When my mom came to visit, I attended a wedding. But prior to the wedding, we headed up to a rooftop bar, LA Jackson, near my house to get a pre-nuptials drink. So happy we snuck up here for a few minutes and spent a few minutes together. We even asked a stranger to take some of these pics!!

There is something so magical about being up on top of the city & looking out. Especially when you have good company & good drinks! Xx

Do you craft?? For a significant amount of time, I believed that I was inherently bad at crafting. I would see people around me who were such naturals. They would come to me with these beautiful party decorations, handmade house decor, or significantly altered clothing pieces, and I would just wonder in awe... how did they do it?? Then I came to realize, it boiled down to patience. I don't know why, but I just could not learn to enjoy the process. I just wanted the result. I wanted it done as soon as possible! But like most things in life, that is not a reality. I'm still learning that I can be patient, and sometimes, patience pays off.

1. The Home for Unwanted Girls - Joanna Goodman 
2. The Girl Who Takes an Eye for An Eye - David Lagercrantz
3. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder - Caroline Fraser 
4. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon 
5. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood 

A few weeks ago, one of my best friends came to town. It was the perfect end-of-summer weekend. We spend the weekend looking for giant sized murals, listening to music, and eating good food at restaurants I normally don't splurge on.

In my free time, while I'm driving or working out, I like to listen to podcasts. My interests vary greatly. Lately, I've been listening to Ear Hustle, Dr. Death, How I Built This and Rise Together. What I typically like are true crime & inspirational podcasts. Do you listen??

I don't recall which podcast it was, but I remember hearing once that traveling doesn't really allow you to get away. Happiness isn't outside our window, but is based on our perspective. Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I have the urge to just getaway. In times like those, I typically visit family. That is what happened here. I needed to get away, and get a new perspective, so I went to Baltimore.

I spent two days with my sister eating crab, window shopping, painting, and catching up. I realize my happiness level isn't based on what is outside my window, but sometimes when the view changes, my perspective can too.

What do you do to relax?? In the past few years, I've really come to value unwinding with a glass of wine. Maybe I was a late comer to this trend? Nothing better, especially when you are surrounded by friends.

Being in DC was very surreal, for me. Growing up, you hear & see the monuments everywhere.

I remember the first time I went to Rome. After being on a flight all night, we landed to a new Italian day. We caught a cab from the airport to the apartment we had rented with a fellow family. I was 16, and caught up in the idea of romantic Italy... the boys, the art, the food! As we passed the Colosseum, I was in awe. I had seen pictures, but couldn't believe that it was actually real. Right there in front of me. Italy was magical, but I realized during that trip, that it too is a city. Suddenly all my romantic notions went out the window.

That happened to me in DC. Seeing the monuments I was struck. But then looking over I saw coffee shops & people running to work.

A few months ago, I was feeling underwhelmed at my circumstances & decided I needed a change. I started actively seeking a new job. I found one. After putting in my notice, my employer asked me not to come back. So I spent my two week notice period up in DC visiting my sister. We spent two days in DC & two days in Baltimore having a fabulous time, despite the rain. I have split the photos up into multiple posts (we just couldn't stop!).