Category: Adventures

Rob Schneider at DC Improv

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DC Improv is one of my favorite venues for live entertainment. The atmosphere is very intimate, so it just seems like you are hanging out with your buddy, who just happens to be a famous comedic actor. At the Improv, if you get 8PM show tickets, seating is first come first serve, so the earlier you get there, the better. We got there right at 630 when doors opened and we were seated right next to the stage. I could see up his nose, and he made eye contact and talked to our group!
His opening act was a guy named Herbie Gill. The majority of the audience, if not all (besides us) were caucasian, DC yuppy types. I’m not being judgmental, I promise, I just wanted to describe you the audience type. I found Herbie’s jokes hilarious, and he was a DC native, young and struggling. I felt like he didn’t get as much laughs with this crowd.
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I’ve never seen Rob Schneider’s stand up before. I just know he is in funny movies and I enjoy his characters. When he first came out, he scanned the crowd. I guess getting a feel for the audience. He started off not tickling my funny bones. He made very political jokes to start…very republican, Obama negative. I’m just don’t one to discuss politics so I sat quietly while everyone else laughed. Then he got to the racial jokes (why are these so funny to me?) where he told us about growing up filipino and the antic from his childhood. He moved on to marriage, and life and thats when he got really funny.
It was a rough start but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would see him again. He is getting old though! Since we were up close and personal, I could see the wrinkles and age spots. His eyes are a beautiful blue though! Afterwards, that weekend we watched a bunch of Rob Schneider movies. Did you know his mom makes a cameo in 3 of his movies? The Animal, Hot Chick and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigoglo. Can you spot her?

 

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Thank you for your Support!

Wow! I can't thank everyone enough, for coming out in the yucky weather Saturday to support my market debut! I sold out!

Yelp hosted a wonderful event and it was so nice to see and support local small businesses. Since it was such a success, I might even consider doing another market and expanding my macaron clientele. Exciting flavors and things to come next year! Stay warm everyone!

 

 

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Feed Starving People

You know what's awesome? When people can find a way to do something they love, and help people at the same time. My car club recently joined forces with another team to Feed Starving people. The event raised money to support this organization's next mission in South East Asia. They also collected clothing donations.

We had the event at the Greene Turtle in Dulles. They were very accommodating. We had a car show with trophies for winners, car limbo, a DJ and vendors. It was fun to share the day with other car enthusiasts and my team!

 

 

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In A World Like This: Backstreet Boys Concert

The last time I saw Backstreet Boys, all together live, was when I was 13, and Nick Carter was 16. It was my first concert ever. I was out with my other middle school friends. And my parents weren’t there. It was my first night on the town you could say. This was back when my room was dark because the walls were covered, every inch of magazine tear outs and posters of Backstreet boys, along with a tiny space on the ceiling above my head dedicated to Nick Carter.
 

Fast forward 15 years, and here they are again. Same dance moves, same energy, just a little more weight, facial hair, wrinkles. Same smiles though. Brian is still flipping and goofing around on stage. Kevin is still charming, smooth and suave. AJ is still super awesome and cool. Nick is still an attention whore trying to get all the ladies to love his magic mike moves and well Howie’s still just trying to get everyone to love him and notice him.

 

They were opened up by DJ Pauly D. Who did a fun set, while I was still eating my burger in the VIP lounge. It was a pretty short set. And then I got my teeny bopper squeal on when Jesse McCartney stepped out on stage in a suit and started singing his old hits, sprinkled with a couple new ones…that I DO LOVE. Realistically, Nick Carter and Jesse McCartney aren’t the type of guys I would swoon over in real life…but on stage what is it about the magic there that just wins a girl over?

 

My friend Megan (who is an awesome hair stylist by the way) got us the VIP package. Parking, lounge and seats. We were in row A. Close enough to make eye contact with them and share smiles. Did I mentioned, I've probably died 20 times that night? I had an amazing time singing at the top of my lungs, hanging out with Megan and friends. I was still a little sick. But worth every bit of it. If I could afford to do it again, I would. Now I feel a rekindled love for my 5 guys. To another 20 years boys!!!

 

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Emerald in the Woods

 Our friends came up to visit this past weekend, and they wanted to go “camping”. The boo and I were like, alright! We have a 3 bedroom tent, let’s do this. But then other people in the group made the requirement of…running water and electricity. WOMP. So somehow we ended up in a beautiful log cabin (mansion) in the woods. Definitely check out Emerald in the Woods. It’s spectacular.

 This place could sleep I believe up to 20 people, but there was only 10 of us. We brought enough food for the week..but we only stayed two nights. It was fully equipped. TV, WiFi, game room with air hockey, hammock, grill, wrap around porch, giant kitchen, two car garage, 4 full bathrooms. This place was stocked. Linens, towels, toilet paper, everything was included. Basically we were in a luxury hotel in the woods with no made service.

 

We were definitely not “camping”. It was a weekend getaway, wrapped in the silence of the woods and dark lit sky of stars. I had a great time cooking in that kitchen, and have big meals together with our friends around the dining table. We ended our last night there around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.

I really enjoyed the peace and quiet and not having to think about my “fast paced” life at home. But now its Monday and we are back on the grind!!!

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SUMMER 2013

PondPond by Te Whiu, on Flickr

I know. It’s not officially summer yet. But it’s hot outside, and its starting to be steady. At this point I am usually planning out my travel destinations for the next few months. This year though, I think I want to stick around. Road trips, and dog friendly activities. The only two out of state trips I foresee is a road trip to Canada to see Amy and an Orlando trip to visit our friends who’ve recently moved.
Mr Bento's inaugural picnicMr Bento’s inaugural picnic by Erica Nofi, on Flickr

That being said, I am on the hunt for 2 hour max radius adventures. I want picnics, and hikes, and beaches!

What are you looking forward to this summer?

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Queen’s Ink Art Classes

In case you didn’t know, I’m a graphic designer. People automatically assume graphic designers are creative. As the industry evolved into a more computer based design…I feel like graphic designers lose their sense of pure creativity. At least I have. We take other people’s work and compose them into an aesthetically pleasing piece. That is our main job.

Doing this all day every day, plus cooking, eating, traveling and blogging I don’t really get to just PLAY with art, and be creative. So my friend Marty, who is also my mentor, and a graphic designer her whole career suggested we go to Queen’s Ink and take an Artful ABC’s class.

Yes, its a lettering class, but no it is not calligraphy. The class teaches you 26 techniques in using your OWN handwriting as a way to uniquely handletter things, whether it be a poster, a card, or just doodles!

Our instructor for this class was the fun Joanne Sharpe. She is full of energy and fun stories. It was a long 6 hours, but Joanne adapts her pace to the pace of the class. I liked that it was a small class, about 24 “old kids”, as she liked to call us (not old ladies). The personal attention was definitely helpful.

Nope. This isn’t mine. But its a good example of what we did in class.

We learned how to use different kinds of alcohol markers, dye based markers, and watercolors. This is also a store, which is very dangerous. They’ve got loads of unique stamps, and all the accoutrement to go with it. PLUS a bunch of other art supplies too.

Patti, the queen herself, was there. She is sweet and friendly and makes everyone feel like they’ve been friends and are welcome in her “queendom”. I would love to go back and take another art class!

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Sunset Dinner Cruise

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One of the last things we did before we left Maui was a sunset dinner cruise, complete with whale watching. The boo chose to take the trip with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Not only is the crew on the ship providing great service with your meals, but they are also whale advocates for the foundation and are VERY knowledgeable about the humpback whale behavior. So they were able to explain what and why the whales were doing what they were doing.

We boarded the ship at 515, and there was live entertainment on deck until we reached an area where the pods of whales were swimming. We were there on a good night because there were over 7 whales swimming and flipping about. So what happens is, there is one female whale, and all the male whales start doing tricks and blowing bubbles to show off and get her attention, so that she will chose HIM to escort her on their journey.Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

But you know what? No matter how much someone stands out among the others,  she gets to pick, and she might be I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T and not have an escort at all. Ahh, the games of the heart.

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It was a beautiful sunset,  4 course, steak or chicken dinner, drinks included, and plenty of remedies on deck for those of you that get sea sick. PLUS its a non profit organization, so the money goes to protecting the whales! WIN WIN WIN!
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Old Lahaina Luau

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For my birthday last week, we went to Hawaii. On my actual birthday, we went to a luau. My first luau ever. It was an amazing, beautiful, delicious experience. As soon as you walk through the door, you get a flower for your hair, a fresh orchid lei, and they hand you a mai tai.

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Mine was a non alcoholic drink. Still pretty! We were shown our traditional seats, and then we were free to roam the site. The stage was centered with a “moat” around it. Scattered around the moat were little stations of tiki carvings, jewelry, a place to take a sunset photo, learn how to hula, and play Hawaiian games. There was also a pit that had a pig buried underneath. Before the show starts, they tell you the history of burying a pig in the sand, why they do it, how they do it and who gets to have some.

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It is open bar and a buffet so great for everyone! Then the show starts and they tell Hawaiian folklore through music and dance. In the middle of it, they asked what we were celebrating, and ask us to stand, and she personally says happy birthday to all the people standing, and then invites the couples celebrating for a special dance.

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We talked to other tourists, about other luaus, and it just seemed like this was the best pick. If we go back, which we probably will, I would want to go here again. It was a beautiful experience. Makes me wanna learn how to hula!!

 

 

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I survived driving through a blizzard on a mountain


What was I thinking when I told my cousin that we would come to OHIO for Christmas. Isn’t that where it snows a lot? But of course she’d have a cute baby that I can’t refuse. We left friday night, and somewhere along the way, we were in the middle of the mountain as a blizzard swirled around us. Cars were pulling over and getting snowed in, mack trucks were driving in the middle of the lane, and we were still driving along merrily. It was hard to see with the wind and the snow, but some how we survived.

I’d like to thank this car and it’s driver. All wheel drive, and snow tires. Top Gear indeed.

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