Straight from the Pros.

As a new homeowner, I'm a little paranoid about getting robbed.  We live in Capitol Hill, which is a cool neighborhood, but there are definitely more curious folk running around here than in Arlington.  I'm kind of a scaredy-cat anyway, but have found that I'm becoming a little more brave now that I have a house. I sleep with a mag-lite next to my bed and kinda want to get a baseball bat to keep somewhere in the house.  I might be overcautious, but it can't hurt.  We do have an alarm, but you can never be too prepared. 

That said, I just saw this post about how burglars burglarize.  Good tips to know.  Thanks to Knight Moves for the info.
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A local magazine called The Advocate recently featured a story about burglars and their methods of attack. The information garnered came straight from a video interview with a professional burglar (who is now serving a life sentence in prison). The interviewee is described as “'James,' a 40-year-old, grungy, white male who has spent one-third of this life in prison."


He averaged about four burglaries a day, six days a week and here are the secrets to his past success:

• Two burglars who know what they’re doing can be in and out of a house within six minutes.
• James worked only between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m., immediately paying a visit to his “fence,” a person who aids the burglar in selling/distributing the property. Your valuables most likely are sold and gone before you even get home from work to report it.
• He almost always entered through the front or back door, using a pry bar tool designed to rip the trim off the door, collapse the sheet rock with little effort. According to North Central police, most burglars in our area gain access through open garage doors.
• James owes a lot of his successful crimes to the UPS delivery guy. “They do it all for you,” he says in the interview. He simply followed the truck and waited for the driver to knock on doors, discover no one was home and leave the package at the doorstep along with a bright yellow sticker.

James' bits of advice for preventing a burglary at your home:

• The No. 1 deterrent: install a reliable home alarm system or at least a sign in the front yard. The No. 2 deterrent: get a dog, preferably one that barks at strangers.
• Keep all blinds and curtains closed, especially at night. If a burglar sees a flat screen on the wall inside the house, you can bet he’ll be back to get it.

It may not be pretty and glamorous, but I found it interesting and wanted to share it, especially since most of us receive more packages via UPS and Fedex during the holidays! Anyhow, just want to help keep you, your home, and your family safe from all of the crazies out there. To read more, visit The Advocate's site - the whole story can be found there.

Crickets.

Hi loyal blog follower(s).

One of my new years resolutions is going to be posting more on the blog.  I've been bad lately.  I have a lot to write about too, just can't seem to get it done.  I know you can hear the crickets

Things I need to write about:
- new years resolutions
- Christmas in Columbia
- trip to Boston
- TEDWomen (omg - cannot wait to tell you more)
- fun ideas for the house
- how excited I am to become an auntie
- Christmas boat cruise
- life in capitol hill
- upcoming photo class

Until then, enjoy this great image from Just Be Splendid.  I'll be back.

Dining Room Decor idea

Found this awesome house on Elements of Style (one of my favorite blogs) today.  It's a home built into rocks on the Puget Sound.  As if the house isn't cool enough already, check out what they did to the inside.

My favorite room is, hands down, the dining room/living room combo.  This swanky chandelier reminds me of the one in our house, that Rick despises and I threaten to paint a cool color.  We have an old picnic/barn type table as our dining table, and I really love the juxtaposition of that with the chandelier.

Anyway, we have been discussing doing some large format pictures (possibly my dad's pics from Pawleys) on the wall in there.  When I saw this post, it just reminded me of our dining room. 

Husband, what do you think?

Well, hello again...

WOW.  It's been a loooong time since I've written.  My brother guilts reminds me of this every other email.

The Robbinses have been busy.  Since my last post, we have:


Been to Brazil to visit Mary:

Bought a house!

 

Packed and moved into new house (before and afters of the old apt....sayanora, 702 sq feet!  We are heading to Capitol Hill!

Learned that we are going to be Aunt Keenan and Uncle Rick in March!!!!!  Katie and Bob are having a baby!  

 (ok, so it's not this baby, but when I searched "cute baby", he appeared.  )

Been back to Lexington, VA for the first time since Katie & Bob's wedding...SO much has changed.

Celebrated our first year of marriage!

Saw President Obama speak at the DAR Constitution Hall:

Tried my first Lobster Roll (and LOVED it):

Visited Katie & Bob in Atlanta.

Family weekend trip at Pawleys.

Bought a new bed.

Eaten Taylor sandwiches 3x weekly since we moved into our new house.

Ok, I think that's about enough.  We've had great fun over the past few months, and are so excited to learn more about our new neighborhood.  We welcome any and all visitors!  I'll be posting more pics of the new house soon.

Tonight is Halloween, and I can't wait to see how many trick or treaters we get.  What is the rule on handing out candy to those not in costume?  I fear an egged house if we don't, but we'll just see how it goes.

Happy Halloween!

A little secret

The Man's Guide To Love #124 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.

I think he's got it about right.   money doesn’t mean a thing…if you can make somebody happy…that means more than money.

Still guessing?

Can you tell what this is?

Can you?  Hint:  I'm going to be there for my birthday in a few weeks!

[image from here]

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

Cuteness squared.  I especially love her pink shoes.


MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Thanks Cally for sending.

Startem young...

What were you doing when you were 11?

Trip to Brazil means TWO redeyes

We are heading to Brazil on Monday - woo hoo! Only downside to what is sure to be an amazing trip is that we take a redeye to get there and another one to get home. Oh well. Hope the Capoiera and Caiparinhas will be worth it!

The Overnight Flight is one of the few things I don't miss about life in San Francisco and Seattle. Love this hilarious sketch about the necessary evil of the redeye flight.

News....News???

Glad we can count on "The News" to keep us informed.  Was this one on Fox News?



....and entertained.

Proof that dogs and cats get along.

I am not a cat person.  Won't pretend to be.  I think this is largely because, growing up, my Pops claimed to my brother and me that he was "allergic" to cats, and thus we were forbidden to have a cat in our home.

But, I am slowly coming around as I've met a number "cool cats" over the years, with such awesome names as Chunk, Herb, and Fat Tony.  (Side note, I've never actually met Gretchen's cat Herb, but I do love that name).

Alas, I couldn't help but love this video.  What a sweet story. 



Now try to tell me you didn't just find a smidge of a soft spot in your heart for the felines.

Thanks Momma for sending this my way.

This will never be old.

Karaoke Fail.  We've all been there.

Double Rainbow

Oh wow, all the way.  Stick with it, all the way through.



Now watch this one.



Now watch them both again and try to stop laughing.

Thank you Matthew Teich for introducing these.

Just Because

[image from here but really from here]

Spied this one over at sfgirlbybay.com and love the thought of this.  This mother/daughter duo can't get close enough.  Just how I feel about my momma.  Wish we could be close enough to superfrenchbraid our hair like this, Momma!  Love you.

Full circle

Sometimes coincidences happen unexpectedly and get my wheels turning and just make me all sorts of happy and nostalgic and sentimental.

For example, Cousin Cally came over last week and grabbed a book off our bookshelf.  It happened to be a favorite, Katharine Graham's Personal History, which I read when I lived in San Francisco in 2002 (and ironically takes place mostly in DC).  Inside the book, I found an old SF Muni bus pass, dated July 2002 that I obviously used as my bookmark.  After I got over the initial "whoa-I'm-old" feeling, I realized that was exactly 8 years ago and could distinctly recall reading that amazing book all over San Francisco (maybe even sometimes at my desk at work....on those really busy days).  I stole the bookmark back from Cally (as all good older cousins should do) to use with my current read, The Big Short by Michael Lewis.

Well, today, as I was taking the bus in DC to meet some San Francisco friends who were in town and trying to make sense of the crazy mortgage bond crisis in Lewis's book, I managed to leave my SF bus pass bookmark on the DC bus. 

Seems inconsequential, but to me it made me smile and recall that fabulous time in my life.

[image from here]

Up in the air and on the move.

[image via here]

I can't believe it, but I am writing wrote this while onboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1, Seat 9A.  Yes, wifi onboard my plane just really makes me ill.....i like my peace and quiet.  Oh well, this world is moving fast and we all better keep up.

Jen Scales and I were just g-chatting (yes, me at 10,000 feet, Jen in her bed, Carrie-Bradshaw style....we even broke into a video chat briefly, which was just too weird on a plane....)  ANNNND, we were sharing ideas for good songs for running.  So I scrolled through my iPod and found my current DC workout mix, and thought I'd share some of my new tracks and old stand-bys here.  Would love to hear what gets you moving too!

wavin flag - k'naan
bizarre love triangle - new order
kids - mgmt
african herbsman - bob marley (king kooba remix) - random, but I really love this song....puts me in a good mood when riding the sweaty metro.....
home - edward and the magnetic zeros
shut up and let me go - the ting tings
lazy eye - silversun pickups (a fave)
horchata - vampire weekend
imma be - black eyed peas
diva - beyonce (karmatronic club remix)
i'm good, I'm gone - lykke li
sunshowers - MIA
paper planes - MIA
hello bonjour - michael franti
quick fix - vv brown
heart it races - architecture in helsinki - LOVE this one....
wilco (the song) - wilco
a-punk - vampire weekend
american boy - estelle
womanizer - britney spears (yes, it's true...)
circus - also b spears
1901 - Phoenix
hot n cold - katy perry
say hey (i love you) - michael franti
single ladies - beyonce (every good mix ever should have this song on it...)
young foks - peter bjorn & john
the well and the lighthouse - arcade fire
fans - Kings of Leon (I think this one is the most listened to song in my iTunes)
black thumbnail - kings of leon
skin of my yellow country teeth - clap your hands say yeah
don't stop till you get enough - Michael Jackson
ya viene el sol - ozomatli (reminds me of running along crissy field)
hope - shaggy (reminds me of college and running on the chessie trail)
e-pro - beck
hey ya - outkast (don't forget about this one)
new york, new york - ryan adams (good NYC marathon inspiration!!)
just like heaven - the cure (a TNT coach recommended this song WAY back when and I loved running in SF to this one)
baba o'riley - the who
american girl - tom petty

[image via here]

I love cardigans....

....and I'm happy to see Mr. Rogers unplugged. 

Get your "Brazilian" on.

I want to go to Brazil, like now.

How we spent our money this week.

Two round trip tickets to Brazil: Check.  $$$
New bike for Rick (plus all the gear that goes with it): Check.  $$$$
New Macbook Pro for Rick: Check: $$$
New Bike shoes and Pedals for Keenan: Check: $$
Every single meal eaten out since Friday: Check.  $$

The only thing that was free and plentiful all weekend long?  Humidity.  Not sure I can handle this place.  And it's only June.

Up this week:
Keenan heads to Indianapolis for work, Rick heads to Boston.  Ships passing in the night.

If only....

.... we all started our day with this much enthusiasm, energy, and love!! 

I can do anything good, better than anyone....

Our house smells like goodness.

Test is over and Rick is back.  And he's in the kitchen cooking some sort of delicious pasta goodness.  Yay!!  House (er, apt) smells like garlicky tomato-y sausagey heaven.  I love it when he cooks because, unlike me, he loves to invent recipes based on whatever we have in the pantry.   We call it the Pantry Challenge, and he almost always wins. 

I'm so glad he's back, though he's already thinking about the next test he's going to study for.  Oh dear.

We celebrated last night with some friends over beer and then a yummy meal at Zaytinya.  Holy cow delicious.  I may or may not have had a few too many Aphrodites Pear cocktails (hey, I get to celebrate too, right??), and the server just surprised us with all kinds of good food from the menu, which is a good strategy if you are indecisive like me and ALWAYS change your order.  Yum.

Up next for the Robbinses:
- Family trip to NC coast for a friend's wedding
- Booking a trip to Brazil in August to see Mary
- Buying a bike for Rick so we can compete in....
- Nations Triathlon on September 12
- refilling the wine glass to go with dinner....now that it's 9:36.  Bon Appetit!

Two more Yoga videos...

This was the Sunday morning class with Shiva Rea.  I loved all the music she played and would love to know what it is if any of you know!





And, remember I mentioned an accident?  Well, someone else caught it on video.  Hope the officer is on the mend.

TYN's

My mom has always impressed upon me the importance of the thank you note, so I was particularly pleased to come across this funny blog recently.  http://thxthxthx.com/

Apparently I'm not the only one who loves the name Katie, and has some important Katie's in my life.

This one is for Ellen & Ginny...

This one is for anyone who works...

To Mom, for planning an August birthday surprise party for me as a kid....even though my birthday is in November.  (And, ahem, to husband, a subtle reminder that I love any and all surprises)...

All-you-can-eat Yoga

What a fun and exhausting weekend we....er, I....had.  While Rick was busy taking a mock CFA test and studying, I was indulging in many hours of yoga.  Saturday, Yoga on the Mall.  Hundreds of people came out for free yoga in front of the Washington Monument with Shiva Rea, who is a legendary yogini and considered one of the leading pioneers of yoga for our generation.  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful and perfect day to spend outside listening to music, getting a yoga fix, and then breaking out into a somewhat uncomfortable yet ultimately fun dance session.  As I said to my friend Elly as we were jumping around with lots of strangers, "if only my Mom could see me now...."  I'm not quite sure what Elmira would have to say about that, but I'm pretty sure George Washington would be pleased to see so many people celebrating freedom in front of his memorial.  I've included a few pics (and a video) below.

Sunday, the fun and dancing continued at a yoga workshop with Shiva and a hundred or so other yogis.  Fun and relaxing, and a perfect way to start a Sunday.  It's always inspiring to be in the presence of an expert of any sort, and being with Shiva was just that.  She's a vibrant and passionate teacher, and her energy is infectious. 

Hoping I can take some of that momentum with me as I head into another week!

Shiva and DC teachers on the stage:

And the dancing begins...

Yoga live in motion:



Also, PS....while all the yogas were getting their Om on, a group of policemen on horses paraded by the monument, all in honor of National Police Week.  Well, something went horribly wrong, because suddenly a herd of ambulances and police cars came whizzing on the scene, ushering onlookers aside because.....a helicopter was about to land....approx 50 yards from the yogis.  It was a bit paradoxical, but hopefully we sent some zen and healing vibes to the injured officer.  You can see the ambulances (aka "ambalamps") in the backround below.

Christmas with the Keenans.

I couldn't wait until December to post these.  No words necessary.

Lemmmmmons

I love lemons.  Rick doesn't.  So when Rick goes out of town, I go lemon-crazy.  Tonight, I made quite possibly the best salad I've had in ages:  Lentils, avocado, carrots, feta & lettuce, topped with a simple dressing of lemon juice (1 whole lemon), olive oil, garlic, S&P.  Heaven.  Wish I had a pic.

Other fun lemon-y things I love:

Watermelon Habanero Lemonade from Cosi:

Cocktails with Lemon & Rosemary & Sugar (aka a Tuscan Rosemary Lemon Drop)

Lemonheads

Liz Lemon:

PS - Mom, don't you wish we could find that necklace she has on in the first pic?!?

[images from here and here]

Momma Love.

We all have Moms, but I bet no one else has a Momsley.  Not even my brother.  I don't know where that name came from, but that's what I call her and that's what she is to me - a one-of-a-kind, best hugger, kisser, and sniffer, happiest lady I know: Momsley.

She came to visit for a (too-short) trip this weekend, and we had fun touring around the city.  Drinks at the W, dinner at Jaleo, a looooong walk through Georgetown shopping (12,999 steps to be exact) followed up with cocktails at the Four Seasons, a tasting-menu & wine pairing in Old Town Saturday night, brunch in Capitol Hill today, putzing around Eastern Market before doing some house-hunting, and then a quick pizza dinner in Old Town before she caught the plane tonight.  I love you Momsley and hope up our "tradition" of Mother's Day trips for years to come!

[a lot of great Mommas!]

Happy Mother's Day to ALL the Moms in the world!  We wouldn't be here without you!

Cherry Blossoms? What Cherry Blossoms?

DC goes nuts for Cherry Blossoms.  They have a parade, a festival, they make hats and t-shirts, and they even have a Cherry Blossom webcam (although I haven't been able to get it to work).  There is probably Cherry Blossom flavored ice cream out there somewhere. If you rode the Metro on Saturday around 2pm, you would think perhaps there was a free puppy giveaway downtown.....every single metro car was jam packed, and they were even holding up arrivals into Smithsonian station because the platforms couldn't hold all of the passengers trying to see the trees.  Oh wow.

So, in an effort to catch some of the madness and avoid the tourist stampede, Rick and I walked down to the Tidal Basin tonight after work with my cam to snap some pics.  Even though all of the news broadcasts warned that "peak days" would by Friday and Saturday, I figured there would definitely be some pretty blooms to see tonight.

Rookie move.

This is what we thought we'd see:

And this is what we saw instead:

Yep, they weren't so pink anymore....guess all that tourist "clutter" actually had the right idea.  With all the buzz surrounding these dern trees, I was expecting them to be all over the city for viewing enjoyment.

Guess next year I better pack my fanny pack and get to the show on time.