Can't beat it.

I'd like to share with you a magical day I had recently with my friend Shannon.

First, we went shopping at Eastern Market.

                                                 

We bought bread, goat cheese, and cherries.

                                                 

                                                

We came across this little bookstore that doesn't look like much from the outside. When we walked in the shop owner, a little old man, without even looking up said in a bored voice, "Fiction is upstairs, Non fiction on this level." I saw signs everywhere forbidding the use of cell phones and backpacks. I thought, man, he's crabby.

                                                            

When I made my way up the staircase, so narrow I had to turn sideways, I realized I had found someplace really special. Floor to ceiling books.

                                                            

                                                            

                                                  

Shannon and I were instantly in our own worlds. As I wandered around, I realized, wait. This upstairs area used to be a house. The kitchen is still here. Books have taken over. The sink was full of books. The cabinets were stuffed. The range was stacked. But someone had taken the time to write tiny hand-written notes everywhere, listing which authors could be found in what cabinet. The kitchen was devoted to Poetry. I also noticed, that someone really had an eye for styling this organized chaos. Believe it or not, my camera found compositions everywhere I looked.

                                                 

                                                 

                                                                   

I wandered back to the main level and saw an open door. I couldn't believe it. Even the bathroom was devoted to books. Foreign languages no less.

                                                           

                                                         

This is when I fell in love with the little old man. At first I thought he was rude, but then I realized he was brilliant. His handwritten notes were hilarious and the way he yelled at customers was awesome. This was his place. He knew it backwards and forwards. It reflects his personality, and he makes no apologies for it.

                                                             

See that Linda Nochlin book? I'm gonna go back and buy it.

                                                  

                                                 

                                                

                                              

This Brad and Jen book held a crowning place of honor on the shelf right behind the shop owner's head at his little cash register.

                                              

After the bookstore, Shannon and I and several others headed to the front lawn of the Capitol for the rehearsal of "A Capitol Fourth."

                                              

THIS was our backdrop.

                                              

These are some more pics of random good times with Shan. Getting Baked and Wired with Sarah and then going to see "Letters to Juliet"

                                                

Adoring the old Mormon church on 16th street in the District. This is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies that the Church doesn't own this building anymore. It is so beautiful and resembles the Salt Lake Temple in so many ways.

                                                            

Contemplating some contemporary art in a private collection at a DC residence. Thanks Brittany for inviting us to your amazing launch party. Can you find both Shan and me?

                                                  

starbursts, sunsets, and fireworks

tree love

I was uploading pictures from my camera and came across this one...kind of random and not even that great of a shot (you can see the glare from my window glass). I guess I just had a moment of love for the huge trees right outside my window. Makes it hard to ever want to move. I thought it was kind of a funny picture and wanted to share!

Mormon talk

At work I take minutes at a lot of meetings. Sometimes, months later, I type up my notes. I'll be typing along when I come across phrases like this, "I hope my committee will keep me on the Straight and Narrow !!!!" or "In the fullness of time!!!! that article will become more important." I always scribble around those words and add extra exclamation points. I think its because I get so excited when I hear Mormon talk in completely secular places. Where do they get those phrases if they don't read the Book of Mormon?

That reminds me...Last weekend I was at the rehearsal concert for Capital Fourth on the lawn of the Capitol. There were thousands of people. When the concert was over, my group hung around a while, taking pictures, marching around, and just being silly. As we were finally heading out, we walked past a group of people. One of them yelled out, "NEPHI!" and my head snapped up. Then he yelled out, "FAMILY HOME EVENING!" and I looked at him and waved. I yelled back, "I speak your language!" and he yelled back, "I saw the light in your eyes!" Both groups started laughing and we just kept walking without introducing ourselves. Around here you pretty much know, at least by facial recognition, all the Mormons in the area. But none of us knew them.

How strange.

NewPort/Haven

Introducing: A Roadtrip to Paradise

The Cast: Ruthie, Kelli,

Maggie, and Wendy 

The Setting: Atlantic Ocean!

and a morning stroll through Yale University

Points of Interest: The Breakers

Chateau Sur Mer

The Elms

Rosecliff

and Marble House

Kelly pulled me aside at a Valentine's Day dinner and mentioned the words, "trip" "Newport" "Mansions" and "Memorial Weekend" and I was done. DONE. No need to go on. I'm in.

With such a great group of girls, wonderful weather, perfect accommodations, and fabulous sights to behold, you'd think there would have been at least one thing that went wrong. But I can't think of a single off moment. We even began and ended the trip with Chik-fil-a. I'm telling you, it was perfect.

And now, I will grace you with images of our blissful trip.

The Breakers was my favorite for the following reasons: 1) It was the first mansion we saw so it was all so new and exciting 2) Pure tasteful grandeur 3) The family who lived here were happy, humble, and loved each other 4) This is the family home of Nate Archibald on Gossip Girl

We walked along this beautiful stone wall to our next Mansion where we discovered the most enchanting tree.

Then made our way to the Elms. This was my second favorite mansion because of the airy garden feel as well as the graceful ballroom. The gardens are its signature.

After The Elms, we wandered through Newport's shops and restaurants and enjoyed the ocean air.

Our second day on the island was sun drenched and I couldn't help capturing some of Newport's beauty:

 

Our first stop was Rosecliff, my third favorite, though I think of it as the 80s mansion- it's that outrageous. You'd have to see the white and red heart shaped staircase to understand.

The last mansion we saw was Marble House. I was turned off by the character of the woman who owned this place and her preoccupation with appearing to be the best at everything. Her house felt gaudy and artificial.

After the mansions we did the Cliff Walk and saw some gorgeous views both on land and off.

Then hit the town again!

And now Yale (Can I just be Rory Gilmore Please?):

The End