It Really Was Sunny in Philadelphia

Brody and I took a quick trip to Philly last weekend and it was so great. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it!  It's a big city with some legit skyscrapers, but not too big.  It had some really cool historical and touristy stuff but not too much that we couldn't see everything we wanted in two days. It was just right for a quick weekend--the baby bear of weekend trips if you will.

It was nice to not have swarms of people everywhere, (DC can get really crowded, especially in the summers with all those interns and tourists). The weather was perfect the whole time and we had a spectacular view from our hotel. We hit all the highlights; running up the Rocky steps at the Museum of Art, the LOVE statue and City Hall; and the historical gems of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.  Our tour guide/park ranger guy at Independence Hall was a Scottish immigrant and it was quite interesting to hear a native Brit talk about the monumental events that took place in that building and the outcome of the war. The actual Rising Sun chair that George Washington sat in was still there, one of the only original pieces of furniture left. The Founding era and the Revolutionary War are just my favorite part of American history so it was really special to be in that hallowed space.

Afterwards, we walked over by the infamous Delaware river and found an authentic little local place for some delicious cheese steaks before heading home.

I'm so glad we got to do this. Philly is great but not necessarily enough to warrant it's own airfare kind of trip, especially if you're coming from out West, so it was really something I wanted to see while we were already on the east coast.   One more thing to check off our list!

Giddy

Things. are. happening. Summer is drawing to a close and there is so much to look forward too!

• Brody and I are going to Philly this weekend! Cheese-steaks, Rocky reenactments, and Revolutionary war history galore
• Fall is right around the corner and my heart leaps with joy at the thought (see here and here for full details on why this--the best season of the year--is my all-time favorite).
• Brody is starting his third and FINAL year of law school next week.  We're so close! We can do this. 
• We are going down to Charlottesville next weekend to see the BYU vs. Virginia game and explore charming Charlottesville and Monticello.
• My mom and sisters are coming to visit in just over a month and I'm so excited! It will be the first time in a long time that it's been just the Wiseman girls :)  a huge thank-you to my dad and brothers-in-law for making this happen, you guys are the best!!!
• And a major bucket list item will be checked off this year as I will be venturing to Salem, MA for Halloween festivities this year!!!!!!! I have strong feelings for Halloween and Salem is basically the halloween-lover's mecca. Just writing about it makes me giddy as a school girl. We're going on a Hocus Pocus tour and everything. Hocus Pocus!
• In conjunction to Salem we will be visiting Boston for a day or so as well. New England in the fall people.  The Freedom trail, Boston Common, cream pies, wicked-thick accents. It's going to be incredible.
• And from Halloween it's just a hop, skip and a jump to Thanksgiving and Christmas! You may think I'm getting ahead of myself but it'll be here before you know it

Pretend

Sometimes when I get bored I'll browse real estate listings and then dream about how I'd turn those ugly ducks into swans... with a little Microsoft Paint help of course

Summer Storms and Baseball Games

This week one of my oldest friends was in town with her husband to celebrate his recent graduation.  We met up with them for dinner at The Hamilton, one of our favorites, and it was so fun to catch up and spend time with them.  There are some friends that you just go so far back with that no matter how long it's been or where your lives have taken you it's still the same when you see each other :)  After dinner we walked over to the White House and then got caught in a serious downpour.  Normally I'm vigilant about carrying an umbrella and of course, the one night I forget, we get dumped on.  It was kind of fun for them so see just how crazy the summer storms can be--you literally look like someone poured a bucket of water over your head.

The next night Brody and I went to my first Nationals game.  We'd bought a Groupon back at the beginning of summer and it was such a fun night.   The weather has been incredible lately and that night it was  low 70's/upper 60's perfection! Brody had been wanting to see their new stadium, it is in the southwest near the waterfront and has a beautiful view of the Capitol.  I'm not a huge baseball person but actually going to games are always fun.  This was my first MLB game and I loved it! The Nats even won, beating the Giants 6-5

Birthdays Galore

Happy Weekend everyone!

It's been a busy couple of weeks full of both our birthdays and our anniversary!  For my birthday I came home from work to a clean house, flowers, chocolates and some presents (he's the best one). And then we enjoyed a sunset dinner and walk home in incredible, humidity-less weather, walking along embassy row (something I've always wanted to do).  Brody's birthday fell on a Saturday which meant sleeping-in late, unwrapping his presents still in our PJ's, then capping the day off with dinner and a movie.

We also celebrated our 5-year anniversary this week! I'm not very big on social media PDA (is there anything more disingenuous?) but I can't believe how lucky I am to share my life with my best friend. It's been the greatest adventure :)

Don't Let that Suite And Tie Fool Y'all

Be sure to watch with the audio, it's the best part
 

 Brody said they used to do this all the time on his mission here in DC. So great :)

H&M Online

H&M is finally selling clothes online!

That is all.

Walter Mitty

I'm so intrigued...

 
 even though I can't stand Sean Penn

Going Strong

It has been over a week since I've had any caffeine/soda. And it's......pretty great. Easier than expected.

 (My mom's heart probably just exploded with joy)

*However, it goes without saying that I'll have to drink it with any pizza in the future, because the thought of drinking water with pizza just sounds gross.