An Impromptu Hike near Fletcher’s Boat House
May 22, 2012 at 9:34 pm | Posted in baby, DC, life, Washington | 1 CommentTags: ann taylor loft, catfish, dc, dj dmac, fishing, fletcher's boat house, hike, off the grid, potomac, spring fashion, washington
I’m trying to be a little more spontaneous these days. As typically a creature of habit, I’ll be the first to admit that I can easily get bogged down by routine. Though, between Daryle’s main job and DJing, we have to seize every free moment we have together as a family. So on a beautiful afternoon, we set out driving without a destination necessarily in mind. Daryle recalled Fletcher’s Boat House — somewhere not to far from us, and we decided to head in that direction. Lots of twists and turns in the car; we were in awe over the gorgeous tree-lined neighborhoods off Massachusetts Avenue, just outside the DC border, in Maryland. Then thumbing around on our iPhone’s map feature, we realized the Boat House wasn’t in Maryland, but actually in DC. We made it, parked the car and Daryle wore Jack in the Bjorn. I only had my canvas shoes and donned a newly purchased outfit from “The Loft” (I admit, partially making fun of myself) — you could say I sort of stuck out like a brightly colored product of our season … We set off on a light hike past the guys fishing in the Potomac (it was a bad day to be a catfish) and happened upon a stream of fresh water that I dipped my feet in while Daryle pointed out trees and birds to Jack. A sweet afternoon, just the three of us, momentarily off the grid, hoping to return again and again.
An Awesome Blossom Mother’s Day
May 14, 2012 at 12:28 pm | Posted in baby, DC, design, life, Washington | Leave a commentTags: dc nerd, first mothers day, half baked, hirshhorn, national archives, on weed, segway tour, smithsonian, suprasensorial, the mall
Well, hello! Yesterday marked the first mother’s day I was able to celebrate with my new family. We woke up to a glorious upper 70′s day. I said earlier, we tend to be poor planners in advance so there was no way we were going to get into any fancy restaurant to mark the occasion; and it’s just as well — I don’t need any extra eggs benedict in my life right now. Plus, we wound up having such a better time than being cooped up somewhere on our best behavior. All I really wanted to do was go have a cup of coffee outside of the French patisserie called Paul which is popping up all over town. We went to Paul just about every day while we were in Paris last year. Their café crème is to die for, as is their easy ham, cheese and butter on a baguette sandwiches. I’m generally unimpressed with coffee in DC — it isn’t strong enough for me so I wind up going to Starbucks a lot, honestly. But Paul is gets it just right.
This particular location is on Pennsylvania and near 7th St. Just a few blocks from The Mall.
Daryle rocked his new colored chinos and saddle shoes (all the rage in Esquire mag). He was looking pretty fly!
Segway tours: representing DC’s tourist nerds. (hehe, I’m sure it’s a blast)
We walked through the Sculpture Garden.
And checked out the fountain outside the National Archives.
And then headed indoors briefly to see the awesome light exhibit at the Hirshhorn called Suprasensorial.
The neon lights were disorienting. I thought of Jon Stewart’s character on Half Baked wondering “have you ever seen it on weed, man?” :)
Then we walked through an installation of blue rubbery string.
You could spend as long as you wanted paddling through the sea of string. It was fun to see people of all ages laughing and carrying on.
And from there we headed to my mom’s house outside the city for brunch with family and friends. My mom was ecstatic to spend the afternoon with her favorite little guy.
My little one that gave me occasion to celebrate.
Hope all you mommas had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Flow Final Forward Festival — DC
May 1, 2012 at 9:37 am | Posted in baby, DC, life, music | Leave a commentTags: all good funk alliance, flow final forward fest, ravers, rusty b, washington dc dj
What happens when two married electro-heads have a baby, go to a music fest?
We stand off to the side. :)
The bottom two pictures look like they’re from a totally different location from the rest. Our friend Rusty B. (who also DJ’d our wedding — he’s gotta new album coming out, btw) played go-go at the Flow Final Forward Fest in Garfield Park, DC. The DJs and dancing, live/public graffiti and break-dancing all took place under a nearby overpass. The music was so good and I really wanted to dance but was having a hard time bouncing while holding Jack in the moby wrap. I kicked myself for not having a pair of noise canceling headphones because the music was really loud and echoing off the concrete; I didn’t want Jack’s ears to hurt. We moved out to the grass where the other families convened. Daryle and I took turns holding Jack and we remembered how we met — I threw a house party and needed a DJ and Daryle just happened to be available. Music has always been the glue that’s held us so strongly together. I hope Jack will have the same love for it as we do. I often wonder if he’ll take up DJing. How cute, we’ll call him Little Mac as he takes a record out from its sleeve and puts it on the turntable. What a day that will be.
Where marked, photos by One Love Massive.
This Year’s Cherry Blossoms +1
March 28, 2012 at 4:01 pm | Posted in architecture, baby, DC, life, motherhood, Washington | Leave a commentTags: cherry blossoms, cherry trees, dc, h&m, martin luther king jr, memorial, metro center, the mall, tourism, washington
What’s the point of living in DC if you don’t see the cherry blossoms? Those beauties are what kicks off tourist season in the nation’s capital making any trip downtown an annoying one and forcing me to shop somewhere other than the H&M at Metro Center.
Well, by the time we got down to the Tidal Basin all of the trees had bloomed; the flower pedals were swirling around in the cool spring breeze. It really was pretty despite the overcast sky.
I was happy to see the newest memorial dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. which opened this past year. I was reflecting the beautiful architecture and flourishes, but unfortunately most are downtown near The Mall; they really aren’t interspersed in the city like they are in say, Paris where you can cross a beautiful bridge just to get from one neighborhood to another. In DC the sites are more of a destination rather than what most of us residents see day-to-day.
It’s coming up on nine years that I’ll have lived in DC — meaning, I think it’s time for a change. Though I’m doubtful that will happen any time soon. I always fantasize where the next place will be. Maybe the west coast? I’d really love that.
And here we are! I’m smiling because more of the baby weight has fallen off — thank god. I’m not there yet, but at least a step closer. “Bikini season” has never meant more to me. I’m determined to be presentable by our trip to Cape May this June.
Playdate at the National Building Museum
March 2, 2012 at 11:56 am | Posted in baby, DC, life, motherhood | Leave a commentTags: baby, crazy mom, first date, germs, national building museum, play date, washing hands
Daryle and I returned to the National Building Museum, the place where we had one of our very first dates. He DJ’d the National Democratic Convention there in 2006 scoring an extra ticket for his sort-of GF to watch him entertain. I remember thinking I had nothing to wear so I headed to H&M for a smart (and affordable) fitted black blazer and matching slacks. Fast forward to 2012, so much has changed.
Overnight so many of our friends had babies, which makes it easier to socialize with a little one. In fact, we are invited to a dance party this Saturday from 4pm-8pm. Purposefully timed because all of us new moms admit, we can’t stay up late anymore. I’m so zonked by the end of the day and I feel like I barely get a thing done. Honestly, Jack just passed out in his vibrating chair while I was taking a shower and I just left him there. Does that make me a bad mom? I didn’t want to wake him and I really wanted to turn to my much loved blog.
At our play date / more like a parents-catch-up-date, we traded secrets of baby-care, naps, and playtime. Daryle and I are going to Florida to visit family and I’m most concerned with germs. So many people are looking forward to meeting Jack in the sunshine state, and I don’t want him to catch anything. The other moms suggested I be prepared to ask people to wash hands, be armed with hand sanitizer, and to request people not kiss the baby on his face. Will that make me a crazy-mom? I hope everyone will understand.
We ended the afternoon thrilled to be out of the house and promised that we’ve got to do this more often. Spring is around he corner and I’m dreaming of blankets in the grass, rolling around in the warm-ish air. La la.
Georgetown’s magical Spice & Tea Exchange
December 20, 2011 at 11:41 am | Posted in $hit I want, DC, food | Leave a commentTags: fresh spices, georgetown, salt rubs, sea catch, tea and spice exchange, washington dc
I’ve actually never been one to geek out on tea and spice shops — mainly because the few times I have gone in, I’ve been offended by the prices and wind up backing out of the store slowly being slightly embarrassed. But last night, I popped into Georgetown’s Spice & Tea Exchange after having an appetizer at Sea Catch a block away (love that restaurant, like l-o-v-e) to find such a special store with an apothecary vibe. All spices were lined up in glass jars and the owner encouraged my friend and me to open any of the jars to smell the aroma of its contents. How fun! What amazed me most wasn’t the unusual spices (and there were many) but the typical spices that I use on a daily basis. Take bay leaves (I love making soups) — I couldn’t believe how fresh and aromatic they smelled. Or, the varieties of cinnamon (hello Christmas cookies) from different regions in the world — decadent! There were so many cool salts — yes Himalayan of course, but so much more: smoked salts, chocolate salts, wine salts — no joke! So many neat rubs for meats, fish, pasta and olive oils. And teas too: green, black, and herbal all combining flavors you don’t ordinarily find. Obviously I’m excited about this — mainly because I’m done with buying spices from the supermarket. They’re old and have lost their flavor before they even hit the shelves. For the prices and the ambiance, I think I’ve just stumbled upon a new hobby.
Window Washer at the Watergate
November 2, 2011 at 11:32 am | Posted in DC, life, photography | 1 CommentTags: kennedy center, window washer
A view from my window. (That’s the Kennedy Center outside my office.) I can’t believe it but, one month from today will be my last day in the office before maternity leave starts…omg!
Marine Corps Marathan in Washington
November 2, 2011 at 8:26 am | Posted in architecture, DC, life, photography | 1 CommentTags: dc, kennedy center, lincoln memorial, Marine Corps Marathon, potomac river, washington, watergate
This past Sunday was a glorious fall day. I headed downtown to cheer on a friend who was running in the Marine Corps Marathon. I was overwhelmed by the turnout — there, 30,000 people were running around my beautiful city, past the Potomac, in front of the Watergate, then the Kennedy Center, following on past the Lincoln Memorial. The air was crisp and spirits were high. And it was exhilarating to see so many thousand determined people following their dream towards the finish line.
Date Night
September 28, 2011 at 12:53 pm | Posted in DC, life, photography, pregnancy | Leave a commentTags: beirut, black salt, pregnancy fashion, seafood restaurant in DC
::My attempt at being a reportage photographer—on myself::
I’m getting bigger by the minute. Here, I am actually sort of proud of my outfit, and Daryle just looks so dashing in his JFK jacket. We were heading to the restaurant Black Salt to meet my sweet old roommate, Behnam who was in town from Beirut. Great ambiance, and I had the best clam chowder of my life. I practically licked the bowl clean—I’m still talking about it!
The following day, I cleaned up all that crapola in the picture and Windexed the mirrors. Oh life. :)
Washington, DC Cherry Blossoms 2011
March 27, 2011 at 6:01 pm | Posted in DC, gardening, life, spring, Washington | Leave a comment
Every year I make an effort to go to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry trees in bloom. The parking can be tough, but once you’re there, it’s such a pleasant way to spend the afternoon holding hands, people watching and lusting after super cute dogs. (I saw more than a few.) The mood is tender and sweet; and everyone smiles as they meander about because at this very moment, there are few places more beautiful. Washington, DC may not be the hippest place to be, but springs here are hands down the best with a bounty of staggered blossoms that emerge week by week through the summer. The air is still chilly, but the sky is true blue which promises warmth that is just around the corner.
Sunshine+Design- Five Months Old Today! May 23, 2012Jack Mack, My little love, you’ve had a busy month growing and exploring. You are changing so fast, whenever we are out and about people comment how big you are, but I always explain to them that you are actually right around the 50th percentile — not too big and not too small. I think [...]Sunshine Design
- Five Months Old Today! May 23, 2012
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