my apologies.

i have been quite absent on the blog front and i apologize. i've been swamped at work and there was a computer crisis at home. hopefully i will be back in full swing soon.

happy monday.

book club.

i decided this week to join a book club with a few of my former co-workers. bridget, now a teacher, is starting one up with a few friends and she invited kari, libby and me to join. the first book on the list is sarah's key. here's the synopsis i found on borders.com:

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours. Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life. Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

i started the book yesterday and was really starting to get into it this morning on may way in. the last book i read was barefoot by elin hilderbrand. The novel is an easy, summer, beach read so i'm ready for something more serious. i'll be sure to let you know how i like it as well as what the next book club choice is. potential already is chelsea handler's are you there, vodka? it's me, chelsea. i've stared at both her books debating whether to purchase or not so i'll be thrilled to finally read one. i've got my fingers crossed.

creep-o

http://melodymaker.posterous.com/the-reason-some-girls-stay-single-very-funny

what i'm listening to right now.

glee!

it's a new show on fox. its hilarious. if you haven't checked it out, i suggest you do!

this week . .

both these are on my bill for this week. very excited.

this is makes me strangely happy . . .

conversation with my mom earlier today.

Deborah: using my new macBook. very nice

me: are you serious

you got a mac?

Deborah: very serious. It is made of aluminum.

me:you realize you're hardly going to use all its capabilities

Deborah: does some very cool stuff. I am getting a lesson from trans atlantics IT guy Bill

2:31 PM me: man

aren't you so fancy

is it white?

Deborah: you never know. I might start making my own movies and puttting them on utube

me: you miiight

Deborah: no it's silver aluminum with a lighted keyboard

2:32 PM the fact that its not white means its the good one.

2:33 PM me: hmm

Deborah: hmm is right

me: if it was white it'd match you car

Deborah: i have a silver car too

me: this is true

2:34 PM so this computer will last you the rest of your life basically right?

is it the macbook pro?

Deborah: never had a new computer before.

me: why'd you decide to go with apple?

2:35 PM Deborah: I think they are cute.

2:37 PM me: well there you have it

Deborah: never had a new computer before

me: its very exciting

Deborah: It has a dashboard.

2:38 PM gotta go can't have two conversations at on time and talk to Bill

me: haha ok

byee

2:39 PM Deborah: bye can't remember how to turn it off.

me: you can't work gmail, but you have a macbook pro

toootally makes sense

Deborah: bite me

i love this song.

this was always a choir favorite of mine. it's beautiful.

favorites this week.

this week i've been listening to edith piaf like a crazy person. she was a french singer, still considered one of france's greatest popular singers. she had an intriguing and dramatic life. i think you can hear it in her voice - there's a certain pain and intensity in her voice that i think is fantastic. have a listen in the post below.

also this week i'm reading american wife by curtis sittenfeld. this book has been sitting on my shelf for a few months now and i'm so glad i finally picked it up. the main character, alice blackwell, is loosely based on laura bush. alice is an only child growing up in the midwest. when she's a teenager, she runs a stop sign and kills a classmate. she then goes on to become a librarian and marry a boy from a prominent american family who later becomes president etc etc. the reason i like the book so much is because of the honest thoughts we get from alice. the accident starts a chain of unfortunate events that ends in an abortion by way of her grandmother's lesbian lover, one of few female doctors in the midwest. through it all, alice feels the way i imagine i would feel going through such trying experiences. she is a strong and stoic woman on the outside, but lets us into her inner workings where we find her sensitive and gilt ridden girl.

as you can imagine, when this book came out it cause quite a stir at the white house. you can't help but think of laura bush as you're reading this novel.

favorites this week.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

one more.

too cute.

yay!

made roanoke college snapshots. thank you, clint, for sending it in!

beach fashions.

i found these life magainze 'beach fashion' photos and thought i'd share.
all photos taken april 1950.

photos

perseids

i like google's logo today. it's because of a meteor shower that occurs every year with the most activity on august 12. pretty pretty.

this is just too bizarre.

firefly

photo

i recently discovered the joys of firefly sweet tea vodka. the pas two weekends i've enjoyed this creative drink and i recommend you give it a go too before the weather starts to change. it is the perfect refreshing adult beverage for a hot summer day or night.

one buyer beware warning - it will sneak up to bite you. it tastes too good to realize how much you're consuming, so be careful. but mostly - enjoy!

two new favorites this week.

photo

july was an incredibly busy month with parties galore. now that things have slowed down a bit (bit being the key word) i'm hoping to get back to some blogging. to start august off right, i have two things you should check out this month. one stems from the movie (500) days of summer. i saw it yesterday and really enjoyed. yes, i recommend you see it too, but that's not what i want to let you know about. i've liked zooey deschanel since she sang in the shower with will ferrel in elf. seeing her sing in this movie made me want to take a closer look at her music. i've been listening to she and him: volume one all day. it is the debut of the collaboration between m. ward and zooey and it's down right refreshing. she has a nonchalant singer-songwriter tone with a little bit of country twang in her voice. if you haven't already, check it out.

photo

i am currently reading valley of the dolls. i'm about half way through and love it. my friend jess set me up with this read and it is right up my alley. it's the story of 3 women who make it big in new york just after WW II. the story is full of stereo types of the time and is a read for anyone with an inkling for american women's history, women's studies, and/or a juicy story. you should expect a full report in the next week or so when i finish.

roanoke bound.

i'm sorry i've been so absent recently - it has been an incredibly busy month. from my mom's 50th birthday to the 4th of july to two weddings i just haven't had a lot of down time to devote to blogging. but i'm here today per MG's request:

MaryGrace: you should really make an effort to post about rc before you leave!!!!

me: ok ok - will do

so here it goes. this weekend my dear friends josh foster and danielle consentino are getting married! the ceremony is at the foot of the admin building, pictured above, and the reception is being held in the wortman ballroom. there's bound to be plenty of mac n' bobs quality time throughout the weekend and a good time is destined to follow. i can't wait to get out of dc and on the open road toward the valley! to all who will be there this weekend - see you soon. and all who will not - be jealous!

pictures of all events this month coming soon. and more blogging. promise.

oh and check out mg's roanoke post as well.

4th of july

it came and went too fast. i hope yours was as good as mine! check out that all american shirt!

ten things i'd love to tell my younger self

i found a post on nonsociety-julia linking to this article. it's called 'ten things i'd love to tell my younger self' and it is worth reading. i think they apply to women of every age. my favorite - which i really do wish i could my sixteen year old self is:

The only thing you should be faking is confidence.

read it for more

evening star cafe

if you live in the washington, dc metro area you have to make it a point to get to the evening star cafe. it is in the heart of del ray and is a tiny treasure. i went twice last week (yes, twice) and it was fabulous. their wine list is good - and cheap - and the food is excellent. if you go, make sure to get the gnocchi mac and cheese. divine.

evening star cafe is owned by the same people as tallula, another restaurant i am a huge fan of. go! enjoy!

mid - 20s

as was pointed out to me last week - i am now officially in my mid 20s. friday night wrapped up the birthday belebration. here i am with nicole, my roommate, and two of my closest high school friends, karen and erica. karen leaves for spain tomorrow for a month. she will be missed.

with the other birthday girl, lindsey. we decided to bring all our friends together under one roof. her birthday is actually tomorrow. happy birthday linds!!

lindsey, andrew, kyle, me

i did get a camera for my birthday as i wanted, so you can expect many more pictures to come!

celebration

yesterday at work we had our june birthday celebration. usually we have cake but this month, we had cupcakes! and not just any cupcakes - georgetown cupcake. they are fabulous. if you've never had one, go soon! you will have to stand in a line around the block but it'll be work it.

photo

photo credit

i stumbled across this valentino bag this afternoon. i think it is stunning and it can be yours for a cool $2395. birthday next year?!?!?! ha.

june 24.

I just received this ecard from my good friend dessa. it made me smile. thanks dess! you can check out her guest post on with grace and style and visit her blog ramblings of a wanderer.

guest post.

today i guest posted on with grace and style. i talked about some great summer reads. be sure to take a look!

reese in dc.

reese witherspoon is filming in dc right now. this is a picture, courtesy of people.com, of reese on the mall. maybe i'll see her :)

purple rain.

i was in texas in february, vising my nana. she has been living in an apartment for two years but just sold her house in the fall. a few things remained in storage - including boxes of old record albums that belonged to my mom and her siblings. i decided to go through them and brought a few back with me, including 'purple rain' by prince, framing and hanging them on my wall. i was just on urban outfitters.com looking at new apartment stuff and guess what they're selling - purple rain!

work music

if you're like me - you are sick of pandora at work. well, i've got something to share. you may have heard of it but i just found out a few weeks ago. it is called grooveshark. grooveshark has more functions than pandora. you can choose what music you want and create playlists. search by album, artist, song. it also allows you to upload music. check it out.

bradley nowell

i woke up this morning with sublime's 'don't push' lyrics in my head. below are my two favorite parts. happy monday.

Stolen from an africa land
Chased out with a knife
With a face like Bob Marley and a mouth like a motor bike
Oh well the bars are always open and the time is always right
And if God's good word goes unspoken the music goes all night
And it goes...

Laughter, it's free any time just call me
439-0116 when your down with Sublime you get
funky fresh lyrics, you get nothin

tag tag tag

has always been a fun game, no matter the context.

my friends mg and caroline, bloggers of with grace and style and temptation & bliss, tagged me in a blog game that i'm am ever so happy to continue!

the game: list six unimportant things that make you happy and then tag blogger friends to do the same.

here goes (in no particular order) :

1. driving - specifically, on a sunny day with the windows down, the sun roof open, and music blaring.

2. my mom's house - its warm and inviting and it will instantly calm me. it is the best place to relax.

3. new hair cut - if you know me at all, you know i have been hair obsessed for most of my life. i'm growing my hair for locks of love right now and the lack of cutting has made me realize how much i truly love a new hair cut. the swing, the bounce - it's wonderful.

4. friends (the television show) - almost everyday when i get home from work i turn on friends at 6:30 while i'm making dinner. i'm usually strung out and tired by the time i get home and friends just lifts my spirits. no matter hwo many times i see any given episode, it always makes me laugh. just makes me feel - happy.

5. 210A 85th Street Fraternity

6. sparkling wine - i have been on a sparkling wine kick for 6 months or so. i drink it any chance i get. pre-dinner cocktail? not for me thanks, i'll have the bubbly. just ask kyle and nicole, they'll tell you. any chance i get. (sorry i snagged this one, mg)

and finally, tags:

sorry about your luck - jess
cigarettes and chocolate milk - kpg
tales from the slip - richard warren

if you want a good laugh

click here and watch the video.

*especially if you're an arlington resident (past or present)

NYC = Bests

and by bests i mean friends! i love to visit new york because i get to see my BEST friend mg (here we are pictured above at a theme party in college - don't kill me for putting it up). i'm staying with her for the weekend and i can't wait to get there! 10 o'clock cannot come soon enough.

i'm also going to see my dear friend mackie tonight!!! here's mack enjoying life on her way to our senior inaugural. i hope we all get some new and improved pictures this weekend. we're overdue!

license to wed.

this weekend i am heading to NYC for the bachelorette party of this lovely young lady pictured below (fiance in tow). danielle was (is) my big sister in dg and she is a great, great person. i'm so happy for her and josh and cannot WAIT until the wedding in july. this is going to be a warm up - and quite a warm up it will be! i'm borrowing kyle's camera for the weekend so pictures will definitely follow!

i need some inspiration

at work.

my cube at the office is oh so boring. any (cheap) ideas for spicing it up and providing motivation are welcome! please please, my sanity needs it.

weekend.

well ladies and gentlemen- it's time for another weekend.

i'll be heading to a bridal shower for my dear friend amy whittle in stafford. it will be nice to see her - it has been a few months. then i'm going back to cafe milano with my parents and some old family friends.

hopefully the weather man is correct and this gross rain will move away from us. i could use some sunshine!

happy friday!

new breakfast idea.

i met a new friend this weekend at the beach, katie. katie had all kinds of interesting tidbits about life - most of which i don't feel comfortable sharing - but one in particular stuck out. she told be about a new breakfast burrito she's been making that keeps her full (apparently raisin suppress appetite).

well this morning, i gave it a shot.
- whole wheat tortilla
- peanut butter
- banana
- raisins

let me say it is quite tasty and has kept me full all morning! this may be sad, but generally i'm starved by 10am and have to suffer through a few hours until it is an appropriate lunch hour. i highly recommend giving it a shot.

lusting.

love at first sight

the purse blog

i stumbled across the purse blog today. it is a fashion blog devoted solely to bags! what girls doesn't love bags and this website brings all kinds of dreamy satchels your way - every color, shape, texture and best of all price range. i'll be keeping tabs on this one.

june.

well ladies and gentlemen - its june 1st, which means it is officially my birthday month! june is going to be an extra busy month this year. i have two very good friends getting married this summer and they're wedding festivities get underway this month. i am so happy for them both and can't wait to celebrate with them! and then to celebrate me june 24 ... let the festivities begin.

louis vuitton's new campaign

i saw on women's wear daily today that louis vuitton's latest ad campaign 'core values' includes buzz aldrin - astronaut with neal armstrong - and marks the 40th anniversary of 'one small step for man'. check out the article on WWD. also in the annie lebowitz photos are astronauts jim lovell and sally ride. i'm glad they used a female astronaut - i think 'core values' is a great message. kudos.

weekend fun.

heading to virginia beach this weekend. it should be great.
if i had a camera - pictures would follow.

Speaking of Dustin Hoffman

posting about Last Chance Harvey made me think of my favorite Dustin Hoffman movie, The Graduate. I saw it for the first time just a few years ago. It was one of those - had heard all about it, obviously recognizing it as a pop culture icon - but i hadn't seen it. it is great. if you haven't seen it - you should.

last chance harvey

I'm watching 'Last Chance Harvey' right now. It's a movie with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. I'm thoroughly enjoying. Best exchange so far occurred during Harvey's daughter's wedding -

Harvey - "We have to hurry."

Kate - "Why?"

Harvey - "Because I'm going to dance your socks off!!"

huge flag

last week this flag was put up in the lobby of our building. it's huge. i like looking at it everyday when i come in.

back to the grind..

well i had a great three day weekend. i took this picture on the boat sunday. (unfortunately not my boat) we traveled down the Potomac - spending the day sandwiched between maryland and virginia. it was so relaxing and i was sad to see it come to an end.

i hate how long one can spend looking forward to something - a week, a weekend, a party - and then how quickly it passes you by. that's how i'm feeling this tuesday morning. we all were looking forward to this three day weekend - and now its over. one good thing though, is that there is less than a month left until my birthday :)

happy, happy memorial day

i hope everyone has a great three day weekend! don't forget what memorial day is about - those men and women who died serving the country they love.

someday - maybe

this is a brad and angelina at the screening of 'inglorious basterds' at cannes film festival. i think its beautiful. i hope to have this gorgeous of a picture taken of me someday.

a german themed cafe milano

last night i finally made it to cafe milano. it is a well known restaurant here in DC - located in georgetown, it is a celebrity hot spot.

i went with my brother and some old family friends, julia and natalie hahn. we met the hahn's when our dad's were stationed in germany at the same time in ohh i guess 1992 or so. they now live in fredericksburg so its a wonder i hadn't seen them in so many years. we had a great, great time. julie just graduated and is heading to munich mid-june for some summer program - she's oobersmart studying neuroscience or something similar i can't begin to wrap my head around. julie is fluent in german and had with her a friend from germany (though they met in america). how ironic - our waiter was also from germany. the three of them were speaking deutsch all night long and he ended up giving us a free bottle of champagne at the end of our meal- in exchange for natalie's phone number as it turned out. all in all it was quite an eventful evening.

brendon and me

julia and natalie

these two pictures are evidence enough of my need for a camera. i took them on my iphone and while it takes a picture - clearly it's not great.

a running challenge

we're talking about being a part of the Ragnar Relay - Washington DC race this year. the relay is 183 miles over two days from cumberland, maryland to DC. teams consist of 12 persons and if we do it i'm going to be terrified!! i've never been much of a runner. i can walk for miles and miles - but run, no thank you. i just get tired of it. can't get in the 'zone' if you will. this will probably be the biggest challenge i've faced in months, maybe years, and i welcome it. i'm going to start training next week so wish me luck! i will keep you updated on my progress. on the website they have a training guide listed below. hopefully this will do it for me! i know i'm already a week or two behind what it says but here's hopin..

Run at your own "comfortable" pace for the given amount of time. "Comfortable" might mean walking periodically in order to complete the workout. That's OK; the important thing is that you stick to the length of time allotted for each workout. If you miss a workout don't worry, just start from where you are on the schedule.

Date	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
May 11	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	Rest
May 18	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	Rest
May 25	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	15MN	15MN	Rest
Jun 1	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	15MN	20MN	Rest
Jun 8	15MN	R/C	15MN	R/C	15MN	25MN	Rest
Jun 15	20MN	R/C	20MN	R/C	15MN	30MN	Rest
Jun 22	20MN	R/C	30MN	R/C	20MN	40MN	Rest
Jun 29	25MN	R/C	25MN	R/C	20MN	45MN	Rest
July 6	25MN	R/C	30MN	R/C	25MN	50MN	Rest
July 13	30MN	R/C	35MN	R/C	25MN	55MN	Rest
July 20	30-H	R/C	40MN	R/C	30MN	60MN	Rest
July 27	35-H	R/C	45MN	R/C	30MN	20/20MN	Rest
Aug 3	35-H	R/C	50MN	R/C	35MN	80MN	Rest
Aug 10	40-H	R/C	55MN	R/C	35MN	25/25MN	Rest
Aug 17	40-H	R/C	60MN	R/C	40MN	100MN	Rest
Aug 24	45-H	R/C	65MN	Rest	45MN	30/30MN	Rest
Aug 31	45-H	R/C	70MN	Rest	30MN	120MN	Rest
Sep 7	50-H	R/C	60MN	Rest	30MN	35/35/35	Rest
Sep 14	60-H	R/C	50MN	Rest	40MN	20/40	Rest
Sep 21	30MN	R/C	20MN	Rest	Race	Race	Sleep!

Schedule Key
H = Hills - start and finish hill workouts with 10 min of easy running
/ = Multiple Runs - two to three runs within 24 hours
MN = Minutes
R/C = Rest or Cross-Train Easy - this is your easy recovery day

say cheese!

i've become camera crazed. i've never been very good at taking pictures. i think its genetic. one of those nature vs. nurture things. (step one foot into my mom's house and you'll know what i'm talking about) but recently, i want a camera with me more often than not. kpg has been so gracious to let me borrow his whenever i ask, but i know that's got to be getting old for both parties invovled. with that said - i'm on a quest for the camera of my dreams! i think kpg is getting me one for my birthday (june 24) so this weekend we started looking. i have one in mind but please send me your suggestions if you have any! one of my requirements is a good zoom.

good work dc!

D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages Performed in Other States

The D.C. Council has voted 13-0, without debate, to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. [courtesty of washingtonpost.com]

valentino - the last emporer

was excellent!! i highly recommend going to see it. the whole film is so beautiful - from the clothes to his homes to the scenery - just beautiful. i promise, it does not disappoint.

for those of you in dc area it's playing at the shirlington theater.

weekend of me

this weekend is a weekend of me! i haven't had a weekend in quite awhile that isn't jam packed with plans. erica came up last night and we did a little shopping in clarendon today. i got these earrings. they make me happy.

kyle is out of town - nicole is working - so i am really alone. with no prospect of someone raining on my parade - tonight i'm going to see the valentino documentary. mg raved about it so and i figure what a better night? i'll let you know how it is.

ms. adams

amy adams graces the cover of the most recent issue of W Magazine. i, personally, am a huge fan. it started with enchanted and miss pedigrew lives for a day. i think she's simply delightful and was really excited to read more about her (she grew up mormon).

the piece talks about her road to glory (did you know she's 34?) - having been nominated for two academy awards in the last 4 years. adams talks a lot in the piece about reflecting on the past. i think it is a great message. be proud of what you have accomplished here and now - but never forget where you come from and what makes you you at your core. i especially like this excerpt :

"I was just so reflective the whole evening on how I came to be sitting in that room . . . at one
point my fiance was like 'you feel distant'. And I said, 'I am! I can't even talk to you!' I was
there at the Oscars thinking, what if I never left the Gap?"

she's great. the article is great.

help here and now

a few weeks ago kyle and i went to see dave barnes, a musician we've been fans of for many years now. this is the second time we've seen him and both times he has talked about this thing called the mocha club. mocha club is this website where you give up $7 a month - the cost of 2 mochas - to support a project in africa. for example, $7 can provide clean water to 7 africans for one year. (they send people to africa to dig wells) i've chosen to give my money to fighting HIV/AIDS but there are other projects to choose from, all of which will do wonders for the people of africa. take a minute to visit mocha club and learn more about it. and if you should feel so inclined, donate! visit my mocha club url where you can join my team and make a contribution here.

warm weather and an ice cream cone.

what better way to spend a warm tuesday afternoon than with an ice cream cone?? if you have a ben and jerry's near you - take advantage! i know you want to jess moore.

NYC

this past weekend i went to new york to surprise MG for her birthday! she is a great friend and i was so happy to be able to do something a little extra for her birthday this year! we had such a good time and i was so sad when it ended.

my parents came into town as well friday evening and saturday we spent out and about. we went to carnegie deli and i had this ginormous chicken salad sandwich. aside from the rain, it was a perfect weekend and i can't wait to go back - only two months away...