FRIENDS

People, I love these fools. They made a pit stop in DC over the weekend on their East Coast tour. We were so honored! I had a blast showing them around our 'hood and staying up late! Totally recovered now....really ;)

I made Keene take a pic of Josiane and I on the porch, since that's how Smiths roll.

We went to a Nats game on Sunday - whooh boy was it exciting! I was on the edge of my seat! Until about half way through the 1st inning when the Nats got 10 runs scored against them. I mean, they did eventually come back 7-11, but still. There's no one in this stadium for a reason...

See? Josiane is clearly paying attention to the game. She's a foreals baseball fan.

Also it was freakin' cold! Heavy winds made it chilly despite the sunshine...Drew looks totally composed and I'm all "baaaah I'm FREEZING"!!! I should learn my lesson and take an extra jacket with me from now on...

After the game we rolled down to the Mall. I caught Chris & Amy in a cute Newlywed moment :)

I was busy giving Arlington a thumbs-down. BOO on Arlington! I need to work on my thumbs-down, it's awkward.

The typical Mall pic. Had to take it!

We also went to visit Einstein. Josiane is a BIG TIME fan of Einstein. Oooh! Josiane you should become a fan of that on Facebook.

Ladies pic!

And I thought I'd leave you with this delightful gyno office we walked by on the way to H ST - this place looks totally legit!

Lots of catching up to do...

You people asked for it, so you shall get it...manse/artoftheday/miscellaneous all in one! Today's post is a medley of things I've noted all week but have been too lazy to share (shame on me!)...

First things first: my coworker sent me a link to "Bob's Blog", the blog of a greyhound. He is very wise! I found his latest entry about change particularly fitting for myself and the people around me.

Two quotes I am stealing from Molly's blog that I am trying to keep in mind while pursuing new career options:

"A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown." -Denis Waitley
--

"Regardless of how absurd your inner callings might seem, they're authentically yours. They don't have to make sense to anyone else." -Wayne Dyer....good ole Wayne, always droppin' wise...

Ok so who cares about the new iphone buzz - I want to know who's seen the new Hansen video! I love singing and dancing, and I think I love Hansen again now. Those crazy commitment-happy kids didn't fade away, and I like that. I sense a flashmob coming on! Also who wants to take a dance class with me this summer? I've got the fever...(ps. Megan at 3:48 they do "the megan move")...twist it, shake it...

Gin and Tonics are my go-to beverage of choice, so of course I'm bookmarking Dooce's ultimate G&T recipe...classy AND delicious!

In the category of "things I post specifically for Josiane" is this list of "7 Natural Phenomena You've Never Seen" - found it via GalaDarling. (Annie: can you confirm that the poop/soap goats actually climb trees? Drew: have you ever seen Idaho's "fire rainbow" before? I have to see that!?)

A couple handy how-to tips I've bookmarked on How To Post Good Craigslist Photos and How to Prepare Frozen Meals for a friend.

Your AOTD: peep the latest in light painting from The Melbourne City Drain Painters. {via GalaDarling}

Hot Manse of the Day: I present to you, a 360* view of Clooney's villa in Lake Como, Italy. Not too shabby! {via CelebDigs HQ via HookedonHouses}

That just about wraps it up for today, People. Stay tuned for some of my sparse pics of The Friends visiting (I was having too much fun to really stop and "document" properly - my bad!)...

Still in my 20's!!!!

Wheeeew~! *Still in my 20's* *Still in my 20's* REPEAT MANTRA.
So our buddies are in town and even though I have to work I am determined to hang out with them as much as possible. So much catching up to do! Last night was a late one but I'm hangin' tough, cuz I'm STILL IN MY TWENTIES, PEOPLE.

Anyway, thought I'd post this beauty from Friday night. My dear cohab, inspired by our venison tenderloin and recent fancy goat cheese taste at Eastern Market, found this recipe for Juniper-Spiced Venison with Brown Goat Cheese Sauce. Hells yeah! It was of course awesome, and the cohab grilled it to perfection. CARAMELIZED GOAT CHEESE SAUCE!

List & Comment: Ways to be "Happier"

pic via KIUKO's photostream.

I woke up with a headache this morning, and it's lingering. But I'm determined to be "happy" today! Also: why haven't I felt like blogging? What's wrong with me? Ugh. I guess I just haven't had much inspiring stuff to share with you guys lately. I promise to be better. I think my mind is on this weekend, because our friends are coming in to town!!! Um...to say I'm excited is a total understatement. I. Can't. Wait. I'll try and be diligent with the pictures and haul my SLR around for y'all!

I love this list of "20 Easy Ways to be Happier" from Divine Caroline. I especially like that "making lists" and "eat avocados" are among the ways to be happier. Lists help me feel like I'm more in control, and like I can relax because then I won't forget anything. But...sometimes I think I need list detox, since I can get a little out of control with them. Anyway! One of my favorite ways to get happy is by listening to music. Especially some awesome *DANCE* music that would drive my cohab crazy. That is THE BEST. Works every time! I need to try the "no tv" one though. I use tv as an "escape" because let's face it: I love my stories, but it doesn't really make me FEEL better.

Ok You Guys, share with me now: what do you do to perk yourself up?

Grillin', never lookin' back

Time to grill everything from now until November. Keene made some Montreal chicken for dinner last Saturday - boo-ya! (btw: why do chicken breasts only come in GIANT size nowadays?)

I made an Asparagus & Greens Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette to go with it. It rocked, if I do say so myself. Found it via Quinn's blog - hers looked really good so I had to make it! The recipe comes from Cooking Light. I ended up juicing the lemon and pouring all that into the vinaigrette as well and it worked out swimmingly. Definitely only boil the asparagus for 2 minutes like the recipe says. Mine could've been crisper. I'd totally make this salad again, it was a winner :)

Weekend Re-Cap: this weather is unreal

Had a delightfully relaxing weekend over here. Worked on some freelance projects and walked around in the *sunshine*! It's getting so pretty in DC. I'm going to miss how lush everything gets here. It's not just cherry trees, it's everything! Even our alley looks better when it's covered in vines.

We walked to the market Saturday underneath a cherry tree ceiling!

Go Sounders!

You guys know how much I love wisteria. It's here!

Oh yeah...apparently on Thursday night there was a random hurricane of sorts? For only an hour...? I was out having a delightful dinner with a friend and we saw the lights kept flickering in the restaurant. But then when I left there was absolutely no wind, and it wasn't raining anymore. Huh? I came home to a giant tree having fallen down near my street. And on Saturday we saw this bad boy:

Whoops! Guess this tree blew over on that car. It looked like it was all rotted out at the roots. D'oh!

A purple door, with purple wisteria.

How awesome would it be to sit on your back patio with good friends and lemonade with this stuff breezing about above you? Answer: SO awesome.

Sunny and 70*

The weather this weekend has been amazing... *KARMA*

Arlington: the hippest place on Earth

Happy Friday, y'all! So recently I was struggling to describe the city that I work in, Arlington, VA. It was tricky. I think it's a bit like if Bellevue and the Northgate Mall had a baby. So yeah, I commute out to Arlington every day from DC. It is such a joy! SARCASM. Anyway, here is a "rap" that might help illustrate what Arlington is like:

LIST FRIDAY: the Places I've Worked, in order from "Best" to "Worst" in my opinion based on geographical proximity to cool stuff:
1. Fremont, Seattle
2. Downtown Seattle (right by Benihana!)
3. Belltown (Seattle)
4. Pioneer Square (Seattle)
5. Everett, WA (duh)
6. Arlington, VA
7. Lynw(h)ood, WA
8. Georgetown, DC

You may be surprised to see that Georgetown is #8. I worked WAY OUT in GT, no where near the fancy shopping center of it all, and had to take an hour and a half bus to get there. Fremont is of course at the top because it's got the cutest lunch spots. Downtown Seattle beats Belltown and Pioneer square for it's convenience. Arlington rolls in there around #6 because there's at least a Macy's and a CVS.

Now you go. Favorite spot you've worked?

I can't wait to smell the Pacific Ocean, You Guys

Today it happened, I bought my one-way ticket home. New York to Seattle. In just 7 weeks the DC chapter will close, and the *crazy*pants*unknown* chapter will begin. I can't wait. There's so much that I want to do...reconnect with everyone, to start. Visit NY en-route home. Get healthier. Center. Travel...and bookend it all with finding the perfect job. Or near-perfect. I've been totally pessimistic this week thinking about my "career" (laughable!) and where it's going. I think from now on I'm going to just put it out there to the Universe that I'm going to land a job that I like, doing something that makes me feel creative and where I'm contributing to society, at a place with people who inspire me. How about that? We'll just have to see now, won't we? Buckle up...prepare for landing...$h!t I need to pack.

I don't remember who this quote is by but it was on Molly's blog and I've saved it because I need to remember this when I'm being all "worst case scenario preparation," and instead just believe that most "setbacks" are really just things that ultimately lead to what is best...amiright?

__

"Advance confidently in the direction of your own dreams to live the life that you've imagined. That is when you have success."

__

High of 88*

Seriously. It's almost 90 degrees here today.

{print by Caroline Royce}

3-2 Go Caps!

Dudes, we FINALLY went to a Washington Capitals game! My first NHL experience, evah! It was totally worth it. Stephi & David scored us some awesome seats. They were up high but center ice and we had a great view - check it:

These fools: Keene making a silly face and David:

Me n' Stephi, rockin' out to Billy Idol in our Caps colors:

Of course I had to represent with my (really old) Silvertips hat. I wish I could go to MORE games out here before we move. The Caps are so good!

Weekend Re-Cap: Easter n' Awesome Weather

Y'all, this weekend was fab-u-lous. Damn. Friday I ambushed Keene and convinced him that instead of running errands we were going to go to Mr. Henry's to have beer and wings. Great idea! Glad I thought of it! Then Saturday we ran around gathering up all the ingredients for our bbq, which included: carne asada and portabellos from Eastern Market, a giant fruit salad and a giant greek salad. Woo! It was super to have people over and hang out on our deck. That carne from the market is to die for. Seriously. We still have 2 steaks left (yesssssss).

Sunday, of course: Easter Brunch. This year we went back to Georgia Brown's, a favorite, and it did not disappoint. They have a really good buffet on Easter and a jazz band. They rocked - I was dancin' in my seat. And eating lots of bacon dipped in syrup. That's right. Jealous? Oh and they have the best bloody mary's. They're only for the hardcore bloody drinkers though: super spicy and they come with a jumbo shrimp - you should've seen the look on the 8 year old girl's face who was sitting next to us - she was freaked out by them. Hilarious.

I got the nice valet dudes at GB's to take a picture of us. So. Full. Here.

After brunch we had to walk off some of the half ton of food we ate, so we strolled down to The White House - the guards were making everyone move back though... I thought for sure we'd see something cool like...The PRESIDENT...or something, but they just moved a bunch of cars around. I mean, *maybe* the first family was in one of them?

Attempt at our Easter White House picture. I kept trying to get someone to get my cute shoes in there, but...no dice. (these are the shoes btw if you care)

One of the best mansions in America. You can see the monument all itty bitty on the left there.

I changed into more realistic shoes for the walk home and dayum, the magnolia trees are bloomin'! This one was awesome.

Tulips (duh!) just with my point-and-shoot but still blog-worthy, I thought.

Looks like the Easter Bunny stopped by this house!

I couldn't help taking a picture of this cute house too - I love the weeping-willow-style cherry trees. So pretty. Sigh....

The weather is totally fabulous here. I still can't believe it! This weekend rocked. I hope yours did too, Y'all...

Happy Friday! xoxo, Peeps

Happy Easter Weekend Y'all! Have anything fun planned? We're gonna bbq, because dayum the weather is going to be Niiiiice! How awesome. I still keep looking around in shock, kindof in disbelief that there is no snow on the ground. You guys: I think I have PTSD from this Winter. It was so brutal. So I am completely ready to throw down some brewskies and fire up the grill in celebration of it not being cold anymore! Yee-haw. On Sunday we're going out for Easter Brunch, as per ushe. I can't wait!

Guess what results are in? It's the 2010 Peeps Diorama Contest! DUH.

A few of my faves....
"Peepstern Market" (My 'hood!)

"Sevenpeepth St. High Heel Race" (I wuz there this year. Snap!)

"PeepTube: Jill and Kevin's Wedding Entrance Dance"

"Goodnight Peep" (I read this chick's blog, she's awesome)

And the winner: "EEP" (I still have to see Up!)

Ladies' Classy Night out from a really long time ago

Ok maybe this is from February? All I remember is that it was still cold. And rainy. But I had a great time! Drew, Erin and I met up for dinner at the coveted Birch & Barley - we'd been planning this for ages, since we knew we wanted a reservation for a non-busy night so we wouldn't have to deal with the usual crowds. It was worth going out on a weeknight - the food & beer were all we'd hoped for and more...

They have this fancy "cask" beer. Not being a connoisseur, I couldn't tell much of a difference between this beer and other "good" beer, but I do know it was really smooth and yummy!

Oh my lawd...they bring out this breadboard to start. Soooo good! Our favorites were the mini pretzels on the far right. They were awesome dipped in the stone ground mustard!

I ordered the duck. Honey-glazed, boo-ya!

Dessert...desert was a mix of really delish and sortof just, "interesting." All good though!

I would definitely go back for more. I'd order dessert again too since it was such an adventure!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Time

Still catching up on posting! For the cohab's birthday I attempted the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake recipe. Scary! I didn't want to make this thing 3 layers like the recipe called for, but I also didn't want to do the math so I just made the entire batch and only used what I needed (creating a slight frosting/ganache overage that we had to toss it because it was becoming a huge self-control problem). My only real issue was that I tried to make it all in one go in my springform pan and of course it took forever to get it to bake through. Next time I'd do two layers instead of one big layer cut in half. Bake n' learn, people! Bake n' learn. It was really tasty though. Even more than the cake, this cream cheese frosting and the ganache that goes in the middle were ah-mazing!

Behold, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

Make sure you have a good amount of time to do this - I recommend making the frosting and ganache ahead of time....{recipe on RecipeMogul}

O.M.G. - get me back to the PNW

Grey whale near the Ballard Locks making it's way toward Carkeek on Sunday...
{via MyBallard, of course}

The House Bean

So Friday was Keene's last day of his internship on the Hill. Of course, I had to have him check out "The House Bean" - aka the famous bean soup that is sold in the cafeteria at the Capitol every day. 

"According to custom, bean soup must be available on the menu every day in the congressional dining areas. This tradition, which dates back to the early twentieth century, is said to be based on an edict by Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho (or in another version of the story to Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota)."

Keene said his soup was supposed to be vegetarian but the recipe on the Senate website uses ham...so who knows? What did Keene think? Well, he says it was somewhat bland, not necessarily in a bad way, but that it didn't have much flavor staying power. Could have benefitted from some salt and pepper, but you could really taste the celery and carrot. Apparently it wasn't super thick, although a fair part of it seemed to be pureed beans (probably potatoes as the Senate site says). Overall, he gave it a thumbs up!

If any of Y'all want to give the Senate Bean Soup a try, it's perfectly publicly accessible: you don't need a reason to go to Rayburn, so you could just walk in and make for the cafeteria. Anyone up for a field trip this May? :)