Tori and I spent today baking.

Hummingbird cupcakes and Doubletree chocolate chip cookie dough.

We all got ready and enjoyed dinner at Delia's Mediterranean restaurant and saw Remember Me in Alexandria.

I recommend the movie. The ending will likely surprise you, and it's nice to have that now and again.

xoxo,
Heather

Today, Tori and I traveled downtown to visit the American History Museum.

We were able to see the newly redone First Ladies' exhibit. Complete with drawings of First Ladies' dresses before they were worn or sown.

The Star Spangled Banner brings tears to my eyes every time.

We saw Carrie Bradshaw's computer from Sex and the City.

We stood right 'outside' Julia Child's kitchen.

We got to see Nastia Liukin's leotard from the Beijing Olympics. Along with Apollo Ohno's speed skates.

Tori participated in the Greensboro lunch counter sit-in. This year marked the 50th Anniversary.

Afterward, we enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Teaism. We each had a turkey and brie sandwich. I also had chai tea and a salty oat cookie, while Tori had Moroccan Mint tea and a chocolate salty oat cookie. It was fabulous!

That evening was spent at Murphy's with some of the wonderful squadron spouses' and friends of spouses (and Jason). Jason, Tori, and I stayed after everyone left to hear Rocky play.

xoxo,
Heather

This morning when Tori and I got up, we made some homemade granola for snacking on while she is here. It was so easy and fun! I don't have the recipe, but I will try to get it and post it later.

After doing that, we got ready to go to my doctor's appointment that was scheduled for 2. Before I picked out shoes to go with my outfit, the UPS man came bearing gifts. Gifts being my new shoes! Interestingly enough, they matched my outfit perfectly, so I got to wear them.

When we arrived to my appointment, I was informed I didn't have an appointment. I knew that the people in the scheduling office messed up, but they were very rude to me and tried to make me feel like it was my fault. Long story short, Jason had to leave work, go home, get the paper off the refrigerator with all the information that THEY wrote. As soon as he arrived, paper in hand, they were very quick to tell Jason 'their system went down and must have lost my information.' Riiiight. So, why didn't you just make life easier and tell me that? Oh, probably because it was a lie! Anyway, I got seen and so all is well that ends well, I guess.

After our very eventful afternoon, we did a little shopping at Ross, where I finally found the dress I wanted to wear to my birthday tea party. And, Michael's, to buy our tea party hat decorating supplies. We had planned on visiting Marshall's as well, but we didn't quite make it there, as our time was cut into by the appointment dilemma.

We met Jason at the house and ate a very quick dinner, Paula Deen's enchiladas from one of her cook once, eat twice recipes. Delicious, by the way! And, we went to watch Jason's volleyball game, since he is playing on the squadron volleyball team this season. Tori got to meet some of our friends and have a fun little night out, watching the team kick some tail!

xoxo,
Heather

Tori's Here!

Tori is here!

I hopped out of bed this morning, because my friend came today!

I went and picked Jason up at work, and we drove to Baltimore to pick her up. After picking her up, the three of us had lunch at a really yummy Italian restaurant called Remomo. Tori and I each got personal sized pizzas with just a thin enough crust and cheese for a nice lunch. We had many laughs about stories of my family and silly things. :) It was wonderful!

After lunch, Jason dropped us off at the Metro station to head downtown. The original plan was to see the Washington Monument and a couple of other little touristy things, but we decided instead to go to H&M, so Tori could have her first H&M experience. :) I bought some plum colored thick tights for keeping my legs warm in NYC, in case it is still chilly when we go. And, a thick black belt for dresses and skirts.

After H&M, we felt that since it was such a gorgeous day, we should just walk around downtown and enjoy the day. In the process, we found Filene's Basement. We had fun trying on dresses, even though neither of us bought one. I fell in love with these shoes. Unfortunately, they did not have my size. :( I am still searching online, hoping to find them. After Filene's we walked to the nearest Metro station to see Union Station. Of course, while there, Tori had to try my favorite pastry/lunch spot in the city, Au Bon Pain.

After having our treats, a chocolate dipped coconut macaroon for me and a chocolate-cherry tulip for Tori, we got back on the Metro to meet Jason and head to the house.

We got Tori all settled in and then started dinner. We had Sichuan chicken with stir-fry veggies and wine. And, lots more catching up and stories made for an amazing evening.

xoxo,
Heather

Today..

Lord I'm tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I'm so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I'll stop
Rest here a while

And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give, that's my everything

And didn't You see me cry'n?
And didn't You hear me call Your name?
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You'd remember
Where you sat it down

And this is all that I can say right now, I know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
This is all that I can say right now [right now], I know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.

I didn't notice You were standing here
I didn't know that
That was You holding me
I didn't notice You were cry'n too
I didn't know that
That was You washing my feet

And this is all that I can say right now, oh I know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
This is all that I can say right now [right now], I know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
And this is all that I can say right now, oh I know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.

Yeah, that's my everything
Yeah, that's my everything

Everything........

My sweet husband gave me one of my birthday gifts early, so I could learn how to use it before my birthday and our trip to NYC.

I love it!

I am loving searching apps and so far, I only have free ones, and all the ones I wanted are free. :)

I have the Gilt Groupe app and the Kindle app. I have a bible app. I have Epicurious for recipes. Going out Guide and DC Way for stuff to do in DC. Ebay. Bump. And, my bank's app.

We went over to Westfield Mall in Annapolis this morning, to get ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD put on our phones. The invisibleSHIELD protects the phone from scratches, among other things. The invisibleSHIELD has its origins in the military, where it was used to protect high-speed helicopter blades from dust, dirt and debris. You can read more about it here.

And, I was bummed because they didn't have my Kate Spade case I decided on a LONG while ago, when I was still hoping for an iPhone one day. :)

So, Jason got me this one to use temporarily, but I think I kind of LOVE it.

It smells like a strawberry cheesecake Jelly Belly jellybean. :)

I am so excited!

AND, grateful.

xoxo,
Heather

Perhaps..

Perhaps when Jason and I got home from doing some errands, we knew we needed to clean.

Perhaps before starting to clean, I had a mimosa.

Perhaps in the midst of drinking my mimosa and getting ready to clean, we used the champagne bottle as a microphone.

Perhaps instead of cleaning, we danced to Michael Buble, after using the champagne bottle as a microphone.

Perhaps..

xoxo,
Heather