my touristy day alone in d.c.... i got to stand on the pool!!

went out on u street to get some chili and share in the excitement of the evening, but finished it at home with some wine and some knitting!

so after waiting for NINE HOURS in the middle of an ENORMOUS crowd to squeeze through a tiny little gate, m.c. and i finally got through and got a spot right in front of the archives to watch mr. prez march his way down to the white house. EPIC!!!!

it's inauguration weekend and i'm here in d.c. for the first time! i'm staying with maricarmen and that means the next few days will be guaranteed excellence. we're gonna try to go to the parade tomorrow (in the 20 degree weather) so i'm gonna go set out my layers and go to beddd

took a short road trip to the beach after it snowed the other day... SO COLD but so so very worth it~ had the place to ourselves and the sun is so bright on the snow!

my secret: when i work a split shift at the restaurant, i take my break at this park, reading in my car

so we were gonna go to a fabulous costume party in brooklyn, but we got snowed in at chelce's parents' house instead. totally worth it for the quality time i got to spend with chelce's grandma jean!!!!

my town has a christmas tree lighting every year after thanksgiving~ it's really sweet and homey and everyone you know is always there... and it's good to know that no matter how far away i go, home still feels like home.

this year i'm thankful for friends in every corner of the globe, and my family who's right here with me :)

Mika and I took the Fung Wah bus up to Boston for a few days so that she would get a chance to see the city before going back to Japan. It sucked that it rained the whole time, but the Christian Science Center was as beautiful as ever.