About friends...

I've always been a good friend, in my opinion. I'm a good listener, overwhelmingly optimistic, and thoughtful. Oftentimes, I'm the "third" person in a best friend friendship. I remember in elementary school being drawn to people that already had best friends. It was pretty crappy because I would end up getting left out occasionally. Despite that, I managed to always try and be the best friend that I could be.

In high school, I mixed with pretty much every group in my high school, besides the uber popular kids. I had friends that were athletes and people I hung out with because we played softball. When I stopped playing softball, the theater kids accepted me with open arms and I made friends with a group of theater girls. I gained another group of friends when I started dating Ross. In college, I had a very tight knit group of friends who became my second family. They continue to be my very best friends, but most of them don't live close enough where we have the opportunity to grab dinner on a weekly basis and scheduling a weekend trip to see them is tough for everyone. My mom and sister also end up in that group of "best friends" and I get to see them alot, but I miss having a group to go out dancing with on a random Saturday night or meet up with for coffee during the week.

I'm not looking for people to replace my girls, for sure. I'm just looking to expand my social circle and make some quality "DC" friends. I've read that alot of people experience this in their twenties, so tell me: What's the best way to make friends in a big city? Have you had success on sites like Meetup.com? Do you have any advice for me?

Christmas Vacation, Part 1

I had a seriously great Christmas vacation.

My workweek before Christmas was cut short because of the snowstorm that hit the East Coast. DC received enough snow that the Federal Government decided to shut down on Monday, so my office was closed. The night before, I reverted to my 12 year old ways and wore my PJs inside out and flushed ice down the toilet because like any disgruntled employee before the holiday, I love myself a snowday (or 12).

That amount of snow meant that I only had to work one day before Christmas. Which rocked, in case you were wondering. On Christmas Eve Eve, my sister and I Bolt-Bused up to NYC to see "White Christmas" on Broadway. That might not sound like a rocking good time to you, but if I had to be on a bus for 4+ hours with anyone, it would be sister (or George Clooney). And if I was going to spend all that time on the bus, it would have to be for a damn good Broadway show, like White Christmas (crap, I would probably do that to see ANY Broadway show), but whatever.

We took the bus and saw White Christmas and managed to fit in quite a bit of NYC Christmas-ness in a mere 8 hours, including dinner at some place called Fat Annie's Truck Stop (which made me not feel like a tourist because we were surrounded by actual New Yorkers heading to the Rangers game), almost getting trampled in Macy's, seeing the tree in Rockafeller Center, and experiencing the frigid December weather.

All of that meant that my sister and I arrived back in DC at 2am on Christmas Eve for a few hours of shut eye before we hit the trail, with my husband and pup in tow, to head south on 95. This was only the beginning folks. We had several days of driving and Christmas-ing ahead of us. Check in tomorrow to hear about how we handled the holidays while managing to spend time with everyone, and being in two places at once!

The Big Move

This weekend, my parents and I ventured to Richmond, VA to move my little sister into her freshmen dorm at Virginia Commonwealth University. As I've mentioned, I still see her as being 6 years old (and in a cast with no front teeth after an unfortunate fall down the stairs in our house), which is completely silly since she's 18, gorgeous, and taller than me.

We managed the unloading and setting up of the room in record time. Kudos to VCU for making move in, especially into a HUGE building, pretty seamless. The streets were blocked off so we pulled right up to the curb and then got to check out one of those big laundry carts like the cleaning staff uses in a hotel. We had all of Beck's stuff into her room in 2 trips and totally tag teamed the room set up, with my mom making the bed, me filling her drawers with clothes, and my dad setting up her computer. We trekked around campus to check out the theater and hit the bookstore. After an extremely emotional "see ya later," we hit the road and left Beck to her next big adventure.

She has decided to document her first year at school, as a theater major, and you can check out her blog at This Little Light of Mine. Tell her her big sister sent you!

What's you fondest memory of your freshmen year of college or your first year away from home?

My Nana Hazel's Curry

I was fortunate enough to eat a lot of great food while we were on vacation in Montana. Between my favorite greasy tacos, chicken from my favorite bar, bbq fixings, and my Nana’s home cooking, we were definitely well fed.

On Monday, Nana Hazel made a delicious curry for dinner, after Ross and my Papa Woody got home from a long day of fishing (fyi, they didn’t catch a thing except for grasshoppers.). The house smelled absolutely wonderful the entire day and I badgered Ross with text messages to see when they would be home so we could eat:

“Am hungry. The house smells great. Hope you haven’t been eaten by a snake. Please come home soon.Kthxbye”

Nana grew up in Southend-on-Sea, England after World War II. She cooks traditional British food like a champ. Her Sunday roast makes tears come to my eyes it’s so good. Her Yorkshire pudding is something that both my mom and I try and replicate and ultimately fail at, every single time. . She makes Toad-in-the-Hole (sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding) and amazing chips (French fries) and a trifle that my mom talks about in complete envy. She doesn’t use a lot of spices, but the food still is rich in flavor and always memorable.

The curry that she makes is ever so easy and something that she learned to make from her brother, my great uncle, Brian. He was known for making this around Christmastime and having friends and family over to share with him.

It reminds me of family.

First, gather a package of stew beef and chop the pieces in smaller pieces (roughly ¾ inch pieces). Slice an onion and two large carrots. On medium high heat and in a large pot, sauté onions in extra virgin olive oil until they are translucent. Add the stew beef, a few (yes, few-she doesn’t measure) tablespoons of curry powder, and some flour. Allow the meat to brown until most of the pink in the meat is gone. Add three to four cups of water and the carrots. Allow the stew to simmer for several hours (the longer it simmers, the more tender the meat will be). Then add a packet of Golden Curry sauce mix (Nana uses medium hot). Stir to desired consistency. Add more sauce mix as necessary and make sure everything is well combined and heated through.

Serve on top of rice and enjoy in the company of those you love.

14. Visit my grandparents in Montana with Ross

This past week, we crossed off another item on my 101 Things list. Ross and I had been planning our Montana trip since March and I feel like it sort of snuck up on us. I hail from Great Falls, Montana, thanks to the fact my dad is retired Air Force and met my mom (a Montana transplant via England) while he was stationed here. And while my Nana Hazel explained that “the city is going to shit,” I still love it.

Why? Because the sky is different there. Because everything seems alittle brighter. Because there’s no humidity and my hair didn't frizz. Because some of my favorite people in the entire world live there. Because my favorite restaurant is there. Because people are just alittle bit more relaxed.

They wear boots and cowboy hats. They go to rodeos. They 4-wheel through the mountains and camp. They go to the river and swim in the creek. They fish and they hunt.

Me? I don’t do any of that. But I appreciate the lives that they live and I’m imagining that it would be pretty great to have a house with some land, to be able to look out in the morning and see that big, beautiful sky.

Also, I think I would look pretty sweet in a pair of boots, and an awesome cowboy hat.

Graduation

This past weekend, my little sister graduated from high school. Sitting in the stands of her high school stadium, I got to thinking alot about my high school graduation just six years ago. I wish that I would have known a few things then that I know now (isn't that always how it works???). I've tried to impart some of those tidbits of knowledge on Beck in hopes that she won't be sitting in around in six years writing the very same post. Yes, I love my life. No, I would not change things. But knowing that she possesses some of the same hangs up I do, I hope she has what it takes to overstep any adversity that comes her way.

1. You are the only one holding yourself back from doing your heart's desire.
2. Once you get to college, no one really cares what you got on your SATS, if you took the AP exam, or that you were the star of your high school football team.
3. Do not spend a ton of time on stupid girl drama.
4. The grades, they don't matter as long as you pass. Just always try your best.
5. People love and support you more than you will ever know. You do not have to struggle with feeling alone.

What words of wisdom or advice would you offer to a newly-minted high school graduate?

La Dolce Vita

This morning has started off kind of rocky (I may or may not have broken into big 'ole alligator tears at my desk). Trying to hold myself together and simply make it to 5pm when I can go home and go on a long walk with Tucker, I thought I would share something big that I did this weekend.

In the past 12 months, honestly, I've pretty much gotten everything that I've ever wanted and done some things I've always wanted to do. Sometimes when I'm in my kitchen or walking my dog, it hits me like a ton of bricks that I have to be one of the luckiest and most blessed people in the entire would. My Nana Hazel says that I'm spoiled, but I feel like alot of the things in my life are things that I've worked hard for. I worked hard to have the relationship I have with my husband and I work hard at doing my best at my job. Overall, I'm really living a very sweet life.

This past weekend, my sister (aside: I am completely obsessed with my little sister. When you spend 3 years throwing a penny into a wishing well at the Great Falls, Montana mall, wishing for a baby sister, you would be as thankful as I am for such an amazing person in your life. Seriously. She's wise beyond her 18 years and I'm not sure you could be more proud of a person, than I am of her) and I decided that we were going to get tattoos. I've always wanted a tattoo but have struggled with what to get (people don't think you're very smart or serious about it when you say you would want a miny Olive Oyl from Popeye on your hip) for several years. Two weeks ago, I decided as a graduation present for my sister, I would pay for us to get tattoos.

You probably are asking "why" and here it is: Everyday, I put something on my body that I don't really have a choice about. (Yes, I could take insulin shots instead of wearing an insulin pump and I could not wear a CGMS, but my control would be awful) And with a tattoo, I got to make the decision. I got to choose what it would look like and what color it would be and the size of it.

We decided against matching ones, because both Beck (that's my sister) and I were attached to different phrases. But we marched in with our family (my mom, husband, and Beck's best friend in tow). Determined to not be a wimp in front of everyone, I went first and then tightly held onto a hand I've been holding onto for the past 18 years as Beck got "Carpe Diem" etched onto her skin.

Me? I got "La Dolce Vita" because at that moment and even right now, when all things are said and done, my life is incredibly sweet.