#25

Remember this list? Well, let's just check number 25 off!

My cute mom, spunky grandma and bff Kalli finally made the trek to DC.

We had a fun girls weekend hanging out and catching up. I loved showing my favorite people some of my favorite places. We hopped around the monuments, went shopping, went swimming at the hotel, sported matching Washington DC sweatshirts, and walked Grandma Tammy to death :)

Snowed In...For a Week.

Exactly one week ago I was out braving the crowds in preparation for "snowmageddon" or the "snowpocalypse." I thought this storm would keep me inside for the weekend...and maybe a Monday snow day. Oh boy, oh boy was I wrong. This little blizzard smashed the records and landed a spot right in the history books. I've spent the majority of the last week in my little home. Safe and warm. Stir-crazy, but safe and warm. Four days off work. What's a girl to do?

Nightly Slumber Parties with Hope...check
Taxes...check
Workin' from Home...check
Sugar Binges...check
Chick Flick Marathons...check
Personal Art Project...half-check (see 25x25)
On-line Shopping...check
Cleaning and Organizing...check
Coke with Lime...check, check, check.

Sadly, that list was a stretch. This last week has been one of utter laziness...personal hygiene went out the window, self-control and diets were unheard of, pajamas were the outfit of choice, and responsibilities seemed few and far between. I'll admit, I'm ready to get back to real life (sadly, we're still cleaning up and getting around is still a big pain in the butt...). Real world, see you in the morning.

Snowmageddon Part II...

After spending last weekend stuck inside without a thing to do but twiddle my thumbs (it snows every weekend here...), I knew being cooped up during "snowmageddon" would drive me to drink (insane amounts of coca cola...nothing too risque). When the forecasters began calling for record levels of snow, I made a list of snow projects, and set out to stock up with the necessary items to complete said projects. Unfortunately for my waistline, most of my tasks involved F-O-O-D.

On Thursday night, I searched three grocery stores, Wal-Mart and Target for chicken....and four hours later walked away with the last package of frozen, fresh or pre-cooked chicken in northern Virginia....sadly, it was chicken leg quarters.

I know, they grossed me out too, but desperate times called for desperate measures. 

Seriously, imagine Christmas Eve shopping at the most popular mall times 500 and you've got the grocery stores the night before the storm. Parking lots were packed; sadly, shelves were not. It was serious pandemonium. Don't believe me? Here's proof.

Exhibit A

The Produce Department

Exhibit B

The Juice Aisle

Picture that through every grocery store in the DC area. I wish I would have taken out some stock in the local grocery chains....While the shelves were slightly bare, I was able to stock up enough to make lots of goodies...

Here's what was on the menu....

Omelette with tomato, cucumber, spinach, onions and peppers.

Homemade Tomato Basil Soup with homemade croutons and feta.

Chicken Pot Pies with Spinach Salad

Chocolate Molten Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Roasted Pepper and Vegetable Beef Stew

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Feta Green Beans and Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes 

We just received word of another storm headed our way this week. I think my roomie summed it up best when she said, "Seriously the snow has got to stop, I'm turning into Ruby. When all this ends I'll need my own TV show."

Snowmageddon 2010...

I survived. I know y'all were worried (except my mother...she knew I was "responsible enough to hack it" in the record-breaking storm). Everyone else can rest assured that I'm still snow-capable (I haven't forgotten my Utah snow roots). 

Following the brunt of "snowmageddon," this guy showed up at our place ready to roll. Doesn't he look hardcore? Wayne's from Alaska so he knows how to handle the white stuff. The power was off at his place (and most of my neighborhood) so he came down to hang out. Luckily, my side of the street survived the outages and we were able to comfortably ride out the brunt of the storm. After hours of cooking, eating, watching movies, internet surfing and being cooped up, we struck out to assess the damage. Whoa baby, it was quite a surreal sight...

  That'd be a shopping cart...

Oh, and this is our street sign. 

And here we are playing in the middle of our intersection...because no cars were in our way. 

Wayne found a bike to ride...if only it wasn't stuck in three feet of snow.

Hope thought she could take me...let's just say she learned not to mess with a farm girl :)

Of course we hiked down to the Mickey-D's...only to find they were closed!!! You know its quite the storm if McDonald's can't even open.

There were insane amounts of snow, but we made it through Snowmageddon fairly unscathed. The trees, power lines and lots of cars weren't so lucky! It's hard to tell, but that's a car lot...lines of cars totally buried. Cuh-razy!

When the winds stopped howling, and the flakes were done flying, our neighborhood was quite magical. What a winter wonderland...

And I Quote...

"There's no good reason we're not married...except we make horrible decisions."

Direct quote from one of my best friends. Yep, she's probably right.

25x25

I realized something this week, I've been on hiatus. Not only from blogging, but from life, too. January has a way of making me way too introverted for my own good...I go to work, I come home and repeat the same every day, every week. Not the best way to be living. So I decided, its time to make myself accountable to all of you (hi mom and grandma...I'm sure you're the only ones reading this!!!) and post my 25x25. My half-birthday was a week ago, so I now have just under six months to complete the following 25 goals, activities, and self-imposed dares before I turn the big 2-5. Here they are (in no particular order)...

1. Go a whole month without buying any clothes. or shoes. or makeup.
2. Use my passport.
3. Use my new gym pass. Regularly. Like at least twice a week :)
4. Learn to love my church calling :) I have two. Love one, hate one.
5. Finally finish "1776."
6. Run 25 miles...heck, why not bump it up to 26.2 and run a marathon!
7. Go to the Maine Avenue Fish Market...so I can quit driving by and thinking "that looks cool."
8. Find my signature scent...preferably not at the fish market :)
9. Read the BoM. (again...I've read it before, don't worry!)
10. Visit the Hillwood Estate
11. Grow my own herbs. To pay homage to my farmer father.
12. Create a work of art...that's actually good enough to display.
13. Apply to grad school.
14. Go to the Congressional Cemetery.
15. Make 25 new friends.
16. Dance again. Country. Line. Ballroom. Whatever.
17. Take a cooking class.
18. Become a morning person.
19. Eat at the Shake Shack in NYC.
20. Find the best cupcake in DC.
21. Make a budget and stick to it.
22. Go bungee jumping and/or sky diving.
23. See a show at Ford's Theater.
24. Become a better parallel-parker.
25. Get my family to come visit me!!!

Lots of these adventures are going to require friends...any takers?!?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The weather outside was truly frightful! DC was hit by the perfect storm the weekend before Christmas. Toilet paper was flying off the shelves at the local grocery stores in preparation for the big storm (seriously...I'm not kidding. No TP, no produce, no eggnog...the shelves were empty). Church was cancelled. Airports were closed (all 3 in the area...poor holiday travelers). 24 inches fell in 24 hours. It was quite the sight!

Storms like this separate friends from true friends. A true friend will help you scrape the 2 feet of snow off your car in leggings...thanks Hope!

Merry Christmas...it's looking like a merry one in DC :)

I Always Want What I Can't Have...

This realization came at the Michael Jackson movie, This Is It. I didn't have tickets to his concert, I had absolutely no intention of ever getting tickets, and I probably never would have watched a video of the concert or footage from the real thing. However, now that he's gone, I would have given practically anything (within reason...) for Michael to have performed just one full concert! He marked his dances in This Is It...and they were still impressive. He only sang a few notes of each song...and I was still in awe. I remembered why I hung his poster in my bedroom when I was five. He's talented beyond belief...

NYC Finally...

 Love, Love, Love NYC...so beautiful!

I know everyone has been dying to see pics from Diana and I's final adventure together (as roommates...we're still friends so there will definitely be more Di-ami Adventures).

Here's the highlights (in no particular order) from the Big Apple...

We went big this time and stayed in a luxury "pod." You can see the toilet right next to our bed...NYC style!

 We went with a classic and saw The Lion King on Broadway...amazing!

Graham joined the party at the Stardust Diner...after he took us on an awesome tour of the NBC Studios. He's our very own Kenneth the Page (if you don't know who that is...watch 30 Rock.)

We took a leisurely stroll through Central Park on Sunday...perfect weather!

This is the married (unknown til after the photo) cop I may or may not have made Diana stalk with me.

We had a lovely weekend in NYC. We did what we wanted, spent way too much money (its NYC...you lose money just breathing the air) , and laughed at each other. It was a nice little send off before Di up and abandoned me in DC :( I'll forgive her for leavin me if she promises we can have a repeat NYC trip next fall!   

I'm a big deal...

Image via utne.com

I've always thought so, but it's been verified by a professional.

Sylvia the Psychic read my palm in NYC and said...

"You're gonna be something special. You're kind of a big deal."

(or something like that...)   

I don't know about you, but I think Sylvia's on to something!

Stay tuned for more details on Diana and I's adventure in NYC!!

Eight Years Ago...

   September 11, 2001

The Pentagon Memorial

I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news. I'm sure all of you do too. Eight years ago, I remember being glued to the television, crying as I watched the names and faces of all the 9/11 victims flash across the screen. I remember hearing their somewhat everyday, yet amazing stories. Stories of moms and dads, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors...most of them just living quiet lives and trying to make our world a little better. Eight years ago I never imagined that I would live and work amongst the people and the places that terrorists targeted to spread their hate that day. I never imagined that those moms and dads, and brothers and sisters who witnessed 9/11 with their own eyes would become my friends and neighbors. Eight years later, I hope we all take time to remember that day and all the moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and friends and neighbors who have lost their lives as a result of the events eight years ago. I'm grateful for their sacrifices so that I can continue living my quiet life and keep trying to make our world a little better. 

All the Single Ladies...

In the spirit of giving...I'm sharing some words of wisdom with all you single ladies out there (sorry it's too late for all you marrieds). Pass this on...it could revolutionize dating.

Wayne and I were standing in line just like this... 

Costco Pizza Line

And our conversation went like this...

Kami: "blah blah blah...I'm tired of dating, men are from mars, etc." {something like that...}


Rita the Random Line Lady: "Girl, you just make sure he's straight. You just never know these days. They all be pretending. You gotta be sure he straight..." {that's the PG version...Rita added a few more X-rated details about all the so-called "pretenders"}

Kami: "Oh yeah, you, uh, just never know these days..."

Wayne: ---silence----

You heard it here first! The recipe for dating success- make sure he's straight and that he ain't just pretending.

Summer Lovin' had me a BLAST...

Now don't get the wrong idea...I didn't really have a "Grease" moment this summer. However, I had a blast enjoying every hot, sunny day! Here's my little tribute to the past 3 months...hold on tight, it was a wild ride!

 

 

 

 

Costa Rica for Memorial Day

 

 Independence Day in Cape Cod 

 

 

 
Carrie Underwood at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville...did I mention we were in the 4th row?!?

Summer Concert Series continued with Keith Urban...best concert ever!

And finally...pedicures with Kalli and co., lovin' on Chloe, Maddox with Grandpa Kenny and co., fair parade with all the Grandma's, and catching up with my girlies! Love, love, love UTAH (and the Box Elder County Fair and Rodeo).

Goodbye Summer...bring on fall!