fail.

I am very upset with myself.

I have listened to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR for years. I love it. It is my weekend routine. I podcast them in case I don't catch it live and listen to it while cleaning. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love it. I still remember belly-laughing on the NY subway years ago when Amy Sedaris was on.

Anyway, you can imagine my total joy this weekend when I found out that they are coming to DC in June. It was all set. Ben and I would head up to Bethesda on June 8th to check seeing Wait Wait Don't Tell Me live off my bucket list.

And, now fast forward to this morning, Monday...after I kept forgetting yesterday to check the tickets and now they are sold out. So bummed. Ah well.

before and after.

Remember this post last week about my kitchen chairs? Well, in big news, I finally finished them this weekend! The upholstering job was actually pretty straight forward and easy. The only tricky part is being very deliberate about measuring out the fabric, aligning it, and making sure you are folding the fabric at the corners so you don't get wrinkles. Another project done and done!

Here is the before shot...

And now for the after look!

uh oh.

Oh man. Gwyneth really should have called me before she ran with this piece on her blog Goop about DC. Eck. So predictable. So boring. So trite. So cliche. Not to mention, even if you like all of that, she didn't even recommend the best stuff in DC. Her food choices...you might as well have just picked up the Washingtonian in Whole Foods. Gwyneth. Gwyneth. I am so disappointed. I mean, I already was kind of on the fence...but seriously?!

concert time.

Ben's best friend, Timmy, got us tickets to go with him and his girlfriend, Amanda, to see the band, Brad, in NYC when we are up there in May. Very exciting! We love concerts and we have been wanting to do more concerts and live music. Not to mention, the band is led by Stone Gossard, of Pearl Jam and I absolutely adore Timmy and Amanda...in short, I can't wait. The new album was just released, United We Stand, so I plan to start listening and be up to speed by early May!

good stuff.

It is mid-week and officially time for summer in my mind. So, some distractions below!

Top Shop - Spot Print Shopper

Jill Rosenwald - Chevron Vase

Olallie Necklace

Swedish Hasbeens

J Brand Denim Jacket

tea up.

I'm not a tea drinker, but if I were, I think I would start with "The Republic of Tea" brand. Laura asked me to swing by Whole Foods tonight and pick her up some as a gift for someone. I read the cans while I was standing in line and was almost urged to buy myself some. But then I remembered that I don't really drink tea. Anyway...my takeaway from my quick skim was that the Get Gorgeous one has loads of antioxidants in it that is good for your skin. So, if you like tea, or know someone who does, consider it...there are a bunch of different kinds and they are organic.

mothering.

Moms are incredible. As I get older, I am more and more amazed and humbled by parenting. Mothering in particular. And of course, my own Mom. How she did it with 4 kids never ceases to amaze me. So lucky. So thankful.

rugged out.

Good Monday morning! I basically holed up in my apartment yesterday in the rain and did transcription work for my brother. But, in a random stop into Timothy Paul Bedding + Home, I did take a picture of this rug I fell in love with. Though, for the $2,000 price tag, I would much rather buy a flight to Turkey and try to hunt something down on my own or just dye an Ikea rug to match this hot pink! Still...isn't it a great piece?!

banana bread bliss.

Uh. I don't even know how to start this, so let me just go ahead and say it. I just made some of the best banana bread ever. Seriously. It is so good! Thank god I did not make two loaves. I am afraid what I would do by myself in this apartment with a whole loaf to myself! And thankfully, I had promised our tech guy at the office that I would bake something for him and I thus can't eat it all. Go buy yourself some bananas and make it. I am including some pictures of my glorious bread and the recipe below (I found it a while back on A Cup of Jo). 

Ingredients: 
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (from about 3 bananas)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons bourbon
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chunks

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8x4-inch or 9x5-inch loaf pan. Set aside. 
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. 
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. 
• Add eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute between each addition. Stop the mixer, scrape down sides of the bowl, and add bananas, lemon juice and bourbon. Beat until well incorporated. 
• Turn the mixer to low and add the flour mixture all at once. Beat until almost incorporated. Stop the mixer and remove the bowl. Add the walnuts and chocolate chips and incorporate the last of the ingredients with a spatula. 
• Batter will be thick. Spoon the mixture into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. 

in the works.

I bought two of these chairs last year and my goal has been to reupholster them since the day I brought them home. They are great kitchen table chairs and I have put this project off for almost a full year. A couple months ago I promised myself I would have this little project done by the time Ben gets back to DC in May, so the push is on. I finally got around to ordering some fabric samples from Mood a couple weeks back and I am determined to order that yard of fabric this week so I can finish this job next weekend!

I initially wanted to do a creative, bright design to add some color and personality to the apartment. But, I ended up going with much more simple, classic fabrics for the time being (figure I can always change them in a year when I get bored again!). They are a little cheaper and go more with the farm table style. Anyway, here are some of the samples I am thinking about...and hopefully by this time next week I will be reporting back with the finished project!

PJ time.

Ben just sent me this song this morning, "Exclusive Stream: Willie Nelson Performs Pearl Jam's Gentle Ballad 'Just Breathe'".  Loving it! Pearl Jam meets Willie Nelson...in the words of my boyfriend, "just phenomenal".

chimpanzees + goodall + disney.

doorways.

Aren't doors great? Last year, at some point I was walking around Georgetown, and thought it would be such a great idea to make a coffee table book of door knockers. That obviously hasn't happened! But, I just found this tumblr, Abriendo Puertas, and just love it...I could spend hours looking at colorful, beautiful doors!

ny craving.

Ben and I finalized plans last night to head to NY after my graduation next month! It will be a short jaunt north but I can't wait. It will be a low-key couple days and highlights will be:

• His parents are throwing an engagement party that weekend for his brother and soon to be sister-in-law!
• Ben and I have talked about going for a hike or drive a little north one day to Bear Mountain area.

We are also planning to go into the city for a day with his parents. I am hoping we can go to Buvette for brunch! When I was up in NY a couple weeks ago, Maddie's boyfriend, Alex, had read about Buvette but they were closed when we got there. It is this charming, gorgeous, perfectly West Village restaurant and when I got back to DC, I read the reviews, they are fantastic. So cross your fingers for us!

be jeweled.

Speaking of jewelry....I have two good finds to pass on today!

Alison and I were way over-due for a catch-up and finally got to it earlier this week. Among other things, she had on a gorgeous new ring. Mind you, we're both supposed to be living on rather tight budgets, so I knew she must know something I didn't. And she did...it's Emma Stine. Think Gilt meets jewelry. Some of it your Grandma could probably give you out of her costume jewelry box...but some of it is good stuff!

And, this morning, I noticed a great ring that Hannah had on pinterest (click here to see it). So, I followed to the website, Erica Weiner Jewelry. They have such beautiful and unique pieces. It's everything you won't find on Emma Stine - kind of all of the romantic vintage kind!

necking.

Love love this necklace!

LoLa's Star Charm Necklace - Etsy

birds & flowers.

My Mom mentioned over the weekend a story she heard on NPR about this National Gallery of Art exhibit, Colorful Realm: Japanese Bird-and-Flower Paintings by Ito Jakuchu. It is showing until the end of the month, and apparently the detail, color, and inspiration are just incredible!

destination sperryville.

Sperryville, Virginia. Put it on the list of go-to day-trip destinations (here are the earlier posts on Lancaster and Middleberg). Sperryville is about a 90-minute drive from DC right at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is apparently beautiful and charming and quaint. It is also home to the renowned Inn at Little Washington. But, if you aren't up for that splurge, I just read up on the Blue Rock Inn. It has outstanding reviews and is on 80 acres with a great menu. I basically want to go tomorrow. So in an effort to be more reasonable, we are now shooting for June or August!

maxed out.

The maxi dress has taken spring by storm it seems. I have to admit, this is new territory for me...mostly because I don't like the idea of my dress dragging on the ground or getting dirty. But, Ben's mom bought me a great maxi when I was up in Westchester for Thanksgiving. It has been hanging in my closet since November, as a reminder that summer is coming and I love it!

And, then I got to looking for other maxis for all of you, my loyal readers. Here are some that I spotted!

Bloomingdales - Ella Moss Printed Maxi Dress



Bloomingdales - Soft Joie Dress

Bloomingdales - Aqua Nordic Paisley Empire Maxi



shopbop - Funktional Monet Maxi Dress

o&y.

It was another full day of DC tourism and we lucked out with the weather. Olivia and Yuri are being spoiled...they haven't experienced severe heat or overwhelming waves of tourist groups and segway tours. We enjoyed another great day in DC with a leisurely lunch out and a walk down to the MLK memorial as well as the Lincoln memorial. Having guests in town is such a good reminder of all the reasons I do love living in this city.

You know what else made it a great day? The first meal of the summer season on my roof! I am including the recipe below for this chicken dish that Ben sent my way. Great dish for the next time you need something quick and easy, I recommend it!

Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts
1-2 lemons (I know Yuri can eat lemon)
White Wine
Flour

• Put each chicken breast between plastic wrap and pund them thin with a heavy pan. 1/4 inch thick.
• Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken.
• Put flour on a plate and salt and pepper the flour.
• Put the chicken in the flour and get a light coat of the flour on the breasts.
• Heat a large skillet on medium/high heat. Add Olive oil--two tablespoons plus one tablesppon of butter.
• When pan is hot enough, put the chicken in the pan. About 2-3 minutes on one side. Flip it over.
• After 2 minutes on the second side, add white wine about a 1/4 of a cup and juice from a half of lemon.
• Let that cook over the medium/high heat with the chicken in the pan for about 30 seconds or so.
• Add a tablespoon of butter.
• Put the chicken breasts on the plate and pour pan sauce over the chicken.

my valentine.

I can't decide what I make of this Paul McCartney song/video, "My Valentine". Thoughts?!

arlington outing.

Olivia and Yuri are visiting for the weekend! I have learned that I am easily stressed out by hosting but thankfully O&Y are easy and relaxed and low maintenance. Today we took it pretty easy. But we did head over to Arlington Cemetery. It was a perfect day for it. Not too hot and not too crowded and since my sister and Yuri are big walkers, it turned out to be pretty great!

pin up.

My best friend, Scott, is finishing up his two years in the Peace Corp in Indonesia and his Mom emailed me recently. Among other things, she mentioned that the Denver Art Museum is bringing Madeleine Albright's 'Read My Pins' Exhibit to Colorado. Very exciting! For several reasons...1) because Colorado + politics is a good thing 2) hopefully my Mom will go and report back for me! 3) I have been wanting to buy Albright's book, 'Read My Pins' since it came out when I was in Vietnam 4) I love Madeleine Albright. A lot.

The Original Book

So, for any folks in the Denver area, the exhibit starts on April 15th. And I am including plenty of material below for everyone to enjoy and get their Albright/political fix for the night!

• New Yorker Piece with a Slideshow
• NPR - Madeleine Albright's Jewelry Box Diplomacy
• NYTimes - Night Out with Madeleine Albright

the pickings.

Just some random pickings of some gifts and things you might appreciate....

Adia Kibur - Gold & Enamel Drop Earrings

Graf & Lantz - Laptop Sleeve

Creatables Made From Waste

10 Scarf Hangar