A Lot of Moving

Music Monday | Introducing Your 2013 Summer Jam

2013-05-13T22:11:00.001-04:00

Everyone needs a good summer jam. Whether you're cruising to the beach with the windows down or mixing up margaritas in your kitchen, a good summer song will have you dancing around and telling yourself "this is the best summer ever." In case you need a point of reference see Call me Maybe (Summer 2012) and Party in the U.S.A. (Summer 2009).

I know it may be a little early, but I'm nominating Summer of Love (Ian Carey Remix) for your 2013 summer jam. Given it's Caribbean/Jamacian feel, I'm getting that I am drawn to this song due to my recent St. John vacation. Do I care that it's by a super cheesy band named Sunloverz?! (Um, please see the past summer songs, above. Cheesy is encouraged in these instances). Nevertheless, I think it is a great tune whether you're summering in the Hamptons, the Virgin Islands, Iowa, or Washington, D.C. Just take a listen below — I promise you'll be dancing by the song's end.

Lisons! A Primer on My Favorite Books about Paris

2013-04-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure what's gotten into me lately, but I am obsessed with Paris. Perhaps it's the never-ending DC winter, the yummy macaroon shop in my neighborhood, my first adventure with foie gras, or just my wanderlust acting up again. I don't speak French at all, mind you, and I've never actually been to Paris save for a layover at CDG in 2006, but lately I just can't seem to get it off my mind.

Truthfully, I'm pretty sure the blame lies squarely on Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, which I watch on a weekly basis. Just recently, I read Oh Happy Day's account of their year in France and subscribed to two new blogs, Paris in Four Months and HiP (Haven in Paris).

And then come the books. In the last month or two, I've read not one, not two, but five books about Paris and I've enjoyed each one more than the last.

Down and Out in Paris and London | George Orwell
I felt it was an injustice that I had only read Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984, so I selected this book based on how much I enjoy the partially fictional, mostly autobiographical stories of expats F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. It was.... blah. It was of course interesting to read about the character's struggle with employment at various restaurants in Paris, but I felt that the struggle was unrewarding and unexciting. The descriptions seemed to drag on and on and the action was incredibly slow-moving. I managed to finish the book, but I don't recommend it for anyone looking for an idyllic view of life in Paris.

Me Talk Pretty One Day | David Sedaris
Everyone I talk to lauds Dave Sedaris as one of the funniest writers around today and I have to admit I enjoyed his humor and cynicism. Me Talk Pretty One Day focuses heavily on Sedaris' upbringing in North Carolina, but ends in Paris, where Sedaris ends up spending more time savoring the English language than learning French. His story about listening to books on tape in the Luxembourg Gardens is pretty hilarious.

Paris Was Ours: Thirty-Two Writers Reflect on the City of Light | Penelope Rowlands
First off, this collection of short stories is an excellent bus read if you're a commuter like myself. I enjoyed making this book last a little longer and the opportunity to break between writers was much appreciated. When reading short stories I usually have a tendency to want to string all the stories together, and that isn't a mistake you want to make with this book. I really loved that the contributing writers were from such a wide variety of backgrounds. One is a student studying abroad, another is a woman stuck in Paris during the Islamic Revolution in her home country of Tehran. One is Cuban, several are American.

Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down | Rosecranz Baldwin
As someone who lived abroad for a while, it's refreshing to read an account of someone who can see the flaws in living abroad and appreciate the country even more in spite of them. Baldwin moves to Paris when he is offered a job at a French advertising firm and brings his wife along. He revels in the delicious food and the beautiful scenery he passes each morning on the way to work. He also voices frustration at the French definition of exercise and how all of a sudden, his favorite park can be closed for renovations that will probably never happen. My thanks goes to Baldwin for reminding me that even Paris isn't perfect.

Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes | Elizabeth Bard
Most of my friends know that I will do nearly anything to avoid sappy, unrealistic love stories. But I really do love cooking, so even I couldn't resist Bard's lovely book about falling in love in Paris and eating along the way. Apart from the love stuff, food obviously plays a huge role in this book (as it does in the life of many Parisians) and Bard includes the recipes for the meals she mentions at the end of each chapter. So if you do decide to read Lunch in Paris, make sure you have a pen and paper on hand, and maybe some macaroons to snack on — you'll get hungry.

Want more? Here are a few books still on my reading list:

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik
Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris by Clotilde Dusoulier
All You Need to be Impossibly French by Helena Frith Powell
The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Weekly Roundup | What I Read this Week

2013-03-31T14:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter! Like many people, I headed home for the weekend. While it isn't nearly warm enough to go to the beach, we got to ride bikes down the beach road, visit our favorite frozen yogurt shop, and indulge in fried pickles, bacon jam, shrimp and grits, and delicious wine at Brine & Bottle. Not a bad way to say sayonara to March. Below, I've rounded up a few of my favorite links from the past week or so.

• My favorite thing to do when I'm visiting my parents is steal dad's recent issues of GQ. I fawn over the layout, style tips and photography - but I love their longform pieces the best. I really enjoyed this piece about Tim Bergling, the Swiss dude who became Avicii, and the recent rise of the "oontz, oontz."

• Climbing the Egyptian pyramids is probably a pretty dumb idea. Not only does it carry a prison sentence of 1-3 years, but it's awful for the conservation of these ancient monoliths. Nevertheless, these photos, taken by a group of Russians who hid out and eluded guards to climbed the pyramids, are pretty amazing.

• Now this is a startup I can get behind. Goldbely allows users to order popular food like deep-dish pizza from Chicago or barbecue from Texas and have it delivered right to their doors - sometimes in a matter of hours! What's not to like? Some days you just need a beignet from Cafe Du Monde, and nothing else will do.

• As someone who drags a Longchamp to and from work each day and goes purse-less on the weekends, I really loved the 'Handbag Upgrade' post on The Life Styled. If you made me pick just one, I'd choose the Alexander Wang Rocco bag in a heartbeat - I love the edgy rivets on the bottom, it make the whole purse a little more punk rock.

• There are several restaurants out in rural Virginia I've been meaning to try, the most obvious being The Inn at Little Washington, so with the recent news that Trummer's on Main in Clifton is featuring a pop-up burger bar during April I may just have to leave DC for a food road trip. I think the Chesapeake Burger sounds delish!

• I'm always interested to peek inside other DC houses, especially the homes of those who don't hop from house to house every year (guilty). I loved this Houzz feature on Marcia and Clark Silcox, who own a home on Capitol Hill. Isn't that deck to die for?

[Image via Alisa Burke]

Kilim Rugs, Killin' It

2013-03-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

So there are these rugs. Kilim rugs. I'm not even a rug person and I'm dying over them. I'm not even sure why I'm just learning about them since, you know, they date back to the fourth or fifth century. The bottom line is that they're super flat, tapestry-woven rugs made between the Balkins and Pakistan. While they were originally used as prayer rugs, they are hugely popular home decorations.

What I really love about the kilim rugs I've seen online recently are their vibrant colors (coming from the girl who loves gray) and fun geometric patterns. My living room is primarily beige and it could really use one of the rugs below to jazz it up.

[1. ESaleRugs, $1379 / 2. West Elm, $59-$899 / 3. Rugs USA, $330-$730 / 4. Furbish, $850]

Music Monday: Nylo, yo.

2013-03-25T17:36:00.001-04:00

I've only followed Back Down South blogger Caroline Fontenot on Twitter for a year or so now. But I swear I've gotten more music recommendations from this practical stranger in the past couple months than I have from most of my friends. Last week she tweeted that Nylo would be the love child of Miguel and the XX. Um, hello - obviously I looked it up immediately and fell in love with the whole EP. Listening to Nylo has been a nice respite from the overly poppy and upbeat music I've been listening to at work recently and is just the kind of slow jam that is great whether it accompanies me writing reports in the office or kicking it at home. Take a listen, I already know you'll enjoy. Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday, C.Z. Guest!

2013-02-19T19:10:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite parts of each Matchbook Magazine is the monthly date book — I love the little reminders and tidbits at the beginning of each issue. For example, did you know that the first untethered hot-air balloon flight took place over Paris on November 21, 1783 precisely 205 years before I was born?

In the February issue, Matchbook notes the birth date of one C.Z. Guest. Rarely am I unfamiliar with the name of someone in the date book so I had to investigate. And let me tell ya — she was so chic. A socialite born in Boston, C.Z. moonlighted as a stage actress, columnist, author and fashion designer. She married Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, international polo star, heir to the Phipps steel fortune, and second cousin to the Winston Churchill, in 1947. They were married at Hemingway's house in Cuba and the author served as the best man (this may be my favorite thing about her, as I am a huge Hemingway fan). She was often photographed and was even painted by Diego Rivera, Salvador Dalì and Andy Warhol! But her circle of famous friends didn't end there — she often spent time with Truman Capote, Diana Vreeland, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Her style was classic American and what we consider today to be New England/Palm Beach prep can be partially attributed to Mrs. Guest. In the early '50s, she was named as one of the best-dressed women in the world by the New York Dress Institute and was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1959 (who knew such a thing existed?).

From what I've read, C.Z. Guest seemed to be truly genuine, incredibly fashionable and someone who was always down for a cocktail. Cheers to that! You can read more about her life on Harper's Bazaar or find her obituary in the New York Times.

[Images via Harper's Bazaar]

Music Monday | Welcome Home

2013-02-18T10:43:00.001-05:00

This song made for a great Friday night in, catching up on some reading and painting my nails with Color Club's Wild Cactus that I received in this month's Birchbox. It would also make the perfect companion for a long road trip, don't you think?

[Image via Pigeons & Planes]

Menno Aden Gives Us All a Bird's Eye View

2013-02-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

I discovered the work of photographer Menno Aden while scrolling through the blog of Swiss-Miss superstar Tina Roth Eisenberg. Aden began by photographing the apartments of friends living in Berlin, some very neat rooms and some rather messy rooms. To capture these unique images, Aden elevates the camera using a monopod, tripod or boom and takes about 150 shots before the editing begins.

"For me as an artist, watching from a higher position on a small space is interesting because I can see someone's 'compressed personality," said Aden in this interview.

I especially like this shot of a bar, though I think it would be neat to see it filled with people — friends chatting at the barstools, servers mixing drinks and reaching over the counters. Visit Menno Aden's site to see more of these great photos.

GBD Donuts & Fried Chicken Coming to Dupont

2013-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have been a donut lover for as long as I can remember. I believe that I came by it honestly, I was born in the same state that gave life to Krispy Kreme. Not one family roadtrip took place in which we did not stop at a Krispy Kreme when the hot light was on. And now that my office has moved to Dupont Circle, I'm tempted to grab a glazed donut every morning as I hop off the bus. Soon, I'll have another donut shop to tempt me as well!

GBD (short for golden, brown and delicious) is the newest venture of the husband-and-wife team behind Birch & Barley. Kyle Bailey will be frying up delictable fried chicken to accompany Tiffany MacIssac's wide array of donuts in flavors like grapefruit-Campari. Plus, the duo will have an impressive selection of beer and cocktails, and will offer additional appetizers during the dinner hours. Tiffany's pop-up at Union Market late last year got rave reviews and has donut fans like myself itching to try the inventive combination. I'll be dragging the RepEquity team over for a happy hour as soon as I can.

What do you think — will chicken and donuts eclipse the cupcake fad? Better question — will I be able to say no to chicken and donuts every morning as I walk by?

Music Monday | Destiny's Child

2013-02-05T21:29:00.006-05:00

So maybe it's technically Music Tuesday Night, but whatever. I am not alone when I say that Beyonce and the Destiny's Child reunion was the best thing about the Super Bowl. They totally killed it, and they have come a long way since the days of their matchy-matchy camo outfits and early 2000s music videos.

Super Bowl Sunday & What I Read This Week

2013-02-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

Oh hello! When I say I've had the laziest weekend on record, I am not kidding. I caught up on chores, read the last three issues of Garden & Gun that I've overlooked, cooked some delicious Super Bowl snacks — oh, and rewarded myself for a hard week at work with a necessary bottle of champagne on Friday night. Plus, it's been snowing on and off all weekend; and it's so much nicer to watch the snow from my couch than outside. Below are a few things I found on Twitter this week and wanted to share with you all.

• If you're looking for some thoughtful and unique gifts for Valentine's Day, you must check out To and From Magazine. I flipped through it last night and I want everything — imaginary boyfriend, take note.

• It happens to all of us — it's late, you have an early morning, but your brain just won't let you go to sleep. Wouldn't it be nice to have some lavender sheet spray to make drifting off a little easier?

• I have a really nice set of Sephora makeup brushes that I've had for a few years, but haven't ever taken much care of. This post from The Average Girl's Guide shows just how easy it is to clean brushes and I'll definitely be cleaning mine soon!

• It's Restaurant Week again in DC and I feel like the decision of where to eat has been more agonizing than in previous years. I have a reservation made at 1789 for Tuesday, but with a friend coming to town this weekend, I'm sure I'll eat at a couple other places. If we do, I'll be using this Washingtonian list of restaurants that are participating in Restaurant Week and made the magazine's 2013 Very Best list.

• If you have time before kickoff, or maybe when you're feeling less than 100% tomorrow morning, take a while to read this Atlantic article titled "The Hardest Job in Football," about the people who take raw video of the Super Bowl and turn it into the amazing production we see on TV!

[Image via NY Daily News]

Music Monday | Oliver Tank

2013-01-28T22:03:00.002-05:00

It's Monday night and I've been in bed since 9 pm. Yes, it was one of those kind of Mondays — the kind where I walk in the front door at 8 o'clock looking like I got hit by a semi-truck. I could blame it on my bootcamp instructor's bad day, or the client snafu that started my week, or the fact that I decided lettuce would be a filling lunch. But it all really falls under the whole idea of the terrible Mondays.

For today's Music Monday tune I chose a song that I feel like is very calming and peaceful, in case you had a day like I did. And while the song is titled "Up All Night," I will be doing the exact opposite. The man of the evening, Oliver Tank, hasn't been around for a long time; he first became popular when his music was shared via SoundCloud in early 2011. He's also Australian and adorable to boot.

Weekend Roundup | What I Read this Week

2013-01-27T13:42:00.003-05:00

What a whirlwind weekend it's been! What started out as a short train trip to North Carolina on Friday morning ended up with me flying into Norfolk, VA, just as it started to snow on Friday evening. My reason for heading south was the little bro's 16th birthday! My parents rented a great little beach cottage for the weekend so we've been on a mini-vacay where we can see the ocean from every room! In other news, we have also eaten 10 tons of food.

Check out a few of my favorite links this week below:

If you're in DC today, head over to Union Market for tips on throwing the best Super Bowl party in town with demonstrations and advice from Salt & Sundry, Oh! Pickles, Rappahannock Oyster Co. and Red Apron Butchery. More info can be found on Union Market's website.

While next year's Oscar nominees are making their debut at Sundance this week, I really enjoyed reading this NYT piece on Beasts of the Southern Wild, one of the best films I saw last year.

Looks like I'm not the only one trying to be a foodie on a budget. How do postgrads balance a small salary and the desire to dine at restaurants that are making waves in the culinary circles? The NYT takes a look...

Um hello, I love these notecards from Happy Menocal - especially the matador and bull prints!

My grandmother, the southern matron that she is, makes the best fried chicken out of anyone in our family. I have to admit I'm kind of terrified to fry things, but I don't believe I can call myself a southerner if I can't make fried chicken. Since Ashely Christensen can literally do no wrong, I think I'll have to try her recipe, featured on Garden & Gun's website.

Absolutely in love with this quote, which I plucked from the Tumblr of a friend from college: "Everyone who terrifies you is sixty-five percent water..."

Along with Coachella, the New Orleans Jazz Festival lineup was published last week. Headliners include Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and John Mayer. Like my friend Michelle said, "Am I back in my high school parking lot?" That doesn't mean I don't wish I was going — any excuse to get to NOLA!

I could really do without a "high-end" bowling alley at the Georgetown Mall. Who else agrees?

[Imagine via blogger and Matchbook lady Katie Armour. Her Instagram photos of door knockers around New York are always my favorite!]

Music Monday | NewVillager

2013-01-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

From the minute I opened this song in my Spotify inbox I was obsessed. Like the kind of obsessed where you turn up the bass and listen to it 10 times on repeat and don't even care that the cab driver beside you thinks you're insane. Because it's just that good. Kind of kooky, but awesome nonetheless. I'll let this review explain the music better than I can:

"Rock music has always lent itself to the creation of mythology. Whether it’s an apocryphal story of a sand shark or the carefully created origins of KISS’ make-up, musicians have sought to both become and construct characters audiences will find compelling. The Beatles transferred their narrative from music to film, and the Monkees were created wholesale and then rebelled in Head. Bands like Coheed and Cambria and even Insane Clown Posse have taken up the mantle in recent years, translating their stage personas into comics, elaborate videos, and features. New York band New Villager is putting a new spin on this tradition, basing all of its various projects on the mono-myth of Joseph Campbell and the writings of Mircea Eliade. As New Villager creates its own myth with a dazzling series of live shows, videos, and art installations, Ross Simonini and Ben Bromley are also thinking deeply about what it means to tell these stories, both to the artist and the audience." - Mike Burr, Prefix

I've decided to start embedding my Music Monday songs on the blog for a couple of reasons: 1) it's sometimes hard to find quality videos of the songs I like and 2) sometimes the videos are just so weird that I can't even embed them. If you're feeling brave, check out the official "Lighthouse" video (and don't say I didn't warn you).

A Well-Dressed Desk

2013-01-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

In my house we are fortunate enough to have a room toward the back of our house that we have turned into an "office." My coworkers often tease me for having a desk at home, but when it's time to sit down and GSD, I can't focus if I'm lounging in my bed.

But what's the point of blogging and designing from a desk if you're totally uninspired? When I sit at my desk I stare at a huge blank wall and it's just boring. This week, I bought a bulletin board off Craigslist and, after a quick paint job, I plan to cover it with photos, magazine clippings, quotes and anything that I find that I think will jump start my creativity. That's phase one.

Phase two includes buying some nice, matching desk supplies and creating a better storage system for my stuff. The Rubbermaid drawers I lugged with me through college isn't going to cut it anymore. I've been browsing and I think I'll be making purchases from Design Darling, Poppin,and I definitely need this mousepad from Freshly Picked. I'd love to hear your recommendations for where else I should look for desk accessories!

2013 Resolutions | Better Late than Never

2013-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Man, heading back to work after a two week break is the worst. I walked into work last Wednesday morning and could barely remember how to turn on my computer, let alone answer an email. So you'll forgive me for taking so long to write down my resolutions. Now, my resolutions aren't all that hard to write down, but they're going to take a lot of work. And the good think about my list this year is that, with the exception of the photography resolution, none of them have a completion date. That way, I'm forced to keep working on these items for all 365 days (or at least the 356 days remaining in 2013).

1. Make healthy living a lifestyle, not just a phase.

I'm know this probably is the case for a lot of people. In January, February and March we're all adamant about going to the gym regularly and eating healthier after the super-indulgent holidays. But I want to make it a habit, or something I don't even have to think about at all. My parents are both great about making healthy meals and working out daily and it's just part of their routine (not a chore) and I want to follow their lead.

2. Become a better photographer by taking a class and taking at least one picture a day.

I have had a Nikon DSLR since college graduation and I have yet to take a class on how to use it properly. So far, I've relied on the help of my super talented photographer friends, but I don't want to have to stop and ask "now, what is F-stop?" before I take every picture. Frankly, I find my fancy cam to be a little intimidating, and by the end of 2013 I want to be taking some really good photos.

3. Patience, patience, patience.

I don't know when it happened, but I am a terribly impatient person. Whether I'm waiting for the bus or answering someone's questions, I am always thinking about what else I could be doing with my time. I need to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy waiting for the bus or kindly answer peoples' questions. Being snipity isn't going to help anyone.

4. Be a better blogger.

I've devised a silly 4-5-6 program to help myself with blogging in 2013. For posts, I'm going to aim to write 4 posts a week for the first four months of the year, 5 posts a week for the middle four months of the year, and 6 posts a week for the final four months of the year. To better interact with other bloggers, I hope to comment on at least 4 posts a week for the first four months of 2013 and so on. And hopefully, by the end of the year I'll have 456 followers (ha, wouldn't that be nice)!

5. Live more simply and be thankful for everything I have.

I mean, what more needs to be said?

[Image via Tarafirma]

Music Monday | Alt-J

2013-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

I recently texted one of my good friends and told her "I think Alt-J's 'Tessellate' is one of the most underrated romance songs of our time." That may be a little bit of a stretch, but I really can't get enough of the band, which made appearances on many "Best of 2012" music lists. They're coming to D.C. in March and I'm just dying to get a ticket to the already sold-out show. If you really like the song, I highly recommend checking out this Mumford & Sons cover, which I just discovered this week — just when I didn't think it could get any better! Happy Monday!

[Image via Static.Guim]

Weekly Roundup | What I Read this Week

2013-01-06T17:23:00.000-05:00

Hello friends, happy New Year! I've been laying low these first couple days of 2013 as I mull over what my resolutions are for this coming year, and more importantly, where I want to take this little blog. Anyway, that's a different conversation for a different day. My first weekend of D.C. was just what I needed after the very busy holiday season. A little working out, a little shopping, a little brunching.

As a way to wind down your weekend and get ready for the first full week of 2013, here's a few things I think you might enjoy:

• I'm always looking for ways to become a better cook, and anything that says "Top Chef" catches my eye. This list of 30 tips from Eat This, Not That offered some great new ideas. I especially liked #19 about microwaving citrus fruits before squeezing to get more juice!

• I'm a casual follower of Blog Brunch and was thrilled that someone shared a link to Allison Lehman's blog Be Up & Doing and her "Tips on Blogging" series. I'm really looking forward to reading the installations on Hacking and Time Saving Techniques.

• If you're reallyyyy in for a long read, here's a research paper on quitting Facebook — yes, someone took the time to research and write a paper on the topic. I deactivated my Facebook in October and I truly don't miss it at all.

• Do you have a New Year's resolution that involves watching what you eat (and the scale)? Come January, everyone is offering the same old advice, but I found Real Simple's tips to be achievable and very easy to remember. I especially liked the "restaurant rule of two," which I'll have to start incorporating into my regular brunches.

• When Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema says an article is "the most scintillating (and honest)" article he's read in a long time, you know it's going to be good. Take a few extra minutes to read "20 Things That Everyone Thinks About the Food World (But Nobody Will Say)" from First We Feast.

• If you're like me and are attending an inaugural ball later this month but just don't want to drop hundreds (or thousands, ugh) on a designer dress for the black tie affair, you definitely want to check out this LivingSocial deal. For just $8, you can attend a Rent the Runway pop-up shop and pick out dresses from designers like Badgley Mischka, Herve Llegar, and more. If you can't make the event, but would still like to sign up for RTR, please use my code!

• To all my friends who are thinking about moving to D.C. — you should! It was just ranked number one on a list of the country's most popular cities to move to. I'm also thrilled to see that my home state, North Carolina, made the top five!

• And finally, I know that I'm just one of many who are over-the-top excited about the return of PBS' "Downton Abbey" tonight. Illustrator David Downton (what a coincidence!) recently sketched actress Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary Crawley, in Balenciaga, Givenchy and Oscar de la Renta. For more of Downton's illustrations, like the one above, visit Vanity Fair.

Music Monday | Christmas in Hollis

2012-12-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

So I may have stared this series promising new Christmas tunes by groups you may have never heard of, but today we're breaking both those rules. Run D.M.C.'s 1987 hit "Christmas in Hollis" is neither new nor unfamiliar, but it's so darn good. Plus, didn't you know everything was better in the '80s? Come on.

Weekly Roundup | What I Read This Week

2012-12-16T21:29:00.000-05:00

The highlight of my weekend was the carolers that made their way through Glover Park this evening. Not only did they have amazing voices, but brought me some much-needed Christmas spirit. I was even inspired to finally sit down and write the Christmas cards I bought about a month ago. This weekend also included a sad goodbye to my friend Katherine who's moving to Charleston next week and the quarter-of-a-centry birthday celebrations for my dear friend Kathleen.

Here are a few items I enjoyed reading this week:

• The most moving thing I watched this week was President Obama's powerful and sincere statement on the shootings at Sandy Hook on Friday morning. I was also moved by last night's SNL opener and these images of people around the world morning the tragedy that took place in Newton.

• Joining a book club was one of my favorite things I did in 2012. Though we're only on our third book, I enjoyed this NPR roundup of the Best Book Club Reads, as we're always looking for books to add to our list. Although I was surprised to see that "Gone Girl" did not make the list, as it seems to be one of the most popular book club books around, judging by the waitlist at the Georgetown library.

• The newest Bond film, Skyfall, was my favorite movie of the year (I only saw two movies in theaters this year, coincidentally). I enjoyed Mental Floss' behind the scenes tidbits about the film, although I would have like for the list to be a bit longer.

• Though it's over a month old, I finally got around to reading this Paste Magazine interview with Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers. I've followed the story of Bob's daughter's brain tumor not only because I am a fan of the group, but because Hallie was treated at St. Jude Children's Hospital, the main focus of Tri Delt's philanthropy efforts. It made me smile knowing the funds we raised through letter writing campaigns and Frats at Bat helped Hallie and other young children overcome the odds.

• Are dinner parties dying? I certainly hope not! Perhaps one of my 2013 goals will be to host a dinner party once each season (and heavy hor d'oeuvres don't count).

• And finally, I am totally envious of D.C. blogger Nikki Rappaport's apartment, featured over on The Everygirl. She puts my 4-bedroom house to shame!

[Image from the Washington Times]

Wall Wants | A Peek at my Art Wishlist

2012-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Over the last 5 years and 10+ moves, the one thing my friends count on seeing in each room is my huge collection of picture frames, with photos like summers at the beach and college mixers being front and center. As I've aged, it seems like I take fewer pictures and have a harder time keeping my frames up to date. That, and I've found myself preferring art to photos. I still have plenty of pictures on my walls, but they look so much better when balanced out by a clean, eye-catching print. Above are just a few of the prints I added to my joint birthday and Christmas list. The lips already looks great on my wall and I'm hoping to add a few more in the next couple months! Which do you like the best?

[Images via The Aestate x 2, Old Try, Ampersand, and Sarah & Bendrix]

December Music Monday | Songs for Christmas

2012-12-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

We're 10 days into December and just 15 days away from Christmas! Anyone sick of Christmas tunes already? I hope not, because today is our second installment of ALoM Christmas, where I introduce my dear readers to some lesser-known Christmas tunes. Sufjan Stevens is a fantastic musician on his own and his Christmas album, Songs for Christmas, is one of my holiday favorites. Even after listening to "Put the Lights on the Tree" a million times, I find myself happily singing along each time... something I can say with certainty is not true when I hear "The Twelve Days of Christmas" even twice.

Also, how adorable is this video?!

December Music Monday | Christmas Tree Island

2012-12-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

When I started listening to my Christmas playlists on the day after Thanksgiving (especially early for me this year), I was surprised by how much music I have amassed over the years. More recently, I've branched away from the classics and have been collecting Christmas-y songs by my favorite bands. To spread the cheer, I'm introducing you all to some great, new tunes you can turn to when you just can't listen to a crappy mall rendition of Jingle Bells one more time.

We'll start December off with The Rosebuds, a band from Raleigh, N.C., who I had the privilege of seeing open for Bon Iver two summers ago in D.C. Their entire holiday album, Christmas in New York, sticks so closely to their original sound and shares some of the most honest feelings about the holidays ever put to music. Since I've never seen NYC during the holidays, this week's song is The Rosebuds' "Xmas in New York." Enjoy, and let me know what you think of this series in the comments below!

[Image via Flickr user whooosh]

A Visit to Raleigh's Furbish Studio

2012-11-15T22:10:00.000-05:00

I headed down to North Carolina last month to celebrate a friend's birthday and gave myself a few extra days off work to hang around with old college buddies. After another friend introduced me to fellow UNC grad Jamie Meares' blog, I Suwannee, and shop, Furbish, I've been dying to visit the 3,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Raleigh. Following a yummy lunch at The Rockford on Glenwood Ave. we headed over to do a little shopping.

When I say that I wanted every last thing in Furbish, I am saying that with the most serious face I can muster. From the furniture to the jewelry, I could picture everything living perfectly in my house in D.C. We spent nearly a hour circling the Furbish warehouse and I managed to leave with only a cute pair of wishbone earrings. I did, however, add a ton of things to my birthday wishlist...

Also, for any readers living in Raleigh, I highly recommend you sign up for the UNC GAA night at Furbish Studio, where you'll get to meet Jamie, sip cocktails with other Carolina post-grads and learn how to make the perfect holiday tablescape. I wish I could be there so badly!

All images via Furbish Studio: Noir Binder, $26; Whelk Shell, $30; Golden Pig Bank, $200; Notecards, $xx; Spotted Pillow, $50; Urchin Box, $32

Weekly Roundup | What I Read This Week

2012-11-11T22:54:00.001-05:00

I made a tough decision last week and turned down a trip to Chapel Hill for Homecoming (unbelievable, I know). My weekend in the city resulted in trips to Eastern Market, Ikea and Michaels, and a final, FINAL coat of paint on my previously yellow room. This week I'm looking forward to hosting our book club group, watching UNC v. UVA on Thursday night and prepping for birthday celebrations this weekend!

Here are a few things I've read in the past several weeks -- enjoy!

• Between the ages of 5 and 14 I made an annual ~~pilgrimage~~ field trip across the road to the Wright Brother's Monument, located in Kill Devil Hills, N.C. and literally right outside my elementary and middle school. It's a really cool aspect of my hometown that I often forget. Speaking of forgetting, someone forgot where they laid down the patent file for the Wright brother's flyer. Way to go, guys.

• Though I've only visited once, and briefly, I'm really looking forward to the growth and expansion of Union Market, located in Northeast DC. I'm definitely adding it to my list of places to take out of town guests, and now you can go five days a week instead of just two.

• There are a lot of really important awareness months out there -- like September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. There are also some delicious ones, like Pimento Cheese Awareness month, which is going on now. Eater rounded up several of its favorite pimento cheese spots and I definitely want to try the fried pimento cheese at Green Pig Bistro, just outside the city in Arlington.

• A group of designers, illustrators, directors and creatives have taken what could be frustrating client feedback and turned it into snazzy pieces of art. Does one in particular really resonate with you? Your purchase helps out the Temple Street Children's Hospital.

• I am a huge fan and proponent of Warby Parker glasses, even though I sadly have 20/20 vision and can't buy a pair. The Warby Parker Class Trip, a school bus full of glasses and other fun items, will be taking up residence in DC for the next several weeks and I will be making a visit/purchase — even if I already have a million pairs of sunglasses, they're just so good looking!

• Want to know where the next hot metropolitan mecca will be? Check out this awesome piece on the fastest growing flight routes to and from the U.S. Sorry, Mexico.

• Last week I chose to leave my packed lunch at the office and head out with some coworkers to try a new lunch spot. We wound up at The Well-Dressed Burrito, which is in an alley and more delicious for it. Besides the fact that I was in a food coma all afternoon. Next time I'll check this list of 10 healthiest lunches around DC, featuring popular lunch spots you're probably already familiar with.

[Image via Atlantic-Pacific]