Brunch with Sarah, Donald, and Kids 2016

We met Sarah, Donald, William, and Robert for brunch at the Green Pig Bistro. So delicious! I was excited to see the whole family together. I saw Sarah, William, and Robert shortly after Robert was born, but I visited on a weekday so I'd missed Donald. The four of them are the cutest and I kind of failed to capture the magnitude of the cuteness in my photos. Next time I'm making you guys pose.

Law school besties- I'm probably texting her as you read this.

See what happens when I don't say "Say cheese!"? But they're still the cutest.

We were posing though that didn't stop Miranda from frowning on purpose.

Sarah is a foodie, so the food was all very delicious. And I was impressed that both DOnald and Sarah got the super chicken with waffle. It looked epic. The boys were all perfect little gentlemen at brunch. Miranda sat on the floor and pouted and refused to eat anything several times before eating everything.

Delicious brunch joy!

We trapped her in here.

Love you guys!

Michele Bachelorette Brunch 2016

We had so much fun during our weekend in Richmond celebrating Michele's bachelorette fun, that I had to separate it into multiple posts. I started counting all the fun things we did, and Friday through Saturday was #1-29: http://theclous.blogspot.com/2016/03/micheles-bachelorette-festivities-2016.html.

On Sunday, I got to sleep in again (very exciting for me, you guys). (#30) When I woke up I saw my wrist and thought- OH MY WHAT IS THAT? It was the bachelorette temporary tattoo from the night before. (#31) Haha. Ash, Angela, and I walked over to Captain Buzzy's Beanery so as not to wake Michele. (#32) Then we walked over to Libby Hill Park to check out the view and drink our coffees, or in Ash's case a dirty dirty chai. She'll never sleep again. (#33) When we came back Michele was up and ready so had group hug time. (#34) It was on the agenda even before we got there because she and Karen were recently passengers in a car accident and got concussions.

Going clockwise from bride: Michele, Tara, Kate, Susan, Angela, Ash, me, 

Hannah, Anne, Kristen, Karen, and Emily

For the highlight of Michele's bachelorette weekend we did the The Jefferson Hotel's Sunday Champagne Brunch. It's a Richmond tradition. (#35) It's an understatement to say I loved it. It's probably responsible for 2 of the 4 pounds I gained while I was in Richmond for 48 hours. Michele had wore a super cute outfit, which Hannah made even cuter with a little veil and boa.  (#36)

Emily, Michele, and Tara

Emily is Michele's sister-in-law and she told us the family tradition of telling fun little stories about the person who is having a big day. It was a great idea and helped us all get to know each other better. It's clear that Michele has super amazing friends (with exceptionally nice hair) and that they all love her like crazy. (#37)

Can we talk about the food for a second? The Sunday Brunch had buffet tables downstairs with breakfast, lunch, and dessert foods. There were: eggs benedict, sausage, bacon, Three Cheese Grits (you had me at grits- #38), Potatoes, french toast, an omelet station, and a waffle station. They also had smoked salmon, shrimp, oysters on the half shell and a bunch of meat dishes including some Indian food flavored pork thing. Obviously I only tried some of these things. Dessert was another story. I had all the desserts- well at least a few bites: chocolate truffle torte, chocolate cake, cheese cakes, tarts , toasted almond torte, pecan bourbon torte, creme brulee, and some mini cupcakes including red devil and peanut butter cupcakes. (#39)

Buffet tables and guest seating on lower level

Music by the Randall Pharr Trio (#40)

In addition to the food, there was bottomless champagne and orange juice which many of us used to create our own mimosas. (#41) Also, Ash I took a billion failed panoramic shots of the table-- this might be directly related to #41. (#42) 

8/12 people

7/12

10/12 and a very distorted Ash, panorama fail.

When brunch was over, Michele had little party gifts for those of us who couldn't come back for the rescheduled shower. (#43) We walked though the beautiful lobby of the hotel where they also do afternoon tea, and then we took some more pictures outside the hotel, because that's how we roll. (#44)

Susan, Kate, Hannah, Michele in the lobby

 

Michele and Kate outside the hotel

We got spoiled on beautiful Richmond on this trip. In addition to going to Libby Hill Park in the morning, Michele, Hannah, Ash, and I went for a walk through Jefferson Park in the afternoon. (#45) Obviously we took more pictures- made impossible and hilarious by high wind conditions. (#46)

Libby Hill Park in the morning

Me, Michele and Ash at Jefferson Park

We went to say goodbye to Arthur, Emily, and Avery before they left to go home. Did I mention how adorable and cute Avery is? (#47) Finally Michele dropped us off at the airport - we had more group hugs- and Michele went off to get her pending manicure from the day before. (#48) Despite the fact that Ash and I got to the airport ridiculously early, we went to charge my phone at another gate and almost missed our flight. But we didn't yay! (#49)

It was a great trip! We had so much fun!! But the BEST PART was that no one got a concussion!!! (#50)

Grandma Kathy's Birthday 2016

Grandma Kathy was here for the weekend. On Saturday, she went to see James play soccer, and she watched the kids so Kevin and I could go out for Valentine's dinner. On Sunday/Valentine's Day we all celebrated Kevin's birthday together and she enlisted the kids in baking a big chocolate cake for his birthday. Grandma's birthday is tomorrow but we wanted to celebrate while she was here, so we celebrated Grandma's birthday with brunch Monday morning before she left (really Kevin's birthday).

Miranda, Kevin, and Kathy

Grandma wanted to go out with* the kids which is not something we understood, but honored. We ate at the Flying Pig Cafe, and there were a lot of "Chinese fire drills." First I put both of the kids in the booth with me so that Kevin and Kathy could actually enjoy their birthday brunch. Just a few minutes later as Miranda was pouring apple juice into my lap, our coats, and straight into my darkening soul, my phone slipped from my lap and the front glass broke. So then Kevin confiscated Miranda to his lap.

Broken.

I'm not sad because no pictures were lost in the phone breakage
(Also because the 5s is free with my plan now.)

But then, James wanted to sit with Grandma, Miranda wanted to switch to my side and eat my food or at least spill hers onto my lap. So switch!

Grandma and James

Me, Kevin, and Miranda

Happy birthday Grandma! Sorry you had a tough drive back!

Bonus picture of Grandma at soccer practice

Brian's 30th Birthday 2013

We went to Virginia last weekend to celebrate Brian's 30th birthday! That's 30 years of awesomeness, now with harder abs. Haha. We celebrated with drinks and cupcakes at Copperwood Tavern in Arlington, Virginia. The bar is pretty new, and everyone loved it. It's big and cool-looking, and Kevin said the beer on tap is good. I enjoyed their delicious water.

Brian (argyle sweater) and his Crossfit peeps!

Cupcakes


Carrie and Brian- Carrie made the cupcakes

Me and Kevin

Roger and Lina

Cory and Robin enjoying cupcakes

Kenny and Beng

(Special thanks to Jaime who babysat while we went out.)

The next morning a few of us had brunch with Brian on his actual birthday at Medium Rare in DC. Despite reservations, being there first, and ample space, they didn't put us at one table? Everyone had a good time though and the food was pretty good. Even James thought so.

Some UVA Brunch peeps

Gloria, McKenzie, Alexis, and Beng

Opening presents from Kenny and Diane

Happy birthday, Brian! 

Visiting Lukas and Sarah in Queens 2013

On Sunday before the Super Bowl, Kevin, James, and I ventured out to Queens to have a BBQ brunch with Sarah and Lukas. We went to John Brown's Smokehouse in Long Island City, and wow, I have never seen such huge BBQ portions! The pulled pork sandwich was the size of my head. And for some unknown reason they gave us an extra one we didn't order? So now we have a lifetime supply of BBQ in our refrigerator. The best by far was the burnt ends. It's delicious. If you go there, just get that and the cornbread, which is actually a magical corn pudding. Definitely skip the mac and cheese.

 

A collage in honor of BBQ- the men look especially serious about it.

James is a little better in the car these days, and a little better in restaurants, so we felt brave. The main problem is that he doesn't really like back-to-back restraints such as the car seat followed by a high chair or a stroller. As a reward for James's somewhat adequate behavior during brunch, Lukas insisted we take him to the new Gantry Plaza State Park. It's a perfect little park for toddlers because the ground is all rubber and the equipment is accessible and safe for toddlers. There's a really great view of Manhattan as well.

Sarah spins James in the teacups

James is a big fan of both the cups and Sarah

Lukas climbs the rope pyramid to get a better view of the skyline

Writing in the snow!

Girls' Weekend in Warwick 2012

So then I went back to Warwick last weekend. Yes, really. Some of my college friends and I had decided to go visit Ash months before Superstorm Sandy and the Nor'easter had caused me to live in Ash's place and my mom's for an extended time. So back I went!

Actually, I was pretty excited because I wanted to see my friends and Warwick had just given me a little taste when I'd stayed there the week before because a lot of places were still missing power. Warwick is very charming.

I was supposed to take the bus up with Christina, but sadly the storm set her family back too much this week with work and no daycare for their little one. She was very missed.  I braved the bus on my own and discovered parts of New Jersey I'd never seen before. Megan drove up with Laurie and Janice from the Virginia-DC-Maryland area (one lady from each state). Shortly after everyone arrived on Saturday afternoon we had cheese and crackers for lunch.  The wine came minutes later when we went to the Warwick winery for a tasting. I especially liked the Harvest Moon wine we tried, a white with a strong grapefruit flavor that led me to dub it "a breakfast wine." The time has come! Afterwards, we bought a bottle of their famous cider and sat to enjoy it and listen to live music.

Janice, me, Laurie, Ash, and Megan doing the wine tasting at Warwick Winery

Enjoying live music at the Winery

So we were already having a lot of fun, after our first stop, and then Ash suggested dinner at a Cuban-Latin restaurant called Coquito. I was a little dubious because I'm kind of a Cuban food expert, but it was delicioso. Especially the maduros and yuca fries. And the Coquito mojito was coconuty and amazing.

Janice and Megan at Coquito restaurant

After dinner we went to Eddie's Roadhouse for drinks. We had so much fun on Saturday night. More fun than we little old ladies are used to perhaps. We ended the night on the couch trying to regain energy by watching some truly awful CIS episodes (but only because Laurie refused to watch some truly awful SVU).

It worked! The next morning we were so energized that after Megan and Ash went hiking (the rest of us slept in) we went to brunch and then walked around the Warwick shops all day. We also went to the cute little Farmers Market.

Walking Main Street in Warwick

Walking to brunch at Le Petite Cuisine

At the Warwick Farmer's Market

Then we had a total food binge on Laurie's homemade cookies, Ash's homemade pie, and a million snacks Janice brought. I am still recovering from the horror of my weigh-in.

Ash showing us the brussel sprouts in her garden. Why weren't we eating these instead?

At Ash's place, missing Christina

I had such a wonderful time and I love these women so much that I am already dreaming about our next girls' weekend!

Nashville - September 2012

I had never been to Nashville before this year, and this year I went twice. The first time was on our big Southern roadtrip in May, and most recently, for Katy and Luke's wedding reception. Usually when I go to a wedding somewhere, I take in whatever tourist sights are available, but this time was unusual because I had just been there in May, and all my friend attending the wedding had also done it within the last year or two.

The hotel was very close to Broadway, the main strip where there are lots of the bars and stores. So Friday night, right after Katy and Luke's Welcome Party, we all hit the bars. It was super fun because all the places had live music and everyone was casual. We went to Tootsie's, Second Fiddle, Honky Tonk Central, and the Hilton bar. We sang, we danced, we did the "holler and swoller" thing. It's a thing, really.

Lexi, Ericka, Brian, and Audra at Tootsie's! 

After breakfast, I took a stroll to the stores with Brian, Donald, Sarah, and baby William, and later we were joined by two of Sarah's friends, Rachael, Emily, and Emily's baby Iris. What a party. We stopped for free praline at Savannah's Candy Kitchen, and helped Brian with some cowboy boot shopping at 3 different boot stores on the same street. They take their cowboy boots seriously here. They even had university logo boots. Um, no thank you.

Taking over Broadway in Nashville

Savannah's Candy Kitchen is amazing.

Me and my weekend roommate Brian outside of Boot Country

Brian and I were trying to maximize the time we spent with our law school friends over the weekend, so after Donald, Sarah, William, Rachael, Emily, and Iris went back to the hotel for a rest, we went back out to lunch on Broadway with Rob, Audra, Lexi, and Carter. We had lunch at Rippy's Bar & Grill. It was okay, but I wouldn't really recommend it. It's dicey.

Audra, Rob, and Carter at Rippy's

We went back out on Saturday night after the wedding, and this time I brought my camera. If you know me, you know that it's been many years since I went out on back-to-back nights. (For one thing, it's hard to go out on back-to-back nights when you get up at 5:30 a.m. with a toddler.) Anyway, I was pretty excited. We spent most of our time enjoying the music at Honky Tonk Central.

Katy, Luke, me, Audra, Rob, and Brian at Honky Tonk Central

Don't worry, we had a proper Southern breakfast before we left. We went for brunch at Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant. Look how much fun Donald and Sarah are having!

Brunch at Puckett's on Church Street