list 25 - things I'm likely to buy at Target (other than what I've come to buy)

(yup, way behind on my lists... what time is better to get back into it than the present?)

1. junk in the $1 spot
2. cute ballet flats
3. sweaters for Brad
4. greeting cards
5. another black purse
6. turtlenecks and/or cardigans and/or t-shirts
7. some food item on an end cap that I wasn't looking for
8. boxed wine
9. holiday decorations
10. luggage
11. gum
12. chap stick
13. picture frames
14. Kleenex
15. another hair brush
16. sheets
17. candy

(and what did I go there for? probably toothpaste, laundry detergent, and deodorant)

list 24 - Things I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging

1. enjoying crisp autumn evenings on our balcony

2. brainstorming new, healthy recipes with the hopes that we can start cooking at home more & eating out less (please pass along your favorites!)

3. planning an event with four NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches, 600 volunteers & leadership from the organization I work for - it went off without a hitch despite some drama yesterday.

4. finishing up editing our summer vacation photos - many more to share

5. plotting out our next steps in this crazy life of ours

6. celebrating our four year anniversary of getting engaged by having dinner at the same restaurant & visiting the spot where it all went down

7. watching Ohio State win their first three football games

8. trying to decide when it is the perfect temperature out to enjoy my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte

9. raising money for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at the end of October (same fabulous day as the Stewart/Colbert rally on the Mall!)

10. trying out a new toe nail polish for the first time in five plus years - good bye "I'm not really a waitress," hello generic, non-$9 bottle of polish that looks almost exactly the same!

list 23 - things that kicked butt on our vacation

(a teaser of more blog posts to come!)

1. sea kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean (such an obvious response for #1)
2. being totally unreachable by the outside world for nine days
3. fresh Maine lobster
4. the zoo of towel animals we had going in our stateroom by the end of the cruise (that would be a monkey, elephant, stingray & ram/dog)
5. ordering a sugar-free & regular dessert every night, enjoying a bite of each & comparing the two
6. 65° in August
7. seeing the matching, perfectly lined up graves of the Titanic victims
8. climbing on the rocks in Peggy's Cove
9. awesome cannoli's at Mike's Pastry in Boston
10. holding a live lobster
11. Maine wild berry ice cream in Kennebunkport (I do realize that more than several of these have to do with food...)
12. Captain Espen Been
13. hearing about our waiter's wife & children back in India
14. gorgeous sunsets over the north Atlantic
15. my husband in a tux
16. the beautiful Boston Public Gardens
17. awesome salmon at McKelvies in Halifax
18. how surprisingly nice Halifax was
19. jeans & sweatshirts in August (really, the weather couldn't be beat)
20. quaint architecture in St. John, New Brunswick
21. being called "young person" a lot... made me feel better about getting carded at a restaurant the other day
22. calm seas
23. finishing an entire book
24. taking 1100 pictures
25. some good, quality time with Brad, sans BlackBerry

list 22 - things I love about Brad

He makes these really crazy faces all the time. It's ridiculously cute.

He has the kindest soul... he literally is the nicest person you'll ever meet. No, I mean it. Every time he meets someone new, they always say "He is SO nice!"

He grills a mean turkey burger.

He carries my camera bag & regular bag & purse & jacket & anything else.

He lets me buy discounted books, even though we have two eight foot bookcases full of them.

He is really smart.

He looks extremely sharp in a suit and tie.

He carries the groceries.

He always encourages me when I don't want to go to the gym... but do anyway.

He listens to my crazy dreams & even lets me follow through on some of them.

He always says "I love you" when we hang up the phone, even if we've only talked for a moment.

He still considers me his bride, three years later.

He has a knack for taking photos of me taking photos.

He buys me flowers.

He rubs my feet.

He has no problem spending a Friday evening watching DVR'd TV & eating take out thai.

He loves me for who I am.

list 21 - why we do what we do

I get asked a lot why and how Brad &I travel so much (sometimes nicely, sometimes snarky). I thought I'd address the issue in today's list.

at the top of Mt. Vesuvius, Naples, Italy

Travel...
- allows us to experience cultures completely different than ours
- allows us to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations & test our limits
- allows us some "us time" away from the stress of jobs, commutes, & the ridiculousness of every day life (oil changes, bill paying, folding laundry...)
- allows us the chance to stay in really comfortable hotels... & not have to make the bed in the morning
- allows us to check things off our bucket list while we're still young enough to enjoy it
- allows us the chance to stretch our thinking caps & research skills... we always get the best deal possible on every aspect of our trips
- allows us to take strategic advantage of our vacation time & long weekends (& BlackBerry's & working remotely)
- allows us an opportunity to explore new places that may one day be home
- allows us to appreciate quiet evenings at home even more

Travel isn't for everyone, but it is definitely for Brad & me. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be able to travel the way we do, but we also believe that with strategic planning & budgeting, a lot of people could travel more than they do. We enjoy our life, but know that some people find that hard to believe. We work hard & enjoy the benefits of that.

I know this probably sounds a little defensive... but we just really want you to understand why we do what we do... & to stop judging us for it.

list 20 - teachers that changed my life

(20 lists down, 32 to go... thanks to Hula Seventy for the list inspiration)

Mrs. Krankowski - Second Grade -

I was a dorky second grader in a blue & gray plaid Catholic school jumper & ridiculously cute black & white saddle shoes. I thought I ruled the school, or at least the second grade, & took pride in the fact that I was a reading champion.

The biggest bummer in my life was the fact that I had constant headaches which made school more of a headache than it normally is. Surgery was the only fix to my headaches, as they were a symptom of a condition I had since birth.

It wasn't the surgery that bothered me, but the missing school & not being able to wear my normal school uniform afterward that did. Yet Mrs. Krankowski & my parents made it all okay. School work was managed; cute, frilly dresses were worn; & Mrs. Krankowski even allowed someone to sit in the classroom with me every day to eat lunch while I was still recouping & unable to navigate the crowded lunchroom. Once Veronica Mars & I spent the lunch hour not eating, but replaying "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel over & over until we had all the words down. Important work for second graders.

Mrs. Krankowski gets an A+ in my book for making sure I didn't fall behind when I easily could have. And having an awesome last name.

Mrs. Blaha & Mrs. Robinson - Fourth & Fifth Grade -
They get a joint shout out, since I had Mrs. Blaha in fourth grade & then both of them in fifth grade in what was actually a fourth/fifth grade split class (I think I understood the dynamics of it better than. But how two adults could control 45 10 & 11 year old's was beyond me. Brave women).

Both were (maybe still are) excellent teachers. They were the kind of people that parents dream about having for their kids. Kind, but stern. Patient, but just to the right amount. They helped me through some tough times in my personal life & both cried the day I left for my three-week exchange student trip to France (boy is that another post in itself!) & made the class send me an Aerogram on my birthday overseas.

Mrs. Blaha gets an A+ in my book for being the ideal elementary school teacher - TWICE.

Mrs. Robinson gets an A+ in my book for boosting my confidence in math (which I am still horrible at) & feeding my love of reading & books.

Ms Wood - AP English, 12th Grade -

I don't think Ms Wood has ever had a student - or at least an honors or AP English student - who would not say that she is one of the best teacher's they ever had. She was loved by everyone.

I still feel guilty about not reading "Doctor Faustus" (the whole class rebelled & did not read for some reason. This was not a coordinated rebellion though). I still remember everyone's reaction to my diorama of the book "A Walk to Remember" (gasps around the room at the crazy attention to detail. What comes out of my mouth? "Well, I guess this is what you get when you have no life." Classic.). I still remember the hug she gave me when I told her I couldn't complete a project on time because of some personal drama interfering with my school life - she told me everything would be okay (& it was). And I still have the poem she gave us on the last day of school tucked in the back of my yearbook.

Ms Wood gets an A+ in my book for making every. single. student. feel special.

Ms Robbins - yearbook advisor -

I graduated from high school ten years ago & still keep in touch with Ms Robbins. How could I not? She was so much more than a yearbook advisor to me, & to a lot of students over her career. She was a surrogate mom when I needed one the most. She made me confident in myself, in my leadership abilities & in my creativity.

Heck, she taught me how to type 80 words per minute.

How she put up with us, with all her yearbook students, for so many years I am not sure. But my Solleret is still one of my proudest achievements & I have her to thank for that & so many other things.

Ms Robbins gets an A+ in my book because she sent me an email yesterday asking when she's going to get to be a surrogate grandmother :)

list 19 - things in my bag

1. cell phone
2. BlackBerry with wallpaper image from Las Vegas
3. two chapstick - one Burt's Bees, the other a freebie from the Travel and Adventure Expo a few months back
4. SmartTrip Metro pass
5. point and shoot camera inside small case
6. keys with small business card holder
7. $.27
8. boarding pass from trip to Cleveland
9. wallet
10. checkbook and coupons
11. sunglasses
12. free samples of Starbucks iced coffee mix and Crystal Light lemonade mix
13. hair clip
14. magazines (some trashy, some not)
15. two pens
16. necklace from Barbados
17. book
18. reusable bag inside reusable bag holder

list 18 - things I would say to my 17 year old self

… inspired by Brad Paisley’s song “Letter to Me” and Hula Seventy's list.

1. You are not fat. It’s stupid that you lie about your weight on your driver’s license. Ten years from now, you will look back fondly on the days that you weighed this much.

2. Some stuff is going to happen in the fall of 1999 that will be life changing. Go with your gut – it is right.

3. Study a little harder for your AP European History exam. I know the teacher is awful, but it’ll be one of the last times you take a class in school that you really enjoy.

4. Don’t stop playing the piano, despite what happens at Solo and Ensemble your senior year. Ten years later, when you pick it up again, you will be frustrated at how hard it is.

5. The last day of 11th grade might have been the best day of your life up until now, but just wait... it’s going to get SO much better.

6. The guys you dated in high school were not so great. But guess what? You’ll only have to seriously date one more person before you meet the amazing guy you’re going to marry at a much younger age than you thought you would.

7. Embrace being editor of the yearbook. I know it seems stressful and a lot of work at times, but Ms Robbins will turn out to be a lifesaver and a lifelong friend.

8. Quitting marching band was the right decision.

9. Read all the books you’re supposed to for AP English. You will regret not reading some of them later in life.

10. Don’t worry about not having tons of close friends. Your small group will stick with you through high school and, ten years later, you’ll still be best friends with one of them (but not the one that you think).

11. Not getting into the University of Florida is the absolute BEST thing that has ever happened to you. Trust me.

12. Put that camera you got on the last day of 11th grade to good use. Taking photos will always bring you true joy in life. And writing. Keep writing.

13. Doing horribly chemistry will not negatively affect your life, only your GPA.

14. College is not going to be anything like you think it will be. It will be a completely unique experience that will make you a stronger, more independent adult.

15. They are going to paint your high school tan. Come to grips with this now. It will be startling in the future.

16. You’re going to have great skin when you’re older. You’ll also never wear make up, so don’t feel bad about not wearing it now. But, please, please, please, start wearing daily moisturizer with sunscreen in it!

17. Enjoy this time living in Florida. It will be more short lived than anticipated and one day you will ache for the beach.

18. Go with your gut, always. It has yet to lead you astray.

list 16 - if I had $1,000,000

Remember the song "If I had a million dollars"?

"If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a green dress. But not a real green dress, that's cruel. If I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love. blah blah blah. If I had a million dollars, I'd be rich."

Barenaked Ladies?

Remember?

No?

Oh well.

You know, if you think about it, one million isn't very much money in this day and age. Still, I'm not complaining if it landed on my doorstep tomorrow.

list 16 - if I had $1,000,000, I'd*....

1. take an unpaid leave of absence from work (a "sabbatical," if you will) throw some clothes in a backpack and hit up Europe for a few weeks.

2. wouldn't be driving a 2001 Ford Focus... but also wouldn't be driving a Mercedes.

3. make a nice donation to the Ohio State University Political Science Department... because without them, I wouldn't have met my husband.

4. buy Ohio State University football season tickets. And Cleveland Indians half-season tickets. But those are cheap these days anyway.

5. buy some good, high quality, a little more expensive, staples for my wardrobe

6. buy shoes. I'd definitely buy shoes as well.

7. and buy books. Because I love, love, love books.

8. get bi-weekly massage appointments and monthly pedicures

9. send my grandparents, and my Dad, on a fabulous vacation (although not necessarily the same one!). Because they're fabulous and they deserve it.

10. probably head to B&H and do some serious shopping as well.

11. buy a timeshare in Florence.

12. take another sabbatical and write a book about traveling. Preferably from a tropical location.

*me, personally, not sharing with Brad. He has to get his own $1,000,000. Okay, maybe I'll share a little. He can visit the timeshare in Florence with me.

list 15 - a summer fun "to do" list

1. Wolf Trap
2. water park
3. Tour de Cure (shameless promotion of the 63 mile bike ride Brad is doing in two weeks to raise money for diabetes!)
4. picnic on the National Mall
5. Tidal Basin paddle boats
6. the National Building Museum
7. Cedar Point
8. baseball - Nationals. Indians.
9. walk in the rain
10. county fair... with farm animals!
11. jazz in the Sculpture Garden
12. cruise
13. day trippin'
14. mini golf
15. brats and corn on the cob on the grill

(15 lists down, 37 to go!)

list 14 - 114 things I love

some previously mentioned... some not :)

1. my husband - clearly
2. cute new shoes that are actually comfy
3. warm beach breezes
4. bold primary colors
5. contrast-y black and white photos
6. Veterans and their families
7. maxi dresses... even though I've only found one in two years that works for me
8. hand-written letters
9. brownie sundaes
10. s'mores
11. long walks on sunny days
12. autumn
13. turtleneck sweaters
14. OSU hoodies at football games
15. fro-ZEN-yo
16. walking the Long Walk hand-in-hand with Brad
17. my family... they're the best
18. malbec
19. chianti
20. pinot noir
21. Facebook
22. laying in soft grass, looking up at a cloudless sky
23. the last line of The Great Gatsby
24. music that makes you want to dance
25. my black pashmina
26. college football
27. Cleveland Indians baseball
28. glass skyscrapers reflecting other buildings
29. Chicago
30. walking on the beach in a long sleeved tee-shirt and shorts
31. jeans and flip flops
32. trains as a mode of transportation
33. reading on the balcony of a cruise ship
34. hot coffee
35. fingerless gloves
36. NYC
37. show tunes
38. playing the piano
39. spontaneous memories from childhood
40. the first few hours after you get a new hair cut
41. finishing a really good book
42. bicep curls
43. pretending that I'm more Southern than I really am
44. pretending that I'm more Italian than I really am
45. big bear hugs
46. calling my grandmother every Sunday afternoon
47. decisions that come from the heart, not the brain
48. ultra-modern hotels
49. random roadside attractions
50. Seattle
51. neon signs
52. a hot pretzel in Times Square from a street cart at midnight
53. my wedding ring
54. blogging
55. unedited photographs
56. backyard kiddie pools
57. Washington Post on-line chats
58. text messages from my BFF's
59. old friends and new friends
60. the idea of Girl Scouts
61. awesome accomplishments at work
62. beach umbrellas
63. my new sandals from Target
64. Target
65. my iPod commuting mix
66. songs you haven't thought of since high school
67. the band Oasis
68. my ever growing list of "must read" blogs
69. talented photographer friends
70. bacon cheese fries
71. a cold Blue Moon
72. driving with the sunroof open (preferably to the beach)
73. key lime martini's in the backyard
74. Plank's thin crust pizza
75. giant neighborhood bookstores (I'm talking to you Book Loft and Elliott Bay Book Company!)
76. nostalgia
77. photos of returning soldiers, sailors and airmen
78. early morning in Old Town
79. the Sunday paper
80. learning new things
81. vodka martini's with a twist
82. the Gap Outlet
83. the Nine West Outlet
84. Bob Evans' biscuits
85. the Pioneer Woman
86. laughter
87. DVR
88. "Modern Family"
89. Monday Night Football
90. Sunday Night Baseball
91. TBDBITL
92. sending flowers to people
93. planning trips
94. massages and pedicures
95. I'm Not Really a Waitress
96. a really good biography
97. when a book makes me cry
98. when a book makes me laugh
99. planning big surprises for Brad's birthday
100. making lists and checking things off
101. typing fast... but not hard
102. Cary Grant
103. "An Affair to Remember"
104. "Sleepless in Seattle"
105. "When Harry Met Sally"
106. Carrie and the gang
107. movie theater popcorn with extra butter
108. the idea of running
109. Conde Nast Traveler magazine
110. Five Guys little cheeseburger and fries
111. hugs and kisses from old friends
112. my first car
113. Pandora
114. sun

list 13 - things that are rocking my world this week

1. the blue skies that come with summer (we can call it summer since it's 90° out, right?)

2. the awesome, awesome, awesome concert that Brad Paisley put on last Saturday evening. Literally two hours of me standing there, dancing and singing my head off (apologies to those sitting around us!). Added bonus? Opening act Darius Rucker (aka Hootie from Hootie and the Blowfish) who sang all the songs from junior high!

3. the great discussion with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert that Brad took me to see last Friday night. Added bonus? We went to a meet-and-greet afterward and got them to sign books (I won't share the incredibly dorky thing I said to Mr. Bourdain... I was trying to be so cool, but ended up much more star-struck than anticipated!)

4. the new Sex and the City movie that opens tomorrow (even though it just got a horrible review in the Post)

5. the three photos below will be appearing in a display at the City of Alexandria Historical Museum this summer

6. the Pandora Radio station created by searching the song "Roll to Me" - a great mix of 90's music (a thanks to my colleague Lauren for this idea!)

list 12 - blogs I read every day

I actually have a pretty extensive list on my blog reader, many of which I just skim through on a daily basis. But I really look forward to reading updates from these 12 blogs...

(in no particular order)

1. Mary Kate McKenna (my wedding photographer) and 2. Jamie Windon (aka the Blonde Photographer) - two extraordinary D.C.-based wedding/event/awesome-ness photographers

3. Erin Conrad - a former colleague and one heck of a talented photographer who has a love for her state of Oklahoma like nothing I've ever seen

4. The Pioneer Woman - duh. Because she is awesome.

5. Rockstar Diaries - D.C. residents with the best writing style and the cutest little bulldog

6. Young House Love - a great DIY interior design blog. They're also brand new parents!

7. Bakerella - because if I could bake like her, I would never work again. An AMAZING blog full of yummy things

8. The Big Picture - most photographers will tell you that what they're doing with photography over at the Boston Globe is pretty amazing.

9. Ciao, Chessa - another great photography and art blog. A mom-to-be and New Yorker who always has unique pictures of the Big Apple.

10. The Travel Photographer - interesting commentary on photography and world travel. He have gone to some amazing places to shoot and I admire his style of street shooting/photojournalism.

11. Fresh Brownies - a great style blog. Because if I was young, tall and thin, this is how I would dress ;)

12. Stuck at the Airport - travel columnist Harriet Baskas's fascinating blog about all things travel (she also writes a weekly blog on msnbc.com called The Well-Mannered Traveler, which I adore).

list 11 - if I...

If I were a season, I’d be autumn.


If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a rocking chair like the awesome ones in the Charlotte airport. Not that I would want to live in an airport. Even though sometimes it feels like I do.

If I were a country, I’d be Italy. Or Spain. Or Barbados. Or Argentina. Or Australia.

If I were a food, I’d be a brownie sundae.

If I were a day, I’d be Saturday.

If I were a color, I’d be purple.

If I were a letter I’d be W.

If I were a book, I’d be The Great Gatsby. Jordan. Definitely Jordan.

If I were a political leader, I’d be Margaret Thatcher. Or Nelson Mandela. Or George Voinovich. Or Olympia Snowe.

If I were a drink, I’d be red wine.

If I were a man, I’d be Cary Grant.

If I could know the future, I’d want a glimpse into my unborn children's lives.

list 10 - things I don't like

(yes, yes, I know I missed last week... bad blogger, bad blogger...)

1. When People Create Problems That They Can't Fix - like, oh I dunno, giant gushing oil pipelines that threaten to ruin my pretty Gulf of Mexico.

I readily admit to being one of those "Drill, Baby Drill" types, totally supportive of off-shore drilling and realize the huge economic benefit to the entire country. I even got excited last year on our cruise when, off the coast of North Carolina, we saw an actual oil platform (see below).

I believe this is my 2+ years of working with Oklahomans rubbing off, BTW.

Anyway, what shocks me about this situation is that for all the smarts out there, people just stand idly by as 40,000 gallons of oil a day gushes into that beautiful thing called the Gulf of Mexico. I know, I know, they're not sitting idly by, they're building some giant, never attempted at this depth before contraption to trap the oil - totally amused by that - but it seems like BP should be doing something, ANYTHING.

Because if my Gulf-coast beaches get messed up, I am going to be super pissed.

Because I have spent a lot of time convincing people that they are superior to the Florida east coast beaches. Which they are. Even though I'm headed to an east coast beach this weekend. Sssshhh... don't tell the Gulf.

2. Lima Beans.

I am an equally opportunity veggie lover. Brussel sprouts? Love em. Asparagus? Obsession. Green beans? Mega yum. Sweet corn? Well, more of a starch than a vegetable, but the highlight of the summer regardless. Lima beans? Can't stand them. It's something about the texture... just can't deal with the slimy interior.

3. Flying.

I know what you're thinking 'You're a travel photographer. You travel like 11 out of 12 months of the year. Air travel seems critical to your success in life.'

And it is, which is why I continue to get on airplanes. But that doesn't mean I can't hate every minute of it. I am so envious of those who can leisurely sit there, reading their Wall Street Journal as we barrel down the runway at 9 million miles per hour and I say 40 "Hail Mary's" and "Our Father's" while pulling a death grip on the seat/Brad. Maybe I'll be one of those people one day. But I doubt it. For now, I'll just continue to spend the 45 minute/2 hour/4 hour/8 hour flight staring out the window, worried the wing is going to fall off (irrational much?).

4. The Kindle/E-Reader/Nook/Sony Reader/etc.

I love reading. I read like no one's business, often with three books going at once. But part of the reason that I love reading is that it's so low-tech. Pick up book. Read. Flip page. Repeat. There's no screen to look at, no button to turn on, no battery to charge. Now I know the die-hard e-readers are saying "But it's great! I don't have to lug three books and 40 magazines on vacation with me any more! No more carrying a book on the Metro! All just right there on a computer screen." But really, how many more hours a day do I have to stare at a screen? Computer, BlackBerry, cell phone, television. Too. Many. Screens. Now just let me read my book in peace (we won't even talk about the feeling of holding a good ol' fashioned newspaper in your hands).

5. Shoes that appear comfortable, but by the end of the day, they're awful.

This actually applies to about 90% of my shoes (fortunately, not the ones I'm wearing today). Remember this post a while back about how much in love I was with my new shoes?

I cannot vouch for the first pair, since I haven't worn them yet, so I hold out high hopes.

The second pair - the cute croc flats? HORRIBLE. Huge blisters no matter how many times I wear them.

The third pair? Appear to be great. Wore them to work yesterday actually. I was crying by the time I got home. Appearances are deceiving, evil toe pinchers!

The fourth pair? Can't even walk through the house in them.

What's the deal? Why were these shoes all comfortable when I tried them on in the store? It's a secret plan put together by the shoe industry... grrr....


There are many other things I don't like - loud talkers on the Metro, people who chew gum (or food) loudly, aggressive driving, chronic tardiness - but one of the biggest thing I don't like are people who complain, so I shall stop here :)

list 8 - things I always pack when going on a trip

1. spare BlackBerry charger - that little smart phone is priceless when it comes to Google maps, restaurant reviews and killing time standing in line on Facebook.

2. camera - but not always my big camera. Sometimes the little point and shoot will do the trick for the whole trip. Only a few times have I kicked myself for not hauling around the nice one (usually at night when I need something that can handle a high ISO).

3. deodorant - clearly, of course I pack it. Yet, it seems to always be the last thing I pack and the one thing I always almost forget.

4. travel journal - I always take it with grand plans of writing in it every evening to document that day's adventures. And almost never write in it until after the trip is over.

5. travel-sized alarm clock - I just got a new one because the other one had the worst back light ever and you could never see it when it was dark. I'm pretty excited about this new one. You twist the knob to adjust to the time zone. That little knob has given me about 20 additional places I want to visit (Cairo, anyone?).

Anyway, a travel alarm clock is a must since I must know what time it is when I'm sleeping and often, the alarm clock in hotel is on the wrong side of the bed.

Oh, and my new one doubles as a flashlight, which is always handy.

6. flip flops - because you never know how disgusting the floor of your hotel room might be.

7. comfy tee-shirt and knit capri pants - because you never know how disgusting the sheets in your hotel room might be/you don't want to make that late night snack run to your grandmother's kitchen in your skivvies.

Also, when you're traveling back from Vegas on a five hour flight and you're really tired, you might feel compelled to change in the airport when you see an entire bachelorette party of girls wearing the knit capri's and tee-shirts and looking way comfier (and thinner, and taller, and more beautiful) than you.

8. way too much reading material - usually at least two books and I start hording the magazines I subscribe to about two months before a trip (I get six on a monthly basis, so...). I usually end up reading one or two of the magazines and maybe a few pages of the book. I spend the rest of the time worrying that the plane is going to crash.

9. the same "carry-on bag" for each type of trip - I always take my small purple rolling suitcase (which I can expertly pack up to a week of clothes in) and have my designated "personal item," depending on the type of trip. Barbados? Always a large black and white print bag that I WISH had a zipper top. It doubles as a beach bag when we're there and the matching coin purse doubles as a purse/wallet. Short flight/short trip? A black leather purse that is roomy enough to fit several magazines and my one quart baggie of liquids in. Longer trip/need more room? Purple shoulder bag that you can cram way too much stuff in, thus making it super heavy. But it matches my suitcase and fits under the seat in front of me.

10. my bag o' liquids and my bag o' non-liquids - the Feds were really onto something with this one quart baggie thing. Turns out that size is perfect for carrying all your liquid toiletries in one bag. A second one quart baggie makes a nice carrying case for non-liquid makeup, band aids, razor, toothbrush, earrings, etc. Of course, some of you may say "don't you have a makeup bag?! What about if you're traveling too long for the trial size items to be enough?" My answer: 1. have you seen me? I rarely wear much makeup, and 2. I have yet to travel anywhere where I couldn't get what I needed at a local drug store. Sure, it may not be the brand I'm used to. Sure, it may be in a foreign language. Sure, it may make me break out into minty hives. But it has always been there. I suppose that when I travel to a developing country, this may not be the case. But I don't think the people there will really care if I don't have product in my hair (since I don't 99% of the time anyway).

list 7 - junk food I hate to love

breakfast at Lowell's in Pike Place Market, Seattle

Since I've been trying to live healthier lately (you know eating better, going to the gym, that kind of stuff), I thought this week's list should be a homage to all those things that I really don't eat any more... but that doesn't diminish my love of them :)

- brownie sundaes with extra marcchino cherries

- Chick-fil-a chicken biscuit sandwiches

- Starbucks peppermint mocha's

- red wine

- bacon cheeseburger's

- anything from Friendly's, but especially the Reeses Pieces Sundae

- Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies

- Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies ice cream (noticing an ice cream theme?)

- moist, fluffy, chocolate cake

- french fries, especially those from Hard Times Cafe and McDonald's

- sweet potatos covered in cinnamon-sugar and butter

- honey mustard dipped chicken fingers from Wing Zone

- movie theater popcorn

- chocolate filled croissants

Anyone have anything yummy to add???

candy display in La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain

List 6 - Simple Pleasures

- cupcakes, especially peanut butter fudge from Georgetown Cupcake
- cute, cheap shoes
- long walks on beautiful spring days
- Italian subs from A. Litteri's
- traveling - obviously...
- the perfect photograph of a non-obvious detail
- leaving work at 4:30 on a warm weather Friday - doesn't happen too often!
- making photo books from all our trips - still working on our honeymoon though :)
- handwritten letters from old friends
- extra-crispy apples
- sweet text-messages
- learning something new
- opening a bottle of wine you've been saving for a special occasion for no occasion at all
- watching old movies - especially ones with a certain swoon-worthy gentleman... :)
- singing show tunes in the shower

amendment to the previous post

You know how sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night and realize that you forgot to do something VERY important. And then you can't really sleep for the rest of the night because you feel so silly for forgetting that something VERY important? And you'd probably just be better off getting out of bed, firing up the computer and amend your list post from previously in the day because you left off your favorite and most quotable movie ever?!

Um, yeah. When Harry Met Sally. Hands down winner of most quotable movie ever (sorry Sleepless...). Tied for my favorite movie (need to watch it and An Affair to Remember back to back to determine winner. I'm afraid, though, that Cary Grant may make me swoon too much to make a fair judgement. (Sorry, had to include a picture. Doesn't it instantly brighten your Thursday?)

Some quotes for you... feel free to add your own, I know I'm missing some:

(they're standing in the Egyptian area of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I may or may not find it necessary to repeat this scene every time we're in NYC in the vicinity of the Met)
*insert funny accent*
Harry Burns: Repeat after me. Pepper.
Sally Albright: Pepper.
Harry Burns: Pepper.
Sally Albright: Pepper.
Harry Burns: Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash.
Sally Albright: Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash.
Harry Burns: But I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie.

Harry Burns: You were going to be a gymnast.
Sally Albright: A journalist.
Harry Burns: Right, that's what I said.

Harry Burns: Had my dream again where I'm making love, and the Olympic judges are watching. I'd nailed the compulsories, so this is it, the finals. I got a 9.8 from the Canadians, a perfect 10 from the Americans, and my mother, disguised as an East German judge, gave me a 5.6. Must have been the dismount.

Harry Burns: You know, I have a theory that hieroglyphics are just an ancient comic strip about a character named Sphinxy. (also said at the Met... also may or may not be an often repeated phrase by a certain blogger/photographer/wife/travel buff upon every visit to any sort of Egyptian themed art exhibit)

list 5 - Movie Quotes I Love

While we are not huge movie watchers, there are some quotes that are just too quotable not to love. I often repeat these quotes, over and over again. Lets play a little game this week. I will list the quote, you guess the movie. Answers at the bottom, but no cheating :)

1. "She looks like my third grade teacher, and I hated my third grade teacher... wait a minute, she IS my third grade teacher!"

2. "Hmm, death by mini-bar. How glamorous."

3. "It's always the guy in my job that ends up doing 18 months in Danbury minimum security prison."

4. "It's easier to be killed by a terrorist than it is to find a husband over the age of 40!"

5. "I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy."

6. "Are you mad at the keyboard?"
"I type with purpose."

7. "The Godfather is the I-ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." What day of the week is it? "Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday." "

8. "Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories... And we've already missed the spring!"

9. "You in the suit! Yes, you! Take a bath, hippie!"

10. "See, that's the difference between us. You think we're fighting, and I think we're finally talking."


1. Sleepless in Seattle
2. My Best Friend's Wedding
3. The American President (but we already know how quottable that movie is)
4. Sleepless in Seattle (it's the most quotable movie ever!)
5. Finding Nemo (I am a sucker with a capital S for Pixar movies)
6. Up in the Air
7. You've Got Mail (also a sucker, apparently, for Tom Hanks movies)
8. An Affair to Remember... or Sleepless in Seattle :)
9. Up (see previous love of Pixar movies)
10. Jerry Maguire