Goodbye, 2017

To celebrate the coming year, I've rounded up my top 10 moments of 2017... Are you ready m'dears?! Buckle up, here we go in chronological order...

ONE... THE HUBS' BIRTHDAY! Hosting 21 friends and family members in our tiny house for the Hubs' belated golden birthday dinner. And don't forget Julia Child's beef bourguignon and Momofuku Milk Bar's Birthday Layer Cake both from scratch!

TWO... JAPAN! Our adventure included the southern islands, Kyoto and Tokyo to boot! Eeek! This little country truly stole our hearts. I promise a write up for Kyoto and Tokyo is in the works.   

THREE... PORTLAND! I gushed about our Portland weekend here, need I say more?!

FOUR... INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON! Easily our top meal of the year. The price is steep but every morsel pure genius! Perfect for a special occasion like celebrating turning 32. 

FIVE... WE'RE HAVING A BABY! Can you believe it?! This spring we're expecting our first baby and we couldn't be more thrilled!! Get the back story here... 

SIX... WESTPORT! Our annual pilgrimage to the Hubs' family's cottage is always a highlight. Does anything beat lobster and the beach? Especially when pregnant?!

SEVEN... GRAY MALIN! Pinch me! Can you believe our baby's first celebrity was Gray Malin?! The Hubs and I have adored Gray's work for years so getting to meet him almost made me faint.

EIGHT... MEAN GIRLS, THE MUSICAL! Tina Fey's latest work is pure magic, truly a must see!

NINE... IT'S A BOY! Finding out we're having a little dude has us dreaming of all things boy. We're almost ready for the room reveal but here's a sneak peek...

TEN... CHRISTMAS IN MONTANA! This year being home for the holidays was extra special. For the first time in nearly a decade all the cousins were reunited which now includes spouses and kids too. Family time is just what the doctor ordered!

Now... who's ready for 2018?!

Weekday Musings

EATING // Last week for a GF's birthday, we headed to dinner at the Garrison (#24 on my 101 in 1001 list). The poppyseed gougeres are a can't miss. We loved the chicken liver parfait with pickled strawberries too! The service was divine and the ambiance romantic (all be it a bit too dark). Most of the meal was pretty heavy though so go hungry!

HOME*WORK // Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference. As such, I bought this table fan for our kitchen and it is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! We've had it plugged in and on low ever since it arrived home and it is making these 90 plus degree days a little more bearable.

CRUSHING ON // Wide leg linen pants and jumpsuits. I'm more of a loose fitted dress girl these days but something about this trend has got me curious. My BF KTB rocks both styles and now I'm headed into my almost mid-thirties (GAHHH) it feels like it's now or never.  I'm obsessed with these Mara Hoffman striped pants and this Reformation jumpsuit in particular... Thoughts?

READING // I'm a third of the way through Into the Water and just like Gone Girl it's got me uneasy so I'm reading this one quick! It's the perfect thriller for the beach or a lazy day inside with the A/C and I can't wait to have all the pieces fall into place.

THANKFUL FOR // Bae's family. They always say when you marry, you marry your partner's family too and for me... THANK goodness!! I've had two minor surgeries the last couple of months and the hubs's parents have been there for us every step of the way. We love them to pieces and never will be able to thank them enough. I hope to say more about the surgeries at a later date but let's just let that be for now.

THINKING ABOUT // Portland. You guys! I still can't get our trip out of my head, ICYMI check it out here!

WATCHING // "The Big Sick" is easily the best romcom we've seen this year and dare I say ever?!?! Kumail Nanjiani plays himself opposite Zoe Kazan in this box office summer hit with a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. My review? I sobbed for at least an hour - some happy tears and admittedly some sad tears - because it's that good. Thank gahd my hubby is one patient man and doesn't embarrass easily. Can someone please pass me a tissue? Just thinking about this movie again gets me mushy!

WEARING // My summer perfume... AKA bug spray! I'm terribly allergic to mosquitos so it's bug spray for me every single day. In fact, I never leave the house without it! I've found a few DEET-free options that do the job: Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard (this comes in an individual towelette version too that's great for travel/hiking), All Terrain's Herbal Armor (you may smell like citronella but there are worst smells) and Naked Botanicals' Lavender Insect Repellent (easily the best smelling and made in DC too!). Do you have any tricks? I'm all ears!

* Art by Ashley Mary.

A Portland Weekend

My cup is FULL. After a long weekend away with some of my closest friends in Portland, Oregon, returning to the District has been more than a challenge. Being with your people makes it impossible not to smile from ear to ear. So to keep us in dreamland, here are a few must dos from the City of Roses...

+ FOOD

Mid-meal at Tusk... Obviously we were all over it.

Brunch at Broder Nord. I mean the baked eggs, open faced sandwiches and hash were all spot on. The cherry on top- what I can only describe as light dough balls dipped in lemon curd. Need evidence? Click here.

Lunch at Matt's BBQ. No photos of the food but trust these smiles, get the ribs! The meat literally falls off the bone... GAHHH!

Dinner at Tusk. A fresh take on vegetables, this meal will leave you craving more and more while also feeling happily fed with only the good stuff. Chef Joshua McFadden is no joke! The cocktails are damn delicious too!

+ GOODS

Still drooling over Spartan's photo and pottery display (photo by Paulo Palugod, bestie and Instagram star!)

Frances May. This clothing boutique is a blend of Tuckernuck and Need Supply that suits me perfectly. Thank goodness for no sales tax!

School House Electric. Checking out this store was a no brainer. I've been obsessed for years and getting to see all the goods in-person was true heaven.

Spartan Shop. Just stepping into this store takes your breath away. The curated home goods housed in this store are thoughtful, clearly hand-picked and individually made. Every last good is laid out for a perfect display, which you know gets this girl grinning. Such order should be adopted by the world, people! The WORLD!

WM Goods. This little shop had hosted an event the prior night and the leftover flowers were alluring and highlighted the paper goods, small pottery and women's assortment of linen. Totally swoon worthy and what dreams are made of.

+ ACTIVITIES

Baby potatoes with fava beans + cucumber, celery, apricot and pistachio salad (from Tusk Chef's cookbook: Six Seasons) + sausage + lamb ribs... All meat and produce via the Farmers Market - too good (OY!) Photo again by Mr. Paulo P.

Park Avenue Wines. We were guests at this little wine shop for a Krug Champagne tasting paired with fried chicken and caviar. With a combination like that, it's impossible to not leave an impression.  Especially when Bullard is handling the food. Bullard is "one of the most anticipated restaurants opening" in PDX led by Top Chef contestant Doug Adams and Jen Quist, bar and restaurant developer extraordinaire! We can't wait to return to the full brick and mortar (SQUEEEEE!)

Portland Farmers Market. As one of the largest farmers markets I've encountered, there was no shortage of produce, meat, baked goods and dairy. It was refreshing to head to a market and be able to buy our whole dinner from start to finish.

Sauvie Island and Wildlife Area. Who knew you could lounge on a sandy beach just 30 minutes from Portland? Sauvie Island is the largest island along the Columbia River beloved by locals and out-of-towners alike. The beach allows dogs and picnicking - two things closest to my heart which is why it's hard to admit this was my first trip after spending four years in Portland for college.

Three peas in a pod. Beyond love for Katie and Kris - my cheeks still hurt from smiling! Please come visit us STAT!