Fried Dough Fix • Love the DC Metro • Stripes at work • Pretty Gift Wrapping • 1st Time at Reagan National Airport • A Spontaneous Upgrade • Sunday Brunching • Polka Dots at Work • Bouquet of Broccolini • Escalator Tunnel • First Pedi of the Year • AAR at the Royale

This really happened. Yes… it happened way back in January, but that’s beside the point. Not only was it amazing to be on a cruise ship with my favorite band ever (as well as 16 other awesome groups: Ozma! Free Energy! Yuck! Sleeper Agent!), it was a most excellent way to spend a weekend in the dead of winter. Good-bye winter blues, hellllooooo Blue Album!

I had a really fun work-field-trip last month to the Brimfield Antique Show. We spent the whole day perusing the innumerable offerings at this half-mile long yard sale.

Here lies randomness of all shapes and sizes. And a lovely blue set that was already claimed by this colorful caterpillar.

What I enjoyed the most was seeing all the old type treatments and printing paraphernalia. I’m looking forward to going again sometime!

Here’s the final collection of photos from my Summer Wrap Up series.

Chinatown

We ventured down to Chinatown for their Main Street Festival. I enjoyed perusing the many vendor offerings. I really wanted a little cute bonsai or bamboo, but I refrained. I have a tendency to kill greenery. Not at all my intention, of course.

Did you notice that Hello Kitty is reading the paper on the loo? That’s different! *blush*

On this excursion we tried Dim Sum for the first time. Oh. man. We were so lost, and thus, had a disappointing experience. I do want to give it another go, but only with someone with dim sum knowledge. We went to a top-rated eatery that was packed – always a great sign. But nothing was in English nor did anyone speak it, so we did the best we could.

Had I registered what was hanging in that window, I probably wouldn’t have even gone in! Yikes!

Hugs and Hope Meetup

I discovered Meetups this summer. I figured since I was new in town, it’d be a great way to get to know the city and meet some new people. I went to few different events, but my favorite was this one put on by the Boston Volunteer Meetup group. “Hugs & Hope” and “Make a Child Smile” : Making Cards for Sick Kids brought together some Boston young professionals and their craft supplies. We were given the profiles of a few terminally-ill children and their siblings. We then created cards based on their likes and interests. It was both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, but I thought it was a great way to use my talent to brighten someone’s day. I really wish I took pictures of some of my creations – they were so cute!

Labor Day, Red Sox Game!

We had another opportunity to see the Red Sox at Fenway. I was so excited to see a night game this time and would you look at our seats?! They were amazing – 5th row behind home plate. It was an exhilarating game, though I can’t remember all the details. I do know that we beat Tampa Bay 12-5 and I got a chance to see Big Papi hit a home run and another guy hit a grand slam! Even though we had incredible seats last time, I think the game was much more enjoyable at this angle. And speaking of Big Papi…

He totally waved at me! Or… maybe he was waving at his little fan in front of me? Whichever it was, Mr. G and I had a great time.

So that’s it – goodbye Summer, hello Fall!

Today I’m continuing to share snapshots of my first full summer in New England. We spent some great days on the coast.

Gloucester

The Fitz Hugh Lane House was perched atop a hill and got our attention immediately. He was a local painter and printmaker in the early 19th century known for nautical subject matter and his attention to detail. Gloucester had the Fisherman’s Feast going on when we were there. We also explored Main Street and grabbed a bite at Passports and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. So much so, I’ve been wanting to go back up just to dine there. Check out those heavy duty Birkenstocks!

“Step into my shoes and become inspired.”
Love that.

Rockport

Rockport is such a sweet taking. Cute shops and restaurants line the picturesque coastline. I can’t wait to see what this charming little town looks like in the winter!

Portsmouth

I love how close other states are! Portsmouth, New Hampshire is only an hour away and has quite an eclectic downtown. This colorful garden was a delightful retreat by the water.

Hull

Unfortunately when we went to Hull it was a chilly, overcast day. We did make the best of it: a nice walk along the water before and after a delicious pizza lunch and an impromptu shopping jaunt at a community used book sale.

Though the summer seemed short, I’ve still got more pictures to share! Stay tuned…

{ Photo credit: Flickr }

What a month! Mr. G and I landed a couple of great jobs and quickly hit the ground running (thus the hiatus in posts). The timing was pretty impeccable, too – with Summer fading into Fall, the vacation is officially over!

In my 9th grade French class, I learned that my birthday is a national holiday… in France. As we went around the classroom stating our birth dates in French, my teacher’s interest piqued when I insecurely mumbled, “quatorze juillet?” She kind of went into a French frenzy – clapping and squawking in fast French. She went on to explain that Bastille Day is quite similar to our Fourth of July – complete with fireworks and parades. Très cool!

Just before we left Pensacola, Mr. G and I had the fortune of hopping over to New Orleans a couple of times. Both were day-trips – the first was sort of an impromptu-rain-soaked-adventure, and the second was a more planned and sunny jaunt with our parents. I’ve combined the photos from both visits into this one post.