hOppy Easter

I made a few easter bunnie cupcakes for a party today.. I think they turned out pretty cute.

yum.. bunnies

Happy 1st Birthday

Ah first birthdays.... I made cakes and pies for Pearls 1st birthday... I think she liked it.!

White cake with blueberry filling for the birthday girl and chocolate peanut butter pie for the 'grown ups'.

Gallery Girls Premier

Saturday was the inaugural outing of the "Gallery Girls", the hottest new club in the DC Metro area. OK, so there were only three of us going to a gallery and lunch.... but we hope that it grows into something more.
Saturday we went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum to see the "Color as Field:American Painting, 1950-1975" exhibit. The idea is to see a different exhibit once a month or so.

We saw works by Helen Frankenthaller, Morris Lewis, Rothko, and others. It was a really good show.


I'm looking forward to our adventures next month.

Virginia February

Florida in January

Arizona in December

First Snow

I was lucky enough to be outside today to catch the first snowfall of the season. The snow fell in those amazing cotton balls from the sky.. it was really something.

Here are a few pictures from today.

Ox's trip to Pennyfield Locke

20th Annual Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless

Today I ventured out with the rest of the Martin clan for the Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless. It was chilly out there... but not as cold as last year. We had a special new walker with us.... baby Pearl. OK.. she wasn't really 'walking' .. mostly strolling along.. it was great to have her with us.

http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org/site/c.plI4IcNWJyE/b.2699643/k.D6AC/Welcome_to_the_National_Help_the_Homeless_Web_Site.htm

Dane Cook

Saw Dane Cook at the Verizon Center tonight .... too fun.

http://www.danecook.com/

Fall

Wedding Bells

Hansel and Gretel

Sunday we went out to see our friends daughter in her Opera debut of Hansel and Gretel.

Hansel and Gretel

Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 2:00pm

Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm

Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre

125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington

OTNV is proud to bring to the stage Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel as the 2007 family opera, featuring glorious music in a new adaptation of the classic tale in which everyone lives happily ever after--even the witch! The production will be directed by Joe Banno and features Elaine Dalbo (Hansel), Katherine Osborne (Gretel), Sarah Philippa (Mother/Witch), Wade Thomas (Father), and Kathy Hankins (Sandman/Fairy). Sung in English.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for children 14 and under, and $5 per child for groups of 10 or more children.

Marathon Training

The official start of my 'marathon training' was Monday September 24. When I'm running I like to catalogue the things I've seen. I guess it's something to keep my mind off what my body is trying to do.

So far this week I've seen.

2 chipmunks, a few cardinals, some really pretty wild flowers.. that's about it for 'nature'.

I do see some of the same people on my stretch of the trail all the time.. like..

-super fast speed walking, headphones wearing guy
-the lady in lavender
-dread lock dude on his bike
-creepy stalker bike riding dude with his hat on
-the jogging couple
-the rollerblading couple.. look out.. one of them is unsteady
-the speed walking group of ladies
-and the dog walkers....

I'll see you all on Saturday out there on the trail!

James River State Park

Matt and I went camping this weekend at James River State park in Virginia. OK, it wasn't REAL camping.. we stayed in this awesome cabin!

It's a pretty cool park.

We did some kayaking (really sinking and floating) down the river and had a great time playing Taboo.. with our friends.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/jam.shtml

Our American King

My father-in-law (well, soon to be) has a new book, Our American King will be released on September 11, 2007.

Check out a book signing event;

September 13, 7 P.M. David Lozell Martin reads from and signs his new post-apocalyptic novel, Our American King, at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 202-785-1133.

September 22, 4 P.M. David Lozell Martin reads from and signs his new novel, Our American King, at Busboys & Poets, 14th Street NW, 202-387-7638.

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Follow this link to the Washington Post Review: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/02/AR2007090201329.html

Arlington County Fair

This year I entered some cookies in the Arlington County Fair. I'm proud to say that my Chocolate Chip cookies received an honorable mention and my Sugar Cookies won second place in the 'fair theme' category.

The Arlington County Fair theme this year was, "Arlington, A Community of Neighbors", my sugar cookies were named 'A borrowed cup of sugar' cookies. I'm sure they won for the name.. not the taste.

The fair was a lot of fun. It's always great to get out see your friends and eat some fair food!

http://www.arlingtoncountyfair.org/

Don't call me... I'm reading.

Fun Friday

Baking AND Renewable Energy?

It's true.. my favorite local bakery has gone green.. yea for Cake Love.

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty recently joined with Clean Currents to announce a new alliance of locally-owned DC businesses switching to 100% green power to fight global warming.

A group of popular locally-owned DC businesses, including CakeLove, have switched over to 100 percent wind power in an effort to reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage greater energy independence.

Working through the DC Area Local Business Alliance, which is a project of the Latino Economic Development Corporation, Clean Currents brought together numerous businesses near the U Street corridor to form a green energy buying group to reduce carbon emissions into the DC region's air.

As a result, CakeLove is now 100 percent wind powered!

http://cakelove.com/u_green.php

I know it's wrong.....

to brag.. but this is my first award for baking.. and I'm just soooo excited and giggly over it. They brought my certificate over today with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon... and I just had to post my certificate on my blog...

I apologize to everyone who is tired of hearing about it... but it had to be done.. ;-)

My cookies are winners!

2007 TASTE OFF WINNERS!!!

I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Cooking for Kids Taste Off.
Participating law firms were:

Arent Fox
Bracewell & Giuiliani
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw
Reed Smith
Spriggs & Hollingsworth
Steptoe & Johnson
Washington Lawyer's Committee
Weil, Gotshal & Manges

Thanks to all of the law firms and bakers for participating in this event. Our judges were:

David Dorsen, Esq., noted former Wine & Food Editor, Washingtonian Magazine;

Thomas Head, former Executive Wine &Food Editor, Washingtonian Magazine;

Melanie Parker, Pastry Chef at the award-winning Equinox Restaurant; and

Nancy Brier, Assistant to the Owner, Equinox Restaurant.

The judges picked one winning dessert from each category. From those three desserts a grand prize winner was selected. The winners are:

Pie – Elizabeth Carder, Reed Smith – Triple Berry Pie
Cake – Tonie Davis, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw – Lemon Pound Cake
Cookie – Amanda Fillmore, Bracewell & Giuiliani – Chocolate Chip Cookie

Tonie Davis, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw was awarded the Grand Prize, dinner for two (2) at a D.C. restaurant courtesy of our judge, David Dorsen, Esq. The remaining winners will each receive a bottle of fine wine recommended by our wine critic.

Congratulations to the winners and to all of the baking participants. The desserts were fabulous!! Thanks also to the bake sale coordinators and to the firms for your enthusiastic support of this activity.

Thank you to everyone for participating in today's Cooking for Kids bake sale and contest. The big winners are the students at Brightwood Elementary School since we raised $245!

2007 Cooking for Kids Taste Off!

The Washington Lawyer's Committee
announces
Cooking for Kids 2007
Law Firm Bake Sale and Taste Off
Monday, June 4, 2007

On Monday June 4 the Washington Lawyers Committee invites your firm to participate in the 7th Cooking for Kids Bake Sale and Taste Off. Participating firms invite their employees to contribute home-baked goods for an old fashioned bake sale held on site at your firm. All proceeds go directly to your public school partner to support enrichment programs and/or activities for students. Each firm assembles a panel of judges to determine the firm’s best pie, cake and cookie to represent the firm in the afternoon competition.

In the afternoon participating firms offer up their best pie, cake and cookie to be judged by our panel of culinary
Experts: former Food and Wine Editors for Washingtonian Magazine, Messrs. Davis Dorsen and Tom Head. The competition will commence at the offices of the Washington Lawyers Committee at 4:00pm. Please RSVP if you have not done so.

The 10th Annual CSC Invitational

Saturday we went out with some friends to check out the bike race... here are a few pics... oh ya.. and that's totally what I look like on my bike too..... :)




It was a pretty fun event.. we had great seats at Whitlow's outside on the patio to see the action.

If anyone out there has pictures of female rider #255... Elizabeth Hatch (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQLT-B1ettVLGizAoqy7-Ob8lcKDjtuNotxDP5XjACFdFSzOHgvDhQ48KMQNH_xTc4m1HLCK0gf9cBcOufc5xFSOiVLdGglLB3Gx9QX1CM2-x1yDakVrHNqqkNXfMHAnBurRc/s1600-h/Liz) my boyfriend would really appreciate copies ;-)



The crowd didn't seem that into it, which was kind of disappointing.... I think they needed more cow bell.





http://www.cscinvitational.com/

Dupont Circle Art Galleries

FIRST FRIDAY OPEN HOUSE

The Dupont Circle Art Galleries hold opening receptions (which are free and open to the public, no invitation needed) on the first Friday of each month from 5 to 8 pm.There are over 25 galleries located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, many on Connecticut Avenue and R Street. All the galleries carry Galleries Magazine which gives directions and provides maps. On First Fridays the galleries serve food and wine; there are often musicians playing; and lanterns lit -- all very festive. There are many restaurants and open air cafes -- more incentive for a lovely evening!



I'll be heading there tonight with my friend and painter Tina from http://www.tinaduryea.blogspot.com/



It'll be a lot of fun... hey anything with free food and wine is a lot of fun !