Moving and Summer Starting

We have begun the long and arduous process of moving. We've got a great basement flat waiting for us on Capitol Hill. While we haven't moved our large furniture yet, we've taken over a bunch of smaller items. Our property management company is great, so far. They have been very lax about painting, decorating, owning animals, etc. We've taken the opportunity to paint the kitchen a nice shade of yellow called "Yellow Brick Road." Additionally, we painted an accent wall in the living room "Windsor Haze" and we plan on painting stripes down our long hallway. Pictures coming soon!

It is also pretty much summer here. Maybe not officially, but certainly it feels like it with the weather. Lots of sun, lots of thunder storms (to the point of disrupting Sarah's flight back into DC a week ago), lots of humidity. While we don't look forward to the humidity, especially me, we are eagerly anticipating the summer. We plan on kayaking around the Potomac, picnic-ing on Theodore Roosevelt Island, watching the fireworks on Capitol Hill for the fourth of July, and hopefully taking a few weekend trips. We will be back in California for ten days or so for a wedding and a chance to visit home. While we miss California and our families, I think we are building a special new home in DC. Particularly with our new apartment. While our current place is okay, it just always felt temporary and transitional. With the new one, I think we want to settle for a while and actually make it our own. Which we will!

Ode to Luigi's

(Via)

On 19th St NW, right between L and M, stands one of the most delicious little Italian restaurants that you will ever find.


View Larger Map

Famous Luigi's has apparently been serving up no-nonsense, authentic Italian meals since 1943... but I only discovered it a few years ago when I was in D.C. for the first time as a summer intern. I was living on the George Washington University campus (in the worst dorm known to mankind, but that's another story...) and one day a fellow intern and I had a major pizza craving. A quick Google search revealed that D.C. is not known for its pizza- I found critical reviews of almost every pizzeria around. Luckily, we decided to try out Luigi's because it is within walking distance of GW. I am so glad we did! Now, a stop by the unpretentious little gem is a must whenever friends or family come to visit. It's such a friendly, family-oriented little place... so different from the ritzy, expensive joints that you find elsewhere in Downtown D.C.

(Via)

Admittingly, I haven't fully explored Luigi's offerings... I pretty much stick to ordering pizza every time I go! There is a wide array of toppings to choose from. I usually go with the classic combo of pepperoni, mushrooms, and Mediterranean olives... but just on my half of the pizza because Ben is a 'pepperoni-only' kinda guy.

Yesterday, after an (unsuccessful) afternoon of apartment-hunting, we decided to stop by and grab a bit to eat. We had the "usual," and it was great, but as I started glancing around the room at the other tables (a bad habit, I know!) I noticed that the pesto pastas looked FANTASTIC. I have added them, and the gnocchi, to be my 'to-eat' list, for sure. This leads me to my next point... another great thing about Luigi's is that it is a great place to people watch. People from all walks of life congregate there, from businesspeople to Grandmas to hilarious preschoolers.

The other nice thing about the place is its price- a pizza for two with salad and bread only comes to $28. That's a price even an intern can afford!

~S~

A Stroll Through The Garden

So I have decided that spring time in D.C.- even with the dramatic influx in tourists- is a whole lot more bearable than winter time in D.C. Maybe it is my California sensibilities talking here, but my entire outlook on life seemed to brighten up the moment that sun began showing its glorious face around here.

But I know that *humidity* is just around the corner. The horror, the horror. So, I am going to try to cram in as many fun things in to my life before summer really sets in.

Case in point: the White House spring garden tour. I was there! And somehow managed to get tickets, despite that the line to get in was longer than any line at 7:20 a.m. should be on a Sunday. My friend Mollie and I secured our tickets and by 10:15 a.m. we were wandering around the White House lawns while heavily-armed Secret Service dudes watched silently on. (Actually, I saw one of the dudes pose for a photo in front of the WH fountain, so I guess it was a special day for them, too...)

It was worth getting up at 6 a.m. Obviously, the First Family was not in attendance, but the plants were the real stars of the show, anyway.

Yes, that is the one, the only, the (not-quite-organic) White House kitchen garden. My highlight of the morning. As a fan of all things 'ag,' it was beyond cool to get to check out Mrs. Obama's garden. And I must say, it was beautiful! I wish that I had the space (and the patience and the time) to create such a masterpiece.

Some other highlights...

(Umm, seriously, how epic is that?!)

(Really, W? You can't even help her dig?)

(SUPER FAN sporting a homemade Obama leather jacket. Dude was probably disappointed that POTUS wasn't home.)

(The official White House bees. I didn't see any- hope that they haven't been hit by Colony Collapse Disorder. Don't know what CCD is? Check it. Super scary- pollinators make 1/3 of all of our food possible. Oops, my ag nerdness is showing...)

(I know that one doesn't become President for the view from the front porch, but come on.)
(Happy spring!)

~S

DAD Visit

I've finally stopped being a derelict and contribute something to our blog. My father came into town for a few days on really short notice, but it was a great surprise! He's retired so when he gets an email offering a great package on airfare and hotel rooms he can jump on it.

He came in Thursday night and I had to work all of Friday, and Saturday and Sunday morning, so we had to cram in visiting time around that. The three of us drove through DC, ate at Ben's Chili Bowl and stopped by the African American Civil War Memorial, walked around the Washington Monument just in time to see a new protest piece, went on an Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour, and ate at numerous restaurants around the area. Saturday morning while I was stuck at work, Sarah gave my dad a tour around the National Zoo (one of the few places that he declared he had to see this time around) and he was thrilled. She can elaborate more on it, but he was particularly enamored with the "fancy pigeon."

Then on Monday when I actually had the day off, we went to Mount Vernon and toured the house and grounds, paying special attention to George Washington's farm animals. After a quick lunch we drove to Annapolis to check out the Naval Academy. We flashed our IDs and got free access to the grounds. The visitor center and campus are beautiful. We spent a few hours touring the grounds, stopping at the chapel to look at the crypt of John Paul Jones.

We returned, met up with Sarah, and my father took us to dinner. We dropped him at his hotel and said our goodbyes. It was a great four days of running around with my dad, at times very randomly. Above everything else, my father is a storyteller, and we heard many gems about his life. His stories are worthy of their own blog or book!

Home (for now)

I can't believe it has already been NINE whole months since we moved in to this little apartment. Time seriously flies. To be honest, I've had a kind of 'love-hate' relationship with this place. I am not a fan of how far away it is from everything. (And by "far" I mean I have to take a bus to the Metro, so I guess I am being a tad dramatic.) I wish that the neighbors were a little friendlier. Ben doesn't particularly enjoy those nights when there is not a parking spot to be found.

But I do love how homey our little 750 square foot bungalow has become. I love shopping for house decor (which makes trips to Target dangerous). I have even started to become something of a craftster.

Case in point:

1. 6 in 1 Photo Cube


Looks like your average photo collage, right? WRONG!

Hoping to capitalize on his love of puzzles, I made this way cool six-sided photo cube for Ben as a Christmas gift. It was pretty easy to make- six photos, twenty wooden blocks, and some spray glue was all it took!

Instructions are here.

2. Pom Pom Wreath

Last fall, I made a traditional-looking wreath complete with raffia, mini gourds and other cute things appropriate for the season. After a long, dreary winter (at least it seemed that way to this California girl), I decided it was time to welcome spring with a fun and festive door decoration. Hence, the pom pom wreath:


I had never seen or heard of such a thing before stumbling upon one on a design blog. It was cheap to make (~$15) but was a little time consuming. (I have discovered that making pom poms is a good mindless activity to accompany Netflix watching.) And be forewarned: yarn trimmings get EVERYWHERE.

Instructions are here.

And while I recently splurged a bit on this adorable duvet set- and believe me, that was only after weeks of deliberation- I normally try to be very thrifty. In fact, my favorite little too-cute-for-words bird frames were just $2.50/each on sale at Michael's. (That's baby Porky-pork scarfing on some strawberry in the photo.)



On another note- I am going to try to do a better job documenting our D.C. adventures. Over the past week or so, we have explored this place, attended this cool event, and checked out some pretty flowers here. Life is good- but I'm definitely ready for spring!

~S~

Trainspotting: Where is the Love?

Note: For some unknown reason, Google was blocked from my computer for the last few weeks- but now I am back, and in a big way!

Overheard at Rosslyn Metro Station, during rush hour, from scruffy teenage (emo?) boy:

"I mean why would I EVER want to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? I mean other than that one time..."

(Source)

I wish I knew how the subject of their conversation turned to that feel-good family film (it's from 1968, for cryin' out loud). In any case, don't be hatin', kid. Embrace your inner love of rascally anthropomorphic cars.

~S~

Happy Valentine's Day from NoVA!

Who is that peeking out of a cozy sweatshirt pocket to say "Happy Valentine's Day?" It's Porkchop, come to bestow some good cheer! Actually, I think she could care less if any of us have a good V-Day. All she cares about it eating (as much as possible) and sleeping. She's such a selfish little pig.

But I hope that you have a great Valentine's Day! I even made some dorky homemade valentines to celebrate:



~S~