill, a very important part of the tailgate.

And I wasn't the only one who brought cupcakes, so I had to compare.

It was soon time to don our raincoats and brave the weather for some amazing entertainment by Justin Moore, Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley! It was one of the best concerts I've been to! We got soaked, but thank goodness it let up for most of the show.

I am stoked for the rest of the summer's concerts!

The very next morning, I needed a serious cup of coffee! Too bad this one belongs to my friend (who took the picture), since I've never even drank the stuff.

I was exhausted, and I was hungry, but our baby shower brunch at Founding Farmers totally satisfied! I ordered the bananas foster french toast.

And a side of grits.

After the meal, we carpooled down to Old Town Alexandria for a little afternoon shopping.

It was a wonderful weekend!

German Chocolate Cupcakes

2010-05-21T11:32:00.000-04:00

The topping turned out much better this time around.

These are amazing, if I do say so myself! I love ya, Martha!

Another Excuse to Bake

2010-05-20T15:41:00.000-04:00

Is it ironic that I’m writing about baking less than 24 hours after a healthy eating post? Maybe if I gave up baking, those extra two pounds I’d like to shed would fall off. Oh well.

It seems at least once a week or every other, I get the urge to bake. You’ve seen this in past posts of cupcakes and cupcakes and occasional cookies. I fight the urge quite often, but for “special occasions”, I give in. And by special occasion, I mean last week’s kickball game. The coach mentioned how much he loved my baking, and there were a few ranger cookies waiting for him at our next game. (Ranger cookies involve Wheaties, coconut, and oats, and the last time I’d made this recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook was with my favorite babysitter in the fifth or sixth grade. I never forgot how good they were.)

This week it’s german chocolate cupcakes I’m baking, and the excuse is my boss. Out of town for his birthday last month, he never received a cake or office celebration, but he did mention german chocolate was his favorite kind of dessert. Last night, I picked up the ingredients and got to work at 8:45pm. By the time 10:30 rolled around, I didn’t think I’d ever get to bed. And that’s when the frosting gave me problems.

Stir the mixture over medium heat for ten minutes, Martha Stewart said. So I stirred and stirred and stirred. Twenty minutes later, and it still was not thick! I yelled for my kitchen mentor, Lyn, and she advised me to turn up the heat a bit - the bubbles weren’t bad, because it meant the air was escaping and hence, making the sauce thicker.

“Wow, baking is kinda scientific,” I said. Me and my bright observations. Duh!

I guess this is why I may never be amazing in the kitchen. I’m much, much better with words. Look! I can spell evaporate!

Yet, even with the much-needed advice, the sauce still didn’t turn out correctly. Instead, I heated it too long! The goop barely made it through the sieve, and I refused to take such a frosting to work. I’ll be re-buying the ingredients tonight and trying the mixture again. Meanwhile, my perfectly-moist cupcakes are stored and awaiting their topping. Wish me luck!

Back at the Shore

2010-05-20T00:17:00.002-04:00

Our annual girls' trip to the Jersey Shore never happened last year, but we made up for it this past weekend. My friend C is a wonderful hostess, and always makes our time at her family's shore house memorable.

Actually, the word "memorable" always seems to be quite the understatement for our trips.

Food-wise, there were things like coffee cake from Mueller's . .

Eaten with cold milk, of course

And there were manis and pedis all around . .

An evening at our favorite spot just .6 miles up the road. We know because we walk it every time, and we like knowing how long of a walk it is.

See? I am a big fan!

Also a big fan of $5 for 13 songs of your choice on the digital jukebox. I picked some winners this time. Although, I was sad our favorite 80s band wasn't in town.

Nevertheless, I was dancing up a storm! hehe. You know I love to dance.

And then there was the beach. Which was perfect in every way. Can you see why I dislike public beaches now? I've been spoiled.

The Jersey Shore from LP on Vimeo.

With Mom and Sis in D.C.

2010-05-19T17:14:00.001-04:00

*Sigh* We made it back to D.C.
Mom was so glad. “It’s nice to be back in your little town,” she said. Yes, New York does make it feel little.

On Saturday morning, I took them to Eastern Market, a favorite spot of mine. We waited in line at the crepe cart, ordering savory crepes for our meal . . and sweet ones for dessert.

We walked along the rows of vendors, admiring the jewelry, art, and delicious fruits and veggies. Mom walked away with a pretty necklace, and I took home a painting and my first bouquet of peonies, my absolute favorite flower!

Of course, no visit would be complete without a stop by Georgetown Cupcake, and as usual, I couldn’t order just one. One of my new favorites is peanut butter fudge! . . and mint oreo!

We spent the evening making pizzas at KC’s place with a group of my friends, playing a little Rock Band, and finishing the night at one of the Waterfront’s outdoor bars. The weather was perfect!

On Sunday, we managed to fill the day visiting family that live in the area.

I’m so happy they were able to visit (only their 2nd time in four years), and I hope it’s not quite as long before they come again! Next time Dad and Brother and Bro-in-Law need to come, too!

Healthy Eating

2010-05-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

How do you eat healthy? What are your go-to healthy (or at least healthy-ish) snacks?

I feel as though I eat the same things over and over and while I’m not necessarily sick of them, I think it’s good for our bodies to mix it up . . kind of like muscle confusion in a workout – food confusion in your diet?

Here are some examples of what my diet looks like on any given day:

Breakfast
Almost always: healthy whole grain cereal with skim or 1% milk (I hear 1% has more nutrients even if it is a bit fattier)
Occasionally: Dannon Light & Fit yogurt in strawberry banana (I also heard this is healthier, lower-cal, less sugar than the Yoplait I’ve always eaten)
Quaker Oat Maple and Brown Sugar instant oatmeal
Toast with peanut butter and strawberry jam

Lunch
Homemade Salads with either tuna, hard-boiled eggs and chicken for protein and lots of veggies, nuts, fruit, and a little cheese and light dressing
This week: lettuce, chicken, cucumbers, corn, roasted red peppers, thyme, parsley, green beans, goat cheese, crispy onions
It’s either this salad or a sandwich from Subway, which always leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe a skinny Potbelly sandwich instead.

Snacks
Carrots and hummus (so filling and yummy)
Stacy’s pita chips (I don’t care if these aren’t healthy, I am obsessed with eating them plain.)
Apples
Strawberries or raspberries or a banana
Fiber Plus bars (less sugary and lower cal than Fiber One, plus tastier!)
Laughing cow cheese wedges

Dinner
Scrambled egg sandwich with a little miracle whip and cheese
Tuna sandwich
PB&J sandwich
Shredded chicken with tomato, hummus, lettuce and Italian dressing on a tortilla
Sliced apples, pb, and honey open-faced sandwich
Scrambled egg burrito with salsa and shredded cheese
Sides of frozen veggies like broccoli, corn, or peas
Maybe a side of couscous with corn

What discourages me is that, although I feel that the above is a pretty healthy, low calorie diet, I’m still a little less than happy with my progress in the weight loss department. I have shed probably five pounds in the past couple of months, which brings me back to where I was pre-Christmas and L.A. pig-outs, but I want ALL the jiggle gone. All my clothes fit, and I’m not exactly in a bad place, so maybe I’m shooting for something that would be impossible to maintain anyway. That thought has crossed my mind. I mean, how many people really have zero insulation? Sometimes in gym class, I think “If I had a kid at home, it would be really hard to be here running these sprints or doing these push-ups.” And that scares me. I need to be maintaining a workout routine that won’t be completely unrealistic in the future. Otherwise, I might have a meltdown when my body never fully bounces back. Me at twenty years old, best shape of my life? I’m never gonna be there again . . and that’s ok.

Either way, what do you eat that is easy and healthy? I love options. (By the way, that sliced apple open-faced sandwich I mentioned above? So good!)

More NYC

2010-05-18T23:03:00.003-04:00

Day Two in NYC began with a long, long line in Battery Park as we waited to board the ferry.

It's amazing to pull away from the city and see the incredible skyline.

We docked at Liberty Island, but decided to save some time and stay on board.

There was more to explore in the Financial District before heading further uptown.

Such as the New York Stock Exchange . .

The charging bull

The Federal Hall at which George Washington was sworn in as President. I love history!

The Trinity Church cemetery, in which many famous tombstones could be found, some dating all the way back to the 1700s!

We had worked up an appetite yet again, so we made our way to The Stand near the University.

Everything we ordered was mouth-wateringly delicious! The Stand is most famous for its toasted marshmallow shakes, though. I can see why everyone raves about them! The maple almond was delicious, as well.

It took a crazy amount of willpower to not finish my crabbie melt, but the coleslaw, sweet potato fries and frickles were vying for my attention, as well. Frickles = fried pickles = mmmmm.

And despite the fact that we'd just stuffed ourselves to the brim, we stopped at Levain Bakery in Upper West for "the best chocolate chip cookies in the world". We bought three and saved them for later when milk was readily available.

They were the best we'd ever had.

Oh, and we barely had time to sit down and take a pic in Central Park before we were back on the bus to D.C.

Wait and See

2010-05-18T22:34:00.002-04:00

There's this Brandon Heath song that's been around for a bit.

I've sang the song a million times, but the words struck a new chord tonight on my four year anniversary in D.C.

Still wondering why I’m here
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh, He’s up to something
And the farther on I go
I’ve seen enough to know
That I’m not here for nothing
He’s up to something

There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet

NYC with Mom and Sister

2010-05-17T15:22:00.000-04:00

Our bus to New York was late that Thursday, and by the time we reached Penn Station, we were left with only 25 hours to explore the city. As if NYC wasn’t crazy enough!

The first order of business was dropping our bags at the hotel and grabbing a bite to eat. But not just any bite. Some friend-recommended and Yelp-approved brick oven pizza.

First things first, our hotel in the Financial District gave us a peek at the Hudson and a view of the World Trade Center site. Isn’t that building just gorgeous?! It looked to be full of condos – not that I spotted anyone at home on their laptop in bed or anything.

The WTC site is truly sobering, but it’s exciting to see the new construction there. On my last trip, I took the time to walk through a small museum, and I wish we’d had time to do the same. It’s well worth the $10 they charge.

The Subway took us up to Tribeca where Saluggi’s pizza did not disappoint. I was mildly frustrated upon being reminded that I don’t come from a family of adventurous eaters. I myself used to be extremely particular, and the list of foods I once hated would fill pages. But I gently coaxed Mom and Sister into ordering not only the Mediterranean pizza (no olives), but the customer favorite brussel sprout pizza. If it’s a customer favorite, I don’t care how weird it sounds – it’s gotta be good. And it was. Brussel sprouts, bacon, and caramelized onions. Who would’ve thought, right?

So get yourself to Church Street for some pizza! Apparently “Church Street Wants You”.

The main event that night was a Broadway show, and we’d purchased tickets to the The Lion King. Having seen only one other show (The Wedding Singer, which was very good) I was fascinated by the gracefulness of each actor, the costume design and props, the music . . basically everything. I’m glad we chose a show very unlike most others in that it’s attempted to recreate an animated film, and done an amazing job of it!

Of course Times Square was awaiting just outside the theater doors.

And that was our first seven hours in New York!

Completely MIA

2010-05-13T10:51:00.001-04:00

“You’ve been completely MIA . . and as badly as I want to take you out on Friday, I need to know if this is a bad move.” Maybe this crazy guy I nearly went out with would feel a little better if he knew I’d been ignoring more than just his text messages. I’ve been neglecting the blog! . . primarily due to my dog-sitting responsibilities this past week, in addition to just not feelin’ like it. I hope you’re not thinking “as badly as I want to keep reading your blog . . “ Haha.

I still want to recap the wonderful times I had with my visitors, starting with Mom and Sister.

First of all, when Mom says she likes something, actually really likes something, and it makes her maybe even a little excited, you must make that something happen! Mom and I are not alike in the easily excitable category.

Mom’s one request?: guacamole from Rosa Mexicano. And I was happy to oblige.

I was also happy to buy Sister and I a little white sangria to go with our guac and delicious steak tacos.

It was the perfect beginning to our time together.

And it was followed by my new favorite treat stop, FroZenYo – the self-serve place I recently discovered.

I tried at least eight flavors.

Missing my Visitors

2010-05-10T07:44:00.001-04:00

I'm wishing I could hit the rewind button to last week and hang out with these people again:

Happy Monday!

Bits and Pieces

2010-05-05T23:18:00.003-04:00

My guests have gone, and it's back to reality for me. It was a great week in New York City and D.C. with Mom and Sister and then Best Friend. Would only have been better if it was free. :)

Of course I took loads of pictures, none of which are postable yet. But soon . . I think.

Tomorrow is my first kickball game of the season - whoop whoop - and hopefully I'll make it to first base. My last kickball memory is from the 3rd grade, so this should be interesting.

Happy Cinco de Mayo to you all! Instead of hitting the gym like I so desperately need to do, I suggested the roommates and I go for Mexican tonight. Lyn's recommendation did not disappoint. It was some real authentic and delicious grub, including yummy pupusas.

I am eeexhausted right now and headed straight to bed, but thought I'd say hello to the blogosphere. My goodness, being away from Google Reader for a few days can really overwhelm a person. I have well over 200 posts to read!

Last Weekend

2010-04-28T16:50:00.005-04:00

Despite all the extra hours I’ve spent awake this week (read: 1am bedtime every night, ugh), I’ve been seriously neglecting the blog!

My mom and sister fly in this evening for a long weekend in New York City and D.C. It’s been about three years since either of them have visited, so needless to say, I’m a little (or maybe a lot) excited. I’ve been spending several hours the past few days cleaning and organizing my room, as well as scoping out some fun NYC activities. Don’t tell my mom, but although this will be my sixth time in the city and I do feel comfortable navigating, it always makes me a teeny bit nervous to visit. It’s just so . . HUGE. And as much as I love exploring its vastness, I can’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed by the buildings, the people, the sights and the smells. That is to say, I like the city, but I don’t loooove it. Two days is always plenty of time for me. It will be fun to see what Mom and Sister think.

Last weekend was perfectly low-key since the priority was organizing, laundry, and all that other fun stuff. I spent both weekend evenings on the couch in sweat pants. As much as I love make-up, heels, and fun outfits, there is something to be said for just chilling at home. On Sunday, I rose as early as 8am for my second p90x workout with KC. {I am loving it so far!} Several friends visited church with me that day, and we had a nice lunch at Chop’t after the service. The forecasted rain stayed away all day, as Lauren and I shopped in the sun along 14 Street, popping into various home décor and thrift shops before heading south of town to Ikea. We drooled over some lovely pieces at Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams, vowed to never set foot in Rough and Ready again, and picked up some delicious macarons at ACKC. It was like a little piece of Paris in my mouth. {I’ve been dying to try them for months, after seeing them pop up in all sorts of design magazines and especially after reading about their popularity here, though I hope they don't become trendy.}
Throughout the day, I purchased a few more items that have brought my bedroom to very near completion. How long have I been saying that? But no, really – other than curtain trim, a pillow DIY, and a few more accessories, I’m finished! Pictures should come soon.

I'm off for some family fun . .

Cheap Tees

2010-04-24T16:11:00.002-04:00

Get yourself to Target and snatch up the boyfriend tees in every color . . like I may have just done. They just restocked. Only problem is that I can't decide if I want mine a little slouchy, one size up. Decisions, decisions. But either way, comfy, cute and well-made, in my opinion. And only $8 a pop!

I don't like sharing secrets, but I like you all. :)

Let the Games Begin!

2010-04-23T15:52:00.002-04:00

As of last weekend, I think I’ve managed to attend every professional sporting event in the D.C. area at least once.

Hockey (Capitals), football (Redskins and Ravens), soccer (United), baseball (Nats and Orioles), basketball (Wizards). . I’ve even been to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Sporting events might be my favorite pastime ever! Or eating. Sporting events usually involve eating though, so . . perfect!

I’m beyond thrilled that baseball season has started again, and despite the rain, my friends and I stuck out the Nationals game last Friday under the cover of an overhang with beer and chili cheese dogs in hand.

One of many things I love about the new stadium is all the fantastic food offerings from local spots like Ben’s Chili Bowl, Five Guys, and Gifford’s, my favorite homemade ice cream shop. I spent my $10 Nats Bucks coupon wisely.

Sundae in a ballcap, don’t mind if I do. Oreo, strawberry cheesecake, and swiss chocolate with fudge and whipped cream on top. I shared the indulgence with Lauren.

On a side note, there’s something I love about that little red t-shirt, and I really wish I could call it my own. The fact of the matter is that I had fully intended on watching that game in a cable-knit top, skirt and heels – exactly what I’d worn to work that day. My last second packing before flying out the door that morning resulted in a combo that just wasn’t gonna work. Thanks to a friend I met up with pre-game, I was able to not only wear an acceptable and weather-appropriate shirt with my jeans, but I also borrowed her nail polish right there at the bar, making my toes flip-flop-ready. A much more comfortable outfit for a ballgame.

Despite a cold front that came in the next day, a group of us were dumb enough to wear not enough layers to our first Major League Soccer game at RFK stadium. Cold and windy is not enjoyable! I’m smiling here, but I wasn’t so happy when we “tailgated” food-less before the game.

Once inside, we escaped the wind, and I did enjoy the game. The soccer fans are passionate here, even though D.C. United isn’t often a winning team.

I was also reminded how cute soccer players can be. No wonder I always had crushes on them growing up.

Wine Tasting

2010-04-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

I‘m a firm believer that one should celebrate their birthday at least twice on the week of their birth, more if possible – so we birthday partied for Katie again this weekend.

Into the Virginia countryside we drove for some wine-tasting at the Barrel Oak Winery. We packed sandwiches and plenty of snacks, setting up our picnic at a table of eight and ordering two of our favorite bottles of wine after the tasting.

Wanna know what we ate?

Homemade sandwiches: turkey, havarti, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and mustard on whole wheat
Smoked gouda, brie, and cheddar and salami with crackers and chips and hummus and salsa
Also carrots and apples and grapes and strawberries

We packed our picnic well!

Barrel Oak allows children and dogs indoors, and we all enjoyed petting the adorable breeds we saw. This is M.E., because “it’s all about M.E.” Cute.

The views from the winery were spectacular and made me think that maybe I could live in the country someday. Or maybe I could just visit more often.

After we’d stuffed ourselves full, we were given a tour by the friendly owner and snapped a few pictures before heading home.

It was honestly one of the most fun times I’ve had in awhile, and I can’t say fun times are a rarity for me. Laughing and eating and drinking wine with people you love? It’s the best!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

2010-04-19T12:04:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I took a step outside my baking comfort zone by fulfilling a birthday request for strawberry rhubarb pie. Ever had it? I hadn’t, although my grandma has certainly made it before. I’ve never been much of a pie-lover, nor a fruit dessert-lover, but I’m always open to giving things a second (or first) try.

This baking experience was a lesson of “read the entire recipe before you even make your grocery list”, and I wound up visiting the store not twice, but three times before sticking this pie in the oven. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know that fruit pies require both a bottom and top crust, and my no-roll bottom crust was not an option for the top layer.

Live and learn. And everything worked out just fine.

Too much filling, oops. Hey, I just follow directions.

Mmmm, even I loved it! Not too tart at all.

Bloggers on the Mall

2010-04-14T22:13:00.003-04:00

Other than staying up entirely too late on Saturday and subsequently wasting almost all of a beautiful Sunday, my weekend included a very fun hangout with a girl I'd say I've "known" for a few years now.

A blog friend!

Outside Oklahoma! as well as her husband K and two of his friends.

The moment I saw her, I was jumping in the back of their car to ride along in search of a parking spot. It's so funny to me how comfortable and easy a first meeting can be when you've gotten to know someone through a little journal on the Internet.

I love the web!

Our first destination was the National Building Museum, where OO and K were picking up their t-shirts for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler on Sunday. We browsed the racks of discount gear and grabbed a few thing's with K's military discount before driving to the Mall in search of a few remaining cherry blossoms.

And they were few. As in maybe five trees. Sad.

But there were beautiful tulips to admire along the way. We snapped away with our fancy cameras. I bet mine turned out better since I use a Nikon. ;)

And K and his friend were kind enough to get a few pictures of us, as well.

We walked all the way to the Tidal Basin and enjoyed treats from an expensive ice cream cart before parting ways before dinnertime.

I'm excited to hang out again the next time I make my way to southern Virginia!

Friday Nights

2010-04-09T23:26:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, I was at the Waterfront in a sleeveless top.

Indulging in pecan pie a la mode and a fudge brownie sundae before heading home for the evening.

Tonight, I'm tired. I came home before 11pm! I missed out on country dancing. I turned down an invitation to spend a weekend in New York, free transportation, free lodging, and a favorite friend {above}. I must be crazy.

Or responsible. I'll be in New York in three weeks with Mom and Sister. I can't wait!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2010-04-07T23:46:00.002-04:00

Cherry Blossom activities got off to a start with the a kite festival a couple of weeks ago. It was a chilly day, but warm enough to fly a kite and have a little picnic on the Mall.

I don't know what it is about flying a kite, but . . it's so fun!

Happy to find a kite for only $7 at Target, I was a little disappointed in the selection. Barbie beat out Hannah Montana and the Transformers.

Meg agrees. She's so cute and Spring-y.

We picked up sandwiches at one of my favorite shops, Earl's. The turkey cranberry is so delicious.

So are their hand-cut fries.

I think the kite festival needs to become an annual tradition.

Special Invitation

2010-04-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

I occasionally open pieces of mail for my boss, and I was delighted to find this inside an envelope last week!

Isn't it cute? Perfect colors for Spring. Can you see where it unfolds?

My boss is invited to a big gala with the President. You don't suppose he needs someone to go in his place, do you? . . I wish! I'd love to attend a gala.

Fro Yo

2010-04-06T00:28:00.003-04:00

I was somehow out and about sans camera tonight, so you'll just have to believe me when I say I found a wonderful frozen yogurt shop.

My friend Tee and I took a stroll around the block in search of something sweet pre-Championship Game watch at ESPN Zone. While my favorite D.C. ice cream shop Gifford's was closed, we did stumble upon FroZenYo.

Self-serve frozen yogurt, pay by the ounce, and sixteen rotating flavors with plenty of toppings to boot!

My flavors: red velvet, peanut butter, and butter pecan.
Toppings: Cap'n Crunch on one side, Oreos on the other.

I will be back!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T22:20:00.003-04:00

He is risen!

Those three words mean so much.

I'm so happy that my God is the only God who conquered sin and death. The only God whose Son sacrificed His life, rose again and IS ALIVE TODAY, seated at the right hand of the Father and COMING AGAIN. Sorry, but no other god can say the same.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This morning, I awoke dark and early for a sunrise church service at the Lincoln Memorial. At 5am, it didn't sound as fun as it had the night before, but I'm very glad I decided to go.

I'd never seen the sun rise over the Mall {other than in the distance from my old apartment}, but it's something I'd love to see again.

We sat on the steps of the Memorial for a wonderful church service, singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" as the sun creeped up over the Capitol.

Following the service, I had a lovely lunch at The Girl's adorable home.

{See for yourself a bit of the adorable-ness.}

In addition to Paula Deen's french toast bake, egg and spinach casserole, spiral ham, and oh-so-delicious champagne lemonade, we also enjoyed a grape salad {cream cheese and sour cream were involved} . .

. . and banana bread. Yum!

My carrot cake seemed to be a hit for dessert, too. Thanks Pioneer Woman! That would be cream cheese frosting with chopped pecans. Make it - you won't be sorry!

I hope you had a hope-filled and relaxing Easter, as well!

Good Friday

2010-04-02T11:22:00.005-04:00

Today, don't forget the significance Good Friday.

Here are some lyrics from a favorite song:

Even when we turned our backs on {Him}
In wickedness and lies suppressed {His} truth
Even then {He} showed {His} love for us
Giving up {His} life upon the Cross

Jesus, thank You for the Cross
For the blood that sets us free
The crimson stain of all our sin
Washed away in Your mercy

Enemies of God with no excuse
Knowing what was right we turned from {Him}
Given up to sin condemned to die
Even then {He} chose to give us life

Now THIS is reason to rejoice always in all circumstances! God is so good!

Have you ever experienced pain? Think of the worst physical pain you've ever experienced. Now think of the worst emotional pain you've ever experienced.

It was worse for Him.

Don't think you deserved the pain you've endured? He was perfect. Without sin, He took all of our sins, our bad attitudes, the unforgiveness of our hearts, our lies, our unkind words, and on and on. He took it all on Himself and died for us, was mocked for us, was beaten and pierced for us! People who scorned Him, denied Him, were enemies to Him. He loved us that much!

He is so worthy of our lives, our devotion, our total surrender, and our love.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:8

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Have a beautiful and blessed Good Friday! :)

It Never Gets Old

2010-04-01T17:46:00.003-04:00

The weather has turned into FANTASTIC again!

It's days like these I'm so happy I work just steps from the Lincoln Memorial.

"Hi, I live here, but would you mind taking a picture of me?"

I'm in love, I'm in love with this city.

Off for another evening run on the National Mall. I think I'll head to the Tidal Basin with all its cherry blossoms tonight.

Loads of Cupcakes

2010-03-31T09:47:00.000-04:00

Every occasion deserves a good cupcake, right? I think so. Which is why I've been doing a lot of baking around here.

The most unique cupcake I've made has definitely been chocolate bacon with dark chocolate ganache.

I'll be honest, every time I took a bite into the perfectly moist and richly delicious cake, I'd be enjoying it and then suddenly "wait a second, what is that? oh yeah, the bacon". It didn't taste bad, but it just seemed odd. I'd like to try maple syrup and bacon cupcakes. It seems like a better fit.

I welcomed my friend's new baby with some honey cupcakes topped with swiss buttercream frosting. The batter was TO DIE FOR, and the cake ended up tasting more like a muffin. The frosting was a necessary and perfect complement.

Before saying farewell to a friend who was moving away, I presented her with requested peanut butter-filled chocolate cupcakes. Unfortunately I forgot to snap a picture post-bake! They overflowed the cups just enough, incredibly dense and not requiring any icing on top.

This past weekend, I baked up some homemade funfetti cupcakes for a friend who was celebrating his birthday.

Were they worth baking from scratch? Absolutely!

I've made many a moist cupcake over the past several months, but this one literally "takes the cake". As the birthday boy and I agreed, we don't know how they could've been better.

If you're interested in any of the recipes, just shoot me an email!

Best Buns

2010-03-30T09:41:00.001-04:00

You can pretty much bet on every other post involving cupcakes here at LoveThisLife. I hate to be so predictable but . .

This is a vanilla vanilla that Katie brought home from Best Buns Bread Co. the other day. It's a big one. I'd already eaten and loved their perfectly light and sugary donut holes and super moist pumpkin bread, and it turns out they bake a good cupcake, too. What a sweet roommate to bring me one.

I've been doing some more cupcake baking myself, so stay tuned to see which flavors.

Are you on the edge of your seat?? ;)

Ice Skating

2010-03-29T08:33:00.003-04:00

With the weather beginning to warm, and the cherry blossoms already in bloom, it's hard to believe we were ice skating at the Sculpture Garden just a few short weeks ago.

The cupcake-eating is believable, though.

{Me and my Katies}

The perfect ending to night on the ice is obviously a new cupcake shop. We walked a few blocks to the Red Velvet Cupcakery and ordered a peanut butter cup. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty with "homemade crystallized peanut and sea salt" on top.

You can watch this post with a little video, too. I am loving iMovie lately - can you tell?

Ice Skating from LP on Vimeo.

Meridian Hill Park

2010-03-26T11:19:00.001-04:00

After Sunday's cookout and backyard picnic, we ventured into D.C. to explore a neighborhood we hadn't yet seen.

We chose Meridian Hill Park, near the neighborhood Columbia Heights.

In addition to a number of statues, we saw the Italian-Renaissance style terraced fountain in the lower half of the park and gardens in a French Baroque style in the upper half. Sadly, with Spring having just begun, the fountains weren't operating yet.

Katie and I near the statue of poet Dante.

Some monkeys climbing on the statue.

Someone crocheted a St. Paddy's Day mask for this fellow.

Joan of Arc

The girls and I in front of the {non-operating} fountain. {In case you didn't know, I'm a cougar. Or a puma or something. Just kidding . . but seriously, why do you think they're laughing? :)}

The upper park was an unexpected cultural experience.

Little did we know "on Sunday afternoons during the warm weather months, people gather in the upper park to dance, participate in a drum circle, and provide food for the homeless. The activity has been held in the park since the 1950s, and attracts professional drummers from time to time". No wonder there was such a huge {and "interesting"} crowd!

These gentlemen enjoy blowing into their pipes and softly shaking some sort of rice shaker. If you ask me, you would have to be on drugs to enjoy this. It was so strange.

The tightrope walkers were fascinating to watch. This man finally caught the rope after several attempted jumps. I'm not sure how one can even walk a tight rope, let alone jump onto one!

I can see why so many flock here, though. It's so pretty.

We continued our walk down an adjoining street to see the Meridian House with its limestone facade and spooky-looking trees. {Does anyone know what these are?} The house was built in the early 1900s by a retired Ambassador and is now the Meridian International Center, a non-profit that promotes international understanding. {I know, you could care less!}

To sum it all up: a pretty new neighborhood, a very fun day.

Grilled Peaches

2010-03-25T10:50:00.000-04:00

The roommates and I also decided to enjoy the weather last weekend with a little Sunday cookout.

Burgers were easy and delicious. Lyn always throws a bunch of seasonings and sauces into the meat before forming into patties. Mmmmm.

And I chose to contribute by making dessert. Grilled peaches - something I'd been wanting to try for quite awhile.

Just brush the cut side with vegetable oil . . and mix 2 tbsp of brown sugar with 2 tsp of cinnamon . .

Grill the peaches for about 4 minutes until they have grill marks, and brush the other side with vegetable oil

Then place the peaches on indirect heat, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top, and cover for 20 minutes.

Oh yes, definitely eat them a la mode.

And be happy.

When the Weather is Nice

2010-03-24T22:36:00.003-04:00

The weather around these parts has been fabulous this past week (minus a rainy day and a cold day thrown in the middle). Last Friday, I took a personal day for the primary purpose of a beautiful run on the National Mall. I've lived here four years, and it never gets old.

This afternoon, I ran over four miles from work to the Capitol and back, and I wish I could've snapped pictures of that, as well. I may be upset with Congress at the moment, but the building will always be lovely. I wanted to park my tush on the grass and just stare at it for awhile.

Here are some shots I took last Friday:

More Williamsburg Eats

2010-03-20T11:14:00.000-04:00

On our lunch break from baking on Saturday, Katie's sister warmed up the tender pulled pork she had made the day before. With extra bbq sauce, a toasted bun, and a side of applesauce, it was the perfect lunch to eat on the back deck in the sunshine.

That night, the girls and I were taken to dinner by a family friend named Simon, a wonderful Christian "uncle" to the girls . . and now to me! He's adopted me as one of his "nieces" now. :)

Simon has a little book he carries around in which he writes down prayer requests for those he knows or happens to meet that day.

I think I made it into the book!

After dinner at Carrabba's, we hurried across the street to get some Sno To Go before it closed.

Unlike anything I'd ever tried, this treat included no only flavored ice, but also a soft serve stuffing.

We stopped by Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday . .

There it is in all it's cuteness.

After popping into Carousel to browse the baby clothes, we picked up some sandwiches at the Cheese Shop.

I ordered Virginia ham on french bread with sprouts, House dressing, and Havarti cheese.

Delicious weekend!

Adventures with Chocolate

2010-03-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

While dipping bananas in chocolate last week, the roommates and I found ourselves digging through the pantry for anything else we might be able to dip.

We didn't find much, but it was a fun little experiment.

Oreos, pita chips, cereal . .

I told you we didn't have much.

With all the leftover chocolate, I introduced the girls to what my sister refers to as Mexican S'mores.

Chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow creme on a warm tortilla.

And speaking of chocolate, I've been baking more cupcakes lately. Last week, I fulfilled a friend's wish for peanut butter-filled chocolate cupcakes. Unfortunately, I was too busy analyzing the final product to take any after pictures. They were very dense and would've been great with milk, though!

Baking Kolaches

2010-03-16T23:49:00.001-04:00

The diet went completely out the window this past weekend. Out the window and down the road.

I can't think of a better way to end it, though.

I spent the weekend in Williamsburg with my roommate Katie and her family. Not only do we both have a Czech heritage, but our grandmothers from Nebraska introduced us to a popular Czech pastry, kolaches.

Katie and her sisters love to bake them, so we devoted our entire Saturday to doing just that.

See for yourselves . .

Baking Kolaches from LP on Vimeo.

Temps That Make Me Happy

2010-03-15T00:17:00.002-04:00

It may have snowed over two feet a month ago, but after this kind of weather last weekend, I'm totally over it.

And I didn't shoot too bad a game, either. I'm not back to where I once was, but hopefully I'm on my way.

Decision Time

2010-03-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

Last night was a good night! Not only did I eat a frozen chocolate-covered banana {courtesy of my roommate} and bake peanut-butter filled chocolate cupcakes {don’t ask if I ate one of those, too – the diet’s clearly going so well!}, I also learned that my best friend, Michelle, will be visiting me the beginning of May! The same day my mom and sister head home after their visit. I won’t have even an hour to feel lonely.

This means that, not only do I have yet another thing to look forward to these coming weeks, but I also have an even greater excuse to finish my bedroom – no matter the cost! Well . . I do have a budget.

So I’ll have to stop wavering between aqua and navy and where to click purchase on a seagrass rug. It’s decision time!

This Week's Salad

2010-03-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

In addition to mixed greens and grilled chicken strips:

Roasted eggplant with rosemary

We all know I didn't think of the fabulous rosemary addition.

Toasted pita

Also with rosemary and melted butter

White beans

Carrots

Plum tomatoes

Toasted pine nuts

Plus feta and . .

MMMmmmmm.

I Caved

2010-03-09T23:44:00.002-05:00

I baked cupcakes.

And I ate one. Or two.

They were honey cupcakes with swiss buttercream frosting. I made them Saturday, but wondered if baking them for a shorter time would've resulted in a more moist cupcake.

So I baked another batch last night.

More moist, and the batter was just as delicious as it was on Saturday.

:)

*In my defense, I made them for a friend who recently had a baby boy. I topped them with blue sprinkles. And I gave the rest to my colleagues. . . minus a few.

Dates

2010-03-04T23:11:00.000-05:00

Last summer, when celebrating birthdays at Founding Farmers with InTheTweeds and The Girl, someone mentioned bacon-wrapped dates as a delicious appetizer option.

My first thought: sounds gross.

I wasn't sure I'd ever tried a date, but it was probably for very good reason. Who eats those anyway?

But they wound up on our table, and I couldn't resist a taste. If someone is raving, I'm easily convinced.

After sampling this hors d'œuvre, I was raving, too - and helping myself to another. Bacon-wrapped, basil and bleu cheese-stuffed dates with balsamic. It was as if a million flavors had exploded in my mouth. Everything I'd eaten at Founding Farmers was worth coming back for, but I would always remember it as the restaurant where I met bacon-wrapped dates.

So I guess you could say we had a reunion this week. I spotted a container of dates on the kitchen counter and they were destined for the very thing I hoped.

Lyn made bacon-wrapped, asiago cheese stuffed dates. A happy night indeed.

Salads and Limited Portions

2010-03-03T22:54:00.004-05:00

I didn’t know I still had this much self-discipline. Enough to give up desserts and alcohol {though I don’t consume much of the latter anyway}, to eat smaller portions, and to make it to the gym at least four times a week.

After wiggling into my skinnies in L.A., I got serious. I want to feel good about myself again – not that I feel terrible, but I know it could be better. Much.

After 2 ½ weeks of lower calorie consumption, including delicious daily salads, fruit for snacks, and intense workouts at the gym . . I have lost 3 pounds, and I can already see a difference in more areas than one. The results of my obsession with push-ups are especially paying off, and I’m motivated to stay committed to my plan.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never wanted to bake cupcakes so badly. Could I bake them without cleaning off the spatula with my tongue? Not a chance.

Surprisingly enough, the Girl Scout Cookies sitting in the pantry don’t really tempt me. I know the inevitable guilt that would follow, and it’s just not worth it.

I should admit that I’ve cheated the tiniest bit by accepting a yummy mimosa at a bridal shower last week, and taking one bite of a red velvet cupcake by Something Sweet at an engagement party. {It’s a cupcake shop I haven’t yet tried.}

And I may or may not have taken a few bites of brownie at a gathering last Saturday. {I also tried venison for the first time, although that wasn’t breaking any rules.}

Despite my occasional give-ins, I’ve been very consistent in maintaining a healthier diet. My roommate Lyn has been a huge help in preparing some delicious salads for our lunches – so delicious that I thought I would share . . because if you’re anything like me, you think salads are typically boring and would take too much time and effort if you were to make them at home. You’re nothing like me? Oh well, I will share anyway . .

Last week's salad:

Mixed greens, tuna salad, cooked and seasoned red skin potatoes, steamed green beans, plum tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, crispy garlic onions, and my new favorite dressing - roasted red pepper vinaigrette (by Annie's Naturals)

First week's salad:

Arugula, shredded rotisserie chicken, steamed asparagus, sliced red peppers, sliced mushrooms, crumbled goat cheese, crispy garlic onions, and again - roasted red pepper vinaigrette

This week's salad:

Mixed greens, hard boiled eggs, broccoli, peas, carrots, mandarin oranges, rice noodles, and gingery vinaigrette

Can't wait for next week's salad!

Rug #3

2010-03-02T23:50:00.003-05:00

How is it that I have purchased three rugs in six weeks? Someone stop me!

The two rugs I scored great deals on from Williams-Sonoma Home were lovely . . but, as ridiculous as it sounds, I put them in storage. I basically purchased them as back-up rugs - if my duvet didn't work, I would use one of them as a jumping off point for decorating my room. But the duvet worked, and it clashes with the rugs.

I now plan to purchase an 8x10 sisal rug for my bedroom and hopefully a sheepskin rug, as well.

That is the only rug I was looking for when I went to the Pottery Barn outlet with Lauren.

But we spotted a rug we both loved, and the next thing we knew . .

Although it looks quite dirty in the pictures, it's spotlessly clean - a cream colored rug with flecks of gray and gold.

And it's allowed me to get rid of the clashing red rug under our dining room table.

Much, much better. {However, this room is still not well-decorated - I need to really lose that big frame - but homes are a work in progress, aren't they?}

French Sandwich

2010-03-01T23:54:00.002-05:00

Last week, I read all about the Croque-Monsieur and -Madame in this month's issue of Elle Decor. "The French take on a ham and cheese sandwich."

Had to have one.

Although Cafe Bonaparte stopped serving this sandwich after 5pm, I was lucky enough to see it on the menu at Open City during Sunday brunch.

Hot ham and cheese (gruyere), smothered in Bechamel sauce and topped with a fried egg. The salad was equally amazing.

Delicious!

Are you tired of all this food talk yet? I'm sure!

Next time - no food post!

Cupcakes for Men

2010-02-26T12:14:00.004-05:00

You know how much I love cupcakes.

I also love the Wall Street Journal (with a different kind of love, of course).

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon an interesting WSJ article on cupcakes today. Or rather, mancakes. Most are infused with alcohol, yum yum!

Unfortunately this cupcakery has yet to open a storefront, making the mancakes only available through delivery . . in New York City.

Still, you should check it out:

From Wall Street to Mancakes: A Lawyer Turns to Cupcakes

Butch Bakery

I Need More French Food in My Life

2010-02-25T23:13:00.002-05:00

I had dinner with The Girl tonight at Cafe Bonaparte. It was every bit as lovely as I had heard.

Perfectly tucked away in Georgetown, I almost felt as though I'd been transported to Paris. . . except that I've never been there, so I suppose I can't quite know how it feels.

The Girl and I happened to be eyeing the same plate for an appetizer, and we ordered the crepe chips with apples and brie.

We unknowingly picked the same entree, as well. The Budapest crepe was filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers, topped with a sour cream cilantro sauce. And what was that salty dressing on our salad? We're dying to know, but forgot to ask.

It's a shame that I've committed to avoiding desserts for several weeks {in an effort to get back in shape}, because I know every one of the treats on their extra long dessert list would've been the perfect end to a delicious dinner. There will have to be several 'next times' to make up for it, I suppose.

Goodbyes and Good Chili

2010-02-23T22:54:00.004-05:00

Tonight I said "see ya later" to my friend Em, as I've referred to her here on the blog. Tomorrow is Emily's last day in D.C. before flying across the country with the rest of her belongings (those we didn't ship out last weekend) to sunny San Diego. It's hard to believe three years have gone by so quickly, and the days of lunch meet-ups and afternoon delights {treats} are over. *Tear*

I'm so excited for my friend to return to her family and many of her friends {most importantly her fabulous and talented boyfriend}. Ok, that last part was for Emily, since she now reads the blog. Hi Emily!

Tonight was Farewell Happy Hour #2, and I successfully left without crying - hooray! I'm thankful we've been able to spend some quality time together over the past week, drinking delicious wine from France, packing up her things, and picking out outfits for her upcoming weekend in Napa.

You should know that Emily is not only fun, genuine, smart, and super funny . . she is also an amazing packer and downsizer. I'm pretty sure she gave as many items to Goodwill as she shipped to her new apartment last weekend. Could you ship all of your belongings for less than $400? Impressive, I know! And that included a 42" flat screen TV!

We rewarded our heavy lifting and line waiting at the post office with a trip to the famous Ben's Chili Bowl. Her boyfriend, an avid "Man vs. Food" watcher, insisted she try it before returning to California. I was, of course, happy to come along.

We walked in to a crowd full of people, a long line waiting to place their orders.

President Obama, Bill Cosby, and many others graced the walls.

We placed our order for some chili fries and a chili half-smoke sausage. We were definitely going to share the greasiness.

This meal was not for the faint of heart, but we took care of it. Women vs. Food.

I'll miss you, Friend! See you soon!

*Ben's has been around for over 50 years. You can read about it's interesting history here.