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Adventures In DC

Ok, so this random Friday post is 25% about a quick little project, 25% about some house crashing-ish shots, 25% about general Clara cuteness, and 25% about Jewel. Yes, the singer. Who’s ready?

It all began with a weekend trip to DC to visit my BFF Cat (who John and I set up with John’s cousin Travis and then they got married and had two kiddos- so yes I’m now related to my BFF). She, Travis, and their cute kiddos Elsa and Edison live in Arlington, Virginia and took us into the city to check out the National Aquarium in DC (John’s sister Katie along with her two sons John and Ben and her hubby Martin came too). The aquarium was definitely a hit with the kiddos. The baby alligators might have been the highlight…

DC 1 Aquarium Alligator

No wait, it was the exhibit with a Nemo and a Dory fish (they looked just like them). Clara and Elsa were especially enamored.

DC 2 Aquarium Elsa Clara

Bam! Then we saw Jewel. She was doing this book signing thing a block or two away from the aquarium, so we were just walking by and we’re all “wait, isn’t that Jewel?” and then I had to use everything in me not to start singing “Whooooo willll saaaayyyaaayyaayyyyve your soul?” – but I successfully resisted. Whew. I just snapped this picture and we kept moving. But it was pretty funny and random. She looked sweet, btw.

DC 3 Jewel

Then we went to Gravely Point, which is this awesome spot where giant planes fly right. over. you (they land within eyeshot at the airport, so they’re really low and loud). Yes, the kids went wild for it.

DC 6 Airport Instagram

As in – all out crazy every time. It was adorable. There was fist pumping.

DC 4 Airport Kids Going Wild

Elsa and Clara are BFFs. Which completely melts my heart. I mean, my kid is going to marry my other BFF’s son (yes, we’re talking about Will Bower here) and she has a for-life bestie in Elsa. Life is good. And completely unpredictable. Who woulda thought we’d successfully set up John’s cousin with my best friend and then I’d meet another real-deal-holyfield friend through blogging. Random, I tell ya. In the best possible way.

DC 5 Airport Elsa Clara Fence

And then there’s the fact that Clara is here on this earth (miracle!) and that John and I randomly met in NYC at a job I loved and John loathed (he had actually applied to go back to school – so I’m forever grateful that he didn’t leave NYC forever before I got my mitts on him).

DC 7 Airport Family Portrait

Sorry, this post is especially meandering today. Like a long dirt road in the country. And I might have some dirt in my eye. Sniffle. Anyway, back to the house related stuff. Tangent over.

Check out this awesome chalkboard wall that Cat has in their playroom. She added magnetic paint before the chalkboard paint, so magnets also work on the wall. Clara was in animal-magnet heaven.

DC 9 Crash Chalkboard Wall

And this was a cute Craigslist find that Cat picked up for Edison’s room. One of those expensive Pottery Barn book racks, except it was cheap-o thanks to being scored secondhand through sir Craig and his list. All hail craig and his list.

DC 8 Crash Nursery Book Shelf

Is this post getting weirder? Wait, don’t answer that.

Look at this pretty original chandelier that they inherited in their dining room. The best part? Cat’s not that into it. So once they buy a new chandelier I get it. Picture me rubbing my hands together maniacally. So excited about that…

DC 10 Crash Chandelier

You can see more sneak peeks of her house here from this older BFF-visiting post. We really need to properly House Crash her, but there are always a million kids running around (oops they’re ours). Haha. Someday!

And in organizing news… look at Cat’s photo albums. Doesn’t that make you green with envy slash “want-to-go-to-there”-ness? I want my family albums to be that organized. Cat said all it took was grabbing a bunch of the same type of album and pulling out all of her pics from mismatched piles, boxes, and old tattered albums and loading them in with some idea of chronology (but not being too anal, which is key so this doesn’t take five million years). Update: due to a bunch of folks asking, Cat clued me in on where she gets her albums: Target!

DC 11 Crash Albums

Ok, now here’s the mini-project portion of this post. See this fireplace in Cat’s living room? Cat called me up a few weeks ago and said “Darn you Petersik!” Seriously, I answered the phone and that was her first sentence. Turns out she was staring up at the wall, realized she wanted some candle sconces to beef up the mirror over the mantel and to fill that blank space on either side of it, and then did some googling and found the exact sconces she wanted. Only problem? They were on our site and were now sold out. Haha. Seriously, her google search took her to this image in this old post of ours.

DC 12 Mantle Before

So she was calling to lament the sconces that got away. But then I revealed that we never found a spot for them in our new house and they were just sitting in our piles-o-stuff playroom and I insisted that we bring them up to her house and hang them for her during the aquarium-trip weekend. Of course she refused my birthday sconces a few times, but $herdog is a stubborn girl. She always wins…

DC 13 Mantle John Hanging

We even packed anchors and screws and our drill with the sconces in the car. Haha. No excuses for not getting those on the wall while we were there. Only thing I didn’t pack? Two matching candles. Oops. Pretend there’s not a shorter one on the left and a taller one on the right.

DC 14 Mantle After

Oh and isn’t that little leaf wreath cute? Cat’s a crafty gal. She DIYed that baby. She told me where she got the kit but I forget. Maybe she’ll stop in with the info. I did a homemade leaf thing for our cousin’s bridal shower last fall though, so this post might help anyone who wants to make a whole mess o’ paper leaves. And speaking of DIY, Cat had some pretty leftover wrapping paper and decided to use it to cover those stacks of books on the mantel. I was in love. The paper was so soft and glow-ey. Just imagine that candle sconce all lit and flickering. Pretty, right?

DC 15 Mantle Detail

Then after a marathon fun-fest weekend full of fish-watching and Jewel-watching and plane-watching and sconce-hanging we loaded ourselves into the car and drove back to Richmond. The kiddos were sufficiently exhausted.

DC 16 Sleeping

So there you have one of those random Friday posts full of smorgasbord and stream of consciousness. Hope it was as good for you as it was for me. Do you guys have any road trips planned? Have you ever seen a famous singer while out on a walk and said “wait a minute isn’t that ____?” and then wanted to sing their song to them? Have you ever packed things like screws and a drill into the car in the hopes of hanging something in someone else’s house? Isn’t it weird to drill into someone else’s wall? It’s kind of like driving someone else’s car or wearing someone else’s clothes. It’s thrilling but a little scary since you don’t want to ruin anything. Haha.

Comments

  4. Kate says

    I grew up going to Gravely point! So many fond memories. Looks like Clara had a blast there. Makes me homesick for DC!

    Reply

  5. Jos says

    haha i grew up (and now live) in arlington. in high school gravely point used to be our makeout spot. oh man, i hope my mom isn’t reading these comments.

    looks like such fun!

    Reply

  6. Renee says

    You guys were SO CLOSE to me!! Even as a local, I love going to Gravelly Point to watch the planes too :) And I love those sconces – gorgeous! Yay for a fun-filled day in DC!!

    Reply

  7. kristen says

    cool story, bro.

    we saw katie couric (sans makeup) and rahm emanuel (also sans makeup) in o’hare airport a few weeks ago coming home from vacation in chicago! i did a double take both times and my husband had to ask me who both of them were. silly boys.

    Reply

  8. emily says

    That chandelier score is awesome. Where do you think you’re going to put it? Clara’s big girl room? Dining room?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Good question! I’m completely not sure but I always love how they look with rustic brick so maybe the sunroom? Or over the table in the living room by the window? Not sure!

      xo
      s

    • Rebecca says

      At first I hated the chandelier in the bathroom look, but it has grown on me.

      Could it work in Clara’s bathroom? It’s probably too big?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah, I’m not sure if it would touch people’s heads. I thought it could be pretty in front of the big window in the living room with the round white pedestal table under it. Not sure though… will keep you guys posted!

      xo
      s

    • Wrenaria says

      Ooh I like the chandelier in the sun room idea. That could be super charming.

      Also – at 27 my boyfriend still gets as excited as these kids when a plane flies overhead. He always spots them, no matter how small or distant. Some kids never grow up.

  9. Mandy S says

    I loved this post because it is exactly how I think!! Love your little family so much, and thanks for a smorgasbord of a good time on this Friday morning :)

    Reply

  10. Martha says

    Where are you going to put the chandelier? I am picturing it in Clara’s big girl room! It could be like a princess room! (though she loves worms, so maybe she’s not in to princesses?)

    Reply

  11. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    Aw, it looks like such a fun weekend!

    I was just thinking last night that our mantel needed sconces! Although, instead of the candle-y type, I think I want hardwired ones. Good thing the hub’s an electrical engineer! Now I just need to convince him.

    Do you have any plans for that chandy once you get it (ie spray paint) or do you plan to leave her as is?

    Reply

  13. Emma (Broke Ass Home) says

    Sounds like a busy week! My MIL just moved so our car has been full of saws, drills, hammers, you name it. As for a celebrity, Gerard Butler was in East Lansing one weekend (he was going to do the SPARTANS WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION at the Michigan State home game) and he forgot his ID. The bouncer at the bar wouldn’t let him in! He was like “dude…I know you’re Gerard butler, but it’s against the law and I could lose my job!”

    Pretty sure he thought he was gunna get spartan kicked in the stomach.

    As for us, it’s Cider Mill weekend! Cider, donuts, and corn mazes galore :)

    Reply

  15. Essie says

    Totally unrelated to the post but what Britax model carseat is that? Also, when did you switch her from the infant to this one? :)

    Reply

  16. Angel says

    “Hope it was as good for you as it was for me” LOLOLOL. Actually my brain is all over the place so I loved this post.

    Reply

  17. Leigh Anne says

    Looks like you guys had a blast! We are currently in Dayton, Ohio for an overnight trip (from Charleston, WV). Hubby had a conference and I needed an Ikea fix, so here we are. I haven’t seen any random singers lately but I did sit through a surprise Baptism of Jennifer Garner and Ben Afflecks middle child. Just waiting for them to come back to Baptize that newest kiddo ;-)

    Reply

  18. Michelle says

    Awwww haha.

    Clara would LOVE my house then – I live RIGHT under O’hare, so there’s planes flying over like that ALL day long!!!! :) We’ve even seen Air Force One/Marine One on occasion!

    This was a really cute post. Love the sconces too!

    Reply

  20. Mary says

    We were in DC that weekend! The book/library thingy on the mall? My mother in law is a retired librarian so she came out from Texas just for that! I missed jewel though so now I’m bummed!

    Reply

  21. Kathy says

    if this was this past weekend, I’m secretly upset i didnt bump into you guys since i live in dc and my sister was in town visiting with her bambino so we did some touristy things . either way, looks like a great time and so looking forward to meeting you guys for your book signing in november in dc :) xo

    Reply

  22. Nicole says

    “…thanks to being scored secondhand through sir Craig and his list. All hail craig and his list.” Best Craigslist reference. Ever. Thanks for the laugh :)
    .

    Reply

  24. Melissa says

    Yeah, so I work in a beautiful hotel outside of Charleston SC and Chris Daughtry was staying with us. I had to remind myself to keep my professional composure everytime I walked past him in the lobby. (Which might have been borderline stalking with the number of times I walked the lobby that weekend!!) :)

    Reply

  25. Jeni says

    I love posts like this! It’s how I flit and flutter through every. single. day! Pros and cons to that, galore! :) I haven’t drilled into anyone else’s wall but I have volunteered in another dental office and it’s like cooking in someone else’s kitchen. You know what you’re doing but you go MUCH slower just to be cautious with their things and have no idea where find anything. Thanks for keeping us in your organized, as well as your “random” thoughts!

    Reply

  26. Amanda says

    Such a small world, I was in DC visiting my best friend and went to the Book Festival too! Hope you had a blast like we did :)

    Reply

  27. hillary says

    I feel slightly like a stalker saying this butttt… I went on a bike ride right through Gravely Point this past weekend and I’m so sad I didn’t see you guys!!! There were a ton of families there, maybe you were one of them! It was such a gorgeous day. Luckily your book tour comes through DC so I will see you for real then, so excited! Hope you guys had a fun weekend in the DC area.

    Reply

  29. Leslie says

    I loved this post – I married my best friend’s cousin 2 weeks ago! It’s a romance that’s literally gone on since childhood, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Clara!

    Reply

  30. Christine says

    Dang, you came to DC and didn’t call?! :-) And here I had our California Bungalow all ready to be house-crashed.Ha! Glad you had a great time in my fair city – we love it here and glad to see Clara just loved it, too. Hoping to catch y’all when you are here for your book signing at FLOR.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, thanks Christine! You’re so sweet! Sometimes things are so packed with family and Clara-naps that we don’t have time to pack in “work” stuff all the time. Maybe next time!!

      xo
      s

  31. Cara W says

    Gravely Point is so cool. Glad you had pretty good weather while you were visiting this (assuming) past weekend! Can’t wait for you all to come back on Nov 28!

    Reply

  33. Kelly says

    I WANT THOSE SCONCES

    Sherry, I found that Allen + Roth quatrefoil mirror from your bathroom, bought it, and love it. I love this arabesque/Moroccan pattern too. I wish I could just find everything all over the internet for sale in that style and browse.

    Reply

  34. Beth @ BAndBBuildALife.com says

    The DC Aquarium is a hidden gem – usually in this area if you think aquarium it involves a schlep to Baltimore. DC’s is cute, not too far and not nearly as crowded either.

    Crazytown that John was applying to go back to school! So glad you guys made the leap to Richmond and are where you are today though! Bill (The other half of B&B of course) had j.u.s.t. sent out his PHD applications when we met. He would have stayed here in Arlington but Pitt made him a deal he couldn’t refuse. (Getting paid to get a PHD so you can have your dream job? I mean, common!) Oh life. :)

    Reply

  35. Shannon says

    Ok, now I want those sconces!

    We didn’t run into a singer. It was a boxer, as in The Boxer, Muhamed Ali! About 12 years ago, my guitar/rocker boyfriend (now husband) went to Cleveland to see The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. We walked right past him in one of the exhibits! We saw him again in the cafeteria. He was there with his family, so we didn’t ask for an autograph. A few people did and he was very nice and posing for a few pictures. He is HUGE in person!

    Reply

  36. Ginny says

    Love this post! I’m a total stream of consciousness talker, (aren’t we all?) which drives my husband and besties crazy. Anyway! Looks like you guys had a ton of fun. (And I totally understand the wearing other people’s clothes part, too.) One time I washed my friend’s pants that I had borrowed, and they ended up with weird green stains all over them. I still haven’t figured that out. That was about 15 years ago, and I still feel bad about it. Love your site! Ya’ll are so awesome!
    <3, Ginny

    Reply

  38. Courtney says

    I totally ran into Andre 3000 in a mall in Atlanta once and wanted to start singing that Roses song by Outkast….you know the one that goes “I know you like to think your stuff don’t stink….” but luckily, I was able to refrain as well.

    If you did sing to Jewel, would you have done it in that yodel type voice she uses???

    Reply

  39. Ali says

    This was a fun post to read b/c I live in Arlington and ride my bike past Gravelly Point en route to work. I almost went to the book fair too but didn’t since my 30th fell the night before…I was bummed though when I was scheming on FB later that day and saw people commenting about Jewel being at the Nat. Book Festival.

    For your next trip to Arlington: make a lunch stop at the Italian Store on Lee Highway, you won’t regret it!

    Reply

  40. Keely says

    This cracked me up about five times – nothing like a little $herdog humour in the morning! Throw in some sconce-hanging and Clara’s adorable face and i’m set for the day! so glad you shared =)

    Reply

  41. judy says

    Hi Guys! Don’t know that I’ve ever commented before (even tho’ I read your blog daily) but had to mention that Jewel’s Lullaby album is great. It’s not your typical kiddie-type album. I’m a 60-something and play it all the time. Gave one to my daughter-in-law (for my 2 y.o. grandson) who also liked it very much. Check it out. I think you and Clara (and Burger?) would enjoy it.
    Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  42. Sarah Beth says

    I was shopping in Nashville one time (my college in Southern Kentucky was only a hour away, so we often went shopping in Nashville) and FAITH HILL was buying a dress in front of me at Betsy Johnson. It was for her daughter’s homecoming dance at school. I wouldn’t have know it was her except she had a huge Louis Vuitton bag, so I checked out the owner of such a huge, expensive purse. Her kids were all in sweats and Old Navy flip flops. She had on a UT tshirt and yoga pants. No makeup, no hair. Anywho, I was debating buying a pair of earrings and I asked a friend if they were cute. Then Faith Hill looks and says, “Those are really cute.” Faith Hill spoke to me =)

    Reply

  43. DebInNYC says

    This post has my head spinning! Sounds like one of my weekends!

    So, a few months ago I was returning to work from lunch when all of a sudden I spotted Matthew Broderick on 44th and 2nd. I was two paces behind him and kept whispering to myself, “Bueller… Bueller…” Yep, I’m crazy like that! HA!

    Reply

  44. Diane says

    I’d offer to dog sit Burger at my place (for free) while you guys are on your book tour, but I’m not sure I’d be able to give him back!

    He sure is a cute little fella. Hope he and Clara won’t be separated for the tour.

    Reply

  45. Becky says

    Just out of curiosity, was this DC trip during the huge book festival they had a couple of weeks ago? I was in DC while that was going on…we even went on one of those “Duck” boats and had a plane fly right over us! The person I was staying with also lives in Arlington :) It would have made the weekend even cooler if I had ran into you guys!

    Reply

  46. Amy says

    I once saw George Clinton (sadly, he was not with the Parliament Funkadelic) at the Atlanta airport. It was hard to miss him in his crazy outfit and colorful dreadlocks, but my friend who pointed him out couldn’t remember his name at the moment. Instead she just pointed and said, “Look, it’s….ummmm…it’s THE FUNK!”

    Reply

  47. Liz says

    I’ve lived in the DC area six years and still haven’t gotten to the aquarium. Isn’t it weird that it’s in the Dept. of Commerce?

    Oh and can’t wait for the book signing here. I’ll be the awkward one in the corner only talking to my husband. And if I do actually speak to you other than saying “Please make the book out to Liz,” it’s bound to be something that will be met with blank stares and silence.

    Reply

  48. Nancy says

    I can’t believe you didn’t stop and get in line for the book signing….you know, kind of a little preview of what’s to come. And you know there are probably a lot of people out there who snap pics of you when they pass by thinking “is that YHL?”

    Reply

  49. Emma says

    Yay DC! I bought a house in Maryland (suburb of DC) in 2010 and it had very similar chandy in the dining room. I moved it to our guest room and I’ll soon adorn it with a ceiling medallion to make it even more fancy pants. I don’t know why but I really get a kick out of seeing chandeliers in bedrooms/bathrooms/rooms where they don’t typically belong.

    Reply

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