TBMD

Photos thanks to DH!

This marks the 3rd year in a row that I've ventured into DC for the sole purpose of admiring the pretty cherry blossoms. That's quite a feat for me, I tell ya, to which I have my visiting out-of-town cousins to thank for.

We went on the Saturday during peak bloom weekend. It also happened to be the day of the parade and street festival. Oh my gosh, the crowds! Note to self: the years when the National Park Service predicts the peak bloom dates correctly are when the locals should visit on weekdays to avoid being packed like sardines.

[photo above] Expanse of cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin. Can't help it, this area is so picturesque that I take pretty much the same set of photos every year, haha.

I seem to switch between two dresses when it comes to wedding guest wear: a By Malene Birger embellished dress or a Lanvin x H&M black ruffled dress. The Malene B. dress has an open back and feels more summer-y to me (though the sparkly embellishments would fit well for NYE.) So I crossed that dress off my potentials list when I saw the mid-November date for my friend L's wedding. That left the Lanvin x H&M black ruffled dress. Black is always a safe choice and I figured the thicker material could help keep me somewhat warm (random justification on my part because any warmth is probably negated by the one-shoulder design?)

Before I fully committed to the Lanvin x H&M dress, I couldn't help but give in to the idea of shopping for a new dress to wear for a special occasion. I gave the Ann Taylor feathered hem dress a shot (runs large, tried on 00P), but sided with the majority and went with the Lanvin x H&M dress as the final pick.

The wedding was held at DAR Memorial Continental Hall, the smaller and older sister of the more famous Constitution Hall. Parts of the building were undergoing renovations when we were there (see random ladder in last pic), but that didn't detract from the beautiful architecture and elegant detailing found throughout. Case in point: the Pennsylvania foyer for the couple's first dance [photo below].
I loved L's entire look for her wedding day. The hair, the makeup, the dress (!) She looked gorgeous. The dress very much reminded me of old Hollywood glamour, which also complemented the venue perfectly. After I uploaded a couple photos to social media, one of my male coworkers (who doesn't strike me as someone who cares about fashion at all) made it a point to tell me that my "friend who got married looked so pretty. Some girls pick dresses that aren't flattering, but hers was perfect for her." What a nice thing to say :) Congrats L+S!

Outfit photos thanks to DH!

I dragged DH into the city over the weekend for a day date. With a Google map printout in hand, we played tourists like the locals we weren't. We started off with a late lunch at someplace new and an old favorite (iced chai tea latte never disappoints.) Then we walked it off by strolling through semi-famous and not-so-famous landmarks alike. I'm so glad we were able to enjoy the most perfect weather outside.

DH and I met up with friends for lunch at Founding Farmer's (highly recommend!) over the weekend. Afterwards, I asked him to quickly snap some photos in succession when there was a break in foot traffic around us. Hair blowing in every which direction, me with my hands full of bags, trying to smile normally but failing miserably... these are the most non-embarrassing and about as "real" as it gets for my outfit photos.

[photo above]: My other alma mater that doesn't get much love. Still need to buy my first GW gear...

Photos thanks to DH!

Tourists from all over descend upon DC every spring to see the famous cherry blossoms. I imagine it's difficult for out-of-towners to plan ahead and time their visit during peak bloom, which unfortunately only lasts about a week (love this handy guide for reference). As a local, I don't have an excuse for skipping besides pure laziness. But not this year!

When my cousin was in town last weekend, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather and schlepped around the city. We walked from Georgetown, followed the path along the river, to the Tidal Basin. As we began to see cherry blossom trees, I wondered out loud, What happened to all the trees? There seems to be less this year, only a scattering here and there. DID THEY DIE?! And where are the mob of tourists? When we reached the Tidal Basin [photos below], everything made sense. This is where the majority of the trees and crowd are, and is the scene used on many postcards.

Over the weekend, DH and I went to a wedding held at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown DC. The venue was absolutely gorgeous, with a traditional neoclassical exterior and contemporary interior complete with high ceilings and glass everywhere. I wish I had taken more photos, but was too preoccupied with making sure we didn't get lost (one of the few times a smartphone sure would've been handy!) The building is open to the public though, so we'll have the chance to visit again. Just a heads up that IDs are checked and people/cars are screened by metal detectors upon entrance.

[photo above]: On the Pavilion room balcony overlooking the Woodrow Wilson plaza

I blog about my travels, but don't really talk about my hometown. That's because I tend to stay in the suburbs and don't venture inside the city often. It's such a shame because DC is just a short metro ride away and really has a lot to offer.

My cousin was in town over the weekend and asked if I could take Friday off so we can spend a day inside the city. I happily agreed as I already had plans to be off from work. She wanted to check out Union Market, then also casually mentioned that there's a ramen shop inside. Umm... no need to ask this glutton twice!