Back to Blogging

Obviously I haven't blogged in a while. Not sure why; didn't have anything to say. But thanks to Kat for reminding me that I have a blog and Cara encouraging me to blog.....I'm back.

This morning I did what every DC resident should do in their first year of living out here. I went on a tour of Georgetown University. I'm about to finish my 5th year, but better late than never, right. For years I've admired the large clock tower that stands tall above the trees of campus and helps me know I'm almost home while I'm driving on the parkway. I've always wanted to check out the prestigious school that educated the students on St. Elmo's Fire. =) And it definitely didn't disappoint.

We had a great tour guide that knew some great tibbits about the university. He challenged us to a grass-rolling contest once the new grass hill is installed. Game on!

Another New York Trip

I know I haven't been blogging lately, no excuse, just haven't felt like it. I've been busy, that's all I've got.
Last week, my mom and older sister came to visit. They have been to DC so many times, that we decided to take the train to New York. Here are the pics.

 I've never thought this until I saw this picture, but Melysa kind of looks like my mom.

 We don't really look like sisters. We need Megann to link us together.

 Jana Kay and I.

 Moi, on the Brooklyn Bridge

Miska is special!

I'll Have What She's Having

Last weekend, I tagged along with Miranda to New York City to visit her brother. It was a quick trip, but we were constantly busy. I got to Nathan's place around midnight and was starving. So instead of just making something at the house, Nathan orders a pizza....we're in NYC things are always open.

Saturday morning, the 3 of us went to brunch with Miranda's friends at 7A Cafe. (I'm becoming a regular.) The guys tried their hardest to help me understand the layout of the city, but without the mountains to the east and the lake to the west, I think I'm a lost cause. After brunch, we walked through the East Village and stopped at Katz Deli. Remember the scene in "When Harry Met Sally" .... "I'll have what she's having." That where it was filmed. After the brief stop, we ended up in SoHo. What a great part of town and it happens to be the home of all my favorite stores, including the Kate Spade flagship store. Loved it, but I didn't buy anything. =(

Nathan was such a trooper. I know my brother wouldn't have spent his Saturday walking around with his sister while she shops. So ladies, I'm letting you know, Nathan is a catch! Next, we walked through Central Park, stopping at Bethesda's Fountain and Belvedere's Castle. By this time, brunch had digested so we walked over to a really great Italian restaurant by the temple.

We hurried back to the apartment to freshen up from a day of being in the sun and walking around and booked it uptown, downtown, around town (I don't know directions.) to see the musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." It was cute and funny and completely entertaining. You might think our night ended there, but this is New York. After the musical, we headed to the Upper West Side (I only know that because we passed the temple again) to meet up with other friends at Magnolia's Bakery for a midnight cupcake and then home.

The weekend was great. Miranda and I had a fun time. A BIG thanks to Nathan for giving up his bed and bedroom to us!

North Carolina Style

This past weekend I went to North Carolina for Megan's surprise 30th birthday party. I love North Carolina for a lot of reasons.....but mostly because of all these people.

Megan was completely surprised and a bit confused when she walked into the room filled with all of her friends and family.

Megan hasn't seen Crystal in a long time. Things got a little emotional. So sweet.

The DePorters - absolutely love this family.

One of my favorite pictures of Drew.

Happy Birthday Megan!!!

The Girls

Alan is absolutely hilarious.

The happy couple

A Romantic?

I don't consider myself a romantic. Nope, not in the slightest. I don't like anything cheesy or chick flicks. In fact, I like movies with strong female characters like "Pride & Prejudice" and "Runaway Bride." I've never been one to find sappy gestures sweet or appealing. I guess in ways I'm too practical to enjoy those things, but over the last couple of months, 2 different couples have become apart of my commute and because of them I've realized I might be a closet romantic.

The first couple is about the same age of my parents. We are definitely on the same schedule because I see them at the same time and place each morning as I walk to the metro. The man is usually dressed in business causal clothes, which leads me to believe he works in the IT field. (I feel like those types of offices are a little more causal than say a law office.) The woman is dressed in workout clothes, but not your fancy-shamcy workout clothes; more like an old t-shirt and shorts that you would wear to work in the yard. She typcially holds the leash of their adorable beagle, who walks along with tail wagging. I walk behind them and watch as they chat away. She always walks him to the corner of Hayes and 15th Street, where he gives her a quick kiss goodbye then he crosses the street to the metro and she turns around to go back home. I love seeing their daily ritual. It isn't cheesy, but it's sweet and simple.

The second couple I usually see as I'm walking home from the metro. They are an older Indian couple who sit on the same bench at the same time everyday. We now recognize each other and say hello. This couple doesn't talk to each other, but sit side-by-side people-watching. I'm sure they have said plenty to each other over the years and now find comfortable in the silence and knowing that nothing needs to be said.

I guess I've always thought that being a romantic means you have to like the ridiculous gestures of a guy standing outside your bedroom window with a boom box over his head or love poety (gag). I no longer think that's the definition or maybe I'm changing the meaning...who knows. I've decided that being a romantic can include the sweet and simple gestures of walking together to the metro each morning or sitting on a park bench in silence. So now I'm considering myself a romantic. =)

Shopping Trip

I don't know what it is, but shopping always seems to brighten my day and this trip was no exception. Obviously, it began with us getting gas so we could make the trek out to the Leesburg Outlets. The four of us started off together, but quickly divided up depending on the stores we wanted to hit. To my excitement, there it was...right in front of me.....The KATE SPADE Outlet......my heaven. Laney and I wasted no time making a beeline for the entrance. I had to take a couple of breaths as I walked in so I wouldn't freak out at all the discounted stuff right before my eyes. I took my time as I tried on many purses to see how they looked on my shoulder, in my hand or on my forearm. I tried on a great pair of shoes and simply fell in love to most everything. I was going back and forth about purchasing this really great black handbag. It looked so nice on my arm, but I ultimately decided against it because I have my eye on a really great pair of heels. Instead Laney, bought the black handbag's sister - the cream handbag to go with this really amazing outfit she got. I <3 this outfit and might be regretting my fiscally responsible decision. Ugh. I might be hitting the Leesburg outlet sooner than what I had planned. We'll see how strong I can be.

Elephant Art

This has to be one of the coolest things EVER and such a GREAT find. I love elephants and wanted to find some cool photographs to hang in my room. I did a quick search and found this website. Elephants paint pictures and you can buy them.

For those who don't know, elephants are sensitive animals that live in family units, but are an endangered species. I watched a TV program about elephants where they followed a tribe in Africa that "employed" elephants rather than having them as "pets." The elephants would come to "work" everyday at the same time and then at night, leave together and lived in a different location a couple of miles away from the family's home. They discussed the level of respect given to these elephants and how well they responded. It was absolutely brilliant! So this isn't a surprise that elephants are intelligent enough to paint. I love this idea and I think I just found my birthday present to myself - Elephant Artwork.