Monday, July 29, 2013

Our Trip To DC - Through The Boyfriend's Eyes!

Hello friends. I apologize for the lack of blogging but since returning home from the East Coast I have been MISERABLE with a summer cold. I was telling R how bad I felt about neglecting the blog and not posting about our trip and he offered to write one for me! WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE.

Hey everyone.  Its your favorite boyfriend R here.  Where is Jord you ask?  This blog hasn't been updated inTWO WHOLE WEEKS.  You guys, seriously, prioritize, there's other stuff thats been going on.  So anyway, we were on a trip for a week and then poor Jord got sick.  Awwwww.  Don't worry she's doped up on 'Tussin and gave me the password to her site SO I AM IN CONTROL!

(I have just been informed I will never REALLY be in control and that I am to buy her a cookie for my insolence and maybe also a foot rub and I have to hear her tell me about getting a tiny dog.)

So you want to hear about our trip to DC?  Its a trip filled with culture and history and love and complaining. Editor's note: HEY.

We left Tuesday morning and one easy, breezy beautiful cover girl flight later we were in our nation's capital.  Our regular readers will recall Jord has not been to DC since eighth grade so we were going to do up the town like REAL tourists.  Monuments, museums, fancy shmancy restaurants, cabs (way, way too many cabs).  I mean come on, they have a perfectly good public transportation system.  After checking into our hotel we immediately rushed to the Lincoln Monument while the light was still good.  

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I regaled my fellow tourists with my spot on Daniel Day Lewis impression and Jordan climbed into Lincoln's lap for a cute pic (not pictured). Editor's note: this did not happen. Silly boyfriend.

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After that we went to Georgia Brown's, this magnificent soul restaurant.  It was remarkable for two reasons.  One was that the place was loaded with Delta Sigma Theta sorority members of all ages, all wearing red (we were the only ones who weren't) and it had the BEST biscuits.  We could not get enough. Here is Jord's shrimp with grits!

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The next day we went to Spike from Top Chef (before I started watching the show)'s pizza place "We the Pizza."  The food was "eh" but I can't resist a pun so it was worth the extra schlep.  After that we booked it to the American History Museum of the Smithsonian.  The Smithsonian is burdened with having so much cool stuff that you can hardly fit it all in one visit.  Among the notable objects we got to see Julia Child's kitchen, Abraham Lincoln's hat, a conestoga wagon (which is different from a covered wagon) and Michelle Obama's inaugural dress.  Oh also I went on a simulator ride about undersea monster.  I was the only one.  The ride attendant called me "champ."  Being thirty is going very well.

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Jord and I also got to stand behind the presidential podium and deliver famous speeches.  Little known fact, if you stand behind the podium you may enact one piece of legislation.  Jord is insisting on tiny dogs for all women named Jordan.  So, you are welcome, Jordan's of the world. 

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That night we had one of the most amazing culinary experiences we've ever been lucky enough to eat.  José Andrés Zaytinya is a Mediterranean small plates restaurant you simply MUST go to if you're in DC. Jord loved the shrimp and I had the best plate of octopus I've ever had in my life.  

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And if the great food weren't enough there was the additional treat of meeting one of Jord's fellow bloggers. Here is Jord with her blog buddy Charlotte.  Both she and her fiancee Andre couldn't have been nicer.

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Oh but this trip was not all fun.  DC, for those of you lucky enough not to know, is incredibly humid in the summer.  Like, 100% humid.  And these are conditions that do not make for a happy Queen of LA.  Upon returning to the hotel we overheard someone mention that the air conditioning was down in the entire hotel.  If you even slightly know Jord you know this was NOT an acceptable set of circumstances (I was terrified).  Editor's note: no need to worry - within an hour and a half of this "no air" nonsense I had us rebooked and checked into a new suite - ALL ON THE OLD HOTEL'S DIME. So off we went to a different hotel.  

The next day we woke up from our new air conditioned beds and ventured to the Capitol building for a very special private tour from one of my bestie's (jeez look what she's done to my vocabulary) Jonny.  Jonny works for a prominent Democrat, I won't say her name but lets just say she's the minority leader of the Congress.  We got an amazing behind the scenes tour of how the legislative sausages get made and learned all kinds of neat historical trivia about the building.  Did you know that they left the bullet holes from the War of 1812 in a certain staircase?  Don't say you never learned anything from me.  I couldn't be more grateful to Jonny for this awesome tour. Editor's note: upon leaving the Capitol we walked out next to Mark Sanford. You know I LOVE a good scandal so I was full of glee.

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Following the Capitol we headed to the Holocaust Museum.  We were both incredibly moved by its outlook and presentation.  The next day we hit the Newseum, DC's newest museum which revolves around news.  Incredible place.  Headlines all over the place and a thoughtful and comprehensive archive of headlines.  Jord was in heaven because she is a huge true crime fan and they had an exhibit on major FBI cases.  I was thrilled because they had Stephen Colbert's "On Notice" board.  Something for everyone.

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After a trip to Shake Shack (gotta take advantage of being on the East coast), we picked up our rental car and headed to lovely Warrenton, Virginia for my good friend David's wedding.  This was, after all, the reason we came to DC in the first place.  We weren't JUST going as guests either, David and his now wife Rachel had asked me to officiate their ceremony.  David and Rachel were getting married in this lovely camp/conference center - the Airlie Center.  Don't worry the rooms were well air conditioned. First we had the rehearsal dinner on Friday night in a tent - thank god it cooled down for those few hours so my lovely girlfriend did not need to sweat through her new dress.

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Officiating the wedding the next night was a huge honor and maybe my editor can make a little note about how I did right here. Editor's note: he killed it! If it weren't for the fact that every single wedding guest was sweating through their clothes and I was gravely concerned R was going to faint while officiating it would have been an A++ night... but I digress. He was awesome! 

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We danced and sang the night away with many of my pals and had a grand old time.

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By Sunday it was time to bid adieu to the East coast and return home to more adventures.  Signing off for now.  But I'll be back one day.  Enjoy everyone and tell Jord to get better!

Monday, July 15, 2013

What's In My Bag: Washington, DC!

Hi friends! Hope you all had a great weekend!

It has been a VERY long time since I posted a "What's In My Bag" post before I went out of town on a trip, but this past weekend I ran into a friend who mentioned that these were her favorite types of posts... I had no idea! I promised her I would start doing them again - just in time for our trip this week to Washington, DC!

Tomorrow morning we fly out bright and early to our nation's capital for the rest of the week. I can't wait to do all sorts of fun touristy things and hit up all the amazing museums! Then, on Friday, we're renting a car and driving to Virginia for R's friends David and Rachel's wedding - we'll be gone for almost a week and I'm very excited!

And here's what I'm bringing along with me!


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One:
A few weeks ago, I saw this gorgeous floral midi-skirt on ASOS and fell in love. It arrived yesterday and it's even better in person - gorgeous material and beautiful colors!

Two:
I am NOT typically a sneaker girl, but I couldn't pass up these polka dotted Kate Spade shoes when I saw them in stores a few months ago. Perfect for walking around DC!

Three:
I get so much wear out of my Clare Vivier leopard foldover clutch, it's ridiculous. Perfect for nights out on the town, weddings and showers, you name it!

Four:
My sister surprised me with these DVF cosmetic bags a few months ago - three sizes, adorable patterns and colors, and they fit everything. The perfect gift. Thanks Bay!

Five:
I cannot tell a lie - I own SIX pairs of these Kendra Scott Danielle earrings. The mother-of-pearl is my latest score - they match everything!

Six:
Rumor has it it's a little warm in DC... but I know my favorite Smashbox liquid eyeliner won't budge no matter how hot it gets.

Seven:
As I mentioned last week, I have fallen hard for this Anthropologie maxi dress. I've already worn it to a rehearsal dinner and a bridal shower and it could not be more summery, light, and effortlessly pretty.

Eight:
These have been my go-to sandals all summer. Ridiculously comfy and the perfect price! 

Nine:
I got this bathing suit during the last Bloomingdales Friends & Family sale. I love the bright cherry red color and seriously, it could not be more comfortable.

Ten:
I love these Old Navy boyfriend pants - they are so lightweight, so I can wear them all summer and not feel overheated. Plus they come in a MILLION colors - I have pink!

Eleven & Twelve: 
the two items I blogged about for "Had To Have It: Beauty Edition" are still going strong! Cannot get enough of this gorgeous pink Essie nail polish or the delicious-smelling Moroccan Oil Curl Cream.

So that's what I'm bringing in my bag! Hope you all have a lovely week - I'll be back with plenty of pictures, stories, and recommendations after our trip!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Had To Have It: Anthropologie Maxi Dress

It's been a while since I did a "Had To Have It" - but don't worry - that doesn't mean I haven't been shopping :)

Summer is in full swing and my ideal outfit to wear, as usual, is a pretty dress. I'd say 75% of my wardrobe consists of dresses - I can't get enough. I've been on the lookout for colorful maxi dresses to add to my closet, but had mostly been finding basic cotton or jersey ones - good for day, but not quite dressy enough for what I wanted... something that I could wear to a fancy occasion or even to work!

A few weeks ago I walked into Anthropologie and came across this BEAUTIFUL thing - the Macrame Day Dress. Long and silky looking, with intricate detailing and cut-outs and pockets?! I ordered it in blue on the spot!


Me and Anthro hit a brief snag when I got an email the week after I placed the order - that letter informed me the dress had sold out and my order had been canceled. I was very upset and called Anthropologie right away, and spoke with a very nice sales representative who informed me that even though the dress had sold out in blue in my size, it WAS available in a different color, one not even available online - turquoise!!!

Seeing as turquoise is my second favorite color (yes I'm a fourth grader who still ranks her favorite colors, and if you have to ask what's number one you have no business reading this blog), I said yes to the dress (HA) and re-placed the order!

The dress arrived yesterday in the mail. As soon as I opened the package, I fell in love with the gorgeous color - sort of an electric aquamarine - and became even more obsessed once I actually tried it on. It fits very well - it's a tad long, but nothing I can't solve with some cute wedges in the meantime before I get it hemmed.


I'm already planning on wearing it to all sorts of upcoming events - a rehearsal dinner, a bridal shower, an outdoor wedding... not all the same wedding though, I promise :)

Get yours today! I'm already seriously considering getting it in black too! 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Crazy Delicious Grilled Corn Dip

As promised, I am back today to share the recipe for the DELICIOUS corn dip we had on the 4th of July!

Last week I came across this recipe for Grilled Mexican Corn Dip and posted it on the blog, fully intending to make it as is. But when I was at the market buying supplies, I realized that I didn't love all the ingredients, so I decided to tweak it! The resulting dip was way more my style...

... and TOTALLY delicious - my guests could not get enough!

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Crazy Delicious Grilled Corn Dip

Ingredients:
4 stalks of corn, cleaned and husked
2-3 green onions, sliced into small rounds
1 six-ounce container nonfat Greek yogurt
4 ounces of cotija cheese
Hot sauce (I used Tapatio) to taste
Olive oil
Juice of one lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:
Slice corn off of each stalk, two at a time. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan - when hot, pour corn kernels and half the sliced green onions into the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste. When corn has cooked (and some pieces have scorched) and onions have softened (about 3-4 minutes), remove from pan and repeat with remaining corn and onions. When all corn has been cooked, pour into a large bowl and mix in yogurt (you may not need all of it depending on how creamy or chunky you want your dip), cheese, hot sauce, and lemon. Once all ingredients have been mixed together, taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with pita chips or sliced vegetables and enjoy!
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I am not going to lie - there was maaayyybeeeee one scoop left in the bowl at the end of the BBQ... and I had DOUBLED the recipe! I was especially proud that my friend DS came back for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths... he has a very discerning palate :)

I'll be making this again ASAP for sure and I highly recommend you all do the same!

Monday, July 8, 2013

A Fabulous 4th of July

Hi pals, happy Monday! Like many of you, I'm just coming off a four-day weekend so I am in a very chipper mood :) 

Did you all have a great 4th of July? I hosted a BBQ in my mom's backyard - she's got the grill and the pool so why not? - and we had a great time!

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That's the Paperless Post I sent out to our friends. Everyone arrived at 2pm ready to eat and drink their hearts out! We had tons of beer, booze and mixers, and I mixed up a batch of sparkling cranberry lemonade vodka punch. Here's Ram playing bartender:

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The true mark of a solid 4th of July party is the food - everyone knows that. We did a semi-potluck and it was delicious! My friend Rachel brought delicious homemade guacamole and chips, Abbie pitched in with a hummus and veggie platter, Serena brought all the burger toppings, and I made a crazy good grilled corn dip - I'll be sharing the recipe tomorrow!

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GB made that ridiculous mac & cheese and Amanda made a delicious tomato, mozzarella, and basil platter. I whipped up that salad - it's brussel sprouts slaw with poppyseed dressing.

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Ram manned the grill with his partner in crime, Stevie, and our burgers, hot dogs, and sausages were juicy and delicious! I'm now on a mission for us to get a grill in the near future so he can continue his new role as Grillmaster Supreme :) 

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After we ate til we were stuffed, we managed to find room for dessert - fruit salad by Ashley, smores bites, cookies, fruit pie from Alexandra, and.....

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...the piece de resistance... homemade berry funfetti cake, made by moi! It was just as delicious as it looks. Mmmm!

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I love our friends! Everyone said they had such a good time!

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The most popular party guest? Definitely Joey the puppy! 

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Hard to believe this was our THIRD 4th of July together! 

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I am so grateful to live in this country. God bless America, y'all! 

Monday, July 1, 2013

DC Recs, Anyone?

Hey pals, hope you all had a good weekend! 

I have to say, for a girl who usually is off traveling, I have REALLY been enjoying staying in town the last few weekends! This one in particular was three days JAM PACKED with awesomeness, including a comedy show and dinner at Pizzeria Mozza, brunch with friends (twice!), a trip to the Brentwood Farmer's Market, some HomeGoods action with my mama, a double date to Umami Burger followed by seeing The Heat, and finally, a pool party yesterday afternoon, where this awesomeness occurred: 

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GREAT weekend. Seriously great. And now I need ya'll's help!

Two weeks from today, R and I leave for our next trip. We have a wedding in Virginia and are going early so we can tour Washington DC! (Neither of us have been there since our middle schools took us in 8th grade... I'd say 15 years is enough of an absence, don't you?)

Anyway - I would love any recommendations you could offer for fun things for us to do while we're there! I have been doing some research but am kind of overwhelmed with all the cool things there are to do, so any help you can give in narrowing down what is awesome and what is not would be great. 

Specifically - I would love some recs for fun brunch/lunch spots in the area and streets with awesome boutiques and shopping. I have two dinner reservations made already - Zaytina and Graffiato, would love another dinner rec - and we're definitely planning on going to The Holocaust Museum and the Smithsonian, along with seeing all the big spots - The White House, the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, the Mall.... we can't wait!

Thanks in advance friends :) hope your week is off to a good start!