Knock, knock

As with most things in our house, it usually takes awhile for Max and I to agree on something we both like. Which is why, when we had our front door repainted and the old hardware removed, it was no simple feat to find a suitable replacement. I found this door knocker on Etsy and we both loved it immediately:

Check out FourRDesigns on Etsy for more of her work!

Valentine's Day

Max and I celebrated yesterday. First with some goodies from Sephora!

  

For dinner we went to Willow. Delicious!

Margarita flatbread with pepperoni, to share

Max's Flounder

Veal two ways

Strawberry shortcake layer cake

Chocolate covered strawberries and sugar cookies

Imagine my surprise!

Yelp reviews

Recent reviews by Nicole G.

What's this?

Laugh out hunger

Buy tickets online

Parking update

I backed in for the first time today! Why? Because the parking garage was pretty much empty. Seemed like a good opportunity. Took me a few tries and a little time but I think you'll agree, I did good.

Driving update

This might seem minor but I brought the car in for service for the first time today. And it wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be - so yay!

Grove Bamboo

I was looking for a customizable phone case for Max. In the process, I found Grove Bamboo. They make amazing works of art!

Here's what they can do:

Kelley Cares 5K Run/Walk

One of my coworkers is part of the Kelley Cares Foundation, which was formed to make people aware of the need for inclusion regardless of ability and provide awareness to the community about those with special needs.

The Kelley Cares 5K Run/Walk race was created to honor Kelley Swanson, a bright young star in the Alexandria community who is no longer with us, benefiting The Therapeutic Recreation Section of Alexandria.

When: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 8:00am
Where: George Washington Middle School 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria, VA 22301
Cost:

• $30 Adults
• $15 Children (6 - 12 years old)
• FREE (5 years and under)

T-Shirt included in registration fee

Registration forms online at: www.kelleycares.org

Photo Essay: 20 Amazingly Creative Works of Paper Art

This is so amazing, I had to share...

Photo Essay: 20 Amazingly Creative Works of Paper Art

A weekend in New York

On the subway

Max and I spent this weekend in New York - the biggest reason was to see the preview show of the Spiderman Musical, Turn Off The Dark. It was Max's Christmas present.

Max outside Foxwoods Theatre

It was a good show and everything went off without a hitch. The sets were well done - they had a huge bridge with a train running across it in a few scenes. The part in Queens had Peter Parker and Mary Jane walking through the neighborhood with the houses changing as they went. Cool stuff. The aerial work was great. Max was SUPER impressed. The singing was good and we both liked the music. Overall it was a really good experience. Max wants to go back in March once it opens officially.

We also went to the Comedy Cellar with our friend Sassi and two of her friends. A lot of good acts by some well credited comics... pretty funny stuff. Plus the food was good. Would definitely go back.

Yesterday, we had lunch with Max's aunt and uncle in Queens at Tung Shing. Food was good! My favorite is always there Peking Duck but this time I also really like the braised ribs and ma po dofu. Yum!

Today we went shopping - taking advantage of the holiday weekend! Bought some vanilla coconut body scrub from Sabon ( on a recommendation from my friend Missy) - that stuff is heaven. And such a pretty store.

93 Prince Street in Soho

I also bought a pair of Echo Touch gloves. I can wear them and still use my iPhone! Very cool. Also got a pair of Jessica Simpson jeggings. Wore them home on the train with my tall boots - they're actually quite comfortable.

I love timelapses

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

Easy, breezy, beautiful...

Did you know that it's COVERGIRL's 50th anniversary?

I just joined the COVERGIRL 50th Anniversary BzzCampaign.

The next generation of COVERGIR... is you! Visit facebook.com/covergirl and go to the MyCOVERGIRL tab to celebrate your COVERGIRL status all year long and let friends and this iconic beauty brand know what makes you a COVERGIRL. The first 1,000 COVERGIRLs who register receive a FREE LashBlast Volume Mascara

A new flute

MIT Media Lab researcher Amit Zoran has printed a playable flute, using a 3D printer. This could mean wild, new instruments with new designs. I really love the image shown at the end of the video.

Erin

Vote for Erin!

Dog sitting

My friend Amanda went away for the weekend and so I offered to dog sit for her. You may remember Ajax from August. He's about 9 months old now, bigger and a little calmer but still definitely a puppy.

Makes for a pretty holiday picture

Stand-off between Erin and Ajax continues. Erin still does not want to play with him.

Less wrinkles but the same sad eyes

Doesn't really want to be awake at midnight for this!

Chasing the Canada geese in the park by our house

Happy New Year

This year, Max and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home together. We watched a DVD together, I opened a bottle of Canadian ice wine and then we watched the ball drop on TV.

Today was pretty low key. Max and I went for a pretty long walk since it was so nice outside. I was able to Skype with my family after dinner, which was really nice - especially now that my sister is expecting!

Also, my Dad wrote a new blog post about the wood carvings he has made for me over the years. You can read about it here.

No resolutions for me this year. I'm just happy that things have been going well lately. Sometimes that's the best that you can hope for!

Happy New Year all!

How It's Made: Cotton Yarn

Thank you Giant

The letter I submitted to Giant Customer Service:

I want to thank you for opening your store on Christmas Day. If it were not for you, our Christmas dinner would have been all sides and no turkey. Here's the story:

I bought a fresh turkey from an unnamed grocery store and the expiration date was for sometime in January. So I put the turkey in the refrigerator and did not open it until Christmas Eve at 9pm. My husband and I had planned to brine the turkey the night before but when we opened the turkey, a sulfurous smell filled the kitchen. It had to be tossed in the trash. What a waste! We went back to the unnamed grocery store but they had closed at 7pm. And were closed on Christmas Day. That is when I started crying. Luckily my husband was driving and we went to Giant next. Although the store was closed for the night, it would open on Christmas Day at 8am. Hallelujah! Hope restored! So on Christmas day we woke up early and were at the store at 8:01am as the store opened its doors. We were in luck! They had a fresh turkey available! We paid and thanked the cashier profusely, rushed home to brine the turkey for a few hours before popping it in the oven.

It was a Christmas miracle. Our turkey was the centerpiece of the table, delicious and juicy. And although there would have been plenty of food without it, it just would not have been the same.

Thank you Giant for making my Christmas a joyous one!

Thanks Mom and Dad!

Not only was it great to spend time with my parents but while they were here, they did SO MUCH around the house! After repeated attempts to get them to just relax, I let them do what they wanted. My Mom was constantly cooking and washing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. Plus she did laundry and changed the sheets on the guest bed before she left. My Dad replaced my kitchen faucet, put in a new toilet paper holder in the guest bathroom, adding a dusk-to-dawn sensor to the exterior house light so that it only turns on when it's dark, checked my fireplace, got my bathroom faucets working better and added weather stripping to the balcony door to keep the cold air out - and the hot air in! He was even going to install new light fixtures in our kitchen but Max and I couldn't agree on anything. In addition to all that, they went to the gym almost everyday. And my Dad started writing a blog.

Not my idea of a vacation but they seemed happy about it.

Empty house

My parents came down from Canada for Christmas. It was great having them here and I was sad to send them off yesterday. Max is back at work today so it's just me and the cats. Here's a quick recap of the past week.

My Mom at the train station

Iceskating with my Dad and my neighbor's child, Caleb

Lunch with Mom and Dad at Rock Bottom

Checking out some recipes. The next morning we had barley for breakfast. It was good!

“The Art of Seuss: A Retrospective” Walking through a renowned, museum-quality exhibit that showcases artifacts and memorabilia celebrating the art of Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel.

Me and Max at ICE! How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Me and my Mom

Dad and Mom at the Gaylord National Harbor

Dinner at Rosa Mexicano

National Harbor

National Christmas tree in Washington, DC

Dinner at Carrabas

Chinese for lunch including beef noodle soup, green beans and pork, fried dofu and pot stickers

Mom cooking the sausage for the stuffing for Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner with my parents and Max

Merry Christmas

Despite the cold, on Thursday I finally went into DC to see the National Christmas tree, train set and the state trees this year. There was a helicopter that was shuttling back and forth to the White House.

Had dinner that night with our friend Slav at Carrabas in Bowie, Maryland.



Afterwards we went to see the Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park in Prince George's County. It's open 5-9:30pm every night until January 2 so you should go if you can. Only $5 per car and TOTALLY worth it!

Last night we got together with our neighbors. What a great way to spend Christmas Eve!

Hope you are all enjoying the holidays. Be good to your family. Spend time with your friends. Remember to say thank you. And for every meltdown, try to get a little perspective and think about the things that are really important.

Merry Christmas!