Washington, D.C.

Hello friends! Since I last dropped by these parts, my boyfriend and I moved to Washington, DC! I've started working from home full time, begun the job search for a new gig, and even had my first guest visit for a few days. It's been a very busy month since we left Boston, but here's what I've learned in short:

- When you move, unpack the kitchen first. With a functioning kitchen, you can fix meals and snacks and save tons of money by not having to eat out constantly during the week or so it takes to properly unpack everything else. Learn from our mistake; moving your stuff around all day makes you very hungry, and we spent way too much on sub-par sandwiches and salads from random restaurants in our new 'hood. You'll eat much healthier too.

- While everyone looks for something different when choosing a new abode, there's a lot to be said for location. We opted to pay a bit more to live in a spot that puts us just a few blocks from the metro, multiple grocery stores, the farmers market, a darling tea shoppe, a second hand bookstore, a yoga studio... pretty much everything a girl could need, and I couldn't be happier with our new home. I've removed the stress of having to drive from my life and my legs are feeling happy and strong from all the walking, it's a win-win!

- Job searching can be exhausting and trying for even the most patient among us. Tip for the loved ones of job seekers: please refrain from uttering that dreaded question, "Find a job yet?", even in jest. Stick with, "How is the job search going?", and prevent an awkward moment of genuine frustration and annoyance.

- It turns out making bagels from scratch isn't as tricky as one might think. Check out this tasty little basket of goodness my sister-in-law and I hand crafted.

- If you frequently work from your laptop, like I do, investing in a few additional tools can make your workspace much more comfortable and ergonomic. A laptop stand that raises your laptop up to meet your natural gaze will keep your neck comfortable after hours at your desk. I also highly recommend a wireless keyboard (I went for the Logitech solar powered model and have been very happy with it so far) and a wireless mouse to keep your workspace clutter free.

- Speaking of desks, if you're looking for an inexpensive option, check out the Ikea Vika Amon table top with the Vika Lerberg trestle legs. This set-up only cost me $40 and was very easy to assemble, you just have to put together the trestle legs and the table top balances sturdily on top -making it easy to disassemble and move. I do not, however, suggest getting lost in your new city and making it to Ikea a mere 30 minutes before closing time with no idea what you want... but that's another story.

Awesome Etsy Find

How cool are these rings from Etsy shop ClosetGothic? They're made out of vintage watch movements!


They also have cufflinks made from matching watch movements. What a good gift idea...

Cha-Cha-Changes

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Big happenings around these parts. My boyfriend and I are moving to Washington DC in just one month and there seems to be endless work to do. First things first - finding a place to live! I'll be jetting down tomorrow to apartment hunt and lay the groundwork for my upcoming job search. For now, here's a few fun things from around the web...

I recently discovered the incredibly delicious Maharaja Chai Oolong tea from Teavana (the flavors are so intense and full of depth), and it turns out they have a great website with tons of helpful tea information. Check out their Types of Tea guide and this great How Tea is Made visual complete with instructions for how to brew the perfect cup depending on type.

Did you get up early to watch the royal wedding? I only saw a bit of the recap coverage on TV but thought both Kate and Pippa's dresses were gorgeous.

Speaking of weddings, did you know that J.Crew has a wedding shop? Their relaxed, feminine dresses are simple perfection.

Lazy Sunday: Incredible Otimism

This lazy Sunday I'm decidedly optimistic. Intentionally optimistic. Optimistic without bounds. Sometimes I get stuck thinking (subconsciously) that optimism is not as powerful, as motivational, an outlook as other perspectives on life. For example, you could think that realism is a better approach to take. With a "realistic" outlook on life, you are less likely to get your hopes up about things which may not transpire. You may adopt a less rosy view of your skills and abilities, and those of others, so as not to overstate the capacity of what we are capable of. You may not dare to dream of all the possibilities that life could bring - so many paths to choose from would be downright mind boggling, and how would you know where to start? If you adopt an attitude of realism, you may be fast to acknowledge all of the challenges and obstacles you are likely to face with every action you undertake, and will therefore be braced to work harder in the uphill battle which even the most simple of tasks can become.

The thing is... with this type of "realistic" outlook, you're not actually gaining anything. Not getting your hopes up? I see it more as not allowing yourself to feel hope. Not overstating what we are capable of? How about not allowing yourself to be pushed and expand and discover what you ARE capable of? Not overwhelming yourself with "unlikely" possibilities? Try never giving yourself the opportunity to explore whichever path in life you decide is best for you. And the bit about being more motivated to work harder because you know the challenges you will face? This sounds a lot like doubting yourself from the start and perhaps creating more difficult circumstances for yourself than those which truly exist.

So today, I'm channeling some incredible optimism and I'm going to let it keep on flowing. Believe in the future, in our abilities, in possibilities, and the knowledge that whatever comes your way you will be able to handle. You have nothing to lose by greeting each new day with a smile, and so much to gain. Sometimes, especially if I'm in a foul mood, I've been known to say "life isn't all rainbows and unicorns". Well, sometimes it is all rainbows and unicorns, and with an optimistic outlook you are well positioned to recognize and enjoy all the brightness, color, love, opportunities, and divine synchronicities that each day brings.

Weekend Melody

I'm currently obsessed with this awesome music video featuring the stylings of Japanese band World Order. It's got me in a perfect mood for a fun weekend!

Oh So Springy

I am oh so ready for spring. When I walked outside this morning and realized my winter coat was totally unnecessary I actually jumped out of pure joy. Spring, with all of it's lush freshness, has only just started to flirt with us here in the northeast, but I have a feeling she'll be sticking around for a while very soon. Here are just a few things that I can't wait to enjoy this season...

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Spring cleaning! Or, as I like to think of it, spring simplification. More details on that to come, but after hunkering down (with all of our stuff) all winter, who isn't ready for some simplification and organization about now?

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A pink lipped look. I don't tend to wear much in the way of makeup, so I love this fresh clean look with just enough color.

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Smoothies! Lately I've been totally into oatmeal for breakfast, but as the weather warms up I'm ready for smoothies to take center stage for the most important meal of the day.

How To: Make Awesome Oatmeal

What's that? You're looking for an easy, inexpensive, delicious, healthy breakfast? Well, my sweet, you've come to the right place. I've been making this awesome oatmeal every weekend lately and it's the perfect combination of tasty heartiness to power you through a morning of errands. The recipe is crafted out of items you're likely to already have lurking in the pantry, all of which are quite inexpensive when you realize just how many breakfasts you can squeeze out of one tube of Irish Steel Cut Quick Cook oats (say that five times fast) - I like the Country Choice Organic kind which works out to be $.20/serving or less. On to the recipe...

3/4 Cup water
1/4 Cup Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats
Granny Smith Apple
Small Handful of Raisins
3-4 Dashes of Cinnamon
Drizzle of Maple Syrup

Bring the water to a boil in a small pot, and stir in the oats. Reduce heat to medium-low so that the oats can simmer, covered, for 5-7 minutes. A word to the wise - opt for a longer cooking time and lower heat.. I can't tell you how many times I've let the oats boil over and that will really kill your early morning meditative state. While you wait, cube 1/2 of the apple and eat the other half (or get a little crazy and cube the whole thing!). Toss apple cubes in your favorite cereal bowl, and top with raisins, cinnamon, and maple syrup. When your oats have finished cooking, pour them right over top of your fruity mixture and mix well. Makes 1 serving.


This breakfast is totally filling and so much better for you than prepackaged oatmeal packets, as handy as they may be. On a seemingly unrelated yet completely related note - do you have any odd habits that bring you great joy? The top of my list includes finding spelling or grammatical errors in print. I found this little gem on the back of the oatmeal canister I used to make the breakfast above...

What can I say - it's the little things in life.