Best of 2010 - July

JULY. What an epic month!

• Ken came to DC for the 4th of July and his birthday. We watched fireworks on Capitol Hill
  
  
• Ken heads to Boston to teach for Kaplan.
• I find a rocking chair in perfect condition in the complex with a free sign. Score!
  
  
• We daytrip to Williamsburg and scope out its old historic charm.
  
  
  
• I update my world and get the iPhone 4.
• Ken officially talks with my dad.
• Win the 4th of July baked goods competition at work with my BTS Cake! (As you can see, I did not win based on my terrible blue stars...)
  
  
• CZ and I spend a weekend in North Carolina with the Earnests. I try on wedding dresses.
  
  
• Ken proposes at The W Hotel in DC. Such a special and thoughtful day.
  
  
  
  
• I contact Jonathan Canlas to secure our photographer. I begin working with Amorology on planning the wedding.
  

Best of 2010 - June

June! Here are a few things I want to remember...

• Dawn's brother spent the month with us. Three is a bit of a crowd!
• We spent the weekend in Assateague beach camping with wild horses
• I bought a new fancy bed! Such an adult thing to do.

I didn't choose the crazy red walls & curtains, I just left them when I moved in.

• I tested out Polyface Farms from In Defense of Food fame. They have a monthly buying club where they deliver produce and poultry from their farm in Southern VA to Arlington. I'm trying to convince myself it's actually better/healthier/socially responsible and not just better in my head...
  
• Logan & Caitlin visited DC! (Possibly the hottest week all summer BTW)
  
• CZ & I made cupcakes for Mei Li

• Mi Na was born!!
  
• I went to Utah to visit. Ken and I went ring shopping and found THE ONE(S)! I chose a stack of bands instead of the more traditional solitaire. People keep asking me where I got the idea, but it's just what I've always liked best, I didn't really get the idea from anywhere other than my own head.
  
  
• Spent a week in Carlsbad with Ken and his family. Got more tan.
  

Best of 2010 - May

I already told you a lot about May since that was the month of the year I did "One photo a day in May." I also did that in 2009. May is usually a big travel month for me so I guess that explains it. Maybe it'll become an annual tradition?! I better think of something exciting to feature in 2011, I don't think it'll be an overseas excursion because I'm committed to making 2011 a "lean year" in every way, but I'll share more about that later...

Now that I look at May 2010, I realize May 2011 will be strikingly similar.

2010 -- I visited the Z's in Boston
2011 -- We'll head to Boston for Zack's HBS graduation

2010 -- CZ moved to DC for her internship at PwC
2011 -- CZ is moving back to DC for good!

2010 -- I went to Duck beach with CZ, Courtney, Kirstin, & YSA's of the East Coast
2011 -- We'll head to the Outerbanks with the entire JAZBAND for our annual beach week!

2010 -- I took and passed my last section of the CPA exam
2011 -- Maybe this May I'll finally take that pesky Virginia CPA ethics exam!

2010 -- I went to Brazil
2011 -- Ken I guess we better go to the Bahamas this year, right?? ;-)

Best of 2010 - April

April should be broken into two parts, pre-15 and post-15. Pre-15 I worked. The end. Then I bought flowers and a new dress and got a pedicure.

On April 16, I decided to make strawberry freezer jam. I was craving time in the kitchen and, for some reason, jam. I've never made jam before but I feel like it's something I'm supposed to be able to do, ya know? Am I alone in that?

I went to the farmer's market to buy strawberries and then I spent all day coaxing those strawberries into the darling little jars. I took a lot of photos because I really meant to blog about the whole thing. Darn.

The next day I made pizza dough from scratch and baked some pizzas on my stone.
Jill and I visited the Cherry Blossoms. There were A LOT of people trying to take pictures. It's definitely a beautiful spot for a family photo, but next spring I'll let you in on what I think is the best kept secret location for pictures along the Potomac. Get excited.

High: On April 16th I secured my visa at the Brazilian embassy!

Low: On April 17th I had to visit traffic court for a speeding ticket. The reckless driving charges were dismissed (a fact Ken seems to ignore whenever he wants to insult my driving record).

Ken came to DC after finals and we spent more time around the city.


At the end of the month, I entered a cupcake competition at work, made Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes and WON best taking cupcake! Lucky me! Recipe and recap here.

I would link to the other posts I made in April, but there are none. Oops!

Best of 2010 - March

March brought more snow days and office closings! I got to take a quick trip to Utah for some PwC recruiting on BYU campus.

My friends and I went to Communal one night while I was there. Ironically, the make-up of this photo has changed quite a bit since that dinner...

Two of the marriages depicted have ended, one couple has added a baby, and one couple has gotten married (us). Crazy how much things can change in a very short year.

March brought a lot of good running. Ken and I ran the Rex Lee 10K in Provo. Later in the month, Ken came out to DC and we ran the National Half Marathon, which was an amazing course snaking all through DC. He was on track for beating his 1/2 marathon PR but woke up race morning with the flu. So sad! I set off on the race and didn't think I'd see him til I got home.. Instead he popped in and *ran* as much as he could with me. It was a nice change since we usually don't run our races together (I'm slow).

One random story from March, I misread an email at work about an upcoming "Jeans Day." On Thursday, I arrived at work in jeans. I quickly noticed I was the only one in less than business casual. Apparently jeans day was Friday. Oops! A quick stop into JCrew's clearance section before the group meeting fixed the situation...

I suppose I should mention that March was a very busy work month with the March 15 filing deadline and I spent most evenings and Saturdays in the office. One ray of sunlight amidst that gloom? Finding an open spot next to my brother's car. How many people are lucky enough to work with their brothers? Even though I don't see him every single day, it's a comfort to know he's there.


Most notably, March brought butterflies and excitement as Ken and I decided it was time to move forward and get married. (Actually I think it was the end of February when we started setting that in motion?) As we began working towards that goal, we both felt amazing progress and transformation in other areas of our lives; it was a grand cosmic click into place. Ken invited his family into the process at this time and they were very kind and welcoming towards me. Huzzah!

Oh and as you may remember I already posted about books and movies and weddings and cookies, where to go in DC and some things I'd like to learn.

(Speaking of that learn list, after 9 months I've only knocked 1.5 off the list... They are basically all still outstanding. Maybe resolving those should be a 2011 resolution??)

Best of 2010 - February

February brought Snowmaggeden to DC. You may have heard, it was epic.



The office closed for 4 days in just one week! That's amazing! Those surprise snow days were hands down some of the best days of the year. We helped some neighbors build a GIANT snowman.


Dawn and I braved the snow and drove out to Lucketts for furniture shopping on the first day of the storm. We stocked up on food and supplies at Wegman's and then cheerfully watched the snow fall.

Ken came out to DC for Valentine's Day. We tested out Co Co Sala (awesome!) and saw Grease (meh).


I already told you about kettle corn, the vday fruit basket, antiquing in Fredericksburg, and hanging my French chandelier!

Best of 2010 - January

January began a new chapter in my life in many ways. I moved into my very own DC apartment where I was able to set up real non-college furniture and begin living "real" life. Dawn moved in with me and it was a perfect fit.

A week into the new year, I went under the knife to have my (super annoying) tonsils removed. I was nervous to have this surgery alone in a new place and ALMOST convinced my mom to fly out to take care of me, but in the end I was ok. (Many thanks to Steve & IeLi for taking care of me for the first day!)

I took about 2 weeks off work (or was it more?). The recovery was horrifically painful. My tongue was the last place for the swelling to go down. My taste buds were injured and I did not taste food normally again for 6 solid months. Some items still don't taste the same, which is really for the best because who needs to love the taste of movie popcorn anyway? Now with some separation, I am so glad I had them removed as I had a full year without strep or other irritating tonsil issues.

Tongue super red from a popsicle. Picture taken 20 minutes after I got home from the hospital.
Apparently I sent it to Ken. I have no recollection of doing so...

Ken came out to DC for his Trial Advocacy Traveling Team Competition. We explored DC together.

I scored an AMAZING deal on an Anthropologie floor sample couch. I can't believe I never blogged about that...

Post-tonsil dim sum

Best of 2010 - Another recap in parts

During Christmas break, I've been working on a series of blog posts about 2010. I was a pretty bad blogger overall this year, but I'd like to go over some key parts so I can always remember this very eventful year. I didn't originally intend to post them for general viewing, but oh why not. It's going to be good.

I will interrupt the 2010 recap to post pictures of The Great Zackrison Gingerbread House iChat (as soon as CZ sends me her pictures, hint!).

Here are a couple pics from the last two days. We stayed in on New Year's Eve and had a fondue party with our friends Severin & Lissa (& Hamilton). Many thanks to Zack & Ana for the fondue set!!

I know you're tired of those lame flower pictures in the silver frames..
I am too. Will be changing out shortly.

Today we walked the grand loop from the Jefferson to the FDR Memorial, Lincoln, Washington, Smithsonian Row and finally The Capital (read: a really long way). We ended the night at Old Ebbett's Grill. Needless to say my feet are tired!

Christmas 2010 - A Recap in parts...

This is part 1. It's a recap in parts because I can't seem to build up the inspiration to post. Totally annoying. I have lots of pretty pictures and lots of great stories and happiness. I mean a ton. But I can't seem to get it out here.

For example, I'd love to tell you about how Santa found us and brought us so many beautiful pots to cook in. It may have taken much deliberation and several trips to SLT, WS AND Anthro, but we finally got all the sizes and colors worked out and now I don't want to close the cupboard doors.

Wanna come to dinner?

Or I could tell you about our visit to the Capital Christmas Tree where we may or may not have found an extra ornament lying on the ground. Said ornament may turn out to be of a much larger scale than the rest of the ornaments in the house...


I could talk about our first month of married life. Which has been lovely except for one somewhat tense discussion about what should be done with the state quarter map which has been in my car for the last 23 months. (Keep it, duh..)


Anyway, I have big plans for part 2 & 3. And only 4 more days of Christmas break!

Merry Christmas to all!

Santa found us here in North Carolina. We're so happy to be here. More updates to come!!