The Oh-So-Talented Pam

For a birthday / early anniversary present, my in-laws presented us with this beautiful quilt designed and hand-pieced by my mother-in-law. We absolutely love it! Not only is it a stunning piece of craftsmanship, but it also serves as a memento of mine and David's relationship. The different fabrics she selected represent places we have travelled and also things we like. See the little Big Bens and Beefeaters? These photos don't do it justice; therefore, you should all come over and see it in person.

Thank you so much, Pam! Aren't mothers great?

More of the same, for now

Study, study, study, cook dinner, wash dishes, sleep, repeat. Welcome to my life. In the meantime, I am trying to teach myself photography with my mom's old camera. (I'm going to say she let me borrow it because I sill can't believe she would give me something so nice.)

I wish I had something more interesting to share with you, but for now a quick update will have to do. Hebrew is going well. I can form sentences and say a limited number of verbs in the past tense. I've given up meat for lent and this has left me quite fatigued. David says I need to find more creative sources of protein. Tonight: quinoa.

This weekend I turn 26. It feels like the perfect age. Simply put: I can't remember ever being so content.

Online Sample Sales

To be honest, I actually hate shopping. I am very picky and I hate spending money on things I'm not sure I will love. But there is good news for people like me! I wanted to share with you all my newest obsession: online sample sales.

These websites offer really nice things at deep discounts--but they only stock a limited supply of each item, and in some cases, the items are only available for a limited amount of time.

So far my husband and I have only bought sporting goods from Bantler, which I highly recommend. David is basically addicted to their website.

I have also been perusing Rue La La and Swirl by Daily Candy. Rue La La is invitation only, but my readers can click on the link above to activate an account.

Please note, I am not in any way associated with these websites :).

Do you have any online shopping recommendations?? Please do share!

Snow sports on my mind...

This weekend we met my family in Maryland for some downhill skiing (or snowboarding for the boys). We had so much fun and the conditions seriously couldn't have been better. And now that the Winter Olympics are in full swing, I have snow sports on my mind.

I wish people still dressed like this on the slopes. I'm going to have to scour secondhand shops looking for some retro bib snow pants for the next time I go skiing (which unfortunately may not be for a while since I am moving to the Mediterranean).

Picture uploaded by The Selvedge Yard from Conde Naste Archive Circa 1972. Check out his post for more vintage ski fashion!

Would you believe me if I told you...

I haven't been to work since last Friday morning!?!

The snow here in DC is out of control and the roads really are that bad. The pictures below aren't from the set of the newest post-apocalyptic film, or even a ski slope as you might suspect. They were taken in MY NEIGHBORHOOD where people have abandoned cars, shopping carts, and all hope of ever returning to work (or at least until after President's Day).

Our expedition led us to the nearest grocery store, which was sold out of milk and eggs--but we managed to get the "essentials."

I hate to sound ungrateful for the snow-cation, punxsutawney phil, but I'm looking forward to things going back to normal around here.

Cooped Up!

As promised, here are some pictures of the blizzard that dumped a ton of snow on the DC area this weekend. It isn't as pretty as the last storm, mostly because the snow is wet and heavy (difficult to shovel), knocking down trees and leaving some without power. Yuck! David and I are going to try to go out to eat tonight and call it Valentines Day because we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow - maybe six more inches.

Here's Dave up to his knees in snow preparing to shovel us out of the basement:

And our poor car buried in snow:

A Bright Salad for the Blizzard

I don't have a good excuse for why I haven't updated the blog in a while. I think all of the blood in my brain has been convening in the section that memorizes vocabulary and grammar rules, leaving the other parts of my brain in a weakened state. In other words, I have been in a funk.

But what better way to wait out a funk than sitting indoors with a warm cup of coffee, an unlimited supply of Rosetta Stone, and all of your beautiful blog posts to catch up on? Today I only had a half day of class because this weekend the East Coast is expecting a BLIZZARD! Didn't you just have a blizzard? You might be thinking. Well, this one is going to be even bigger. After class was dismissed this morning, I came home and made a bright brunch in preparation for the long white weekend.

The fruit salad is a mixture of grapefruit, navel oranges, and blood oranges with mint, red onion, feta, mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Check out Smitten Kitchen for the complete recipe and some far superior photos.

Stay tuned for some flabbergasting photos of our snowfall. Till then, stay warm!!