A Capitol 4th and Barracks Row Parade

We all know that my favorite holiday is the 4th of July, I love fireworks! But I was not looking forward to this 4th because President Trump moved the fireworks and was going to speak at the Lincoln Memorial. I am not going to get political on my blog, but July 4th is normally a nonpartisan holiday in DC and it didn't feel that way this year. Plus I knew that there was going to be opposing sides at the National Mall clashing and it was going to be hot and I wanted nothing to do with any of it. So, Stephanie and I decided to do the rehearsal for the Capitol 4th concert on the west lawn of the US Capitol. We had seen the live Memorial Day concert last year, so we had to do the 4th. It was so much fun and I thought since it was a rehearsal there would be a lot of stop and starting, but there wasn't - it ran just like the live performance. John Stamos hosted and there were many famous people that performed including a favorite of mine, Colbie Caillat. But what made it special for me was Big Bird! I was a huge, huge, huge Big Bird fan! My grandma has made me a life size Big Bird when I was three (I so wish I still had that Big Bird). Now I feel like my time in DC is complete - I saw Big Bird!

On the 4th we decided to do the local parade over in Eastern Market on Barracks Row. It was such a fun parade (minus the insane heat). It felt like small town America where there was local people in the parade, Cub Scouts and schools and dance teams and the mayor and kids throwing candy at your head. It was so much fun and you didn't feel like you were in the Nation's Capital or a mile away from the giant 4th of July parade.

The parade was only an hour long and that was plenty because it was already so hot at 11am in the morning. After the parade we hopped on the metro and went over to McPherson area to relax and enjoy some bubble tea and to cool down. 

On our way to bubble tea we saw a tank just hanging out on the side walk... totally normal (joking!). 

After bubble tea, Stephanie and I went our separate ways. I went over to Chinatown and met a childhood friend and her friends at Ford's Theatre where we went and had lunch at Matchbox. Matchbox closed their original location in Chinatown :( but opened up 3 blocks away in Penn Quarter.

After lunch I walked them over to the Old Post office so they could go to the Bell Tower and then I attempted to walk to the National Mall to see the Trump Baby. But as I was walking there the parade had just ended so I was swimming against thousands of people, so after a couple blocks, I gave up and headed home. 

Part two of my July 4th is in the next post.

Holiday in Tyler, Part 3

Welcome 2019! On New Year's morning we slept in and then we made our famous lemon poppy seed pancakes - another holiday tradition and it was so nice to have some people to cook for. I don't know how to cook, but I do know how to make an awesome breakfast. 

On New Year's Day evening Tuf and I exchanged our Christmas gifts and I sure wish one of my gifts was Baylor - but it wasn't :( 

My time in Texas was super great and relaxing (even if Tuf made me wake up at 6:45am every morning - I don't even wake up that time for my own job). But I was able to go into the office with her and I did a lot of my blog catch up phase while she worked, I took a nap and I just chilled. We also were able to play a lot of Phase 10. I really do enjoy playing games with friends. 

 In the evenings we went the to the movies, because it was so cheap like $5-$6 each - so we saw, Bumblebee, Mary Poppins Returns and Spiderman - yep adults seeing kid movies. I also spent a lot of time with the dogs, I sure miss the dogs!

During the middle of the week, I was able to see Kimberley, Kay and Sophia one last time at my favorite restaurant, Chuy's.

 My time in Texas was wonderful and I really enjoyed being around my people and just being myself. I don't know what my future holds but I do know that Texas will always be apart of my story. 

Holiday in Tyler, Part 2

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, Tuf came to the McKeown's and picked me up. I was now going to spend the rest of my time in Texas with her and I was super excited. I had only seen her for a day in July and before that it was a few days when she came to DC to help me move the first of February. 

The evening sky was amazing as we were driving to her house. 

I love Tuf's cooking and for New Year's Eve we ate a pork tenderloin, red potatoes and corn - all amazing!

We also watched the Christopher Robin movie - oh my goodness it was amazing and so well done, I wish that my grandma was alive to have seen it, she would have loved it! 

After the movie we stuck with tradition and drank chambord and played games! I love our little traditions. 

This is my final post for 2018 and only 2 months late...not bad :)

2018 was a good year. I was able to experience a lot. I made a really good friend that I hope will always be part of my life. I explored more of this cool city I have called home for over 4 years. I did a lot of traveling from coast to coast. I made a few hard decisions and I had my little heart hurt. But I survived and I always want to remember the good in everything. I'll do a little recap - though I feel like the last 3 months of blogging have really highlighted most of my year :) 

• January: Blue October Concert; Cousin moves back to Texas (lot of tears)
• February: Cousin comes back to help me move to DC; moved to DC! 
• March: Started DC Bucket List (exploring the non touristy side of DC) with an awesome friend, Stephanie; niece is born - welcome Raelynn Nicole you are loved; Karen visits; crazy weather - wild wind storm and the only snow of the season
• April: More bucket list items checked off the list; Cherry Blossom walk (alone); 3rd time going to the sunrise service at the Lincoln Memorial; found a new church in Alexandria; Lori visited
• May:Heart a little hurt; joined a book club in hopes of meeting new people; Concert on the west lawn of the US Capitol with Stephanie 
• June: Spontaneous to Idaho then onto New Mexico to see the fam including a my aunt and uncle from Australia and a nephew and niece I had never met 
• July: Artechouse; 4th of July parade (way too hot!); Trip to Texas to meet Sophia (Kimberley and Marco's adorable daughter), spending a day with the cousin 
• August: National Meeting for work in Boston; DC Wharf and Haines Point; Marine Barracks for the last Marine Corp Band Performance; Davis's visit 
• September: Lisa and Susan visit!!; Karen Visit and we go to Ocean City; Opera in the Outfield at Nats Stadium with Stephanie, Gina and Karen; HR Summit to hang with my work BFF Allyson; Bev and daughter came to DC and had dinner with them; Glover Park Day; Possible hurricane that turned out to be nothing
• October: H Street Festival and walk thru Capitol Hill alone on a beautiful fall day; work trip to Columbus, Ohio; Takoma Park Day; evening in my rooftop pool with a great view of the US Capitol Dome; 
• November: Barb visits for an entire week and we do so much, including a drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains via the Shenandoah National Park - best week of 2018!; Congressional Cemetery (bucket list item for so long and it was well worth the wait); Thanksgiving with Stephanie and Anton in Glover Park; first snow of the winter
•  December: George H.W. Bush laying in the honor at the US Capitol (stood in line for 3.5 hours in the cold); Georgetown Glow; National Christmas Tree; My little city Christmas tree; Wreaths Across America at National Arlington Cemetery; Christmas alone on the east coast but spent with awesome friends (Mike and Gina) plus I got to see bumblebee :); personal health issues; decided to stay in DC for another year (well at least according to my lease agreement). 

When I do these brief overviews it really does show how much I do in a year and how much I have embraced the east coast living. Thank you 2018 - I grew, laughed, learn, cried, cared, explored and had an overall great year! Bring it on 2019! :) 

Holiday in Tyler, Texas Part 1

Early on Saturday, December 29, I flew to Texas to spend the week with family! Tuf picked me up at 9:30am in Dallas (had a nice and early flight from DC). Since it was so early on Saturday morning neither of us had ate, but I really wanted In-N-Out (I am addicted!), so to tide us over until In-N-Out actually opened, we went to IHOP for a little snack and then we went to the mall so that I could get my Coach purse fixed (I am super rough on them, but thankfully they sent my purse to someone who repairs Coach purses and 4 short weeks later I got my purse!). After walking around the Grapevine mall we made our way to In-N-Out and then headed to Tyler, stopping at the outlets first. 

While I have never lived in Texas (for more than a couple months as a teenager during the summer), Texas is where majority of my family is at. Yes, my cousin is there but so are McKeown's and they are family to me too. So for the first part of my week long trip, I was going to spend time with them and it just so happened that Kimberley, Marcos and Sophia would also be there for a month before they went to Fiji. It was perfect timing! 

For my first dinner in Texas, Kay made my favorite chicken dish (I really have no idea what is in it, and I'm pretty sure mayonnaise may be in it - but I like it, so I don't ask questions :)). I also remember eating on these glass plates as a child, I always thought they were so elegant. 

Getting to see Sophia again was such a blessing! She is so adorable and such a well behaved baby and seeing Kimberley and Marcos as parents is amazing - they are so patient and kind and loving. This little girl is blessed to have amazing people in her life. 

Kay is one of the best cooks I know. The day before New Year's Eve they served their traditional New Year's Eve dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, candied carrots and rolls - yum! 

Have I mentioned how much I love this family! We also sang Christmas hymns - where we each picked one, Kay picked Silent Night - my grandma's favorite. This is one of the best memories I have of this trip. 

Sophia and her daddy - so precious. 

My best friend, confidant, person I couldn't do life without.

Karen really enjoys being an aunt. 

And I love being an auntie to my friends kids!

A walk around the neighborhood on New Year's Day before I would say goodbye and go hang out with my cousin. It was such a wonderful few days with them and it was so great to see Kimberley, Marcos and Sophia again before they headed off to Fiji and it will probably be a few years before I see them again.