Tag Archives: dc

Revisited: Dream Bigger

Posted on January 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

I am revisiting a post from three years ago.  And, while the year has changed, the intention and relevance remains ever strong.  Dream bigger.
Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

From January 2011:
I have stood in this spot.  And in this spot, it is hard to not be inspired to dream a little bit bigger.  I cannot find words that compete or match the many bold, and much needed, words spoken at this spot. But on this occasion, but I share a wish for you:

That today, and on all days, you dream a little bit bigger.  You dream for those who have been told that their dreams do not count, and for those who do not yet have the courage to dream.  Today, and everyday after, is a good day to take the road less traveled, which will surely show you the path to human decency, kindness, compassion and goodwill towards all men, women and children wherever they may live, however they may identify, and whatever they may look like.

Leave a comment

Posted in Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal

Tagged , , , ,

Eating in DC: Union Market

Posted on June 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Over the past few months, Mark and I have found ourselves going out of our way for tacos.  Not Mexican tacos, mind you, and certainly not Taco Bell, but Korean Tacos at the newly opened Union Market in DC.

Union Market Sign[1][3][1]

It might be one of the coolest things to happen in DC.  Perhaps I’m partial, because I love small foods, lots of options and a market in general, but check out what is inside:

floor_plan

We haven’t had out of town visitors in a while, but this would be a perfect place to bring them, or to visit with a group.  It’s an affordable option that allows everyone to get their own “favorite” snack.

My favorites: Goshen Juice Bar, TaKorean – three steaks for Mark, 1 chicken, 1 steak for me, Salt and Sundry – an adorable store with the trinkets and gifts you didn’t know existed or that you needed, Peregrine Espresso to go for Mark.

Leave a comment

Posted in DC, Her Home

Tagged , , ,

The Last Long Weekend of Summer

Posted on September 6, 2011 | 1 comment

What did you do this weekend?  Did you have one more getaway, a cookout, lazy days at home?  I feel like we did so much this weekend, without doing anything major at all – and sometimes that is just the perfect kind of weekend.

Mark and I went to Equinox on Friday night, without Barack and Michelle.  I don’t think we’ll go back.  Lovely service, and ambitious food, but nothing to write home about, not even much to write in the blog about…

On Saturday there were these delicious gluten free blueberry pancakes…

Healthy Breakfast Pancakes

I also had a wonderful afternoon with my girlfriends from AU – you might know them from here.

Jaci, Me, Cara and Liz circa 2003

We went to lunch together, just the four of us, for the first time in years.  We talked about nothing, or everything, and it was great.  We also visited our alma mater, American University.  Then we went off campus to the DC Brau brewery to taste some local beer.

On Sunday Mark and I started our day with Yoga District, which is quickly becoming  our new weekend tradition when paired with the Bloomingdale Farmer’s Market.  Sunday afternoon we took time for our regular errands with trips around town and ended our evening with a delicious family dinner at Mark’s mom’s house.

On Monday we got up bright and early to stage a WSD home, which will be on market very soon!

We also drove around town to see the other WSD properties in their various stages of construction.  Then yesterday afternoon Cara and Jaci came over for some more laughter and story telling.  Some people can make you laugh about nothing at all; these are those people for me.

Then we ended our weekend and the last long weekend of Summer the same way we started it, with our very good friends, Jon and Kristin, and a delicious dinner of grilled fish, shrimp vegetables and wine.

What did you do this weekend?  I hope it was lovely.

1 Comment

Posted in Her Inspiration, Personal

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Setting the Stage, Part 2

Posted on May 5, 2011 | 3 comments

A few weeks ago I shared my staging inspiration boards for a cute little house in DC.  The house had been completely redone and needed fabulous furniture and decor to make someone’s future house a home.

I loved this living room, it maintained the heritage of the home and yet felt very modern, clean and beyond livable.  
Living Room
Living Room Inspiration
Who doesn’t want to come here for dinner?  Seriously, no one would turn down a seat at this table.
Dining Room
Dining Room Inspiration
Even the bathroom deserves some love, and I love how this little powder room came out – and I love those towels!
Guest Bathroom
Guest Bathroom Inspiration
I didn’t share the inspiration photo for the Master Bedroom, but the real life photo is more than inspiring!  The closet space, the clever office, the way the light floods the room, waking up in here would be a dream come true.

Very happily this house has already sold!  If you like this style of home and live in the DC area, I’ll point you in the direction of the developer Walnut Street Development.  They’re mission is to create better homes, for better living, and this sweet little home illustrates it perfectly.

Master Bedroom

3 Comments

Posted in Decor, Her Home

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting the Stage

Posted on April 12, 2011 | 1 comment

Normally I think of home decorating and collecting furniture as sort of a piecemeal process; you pick up great pieces when and where you can.  The process is organic as you sort of figure out what works in your space, and what doesn’t.

Or, you can do what I did this weekend and stage an entire house in a matter of hours, with the help of our good old friend, the Internet.  I had the chance to stage to coordinate the staging (furniture/accessories) of a newly remodeled DC row home.
This was a great exercise in design, but it’s also provided some great tips for anyone setting out to make their first home, especially those with a limited budget.  
In the bathroom: have fun!  The entire concept for both bathrooms came from the towels.  Towels (from World Market) are a really affordable way to add personality in a small space.  Then, because I am like this, I matched the wastebasket and soap to the towels – that is clearly not mandatory. 

Here’s a tip: in designing for staging and open houses, or for any high trafficked guest bathroom, skip the soft white floor rug.  I went with gray, it will be more durable underfoot.
In the living room I went with the bold choice of a light colored sofa.  In theory it is safe for a staging house, or a house without kids or pets (like ours, in real life!), but what you forget about is the times when the furniture needs to be moved by movers, and not with your tender loving care from house to house.  No worries, this sofa (also from World Market) is completely slip covered to allow for ease when changing styles, or hiding spills.


In the kitchen allow yourself to make a statement.  For me it was these cute little stacked coffee cups (World Market), that inspired the rest of the color palette and semi-retro aesthetic. 


I had a few challenges: make it affordable, make it fabulous, and make it livable. I am not an interior designer, but I learned a few tricks along the way, that were worth sharing.  

If you’re in home set-up mode here were my favorite places to search and shop: 
  • World Market,  great for accessories and unusual items, textiles, that sofa!
  • Pier 1, great for vases, candles, kitchen kitsch
  • Target, great for lamps, rugs, bedding, affordable accent furniture
  • JCPenney, great sales on large furniture, rugs, dining
  • Wal-Mart, great for lamps, affordable accent furniture, bedding
  • Crate & Barrel, great sales on dishes, table linens
  • Amazon, great for price checking
  • Overstock, great for price checking, rugs

1 Comment

Posted in DC, Decor, Her Home

Tagged , , , ,

All About the Race

Posted on April 5, 2011 | 2 comments

On Saturday night Mark and I went to dinner at Paolo’s (spaghetti dinner, you know) and went to bed at around 11:30pm.  I was definitely nervous, nervous about waking up on time, nervous about how cold it would be in the morning, nervous if I had trained enough, or in the right way.  Nervous!


Sunday morning at 5am came earlier than I anticipated.  But, after a night of much interrupted sleep I was feeling a sense of now or never.  I made my pre-race breakfast, oatmeal and almond butter, and a banana and drank, and drank, and drank (lots of water).

If you’re wondering what to wear if you’re running 10 miles and it is 33 degrees outside, you may follow my lead: long leggings (cotton/spandex), a wicking sports bra, a base layer long sleeve t-shirt, a Marmot zip up jacket, and a headband.  It is cold at 5am, but around mile 3 it really does start to warm up as evidenced by the trail of jackets, gloves, a shirts on the street.

As I have said, this was my first race.  Sometime in the early morning hours as I wandered around the base of the Washington Monument, my nerves dissipated and were replaced with excitement (as well as an urgency to pee – see above about the water).  I felt my muscles warm up and relax, and that sense of fear about not being able to do this thing, this race, turned into excitement as a smile spread across my face.

I didn’t run the best race, I got a cramp, I had to walk for a portion.  But, I finished.  I came running into the finish line as my husband and sister watched and cheered me on and finished in just under 2 hours.  
As I ran faster towards the finish line, I wasn’t thinking anything.  I was just running (I know, very Forrest Gump).  When I crossed I felt everything.  I felt salt on my forehead, the cold chill on sweat soaked clothes, and absolute joy.  I wasn’t tired.  I was proud.

I hope you’ll take some time to make a goal, whatever it is, and train towards it.  That feeling at the end, it’s amazing.

2 Comments

Posted in DC, Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal

Tagged , , , , ,

First Signs of Spring in DC

Posted on March 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

I spent the weekend in Florida with family, and I have lots of recipes and photos to share of what is perenially 85 degrees and sunny (my hometown).  

But, before I left I snapped this picture of cherry blossoms along Logan Circle in DC.  The arrival of cherry blossoms, a gift from the Japanese, is the highlight of the year because it is a reminder that even though it is still 40 degrees, that spring will come and it will be lovely.


Wishing you a pink filled, lovely start to your week!

Leave a comment

Posted in DC, Her Home

Tagged , , ,

Dream Bigger

Posted on January 17, 2011 | Leave a comment


I have stood in this spot.  And in this spot, it is hard to not be inspired to dream a little bit bigger.  I cannot find words that compete or match the many bold, and much needed, words spoken at this spot. But on this occasion, but I share a wish for you:

That today, and on all days, you dream a little bit bigger.  You dream for those who have been told that their dreams do not count, and for those who do not yet have the courage to dream.  Today, and everyday after, is a good day to take the road less traveled, which will surely show you the path to human decency, kindness, compassion and goodwill towards all men, women and children wherever they may live, however they may identify, and whatever they may look like.


Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

Leave a comment

Posted in Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal

Tagged , , , ,

Happy Birthday, DC Ladies!

Posted on November 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Once a month I share a recipe and a blogpost with the DC Ladies.  Shortly after I created this blog, I found the DC Ladies via Twitter (@DCLadies) and am so happy to be apart of this terrific community of women who share their expertise on every topic under the sun!

This year will bring:
1. The DC Ladies Book Club, this will be headed up by Lindsay one of the Young DC Ladies. Each month we will pick a book and then at the end of the month have a “review” amongst our DC Ladies.

2. The DC Ladies Tweet Ups! Four times a year we will be getting together to meet face to face and network.

3. The DC Ladies Teams; we have had many ladies who have shared their wonderful stories with us about walks and runs they have done so we are going to be forming a “team” to support wonderful causes near and dear to The DC Ladies hearts.

4. Our Virtual Magazine-this is our big one! We are so excited about becoming a full fledged online magazine.

Happy Birthday Ladies!  Cheers to your continued success and growth!

Leave a comment

Posted in Her Inspiration

Tagged , ,

New Vintage for an Old Home

Posted on August 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

This weekend we  went on a home filling “road trip”.  We drove out of DC to Leesburg, VA to visit the famed Old Lucketts Store, purveyors of the vintage and hip.  Settled on a large piece of land there is a main house that is open 7-days a week and on the first weekend of the month they host a Design House Event.  Both “homes” feature antique, salvaged, and made to look antique home furniture, decor, and accessories.  I am a sucker for the accessories and knick-knacks.


This weekend was a design house weekend and as I kept exclaiming to Mark I loved each room more than the one before it – which is to say, my love kept growing and growing.  
A few styles ran through out the house, there were some breezy, rooms with “by-the-sea” cottage inspired accessories and colors, some with brilliant colors and swaths of bright fabrics, and others still with a more sophisticated and romantic finish balanced with masculine, dark furniture.
Image from Lucketts Blog
Image from Lucketts Blog
Image from Lucketts Blog
It’s hard to explain how I could have loved  each room, as on the surface their styles were each so different.  However, their unifying theme was that they were all “just right” without being perfect.  Rarely did more than two pieces match, and often the accessories challenged and enhanced instead of just filling space, and most of all each room gave the feeling that there was a story behind each piece, and that is what I love.  There was no one-stop-shop feel of going to a catalog and ordering everything on the page and being done with the house. 

On this trip we picked up a nailhead leather chair, that perfectly fit the bill for what Mark wanted for the living room, and a possibly antique iron soap dish.  Pictures of the chair later, but since I am sure you are dying to see a soap dish, ta da!

Fancy Iron Soap Dish – personal photo
The design house also inspired us to find some vintage/old world oversized maps for our walls, and a coffee/occasional table to pair with our new chairs!  This is definitely a work in progress as I think any truly great home should be.

Leave a comment

Posted in Decor, Her Home

Tagged , , , , , ,