Sisterhood

The other day, I woke up to texts of this:

Apparently Kim went home for a concert and stopped by to see Courtney and my mom. And then (almost certainly) Courtney demanded a photo shoot with Kim before she left.

As sisters, we have been through a lot together and, although it sounds corny, there are definitely certain things that only they understand. Mike will say the most hilarious thing ever and he won't get why it's funny at all. Looking for justification for my cracking up, I know all I have to do is text it to my sisters and in 2 seconds they've responded in LOLZ telling me that Mike is the funniest person ever. He just really is. (Sidenote: when my sisters text me for advice, they've now taken to immediately asking me after I give advice: "But what does Mike think?")

There have been a lot of changes to our family over the years and we've grown closer through them all. There's another new change coming our way in November. Court is going to have a baby boy and I'm going to be an aunt (wow!). Along with group texts, sharing clothes, and random photo shoots, come other more advanced sisterly duties like: throwing the baby shower.

I obviously am no help when it comes to the having-a-baby part (and Courtney would tell you I'm less than able to handle talking about things like labor, etc), so I figured I could contribute in a helpful way by throwing the baby shower! Things I've learned: baby showers are no joke and people have expectations! Here's how I'm hoping not to wreck it:

Step 1: Decide on a theme:

• Easy. It will obviously be basketball.

Step 2: Order cute invitations from Etsy:

• DONE. http://www.etsy.com/listing/108351175/basketball-baby-shower-invitation?ref=shop_home_active
  
  

Step 3: Make sure everyone has enough food.

• Having a cake made. Make sure there are plenty of options.

Step 4: Buy a present!

• I obviously wanted to show Court (and the blog) what I got already, but she wants it to be a surprise so we'll have to wait for the shower....(BUT I LOVE IT) (I've showed it to the roommates and apparently he won't be able to wear it for a year, but whatever:)......)

ALSO: Expect a ranting post later this week or this weekend about the unhealthy judgment of the bodies of pregnant women in our society. (I've had lots of words building up as I've seen articles judging Kate's post-baby body.) Get excited!

IN THE MEANTIME: If you've had any experience with diaper raffles, we should talk....

I Miss Saturdays...

I worked the past two Saturdays and I'm generally too tired after waking up early to do anything fun later in the day (sidenote: when I work Saturdays, I get Mondays off which is how I'm able to blog now)....

But this Saturday, I had to rally because Mike and I had to attend a house-warming party for his friend Rachael later that evening. What better way to rally than with (home-made) cheese shop sandwiches, a 3-ish hour nap (yes this actually happened), and a cup of tea at 9pm?!

Roast beef, cheddar, house dressing, roasted tomatoes.

This + bread-ends = college staple. Mike got one of his work friends to bring us some from Williamsburg.

Rachael and her roommates were fabulous hostesses. There was an edible arrangement and seven-layer bars so, really, what more do you need? I also ran into my sorority sister Vida who is newly-married and it was great to catch up with her after not seeing her in forever. I got to shout her name across a crowded room of people and we were those people having an embarrassingly public reunion. I did not (as planned) have the opportunity to get Rachael to sign a form stating that she'll audition for Cabaret in the Fall, but there will always be ample opportunity to persuasion later.

The rest of the weekend was very low-key as needed. Mike and I are newly obsessed with The West Wing. When we're done, we're going to reserve an entire day to go around to as many locations in the city that are affiliated with the show as possible.

As far as this week goes, we have a new employee joining our team (lots of cross-training) and I have a Saturday to look forward to at the end of it!

Wedding Season: Chapel Hill Edition

It stopped being rainy in DC and just started being plain hot...every day. Mike and I were glad to escape the city for another wedding weekend (2 weekends ago)...this time in Chapel Hill so we also got to see his family! 

On the drive down. Standstill traffic, so I decided to record my frustration.
Mike is such a trooper for driving through that. 

Mike's mom and sister know the best places to eat in Chapel Hill so we are routinely spoiled when they choose where to eat. Dinner on Friday was our first experience with Bento boxes (Mike, his sister, and I all ordered this for our entree) and they were insanely good. I was the first to finish mine because it was that good. We also had a mint ice cream (made with real mint so a really interesting flavor) and chocolate wafers. Mike and I hung out with Rachel and her friends later that night where we realized that we have aged quite a bit since college.

The next day Mike, his mom, and I had an awesome vegetarian lunch and then went shopping at  HUGE indoor/outdoor mall which was overwhelming in a good way because I can't remember the last time I've been to one. There were so many amazing stores, but we spent the most time in Brookstone trying out all of the massage chairs and tempur-pedic mattress toppers. I also bought red lipstick which it took me no less than an hour to pick out.

Then it was time for the wedding. Tyler (a friend of Mike's from Woodberry) I had only met once and this was the first time I was meeting Bitsy. Their wedding was in a beautiful old chapel near UNC's campus. We were very fond of the organ. The reception followed at Bitsy's parents house. Despite drizzly weather early on, it cleared up and the party continued late into the night. The food was really really amazing. The cake was strawberry shortcake-ish and there was blueberry pie too.

Bitsy and Tyler welcoming everyone to the wedding.

All of the Woodberry boys. 

Right after the wedding, Mike had his medical clearance day for Navy JAG. Of all of the things he was worried about, having to get a waiver for hearing was not one of them. He posted more about it on his blog, but it was a bit of a stressful week trying to figure out what the waiver process meant where both of us googled too much about medical clearance. We're feeling better about it now and late last week decided to go out to dinner to Vendetta on H street. The had an incredible ambience, bocce ball courts in the restaurant?, and their house-marinated olives were amazing.

Mike, prosecco, olives.

I'll post shortly about this past weekend, but hope everyone has a happy Monday! I've already been to bodypump class todaywhere some guy brought his dachsund dog in (who was extremely well-behaved and perhaps a service dog?) and apparently a royal baby is on its way.... looks like the week is off to a good start!

Wimbledon and the Fourth

Christmas and New Years are my favorite holidays (Thanksgiving is close behind). And when Absi posted in her blog that we are halfway to Christmas, I was incredibly excited to have her permission to look forward to that season. However, my favorite holiday week is definitely Wimbledon & the Fourth of July. I'll combine them because they often occur within a week of each other and I tend to turn it into a week of celebrating.

The Fourth

I have so many memories of fireworks and eating watermelon (does anyone else eat it salted?) on Independence Day. Growing up in a rural area, seeing the local county-sponsored fireworks show was more of a social obligation to catch up with friends over the summer. I think Independence Day has grown into one of my favorite holidays because I love reflecting on how and why our nation was founded. I think, especially in DC (but also everywhere these days), it can be easy to get caught up in the political game that is getting played and everything that is going wrong in our country. I like to think about when our country was young and feisty and newborn and how our founding was pretty badass. (Reminder to self that I STILL need to read 1776.)

Anyway, this Fourth of July Mike and I spent most of the day at an awesome brunch hosted at Kelly's place in Arlington. We had patriotic-themed foods and drinks, watched the (historic) hot-dog eating contest and two rounds of National Treasure, and played a game that involved cards and hand-eye coordination which I immediately lost and Mike eventually won. After brunch, Mike and I originally had plans to go see fireworks that evening but (since we both had to work in the morning), ended up watching Game of Thrones all night and making a dinner of hamburgers, sweet potato fries, and ice cream/berries. It was a perfect, relaxing Independence Day evening and I think Game of Thrones is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the many freedoms we take for granted, anyway!

The whole group (Matt, Cori, Alex, Me, Mike, Jake, Marilyn) minus our photographer/host, Kelly.

Our drink options. Mike also invented the "John Quincy Adams" which was pineapple juice, champagne, raspberries.

Wimbledon & A Very Social Sunday

Wimbledon is a Grand Slam tennis tournament held each year outside of London. The tournament has a long history and many customs and traditions. The drama is always intense and addictive as is the level of tennis played. Last year, Mike and I had only been dating for a few months when I forced him to watch the championship match with me and we had delicious goat cheese and tomato sandwiches with ripe cantaloupe. I remember crying when Andy Murray lost and got choked up during his consolation speech. Wanting to share the magic of Wimbledon, I invited a few people over for a viewing party on Championship Sunday for breakfast and tennis. Mike and I had researched Brit foods and got really into it. He made a Pimm's cup cocktail recipe similar to this and apparently this is all they drink at Wimbledon. We also made cucumber sandwiches (addicting and why have I  never made them before?), breakfast casserole, and strawberries & cream. The whipped cream from the strawberries was hand-whipped by us and a lot of work, but worth it. Kelly also brought the most delicious berry scones (I'll have to pick up that mix from Trader Joe's next time I'm there).

Pimm's, cucumber sandwiches, tennis in the background. Photo credit: Alex.

It was such an intense match and so much fun getting to enjoy it with other people (especially because Murray won and ended a 77-year long Brit (male) champion drought!). 

After the match ended, Mike and I went to meet Brian and Kay who had a layover at Union Station. We introduced them to YoSushi and talked a lot of theater and started to plan our trip to Philly to visit them! I also became super envious of Kay's striped maxi skirt.

Then we went to a surprise party for Steph for her birthday/"Niceness Intervention" because (paraphrased per Josh's emails planning the event) "she is way too nice and it makes the rest of us look bad". There was lots of Firefly-watching, cake-eating, and we played a game similar to Mafia where I was 'spy' and Mike immediately knew I was after the first round of play and told everyone I was. Only time will heal the trust that was broken that day.

Adventure in Annapolis

Maryland is one third of the "DMV" (DC/VA/MD) area so I really should know more about it, but last week was my first time in "downtown" Annapolis and it is apparently:

1) where the naval academy is
2) super fratty (I don't know how else to say it. The entire old town is like an advertisement for Sperry's and Vineyard Vines and it's a treasure trove of prep style.)
3) still adorable and full of small town charm
4) really close to DC
5) impossible to find parking in Thurs-Sun
6) has amazing restaurants and shopping

Mike and I had tickets to a show at Annapolis's outdoor summer garden theatre through fillaseatdc.com (subscription to Fill-A-Seat purchased through a Groupon/read more about the concept on their website). It was our first time utilizing Fill-A-Seat, but we were out of luck as the show was cancelled due to a cast injury about half an hour before show time....the exact time we arrived in Annapolis. When I was on the phone with someone from the theater trying to find parking, she encouraged us to come by and get refunds and I insisted to Mike that we walk around to find the theatre before getting dinner because I didn't want her to be waiting for us. When we got to the theater, we got a mini tour/history by one of the theater's board members, vouchers for free tickets to any show this season in case we couldn't come back in time for the current show, and recommendations for about 7 of THE places to eat in Annapolis.

Mike was patient as we walked around to each recommendation which I vetoed because all I really wanted was the recommendation which was the furthest away from where we are called Red Wine Bar. The theatre lady had named Red Red Wine Bar as one of her top two restaurants for us and when recommending it to us, the conversation went something like this:

Woman: "Well you know about Red Red Wine Bar don't you?"
Mike: "No, but we passed it."
Woman: "Do you watch Fox channel ___ news?"
Mike: "We don't have cable..."
Woman: (confused look) "Well ______ works for Fox channel ____ news and his wife owns it."

Apparently it was the place to be....

Red Red Wine Bar

Okay, well, once I verified there was food and not just wine there, we were sold. I had passed the restaurant earlier and it look adorable, plus I was starving.

Here is Red Red Wine Bar's website. We wanted to save room for ice cream after because we saw this cute little ice cream shop across the street when we came in. I ordered a glass of vinho verde and the quinoa spinach cakes with goat cheese and fig jam. Mike got the "City Dock" white pizza with crab, shrimp and garlic. You have to get crab when you're in Maryland, right? The crust of the personal pizza was wheat and oh so good. Mike and I, of course, split and loved everything.

The food was delicious. We had a waiter who was still in his training/shadowing stage and he was so adorable-y attentive. The service was excellent. We left full, but not too full and that ended up being really good.

Annapolis Ice Cream Company

We made it out just in time to get ice cream dinner. We'd been trying to decide between two ice cream places next door to each other: the newer, shiny one OR the tiny, old-fashioned one. Newer, shiny place was closing up and the girl inside looked like she might cry if we came in and ordered anything after she had counted the register. Having been in her position many times, I wasn't going to do that to her. So we went into Annapolis Ice Cream Company which I later learned is famous in this area for their ice cream and penguins are their thing.

Mike stopped to take a picture of the street and I didn't notice because I was on a food mission.  I like that you can practically see the humidity.

Mike got salted caramel and I got peanut butter swirled vanilla, both in cones. The 1 scoop seemed to me a lot more like 3 and due to the heat and humidity outside, it became a race to see who could save their cone the fastest. Ice cream all over hands, all over rainboots, but so so good and, right when we reached the cone part, we started to feel raindrops. We ended up finishing the cones without a major disaster and, although I was mostly worried about the ice cream melting, it was really really awesome ice cream. Mike and I have been making a lot of frozen banana ice cream lately (frozen bananas, milk, blender) and I'll likely be swirling in peanut butter next time.

Founding Farmer's

On Sunday, about 10 of us got together to celebrate Davia's birthday with brunch at Founding Farmers. I had been to Founding Farmer's once before (with this same group) and was excited to try the brunch. I got a soy cappuccino, veggie egg scramble, fruit and toast. I can honestly tell you that the best part of the meal was the toast and that's not to say the rest of the meal wasn't good! The toast was just really awesome toast. I don't know whether it was the bread they used, the fresh butter they brought out for it, or the (likely homemade?) strawberry jelly on the side. I don't normally have this many feelings toward toast...

I do have a lot of feelings about this guy and the faces he makes when he I tell him I need to take a picture of him for my blog (it's only fair, right?!)......

Action shot!

Super cute.

This one is my favorite so it was instagrammed promptly.

The whole group after singing a beautifully on-key version of Happy Birthday and devouring cake.

After the brunch, Mike and I walked through some museums and decided that we want to make furniture one day. (Furniture-making is going on the list of potential Etsy shops I will open one day along with twenty other things I can't actually do yet....details...) I don't know if I disclosed on the blog that I've taken a hiatus from running since the end of July due to a foot injury that I don't want to make worse. Thus, I've been trying to find time to walk more. The fact that DC has had 90% humidity with a chance of storms and showers every day for the past week and a half has made walking harder, but I'm hoping this weather pattern will break at least for the fireworks tonight.

Welcome to DC in the summer! :)