Taxation without Representation

It's been four years in the making, but this city finally got ALL of me. I had a license after year one, but it took me over four years to commit my car to this city. Today I went and filed all my paperwork. It's official, folks. I'm here for a bit longer. My plates (yes, DC has a front and back) now show that I am a DC driver. So, I can't use the NC plates as an excuse for driving slow in DC (cuz I'm likely lost) and I can use the DC plates as an excuse to drive more like a "Yankee" when I go home. You win some, you lose some...

I was pretty psyched today to get my new plates. You're now looking at my fresh parking sticker. Check it:

Birthday Orchids

Every girl loves to receive flowers. When they are delivered to work and as an early birthday present, they are even better! Ryan did good and I am one lucky girl!

Birthday Fun!

This year is the last to be included in the decade of my twenties. So, I made sure to celebrate properly! It was a fun weekend which included dear friends and family. On my birthday morning, I went with Ryan and roomy, Danielle, to our local farmer's market that opened on May 1 (just in time, right?!). After we scoped it out and returned home, Mallory, Ryan and I packed our picnic items and began our next adventure: winery tours! The three of us rode out to VA and met some of my other friends for three winery tastings and an afternoon in the sun. We visited Bluemont, Breaux, and Hillsborough vineyards.

Farmer's market flowers.

The weather and company were perfect! We spent quality time at each location- enjoying each other's company, soaking in the sun, sharing laughs, and celebrating. Besides me, three other people in our group had just celebrated a birthday within the last two weeks, so it was fun knowing that it was more of a birthday "season" (as my friend Jenn calls them) than a birth "day" celebration.

Mal is sporting Ryan's hat as we drive TO the wineries.

Guess one can't be too prepared for fun!

After an afternoon of tastings and picnicking, Ryan drove the sun-weary sisters home. We all chilled for a bit (by "chill" I mean that I took a hard nap for about two hours) and then some more friends came over! So, we kept gabbing and celebrating until the wee hours. It was a long, exhausting and funfilled day.

On Sunday, Ryan made brunch (including funfetti chocolate chip pancakes!) for Mal and me. After an afternoon of errands I came home and he then cooked my "birthday dinner" which I had requested for Sunday evening instead of on my Saturday-bday. Dinner was amazing. He's such a talented chef! He made blackened salmon, mushroom risotto, mashed butternut squash and a mozzarella salad. It was delicious! Not only did he make enough for the two of us, but Marie and Mal joined us AND there was anough left over for lunches. It was a feast!!

I feel so blessed and feel that my "29th" got off to a bangin' start. I can't believe I'm 29, but then again who ever feels their age? Enjoy the pics from the weekend!

Spring Sprang Sprung

I first fell in love with DC in the spring and every year I am reminded why. The blossoms are beautiful, people are emerging from their winter dens, restaurant patios are opening and patrons lounge while catching up with comrades, the sun is shining and the air is warm with promises of fun activities.

The past few weekends have been busy. Three weekends ago, Mallory, Ryan and I went to VA Beach with our friends as some of us participated in the half (Mal and I) and full marathon (our friends!). I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the run with Mal. Ryan was the perfect cheerleader, photographer, and caregiver to us as well. It was a fun weekend and I'm very satisfied with my run time of 2:27:13. My goal was to finish before 2:30:00 and I did it! The next run (yes, you read it right) I'll aim for under 2:20:00. Mallory and I are already eying a run in Myrtle that's in October. Ryan and Marie think they may run in it too. So, we could have a caravan! :)

Last weekend I went to the NC beach to see my college roomy and friend, Melody. She's getting married next month so we went down for the celebratory shower. I also got to see her new house, which is on a beautiful lake. I'm really looking forward to her wedding, which is going to be on the beach. They're renting a huge house on the beach where the ceremony will take place. The wedding party (that includes me!) and family will stay at the house for the weekend. It should be a blast.

This weekend was Easter weekend, one of my favorite times of the year. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the weather has been beyond cooperative. It's been gorgeous! I went with Ryan and some of our friends to my first professional soccer game. We watched DC United play last night in RFK stadium. This morning was church and then he and I joined our friends for an Easter feast. It was delicious!

Sprinkled over the past few weeks, I've gotten to see Mal who has been frequenting DC for job interviews. I hope she'll land something soon. Also, I put the final touches on my thesis for school. I submitted the final (YAY!) version to my school on Friday. It's done and now there's just graduation to anticipate.

I'm hoping to put up some pictures I've taken over the past few weeks and definitely want to include some of our 13.1 mile run in VA Beach.

The Countdown

To my five faithful My Palette followers: Please excuse my neglect. Thanks for your subtle hints that I need to get back on here. I promise to have a fuller report soon. In the meantime, here's the month's review (the skinny version)...

• A successful defense of my Master's Thesis... and my happy acceptance of the new title!
• The completion of a humongo conference at work, which took place in Atlanta. I also met Dr. Francis Collins, one of my idols!
• The budding of a new relationship with Ryan :)
• A vacation to Puerto Rico with roomies Marie and Bastian, and our friend Christoph (visiting from Germany)
• Participating in one of my long-time friend's wedding
• A St. Patty's Day party
• The discovery and appreciation of H Street, a street close to our house that has exciting restaurants and places to go for entertainment

Mallory arrives tomorrow evening for our first sister's half marathon, which takes place on Sunday! We'll be riding down in a caravan of other runners and cheerleaders. The run takes place on Sunday morning, but we're leaving on Saturday for VA Beach to pick up our race packets, check into our hotels, and scope out the town a bit. After the 13.1 mile race on Sunday, we'll celebrate our completion and then head to a couple wineries on the way back to DC. It should be a memorable weekend!