Thanks for Noticing Me

            So the two year anniversary of this little blog of mine slipped by virtually (ha!) unnoticed and though in the past I have seen the anniversary as the perfect time to thank all of you who are regular readers, every once in a while cubicle stalkers, and first time visitors, this year I honestly just plain forgot.  And since I didn't proclaim my love for you on January 17th, I'm gonna just say it now.  I love you.  All 75,000 hits of you (yep, my sneaky little tracker told me that I hit the big 75k at 9:23 this morning).  Thanks for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me, for inspiring me, and leaving me perma-smiling with each one of your little clicks.

You're the best :)

Be Nice

Found this on Pinterest...obviously.  But I like the little reminder to be kind and to pay it forward...even when there's nothing in it for you and no one is watching.

A Little Update

            I drank coffee at 3pm this afternoon...if that gives you any idea of what kind of a week it has been already.  And it's only Tuesday...yikes.  But I guess that's what you get when you pack all of the fun that you can into two consecutive weekends and then head back to work on Monday having gotten very little rest.  Recently, I've been really trying to make an effort to take advantage of my new city (how long can I actually say that?  I'm thinking at six months it's still allowed, right?) and when I got a text from a friend saying that instead of wallowing in his hangover on a Saturday afternoon he wanted to do something "culturally enriching" I jumped at the chance to put my Newseum groupons to good use.  I've been to the Newseum a few times and I have to say that it is one of my favorite touristy places in this city.  I highly recommend it if you're coming to town.  Our afternoon at the Newseum was followed up by margs and made-in-front-of-you guacamole at Oyamel in Chinatown.  If you're a sucker for fancy Mexican, you must go.  Like, yesterday.

            What else has been going on around here?  

            A very delayed housewarming party on a snowy Friday night.  Afternoon coffee dates at my favorite cozy spot with my favorite best friend...finally getting the payoff of living in the same city!  Cooper chewing his brand new skull and cross bones sweater to shreds (the price I pay for embarrassing the heck out of him and making him wear it during said housewarming party).  The instating of a standing weekly happy hour with both new and old friends.  A new roommate moving into the house on 35th Street.  Booking flights and planning much needed vacations.  Late night texts from a grown-up little brother that make me smile and remind me how thankful I am for the people who share my DNA.  State of the Union watch parties...when in Rome?  And sunshine.  Ohhh, that sunshine and this afternoon's temps in the 60's were just the thing to warm this summer-loving girl's soul.

Hope you're having a sunshine-filled week!

Confessions

I'm obsessed with Pinterest.  I didn't understand it at first but now I'm addicted...just pinning my little heart out.  Follow me at JulieBallDC!

I miss Nashville...don't get me wrong, I still love my home and life here in the District but I've been missing Music City and the Hotel for real over the past few days.

I secretly wish I was hopping on a plane on Friday to travel around the world with my very brave friend, Melissa.  Mel, I'm so proudjealousexcited for you and cannot wait to hear all about your adventures.

Annnnd...I'm taking a just-because day off from work on Friday.  When you work on New Years Eve and get zero and a half days off for Christmas I think that buys you a random free Friday.

Oh!  And I almost forgot...I've been doing a little bit of blog stalking of my own (what else is new) recently and wanted to share some of my recent favorites.  

Check them out and let me know what you think!

The Daybook

The Rockstar Diaries

Design Crisis

A CUP OF JO

J's Everyday Fashion

That's all I've got for tonight...hope you're having a great week!

Flurries!

            So remember that bipolar weather I mentioned the other day?  Well, it returned today in the form of snow flurries!  I'm pretty sure that it's not sticking and just making the DC roads a big sloppy mess but I love me a first snow and if it's gonna be cold then I say bring on the flakes.  And a snow day?  Okay, okay, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Plus I work in health care so snow days don't actually exist.  But a girl can dream!

            Regardless, this unexpected snow calls for a cozy night in front of the fire while we watch the Tigers beat up on Bama (hey, I'm a Louisiana girl at least every third week of July)!  

Is it a snowy night where you are?  If so, hope you're staying warm!

Recently

            The past seven days have brought with them some pretty bipolar temperatures ranging from freezing-my-face-off-on-my-morning-dog-walk cold to check-ya-later-January-I'm-skipping-to-April warm and I am happy to say that we are ending the week on a warm note.  No particularly crazy weekend plans for this girl but dinner in Glover with friends, a hike in Rock Creek and a brunch date with the sisterfriend (she doesn't like when I use this term...says it makes her think of Sister Wives...which is creepy), and a first attempt at a crock pot based Sunday Night Dinner party all made for a very happy weekend.

Hope yours was happy too!

Day Off

            I kind of love that New Years day fell on a Sunday because this bonus day off has been just what I needed.  Since I didn't really get a Christmas vacation, little things like doing my laundry, going to the grocery store, and making a trip to the gym have fallen by the wayside as of late.  Today was the perfect day to catch up on all of that.  But even more perfect was a late afternoon trip to Baked and Wired, which I have been dying to try since I moved to town.  And I must say, Georgetown Cupcake doesn't hold a candle to the bakery/coffee house just off of M Street.

            There were about a million cupcakes to choose from but I went for the gingerbread with lemon icing and it was delish.  I loved that unlike most of the trendy cupcake shops in this town, Baked and Wired actually gives you more cupcake than icing which leads to much less of a tummy ache/sugar hangover when it's all said and done.  Add to that the uber friendly staff, the homemade dog treats for the Cooperman, and the cozy atmosphere and you've got my new go-to for a sugar fix.  Try it out the next time you're in the neighborhood!

I Have a Good Feeling...

            ...about 2012.  Happy New Year, friends!  I have been enjoying a very lazy first day of the new year with the only interruptions to a lot of cozy couch time being some walks around the neighborhood (in gorgeous 60 degree weather, thank you very much) with my main man.

            But like I said, I'm not all that sad to say goodbye to 2011 because I think that 2012 is going to be a really great year.  This past year was a busy one to say the least and if I could sum it all up I would say that 2011 was the year of change.  And though we all know I'm not the best when it comes to handling change and embracing what is unknown and new, I think, slowly but surely, this little creature of habit is changing her ways.  Over the past 12 months, the new has become more familiar than, well, the familiar.  New city, new puppy, new job, new house, new roommates.  And all that new-ness has made me a pretty happy girl so why was I so afraid of it in the first place?  I guess it just goes to show that there is beauty in the unknown and potential in the uncertainty if you just take a second to look for it.

"Humans are designed to seek comfort and order, and so if they have comfort and order, they tend to plant themselves, even if their comfort isn't all that comfortable, and even if they secretly want for something better." ~ donald miller

           And as for resolutions for the new year, I hate to disappoint but I don't have a big long list.  Instead, I'm going to keep it simple.  In 2012, I plan on having a lot of fun, surrounding myself with the people I love, and continuing to be excited, not scared, of the possibility of something new.  It's a new year.  A fresh start.  Embrace the opportunity for a clean slate and make it count.  Happy, happy New Year, my loves!

Oh, P.S. a NYE party shot just for fun :-)...