making friends and scones

This weekend has been so fun!
Friday night, I went to the Kennedy Center, where they put on free shows at their Millennium Stage at 6, 365 days a year. Friday night, the Poor Old Shine was playing.  They are a fun and talented Americana/folksy group that is along the lines of Mumford and Sons and that I possibly like more than Mumford and Sons, but don't tell anyone. (I feel like I should like Mumford and Sons, I really do, but I'm looking forward to more variety than banjo build-up to angry shout-singing--help me out here, boys)
Anywayssss.
This is the best I could find on the Tube of a favorite.

Afterwards, we went back to Artfully Chocolate in Del Ray.  Holy moly, I love that place. The Marilyn converted me to white chocolate.
Go. There.
Then the evening proceeded to birthday party hoppin.  Again, more making friends tactics.

Saturday morning, I joined the group of my new friends, Marjorie and Joe, called The Greatness Initiative Social Club (GISC) to do service at the Points of Light service event in honor of MLK day.  We put together kits for our troops abroad.  The Director of Homeland Security, Mrs. Napolitano, was a speaker and I got to shake her hand!

my lovely roommate, Taryn, and Isis and Napolitano 
(stole this from Taryn cuz I didn't get a picture)

We went through the lines a couple of times and the last time we went, there was a huge crowd at one of the tables. I soon realized that it was VP Joe Biden making kits! Uh, I've only been here for 16 days and I have already seen the VP of America.

all I could think of was "Parks and Rec," when Leslie Knope fulfills her lifelong dream of meeting Joe Biden

But the most important figure I met was...wait for it...I know you're excited.....
Bullseye, the Target dog!!! I KNOW!!! BE JEALOUS!!

But, honestly, I didn't know that these people/dogs would be there and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to serve the men and women who help keep America safe. Thanks to Marjorie and Joe for letting me participate! #supportourtroops

I tried out Potbelly, which is a local sandwich joint that one of my roommates highly suggested to me when I moved here. I was not disappointed!

Last night, Taryn and I had a hot cocoa and scones party at our house. Neither of us had made scones before, but they were a hit! 

Taryn made Orange Almond Scones and I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones (added the chocolate chips, of course) and Strawberry Lemonade Scones.  They were all pretty easy to make and they were so yummy!!

Add some hot cider and cocoa with the mixins and a fire pit out back, and you have yourself a party!

blurry backyard

Have a great Sabbath, y'all!

Oregonian

Yesterday was super humid. The rain clouds came out and it did something to the air that, I dunno, made it thick. I was excited about the familiar rain, but as I sat on the Metro, I realized that I was the only one without a coat on. NOT used to humidity.

West coaster at heart (and body).

Museum-ing

Since I work for the Smithsonian, I figured it would be a good idea to see all of their museums while I'm here. Good idea, right?

I started last week during my lunch break. I work in the same building as one of the museums, so I skipped on over there (I didn't skip, that's weird).  They are the Freer and Sackler galleries, which consist of mostly Asian exhibits. It's a good museum for a lunch break cuz it's small and I saw most of what I wanted within a half and hour.  For more info on that museum, go here. 

Friday night, since I have no friends, yet, and I don't want to sit by myself at home, I went to the National Portrait Gallery.  This one has the portraits of all of the US presidents, which is pretty cool, along with portraits of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.  There I was, walking along the hall, when I turn the corner and think, "That looks like Joseph Smith!....It IS Joseph Smith!"  So that was a cool surprise.  The labels for the portraits were a little...weird...but cool to have those pieces in the National Portrait Gallery! I think it was a really cool museum for the pictures of famous early Americans.  

(c/o NPG)

The Great Hall in the NPG--used to be the biggest room in America.

The modern art section wasn't TOO strange, except for a piece that I really truly thought was a real woman sitting at a table, like she was just resting from walking around.  It creeped me out when I figured out she was fake. I just stood there and looked sideways at her and was frozen in fear.  Then I almost ran into the big wooden horse next to her. I like to play it cool in public places.

A really cool/artsy picture of Abe. He's my fav.
(c/o NPG)

They also had an exhibit about Amelia Earhart.  I like her because she seems like she was a woman of gumption.  

(c/o NPG)

Then this week, I ventured over to the Museum of African Art.  I was wanting to go here because of an exhibit I had been promoting from Lalla Essaydi, who has an exhibit of women with beautiful colors and writing all around them.  I thought most of the exhibit was very beautiful (there is a section for adults only that you should avoid...).

(c/o NMAA)

A supervisor of some other interns that I met my first day asks her interns every day, "And what did you learn today?"  Every day, I'm not only learning more about my job itself, but about all other things.  I learned the other day that out of the 800 species of fireflies, only 80 actually have glowing butts.  Who knew?  I also learned at the African Art Museum that Walt Disney was an avid African art collector and he donated his large collection to the Smithsonian.  It is now on display and I was able to see it.  Who knew?  I think that's what I like most about working for the Smithsonian--I love to learn and I love to help others learn.  It's a pretty nice fit, I'd say!

So if I haven't bored you with my geeking out about museums and learning, stay tuned while I try out the other museums around DC!

Old Town Alexandria

I have been having a fun time exploring my new home here in Alexandria. It is just how my romantic mind imagined the east coast to look. The homes in my area are straight from movies about the Civil War and the old town is historic and adorable. I mean, I live in a city where George Washington lived before he was president. This is where the Union swept down on the Confederates. I'm surrounded by history and it is so cool.
Today I walked down Old Town to see the cute shops. I found a bookstore and a cupcake shop, so I'm set :) I'm an easy one to please.

Waterfront walk along the Potomac

King St Trolley

George Washington Masonic Temple

Week One

It has been a busy busy week! I am loving the city and I have found my groove (for the most part...maybe it's more like an awkward slow dance at a middle school dance).  Either way, I know where I work, I know where I sleep, and I know where to get food.  That's not a bad start.
Every day is exciting. There is so much to do here (that is freeee).  And the people are so nice. The only way I can describe these people is that they are really hard-working, but you know how hard-working people can act like stiffs? Well, everyone is hard-working and NOT stiff here.  We just enjoy life and we work hard at the same time.
I've had the chance to meander around where I live, and the city is exactly how I imagined the east coast to look like.  Quaint little (and not so little) symmetrical brick houses that look just like they came from George Washington's neighborhood.
Everyone I've met has a really cool job and I'm learning so much at my internship and I hope that soon I can figure out what I want to do with my life post-internship.

lunch break--yeah, I work on the Mall!

roommates and I tried out the new burger place in our neighborhood, Holy Cow. It was really good!  Bonus: they donate $0.25 to a local charity of your choice. Good food and good feelings!

Join me on this adventure of discovery of myself and my future in this fantastic new place! -MEE

Day One

Hello from the Nation's capitol! Everything has gone smoothly and my house is super cute and I am excited to get to know this city!
My first full day here was yesterday and so I explored downtown.  My fam and I visited a couple of years ago, and that definitely set me up for my move.  Also, dependency on public transportation in London has helped me out, too.  So far, so good!
I walked along the mall all afternoon and took a progression of pictures that I sent to my parents with captions that I thought were clever. Heh heh. Here are some of those along with extras.  #sorrynotsorry about the awkward selfies.

waiting to be picked up at Ronald Reagan

Smithsonian Castle

where I will work

across the street!

potty break at Washington Monument

Oregon!

frozen reflection pool and stone cold Abe

lunch with the Obamas

view at the end of the walking tour

Well, here I am! Today I am going to tour my own new town and see what this place is all about.  I hear that George Washington used to live around here, so maybe I'll go check that out ;)

NYE 2012

I had my last day at my nanny job on Saturday the last and so my family went to the beach house after Church the next day until New Year's Day.  The activities were the usual: Just Dance, movies, walks on the beach, etc. We brought in the new year with poppers and sparkling cider.
We <3 neskowin="neskowin">

Sydney, the bird whisperer

HAPPY NEW YEAR!