That Just Happened

At City Hall getting residency stuff taken care of -

Security Guard: Ooooo! Look at that beautiful smile!

Me: Oh thanks

Security Guard: You married?

Me: Nope

Security Guard: Let me guess, you're probably engaged to some politician or government analyst, am I right?

Me: Something like that

Then with that I tossed my hair and exited the building before it got too awkward. Hey, I'm all for unabashed flirting.....as long as I can make a quick getaway if necessary! At least it put a smile on my face

Iwo Jima

Thursday night I took the opportunity to go to the monument honoring the Marines through the action at Iwo Jima. I got there right before sunset - as did the three tour buses that pulled up right when I did.

This is one of my favorite monuments. I appreciate the Washington and the Vietnam for their symbolism and the power they evoke, but I love this one because it is set apart from those (it's right next to Arlington National Cemetery), and it's in motions. You can see their muscles under their clothes working to raise our flag - and those hands! I love.

I stayed until the sun went down and just had a moment to myself. I'm grateful to be American and I'm especially proud of our service men and women. Due to the fact that my dad was in the Navy for 20 years I get a little emotional at the monuments dedicated to military. This one is specifically for the Marines, but it's all a part of one big extended family.

Have a Wonderful Sunday

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as he has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Riding Bikes

Tuesday night we metro'd into DC after work and had an adventure.

We started at the National Academy of Sciences so that we could have a quick visit with Einstein. This is kind of a hidden gem so it was blissfully not crowded. We have plans to go back and do a proper photo shoot soon.

Then we rented bikes through the DC Bikeshare program and then road around deserted DC like idiots for a while. The euphoria of riding bikes kicked in immediately and we road like 6 year olds on summer vacation. I haven't ridden in years and I don't know why - it was so much fun! I think I'll buy a year pass.

I love this city!

"normal"

I was thinking today about the idea of normalcy. Try to define it in a way that doesn't make you a deviant in some way. It's near impossible. Here's the kicker though, most people think that they are normal and those who act, speak, think differently from them are the deviants. We look at the world through our own eyes and interpret what we see through our homegrown brain - therefore, this is our version of normal. No one else on Earth shares the same version of "normal".

I was thinking about this because today at work there was a woman who kept smelling a small lavender pillow she carries around with her. She seemed professionally dressed, clean and well spoken, but.....the pillow! We all talked about how she probably thinks that she's completely normal because if she didn't then would she carry it with her? Debatable. 

There really, truly is no normal. Religious beliefs set us apart, political views push us even further and don't get me started on etiquette and cultural norms. Crazy. Either way, we all need to figure out how to get along in spite of our differences (and maybe even celebrate them from time to time, yeah?) and not think that it's everyone else's problem and not yours. You are not normal, I promise. I am.

Girl in a Cardigan

guess what, john? i do have that.

 (I pinned it)

Midweek Pick-Me-Up

Pictures of a two day old!!! If this doesn't help get you to the weekend then I don't know what's missing in your life because - wow- this sweet babe does it for me. Snuggling a newborn is one of the most spiritual things on earth. How warm they are, the little squeaks they make, and how they mold right to your body. To quote Rachel Zoe, "I die". 

I got to hang out with Hannah, Neal, and baby boy Gideon last weekend for a while and within an instant, I was a goner. I wish more of my friends lived closer! They're having babies all the time and I don't ever get to see this stage. Shame on you, friends. Shame!

(And a big, ole', smelly HAPPY BIRTHDAY to new mama Hannah! It's pretty great this year, isn't it? I love you tons and tons and tons, thank you for being one of my "bests". iLOVEyou)

I need a dog. Stat. 

And to tone down the eye makeup. Geez.

Pen Pal

I got a love note in the mail over the weekend. My dearie has decided to go old school and start writing via snail mail. I love it! It was the best surprise! Especially that she used such cute stationary and a wax seal! Yes, that photo is the actual letter.

It means so much to me that she would take the time to sit down and write a note. It's a lost art that we just don't do anymore. Ashley, dear, the little things mean the most to me. Thank you for not only recognizing that but for following through.

I'm such a lucky girl to have such wonderful friends!

Movie Monster

I have been going to the movies like crazy lately! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love going to the movies so I'm glad that we're coming into summer with all the blockbusters. The last couple of weeks I have seen -

Water for Elephants (I am SO Team Edward now!)

Prom (seriously one of the worst best last minute decisions I've made in a while)

Fast Five (exactly what I expected, oh boy did we have fun!)

Thor (good, not great)

Something Borrowed (ahhhhh, a GOOD romantic comedy, finally!)

Now the goal is to find a good drive-in theater around here. Summer means outside activities and drive-ins rank at the top of my summer fun list. Kristy and I used to spend A LOT of time at the South Bay drive-in when I still lived in San Diego and she was still single. We would take her Jeep Liberty, throw loads of pillows and blankets in the back, stop at VONS and get dinner (a rotisserie chicken, a loaf of french bread, chocolate milk and a pint of Ben & Jerry's each) (what little piggies). It was the best of times!

What movies are you excited about this summer?

(harry!)

"Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children."

- Marilyn Penland

Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms I know! You ladies inspire me!

Baby G

Happy (first) Mother's Day to Hannah!

And welcome to the world, Gideon Robert.

xoxo,

"Aunt" Rachel

Ooo Baby, Baby!

This is one of the reasons boys think that girls are crazy.

Baby names.

Most girls have had an ongoing list of names since we got our first Cabbage Patch doll. The list is constantly being edited based on personal preference, what's hot at the moment, people who steal our names, etc. Yes, names can be stolen. (Which is why I guard my list like a mad woman)

Every year the Social Security Administration releases the top most popular names for boys and girls for the previous year. Here's your top 10 for 2010:

Top 10 Names for Boys

1. Jacob

2. Ethan

3. Michael

4. Jayden

5. William

6. Alexander

7. Noah

8. Daniel

9. Aiden

10. Anthony

Top 10 Names for Girls

1. Isabella

2. Sophia

3. Emma

4. Olivia

5. Ava

6. Emily

7. Abigail

8. Madison

9. Chloe

10. Mia

Check out the full article here. One thing it notes is that there are 41 names that rhyme with Aiden in the top 1000....that's crazy. By the way - is anyone else surprised that the name Emily is still so popular?

Beauty

found here

Sprinkles

I finally got around to doing a Sprinkles cupcakes taste test and here is my official result:

they are better than Georgetown Cupcakes

but not as good as Baked and Wired

I should have probably gotten a red velvet or a vanilla just to add a punch of color to the photoshoot but then I would have to eat them and my first choice will always be chocolate. Always.

I have also realized that I post about cupcakes a lot. Too much? Never. 

For My Mom

This is pretty much what you go through every morning when you feed our 4 beastly cats, right mom?

I DARE You Not to Laugh

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behold the beauty of candid photos

Justin Beiber on my Blog

that dude is incredible

(click to enlarge)

You have no idea how happy this makes me.

If you don't get it that's because you don't have Mean Girls memorized like some of us.

I Want!

I love stuff like this

I want stuff like this

Danica has something like this (initials on a tree)

Vandalism = true love