We are the Robbinses/Robbins'/Robbins's

You still there?

2012-01-17T06:49:00.001-08:00

It's been a while, so it's time for some recent pics! Here is a smattering from the past two months.

Big weekend

2011-11-17T10:06:00.001-08:00

We had a fun weekend! Sweet Katie and Bob hosted a welcome dinner for us Friday night at our house. Sadly, I don't have any pics. Saturday we celebrated my 32nd birthday, and then Sunday, Bo was baptized! My parents and Katie's parents were here for the christening, and it was really special. Oh, and we went to Scott's antique market Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Here are some recent iPhone pics.

Snaps from the past two weeks.

2011-11-07T07:24:00.001-08:00

We made it to Atlanta! Thanks to mom, our house is about 99% unpacked and we are settling right in. I love it here so far! Here are some recent pics (mostly of the nug).

Life in the fast lane, part 2.

2011-10-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

We made it to Atlanta and so far, so good! The movers arrive today. When this week is over, The Nug will have slept in 5 places within 7 days: 10th street, four seasons, b-mama's house in Lexington, Katie and bob's house in Atlanta, and hopefully tonight in our new house here!! Woo hoo! Here are some scenes from the road.

Life in the fast lane, part 1.

2011-10-19T12:33:00.001-07:00

We are moving to Atlanta. With a six week old. You heard me. We are crazy. House got packed on Monday and Tuesday, so since we technically had no place to stay, why not stay at the Four Seasons? And, Mr. Robbins, for $70 extra, would you like to get upgraded to a premium suite? Why yes we would, thanks for asking.

So The Nug got to spend his last night in DC at a swanky hotel. He's high maintenance. They brought him his own crib, diaper pail, bath toys and hippo spout cover, and get this - his own fridge to store his bottles! Seriously, this kid is getting spoiled rotten.

And because he loves the lap of luxury so much, he decided he didn't want to miss a second of it. He wanted to stay up all night long! As Parker Atherton would say, he rock-starred the place. So no one slept well, but at least the sheets were nice.

So now we are in the car. It's raining. We didn't leave till 11. Missed our first exit, almost got in a wreck, and once again, The Nug is resisting sleep.

It's going to be quite a week in the fast lane.

I love bjorning.

2011-10-18T23:13:00.001-07:00

Aunt Bebop made up "bjorn" into a verb. It's really fun. The Nug falls fast asleep in the bjorn so it's a great way to get in a nap and get some exercise! He's been all over in the bjorn, bjorning. To the Capitol, Archives, Supreme Court, Taylor Sandwiches, you know.... All the great DC landmarks.

The adventures of Walker and Richard.

2011-10-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

Walker and Richard are neighbors. Or maybe I should say, were neighbors until about 5pm today. They were born almost 3 weeks apart and gave had fun exploring Capitol hill together. Trips to Eastern Market, sports bars, walks, sandwiches, it's been fun! We even shared a nap in the Nap Nanny! We hung out with Walker and Liz for two days while our house was being packed. We will miss you, first friend!

A day in the life of The Nug

2011-10-15T20:33:00.001-07:00

Given that today was our last Saturday in Washington before heading to Atlanta, we thought we'd make the most of it. Here are some snapshots.

Technically, the first pic is from last night, but it's too good to omit.

After breakfast lounging in bed with daddy.

Walking down the mall with a stop off at the Archives to see the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

An afternoon snack at the biergarten to say goodbye to some friends.

Dinner out on h street (where I screamed and screamed... Payoff for being such a stud all afternoon).

Sacking out at home watching the Clemson tigers beat maryland to hit 7-0 for the season.

Night night!

Big News.

2011-09-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Robbinses are now 3! It's been a looong time since I've posted, but I hope to get back in the swing of things now that I have something picture-worthy to document.

Rick and I welcomed young Richard Weston Robbins on September 4, 2011 at 9:48 pm at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC....6 days early and still a whopping 9lbs 22inches. Wowzers. We are calling him Richard. Between our two families, he is now the 6th "Richard", but the only one of the bunch to be called Richard. I'm sure he'll develop a nickname at some point but for now it's a big name for a tiny boy. Right now we call him Nuglet/Snugglet. You pick.

So far, the Nug has had so many visitors! Meems and Pops (aka Elmira and Robert) drove 7 hours at 4am for the big arrival, Uncle Bob hopped a plane at the last minute to surprise us during labor, and Auntie Bebop (Mary) took the bus down from NYC for the big event. And what an event it was. I've never seen Rick so excited as when he exclaimed (over and over) "It's a Boy! It's a Boy!". Such a fun moment.

Here are a few pics from Pops, more to come soon!

Fun-Filled NYE weekend

2011-01-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

Ba-bye 2010!

We had a fun, mellow, spontaneous NYE weekend. Ginny was in town for the weekend, and life is always fun when she's involved. We had a few people over for dinner on NYE and our new neighbors brought some homemade beer to go with our homemade moonshine. Yep. That's right. Both were tasty. We didn't make it out the front door on NYE, and even had a slumber party with Elly on Friday and Saturday nights! We ate, ate, and ate some more all weekend long. Tri-tip, corned beef, cabbage, collards, cheese, Zannie's Black-Eyed Pea dip, (which was scrumpdiddlyumptious good and will surely bring all of us luck in the New Year), Ginny's homemade ice cream pie, Mick's homemade hummus, and of course lots of champagne. We also ventured out to H-Street and got in some shuffleboard.

Life was good in 2010, great on Dec 31 2010, and I'm hoping there is even more fun in store in 2011. Cheers to all!

Ninja Husband.

2011-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Another resolution: don't leave your draft blog posts open on the screen and walk away from computer.....husband will commandeer and edit at his leisure. The last post was my running list of things I want to focus on this year....and Rick decided to add the last 3. I'm just glad to know that I get to buy a bag a month....that's approximately 10 more bags than I average in a year, so happy shopping to meeeeeee! More resolutions coming soon.

Resolutions

2011-01-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

Resolutions:
- in bed by 10:30 3 nights a week
- do more historical stuff (Mt. Vernon)
- one week vegetarian eating
- call more friends
- save 10% of income
- buy one bag per month
- spend no more than $40 on pairs of shoes

Straight from the Pros.

2010-12-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

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.
-----------------------------------------------------

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.

2010-12-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

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...

2010-10-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-10-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what this is?

2010-10-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-08-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-08-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

What were you doing when you were 11?

Trip to Brazil means TWO redeyes

2010-08-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

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???

2010-08-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

Karaoke Fail. We've all been there.

Double Rainbow

2010-07-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

[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

2010-07-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

[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....

2010-06-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

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

Get your "Brazilian" on.

2010-06-18T14:57:00.001-07:00

I want to go to Brazil, like now.

How we spent our money this week.

2010-06-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

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....

2010-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

.... 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.

2010-06-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-05-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-21T08:31:00.001-07:00

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

2010-05-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-05-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

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

Lemmmmmons

2010-05-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-05-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-04-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Stop and smell the roses.

2010-04-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

[my dressertop]

It's no secret to anyone who knows me (even marginally) that I love perfume and things that smell nice. In fact, when I lived in Spain, I would stop on my walk home from school at Sephora and try a new spritz. When Sephora moved to my neighborhood in San Francisco, I considered quitting my job to work as a salesperson there (glad I thought that one all the way through). And in Seattle, I would stop at Nordstrom after the gym for a little pick-me-up at the perfume counter. It's lame, but I can usually identify the perfume that someone is wearing.

My new favorite is Jo Malone. I have a minor love for collecting the little samples of all of her fragrances and layering them together. (The little bottles are perfect for traveling too). I even gave all of my bridesmaids personally selected Jo perfumes.

Just this past weekend, I picked up a sample of her Red Roses perfume at Nordstrom. Well, imagine my excitement to read on the Signature Scent blog that this perfume is actually said to make you slimmer.....!@!O#*)%*#%) YES, PLEASE!!

I think I need to add this one to my perfume queue. Maybe one will show up in my Easter basket?

Kindness to MOH Ginny Rothschild for the lovely bar tray that I couldn't resist using for my perfume collection.

If you can't say something nice....

2010-03-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

...then don't say anything. My mom has been telling me this forever, and I think there is some truth to this.

This weekend, along with 174 other people, I attended a yoga class in a monastery taught by the founders of Jivamukti Yoga. I had never practiced this style of yoga, but in a nutshell, the whole message is just to be nice. Think nice things, do nice things, and treat every person and every being you encounter with kindness. The ways we think and behave make physical impressions on our "inner selves", so thinking mean or petty thoughts can truly damage us. We, as people, are a manifestation of all of our thoughts and actions (called karma), and as such, we become ugly people if we let ourselves be ruled by negativity. ...so why bother, especially if it's going to hurt? Forgive people if they've hurt you, and most importantly, do not view anything as exploitable. Simply put, be nice.

While it did verge on being a little too spiritual and preachy for me, especially when they said we shouldn't eat animal products because "that's not treating the animals with compassion", I am trying to block out all those stupid, worthless thoughts that cross my mind. (For example, instead of thinking "eww, I am utterly disgusted, annoyed, and bothered by {unnamed subject's} grunting and burping right next to me", I instead try to think, "I'm just so happy to finally have a job"....yeah, I've got some work to do.)

Anyway, I had fun and pushed myself. I did this twice for 5 minutes each time....woo hoo!

[image from here]

In the spirit of forgiveness, we did this pose 5 times, each for at least 12 breaths, and on the last two, we were supposed to repeat in our heads the name of someone who has hurt us in the past....

[image from here]

Here are some of the poses I hope to accomplish in my practice, and some other just motivating or inspirational pics.

Um......wow. This one is for all my mom and pregnant friends.

[images from here, here, here, here, here and here]

Ommmmmm........

First Week and going Local.

2010-03-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

[image from here]

Friday was my first real "Friday" in a while, since heading back to work, and I've forgotten how much I just love weekends. We had a mellow one indeed, but we (mostly I) did manage to get out and enjoy our city. Started off the week with a random St. Patty's Celebration/Parade through Arlington....the day before St. Patty's. Don't ask me why, but Arlingtonians celebrated a day early with a cute (and short) parade. It was nice to see all of the neighbors and their kiddos out enjoying the floats and beads. I think the parade itself only lasted about 15 minutes total!

On my first Friday after work, I left the office and went for a walk around downtown (destination: Banana Republic, mission: new work pants that aren't denim). Along the way, I walked past the White House...which is just awesome. LOTS of protesters out making themselves heard about the upcoming Healthcare vote, and it's really great to know that we live in a place where people can have and express an opinion. (And, mission: accomplished....2 new pairs of pants). Afterwards, Rick and I mozied back to Arlington and enjoyed a nice dinner al fresco at a great Lebanese restaurant. If you've never had grilled haloumi cheese, find some immediately.

Saturday, while Rick went to visit his grandfather up in Maryland, I browsed the outdoor market that happens every Saturday just a few blocks from our house. It's sad that I've lived here since September and have only been once, but I definitely plan to return. Afterwards, I took a loooong walk: from Arlington, across Key Bridge, through Georgetown, along Rock Creek Park, and over towards the DC Zoo. What walk isn't complete without finishing off at a rooftop bar with friends in Adams Morgan? The day was reminiscent of old days in SF... Rick and I went to dinner at a local pub/restaurant a few blocks from our house.

Today, after doing our taxes with H&R block, we hit up yet another local restaurant and basked in the beauty of outdoor spring brunch (and refunds!) I think I'm learning to like Arlington.

Oh yeah, the job is good too.

This is what I get

2010-03-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

When Rick was sick, I bragged about how I never get sick. Hmph. Guess someone is trying to pay me back because I'm home sick AGAIN today. Feeling like this:

This is what I want and where I want it:

But I think I'll settle for a this and a good night's sleep:

[Images from Flickr and Just Be Splendid]

New beginnings.

2010-03-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

The last few days, I've felt like this:

And this:

Thank goodness I bought this for Rick when he was sick, because now I've used it more than he has:

Doc confirmed yesterday that I have acute bronchitis. Which is rockin. Which means that I did in fact have to call in sick on my first day of work. Sweet. New boss said he would make sure to make fun of me for the first month of work.

Here's hoping my SECOND first day of work tomorrow starts like this!

images from Audrey Hepburn Complex and Pottery Barn

But Rick is a better nurse....

2010-03-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

When Rick got sick two weeks ago, it took his lazy wife a few hours to get out of the house to bring back supplies. But she brought back great stuff.

Rick, on the other hand, brought home all of this around 10:30. You can't see the two cartons of ice cream because he's already put them in the freezer, but o.m.g. i better get well soon with this concoction.

I REALLY don't want to call in sick for my first day of the new job.

Best wife ever.

2010-03-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this sooner, but I have a lucky husband. He has a wife who delivers on command (mostly). I mean, he left the house on his birthday last week and said: "The BEST birthday present you could possibly give me would be if you got a job".
Done. And Done. That's right, he asked and I obliged.

IGOTAJOB IGOTAJOB I GOTAJOB IGOTAJOB!!!!

The email Rick sent to his friends was entitled: "Upward adjustment in Robbins Family future Income Statements." Happy husband, happy wife, happy life. Yay for us. I start work on Monday, March 15, so the blog might go silent for a bit while I adjust to having a normal life again. But hopefully I can have some new material for you 4 readers out there.

[Last image courtesy of Naturally Nina.]

I should also mention that I have the best husband ever. Over the past 6 months, he has tolerated my time as a "lady of leisure" with nary a complaint, he has brought home enough bacon for us to live comfortably in our 702 square foot apartment, he graciously allowed me to escape on short notice to South Carolina, NYC, Nashville, New Orleans, you name it, he is busting his tail studying for a big test 4 months away, and he has kept a smile on both of our faces the whole time. (Even though he did threaten to move us to Crystal City if I didn't find a job.....not so smiley.)

2010 Oscar Roundup (this one is for the Spa Girls)

2010-03-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Highlight of the Oscars this year was watching it at Pawleys with my Momma! What fun we had drinking champagne and eating leftovers. Overall, more flops than home runs, and certainly nothing crazy memorable. Loved all of the sparkly diamond barrette things in people's hair, and loved all of the natural looking hairstyles. Who forgot to tell these people to spit out their gum? There were smackers on the red carpet AND on stage presenting AND in the audience. Sheesh.

WINNERS:
Sandra Bullock was perfect. Hair: not too fussy. Makeup: Natural, yet super glam with the bright red lipstick. Dress: soooo her. Her whole look suited her laid-back, friendly, girl-next-door goes to the Oscars look. And, her speech was equally perfect, and I LOVE how she made a nod to all the moms out there (extra fun to watch this with my own mom!!) Also, I love that she wore all of her own jewelry!!

Maggie Gyllenhaal's dress was fresh & unexpected, the pink lipstick was youthful, and her hair was great. I didn't see it last night, but I liked the diamond banana-clip hair thing she wore.

Tina Fey nailed it. The dress looked even better when she was presenting. Hair was a bit too poofy, but I really liked her look.

Rachel McAdams' dress/earring combination was perfect, along with her soft "updo" hair. I thought the dress was risky, but she pulled it off (even though it could have been shorter, and she could have used a dab more lipstick).

Julianne Moore. When has she ever worn anything heinous? She could make a snuggie look glamorous, and as always, she didn't disappoint this year either. But, I do wish she'd worn some better earrings....in fact, did she wear any?

Helen Mirren knows how to dress her age. Her hair color sort of matched her dress, but the necklace was the perfect complement to her look.

Sigourney Weaver picked the most beautiful color red imaginable for an evening gown, and her hair was gorgeous (for someone her age, though I wished she had parted it on the opposite side of her one-shouldered dress....too much focus on that side).

Livia Giuggioli, otherwise known as Colin Firth's lucky lady, looked absolutely, positively radiant and polished (although I just noticed the bag, which knocks off a few style points for her, but I guess we can cut her some slack since her other accessory is Colin).

Now for the LOSERS:

Meryl Streep looks much better in the pictures, but as my mom said when she walked out, she looked like a marshmellow. This dress might have been better on Diane Keaton. Her hair looked close to good, but somehow the whole look just didn't work for me. (Did anyone else notice her checking to make sure her cleavage didn't pop out while she was sitting in the audience???)

Cameron Diaz looked like she was dressed by the same stylist who dressed Sandra, but her whole look just fit someone else besides her....she's a surfer girl and would have looked better in either Maggie or Nicole Richie's dress. Don't get me wrong, I loved the dress, but just not on her. She looked like Barbie. And those earrings looked like something you'd find at Claire's Boutique.

Demi Moore looked pretty, but her dress was just not what you'd expect from her and I thought it looked forced on her.

Penelope Cruz. Hair too tight and boring dress. My mom asked me yesterday if I thought she was pretty....I've always thought yes, but last night was a yawn. Her hair was pulled too tight.

SJP was seriously yellow, I mean orange, I mean gross. And what was up with the throw pillow on the back of her head? Surely she had a head and neck ache by the end of the night, but maybe she just leaned back in her seat used her pillow-head for nap during commercials. And, she needed something to tame the frizzies. She looks better in this picture, but if I were Chanel, I would have ditched the choker-thing around the neck to salvage the dress.

Clooney's lady was just pathetic. No more words deserved. I think I might have worn that same dress to Fancy Dress 2001, which is just sad. He was looking pretty bad himself with the long hair.

Kathryn Bigelow obviously forgot that to hire a stylist to help her find a dress and decided to stop at Macy's on the way over and grabbed a Jessica McClintock off the rack. This was her big night to shine, and surely she could have picked something a little more "look-at-me". I mean, here she is, directing an all-male movie, nominated in the same categories as her jackass ex-husband (who was definitely expecting to sweep the whole night) and she picked THAT. Bad move. And, how about pull your hair up off your face? She was so stunned at the end though, I don't think she knew what to do.

Charlize just looked dumb. Erin over at Elements of Style said it best: Cinnabon Boobs. Also from the Jessica McClintock Spring 2010 line.

Kathy Ireland. Dear God. Help. Someone at ABC lost his/her job today for appointing her as hostess.

Amanda Seyfried looked a little like an alien, fish, or lizard, you pick. The weird bodice and super-tight hair just looked so pale and dull. Remind me again why we care about her and why she was there?

Michelle Pfieffer always looks great, but her dress couldn't decide if it wanted to be pretty or not. She would also have looked amazing in Nicole Richie's dress. After being off-the-radar for so many years, you would have expected something with a bit more "wow" factor.

Diane Kruger is so pretty, and I appreciate that she went outside the box a little, and I do think her dress suited her, but I just didn't really like the look.

Flash forward 25 years. Diane Kruger will look like James Cameron's wife, who must certainly have been his inspiration for the blue people. Bad bad bad. Earrings, lipstick, and restalyn might have helped....and I said might.

Zoe Saldana looked great from the waist up, but I thought the bottom of the dress looked like those really really cheap leis you can buy at Paper City. Reminded me a little of the Crow costume my mom made for me for my first grade play....out of coffee filters. I might have liked it better if it didn't have the giant slit up the front.

Vera Farmiga just looks kind of bitchy and smug, and I probably wouldn't like her, even if her character in Up in the Air had been nicer. But I really liked the color of her dress, just wish it had about 50% less coffee filters, I mean ruffles.

JLo is very pretty, but this dress was just too much and I'm sure was completely annoying. Maybe she just wanted an excuse to skip all the after parties and head home to her little twinkies. Also, check your frizzies at the door.

Nicole Richie's dress was awesome, and apparently she wore a 110-carat ring (WTF????), but her hair made her look like a cross b/w an old lady and a sick person. I could see her scalp. I think maybe her hair person forgot to show up, so she just pulled it up herself. She could have used some of SJP's extensions to give her measly bun some volume.

Elizabeth Banks is so pretty, but why the yellow hair? It was so badly dyed, and definitely did not work with her beautiful gray dress. And, her hair was too tightly pulled back and I didn't like her headband. Again, remind me why she was there? She either needed more jewelry or looser hair. And, I don't like that the dress does the whole mullet thing (short in the front, long in the back).

Miley Cirus's dress was awesome, and I did love her hair, but after seeing what a tramp her mother is, it's no surprise she has absolutely no poise, posture, grace, or humility on the red carpet. Stand up straight, for heavens' sake!!!

The only thing I can say about Mariah Carey is that she is consistent: she always looks like a tramp. Could Nick possibly look any more miserable in this picture?

Who did I miss, and what did YOU think?

[Please don't hate me, but I'm sitting on the front porch at Pawleys as I write this.....and this is the view from my desk for the day: ]

10 Discoveries in 10 Days, Part II.

2010-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hard Times Cafe

Home of good, bad-for-you pub grub. This place is an Arlington Original, which pretty much means it's been around for 10+ years. Rather, it was here before all of the condo buildings and other high-rises in the area. They are known for their chili (I just love that they call themselves an "American Chili Parlor"), and they have Hot Dog Sliders. Genious! They have tons of TVs upstairs, which means we'll probably come back during football season. PS - I just looked at their website, and they even post nutritional info for their chili: 3/4 cup of their Texas Chili has 46g of fat and 560 calories! My stomach hurts.

Wooly Mammoth Theater
We got last-minute, cheap $25 tickets to Second City's "Barack Stars: The Wrath of Rahm" here, and I don't know what I enjoyed more: the small theater experience or the show itself. The show was like watching an hour and a half live performance of SNL....they made fun of everyone. It feels good to laugh for 90 minutes straight.

TweetDeck
Anne Martin wins again. She taught me that you can use Twitter as a news source if you follow the right people (current favorites: @huffingtonpost, @nprnews, @StephenAtHome, @DavidGregory). If you install TweetDeck, you will see pop-ups on your screen whenever a new post is added, and you can just glance to see if it's something you'd want to read. Often, these people post links to pertinent or interesting articles. It's an easy way to stay informed. Here is a good article posted in the NYT a while back about why Twitter could become the next great news. David Carr says it best: "By carefully curating the people you follow, Twitter becomes an always-on data stream from really bright people in their respective fields, whose tweets are often full of links to incredibly vital, timely information."

9:30 Club
San Francisco & Seattle have great venues for live music, and 9:30 club definitely deserves to be ranked among those greats. It reminded me of the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. We saw an incredibly loud (and not really my taste) performance by Cage the Elephant (check out my video below....the lead singer literally looked like he was being electrocuted during the entire show). Good thing I coincidentally found earplugs in my pocket before the show.

[Apologies for the darkness, but please note Rick's caption for the video. To summarize, the lead singer flails around moshing on top of the crowd, then jumps back on stage and continues his singing/thrashing routine]

I need a job.

[Image courtesy of JustBeSplendid]

[here is Part I]

BBC FAIL

2010-03-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is priceless! I suppose even the best make mistakes.

On air, BBC thought they were interviewing an "internet expert", when in fact this unsuspecting gentleman was there for an interview to work in IT at BBC! Ha!

Happy Birthday Week!

2010-03-03T05:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to Rick, Mom, Matthew Teich, Nan-Ellen Ritsch,
Happy Birthday to you!

[birthday breakfast....yes, that IS carrot cake and brownies. Kindness to Mom for sending the brownies and candles!]

My grandmother Lally always said you should celebrate your birthday for a whole week, so we'll do just that.

Sunday, Feb 28: Dinner at El Guajillo
Monday, March 1: Dinner at Ted's Montana Grill
Wednesday, March 3 (RICK's BIRTHDAY): Breakfast of Portobello Eggs Benedict, Cake & Brownies for Rick before work since he has class till 9pm
Thursday, March 4: Dinner at Bourbon (thanks to Rick's Seattle Bernstein friends for the gift certificate)
Friday, March 5am (MOM's BIRTHDAY): Keenan jumps in the car to drive 8 hours to Pawleys Island to spend Mom's birthday weekend with her and Pops, Rick heads to LA for the weekend.

Hooray for birthdays!

[And, let me know if you want me to celebrate your birthday week for/with you....I could get used to this.]

10 Discoveries in 10 Days, Part I

2010-03-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

In the last 10(+/-) days, I've made some random (awesome) discoveries. Listed in no particular order below.

ChurchKey
Great bar with billions of beers on draft. (Yes, billions, or at least that's what it seemed like.) Although, they were out of a few that we wanted, we still tried some nice ones, and will likely return to try the food. It's in Logan Circle - a neighborhood we enjoy. It was, however, a bit crowded and nearly impossible to get a table, so we opted instead for a restaurant down the street for food. ChurchKey reminded me of Seattle, and I wish there were more places like this in DC.

Berger Cookies
Rick was home sick, and I asked his help with the grocery list. The only thing he wrote was "cookies". These are a Baltimore-based confection. I give you cookies.

The Italian Store in Arlington
While out grocery shopping for OJ & cookies for The Patient, I stopped in this place. Ridiculous Italian sandwiches (they scoop out the doughy, carbohydrate-y part of the bread and fill it with delicious secret sauce) and lots of other Italian foods (pastas, sauces, wines, cookies). They also sell girl scout cookies here since the owner's daughter is a GS...which is convenient for me since I don't know any girl scouts, but doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of teaching young girls about selling stuff? Oh well, guess she'll probably be the #1 seller in her troop, but I should also mention there was another group of girls set up out front selling cookies too....now THAT is what I'd call healthy competition.

Phillips Collection
First visit here with the Stolbachs (minus Bang) and we got to cut to the front of the (loooooooong) line with Auntie LuLu - of COURSE we did! LuLu always knows how to make stuff happen! Anyway, loved winding around through this gallery in an old mansion. They have concerts on Sundays (that are free for members) and right now there is a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit (which explains aforementioned line of peops). Can't wait to go back.

[ummm, forgot to mention that O'Keefe's work is a little, er, suggestive]

Tory Burch Fall 2010 Runway Playlist

Thanks to Summer is a Verb for posting this, I can now pretend that I'm a model on the Tory Burch runway while I listen to this playlist (just need to find a money tree so I can buy her clothes and stop eating Berger cookies and Italian sammies). She's got some fun songs, and I particularly like Quick Fix. Would love to know if you've got any favorite songs I can add to my own workout playlist.

Stay tuned for part II...

What's wrong with the world, I mean the internet.

2010-02-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

When we got engaged, we signed up for "theknot.com" to help with organization, planning, blah blah blah.....and we never used it. Too much info, too much fuss, and the website in general made me feel like it was prioritizing hair, makeup, shoes, songs, decorations instead of actually focusing on the real event at hand (marriage). Well, we are celebrating our 5 month anniversary in a few days, and today I get an email from "thenest.com" with the subject and image:

Is Baby ON the brain or NOT on the brain?

COME ON!!!!! And we wonder why divorce rates are over 50% in the US! They are already pushing babies on newlyweds!! Can't we just enjoy being married without feeling this constant pressure and momentum towards becoming "parents" as opposed to just enjoying our new titles of "husband and wife"?? Really? Give us some time, you marketing people!

It goes without mention that I definitely DID NOT give my email address to "thenest.com", and I'm inclined to think that even if I were pregnant, I would not subscribe to this. And if I ever had an inkling to join, this email definitely convinces me otherwise....what will the sign me up for next, "DealingWithDivorce.com", "SecondTime'sACharm.com", "StepGrandkids.com"..... Just nuts.

Sorry for the rant.

Oh, the places we'll go

2010-02-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

Interesting article in the NYT about what vacations actually do for us. We know we love getting away, but this article argues that part of the actual pleasure we get from vacation comes from the planning and not actually from the trip itself:

Since most of the happiness boost comes from planning and anticipating a vacation, the study suggests that people may get more out of several small trips a year than one big vacation.

Aye, aye! Where are we going next?

[Honeymoon in Mexico, Tulum]

Exactly.

2010-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah, she's got it about right. I might start sending her to SciFi movies with Rick.

All about Seattle.

2010-02-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

I've gotten several requests recently from friends who are planning a visit to Seattle, so I spent some time this morning creating a Google Map of Seattle. Wow - this was really time-consuming but fun to assemble, and makes me realize how much I really miss life there (and how much I need a job). There are so many wonderful, unique, local places in Seattle for eating, drinking, sleeping, outdoor adventures, and most importantly, getting your cup of joe. So, here is my exhaustive "list" of Seattle musts accompanied by my super-dorky, but-hopefully-helpful Google Map.

View Seattle Favorites, According to Keenan in a larger map

HOTELS:
- Inn at the Market: very small, probably are full, but worth a shot. It's right in Pikes Market and very very cute.
- Edgewater: Love this place. My mom got a room here on Priceline for $100 a night, and it's right on the water....we woke up to boats coming into port. I love the atmosphere here - very lodgy and campy, but sophisticated too. If you go, make sure to get a waterfront room. This is a little removed from downtown, but they do have a free shuttle that will take you around. It's not a bad walk at all, and it's right next to the olympic sculpture park. Also, the beatles stayed here when they toured thru seattle and apparently fished out the window.
- Four Seasons: They just opened about 1.5 years ago, and they too are right on the water. Gorgeous lobby and cool restaurant. Rick gave me a day at the spa here for my bday when we were there, and it was nice. THey also used to host Bernstein events there....random tidbit. Not sure if Michael has any hotel points or anything, but this could be an option.
- Fairmont Olympic: Probably the oldest hotel in Seattle, and right downtown. This was the site of the original University of Washington, and is definitely a great place to stay. We stayed here before we ever lived here and it was nice. Very luxurious, nice, old school hotel. They serve great holiday cocktails, including an Egg Nog Martini that we make every year.
- Sheraton: Recently renovated and very nice and clean. My parents got a cheap cheap room ($70/night) here on Priceline when they came to stay with us at Thanksgiving, and they got an awesome corner room. RIght downtown.
- Arctic Hotel: They finished this huge renovation a few months before we left, and it's supposed to be nice. A few blocks down from the heart of downtown, but also close to Pioneer Square.
- Westin - this is a huge hotel and pretty nice, consistent. Conveniently located near Flagship Nordstrom & downtown.
- Hotel Max: Never stayed here, but I met a guy on a plane once who always stayed here for work. It's very modern, new and clean. He told me that they have "personal appliances" available for rent, in case, you know...you are so inclined. Ha!
- Hotel Andra: in Belltown. New, small, modern and supposed to be nice.
BOTTOM LINE: There are plenty of nice places to stay in Seattle, so if you are willing to use Priceline, you'll probably get a nice place!! If you find someplace else, let me know and I can give you my two cents if I have any!

RESTAURANTS:
Where to start? WAY too many to cover in just one trip, but here are some favorites:
- Flying Fish: apparently they have recently moved, or are int he process of moving, but they have great seafood, and plenty of it. In Belltown.
- Steelhead Diner: Near Pikes Market/Belltown. Very eclectic menu with lots of different types of preparation of seafood. They have sandwiches as well as sophisticated entress, a great cocktail menu, and always good specials. You can walk in and usually get a table, but you might have to wait at the bar a bit. They have good views of the bay too.
- Matts in the Market: Small restaurant with very carefully prepared food. I think the owner is the chef, and he's a young guy....i think his wife is the hostess, and she was pregnant last time we went. It's upstairs in Pikes Market, and they always have fresh seafood and very well prepared. Probably need a reservation here, and it might be a bit fancy.
- Cafe Campagne: IN the market, french food, good for brunch or some kind of light meal.
- Quinns: Gastropub, don't go here if you want seafood, but DO go here if you want deliciously prepared, hearty, meaty meals. They serve interesting cuts of meat (tongue, bone marrow, cool stuff). This is Rick's favorite place. Casual atmosphere, you will probably have to wait if you don't get a reservation. They also have great cocktails and great beer.
- Chinooks: Probably the best seafood selection you'll find in Seattle. It's over in Fishermans' Terminal (where all the Deadliest Catch boats and other fishing boats come in), so this would be a fun spot to go to watch sunset. Tons of different types of fish, all caught fresh, and heavenly crusty bread. This was always a go-to for visitors as it wasn't quite as "touristy" as some of the other downtown restuarants. In fact, this is where I went for my last meal in Seattle. They have a sister restaurant called Anthony's down on the water (near the Edgewater), but I think that one is too touristy.
- Lola: This is one of Tom Douglas's restaurants. He is arguably the most well-known chef in Seattle, and he has a few restaurants in downtown Seattle (Dahlia, Serious Pie, Palace Kitchen), but Lola is our favorite.
- Ettas: Another Tom Douglas restaurant, this one is down in the market and was a brunch favorite. Wicked bloody mary's and great food. Would recommend this if you are walking around during the market during the day. You don't really need a res.
- Restaurant Zoe: Good, classic, comforting American Food. Run by the same people who run Quinns.
- Pesos: Our favorite for brunch, this one was a few blocks from our house up in Queen Anne. Quite the brunch scene, they serve mexican/american food, good breakfast cocktails, and they have a bustling nightlife scene here too (I think all the waitresses are required to bare skin...it's a little ridiculous, but the food is good and it was really convenient for us)
- Canlis: If you are celebrating an anniversary or any big life event, this is a meal you will never forget. Exceptional service, they know your names when you walk in, and this is probably the best restaurant in Seattle. It's been around forever, and is perched on the edge of Lake Union. We went here for my birthday dinner our first year here, and again using a gift certificate from the man who designed my engagement ring. Very special spot, and a delicious wine list.
- Rays: Tis is where we took Putney & Bill and my parents, and it's over in Ballard on the edge of the water. Downstairs is fancy, upstairs is more casual. Great views of the water and another great sunset spot.
- 5-Spot: Great for brunch, up in Queen Anne. If you have to wait for a table, you can walk up to Cafe Fiore and grab a Sevillano Mocha (my fave....with dark chocolate and orange, but not too sweet....they use organic chocolate).
- Belltown Pizza: Decent pizza & beer, we liked sitting at the bar. They have trivia on Monday.

Other Food Notables:
- Macrina Bakery: IN Belltown, good for a cookie or pastry in the afternoon. They make all of their stuff fresh same day, and they have good easy salads and sandwiches if you want a quick meal.
- Top Pot Donuts. Best donuts you'll ever eat I promise you. They sold out to starbucks and now sell them in all of their locations, but the original is in downtown seattle and is quite an experience. My favorite was the Blueberry Cinnamon. For my first birthday in Seattle, I had two top pot donuts instead of a cake. For my second birthday, I took a box of donuts to work for everyone....that's love. They also have great coffee if you need some to take home.

Speaking of Coffee:
- Cafe Fiore, Cafe Lladro, Cafe Vita, Stumptown & Vivace are all favorites. YOu will find more local coffee shops than Starbucks locations, which is so nice. Most of these are up in different neighborhoods as opposed to downtown, but you can still find plenty of local spots.

Bars:
- Vessel: favorite place for a fancy drink. They have a definite NYC feel, and their bartenders are nationally acclaimed...they will create a cocktail of your choice if you tell them what type of ingredients and flavors you like. They have a very extensive and creative cocktail menu. Don't order anything with vodka b/c they don't like to serve it. This place made me like Tequila.
- Alibi Room: In the market, a cult favorite in Seattle. Very dark and dim, and they have a great Seattle feel.
- Zig Zag: In the market, Creative cocktails, sort of similar to Vessel. Never went there, but heard it's great.
- Post: Also in the Market, they have live music every night and a nice laid back feel.
- Black Bottle: Wine bar/Gastro tavern on 1st Avenue in Belltown, this is a great spot if you want to avoid the more packed BellTown bars. Great food and great wine & cocktails. They have exposed candles on the tables, which I think is cool. I really liked this place.
- Lava Lounge: Fun Hawaiian/Tiki Bar in Belltown that has shuffleboard, and more of a dive-bar feel.
- Rob Roy: Also in Belltown, cool bar with a lodgy/Alaska feel.
- Kings Hardware: Definitely a "hipster" spot, this one was a favorite of ours (hard to believe since we are incredibly far from being "hipsters". This is in Ballard - they have great cocktails that they serve in Mason jars, they have amazingly good burgers (one topped w/ Peanut Butter & Bacon), and they even have skeeball. How fun is that. We used to go here after kickball games.
- Buckleys: good food for a bar, lots of TVs if there is something you like to watch. We used to go here on the way to catch redeyes back to the east coast.

Other stuff to do/see:
- Olympic Sculpture Park. Right down by the water, this is fun to walk through on a pretty day. Full of cool sculptures, and it was completed in 2007 (I think). It's part of the Seattle Art Museum. Interesting Tidbit: In Seattle, there is a mandate that any new business or development must allocate a certain percentage of their budget to public art, so you'll see a lot of art throughout the city.
- Public LIbrary: Designed by Rem Koolhas, it's incredibly modern and has become a landmark in the city. You must go in and ride to the top and look down into the main lobby. Definitely worth a spin through the library if you like architecture.
- Kerry Park in Queen Anne: This is where you'll see the best view of the city. You can drive up here, or if you are up for a long walk, it's about 2 miles from downtown.
- Skip the Space Needle, overrated and expensive.
- Skip the Duck Tour, they don't give you much info on Seattle at all, and I found it to be annoying.
- If you want great views, go up to the top of the Columbia Tower (this is my old work building). They have an observation deck up on the 73rd floor, and you can get great views of the whole city, Bellevue, Cascade & Olympic mountains....but only on a clear day. There is also a Starbucks on the 40th floor with great views.
- Discovery Park: A bit of a drive from downtown, but great outdoor park and you can walk around and see more great views of the sound. We used to go walking/running around here.
- Pike Place Market: You must go see this amazing place, lots of fresh fish (which they throw), great organic produce, lots and lots of cheap flowers (although I never really understood why visitors bought flowers here....how do they get them home?). There are great street performers & musicians, and word is that within the market, the musicians can only play in a one place for a limited amount of time...this encourages lots of performers!
- First Starbucks: It's in Pikes Market, and it's worth just a quick "drive-by" on foot. They have musicians that play in front of here, and there is always a crowd.
- Pioneer Square Underground Tour: It's a bit cheesy and touristy, but definitely fun to do, particularly if it's rainy and you don't feel like lugging around in the rain. Great history of the city, and cool to see the underground city.
- Ferry ride to Bainbridge. If you are tired of walking around downtown, it's kind of fun to take a Ferry Ride to Bainbridge Island, though there isn't a whole lot to do on foot once you get there.
- If you have a car, head over to Alki Beach in West Seattle for a great walk along the water. There are great views back over to downtown Seattle.
- Showbox: great music venue, check to see if there is anyone playing while you are there.
- If you are up for yoga, my absolute FAVORITE yoga spot is Yogalife in Queen Anne. Best. Place. On. Earth. For. Yoga.
- Walk around Greenlake. It's a man-made lake, but good for people watching and for fresh air.

Things that make you go hmmmm.....

2010-02-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

[image from here]

I have to give credit to my long lost friend Rommy (from San Francisco days) for compiling this really thought-provoking list of questions. He's living in Sweden and keeping a blog about his experiences working and living there. Most recently, he's doing a series of "Single in Sweden", and this particular entry discusses his challenges with making small talk with women. Anyway, I'm going to post his questions/answers here, along with my answers.....wonder if he'd want to talk to me at a party. Consider answering these questions for yourself, and feel free to post your answers in the comments if you are so inclined!
_________________________________________
So if you ever see me at a party, know that this is the kind of stuff that would make for good conversation.

What do you like to do for fun?
- Right answers include: spontaneous road trips, spend time alone with a book and some music, spend time outside, crossword puzzles, going head to head with a dude at downing shots of whiskey.
- Wrong answers include: hanging out with friends, shopping, watching TV, sleeping
- KEENAN: yoga, being outside doing just about anything, exploring new places, cook
What was the last thing you read?
- Right answers include: the newspaper, the subtitles in a French film, Foreign Affairs
- Wrong answers include: gossip magazines, Perez Hilton
- KEENAN: Elle Decor magazine, Huffington Post, Email from Whitney, calorie count on yogurt tub
What was the last book you read?
- Right answers include: Anything that expands the mind, makes you think. And even if it's purely a guilty pleasure, at least talking about it. Having a good, well-thought out opinion about it counts for serious bonus points.
- Wrong answers include: Saying you don't like to read. Or complaining how you're finding your book so boring. This is a huge turnoff. Tell me why you find it that way or don't talk about it at all.
- KEENAN: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. Loved it. Didn't want it to end (and it's currently only $3.80 at Amazon!!! Buy it for any woman you know!!) Other recent reads I enjoyed are The Road by Cormac McArthy, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Cane River by Lalita Tademy.
What was the greatest book you read?
- Right answers include: Having one (or several) and telling me why you thought it (or they) was (or were) so great.
- Wrong answers include: Not having a favorite one, not having an opinion about why it's your favorite, or The Da Vinci Code.
- KEENAN: I really loved Katharine Graham's Personal History. Very inspirational story about a woman who was born into a life of luxury and opportunity, but morphed into a powerful, successful, yet real woman after her husband's suicide left her in control of the Washington Post. Great true story. I need more favorites....time to read more classics.
What website do you spend most of your time on?
- Right answers include: Blogs, news sites, your own site where you write.
- Wrong answers include: Google, Perez Hilton, shopping sites and Facebook (even though this is true for most people, it shouldn't be among the answers, because it's simply not interesting).
- KEENAN: does Google Reader count as a site? Sad to say I spend too much time on Facebook. Might have to start using the "self-control" apple app to limit my time there.....it's a waste of time, but I can't help myself! Sorry Rommy.
What is your favorite album of the last ten years?
- Right answers include: Pretty much anything if you have a good reason and are passionate about it.
- Wrong answers include: Nickelback
- KEENAN: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Neko Case. Rick introduced me to Wilco when we first met, and I'll never forget riding around in his Altima in San Francisco listening to YHF.
What are your hobbies?
- Right answers include: Anything you consider to be personal, quirky, weird, crafty, outrageous. Because these are the things that are interesting. And having a hobby is so important because it's a personal passion.
- Wrong answers include: Hanging out with friends, shopping, watching TV, sleeping. These aren't hobbies.
- KEENAN: yoga (again), learning to use my new camera, discovering new places in DC, finding really obscure things online.... whoa, i sound sort of boring.
How do you relax?
- Right answers include: Going for a walk, working out, a good film, taking a day trip, laying in a park.
- Wrong answers include: Hanging out with friends, shopping, watching TV, sleeping.
- KEENAN: getting fresh air, cooking, piddling at home, going for a walk, yoga
How do you challenge yourself?
- Right answers include: Setting stretch goals and meeting them. Doing things that present significant physical or mental challenges.
- Wrong answers include: Saying you don't.
- KEENAN: currently finding a job is proving to be a challenge, trying to cut sugar out of my diet is a challenge, and I'm thinking of running my second marathon this fall. I need more concrete challenges....
What are you truly passionate about?
- Right answers include: Things that take a significant time investment and are purely done because they interest you and make you feel whole.
- Wrong answers include: A pet or family. These aren't passions, they're obligations.
- KEENAN: I disagree with Rommy on this one because I don't think you can deny that friends, family, and pets are an extremely important part of who we are. I do, however, agree that we need things that we feel strongly about that are outside of our family ties (or obligations as he says). With all of the demands and time constraints that our professional lives place upon us, I think it's a-ok to spend your personal time cultivating those relationships.
What is your perfect meal?
- Right answers include: A meal you cook yourself, a nice dinner out, anything that isn't destroying you. Your body is your vessel and should be taken care of as such. But have an opinion, have a perfect meal and have a reason why.
- Wrong answers include: Fast food, frozen food, processed foods. You want to piss me off, you give a wrong answer here. It's pretty hard to get this one wrong.
- KEENAN: A meal that includes a few veggies, cheese, probably some pasta, and followed up with something chocolate and sweet. I have a sweet tooth, a cheesy tooth, and a broccoli tooth. Don't have a booze tooth, thankfully. Ideally, I'd be out at a restaurant trying something I'd never make for myself. I'm thinking more and more about the meat that goes into my body, and trying to be more cognizant about where my food comes from.
What's the most ridiculous thing you've done?
- Right answers include: Having one and not being afraid to share it.
- Wrong answers include: Not having one and not having anything to share.
- KEENAN: well, a few things come to mind, but most are not fit for public consumption. Give me a couple drinks and I'll tell you.
What was your most embarrassing sexual moment?
- We all have one, and the ability to share and laugh about it in retrospect says something about you as a person.
- Wrong answers include: Not sharing it because you're too embarrassed or ashamed. Or something so horribly weird or fetishistic that it makes for awkwardness (especially if it involves animals). There needs to be a bit of common sense practiced here.
- KEENAN: this is my blog and I say next question please.
What is your greatest insecurity?
- Right answers include: Acknowledging and sharing any insecurity you have says that you are vulnerable.
- Wrong answers include: Your nose, your butt, your third nipple. These are not insecurities, they're body parts. And if you really are that insecure with your looks, I will absolutely walk away.
- KEENAN: being awkward.
What is your greatest fear?
- Right answers include: Anything you struggle to accept that keeps you up at night.
- Wrong answers include: Ghosts, the Scream movies.
- KEENAN: not being able to take care of myself, physically, financially or mentally. Being a bad wife. Being a bad friend.
What was your proudest moment?
- Right answers include: Any time in your life that you can look back on and that sets you apart or that took significant guts to do.
- Wrong answers include: Not having one, or something that most wouldn't consider a challenge or an accomplishment.
- KEENAN: Completing New York Marathon 2005. I used to cry in high school and try to skip school when we had to run 1.5 miles for the presidential physical fitness test, so this was a huge personal accomplishment for me.
How far away from home do you live?
- Right answers include: The further the better.
- Wrong answers include: Still living at home.
- KEENAN: According to GoogleMaps, 473 miles. But, someone I worked with at Amazon.com once told me that home is where you live....so, by that logic, I guess I'm there.
What's the furthest you've lived away from home and for how long?
- Right answers include: Halfway around the world or at least in another country (especially if you're in Europe). And for >1 year
- Wrong answers include: Never leaving home or far enough away so that it matters.
- KEENAN: Spain for 5 months in 1999, Seattle for 3 years (2,914 miles), and San Francisco for 5 years (2,691 miles).
If you're close to home, why did you come back?
- Right answers include: Because you really love where you're from.
- Wrong answers include: Because you didn't have anywhere to go, or because "this is just home for me".
- KEENAN: We wanted to be closer to friends and family. So far, we've gotten to see much more of both in the 6 months we've been back on the East Coast, and I'm happy about that.
What was the greatest adventure of your life to date?
- Right answers include: Having one or planning one.
- Wrong answers include: Not liking to take risks.
- KEENAN: Moving to San Francisco without ever having been to California. Moving to Seattle without knowing anyone there but Rick, and learning that I loved the city. Studying abroad in Spain. Wilderness Ventures in high school and pushing myself physically while there.
Name three places you want to travel and tell me what you expect to do there.

KEENAN: Ireland to see where the Keenans came from, India to see textile making, Japan, Argentina to habla, baila and eat delicious steak, Brazil to visit Mary, Greece to relax, Boston, New Mexico to see Sals.... I feel like I am having a huge urge to travel these days, but current unemployment situation precludes this....sad.

Which person do you admire most in the world?
- Right answers include: Someone you know and appreciate for their ability to overcome challenges, for their passions, for their talents, for their achievements.
- Wrong answers include: Any celebrity.
- KEENAN: can't pick just one and these are in no particular order. Bob (he works hard and has interesting hobbies to keep him from being a workaholic, he takes calculated risks, he is funny as hell, and he is adventurous), Pops (he is loyal to the bone and would do absolutely anything for us, he has been an amazing role model for me that hard work and determination pay off, he taught me to always do the right thing, and he is a true South Carolinian), Momsley (she doesn't know how to frown, she's always got a positive attitude, and she's so creative, and she's a peacemaker like I'd like to be), Rick (he has taught me how to challenge and question things, he's taught me that it's ok to disagree, he works his tail off and has a vision for what he wants from his life, and he refuses to accept par....and, he makes me laugh, and like Mom, always wakes up with a smile). I could go on, but I'm lucky to have good peeps...
What was a lifechanging moment for you? How did it change your life? How are you different now?
- Right answers include: Having one and having a good reason for it.
- Wrong answers include: Not having one.
- KEENAN: Geting married...as cliche as it is, it really does start a whole new chapter in my life....I'm different now b/c now I'm a wife and am now part of a 1+1 equation.
This wasn't one of Rommy's initial questions, but I think it's a good one, albeit a little loaded: What inspires you?

KEENAN: Smart people who are always questioning, learning, challenging and growing. People who never know enough and are always pushing themselves. People who listen and learn from everything around them. People who are committed to something.

What gives for you? Rommy, thanks for the inspiration....

All you need is love...

2010-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

I wonder what the Fab Four would think of this... They do have walrus mustaches.

[image from here]

Ridiculously, adorably, laughably cute

2010-02-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

I am probably responsible for about 100 of the 161,061,318 glance views this thing has gotten. I cannot get enough of these two. If you do not smile and/or laugh when watching this, well then you should probably see a doc.

Reunited....

2010-02-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

After 9 days on the road, the Robbins(es) are finally together again, and just in time for Valentine's Day! I loved coming home to tulips, truffles, delicious homemade Beef Stew and especially my dear Valentine. We had a low key night and in classic Robbins style, we didn't actually start dinner until 10:30, which means we didn't eat this yummy dessert until about 11:30. Yay for no work for Rick on Monday!

{Our Valentine's Day Dinner....Mom, please just ignore the mismatched and incorrectly-placed napkins/utensils....}

One of the best parts of being back on the East Coast is being able to take all of these trips without having to spend tons o' cash on plane tickets....it's fun to be a road warrior and to spend some time road tripping. I've been to Richmond, VA for Ellen's baby shower; Clemson/Central, SC for a visit with Rick's Dad and B-Mama; Columbia, SC for some time with my 'rentals; Pawleys Island, SC (for less than 24 hours); then New York, NY to celebrate Ginny's birthday. Lots of celebrating and traveling leaves me wondering how in the world I ever had time for a job?! (I think a quick look at the balance sheet will remind me why I must make time for a job....like, yesterday).

Back in here DC, I truly cannot believe the amount of snow...all over the place. Piled in mounds taller than me. Even though most of the roads are clear, it's crazy to drive in this since you can't really see the other cars when you pull up to an intersection. In the words of my friend Anne (see below), "it's become a lawless society"....people parking, walking, and driving as if they don't have to obey the normal rules. Crazy.

{View from Rick's Office...his home away from home}

{this really doesn't do the snow justice, but still gorg.}

Up this week:
* Tonight - I'm hosting book club at our house, and fixing a big pot of Ina Garten's butternut squash soup. I hope the soup is better than the book we read: Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian. The book was soooo detailed and descriptive, and I found it painful to read.
* Tomorrow - Second round of interviews with a company I'm really interested in....wish me luck! Follow that up with Wine Club. We'll be discussing Sparkling Whites.
* Weekend: dinner with some friends Saturday and also some good Cally Stolbach cousin time...

Special thanks/kindness to Anne Martin for introducing me to book & wine clubs, and for the company on BoltBus Sunday home from NYC!

February is for Snowbirds

2010-02-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

Snowmaggedon. Snowpocolypse. SnOMG. Snowtorious B.I.G. In case you haven't heard, it's snowing in DC. For the second, I mean THIRD, time in the last 3 months. And, in case you haven't heard, I've missed all of the big DC snowstorms this year. Lucky me...?? Perhaps, but I really like winter, and am sad I'm not there with Rick to convince him that he too should like winter. I'm also sad that I'm not there to cook up some mean soups and cozy foods to keep him warm and fed! Instead, I'm in SC for a few days, and then heading to NYC this weekend for Ginny's birthday.

This is what we are up to in February:
Rick - studying (note the healthy snacks I made for him....like a good wife).
Me - traveling, still job hunting, and making crafts. At Ellen's baby shower this weekend in Richmond, we made cute onesies... Here is a pic of Ellen with her new duds.

Also, here we are all bundled up to go to dinner at a friend's house....it was snowing a little that night, and we had NO idea this was just a preview at what was to come...

Yoga & Movies

2010-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

{wedding day yoga on the beach - how perfect!!}

So Rick goes to NYC for 4 days for work, and what do I do? Yoga and sad movies. And, discover new amazing grocery stores in Alexandria (Shoppers on Old Jefferson Davis Hwy has a HUGE selection of Mexican food products, perfect for my gringo Husband).

Anyway, Rick has been gone for a few days, and it's a bit quiet around here. I signed up for a full month of all-you-can-eat yoga for $50 here: Tranquil Space. I've been on the lookout for the perfect yoga studio, and this one is almost there. A little too girly-frou-frou for me (lots of pink, black/white damask pillows, and silly looking font), but I do like the style of yoga they practice. It reminds me of my favorite place in Seattle...Yogalife, I miss you. Would love suggestions of favorite DC studios if you have any.

I also watched two movies yesterday, both of which were almost as fun as pulling out each of my toenails. One. At. A. Time. Up in the Air and Revolutionary Road, all in one day, don't ask me why. Both films deal with human relationships and love, or lack thereof, and each has an incredibly depressing ending. I enjoyed them both as I tend to like looking at relationships from the inside out, and both of these allow you to do that....you become fully invested in each character, and your heart breaks right with theirs. Caution: you will feel icky after watching.

Very excited to have Rick coming home tonight. I'm making a tuna casserole, butternut squash soup, banana pudding for dessert at a friend's house tomorrow night, and then turkey tacos. This should last us through the snowy weekend. Yumsky.

Bebopanonymous

2010-01-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend, we'll have three Robbins people under one roof (a very teeny, tiny roof....which covers 702 sqft). This one here is coming to visit, and we have no concrete plans. Might check out the Hirshorn, Renwick, might do free yoga day in DC tomorrow, who knows. We got into some very interesting chatter last night about a number of topics: Haiti, Christmas, Christmas cards, US colonialism, and a few other notables....fun times indeed. Up till 1:30. Bon weekend to you all!

2010-01-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Here we are. The Robbinses. Or, the Robbins'. Or, the Robbins's. Still unclear who we actually are. But, we are definitely Keenan and Rick, we are definitely married, and we definitely don't know what this blog will be. Right now, we aren't up to much.

Rick: working, studying, zillowing.
Keenan: piddling, interviewing, housewifing.

So far, so good!