Let's Go on an Adventure: Washington D.C. part 2 (and some rain!)

 I confess I started writing all about our D.C./Philly trip last year and never quite got around to finishing it. . . partly because I took a break from blogging to survive distance learning.  So here I am, hoping to get caught up on my Travel posts. . . because we've been to some pretty great places. . . despite a crazy pandemic season.  You can read all about the first two days here.  

Our third day in D.C. was marked by torrential downpour. . . the same one that hit us the night before! We decided to take advantage of the rain and UBER (too wet to walk) and hit up the Smithsonian American History Museum.  I am so glad we did it when we did, because we were able to see a lot of the exhibits before it got too busy.  One really cool thing about the museums in D.C.  is that they are all free.  (It looks like you don't even need a timed pass either!). It was probably one of my favorite museums of all!  Dorothy's ruby slippers, Julia Child's kitchen, all the first ladies inaugural dresses, a batmobile.  There was so much to see!  We spent about 3 hours here and then moved on since the rain had stopped and sun started shining.

Next on our plan was to walk the National Mall. . . a big reason why we did the museum while it was raining.  The museum is just a teeny walk from the Mall and since it wasn't raining, we got to get started.  But first, we needed substance.  All along the Mall are a bunch of food trucks, so we found a burrito truck and got burritos. Well. . . let's just use that word loosly. . . it was more of wrap. . . and not so much a burrito.  But it was tasty!  Also, please note that the sun was indeed out and the sky was a beautiful blue hue.

 From there we mosied over to the Washington Monument. Please note that the dark clouds very suddenly started moving in.

 

By the time we actually got to the monument itself it was sprinkling.  It didn't really bother us because #humidity is no joke!  Please note, we did bring 1 umbrella. . . for 4 of us.  ha ha! 

And then from there it started pouring. . . like torrential downpour!  It's cool though.  We just kept walking and enjoying it (we don't get much of it back home in California. . . cuz endless drought. . . sad face).  So, we walked through the

It ended up being a lot of rain and a lot of fun!  It only lasted an hour because by the time we made it around the Reflecting pool to the Lincoln Monument, the sun was back out and it was a beautiful day.  A BIG perk was that because it had been raining quite a bit, not as many people were out and about, which means we didn't have to fight through some of the typical crowds for middle of July in the Capitol.  Also, because it's July in Washington, the humidity was like 500 percent and we dried pretty quick!  We also took the time to have a snack break. . . that stretch alone was quite the little walk!

We kept on walking towards the other War Memorials, including the Korean War one, which was my favorite.  And then on to MLK, FDR, and Jefferson.  We had so much fun!  It had rained so hard, some of the paths on the edge of the Potomac were very flooded, so we had to go the long way.  We didn't mind because we got to see some stuff we probably would have missed otherwise. 

After that, we Ubered over to the Founding Farmers restaurant. . . a really neat farm to table restaurant we had heard so much about.  It was a lot of fun, however they messed up on our meal (they didn't do no dairy well) and Weston ended up having to take his food back to the hotel to eat.  It was very tasty though and beautiful though!  

 The next day, we took an Uber out to Mount Vernon and enjoyed the tour and then spent some time exploring the grounds.  It was really quite beautiful!  Ethan and Jon found some important landmarks from National Treasure (ha ha). Plus the view of the Potomac is lovely!

From Mt. Vernon, we headed over to Old town Alexandria for lunch.  We walked around and found a great Lord of the Rings themed restaurant and cooled off while we ate.  Then, we walked around on the super cool cobblestone streets and found a cupcake place and one of George Washington's other home.  

From there, we headed over to Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then looked for a few names we recognized as we walked back.  It was really hot and humid and we were really tired. 

We ubered back home and we couldn't decide on where to eat.  Jon and Ethan went to this really cool Hot Dog place that Obama used to frequent. . . they said it was wonderful!  Weston and I walked around the block to a Noodles and Co. . . we don't have one of those at home so we wanted to take advantage! 

 

And that's it for days 3 and 4 of this crazy trip we did before the world kind of shut down.  Also. . . I keep looking at these pictures and cherishing how small these boys were. . . I mean, Ethan is shorter than me in these pictures!  ha ha!  

 

Stay tuned for more of our adventure coming soon!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake & and invite someone to the table

 Hello All.  It's Wednesday and I'll be honest with you. . . it feels like it should be Friday already.  The C-word hit our home this past weekend and everyone is sort of scattered.  Ethan and I are holding on for dear life praying it doesn't hit us, but also super thankful we are all vaccinated and it is seeming to be short lived with the other two.  It's also the last week of school for the oldest!  Goodbye 7th Grade! But most of all  been a really gut wrenching 2 weeks for our Nation and as a mom (and human being) my heart breaks.  Please go call your elected officials.  That's all I am going to say about that.  

And because I need to find something joyful to think about. . . or eat.  I am going to blog about this coffee cake that I made awhile back and has been sitting here waiting for me to post.  It's delicious.  It's beautiful.  It's not tricky and will impress your friends and the next brunch event or just make it and invite a friend over for coffee.  Seriously.  I challenge you to think of two local friends and invite them over for coffee and coffee cake.  Sit around the table and just chat about life.  Life is hard.  Crappy stuff happens and we need to lean into each other.  In Jennie Allen's book, Find Your People, she mentions a very staggering statistic: more than three in five Americans report being chronically lonely and that number is rising. The current state of the last 3 years doesn't help when a pandemic screams avoid people at all cost.  In fact, there has also been an increase in anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and many of those stem from just feeling lonely. It turns out being lonely is actually bad for our health!  Just as much, if not more, that we need exercise and fruits and vegetables, we need people.  We need connection and conversation.  We need someone to join us at the table and listen and share with.  

There was a time, when I felt so alone.  It seemed like everyone was doing their thing, going to their jobs, hanging with their work peeps and I had my kids.  I spent a lot of time just sad because I felt like I was missing out but something changed as I sat around a table of ladies and realized I was not alone.  A friend and I decided that we would meet for coffee once a month and guess what. . . it's been 5 years and we're still meeting!  We skipped a few months here and there during the heat of the pandemic, but I am so thankful for that friendship.  It took being brave and trying something new.  Now. . . I just want to have coffee dates with all the people!  Whether we meet at a coffee shop, for lunch, or at my house, gathering around a table has been a sweet spot in my life.  Those feelings of loneliness still creep in, but somethings it's worth the risk to invite someone to coffee.  I double dog dare you to try it!  (why yes, I did go there!)

And just real quick. . . don't even worry about the state of your house.  Chances are if you're inviting another mom. . . there might be toys and dishes and laundry at their house too!  Don't let feelings of inadequacy stop you.  Be brave, friends, and ask!  

So, while you're making that list of people to ask, let me give you a recipe for the most delicious coffee cake!  

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

adapted from Bake from Scratch

 

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups AP flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup dairy free sour cream *

1/4 cup oat milk **

 

Almond Streusel:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pinch salt

3 Tbs melted butter

 

Glaze:

Dairy free cream cheese*

Oatmilk

Powdered Sugar

Vanilla (just a splash) 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray and line 9 inch cake round with baking spray and dust with flour. 

Whisk together dry ingredients and mix in wet ingredients until just combined (too much mixing will result in a more tough cake).  Pour into your pan an dset aside.  Sprinkle with almond streusel mixture. 

 

Bake for 35-40 minutes.  Test the center with a tooth pick or skewer. . . if it comes out clean you can take it out of the oven.  Let cool in pan for 15 minutes.  Carefully turn over onto plate.  Then place another plate over the top (which is actually the bottom of the coffee cake and flip over.  Continue cooling and mix together glaze.  I just sort of eyeballed the ingredients.  If you want more of a cream cheese flavor use more.  You're just making enough to drizzle over the top once it cools.  

 

Drizzle and serve, or set aside for the next morning for your brunch or coffee date.  

 

* Kite Hill Cream cheese and sour cream are my go-to for dairy free options. 

** I am a fan of Oatly oatmilk.  Others tend to have a more watered down consistency.  Also, shake before pouring!  

 

Enjoy!   

Kitchen Update: After the dust settled

It has been said the kitchen is the heart of the home.  It is the area where friends and family come to gather, whether hanging out or sitting around the table.  In our mid-century home, that is 100 percent true!  Our kitchen is in the center of our house, dividing our two living spaces and the bedrooms.  It's not huge and it's not teeny tiny either, but it is ours and we are getting to put some more love and our personalities into it.  

We have finally come to a point where we feel like the house is almost back to normal after everything was taken apart back in February, so I thought it would be a great time to catch us all up on the process.  Welcome to part 2 of our kitchen facelift adventure! 

 We left off with life after destruction (and Disney).  No running water, no stove, plywood countertops and lots and lots of dust!  And for awhile part of me was going a little crazy, but I got really used to it all. (You can read the first post about us starting a new trend (ha ha) of plywood counters here.) We were told the estimated time frame between demo and countertops is about 3 weeks.  To be honest, we were skeptical because things are crazy in the construction world and so I really didn't put much stock in it.  I knew that eventually it would happen and it did.  Right at the 3 week mark, I was doing my weekly Trader Joes run and our designer texted and asked if the countertop guy could drop by and do measurements that day! I was mind blown. . . things were beginning to happen.  Little did I know that this was THE WEEK!  The next morning, I was surprised with countertop installation and the next days were our tile backsplash, hood, stove, and sink!  I can't even believe that all of that happened in one week!  It was quick, but it finished so beautifully that I can't stop swooning!  

 There is still a lot to finish.  All of our cabinets need a good vacuuming and somehow all my stuff needs to get put away (NOT looking forward to that part. . . where is Elizabeth Montgomery when we need her. . . ha ha).  I do have big plans for that.  Plus, we need to repaint the walls, wainscotting, and touch up the cabinets with some Annie Sloan.  We also have some fun ideas in the works!  Stay tuned! 

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy my new stove and my sink with a faucet and running water. . . ohhh, I missed those things more than I really knew!  Also, our stove was definitely on it's last leg. . . 30 minute meals actually cook in 30 minutes and boiling water takes WAY less time now!  Goodbye stove from the 60's!   Also, one of our little splurges was the glass rinser (round, flattish thing to the left of the sink).  Best thing ever!  It kind of blew our contractor's mind!  

I'm going to go cook something now. . . if I  can remember where I put the pan!

Links for kitchen stuff:

 :: faucet

:: sink

:: rinser

:: stove

:: hood

:: Tile

:: countertops: Calcutta Gold

Teacher Appreciation Inspiration

I am feeling all the end of the year vibes right now!  Summer is on the horizon and I absolutely CANNOT wait!  I am ready for the slow days that summer brings, where we sleep in, spend a bit too much time watching movies and playing video games, and staying up way too late because we can.  But first, we need to work on some end of the year projects, for which there are several. . . between 2 kids I might pull my hair out.  I am sure there are many moms out there that are so excited to work on projects over Mother's Day weekend. . .best Mother's Day gift ever!  Kidding of course!  But, really, that is really how we are spending our weekend.  

But really, as much as I am just tired and done with the school year, as I am every year about this time, these teachers work their butts off to challenge our kids and make them fall in love with learning over and over again.  If it takes assigning a big project to get our kids excited with some hands on learning for a book they just finished or building sky scrapers out of cardboard for a presentation, I am all for it and so thankful that teachers have the power to stir on creativity and learning!  

They show up, pretty much every day, smile and grin, and teach no matter what is going on behind the scenes or what materials they have.  They love on our kids even when they find themselves playing Minecraft instead of their doing their assignment (true story. . . my kids are NOT perfect little robots). They spend money out of their paycheck to make their classroom feel like home and add zest to their lessons, and bags of gummy bears and jolly ranchers to remind our kids they are doing great.  They show up early, stay late, and still take work home with them to finish.  They work on the weekends even though they are off.  The prep during their summer vacation. They go above and beyond. 

This week, has been Teacher Appreciation Week and it is always one of my favorite parts of the year.  I usually try to send little notes and treats here and there during the school year, but Teacher Appreciation Week I try to go all out!  Plus, it's the end of the year and if I am exhausted. . . they are doubly exhausted.  Even being able to volunteer in the classroom hasn't been allowed this year, so extra help that they would have had in the past hasn't been there.  Teachers are tired, and maybe, even more so these past few years than others.  

As parents, we need to step up and verbally show our gratitude.  Gratitude has a direct impact on our attitude about things and as frustrated as I can sometimes get, being thankful and doing something tangible for my child's teachers works both ways.  Our teachers need to hear it, because unfortunately they probably hear a lot of complaints or frustrations and schools are hard.  There are so many things they must do, hoops to jump through, and still manage to make their classroom a safe place for their students to come. . . and want to come. 

This year, it sort of snuck up on me.  It's been crazy over here!  But, I hunkered down, made a list, tried to be creative. . . it didn't work (my mind was elsewhere. . . I'll share that someday), so I searched the world wide web and found some great, FREE printables and headed to Target.  I didn't spend that much money, thanks to absolutely adorable things in the Target dollar spot (when looking for inexpensive encouragement gifts, always go here first!). 

At the bottom of the page, I have a bunch all the links for what I used, plus a few extra if you feel like grabbing some fun cookies at the bakery, or some of the Milk cookies (we did last year and it was a huge hit!), or make your own!  There's also one for caramel and apple or a caramel apple. 

 I also have a bunch of FREE printables that I have created in the past that are super fun and can be super inexpensive.  One click of the printer and you have cute tags for 5 days of fun.  

I know that tomorrow is technically the last day of the official Teacher Appreciation Week, but don't let that stop you. Do your own week next week. . . keep the party going.  Send a note or a starbucks card. Or send them an email and a e-card from Starbucks (you can do it from the app) and then you don't have to worry about going to the store! 

Have fun!  Spoil those teachers and have a great week!

 Thanks for helping me grow printable

How Sweet it is printable

 Caramel Apple printable

Pen Teacher Appreciation printable

 Nail Polish printable

Scent-sational teacher tag  

Treat tag printable