my d.c. || not in kansas anymore

Well, I have officially settled into D.C. and started the long process of making it my own.  I moved up last Wednesday night and wasted no time--that evening brought a tour of the Washington Monument (the inside!!) and some dusk wandering around the city (the best time for wandering, no?).  I've shopped, eaten at good restaurants, practiced life with a puppy (meet Addy, my roommate's pup), and started my real person job.  

Overall, I think things are going pretty well.  Here's to #CMCinDC!

{Fun.Food.Festivities.}

Northside Social//CIRCA//Union Pub//Tony & Joe's Seafood

for my future self

I recently saw a quote on Pinterest that said, 

"Nostalgia is a dirty liar that insists things were better than they seemed."

While this may be true in many cases and I certainly hope that my life will only get better from here,

I need my future self to know that, when I get nostalgic over my time at UVA....

it really, really was that good.

my d.c. || the final visit

I advertised it profusely on my old blog, but I have yet to mention my utter obsession with New York on here.  Basically, if you didn't already know, I am truly in love with NYC (I'll talk about D.C. in this post, too--don't you worry).  There's just something about it and it's nearly impossible to put into words.  All I know is that New York has a charm and character like no other, and as I've watched some of my friends move up there over the past couple of weeks, I have been a bit jealous.  It's just a magical place with the best little coffee shops and a culture all its own.  So, as I prepared to visit D.C. this past weekend, I knew that I needed to see a side of the city that would help me get so excited to live there.  

Fortunately, this weekend accomplished that!  I got a little bit touristy, but combined that with some local activities (after all, I will not be a tourist there anymore in about a week!).  I tried oysters for the first time, mastered the metro, spent an afternoon tanning (read: burning) with a fabulous friend, shopped in Georgetown, explored the National Mall, attended a wine festival and (of course) discovered more fun places in the D.C. bar scene. 

It was a fantastic weekend and I'm so excited to explore more when I move up there so soon!  

{Fun.Food.Festivities.}

Hank's Oyster Bar//Dacha Beer Garden//J.Paul's//Eastern Market//Drink the District

duck beach, nc

Well, the summer is off to an eventful start over here; I GRADUATED COLLEGE (post on that to come later--I'm still in denial), have attended two weddings, and have been pretty much all over the place.  

I got to spend last week at Duck Beach, NC with some of my absolute best family friends.  We've taken this trip almost every year since 2006 and it is always one of my favorite weeks of the year.  The company is fabulous and the sunsets are breathtaking...it is truly just a sweet, sweet time and was the best possible way to kick off summer 2014!  Hashtag blessed.

{Fun.Food.Festivities.}

Cravings//Aqua//Duck Donuts//Duck's Cottage

wine tasting adventures, vol. II

Our latest pursuit of good wine and great company took us to Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, which is (in my humble opinion), the best vineyard we have in the area.  It has AMAZING views and the atmosphere is perfect for buying a bottle of wine and a cheese plate and chatting for hours with friends.  Not to mention, Pippin is my absolute favorite wedding venue in Charlottesville...and if by some miracle I can afford to get married there, I will die a happy gal.

& a few of my favorite Pippin Weddings...

Chelsea & Evan

Anna & Grant

Whitney & Clarke

(But really, I love all the weddings there...)

beautiful things || isle of palms sunrise

As I've said before, this blog is for documenting adventures.  Originally, that meant new adventures, but I've since decided I'll do some throwbacks as well.  Today, I was thinking about an old(er) one; I've been craving the beach intensely and one of my favorite things to do in nostalgic times is go through old pictures.  Thus, today we have some photos from a Christmas break adventure to Isle of Palms, South Carolina. 

We stayed at Wild Dunes (which is about 40 minutes away from Charleston--aka my new obsession) and, though it was December, the weather was so perfect.  One thing you'll learn about me is that I love sunrises, so every time I go to the beach I try to get up one morning to see one.  This Isle of Palms trip was no exception!  

Really wishing I could be there right about now...

graduation countdown nostalgia

you get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place...like you'll not only miss the people you love 

but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and place, because you'll never be this way ever again

 -azar nafisi

a little over a month until graduation and I am starting to PANIC.  

this place...these people...this me...

there's just so much to miss.