Photo Diary

So last week I was up to no good. And IT. WAS. AWESOME. I was left to my own devices for most of the week, and I must say, it was my favorite week in DC yet. Here's a taste of what I was up to [in addition to spending a fabulous amount of time shopping]...

{OPERATION DECORATION}

{had a wee bit of dinner-time fun}

{FINALLY caught a peek of the sinkhole}

{learned that getting up in the morning is easier when you have muffins waiting for you}

{treated myself to a stressful-day-at-work remedy}

{found a quaint courtyard behind our humble abode}

{had a pretty awesome coffee meeting}

{and discovered why I always see people taking pictures up here!}

Georgetown

When we first moved to DC, I HATED IT. HATED IT. But, I must say, DC has really tried hard to prove itself. 

I'm definitely starting to come around.

This past weekend we ventured into the Georgetown neighborhood ... while I had believed my boyfriend when he said it was pretty, I was still pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous old brick buildings, the fabulous selection of shops, the flowers along the sidewalks ... and just the general quaintness. I already can't wait until we go back, but until then, here are a few photos from what turned out to be a wonderful weekend.

{my Toms and I, out on another adventure}

{I overheard some people saying this was "a Georgetown staple" ...}

{... so we decided to try it out ...}

{... it had a nice, cozy, been-there-forever feel ...}

{... and quite possibly the world's most INSANE french toast!}

{in the end, we -- and our much-too-full bellies -- were grateful for all the walking. but who wouldn't be when you get to walk through such a pretty park?}

{and finally, a trip to the grocer that ended in one of my favorite purchases: fresh flowers}

Spinach Artichoke Chicken

Alright folks. I have a confession. Cooking for two sometimes gets the better of me. Pretty sure I am becoming more and more clumsy every day, and my ability to accurately judge how much food two people will eat is no better. So between the spills, random mishaps, my inability to successfully follow the directions, and never managing to make enough pasta, sometimes I just need a stress-free recipe. This, my friends, is one of those recipes.

It requires two ingredients (well, three, if you include cooking spray): chicken and spinach artichoke dip. Yep, the dip. As in, pre-made, normally-you-would-just-heat-it-up-and-eat-it-with-chips dip. The directions? Just as simple:

1. Preheat your oven to 375.

2. Defrost your chicken breasts.

3. Grease the pan.

4. Put the chicken in the pan. 

5. Smother the chicken with the dip. Yep, just slather it on there.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. 

7. Eat (and smile, because it's yummy). 

That's it! Go forth and prosper (with yummy chicken in your bellies)!

Operation Decoration

So we are currently in the process of transforming our new apartment into a home... I can't wait for it to truly feel like ours, complete with decorations and eccentric things that showcase who we are. We already have a GIANT Florida Gators flag hanging above the TV (the "mancave"), which is a start, but until lately I've been struggling to feel inspired about how to us-ify our space. BUT, after a very productive coffee shop session and large amounts of caffeine, creativity finally struck. Here are some of the pins that aided me in my decorating revelations (Pinterest, I owe you one):

The pins, in case you want them for your boards, too:
1. canopy http://bit.ly/YeK1jS
2. random chair http://bit.ly/11O3kyK
3. giant world map http://bit.ly/ZHDkqn
4. mirror http://bit.ly/12EsgZK
5. quote/lyrics http://bit.ly/10lFjei
6. trinkets on a rope http://bit.ly/11Pym8l
7. sheet-art http://bit.ly/128wR3v

Peas, Pans, + Pretty Flowers

It's spring! Yahoo!

A little life update from me to you, with love (sorry I've been such a slacker):

{OBSESSED with the cherry blossoms. gorgeous. and smell delicious.}

{I'm always so productive at coffee shops. and inspired. and creative. no clue why. but I love it.}

{the most adorable salt & pepper shakers ever, compliments of my BFF}

{other obsession: walking. not really for exercise purposes, but for exploring. can't seem to get enough}

{BEST MILKSHAKES EVER/IN THE WHOLE WORLD}

{so, our pans had a rough time traveling to us via mail. but hey, they still cook the same, and I sort of enjoy their new-found quirkiness}

{patriotism is everywhere here, even in the bison burgers. pretty sure they tasted better with the extra American pride, too.}

Adventuring

Greetings! Slowly but surely I am starting to like DC. I still have no clue where I am 90% of the time when we are out running errands, trying to outfit our new apartment, or "exploring" ... but hey, I'm okay with it (so long as I have a GPS or a trusty boyfriend by my side). Here are a few of my most recent adventures and such:

{one of our new favorite past-times: hanging out in a Barnes & Noble to browse through whatever awesomeness we can find}

{I was FINALLY reunited with Bruegger's after a much-too-long hiatus, and I sure was not disappointed}

{I had an "informational interview" here... proof that networking can't go wrong if you meet at a super-cutely decorated coffee/sweets shop}

{a fun day of exploring on a beautiful day, and my first meeting with the Potomac}

The New Me

Hello there! Apologies for my super long hiatus from blogging. To be honest, for awhile there I just didn't feel inspired. But now things are really looking up. I've [pretty darn] recently made the move to our beloved nation's capital, and I am starting to feel alive once again. Here are a few of my new-to-DC adventures, and I can't wait to share more with you as they come. 

{apparently, this is the state for lovers... sooo fitting considering I made the move with my bf}

{is it just me, or do the Metro stations look fantastically space-y?}

{my first H&M experience / discovering new malls with my man}

{I've been waiting to try Caribou Coffee for some time now, and finally got the chance out here on the east coast... definitely was not disappointed!}