Starting Anew

One of the many highlights this year <3 

So I've decided to give this ol' blog another run…  Summer is back (less work here!) and the biggest news is I have my first ever SmartPhone!  Oh technology.  When I first started blogging I just had a camera and despised downloading photos.  That lead to photo stealing, which ultimately leads to a boring blog- for me and for you.  I'm hoping that my soon-to-be SmartPhone will entice me to take more photos!  

Since my last post, a LOT has happened.  Highlights include travel to Cuba, many music festivals, buying a house (while in Cuba!!!), marrying the love of my life (sigh- and apologies for the cheese) and graduating from grad school (a second reason why I'm giving the blogosphere another shot- more time!).  So…  life is good!  

Since moving in to our home I've gotten kind of obsessed with making new recipes.  Our backyard has become Cafe Rosa, as we try to save money and just cook more for cooking's sake.  I was looking for an easy way to document our new adventures in cooking and thought that this would be the place to do it.  And maybe I'll probably pepper in some general adventures as the blog?  Looking forward to restarting!  

Istanbul Turkey Photos to Share

Too many photos and too little email space!  This post made especially for our families.  Enjoy!

Our first day there! Strolling by the river

Hagia Sophia

Mothers Day

How did you spend your Mothers Day?  Mine was crafty.  I met my mom and sister out in Annapolis for a beautiful day and paint your own pottery at Clay Bakers.  It is a great way to catch up and no real artsy skills necessary.  We have gone before and the pottery always ends up looking good...  (I think that the sentimental perspective helps out on that one)  They have ladies night, BYOB and the equivalent of pottery "happy hour" a few times a month too.

Over the past few months I've picked up knitting so I gifted my mom with an almost-finished scarf.  Knitting is such a fun, semi-meditative activity.  I love how you can do it anywhere at anytime too.  My favorite spot is sitting out in Logan Circle, people watching after work.  I picked up this particular yarn (I hope to take some photos of the scarf to show when I'm finished!) at Stitch DC (photo below).  Next project?  I am hoping to learn how to make a baby sweater from my colleague for Baby Mallory to come!  Slightly daunting since I have only ever knitted in straight lines... eek

Antes de morir quiero _________

Good morning!  Something fun from last night-  While walking home from a delicious dinner I ran into a group of people pondering this renovation wall that had recently gone up.  As I got closer I realized that someone had put up a “Before I die _______” and “Antes de morir quiero _______” mural and left chalk for people to fill in the blanks!  I called Alec and had him join me on the corner (Q and 14^th).  We spent the next half hour reading others’ answers and adding our own.  Answers ranged from the most ridiculous (Before I die I want to own taxidermy…) to very personal (Before I die I want to see my children grow up.)  As you will note, the board was almost completely filled.  Alec put me on his shoulders so that I could get a top spot!  You’ll see ours below:

A: Visit Middle Earth

I want to go to San Franciso

We saw French DJ Fred Falke at U St Music Hall a few months ago.  Great party.

$2 Tickets and $1 Hotdogs

Our view- Go Nats!

Yesterday a group of us went to the $2 tickets Nationals game.  If you haven’t been to a game yet, I highly suggest making the trip whether you are a baseball fan or not.  Weather was perfect and what better way to spend a Tuesday than with friends outside.  The game is an added perk. 

Another perk is the Bull Pen, an open beer gardenish area outside the park.  Live bands play before the game and you can usually find a few corn hole games going.  The Bull Pen looks out over the metro so after the game it’s a great place to hang out and watch the crowds thin.  

Since I haven’t focused on food in a while, I thought I would mention my love of hotdogs.  I am not a huge meat eater, but the nostalgia of being at the game, eating a dog, gets me every time.  While looking for a photo to exemplify this dog love (with ketchup, mustard and chopped onions) I found this article.  Sigh.  I hope that drinking DC water has upped my stomach immunity!  Props to the Nats for being name dropped as a healthy food stadium!  Do you think my hotdog is included?    

An overall great evening.  Tonight is $1 hot dogs if you’re interested.

Ps: Part 2 of the OC Guide is on it’s way sometime this week 

A Girls Guide to OC- Part 1

A girls weekend in Ocean City in April can best be described through the restaurants and bars that were visited because, let’s face it, that’s what Ocean City does best.  Having lived here for a summer, it is always fun to re-visit old favorites, which we did this time around.  Hope that you enjoy Kate’s Guide to a Girls Weekend in OC!  (Disclaimer:  This post isn’t child friendly-  Sorry… but let’s be real… I’m not sorry!)