crafty bastard.

I swung by Union Market this morning to check out the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. There were three big tents taking up the parking lot packed with vendors. The Fair goes through tomorrow so it is worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood. I picked up these bowl covers that I love from Chez-Sucre-Chez. Going to make good use of these when we eat outside and for picnicking - because we should picnic more!

dinner therapy.

I love old people so much! Anyway, go read this piece that Ben sent me earlier from the NYTimes, A Nightly Dinner Out That's Like Therapy. It makes me want to go find him and eat dinner out with him...love it!

work time.

Talk about the week getting away. NY was beautiful. Gorgeous actually. I didn't really get to enjoy the city since our days were packed at UNGA but it was nice to be back even just for the walk back to the hotel at night....

In huge news, I was running through Grand Central on Monday morning en route to the UN and I was starving. I figured I would just check to see if my old regular bagel/coffee shop, The Lunch Box, was still open. It was! This place is tucked in the bowels of the GrayBar building, perfectly hidden from tourists and crowds but connected to Grand Central. You can only imagine how thrilled I was. I used to grab something every single morning, oh how I miss being a regular in NY! It is right by the tracks so all of the Amtrak/train folks are moving through and I just love it. And they have renovated and gotten bigger. It is still a hole in the wall but a bigger one. If ever you are in need of a phenomenal egg sandwich or bagel in Grand Central, definitely go find it! I stopped in all three mornings for old time's sake...

Of course, I also swung by to see Shirley at Spa Butterfly (click here if you don't know what I am talking about) and I stopped in to Fish's Eddy and ABC Carpet when I had some down time on Sunday evening. On my way out of town, I literally ran through the MoMA! I went straight to the photography, hustled through the painting and sculpture exhibition to make sure the Pollacks and Rothkos were still there and stopped for a second to take in the garden view!

I also snuck in a spectacular run early Wednesday morning along the west side.

But I was there for work and work I did. The days were packed and long but they also included amazing moments, including a great staff reception with POTUS, Kerry and the Ambassador...

And another beautiful room with POTUS and FLOTUS in the Waldorf...

And seeing Desmond Tutu...Great stuff NY, great stuff.

board it up.

I have spent a lot of time laying in bed staring at the walls while I have been sick and this morning I decided on my next project. It is time for a headboard. I am committed to getting this done by December and it is definitely a doable project (probably in a weekend), I just need to find the time to get it done. In the meantime, Step 1 is I need to figure out the shape.

Here are some initial thoughts. At first, I was thinking something with a little bit of curve...

Or an interesting corner to add shape to our small, square bedroom.

But now I am thinking of a basic rectangle. I like the straight lines (it also will be easier to make on my virgin try at this!). I am also leaning strongly toward doing a tufted headboard, so it will have some detail to it. The dark tufted headboard below is calling my name loudly right now!

When I get back from NY, I am going to throw up a sketch on the wall to feel it out for a couple days...

And then on to Step 2...stay tuned!

capped.

It's raining today and it really feels like fall today. I have been really sick for the past two days. Chills, headache, congestion, the whole mix of it. Barely made it home from work yesterday and slept 12 hours. The good news is I think I've turned the corner on it and just in time, because I leave tomorrow for NY for a couple days. You know what I wish I could pack and take with me? This Colorblock Wool Baseball Cap. Love it!

busy talk.

Val sent me this piece yesterday, Please Stop Complaining About How Busy You Are. It is spot-on! I cringed reading it just because I could hear myself saying almost all of the key phrases at some point, if not regularly. "Slammed" and "Crashing", dear god, mark my word, I promise not to use these anymore. Fineman's point is true. And frankly, what she doesn't say and what I find even more true is how desperate people are to show they are busy in an effort to be seen as important. September resolution: cut all the busy talk out!

squash game.

Who's excited for spaghetti squash season? I am. And, I made this Roasted Squash with Herbs and Parmesan last night.

barre.

I am at a fitness cross-roads. I am debating whether I should join a gym or if I should do combined pilates/barre classes. I need some regimen to add to regular runs. I am in fine shape but not great shape and want to kick it into high gear for the next year or two. There are a lot of logistical pros and cons for both options that I won't bore you all with but I have to make a decision soon - my personal deadline I set for myself is September 25th.  I am headed to Pure Barre here in DC on Thursday to check out their class and decide if I like it. I will be sure to report back on it but in the meantime, if you have thoughts/suggestions - let me know!

ikea fdn.

I did not know Ikea has a foundation. And that they are doing innovative, practical, big projects in the world that make me want to support them. Good stuff Ikea, Ikea Sends Its New Flatpack Refugee Shelter to Syria. Good stuff.

maize + blue.

Oh what a weekend. There is simply no place like Ann Arbor in the fall. Mix in Val, Emily, Josh & Erin for a full weekend + donuts, football, Kilwins, the M Den, Mani, and the business school bus for post-game tail-gating and you've got the fixings for some epic pictures/videos and a great time. We played a lot of flip-cup in an 8 hour stretch and dance moves were busted out spontaneously. It was an all-around good time!

in the house.

I am off to Ann Arbor for the weekend. It is the now-annual DC pilgrimage to the Big House and my first visit out to Ben this semester. We will have a full house of visitors which means donuts, tail-gating, football, Mani and good good times! Go Blue - have a great weekend!

rainy day.

Fall is upon us. And so is the rain. We had a huge storm last night that rolled through. On that note, how great is this Block Rain Trench from ASOS?

9-11.

Until this morning, I had never heard about Father Mychal Judge. Not to mention, that he was the first body released from Ground Zero and his death certificate read the number "1". This piece on NPR, "Slain Priest: 'Bury his Heart, but not his love", is worth reading and listening to. On today, when we are bombarded with remembrances and images, this pieces has resonated the most with me. And this very last line of the homily that was given for him is just beautiful, "we come to bury his heart, but not his love. Never his love."

paint time.

I was fixated on painting the exterior of our house before and now I am borderline obsessed. Here is why. A house three doors down from us is being flipped. We have been watching it for the last two months as it has been gutted and renovated. It is just about finished and the change has been significant. Most notably for me, the outside paint job. Take a look for yourself. Our houses looked almost identical before and now...

The newly painted house is just so much better looking. So the hunt is on, for a painter that can meet our budget. Thoughts? Recommendations? Referrals?!

fryed.

Hold the phone - big news in the District! The Frye Company has opened a store in DC. If you don't already know, I have wanted this pair of Paige Tall Riding Boots for about 5 years now. So, now I will be able to wander by and try on these boots that I can't afford but will fall more and more in love with!

second chance.

I listened to this story on NPR last week, The Incredible Case of the Bank Robber Who's Now a Law Clerk. It is quite something. Except that it really wouldn't be if we focused more on restorative justice and took a real look at how unjust, not to mention, ineffective our sentencing and prison laws are. That's my piece, go listen!

michigania.

I know I have been m.i.a. for the last couple weeks. We had a great time in Michigan - but we don't have internet at the cottage. There is too much to tell and pictures tell the week far better than I can. Walloon was beautiful and included sitting on the dock, quality time with Stella and meeting Djuna, reconnecting with Mom,  Jordan and Hannah, brunch at Bay View Inn, Kilwins, the Wine Emporium & Market we love in Boyne, American Spoon in Petoskey, smores, runs in the afternoon, grilling, Jordan+Hannah rented a platoon boat for a couple days, and much more.

We also wrapped up the week with a stay with Emmy in Traverse. It was gorgeous and beautiful and Emmy was, no surprise, the best hostess you can imagine. She showed us around town, we went out with her family friends on their boat on Lake Michigan, took a morning walk with her dad and dogs along a stunning and empty beach, watched the Michigan football season opener, visited Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lakeshore and went out to a wonderful meal with her parents. All in all - what a week and just why we love Michigan so much...pictures galore below!