strawberry sangria Saturdays

(oh hey, alliteration!)

Recently, Maris posted a recipe for strawberry sangria, and as soon as I saw it, I knew that I needed to try it. I love sangria and I LOVE strawberries, so this seemed like the perfect combination of amazingness.

I mean really, how is sangria not the perfect summer drink?

Recipe, again, posted via Maris-

White Strawberry Sangria

1 750 mL bottle of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup of strawberry schnapps
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups fresh, sliced strawberries

Mix everything in two quart pitcher and add sliced strawberries. Cover and chill for 1-4 hours. Serve in glasses over ice and garnish with whole strawberries, if you wish.

Enjoy, obvs!

Here is my result----

1. I didn't serve over ice or garnish with whole strawberries, as you can see.

2. I didn't chill for 1-4 hours, because, honestly? We didn't want to wait that long! I think it chilled for approximately four seconds before I poured it into the glasses! I did add ice to the pitcher before I added the ingredients though!

We made three batches. The first was with a pinot, the second was with a moscato and the third, with an apple wine. Our favorite was the moscato, it was just a bit sweeter than the other two, but not too sweet. Perfect, really.

Steve and I always have plenty of wine in the house, so I have a feeling that this is something we'll make often. It's so easy, and so delish!

What is your favorite summer drink?

bedtime stories!

This past Saturday, my quilting group met at a local quilt shop called The Artful Quilter to sew together! We've been meeting monthly since January, but have always met at a local coffee shop. Luckily for me, the coffee shop is just a few blocks from my apartment, a mere ten minute walk, but this time, this quilt shop was out in Burke, VA. I borrowed Steve's car to get there, and I still have no idea where Burke is :)

There is a newish publication called Fat Quarterly, which is a quarterly e-zine put together by a group of quilters. I learned of it on twitter (are we twitter friends, by the way?) and bought the first issue and love it! It is filled with patterns and stories and all sorts of goodness. The next issue comes out next month, and I can't wait!

In the first issue, was a pattern for a "bedtime story" quilt. It is crazy piece quilting where it begins with a 4" x 4" piece of fabric with a picture of the princess and the pea, and then from there, it gets all wonky! A description, from the issue-

A fun and dreamy child’s size
quilt showing a princess in a
vortex of crazy piecing all
wrapped up in a kaleidoscope
of yellow and aqua.

I love this idea! Each scrap of fabric is different, some has small animals or the like on it, so one can make up a story for the pieces. It can be different every time! My favorite is the little babushka fabric!

As you can see from my photo, I didn't stick with the color theme, but added a few more, for contrast. It isn't finished yet, of course, but I am loving it so far! I need to add more wonk, of course, and it will get bigger, before I sash it with white, I think.

Now I just need to find a little girl to send it to :)

how charming

Beth over at Social Climbers recently posted about charm bracelets, and it got me thinking about my own charm bracelet. When I was younger, my Meme gave me her own charm bracelet from her younger days, and gave me my own, adding charms to it as the years went on. It has been living in my jewelry box, rarely seeing the light of day, until now.



This bracelet was my Meme's-




It includes a few charms that my aunt gave her in the early 1970's for Christmas, as well as charms from trips she took to Louisiana and Florida as a young girl, among others. Those older charms don't have dates!


Here is my charm bracelet-



It includes charms from my First Communion, from a Christmas or two, my 13th birthday, my middle school graduation (1994!), a sand dollar, a horse shoe and a small silver pig, from my days when I was really into collecting pigs.


I also found these two, which were never attached, for some reason-



From my sweet 16 in 1996 and my Confirmation, also in 1996.



I remember how exciting it was to get a new charm. We'd take it downtown to the local jeweler, who would attach it for me and then polish it up so it sparkled and shone in the afternoon sun. Walking out of the jewelers with the bracelet tinkling on my wrist, I always felt like such a fancy, grown-up lady.


I also found this, a loop to be worn on a chain to hold charms. Meme bought this when we realized that the bracelet was about full (maybe that is why the other two were never added?). This one includes a field hockey stick (I played in high school) and a charm for my high school graduation in 1998.





Those are the last charms I have. My Meme was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in college and passed away in July 2003 while I was in Poland. My father called me and told me that I needed to come home. I arrived at the hospital one night where Meme was asleep and surrounded by family. She never woke up. I'd like to think that she knew I was there, that she waited until I could get home. I wish I could hear the stories of her charms one more time.



Perhaps I should begin collecting charms again, after more than ten years, and add them to a new bracelet, something I could give to my own daughter one day. I think Meme might like that. Perhaps also, I should begin a similar tradition for a niece or god daughter, should I have one someday. Then they could one day give it to their daughters.



Did you have a charm bracelet? I'd love to see photos and hear its story.

madras love

If you were going to wear this madras dress from LL Bean, what shoes/sandals would you wear with it? It is on sale for $36, and I think it is adorable, but am not sure about the right footwear, and of course, you can't see the model's feet :)

(I might be a little obsessed with madras lately)

flower power?

Remember Steve's ex? The one that I met, but still greatly dislike? Well, she's back again.

It seems that her birthday was the other day and my sweet boyfriend decided to send her birthday flowers and balloons to say happy birthday.

WTF!?!?!?!

He and I were at dinner that night and he mentioned that he spoke to her, as it was her birthday, so he called to say happy birthday. The next day (yesterday) I was on facebook and glanced at his page (because someone commented on something I said) and I saw a photo of a bouquet of flowers with balloons attached with the following comment-

My birthday balloons and flowers from Steve! Kitty thought they tasted great, btw.

She posted the photo and tagged him for all the world to see!

WTF?!?!?!?!

First I was a bit shocked. Why is he sending flowers to another girl, and why did he fail to mention it to me when he said it was her birthday?!

I'm not sure if I am more upset that he sent the flowers to begin with, or that he failed to tell me about them and I had to find out via facebook and look like a jackass when people (ie, my sister) have asked why MY boyfriend is sending flowers to another girl.

(shouldn't her boyfriend be pissed too!?)

(he's not- he doesn't care)

(mid-westerners are so weird....)

We talked about it, and he doesn't think it is a big deal. They are friends, he says, nothing more, and she is far from a threat to me, but really, that isn't the point, is it? He sees it as a friendly gesture, not something romantic at all and said he won't send them anymore if it bothers me, which clearly it does.

What do you think? Am I over-reacting? What would you do/say/feel/think if this were you?

public service announcement

I have a confession to make.

I've never donated blood. I know how incredibly important it is, and I have tried several times, though not recently, I will admit. For a while, I couldn't, because I had lived in Luxembourg and Poland and there had been the whole foot and mouth thing (remember that?). I did try once here in DC and was turned away because I had recently been on antibiotics. Since then, I haven't tried again.

My blood type is B-, which is pretty rare, and I somehow never knew that.

I just saw this post on Rachel's blog and thought I should share-



Do you live in the DC area?

Do you have B negative or O negative blood?

I was reading SpouseBuzz this morning and came across the following, which I thought I would share here because I know that there are A LOT of DC Bloggers out there. If you can’t help, please consider re-posting this on your blog. My blood type is O negative, but sadly, DC is too far for me to travel. If you or someone you know can help, get in contact, make a difference!

Here’s the basics:We have a leukemia patient at Children’s who is using blood products VERY frequently and he has a very rare blood type. Only two percent of the population have one of the two types of blood he needs: B negative and O negative. In addition to those blood types, this patient also needed multiple platelet transfusions every day. We are struggling to keep up with his need for these rare blood types and yesterday, he just increased his usage.

If anyone is interesting in donating for this patient, they would have to come to Children’s Hospital in Northwest Washington, DC. To schedule an appointment, or any questions can be sent directly to me via any of the contact information listed below.

Thank you SOOOO much!!
Andrea Wolschleger
Donor RecruiterChildren’s National Medical Center
P: 202-476-3306
C: 202-495-9011
F: 202-476-6526
www.childrensnational.org/donateblood
“Donate blood for all the little reasons.”


I went to this link for the Blood Donor's Center at the Children's National Medical Center where they have a page where you can make an appointment to donate blood right online.

I just made an appointment for next Thursday at 3:45pm to donate.

Do you think you could donate as well? Could you maybe share this post too?

look at my long arm!

This weekend, I went to a big quilt show in Virginia. It was great! I had planned to go with some girls from my quilting group, but they all planned to go Saturday and I couldn't, so Steve offered to take me on Sunday (I probably owe him big for that, right?)

There were classes, demos, quilts on display and lots of vendors! I was a good girl, and managed to control my wallet, just buying a few things. I also had the chance to try out a long-arm quilting machine! These are crazy-big sewing machines, usually at least ten feet long, and they are used when doing the actual quilting! They are also very expensive, usually about $15,000!

Yes, seriously!

(I don't have one)

When I passed by this booth, the salesguy asked if I wanted to try it. I first asked him if there was a you-break-it, you-buy-it policy, because I definitely couldn't buy it! He laughed and said no, so here I am, long arming!

Ignore the flash, just above my hands...

It is such a cool machine! He had multi-colored thread loaded, so you could see it really well, and I made all sorts of loops and swirls, and I loved it.

Of course, now I want one.

He did say that there was a show special, and this machine is only $9,500.

Anyone have $9,500 I can borrow? I'll send you the first quilt I make!

PS. the quilts in the background were not made by me! I am not that talented yet!

topping the table with love

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned that I was taking a quilting class?

Well, look what I made!


It's a small table topper and measures 12"x12" and the pattern I used is called Jacob's Ladder, but apparently has other names as well, according to this site. As I am slowly getting into quilting, I am loving the history and stories behind the patterns. While I don't always use a pattern, they can be a good guide, and since I am new at this, I need some sort of guide :)

I sent it home to NH, because my mother's favorite quilt shop is having a table runner contest! You had to buy the material there, which I did the last time I was home, and could then use any pattern you like. I think the top three vote getters get a prize. My mother told me that there are five entries, one of which is hers, so I am hoping the odds will be in my favor! I also told my grandmother to go by and vote for me, hehe!

I'm taking another class that begins next week, it is at a place called Stitch DC, which is a yarn shop, but now has fabric and quilting classes! I am excited, because this one is by Eastern Market, one of my favorite spots and not far from my apartment! They have a blog too! I am taking the tweety birdcage class the next two Tuesdays. I also just noticed that during the month of June, they are offering FREE crochet classes, if you buy the materials there!

Anyone want to come get crafty with me? :)

yo yo love

There is a quilting method called yo yo quilting that I love, but it is not something that I have mastered yet, or even attempted for that matter! I think they are just so cute and you can do a great deal with them.

Over the weekend, Steve and I drove down to Charlottesville, VA where we visited some wineries and drove through very scenic countryside. At one point, I don't know where we were, but we drove by a country store. I love country stores, so I convinced Steve to stop. I figured, with the name of Greenwood Country Store, it would have old fashioned candy, big jars of pickles and root beer floats. Turns out, I was wrong.

It was an antique shop! They had the most beautiful things and the prices were amazing. I saw so many things that I wanted to bring home, but managed to refrain, mainly because Steve was there to keep me in line :)

This is my favorite---

These are quilted yo yo's that I mentioned above, and they are in a small white shabby-chic esq frame, measuring 4" x 6"! I'm not sure when it was put together, but the yo yo's look quite old, if you look closely (you probably can't tell from the photo!). It was also a whopping $8. Love! Once I get my sewing room set up, I want to hang a shelf on the wall, and place this frame on the shelf! I have the vision in my head already :)

I also bought a vintage Nancy Drew book, I can't recall which one, off the top of my head, but it is an early edition, and was $3.

The shop had sooo many gorgeous linens, and I am still kicking myself for leaving it all there. They had a set of French blues; a table runner, eight placemats and matching napkins, and was only $8! I am wishing I had grabbed that too!

If you ever find yourself in Greenwood, VA, be sure to stop in the General Store! It is across from the post office on Greenwood Station Road, VA route 690 and nearby route 250.

I love antique shops and need to find some around DC that I can visit!

Are you an antique lover? Where is your favorite shop? If I visit you, will you take me there?

princess and the pea!

Is this, or is this not, the cutest thing you've ever seen?

It's a Princess and the Pea playset! I love and adore it! It came from dolittledesign's etsy shop and I just fell in love with it while looking for fabric!


See the tiny green pea? So precious!

One of my good friends from high school is expecting a baby girl in July, so I think I may need to get this for her! The Princess and the Pea is one of my favorite stories, so I think it would make such a lovely gift, along with a copy of the book!

So sweet. So, so sweet.

There are some really talented people out there in etsy land, and this is no exception!



PS. Look at Peter and Mrs. Rabbit! You may know that Peter Rabbit is my favorite story, and when I get a corgi, I want to call her Potter, after Beatrix Potter, of course!

dresses on the brain!

I swear, I'm not really a shopaholic, despite what you may think, based on recent posts about dresses :)

Last night, I decided to walk home (or most of the way anyway!), from my office in Foggy Bottom to Chinatown. It is a very pleasant walk; it takes me past DAR Constitution Hall and the Red Cross building, then by the White House (where I kindly snapped a picture of a tourist family- karma!) (also unlocked the historian badge on foursquare! obsessed with 4sq...). I walked through Metro Center and stopped at H&M and found this gem of a dress---




It was $35. What do you think?

It isn't as short as it may appear- it is just above the knees, but totally work appropriate. My mother asked me how short it was when I texted her the picture, haha.

Do we like the belt? Do I keep the silver buckle to the side? Or move it to the middle?

Not sure what shoes I will wear with it- likely red, and likely heels, but maybe flats. Unsure.

Keep or return?

another dress

I have a wedding coming up in a few weeks, so I am looking for a dress to wear. I feel like I have worn the same three dresses to every wedding I've ever attended (not true, since I wore a different bridesmaid dress four times!), but you know what I mean.

Everyone has been talking about the Liberty of London line for Target. I've seen some of it, and think it's cute, and then I saw this dress online---

Keep in mind that I am doing a reading during the ceremony, so I will be on the alter for approximately three minutes, so people will actually look at me at that point :)

The ceremony is at 2pm and the reception is later, I believe at 4 or 5pm...

What do you think? Is it too casual for a wedding?

sewing Saturday!

Today I am taking a quilting class at the Jinny Beyer Studio, out in Great Falls, VA, so last night I decided to do a little practice, and just made this small table topper-

It's cute, just about 12" x 8." It could be a little table topper, as I am calling it, or could certainly be a small doll quilt! I've made a few of a similar size, one very similar to this, and then a few other doll quilts (here and here).

I'm looking forward to class, because while I know how to do some things, I still need a lot of help with my binding (the binding is the colored fabric around the edge of the quilt, to hold it all together), because I can't do the corners well at all!

I'll report back about the class, and post pictures of my creation :)

How is your Saturday?

we all scream for ice cream

I was home in NH last weekend for Mother's Day and my father's birthday and found this in the freezer section.

Why can't they sell it in DC?!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

what is your alias?

As I've mentioned before, I want to write a book, and it is a goal of mine to have one done in the next few years. While I certainly don't think that my life has been remarkable enough for a memoir at this point, I really want to write about my experiences in Poland. It was one of the most amazing times in my life and it should be shared. I love reading travel writing, but I find that most books are written about England, France, Italy, etc. I've never once seen a book written about Poland! So sad!



Also, while I was there, I sent home email updates every few weeks. Of course, some people got frequent emails, but not everyone. My father saved every single email I sent him, from the time I was in Luxembourg (Jan-May 2001) all the way through when I was in Poland (Aug 2002-Feb 2004)! He saved them all onto a disc for me, and I have that at home. Every so often, I read through them, and they are so hilarious. I had some really amazing adventures while I was there.


Amazing, and somewhat scandalous, in some instances! Some stories should not be read by certain eyes (ie. my mother, among others!). So I was thinking that I should choose a nom de plume, or a pen name, to use for my book. Of course, this makes me sad, since most people won't know it is my book (though those closest to me will clearly know!). I was also thinking; if I mention specific people, do I need their permission to use their name? I would not use last names, and I'd never say anything incriminating! Maybe I should just change their names...


What would your nom de plume be?