fun times in the city.

my super cute parents came to dc this weekend for a visit

and we sure had some fun in the city.

we went on tour after tour after tour and they were all delightful.

AND the weather was AMAZING - sunny skies and cool temperatures - it is officially fall here in dc :)

first up - tour of the capitol, which jeffrey and i still had not done since we moved here.

the picture above is in the new visitor center of the capitol.

the capitol dome.

 

me and mama

a little lunch of hotdogs on the side of the road :)

then, we totally strolled by this lady passing out tickets to the fall garden tour at the white house!

we said yes please and jumped in line.

we just LOVE all these free tours in our city. 

(i actually went to the spring garden tour with my cousin gina and her soon to be hubby brian last spring and the tour was just as lovely.)

me and daddo in front of the jackie o garden.

the white house veggie garden.

the next day, we hit up the dupont home tour and checked out some unique houses in our neighborhood.

it was a beautiful weekend filled with lots of good times and good laughs.

smooches mom and dad.

xoxoxo

happy happy bday becca.

happy happy bday to my fabulous sister in law - becca!

wish we could be in htown to help you celebrate.

we will be sure to toast you here in dc.

sending lots of hugs and kisses your way on your special day and always.

xoxoxo

happy bday jenn.

happy happy bday jenn!

hope you have a lovely day and my little bro is spoiling you big time.

enjoy your day.

sending you hugs from dc.

xoxox

and now we must go play

for my parents are in town hooray!

san fran: part II.

day II in san fran began with a trip to a local farmer's market.

figuring out what to cook for sunday night dinner....

then, we ventured nearby for an afternoon in the park.

it was lovely.

and then, jeffrey and travis got really excited about the visiting blue angels.

and we ended on a fabulous note with a homemade dinner (from the market!)

we are missing our friends already...

xoxoxo

san fran: part I.

october in san fran with dear dear friends is a fabulous combination.  

mags and trav were lovely hosts and took us all around the city.  we had such a ball - as always - with these two.

one of the first stops: lunch at the pine cone diner, which had delicious diner food and some prickly service. 

the shakes were divine.

next stop: the lighthouse on point reyes.  we had a hilarious photo series among the trees and fog.

 please note: jeffrey in the background.

can't.stop.laughing.

and my all time favorite: the glamor shot.

when we arrived at the lighthouse the fog rolled in, but that didn't stop us from seeing WHALES hanging out in the water below.

checking out the whales below...

while we couldn't capture the whales in pictures - about five whales continued to swim below the lighthouse showing us their backs, bellies and tails.  it was pretty nifty and a great first day in san fran.

part II coming soon.

xoxoxox

got jeans?

today, oct. 8th, is national denim day for breast cancer awareness. 

actually, the whole month of october is breast cancer awareness month, but many people are wearing jeans (and pink) to work today and donating money for a great cause.

we've had many loved ones affected with this horrible disease, so please join us in donating and helping to put a stop to breast cancer.
a great place to donate is susan g komen. 

on a happier note, jeffrey and i are off to san fran to visit some of our very favorite people in the world - mags and trav - and simply cannot wait to get there.

so happy weekend everyone. 

xoxo

cioppino: aka fish stew

my lovely husband did it again.

he spent sunday evening in the kitchen and made a delicious meal for us.

this sunday it was cioppino, a portuguese fish stew.

and it was so yummy and perfect for the cooler tempertaures we are experiencing in dc.

interested in making a little fish stew yourself??

• 1 fennel bulb, stalks discarded and bulb cut lengthwise into 6 wedges
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes in juice
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup full-bodied red wine such as Zinfandel or Syrah
• 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
• 1 pound skinless fillets of thick white-fleshed fish such as halibut (jeff used halibut), hake, or pollack, cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1 pound cultivated mussels

then.....

pulse fennel, onion, and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped. heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then stir in chopped vegetables, bay leaves, thyme, red-pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring once or twice, until vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes. add tomatoes with their juice, water, wine, and clam juice and boil, covered, 20 minutes. stir in seafood and cook, uncovered, until fish is just cooked through and mussels open wide, 4 to 6 minutes (discard any that remain unopened after 6 minutes). discard bay leaves.

enjoy!

taste of bethesda.

on saturday, jeff and i ventured to bethesda to enjoy the festival of

taste of bethesda,

which is a great food festival where you can sample the food of nearby restaurants.

we started with some food, met up with friends, and then added some drinks.

we had a lot of fun with this dinosaur hat too.

kate, julie, me and becca

becca

kate

me

fish

casey

and my favorite...jeffrey.

xox

happy bday ann.

happy birthday ann!

jeff's mom day o birth is today and again we wish we could be in houston to help them celebrate this evening at ann's birthday gathering.

sending hugs and kisses from dc!

xoxox