Molly Knows Best

So Much Love

2012-02-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

Today is Valentine's Day, a very special day in my family...

my parents were married 32 years ago today!

As I've gotten older I'm more and more grateful for their relationship and the example it is to me in my own relationships. I love that they are best friends, that they make their decisions together, and that they've always put my sisters and I above everything else.

In short, they're pretty amazing!

Happy Anniversary, I love you!

I used this picture last year too, but it is by far my favorite picture of them. Taken in 1980.

The W

2012-02-10T10:42:00.001-05:00

Last night I went with two of my favorite roommates to the restaurant on top of the W Hotel.

Basically the hotel is one block from the White House and just a few blocks from the Washington monument, so there are excellent views on all sides.

I have literally been dying to go since I moved here, and I'll have to say that it lived up to the hype.

I can't wait to go back this summer and enjoy the city in warm weather!

Happy Friday!

Best. Day. Ever.

2012-02-09T07:41:00.001-05:00

There isn't anything better than one of your best friends coming back into your life.

Seriously, best friends are the best.

And last night, I talked to Bekah for the first time in 18 months!

She just returned home from an LDS mission to Taiwan, and I couldn't be happier.

We spent the first five minutes both kind of freaking out that this was actually happening, and then started to get caught up. Where do I even start in telling her about the past year and a half? I feel like so much has changed and I have about a billion stories to tell her, but then at the same time there is so much that is exactly the same.

Either way, I think it's time to book a flight out west asap!

Presidental Sighting

2012-02-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

On Friday President Obama decided to come to Arlington to talk to firefighters about the economy.

Luckily for me, the fire station he was speaking at is literally two blocks from my house.

Since I was already working from home that day, I decided to wander over and see if I could catch a glimpse. I thought it would be more campaign rally style where he would get out of the car and say hello, but the secret service kept pushing us back and reminding us it was a closed event, so the closest I got was watching his cars drive by.

Someday Mr. President, someday.

I miss Rosie!

2012-02-02T13:58:00.000-05:00

I just got an email from a friend of mine at BYU....

"Look who I bumped into!!"

I literally gasped so loudly I started coughing.

I miss Rosie every single day,

but I suppose it's good to see she's still alive and well!

I think it may be time to get another scooter...

Sunday Night

2012-01-30T10:31:00.001-05:00

Boyfriends+best friends + great food =

the best Sunday evening ever.

Cake compliments of Stefi "domestic" Faust.

Thanks again Stefi and Blake!

Unprepared

2012-01-27T11:21:00.000-05:00

Looking out the window this morning, I didn't feel the need to wear waterproof clothes.

Overcast and 60 is my kind of winter weather, and since I'm from Seattle I'm obligated to have the attitude that "a little rain doesn't bother me."

Well walking into work this morning I seriously got caught in a monsoon.

Truly.

A Monsoon.

So now I'm walking around the office barefoot because my shoes are too wet to wear.

Just another reason why I love being the only person in the office on a Friday.

Ok, they may not look wet in the picture, but I promise I squeak with every step.

So happy weekend!

I hope you are more successful at staying out of the weather than I seem to be!

Game Night

2012-01-26T10:05:00.001-05:00

Last night we played a rousing game of "how well do you know your significant other."

I don't think I've laughed that hard in months.

Even though Mike and I didn't get all the questions right,

I pride myself in the fact that we did [a bit] better than the soon to be engaged couple!

PS-My answers from top to bottom:

1) an elephant

2) High school

3)FLOTUS

Back to School

2012-01-23T09:32:00.000-05:00

Well folks, today's the day!

I'm officially a graduate student as of 4:30 pm this afternoon.

This weekend I dragged Mike to campus to get some books (since I ALREADY had homework!)

and find my classes. Despite the freezing cold, it was so nice to walk around and get the feel of things before 20,000 other kids show up. And now that I know I'm not going to get lost getting to class, I'll have time to find other things like where I get a parking pass or a student id and all that other important stuff!

Introducing baby Lucas

2012-01-20T09:38:00.001-05:00

A week ago, something big happened.

My very best friend had her baby!

It's kind of surreal that Abbey, who I've gone through most everything with, is now a mom.

It feels like just yesterday we were having sleepovers and dreaming of what life would be like when we were in our twenties. I couldn't be happier for her and her family, and can't wait to meet him!

So here he is...

Lucas Timothy Rodriguez

Puffing Up

2012-01-19T09:44:00.001-05:00

It's been really windy here.

So windy that I'm about to say something I never thought I would.

I need a puffy coat.

My sister said it best when she said that she feels like she's wearing a garbage bag when she wears a puffy coat.

I'm not dying to look like a garbage bag, but in an effort to not freeze to death this winter, I think I'll be adding this to my closet in the near future...

Things I'm Grateful For...

2012-01-18T10:13:00.000-05:00

1. Grad school orientation, which means I have some sort of direction with my life.

2. Best friends who drop everything and come to dessert when you need it most.

3. A boyfriend who doesn't complain when plans get canceled due to aforementioned girls night.
and last but not least...
4. That I'm not in Seattle, where they are getting not one, but two epic snow storms!
Cheers to a windy, sunny, 45 degree day!

Weekend Reivew

2012-01-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

My three day weekend was divine.

To sum it all up, it consisted of brunch, a Miss America party, lots of naps, and some shopping!

But the best part was on Saturday afternoon when Mike and I went to the Natural History museum.

For some reason I haven't been there before, and since it's Mike's favorite, we had to go.

I loved all of the animals, and seeing the Hope Diamond was definitely one of the highlights.

They even had the capsule that the Chilean miners used to get above ground. Man did that thing look small in real life. I don't usually get claustrophobic, but just looking at it made me kind of nervous!

Overall, it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon out of the cold!

Pantless

2012-01-09T13:15:00.002-05:00

How did I miss this?!
Guess I'll have to wait until next year to ride the metro without pants on!

Grad School

2012-01-06T09:45:00.001-05:00

A few months ago I decided I needed a change.

I wasn't ready to change jobs or move, and the one thing that I kept coming back to was school.

Grad school.

I found a program at George Mason University, which is close to my house that was the perfect fit.

So after a few months of writing essays, bugging people for recommendations, and some intense waiting,

I finally heard back.

aannndd....

I was accepted!

I start my program, which is a Masters in Global Health at the end of January, and will spend the next 18 months working full time and going to school in the evening.

I'm so excited for the chance to really be challenged again and am so grateful for the opportunities that this will bring. It's the perfect way to start off 2012, which is going to be an incredible year!

Best Friends + Weddings

2012-01-04T09:53:00.001-05:00

During my week on the west coast, I took a day trip and flew to LA for Ellen's wedding.

Ellen and I have been good friends since the first day in the dorms freshman year at BYU.

I knew this friendship was the real thing when we bonded over our love for the Bachelor, Justin Timberlake, and our hatred toward the cafeteria food.

Over the past six months I've had the chance to properly interview and intimidate Gregg to make sure he was worthy of marrying Ellen, and luckily for everyone, he's a great guy who is her perfect match.

Spending the day in the sun with some of my best friends was such a dream, and definitely made my holiday just that much better!

Congrats Ellen and Gregg!

Christmas in the NW

2012-01-03T09:43:00.001-05:00

Being home for the holidays was such a dream.

Lots of family, great food, and babies everywhere!

Christmas Eve was full of brunch in Seattle and then taking Santa pictures at Nordstrom.

Just imagine a one year old who is petrified of Santa while the 6 month old was literally hunched over because he refused to wake up. It took a lot of cheering and toys to get a picture!

There is nothing I love more than spending time with my family and this past week was no exception.

Why does Christmas only come once a year?!

Some people think that we look really similar, and others thing we don't even look related...

what do you guys think??

The best way to spread holiday cheer...

2011-12-22T11:28:00.001-05:00

...is singing loud for all to hear!

I can't wait to be back in Seattle with my family and friends.

Tomorrow can't come fast enough!

Running [and not running]

2011-12-20T13:15:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Mike planned a few outings to celebrate my birthday.

One of them was going to see a documentary about running.

The best part about this whole outing is that the one thing we've ever disagreed about is in fact, running.

Here's the deal, I don't work out with people.

It isn't personal, I just don't like being near anyone while I sweat out my problems.

Mike, on the other hand is a super social talk-while-running type of person.

Do you see our problem?

So we went to this documentary about some of the world's best runners,

who are all undefeated and decided to run the Western States 100.

100 miles in 15 hours.

Despite the fact that Mike was sending some serious hints about my anti social running policy, the movie was awesome and both of us got really into it.

I even told Mike that if he ran a 100 mile race, I would do 20 miles with him.

Ok, I got a little carried away.

So let's all hope that day never happens.

Ever.

23

2011-12-19T09:21:00.000-05:00

Since I have now reached the ripe old age of 23,
I have started to realize there are many things I haven't done yet.

So here is my list of [possibly somewhat ridiculous] goals for my 23rd year....

1. Find the most amazing mac'n'cheese in DC. The perfect cheese/noodle ratio is key to success here.

2. Run more often. Well, start running.
Ok, lets start with just putting on work out clothes.

3. Pay an exorbitant amount of money to see Drake or Usher in concert...
[Drake/Usher/John Legend...I'm seeing a trend here..]

4. Meet Sasha and Malia Obama. I'll even offer to babysit.

5. See the Lion King on in NYC. I've always wanted too but every time I go to the city, I always say I'll do it next time!

6. Learn to do something domestic like sew or knit or something. It may be useful some day. Maybe?

7. Learn to drive a manual car. Sometimes when I tell people I don't know how, they look at me like I'm 12. I've heard it's a useful life skill, and we all know I could use a few more of those!

8. See the Northern Lights. This means that a trip to Iceland needs to actually happen after all this time of talking about it!

and last but not least...

9. Attend the Cannes Film Festival.
Oh, they block off the city to commoners? Please. Ye of little faith obviously don't know the power of the Katie/Molly combination.

There's a whole bunch of other things like "figure out what I'm doing with my life" and other adult sounding things, but I'm going to just stick with this list for a while...

Cheers to being 23 and having a really great year!

A Christmas Discovery

2011-12-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, a good friend of mine introduced me to John Legend.

I swear my life has never been the same.

So imagine my delight when I stumbled across his Christmas album!

It has probably made my holiday season about 10 times better,

and it's currently on repeat while I spend my days in a lonely office.

Seriously, best. find. ever!

Christmas Partying Part 2

2011-12-13T11:46:00.000-05:00

My roommate Lucy co-hosted a Christmas party on Saturday,

which was the holiday event to be at.

Overall the stats looked something like this....

-200+ people crammed together to encourage mingling and Christmas spirit...check!

-2 of the greatest playlists ever to help us get through an afternoon of baking and organizing...check!

-3/4 of my roommates in one place.....check!

-tons and tons of chocolate dipped food...check!

-1 amazing fur coat worn by Whitney

Spending the afternoon getting ready....

Christmas Partying

2011-12-12T10:37:00.000-05:00

Last week was a rather uneventful week. Pictures of me working from home or studying just didn't seem blog worthy. It was nice to have some down time though because this weekend was a blur of Christmas parties and lots of food! I am convinced that there is nothing better than getting dressed up and socializing your way through the holiday season.

Friday night I went with Mike to his office party out in Virginia.

Seeing as I work in an office with 6 people, having a party with 2,000 people made for a great event!

I had been stressing about what to wear for weeks.

Three trips to the mall later, I decided to wear something I already owned.

Typical.

The blurry picture was the best I could do...

Service Auction

2011-12-04T20:13:00.001-05:00

Every December our ward celebrates the holiday season by putting on an auction.

It was a fabulous evening with a few hundred people bidding on some amazing items.

And did I mention that we had a professional auctioneer running the event?

I was in awe of how fast she talked. I'm still trying to figure out how she does it without stuttering.

Anyway, the ward raised a ton of money to help families in the area have a magical Christmas,

and it really helped to start this holiday season off right!

Cheers to a week full of holiday parties, Arabic finals, and probably more Cafe Rio!

Cafe Rio

2011-12-02T09:49:00.001-05:00

Christmas came early to Virginia this year.

A Cafe Rio opened a mere SIX miles from my house.

S.I.X.

Please excuse the blurry picture, I was in a rush to eat..

Do you know what this means?

This means sweet pork on a daily basis.

This means no more trying to cook dinner.

This means life is so much better!

December

2011-12-01T09:15:00.001-05:00

I woke up to this wonderful view this morning.

Something about blue skies and lots of sun doesn't seem right for today being December 1st.

Even though it doesn't quite feel like the holiday season yet, I can already tell it's going to be a great month!

Long Island

2011-11-27T18:50:00.001-05:00

I went up to Long Island for a few days to spent some time with my cousin Tyler, his wife Kim and their adorable son Benton. Thanksgiving was blissfully relaxing, and involved watching the entire Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with Benton, the beach, and so much food I felt like I couldn't eat again for a year! It was the perfect combination, and I can't wait to go visit them again soon!

Thanks for having me!

Family Love

2011-11-23T09:54:00.001-05:00

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without saying how thankful I am for my family.

Totally cliche, yet totally true.

I'm grateful for family near and far that never complain when I crash on their couch, tag along for spring break, and drop everything to come say hi when I make an unannounced visit to Utah.

There is seriously nothing better than parents, sisters, cousins, nephews, and Huish Family Talent Shows [coming summer 2012!]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shanti Bhavan

2011-11-22T07:46:00.001-05:00

Today I'm grateful for the 200 kids at Shanti Bhavan who taught me more in the months I lived there than I could have ever taught them.

I'm grateful for Bollywood dance performances, lots of rice, and Sunday night movie nights with the older kids. Second graders who catch your spelling mistakes, snakes falling out of trees, hearing the same joke 100 times, and laughing so hard with the other volunteers about the funny stories of the day.

I'm so grateful for the experience I had both times I taught there, and can't wait to [hopefully] go back in the near future!

Thankful For...

2011-11-20T21:48:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to figure out how to blog about Thanksgiving as I wanted to do more than just post pictures of the food Kim and I are going to make, and I finally decided that a week's worth of posts about what I was thankful for would be perfect.

The perfect sunset Saturday night at the Jefferson

So the first thing I'm thankful for is knowing I'm in the right place at the right time.

I have constantly been surprised at the lessons I learn while living out here and I truly believe that there is no where else I could have learned them. I've thought a few times about moving somewhere else, but each time I know that without a doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. Being in DC has led to some incredible friendships, trips, and personal growth that is indescribable. I feel so blessed to be employed in one of the best cities in the world and for one of the first times in my life very, very content.

Dr. Katie

2011-11-18T10:21:00.001-05:00

Today is a big day.

No, not for me. The biggest thing I have going on is a massage at 3 this afternoon.

BUT, this is not about me.

Today Katie is flying to San Diego for a med school interview.

Anyone that writes a personal statement about their experience on Wheel of Fortune is a shoe in, I mean, what a GREAT conversation starter!

I helped her pack last night and made sure she has her "I'm a grown up" pant suit and appropriate shoes.

Why they make you wear nylons in interviews is beyond me. Yuck.

Anyway, since she's going to be the world's best doctor, any good vibes sent out into the universe on her behalf would be much appreciated!

NYC in May

Happy Friday!

ISO

2011-11-17T09:39:00.001-05:00

I'm currently in search of the perfect holiday dress.

Tiffany and I have been talking about it for a few days,

and she gave me a million good idea via pinterest...

Any suggestions on which kind of dress and where to find one?!

Facts

2011-11-16T09:37:00.001-05:00

I have decided that there is nothing better than...

Dessert runs with my favorite girls.

Cuddling.

Morning tea in my Grey's Anatomy mug.

Happy Wednesday!

NYC

2011-11-11T07:18:00.001-05:00

I'm leaving this morning for my annual fall pilgrimage up to NYC!

My office has an event at the Waldorf that I'm in charge of,

so cheers to a quick weekend of friends, Central Park, and the Upper East Side!

Have a great weekend!

Urban Legend

2011-11-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

I once heard that instead of washing jeans, you could freeze them.

I don't really know how one makes up for the other,

but since I hate washing my jeans, I figured it was worth a try.

So now my jeans are currently freezing right next to the peas, or whatever those green things are in my freezer. Cross your fingers that this isn't a total bust!

Girl Code

2011-11-09T11:42:00.001-05:00

Not for any particular reason, I've been thinking about the "girl code."

You know, those unspoken rules that dictate if you can or can not date a

guy who one of your friends dated.

So after some intense research, I found a few funny rules that all girlfriend groups are supposed to follow...

Some of them I totally agree with while others..I'm still deciding...

1) A man must be around for at least six weeks before you make your friends bother to learn his first name. Until such time, he should be referred to as "The boy" or "That guy".

2) All girls must have a "Mr.Right Now". This is the guy friend who is always ready and available to hang out with you, and may or may not like you as more than a friend. He is always ready to party till dawn, and do things you wish you didn't remember in the morning. He's not “Mr. Right,” but he may be good enough to be “Mr. Right Now.”

3) Every girl must wait at least a day and a half before calling a guy whose number she has retrieved.

4) You are never in any case to date a friends ex or a guy who she was really into.
Exception: If he's one of those guys who every girl likes.

5) You are to never diss a friends boyfriend except to agree lightly or nod when she says he's being a asshole. In most cases it is easier to nod.
Exception: If a guy cheated or dumped your friend it is exceptional for you to claim he isn't good enough, and that she deserves better as well as reminding her that he was an asshole anyway.

What do you think? Worth following?

Rules found here

Avoiding

2011-11-08T10:38:00.001-05:00

I've been avoiding the blog for a few days

because I'm not ready to talk about my hair.

I may be a bit dramatic, but I don't love it, so I'm not really ready to show it off.

Something about the color is just a tad off. Give me a few days and we'll see how it goes.

On another note, here's what I've been filling my time with lately...
the November issue of Matchbook magazine.
Seriously it's the best online magazine around.
I promise, you'll thank me.

Natural

2011-11-04T09:07:00.000-04:00

This weekend I'm dying my hair back natural.

I've been blonde for a year and a half, and even though I do belive that blondes have more fun,

it's time for a change.

The problem is, I've dyed my hair so many different colors over the years,

I don't really remember what color natural really is!

For a while it was just the basic brown...

but then for some reason I thought red was a good idea...

and after a pretty dramatic break up I dyed it almost black...

and then was finally convinced blonde was the way to go...

I'll post pictures of the results soon!

Working Hard

2011-11-03T09:31:00.000-04:00

Today feels like the week with never end.

I've had a few disappointments in the past 24 hours, which doesn't help.

Nothing major, I just didn't do well on an Arabic test (is grammar really THAT important?!)

and tonight I will be missing the Kanye/Jay-Z concert.

Say what you will about them, but you have to admit they've got some serious swagger.

So as I'm sitting here..working...I've also decided to start thinking about what I'm going to bake for Thanksgiving. Things are going to get crazy with Kim and I in the same kitchen, I can just feel it.

I'm thinking some beautiful pumpkin cream pie...

(recipe found here)

Whoppie Pies...

(recipe found here)

I should probably go ahead and try both...

I mean it's always good to have back up in case I mess one up...

Any other suggestions for my first Thanksgiving dessert?

How early is too early..

2011-11-01T11:19:00.000-04:00

...to start listening to Christmas music?

Halloween was full of scary movies and fun, but I'm already moving on to the best holiday season.

My friend Amber's rule is midnight on November 1st.

That might be a tad early for me, but I'm thinking sometime next week.

Either way, there is something about knowing the holidays are around the corner

that makes things so much better!

My Attempt

2011-10-31T10:31:00.001-04:00

Halloween isn't my favorite holiday.

I'm more of Thanksgiving/Christmas kind of girl.

I mean, it's fun and all, I just never get that creative with a costume,

so then I never really get into the full Halloween spirit.

But this year I threw on an old Beckham jersey and danced the night away with some friends.

Even though I didn't go all out like my friends, it's the thought that counts, right..?

Happy Halloween!

My Top 3

2011-10-28T15:03:00.001-04:00

A few of my favorite things right now...

As a way to make myself feel better about deciding not to go to Seattle for Thanksgiving,

I bought this ring, which I'm obsessed with. Luckily, some of my favorite cousins let me invite myself to their house, so Long Island or bust!

We're supposed to have some sort of crazy storm here this weekend. Something about lots of rain and potentially snow (?!). Either way, I'm getting pretty excited to curl up on Saturday with a stack of magazines and lots of hot chocolate.

Like Crazy comes out this weekend and I'm dying to see it.

Any film that wins the Sundance award for best film is bound to be amazing!

Happy Friday!

Should I Text Him?

2011-10-27T15:19:00.002-04:00

HERE for a bigger version

A huge thanks to Milan for putting this little gem up on her blog.

Think of it as an honest insight into the mind of just about every girl you know.

Though I consider texting something I really excel at,

I too, have gone through this thought process way too many times.

Maybe sometime I'll get it right!

Drag Races

2011-10-26T09:39:00.002-04:00

Once a year DC holds this wonderful event known as the

drag queen races.

The night was a fabulous combination of crazy yet hilarious.

I got some great costume ideas (Amy Winehouse or Black Swan, genius!)

and even said a quick hello to dc's mayor.

How creepy does Mayor Gray look!?

Valet Parking

2011-10-20T09:02:00.000-04:00

Starting this week, my office will pay for my parking in the District.

This means my commute time is cut in half and I'm saving lots of money.

My dad would call this a win-win.

Anyway, every time I drop my car off at the garage,

I can't help but think of my favorite scene from Ferris Buller's Day Off.

Sometimes when I walk to my office, I turn around and make sure they don't drive off with my car when I'm not looking.

If only my car were actually worth taking...

White House Tour

2011-10-19T10:53:00.000-04:00

A few months ago my cousin Victoria emailed me this amazing dream she had...

"So I totally had a dream that we were celebrating Christmas in the White House. Everyone was there! All of the extended family! We were watching the news and it was talking about India and you were so into it and heated about what was going on.. I'm pretty sure you were the first lady and invited all of us to spend the holidays in the white house with you and the Pres, I mean your husband. I was complaining because I wanted to go out, but I guess the white house had a curfew? Anyway, I think your future looks bright."

So ever since then, I've had really high expectations on the people I date, I mean, aim high, right?

Not just anyone can get me to the White House.

On Saturday, my friend Blake called me and told me he had extra tickets to the White House Grounds Tour. Twice a year the White House opens the back lawn so we commoners can see where the Obamas get picked up in Marine One, get really close to the West Wing, and see the Rose Garden.

Despite the fact that I didn't get to see Sasha or Malia, I thought it was the perfect fall activity.
And keep your fingers crossed for my future, I have a good feeling about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...

Baby Whisperer

2011-10-18T09:43:00.000-04:00

One of my good friends from BYU was in town this weekend,

and I was pumped to see her and meet her baby, Scott!

Normally babies can sense my apprehension towards them,

and recipercate the feelings by crying the minute I try to hold them.

But Scott? Oh my gosh, this kid loved me. Loved me.

He kept rolling towards me just to play right next to me.

He was all smiles the entire time, so of course, I couldn't help but adore him right back.

Well, until he spit up on me.

Besides the baby, it was so great to see Erin.

There is something so amazing about old friends.

It's like no time has passed and you can pick up right where you left off, even if it's been months since you've seen each other!

Thanks so much for letting me come crash your family time Erin, I can't wait to see you at Christmas!

Siri

2011-10-17T10:21:00.000-04:00

Like millions of other people, I upgraded my phone on Friday to the new iphone.

Siri and I were really starting to understand each other when suddenly, she went crazy.

I somehow activated the setting for a blind person, so she was speaking everything I pushed on my phone.

Even when she was on silent mode, she literally just kept talking to me in that creepy monotone voice of hers.

Luckily, I was able to restore her to factory settings and she went back to normal. Now I can spend my time with Siri asking her productive things...

Parents in Town!

2011-10-13T15:27:00.000-04:00

I've been sporadic at blogging lately.

Life has been busy, and somehow, it's already October 13th.

How did that happen?

Anyway, Craig and Mel were in town for the past week, and it was so great.

There is something about having parents around that makes everything so much better.

Plus the weather was perfect so we spent most of the weekend outside.
Thanks for coming to visit, I loved having you guys here!

More to come on what we did while they were here, it was an action packed 5 days!

Huish Secrets

2011-10-07T11:43:00.000-04:00

Cookies that will make any Huish swoon...

[Rainbow Chip frosting is my number one choice, followed close by chocolate,

but desperate times call for desperate measures]

Freeze for about an hour, if you can wait that long.

Happy Friday!

Seattle Roots

2011-10-03T12:41:00.002-04:00

I'm from Seattle, which means I grew up with what I'd like to call coffee culture. Spending time at a coffee shop is a relaxing place to get out of the house, meet friends, and spend a few hours working on your computer, even if you don't actually drink coffee (I don't, but hot chocolate is a must).

This weekend I needed to get out of the house for a few hours and get some work done, but literally had no where to go. Most coffee houses around here aren't open for very long on the weekends since we're so close to office buildings that are empty on Saturdays. The more I drove around, the more furious I became, which I'm sure you can imagine isn't a pleasant situation.

I have decided that in my next life I am going to come back as Howard Schultz and design even bigger and better Starbucks type coffee houses. Don't feel too bad for me though, I somehow ended up a the most adorable cupcake place I've ever discovered. Another successful weekend!

My favorite

2011-09-30T10:03:00.000-04:00

On this happy Friday, do yourself a favor and watch the most recent episode of Modern Family.
It is by far my favorite one yet. A juice diet and tightrope walking? It seriously just keeps getting better.

Things I'm Good At

2011-09-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

1. Predicting when people are going to get engaged, even if I don't know them that well. Show me three pictures of them as a couple on facebook, and I can give you a two week window of when he'll pop the question. Seriously, I'm THAT good.

2. Running through DC in the rain while wearing heels and a pencil skirt with no slit. Oh, and did I mention I was carrying a purse, a tote bag, and a huge box all completely full and heavy? I even made it to the meeting before my boss and didn't fall once.

3. Making cookies and giving someone else the credit. Sometimes the boys out here kill me!

Proof

2011-09-23T12:38:00.000-04:00

Lots of people have said they don't believe that I went camping last weekend.

Well folks, here is all the proof you needed.

You may or may not notice that I'm wearing the same thing the entire time.

This is because I actually am wearing the same thing the entire time.

Gross? Probably. Necessary because of the freezing temperatures? YES.

Getting settled and SO happy about it!

Hiking our way through Maryland

Fall Movies

2011-09-21T14:24:00.000-04:00

It is no secret I love movies and I love award shows.

So to be informed for the upcoming award show season,

it's time to start watching all of the soon to be nominated movies.

Katie and I have already made up a googledoc so we can both prioritize the first tier and second tier movies, as well as comment about which ones we think will be major contenders.

I like to think of ourselves as organized and educated instead of intense and obsessed.

Either way, here are some of the ones at the top of my list!

ShopHouse

2011-09-20T15:17:00.000-04:00

Last week Katie and I took an afternoon break from our lives.

Our first stop?

A new restaurant called ShopHouse.

It was started by the same people who started Chipotle, but this is an Asian version.

Think rice bowls and chicken curry.

Our consensus was that we loved it. It was simple, cheap, and something different.

Unfortunately for everyone outside of DC, they don't have plans to expand any time soon.

But if you're in the area, it's worth a try,

it was great!

Camping

2011-09-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

I'm getting out of the city this weekend to go camping.

I know, camping!?

As someone who never grew up camping, this is a big step,

even though it's not really camping. Think cabin type things in the woods.

Still, being out in nature for two nights with 250 people should be interesting.

Cross your fingers that I survive and don't get too many bug bites!

Lucky Number 4

2011-09-15T10:34:00.000-04:00

Last night I missed a big dinner party celebrating Stefi's birthday.

Seven girls spending two hours over some great food and I had to go to Arabic class.

Blah.

So to make myself feel better, I decided I needed some new shoes.

This may or may not be my fourth pair of leopard print shoes.

It didn't make up for not being at dinner,

but it sure did help!

One Year

2011-09-07T12:54:00.000-04:00

I’ve been avoiding this post for weeks. Something about writing this makes me feel like I can’t breathe, but that has been a pretty constant feeling this past year.

One Year. That’s how long I’ve been in DC.

I could start by saying that it hasn’t been easy. The first few months are still a haze of being stressed out, lonely, and really, really unprepared for the real world (thank you byu). After going to church for the first time and being so overwhelmed, I literally went straight to bed for the rest of the day. Some days one person can only take so much stress. But for the love of skype and a boy in Utah, I slowly picked myself up and started to make friends. On the days I [often] needed a break from the Mormon singles scene, Katie was always just a metro ride away.

I could talk about how spending Christmas in California almost made things worse. Seeing everyone that I had moved away from just reminded me how far away I really was. So I booked a ticket and flew to Utah in January. It was while I was visiting Provo that I really closed that chapter in my life. Flying back to DC, I knew I had to make the decision to like living on the east coast, my happiness really was up to me.

And so I decided to be happy.

Right around the time I made The Decision, I finally felt like I had made a network of [brunching] girlfriends, knew my way around without always using a gps, and honestly just calmed down and started breathing again. And breathing is always a good thing. It wasn’t an instant change, but slowly and steadily I realized I had built a life out here. A life that I happen to really love.

Looking back I think the thing I’m most proud of is the fact that I survived. Some days are still hard, and other days I still wonder why I choose to live 5,000 miles from the two most adorable nephews on the planet, but I guess when something is right, you stop asking those questions and just make the best of it. So as I look to the next year in DC, I know it’ll be better than the first, slightly less dramatic, and not so unpredictable. As Allie says, “2011 is our year!” We’ve been living up to that motto this year, and I intend to for year two of my DC experience as well.

So just breathe, it helps, I promise.

And I'm Back

2011-09-06T09:23:00.001-04:00

It's only 9:02 am and I'm already wishing I was back in California on the beach.

Life is just so much better when it's filled with sun, food, and messy buns.

Depsite the rain and storms that DC is getting, I am actually glad to be back.
It was nice sleeping in my own bed last night and having a reunion with the roomies.

Thanks again to everyone made time in their schedules to see me last week,
I loved every minute of it!

Sun Kissed

2011-09-04T21:36:00.000-04:00

It's been a good week.

Amazing, actually.

I have laid on the beach for seven days,

seen some old friends,

and ate the best fish tacos around.

I also convinced Wesley that I'm his favorite aunt.

I may not be as maternal as his other aunt, Sarah,

but since I came with gifts of preppy east coast clothes, I edged ahead!

I kind of hate that I have to fly back to DC tomorrow,

but I guess reality has to come eventually!

West Coast

2011-08-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a break from life...

see ya in a week!

Also, I went to Utah for a hot second and saw all of my favorite people!

Thank you Jess for hosting, taking pictures, and making it happen!

Reunited

2011-08-25T09:33:00.000-04:00

After more than a MONTH in Utah,

today is the day Stefi comes back!

Dinner at Founding Farmers, packing for the west coast, and quality time with the bffs.

Sounds like the perfect night!

Why is this the only picture I have of the 3 of us?

Shakin

2011-08-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

East Coasters and natural disasters are not the best mix.

[Thankfully I will be missing the hurricane this weekend!]

As everyone knows, there was an earthquake yesterday, and DC freaked out.

The only way to get people to evacuate my building was to turn on the fire alarm, so people were running around thinking there was an earthquake AND a fire.

I'm sure you can just envision how dramatic that was.

As for me, I just got my stuff and headed towards the metro, which was thankfully still running.

I had to shove my way through the thousands of people standing around, but I was determined to get out of there fast. I was on the first train out of the district and had zero problems, making it home in almost record time. Since we're having perfect weather right now, I loved having the afternoon off!

Back to School

2011-08-22T20:56:00.000-04:00

You know it's been a while since you've been in a classroom when you don't bring paper or a pen.

We live in a digital age, right?

Apparently not my Arabic teacher, who was more than unhappy when I opened

my computer to take notes tonight.

So after begging my classmates to take pity on me, I am rediscovering my hand writing,

one Arabic letter at a time.

Moving Again

2011-08-18T10:24:00.000-04:00

Life is a little crazy right now.

I'm moving down the street, which is just never fun.

So right now everything I own is in a pile either in the new house or the old house,

or in my car somewhere in between.

It's a miracle I found clothes to wear to work today that match.

Well, kind of match.

Ok, lets just be grateful for clothes.

Library of Congress

2011-08-16T09:46:00.000-04:00

I had some extra time last week and decided to make a mid-week trip to the Library of Congress.

I hadn't been there in five years and had forgotten how beautiful that building is.

There were some pretty amazing exhibits about the Constitution, as well as rooms and rooms of old maps.

I wandered around for probably two hours just loving how stunning everything was.

It was the perfect break and a great way to get out of the heat!

The Help

2011-08-15T09:10:00.000-04:00

Saw it, loved it, highly recommend it!

Currently Loving

2011-08-11T15:02:00.000-04:00

1. Trivia night and realizing I contributed NOTHING to the team...I did go to college, right?

2. Orange Gatorade. I wish I could fully express my love for it. The amount I've been drinking can't be healthy.

3. Helping a friend escape work early [because we all know I'm not in the office right now]..to the pool or bust!

4. Looking through old pictures of my semester in Israel and finding this gem...

Take. Me. Back.

Hypochondriac

2011-08-10T10:22:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I get a bit dramatic about things.

Sometimes.

I owe it to the fact that I'm the youngest in a family of all girls, that has to count for something, right?

Crashing a convention at National Harbor-free Diet Coke!

Anywho, this past year I've been grateful that my best friend is a medical genius since every few weeks I think I'm having a medical emergency.

During the six hours I thought I had diabetes and would possibly die, Katie laughed and then assured me that it just wasn't possible.

Or that time I was exhausted and was nauseous for a weekend and thought immaculate conception was indeed possible, Katie just told me that I just needed to sleep and actually eat fruits and vegetables.

And then yesterday, when my eyes were ever so painful, and I was scared that I would become blind and have to have a seeing eye dog for the rest of my life [see post below about my thoughts on pets], I was reassured that eye drops would cure me.

Lost story short, I will be grateful for the day when Katie is an actual doctor [cross your fingers for her medical school interviews], so I can legitimately bother her with all my problems for the rest of our lives!

Today.

2011-08-09T14:40:00.001-04:00

I didn't sleep much last night.

It had something to do with the fact that I couldn't put my book down...

Well today I'm definitely paying for it.

I kept hitting the snooze button so I woke up late.

Which means I threw my hair high on my head without even brushing it,

didn't even bother to put makeup on,

and am wearing glasses.

Luckily my clothes [somewhat] match and I'm alone in the office today.

I'm seriously loving these long summer nights!

Dogs

2011-08-04T16:09:00.000-04:00

It is no secret that I am not a dog lover.

Why anyone would choose to have something hairy, smelly, and drooling in ones house is beyond me.

BUT

I recently found this series of pictures and I couldn't help but kind of fall in love.

The photographer captured them as the dogs were shaking off water and I think the facial expressions are hilarious!

Don't worry, this does NOT mean I'm getting a dog anytime soon.

Or ever.

Visitors

2011-08-02T11:08:00.002-04:00

FACT: When you have friends who want to take an RV to prom instead of a limo, you know you have cool friends.

Yes, I'm in there somewhere

But when that same RV shows up in Virginia after two months of touring America, you know that you're friends are legit.

Which is exactly what happened this weekend.

Brendon (and Rane) are currently touring the country in a 45 foot RV and decided to come make a stop in DC! Did you know you can park RV's for free in Wal-Mart parking lots? Classy.

We did all of the normal touristy things and even ventured to the Native American Museum to try the Navajo taco's I've heard rumors about (yes they exist!). Katie joined us for dinner at Ben's, (the picture was too ridiculous to post), and after lots of chili, we sped home to catch the last part of the Bachlorette finale (their choice, not mine).

Dancing

2011-08-01T11:40:00.000-04:00

After a low key Friday,

going out on Saturday seemed to be the best idea!

Cheers to 100 degree heat and dancing the night away!

Technology

2011-07-28T13:43:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I left work a little bit late and needed to get home as fast as possible.

As I was briskly walking the six blocks to the metro in the District,

I was also trying to text an entire novel of a story to a good friend.

Do you know how hard it is to text while crossing busy streets, avoiding tourists, and just not running into all of the K Street lobbyists?

It's hard.

After almost getting hit by a few cars and running into slow walking families with fanny packs,

I decided it's about time to invest in the smartest app ever.

Why didn't I find this sooner? Genius!

High Line Park

2011-07-26T09:39:00.000-04:00

The one thing I was dying to do while I was in NYC last weekend was see High Line Park.

The park is built on top of elevated train tracks down in the Chelsea area,

and everyone I've known that's seen it has loved it.

I made the trek down there to spend time with Amber [happy birthday!] and see what the talk was all about.

The idea was awesome and it really was beautiful, just a lot different than what I was expecting...

a lot less grass and a lot more plants, more of a walkway than a park.

Pictures all from The High Line

Even though I was a tad disappointed in the whole thing, I'm happy I went down to see it, being around anything green in that city is always a plus!

New York City

2011-07-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend I went on yet another weekend getaway.

This one was long over due, and I can honestly say I needed it!

My good friend Jessica and her husband Steve are currently living in New York for the summer.

I had the chance to have lunch with her the last time I was there, but we didn't have a chance for some REAL girl time.

The weekend was spent vintage shopping, laying out in Central Park,

running around the city in a bathing suit and romper [classy, I know], and

finding any way possible to beat the heat!

I also took it upon myself [and my friend Dimitri] to introduce Jess and Steve to Shake Shack,

because ice cream was the only thing that sounded good in the 115 degree weather!

Pictures shamelessly stolen from Jess's blog

Thanks Marcums for a great weekend!

Palmyra

2011-07-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

Our weekend trip wasn't just about Niagara Falls, though it was pretty amazing.

We stayed with Stefi's brother who lives near Palmyra,

so we were able to see some the pageant and church history sites as well.

Our first stop was the temple...

And then the Joseph Smith cabin...

We saw a few more things such as the Grove and the print shop, but somehow pictures weren't taken..

Then it was back in the car for the seven hour drive home.

To sum it all up, it was a fabulous trip!

He Has Arrived!

2011-07-20T09:18:00.000-04:00

Introducing..

Wesley Nathan Stum

Congrats to my sister Jamie and her husband Nate,

I can't wait to meet my new nephew next month!

Border Crossing

2011-07-19T07:58:00.000-04:00

This weekend a few of us took a road trip to Canada.

I know what your thinking, Canada?

But if you think about it, we have Canada to thank for Justin Bieber, Drake, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, and a plethora of other obvious A list stars.

We were only on the other side for a few hours to visit Niagara Falls,

but it was a definite highlight of the trip!

Heat Wave

2011-07-12T09:34:00.000-04:00

What are you supposed to wear in weather as hot and humid as this?

Do's: Shorts, especially running shorts. White t-shirts from the boys section of Target.

Sandals, or bare feet if that is in any way socially acceptable.

Hair as high on your head as possible.

Don't: Pants. Suit coats (HOW do people do that?!) Button up shirts. Or real shirts for that matter.

Shoes that cover your toes.

Or really, just clothes in general.

The Single Life

2011-07-11T11:41:00.000-04:00

A good friend of mine posted this yesterday on Facebook...

"DC Mormon singles are so trendy right now. We had a documentary filming us on our spring break. A Washington Post article about us last month. And PBS recording us during church today. I had to suck in the whole time."

I couldn't agree more. (Not about the sucking in part, Dom always looks great) But it seems like the topic of being single in the Mormon community is the It topic of the year. Despite our popularity, I can't really seem to figure out why people care. What is so interesting about a bunch of twenty somethings that happen to move to the same area as each other and do social things together?

Maybe it's the fact that the ratio of girls to guys is 2 to 1, or the fact that my ward boundaries are about two square miles, or that people hang out together all. the time. I mean, yes all of this is interesting, but isn't the more interesting part of the Mormon culture the fact that at 22 years old, every friend I made in college is married? Or that some friends already have two kids at our ripe old age?

Being single has its perks and its downfalls, just like any other relationship status. I love that no one gets mad when I shop too much and yes, there are days I would love someone around to make dinner with and enjoy the little things in life. Until I find that person, my friends and I will take full responsibility for being the reason why so many people find the DC singles world so fascinating, and we'll love every minute of it!

Old Friends

2011-07-08T10:54:00.000-04:00

In our wilder days of high school, we did stupid things like throw parties when our parents left the country...

or see how many people we could fit in a hot tub..

or shoot fireworks at each other (that one never ended well).

But now that we're all grown, mature adults (ha!) we opted for a tame dinner at a University Place favorite.

I love that we've been friends for ten years and we still love getting together.

So cheers to the next decade of causing trouble and growing up!

Seattle

2011-07-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

I'm back in the real world after my week long trip to Seattle.

It was so great to be at home, play with Owen, and have nothing on my schedule.

The weather was perfect for almost the entire week,

so on Saturday we headed up to Gas Works Park to enjoy the sun.

No matter how much I travel, I still think Seattle is the most beautiful city.

Trees, water, no humidity, and sun...perfect!

After soaking up the city, we went to see the Mariners.

It was the ideal Seattle night for a baseball game and we loved just hanging out and relaxing as a family.

I'm already looking forward to seeing everyone in California next month!

Aunt Molly

2011-06-30T14:52:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to babysit Owen this morning and

it took me a full 30 minutes to change his diaper and get him in clothes.

It's a really good thing I'm no where near having a kid, it's hard enough being the Aunt!

Home

2011-06-29T13:47:00.000-04:00

I woke up to this wonderful view this morning....

Home Sweet Home!!

I walked in last night to a freshly made batch of cookies and just knew this is going to be a great trip.

I'll be here for an entire week, so get ready for tons of pictures of my nephew Owen,

lunches with the girls I grew up with, and a fabulous non humid 4th of July!

Conflict of Interest

2011-06-23T08:05:00.000-04:00

Last night the Seattle Mariners were in town playing the Nationals.

This presented a conflict for me, as I had to decide between my hometown team and my new hometown team. It was beautiful outside, and things just kept getting better since it was $1 hotdog night. [I usually hate hotdogs, but when dinner is literally $1, you just can't complain, no matter what you're eating.]

As for cheering, I decided to just cheer for both, I guess I'm always going to be a bi-coastal girl.

Officially Summer

2011-06-22T14:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the summer solstice, and since I love any excuse to celebrate things,

we spent part of the day by the pool.

The sun plus an excellent lunch at Costco seemed like the only way to bring in summer right.
So cheers to being tan, warm weather, friends, and Summer 2011!

Eastern Market

2011-06-20T13:57:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since we brunched. Too long, if you ask me.

So this weekend a few of us girls [Dom and Milan were there in spirit!]

headed down to Eastern Market.

An adorable flee market, great crepes and homemade donuts made for a perfect morning.

We had so much fun we spent the rest of the day recovering and sleeping poolside.

Yea, it's a hard life out here, but someone has to do it.

Baby Stum

2011-06-17T15:01:00.001-04:00

Last weekend all of my female relatives gathered together in southern California.

My sister Jamie is having a baby in a few short weeks, and it was time to celebrate his upcoming arrival.

I was beyond sad that I didn't go [see consolation trip to nyc below], but made myself feel better by buying the kid some great east coast preppy clothes.

Sometime before W. comes I'll actually mail the gift out Jamie, I promise!

Taking a break

2011-06-13T10:41:00.000-04:00

When Thursday rolled around last week, I knew it would benefit everyone if I got out of DC for a few days.

I realize it's only been two weeks since I went to North Carolina, and it's only two weeks until I go to Washington, but I needed to get out. [Yes, I also realize that my need to travel is a little extreme]

Anyway, I left my office early on Friday and caught a bus up to New York City.

The weekend was spent helping Amber move into her new apartment near Columbia, having lunch with Jessica, and saying goodbye to Lauren, who is moving to India for one year!

Other highlights included the most amazing brunch ever, walking ten blocks in the freezing rain, and watching Harry Potter on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I promised to go visit Lauren in India, and I always make good on my promises!

I'm back and happy to be in DC, happy the weather isn't so intense, and happy the trip was a success!

I Melt

2011-06-08T15:34:00.002-04:00

It's hot here. Like 100 degrees hot. The tourists are out in masses but no, they do not know how to handle the Metro. Walk left, stand right [it's really simple]. The GRE made for a rough day yesterday, and suddenly my family felt a million miles away.

But in the past 24 hours I spent 2.5 hours laughing with one of my oldest friends over dinner, watched Stefi make cookies and then ate half of the cookie dough, cuddled with my two favorite Washingtonians while watching Oprah's last show, ran two miles, danced to Lady Gaga in my office, and was up until 2 last night Heytelling my favorite Californian.

Suddenly, life seems really great right now.

Anxiety

2011-06-07T14:08:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if it was the anxiety over taking the GRE or the fact that I inhaled a Georgetown Cupcake about two minutes before I went to bed that caused me to lay awake all last night.

I never do well before a big day. The night before I flew to Jerusalem I woke up every. single. hour. thinking I was going to miss my flight. Luckily I discovered sleeping pills before I went to India.

Anyway, I took the big test, and as of right now I'm still alive.

I was touch and go the hour after getting done, but a long conversation with Mel and some serious time with four Diet Coke's makes everything better.

Now it's time to figure out what I'm doing with my life.

Thanks for all the love!

Weekend Update

2011-06-06T14:56:00.000-04:00

This weekend seemed to go by exceptionally fast, but it was a good one so I can't complain.

Friday night [after a long nap and three Diet Cokes], we went to Busboys and Poets.

We've brunched there before with great success,

and some nights they have an open mic night.

So a large group of white kids decided to venture into a not so white area of DC to support our friend who was performing. We were welcomed with open arms and loved every minute of it.

Taylor, bringing down the house as usual

Although almost every picture I have on this blog is with Allie, I do indeed have other friends, I promise!

Mail

2011-06-01T10:44:00.000-04:00

Last week I got home from work and noticed I had mail.

Usually the only thing I get are packages from ~~Nordstrom~~ my mother and the occasional letter from a friend on a mission. But this one was different. A friend decided he wanted to just write a letter and say hello. We talk on a pretty regular basis, so this was a complete surprise. As I read it, I kept thinking how great it was to have an actual letter in my hands. It's just something that email can never fully live up to.

So go write a letter and make someones day!

I Survived

2011-05-31T11:17:00.000-04:00

I am currently in recovery mode from the weekend. Dodging the documentary cameras, laying out in the sun, and eating overwhelming amounts of food is really hard work. Overall, the weekend was a success, and despite the reputation Duck has, I had a fabulous time.

Allie and I left DC on Friday morning with some great music and lots of diet coke. Despite getting a tad lost in Norfolk, VA, [ever heard of it? Me either.] the drive only took us five hours. I was SO excited to finally see the water. It's something I miss every day.

The house was huge, complete with an indoor and outdoor pool and was across the street from the beach. Somehow we scored a king sized bed to ourselves and were able to keep it for the entire weekend! We were probably some of the only people who had enough room to actually enjoy sleeping, though being woken up at 7 am is another issue entirely.

Yes, there were moments where I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people around all the time. Yes, being on a beach with 1,000 people is weird and not always relaxing. And yes, we Mormons can be a bit odd sometimes with our "meat market" mentality toward dating.

But what's not to love about warm weather and getting a little Duck Beach love?

Bring on Summer 2011!

Duck Fever

2011-05-26T16:22:00.001-04:00

Every year for Memorial Day [almost] every single Mormon on the east coast heads down to

North Carolina to spend the weekend at Duck Beach.

Duck has been all the talk recently, and the epidemic shows no sign of letting up.

What's even funnier than 1000 Mormon kids on a beach is the fact that other people are noticing our "spring break" as well. Here is an article that The Daily Beast published, the Washington Times article, AND the documentary that will filming the entire weekend. Yikes.

Duck Beach from Big Iron Productions on Vimeo.

Dating: 21st Century Style

2011-05-24T15:48:00.000-04:00

To the Men of the 21st Century:

Emails are fun but I can promise we girls are a lot more fun in person. Sometimes thinking of witty things to say in the form of a text message is awkward, especially since you don't know me well enough to get my sarcasm. [Hence the need to hang out in person.] And though twitter lets you use a whopping 140 characters, how many ways can I really imply that I want to hang out with you?

Love,

The Social Media Savvy Ladies of DC

Success

2011-05-23T10:38:00.000-04:00

I love when weekends are a success. It makes the week so much easier when the weekend was a good one. And this weekend was a great one. We ate great summer food [hotdogs, hamburgers, and milk shakes], spent tons of time outside, and just loved being in DC.

The blog has been a little lame lately, but with the creation of a summer to do list and nicer weather, be prepared for me to step up my game.

Do's and Don'ts

2011-05-19T15:12:00.000-04:00

These days I DO....

Make it a priority find the best desserts in the district.

Wear something striped almost every day.

Love the warmer weather, even if it's raining.

But I DON'T...

Straighten my hair. [see weather report above]

Enjoy studying.

Ever get tired of singing Celine Dion off key.