My new friend Joni made an amazing apple cranberry pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. She also produced some yummy slushy punch and a red jello/pudding/whipped creamy fluff that made our Mormon Thanksgiving complete.
In All Things Give Thanks...
I almost declined the invitation to join a few of my new roommates and their friends at a cabin in West Virginia for the Thanksgiving weekend. I had visions of cooking a Cornish game hen for myself and spending the holiday alone in my new home, wallowing in self-pity, missing my family, wondering why I had moved so close to the holidays. But, I didn't. I accepted and am so glad that I did. It turned out to be just what I needed.
My new friend Joni made an amazing apple cranberry pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. She also produced some yummy slushy punch and a red jello/pudding/whipped creamy fluff that made our Mormon Thanksgiving complete.
My new friend Joni made an amazing apple cranberry pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. She also produced some yummy slushy punch and a red jello/pudding/whipped creamy fluff that made our Mormon Thanksgiving complete.
Loving right now
I'm sitting at my kitchen counter and just thinking of a few things that I love about my life right now...
1. My uber-musical roommates. Two are currently at the piano playing Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker together and it's pretty amazing.
2. My new neighborhood. I went for two walks today. One short walk to return some tools I borrowed from Tim's basement (thanks again!) and a longer one with my roommate Niki. It's such an amazing neighborhood. We passed four parks and lots of people raking up leaves. The trees are huge! My sweater smells like autumn--you know that brisk fall air and how it seeps into your clothing and hair if you spend any amount of time outdoors? It's pretty great too.
3. Having roommates that like to cook and bake. We had Sunday dinner together--beef stew with potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, and corn. Oh, and fresh bread. There are two kinds of lemon bars in the oven right now. My roommate Leanna is testing them to see which one she wants to make for her boss's birthday (and they are playing the waltz of the flowers now).
4. This one is probably the most significant. In sacrament meeting today I started writing in a new moleskin which seems appropriate as I begin this new chapter of my life. I recently received some pretty straightforward, divine instruction to be better at keeping a journal and today I realized, in part, why it is so important. So many times I get answers to questions as I write about how I'm feeling. Today I was writing about a nervousness I've been feeling about upcoming significant events that have the potential of changing my life forever. As I wrote, that nervousness dissipated and was replaced by excitement, joy and so much love. Even now as I'm typing this, I feel a little overcome. I am so excited for the future.
I guess this post is appropriate as I start this week of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be grateful for. So much that I don't deserve. The closing hymn in our meeting today was For the Beauty of the Earth. I could barely sing the last verse. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gently thoughts and mild, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
1. My uber-musical roommates. Two are currently at the piano playing Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker together and it's pretty amazing.
2. My new neighborhood. I went for two walks today. One short walk to return some tools I borrowed from Tim's basement (thanks again!) and a longer one with my roommate Niki. It's such an amazing neighborhood. We passed four parks and lots of people raking up leaves. The trees are huge! My sweater smells like autumn--you know that brisk fall air and how it seeps into your clothing and hair if you spend any amount of time outdoors? It's pretty great too.
3. Having roommates that like to cook and bake. We had Sunday dinner together--beef stew with potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, and corn. Oh, and fresh bread. There are two kinds of lemon bars in the oven right now. My roommate Leanna is testing them to see which one she wants to make for her boss's birthday (and they are playing the waltz of the flowers now).
4. This one is probably the most significant. In sacrament meeting today I started writing in a new moleskin which seems appropriate as I begin this new chapter of my life. I recently received some pretty straightforward, divine instruction to be better at keeping a journal and today I realized, in part, why it is so important. So many times I get answers to questions as I write about how I'm feeling. Today I was writing about a nervousness I've been feeling about upcoming significant events that have the potential of changing my life forever. As I wrote, that nervousness dissipated and was replaced by excitement, joy and so much love. Even now as I'm typing this, I feel a little overcome. I am so excited for the future.
I guess this post is appropriate as I start this week of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be grateful for. So much that I don't deserve. The closing hymn in our meeting today was For the Beauty of the Earth. I could barely sing the last verse. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gently thoughts and mild, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
Urban Living
Meet my new best friend, Zipcar. How cool is this, for $50/year, you can reserve a car to drive for $7/hour. Gas is included. Cach car has it's own gas card under the driver's side visor. Up to 180 miles included in the rate.
This is like the independent, car-less woman's dream come true. And there's a Tacoma parked like a block away from my home. Ikea, here I come.
Can you see it?
The Washington Monument?? It's that little thing sticking up out of the trees behind me. So, this isn't the greatest picture, I know, and my face is covered in rain and my hair is getting soaked and if you look closely you can see the rain ripples in the river. That's the Potomac and this is me getting off on the wrong metro stop trying to navigate my way to Trader Joe's and then buying more food than I really wanted to carry home. Oh and committing a fashion crime by wearing my running shoes with jeans, but I had no other choice since the rest of my shoes are sitting in a box at the post office, undeliverable on this drizzly Veterans Day. But really, I had a huge smile on my face the whole time, because I'm here and this place is amazing and the shopping on M Street is fantastic and calling my name! (I will resist.) I think I'm really going to love living here!
I'm here!
Sitting in my new family room with one roommate on her laptop watching Alias and another in the kitchen making cookies with her boyfriend. Two others are upstairs in their respective rooms and another is out. Yep, that's right. There are six of us in this house.
It's super cute. Light bamboo flooring, dark wood cabinets in the kitchen and granite counter tops. Mismatched furniture. Two round kitchen tables. Guitar Hero guitars everywhere :). Lots of board games under the TV. And "every chick flick you can imagine". Really, between 6 girls in their late 20s--er, early, early 30s (my move in raised the age average), I guess I didn't need to bring my copy of Pride & Prejudice after all!
I know I should register with a temp agency tomorrow, but is it bad if I want to just take a few days to chill, get settled, find myself lost in the city a couple times trying to see some sites or just looking for the closest grocery store...???
Also, last night while still in Utah,during a routine hair appointment, we had a little accident. The result left me with a surprisingly fabulous color, slightly darker than I anticipated, with an pumpkin red streak in the back. I love it! I hope my future employer loves it too. (do not fret, you, I promise to be blonde again after Christmas.)
This wouldn't be an accurate relocation post without mentioning how hard it was to say good-bye to my family. I love them so much and will miss having them around more than I can tell.
It's super cute. Light bamboo flooring, dark wood cabinets in the kitchen and granite counter tops. Mismatched furniture. Two round kitchen tables. Guitar Hero guitars everywhere :). Lots of board games under the TV. And "every chick flick you can imagine". Really, between 6 girls in their late 20s--er, early, early 30s (my move in raised the age average), I guess I didn't need to bring my copy of Pride & Prejudice after all!
I know I should register with a temp agency tomorrow, but is it bad if I want to just take a few days to chill, get settled, find myself lost in the city a couple times trying to see some sites or just looking for the closest grocery store...???
Also, last night while still in Utah,during a routine hair appointment, we had a little accident. The result left me with a surprisingly fabulous color, slightly darker than I anticipated, with an pumpkin red streak in the back. I love it! I hope my future employer loves it too. (do not fret, you, I promise to be blonde again after Christmas.)
This wouldn't be an accurate relocation post without mentioning how hard it was to say good-bye to my family. I love them so much and will miss having them around more than I can tell.
A Friendly Reminder
Bijou Market is tomorrow from 10am-4pm. Check it out at http://www.bijoumarket.com/.
The space is HUGE. I had no idea. It's a big, unfinished strip mall with no walls inside. We mapped out the layout for all 45 vendors tonight--this is big!
Sweet Tooth Fairy will be there with free treats--first come, first serve! As is the entire event, so you'll want to get there early to have your pick of the fantastic merchandise.
Cash, check, Visa and Master Card are welcome.
On a personal note: Yesterday was my last day of work here and my co-workers threw me a sweet surprise bon voyage party. I'm down to 3 days before I move and trying to not panic!!! 5 boxes have been shipped (correction: are still sitting at the post office since apparently, they don't really rush to ship packages sent via "parcel post". thanks USPS for making my life more stressful. I'm just glad I decided last minute to keep my bedding with me and pack it in my luggage) and I'm wondering how I'm going to fit the rest into two suitcases and a carry on, while packing up everything else for storage, cleaning up my sewing room disaster :), and leaving my former living space in a somewhat livable condition. All that with a nice viral sinus infection. I can't help but laugh :). It's probably a good thing that I don't have a job waiting for me in DC so I can take a couple days off to unwind!
Really, though, I am so excited!
The space is HUGE. I had no idea. It's a big, unfinished strip mall with no walls inside. We mapped out the layout for all 45 vendors tonight--this is big!
Sweet Tooth Fairy will be there with free treats--first come, first serve! As is the entire event, so you'll want to get there early to have your pick of the fantastic merchandise.
Cash, check, Visa and Master Card are welcome.
On a personal note: Yesterday was my last day of work here and my co-workers threw me a sweet surprise bon voyage party. I'm down to 3 days before I move and trying to not panic!!! 5 boxes have been shipped (correction: are still sitting at the post office since apparently, they don't really rush to ship packages sent via "parcel post". thanks USPS for making my life more stressful. I'm just glad I decided last minute to keep my bedding with me and pack it in my luggage) and I'm wondering how I'm going to fit the rest into two suitcases and a carry on, while packing up everything else for storage, cleaning up my sewing room disaster :), and leaving my former living space in a somewhat livable condition. All that with a nice viral sinus infection. I can't help but laugh :). It's probably a good thing that I don't have a job waiting for me in DC so I can take a couple days off to unwind!
Really, though, I am so excited!
Socks for Soldiers
Do you think the philanthropic person who hand knit these "patriotic piggy warmers" :) and sent them to Iraq would be disappointed to find out that they are donning the feet of a deployed soldier's gf instead of a deployed soldier?? I promise I had nothing to do with it...but, I will enjoy them anyway!
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