Happy Easter!

Logan Circle style.

Embroidered Easter eggs. I'm beginning to believe that this person actually hand-makes these decorations.

xoxo, natty ♥

Paring knife.

We received a very nice knife set for our wedding and have been lovingly using it ever since. 

We received many wonderful items, actually, and we've been fortunate enough, considering our Big Move, to not have broken or lost very much. I think the count is maybe one wine glass, two drinking glasses, and a ceramic pot of some sort that cracked.

But somehow we've lost our paring knife. It's the littlest one that came in our set and happens to be Mike's cutting utensil of choice {I favor the big cook's knives we have - we were gifted an extra and love it because those get the most use}. It's NOWHERE to be found in our apartment. We've visited some gnarly places {under the stove, hands in the garbage disposal} in our search but can't find it. 

Where could it be?

To top it off, Michael is a sweet heart and recently bought me a book that is right up my alley, "Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat" by Bee Wilson. It's an awesome exploration of, exactly as the title says, the history of the tools we use {or don't use} in our kitchens and the meals we eat. 

Last night I began the chapter on knives and started to feel a strong need to find.that.knife.

Maybe later this weekend.

Have a great Saturday!
xoxo, natty ♥

More gratuitous skies.

Such gorgeousness.

This is what spring is like in the sky.

May you have had a peaceful and contemplative Good Friday and enjoy a blessed Easter! 

And may your weekend also be full of basketball and baseball anticipation.

And dogs holding their own leashes for themselves.
xoxo, natty ♥ 

Fun times ahead.

Today was a dark and light sort of day.

I got excited when I saw these signs on my run.

It's a beautiful thing that we have these wonderful monuments and museums but to have a pet-friendly options like this?

 

Wonders never cease.

xoxo, natty ♥ 

Sky.

xoxo, natty ♥

Figured it out!

A while back I mentioned my theory on "fake cherry blossoms", trees that have these bright pink blossoms that look like cherry blossoms but that I am convinced are not. I think that the news would be buzzing about the first blossoms {they are a big deal here} if some had started to pop up all over the city and these "fakers" are all over the place.

And I figured it out.

After yesterday's snowfall, the Weather Gang had people tweeting pictures of snow around the district and someone had a beautiful picture of these bright pink blossoms draped with snow and the tweet mentioned DOGWOOD blooms. 

AHA!

I figured it out.

These are Pink Dogwoods.

I can breathe easy now.
xoxo, natty ♥

And it's a snow day.

This is what we woke up to today and because it's DC, it's a snow day and school is cancelled.

In other good news today...

1} I'm going to the YMCA later today to get BACK ON THE WAGON. I've been a deadbeat runner and it's time for it to stop. And there's a yoga class I'd like to go to but I've developed this warped relationship with yoga and turned it into a post-running treat so I feel like I have to run right before going to yoga. It's dysfunctional. But it's me. And since it's snowing out and I'm weak {mentally [physically too, probably]} I'll be running on the Y's indoor track {just like that tiny old one at the field house for all you Mac people! I loved that thing.}.

2} I have extra hours to get extra laundry and dishes done today. Last week was a bit much and Mikey really took up the slack, but it was his spring break and it's now time for me to face the music and dance take care of s#$%.

3} I think & hope that this weird early spring snowfall {which seems to be the heaviest we've had in our entire time here} is really and truly old man winter's last hurrah. Again, I fully acknowledge that things have been downright dandy here compared to other places but it still doesn't make it pleasant.

4} Cherry blossoms are just around the {proverbial} corner.

5} And so is BECS!!!

What's going on in your life this Monday? I hope that things are spring-like and productive for you.

xoxo, natty ♥ 

A new toy...and food.

Today I used a Sephora gift card I had {thank you in-laws!} and I picked up something new to play with.

I had seen reviews of this eye shadow palette and thought it looks like a fun way to try some new looks. What I'm drawn to is the plethora of YouTube tutorials outlining how to create certain looks because I would have no idea where to start on my own. I've got the basic look down pat but anything new or different I need a bit of guidance for. This might also help me with one of my 101 /1,001 goals, trying out a smokey eye.

In other more practical news, the menu for this week...

Sunday : we had a birthday dinner at Open City with Mikey's brother...buffalo chicken sandwiches for the win.

Monday :  leftovers from Saturday's BBQ sandwiches.

Tuesday : black beans, rice, and salad.

Wednesday : sunchoke soup.

Thursday : pasta with red sauce and salad.

Friday : we have a Potbelly's date planned for after happy hour at Mikey's school.

Saturday : tbd.

Have a great week! We're expecting some snow tonight/tomorrow morning {?} {will the weird weather never stop?} but it's shaping up to be s good couple of weeks :).

xoxo, natty ♥ 

20-something years ago.

This man came into the world.

And I'm so happy that he did.

And grateful to his wonderful parents for the great job they did raising him and guiding him into the supportive and thoughtful man that he is today.

Happy Birthday to the best husband I've ever had! I love you so very, very much and I'm thrilled to be able to spend this day with you {and the next one, and the next one...}.

xoxo, natty ♥ 

It could be worse. But still.

I know full well that we have things better that those in the far north {Becs}.

 

But it would be nice for things to be nicer here.

Soon enough.

Have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo, natty ♥   

Bracketology.

Someone made her first NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket.

And the winner is...Louisville.

I actually made one yesterday that I did wrong-ly, no surprise, so I made my real one today.
I based my predictions on a gut feeling when I looked at each pair of teams playing.
Are you following along this year?
xoxo, natty ♥  

Spring Valentine.

xoxo, natty ♥  

Maintenance.

It's one of those busy weeks where I feel like we're just sort of maintaining our daily existence.

Not in a bad sort of way but it's a quick dinner sort of time and that's ok.
That's what tuna melts are for!
I'm also enjoying my NINE amaryllis blooms.

And, as always, Jeopardy. 

xoxo, natty ♥ 

Smells so sweet, tastes so good.

It's Monday which means it's time to do a quick focus on what's making me happy, or at least what's helping me to feel happy.

1} Reese's!

 

That's the "good taste" from the title. 

2} Gardenias.
That's the "sweet" from the title.

 

My love for these blooms knows no bounds. Keeping this plant on the table behind our couch makes for a beautifully perfumed TV-watching and relaxing experience these days. 

3} Weather-wise today, it was NASTY. BUT the random snow flurries and heavy rain are merely portending what will be a glorious spring in just a matter of weeks. {Right?}

4} Becs is coming soon!

5} Someone {not I} has a birthday this weekend. Then I won't be the older person in my marriage. Happy early birthday Mr. Mike ♥.

I hope that your week has started nicely and that you too are looking ahead to warmer days.

xoxo, natty ♥ 

Pink, Not green.

On my run this morning I got a picture of this.

 

I think that this is one of those "fake" cherry trees. It's pink and blossomy but I've seen them before and I don't think it's legitimate.

In other news, we had our corned beef and cabbage, watched Dateline, and are ready for a new week.

I hope you are too!

xoxo, natty ♥ 

Social.

We had some friends over for a drink and then we all headed out to a restaurant in our neighborhood for dinner.

What was left over from our evening.

It's a nice perk of living in DC that we have people our age that we spend time with. It's not that there isn't anyone our age in San Jose but...I don't know what, there is no excuse; we're much more social in DC than we were in California. Maybe because we don't drive places? Ugh. Maybe we were just geriatric before our time. Maybe it's because our area of DC is full of people in our ten-year age range and also in similar life circumstances.

Anyway.

It's a Good Thing to be here.

On tomorrow's agenda, a handful of things, including corned beef & cabbage. 

xoxo, natty ♥ 

A light Friday evening.

I wrapped up working at the school I've been at since January. 
It was hard to say <> to the students.

Then we decided to watch the documentary "Which Way Home" through which I cried. Honestly, I cried pretty consistently through most of it. It's about two young boys who are trying to travel from Honduras to the U.S. on the top of trains {certain former coworkers of mine might recognize the story from "Enrique's Journey"}. It's gut wrenching to watch but something that both Mikey and I are interested in and an issue near and dear to us.

So, it's been a heavy day.

But it's the weekend and there's a corned beef in our fridge waiting to be cooked.

Friends to visit with.

Miles to run {through the rain}.

A dog to be roughhoused.

And I'm grateful for it all.
xoxo, natty ♥

Impromptu randomness.

We've been doing a semi-vegetarian thing since we moved to DC; it's cheap and good for our hearts. We'll eat meat here and there but I've enjoyed trying new recipes and saving money and being conscientious, etc.

But when I told Mike I was stopping at the grocery store on my way home tonight {for grilled cheese accoutrements} and I asked if I should pick up anything else, he said "steaks?" 
 
So I did. 

And they were delicious.

Some other things floating around in my mind...

- We just watched "The Office"; I love that show and am going to miss it when it wraps up this season.

- I just emailed in to reserve a spot in a spring/summer CSA. I'm really excited about this once since it's going to be more varied produce {not just squash, apples, & potatoes!}, it will be each week from June through October, AND it includes a little potted plant every other delivery or so.

- I just KNOW that the trees and shrubs will explode with green in about three weeks' time and I am anxiously awaiting that development.

- Easter so soon?

- I don't visit Target as much as I used to in San Jose. Mostly because it's not conveniently located on my route home. But that means, apart from saving some $$$s by not buying useless stuff, that we haven't had ANY Easter candy. We didn't have any Valentine's sweets either. Me thinks I can amend this. 

I hope that your week has been productive {but not quite productive as in The Vatican? Habemus Papam. [#we♥Jesuits]} and that you have a nice little weekend planned.
xoxo, natty ♥

Dressing.

xoxo, natty ♥ 

A bundle of real sunshine.

A student today told me that I dress like a bundle of sunshine. I think it was the pink sweater I was wearing?

In an effort to remember this compliment {I take them when & where I can}, I'm taking a "real" picture. 

Not that my pictures are very staged anyway.

But.

Dirty mirror.
Open dresser drawers.

Bed un-made {by the dog during the day!}.

Huge pile of laundry in the corner.

But a sweater of sunshine.

Happy Almost Wednesday!

xoxo, natty ♥