Title

Monday, May 24, 2010

Your Check is Showing!


Wait, I kissed my frog...where is my Prince Charming???

Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,I don't care if I never get back...Supper club took a Friday trip to the National's Ballpark. Convenient for me, it was also on my bucket list! Score!!!! Now, its just the Nationals, so I knew we'd loose but at least I watched a few minutes of the game.

Too bad I wasn't actually in my office working during the day because the ball park is across the street! Unfortunatly I was off at training out in bfe Chantilly but I got out at 3 so I had plenty of time to get home and pregame...hey, don't judge!

I finally met up with Megan Murray who lives about 2 streets over at her apartment. Her penthouse was having a free wine tasting so we treked it up to the penthouse and boy was it worth it! The views were SPECTACULAR. For a measly price of $6,000 a month, you too can have an amazing view to wake up to. However, if I paid that much each month I'd want a bigger balcony. Granted there was one, it was just baby tiny. Megan, Katie Smith, and I figured if we got about 12 people together with bunk bed's we could probably afford to live there ;) Maybe one day I will live in a penthouse suite...then again, I'd rather have a mansion than a penthouse hahaha.

Oh and the title of this post gets credited to Katie who totally called out Megan for wearing a sports bra under her shirt and you could see the Nike checkmark peeking out....Megan's solution "Well I can just button up my shirt". Oh Megan...we're going to have to work on you...


The girls in front of the gates. We asked this guy to take our picture and get the background in...and this is what we get. Oh well.

MMMM ballpark franks!

Totally can't remember what this is all about.

The Capital...and then my office building to the right!

At least the sign is pretty.

They are trying so hard!

I need to actually start coming to the game to pay attention to the game and not stand by the bar the whole time....NOT!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Mullets, Cougars, and Blockparty...Oh My!

Nothing says summer more than flip flops!

So I made it home for the weekend! Besides sitting in traffic, I spent my time doing my mandatory "mommy time" and hanging out with the girls! And of course, in our typical tradition we went to block party Saturday night. And that's exactly where the post's title comes from. Mullets, Cougars, and Blockparty...OH MY! I LOVE laughing at all the ridiculous outfits and haircuts and cougars and the such.

Emily, Jessica, and Melissa

Erika and I and the most delicious champagne ever!

On Sunday, we all went bridal dress shopping and of course we can make a party out of it :) And to top it off, I found the most HIDEOUS dress on the racks and took a picture with it (of course I did!):
Most of us found our dresses pretty quickly but Melissa took the longest, but it wasn't too long at all! I thought it would take forever but it was super exciting and we were all trying on things at the same time so it went really quickly.

I'd just like to throw out a BIG THANK YOU to Crystal for NOT being a brideszilla and allowing us to each pick out our own bridesmaids dresses. Everyone has a different style and bodyshape so why force us all to be cookie cutter and shove our unsimiliar body shapes into a dress. She picked the color, we picked the dress. I have never been happier spending $140 on a dress because:

  • Its cute
  • Its got pockets!
  • I barely have to get it altered
  • I can totally wear it again!!!!!

So without much ado, here it is:
And I'm bored at work (again) so I'm going to post EVERYONE's dresses:
Melissa

Jessica

Erika

Emily


Total side blurb: I saw someone CC'd in on an email whose name is "Liu, Wayne"...I totally glanced at it and thought it said Lil Wayne hahaha. I was like YES!

Mark One Off the List

Now that I've been here for a month, its time to start marking things off my list and finding new things to add on. Two weekends ago, I went to this thing called Passport DC where more than 200 embassies and international cultural centers opened their doors to showcase their culture, art, music, dance and food. Now, my lazy butt didn't get out of bed until like 11am and then I had to get ready and then OF COURSE the "ghettro", aka metro, was having weekend delays so I didn't end up getting to Dupont Circle until later and it was like a 20 minute hike up to the UK Embassy. I could have stopped at many along the way, but as I was only concerned with one I kept on treking along. I FINALLY made it to the UK embassy only to find a ridiculous line. I guess that's what free food and whisky tasting does for you. I finally made it in and walked around the beautiful site. While I was hoping, wishing, and praying that Prince Harry would be there, alas, he was not. Oh well, there's always next year ;) I actually ran into one of my work colleagues there and we chatted for a few. He said that the Belgium embassy is giving out free beer and chocolate...you know where I'll be next year!

For all of you nerds out there, here is some info to brush up on the location:
The British Government has had representation in Washington, DC, since 1791. The Embassy moved to its current location at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW in 1930. This location gave them more space, prime location next to the Vice President, and a grand Residence and Embassy. The British Embassy was the first to build on what would later become Embassy Row. Sir Esme Howard was the first Ambassador to live in the Residence.

The British Embassy is the largest in Washington, DC. It has nearly 500 employees from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, other Government Departments in Whitehall, and Ministry of Defence. The British Embassy in Washington is the largest British Embassy in the world.

The Embassy has been visited by many of the world's leading statespeople. In July 2005, President George W. Bush visited the Embassy to sign a book of condolence following the 7 July bombings in London. HM the Queen hosted President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush for dinner at the Residence in May 2007. Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted presidential candidates Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barak Obama in April 2008.

Anyways, I didn't take many pictures inside and I wish I had taken a picture of this thing called Echo's point or something to that effect. Basically you stand in the middle of it and say something out loud and you get an echo! It has something to do with how the little stage area was built...I wonder if they did that on purpose or if it just happened. Anyways, here are the few pictures I took:

Pretty columns on the building.

You can just barely see how many freaking people were there!

I would love to lay on this bench all day long.

The grounds had beautiful landscaping and I wish I had taken pictures of the flowers...the colors were amazing.

This is the Ambassador's residence.

Friday, May 14, 2010

This Day in History v. 10


In front of the Coliseum, from L to R: Me, Lucy, Elizabeth, Caroline, and Sami.

In May, Sami was learning to teach English as a second language in Rome, Italy and I thought what better time to go visit! The things I most remember about this trip was that of course there was a transportation strike the day I get there and are stranded at the airport with no way to get there and how immensely HOT it was! That, and of course, the fun time I had with Sami and her girlfriends. Oh yeah, and that Italian men are skeeeevy! We had a blast exploring the city and discovering a local beach that resulted in me getting about a 3rd degree burn on the back of my legs. You'd think that I'd learn since it has happened before but guess not. A picture of the "incident" is down below. One has to see it to believe it. It was very hard for me to sit down or walk...both of which I needed to do for the rest of the weekend. Oh well!

And being the good Catholic that I am (did you just see that lightening bolt???) I called my mother on Mother's Day from the top of St. Peter's Basilica and wished her a happy mother's day. Aren't I sweet?


Samis disapproving face in front of one of the restaurants that we ate at and was horrible. Could have been because we were in the tourist area.


Sami and I at a MUCH better restaurant.


Sami at the top of the Spanish Steps.


And me on top too.


Doing our normal picture. All of my self picture taking excellence I credit to her.


The Vatican a little later in the afternoon when it was closed hence not as many tourists!


My first spotting of the Vatican from the top of one of those obnoxious red tourist busses...hey, I was a tourist so I could do it!


I climbed to the top of St. Peter's Basilica...no your eyes are not fooling you, those stairs are crooked.


All of the popes over the years


This man looks PISSED!


Quatrafoil spotting!


Ahhhh the beach!


And corresponding sunburn...hey I only forgot to put sunscreen on the backs of my legs...can you imagine what it would have been like if I had NO sunscreen anywhere?


The Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II


You got me...I can't remember what this is? **Update from Sami...this is the Castel Saint Angelo. Started as a mausoleum, then it was a fortress, then a castle, and now I think it's just a museum. :)


The Trevi fountain...and yes I threw a coin in!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Bucket List



I could have kicked myself in the butt when I didn't make a bucket list in London and there are still things I wanted to accomplish but didn't make the time to do so. A year seems like such a long time, but day by day adds up and the time disappears like sand in an hour glass. So in my efforts, I've begun a list of things I want to accomplish in my time in DC (however long it may be)...here goes!

Life's Pink Bucket List:

  • Georgetown Cupcake
  • Eat at Old Ebbitt Grille (oldest restaurant in DC)
  • Visit the UK Embassy
  • Arlington Cemetery for Memorial Day
  • Washington Nationals game
  • EU Open House Day
  • Catch an outdoor 90s movie in Rosslyn
  • Gravely point park to watch the planes go by
  • Jazz in the Garden
  • National Half Marathon
  • Volunteer at Walter Reed
  • DC United game
  • Army 10K
  • Newseum
  • Capitals game
  • Take the Bell Tower tour at the Old Post Office Pavillion
  • Eastern Market
  • See a Free for All Shakespeare play
  • National Cathedral and take a Gargoyle Tour
  • Zoo
  • Kayak down the Potomac
  • Go down to Mount Vernon to see George Washington's estate
  • See a Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre
  • Watch a movie on Screen on the Green
  • Ben’s Chili Bowl
  • Catch a show at the 930 club
  • Caribbean festival
  • Watch the Rolling Thunder motorcycles for Memorial Day
  • Cherry Blossom Festival
  • Marine Corps Half Marathon
  • DC Drag Queen Race
  • Meridian Hill Park on Sundays to hear the famous drum circle
  • Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  • Go to the top of the Washington Monument

This list is just a starter and more will be added as I hear more things to do :) If you have any ideas, let me know!

p.s. I tried to tame down my page's background color and I'm not in love with it but I tried to save your eyes...you're welcome.