update shmupdate

AH!
It feels like things have been running a million miles around here basically since the day Nash was born, and I'm just now finding time here and there to slooooooowwww down. Parenthood I guess?

Anyways, the last month or so has been a good one! Nash and I made our way down to Florida for a month, where we soaked up the last bit of sun, and time with my family, before they move to Michigan. Florida to Michigan, I know right?!

Could you just die over his chubby, pale body in that swimsuit? Heart eyes, seriously. 

Also he loved the pool, which was shocking to all of us. But then again, most content baby ever so....

In the middle of our trip, my cousin got married in D.C., where we then spent a week playing tourist. I miss that wonderful city. I can't believe we were lucky enough to live there!
Nash was amazing the whole time. He hardly fussed, sleeping 7 hours a night, blah blah blah wonderful baby blah blah. I was pinching myself, believe me!

And now we are back in Utah, enjoying time together as our little family of 3 before school and real life starts again. Christian officially accepted a full time job in Salt Lake after we finish in December, so I dare say this is the last of our semi-relaxing student life for a while. It's incredible that after 6 years, it is coming to and end. Admittedly, Provo has a giant piece of my heart I don't think I will ever get back. I love my sweet, weird college town.

Also, I still can't get over the fact that we will be in SLC for several more years.
And I'm a little excited about it?
What's happening to me?!

Now we just need someone to find us an apartment. Any takers? ;)

oh here I am

Not blogging in over a week feels strange, and also....

like....

WAY good.

So I'm going to send out a general warning that this will probably be a trend for the next few weeks.

(At least until we get ourselves back across the whole stinking nation to our home in Utah.)

You see, dividing our time between our two families gets very busy.

And let's not kid ourselves... it's also TONS more fun than blogging. 

Sorrynotsorry.

Until then, I will let these pictures do the talking.

I give you:

Our last night in DC. 

Complete with trip to Founding Fathers, the US Court of Appeals, and the national Christmas tree.

Aka.... larger and grainier pictures than you ever wanted to see of us! Y'welcome!

here at the end of all things, DC version

GUYS. 

We are leaving on Saturday?!?!?!?!

This is crazy talk!

While we are super excited for the time we will get to spend with our families in the beautiful sunny Florida, it's also horribly depressing. We have fallen completely in love with this city, and the thought of leaving is sort of gut wrenching. 

The next few days are going to be insanely busy.

Along with the usual packing and cleaning the accompanies a move, 

I will also be filming my advertising application video

(FINALLY HAPPENING!)

and trying to squeeze in any last minute shenanigans.

SO....

Until next time....

It's been real, DC. 

We love you!

a few things

- Here are some snapshots from our weekend, mostly because I don't feel like detailing it all. 

But just so you know, it was a GREAT 5 days off of work.

Fur vest courtesy of some insane Black Friday shopping. 

Now I will be able to dress up like a polar bear if ever there was an occasion!

Here's a secret: 

I ABHOR these kind of olives. 

Each time I try and eat one, I'm pretty sure the salt is going to make me shrivel up and die.

But because I love my husband, and he loves these olives, I am trying so hard to learn to love them too.

Sacrifices people.

Also, 2Amys is the BEST food we've had in D.C. so far.

And that's saying something, because there are some great eats here!

Cool picture with some plants at the Botanic Gardens.

Obviously enthused by my hamburger at Good Stuff Eatery.

If you are ever in D.C., you must try their toasted marshmallow shake.

Weirdly delicious!

-Speaking of work.... today I went to Michaels with the mother of the girl I nanny, the grandmother of the girl I nanny, and let's not forget.... the actual girl I nanny. 

Sometimes I wonder why they pay me to just hang out with them all day.......

- I think I have food poisoning. 

Almost definitely.

Christian and I ate some VERY questionable fish on Sunday

(don't ever eat fish if it's been sitting in your fridge for over 3 days.... let alone a WEEK. I know. We're sick)

- Today on the bus, I saw a man writing imaginary things on the window for a good 20 minutes.

One thing I love about D.C. is all the colorful people. 

"Colorful" doesn't even come CLOSE to accurately describing things sometimes. 

- And finally, as sad as I am to be leaving this amazing city NEXT WEEK

(soooo crazy!)

I am mega pumped to be with our families in Florida for almost a solid month. 

The weather is going to be amazing, and let's not even talk about the unadulterated time with our loved ones.

It's sad that the Showalter side doesn't live in Mesa anymore, but Florida isn't a bad fall back.

Until next time, 

peace and blessings!

strangest weekend ever

It's been like a 3 day weekend from weirdy-ville over here.

Friday we took a tour of the Capitol building with some friends

(Which I definitely thought was going to be the most boring thing ever, but it was awesome!)

 Those are what I fondly call my Asian eyes.

Also LOOKHOWLONGMYHAIRISGETTING!

ate dinner at We The Pizza, which has become one of our favorite places here in DC,

(but definitely NOT because I come away from there smelling hard core like smoke.

I sort of dislike that.)

and then celebrated all the Barlow Birthdays in November with a dance party, brownies and ice cream.

It was then that I was reminded why I only like having dance parties in our apartment with Christian.

My inner Michael Jackson feels much more comfortable letting loose, you know?

Then on Saturday we slept in, like, all the morning long.

Went to Trader Joes and bought THESE,

so good, you could seriously die.

And then babysat Christian's cousins in the evening.

A great reminder that I am SO not ready for my own babies, thankyouverymuch!

Then today, tragedy struck.

*STORY TIME*

In a frantic attempt to make it stake conference on time

(Which we weren't even that late for, mind you!) 

we ended up waiting for a combined 30 minutes at 2 Metro stations,

on top of another 40 minute wait at our last Metro station for a "ride" that never showed up.

So then we decided to just forget it and just come back home.

3 hours and 14 bucks later, our pointless journey came to a close.

Then we played Ticket to Ride for like 3 straight hours, all while laying in bed.
Which was seriously so much fun.

Basically not one of our most normal weekends, but a fun one nonetheless.

lately...

- Doing a kidney cleanse

(mega headaches, LOTS of celery and parsley, and a couple gags later, I'm a new woman!)

- Listening to lots of Christmas music

(the David Archuleta, Country and Nsync stations are our current favorites.... 

Okay so maybe Nsync is more of a "Brooke" thing...)

- Firmly decided that Christian and I love art museums more than anything.

(We are the nerds that sit and analyze the lighting, flow and color choice of all the paintings. 

Never knew we had that in us, but I love it!)

- Saw Lincoln

(due to Christian's high expectations of he movie - he's a Lincoln enthusiast- we didn't enjoy it as much as we hoped. Soooooo political. Which we are soooooo over.)

- Went to a performance of the National Symphony.... 

took the grainiest photo evvvveerrr, while getting photobombed by Andy Bernard....

.....and saw this guy.

My classical-music-loving-heart was beating out of control all night!

LOVE!

- Anticipating our month long break in Florida with our families.
And our tropical Christmas gettaway with the Showalter side.
imsoexcitedimgonnadie!!!!

- Anxiously awaiting our return to beloved Utah.
We miss it a great deal, surprisingly!
(I think that's just our need to settle down speaking out)
Also, I get my old job back weeee!
I can't wait to be back in the Hinckley building!

- Decided that I definitely have carpal tunnel syndrome.
I am being totally serious about this. 
Stay tuned for a true diagnosis.
(No but really. I'm going to the doctor like.... this week. I don't think you guys understand how serious I am)
In the mean time, I have to tend to my very tingly, weak, and painful wrist and hand.
BOO.

- Aaaaand enjoying my week long hiatus from work!
Hence the reason why I'm blogging twice in one day. So much time!
I'm sure I will be going nuts-o by Friday, but for now, I'm lovin' life.
Truly, I am destined to be a stay at home mom, because nothing makes me happier than being a hermit all day.
Which I can't decide is good or bad, but for now I'm going to enjoy being in my own little bubble and NOT invading someone else's all day long.
(Oh the trepidations of being a nanny!)

a few things

Sorry I've been all sorts of serious lately. 

Here are just a few things about life right now, you know, to REALLY spice things up.

-I'm home sick today.

Now you're probably thinking 

"Brooke! 

You were sick so much this summer!

And now you're sick again?!

What's wrong with you?!"

Trust me, I'm thinking the exact same thing.

I guess when you are a nanny, and the whole family you work for gets super sick, you are bound to contract it as well. C'est la vie.

- So since I'm sick, I'm laying in bed and blogging while listening to the David Archuleta Christmas station on Pandora. 

YOU GUYS.

It's seriously so good.

*this is a judgement free zone, so you can wipe that look off your face like, yesterday*

- And also since I'm sick, I'm probably going to watch an entire season of Felicity today or something.

look at Noel's hair hahahahahahaha

Do I have any fellow Felicity lovers out there?

Seriously, SERIOUSLY. That show makes me so emotional.

Also, Javier is probably my favorite character from a tv show in the history of ever.

- Also, here are some nice things that people have done for me lately. 

Yesterday, I found out I lost my debit card. 

And then I got on the bus and my smarttrip card wasn't working.

Also, I had no cash or change. 

So basically I was about to be stuck at Union Station with NO WAY of getting any money.

Also, I felt like I was going to die because oh wait I was also in the throws of getting sick.

YEAH, NOT MY BEST NIGHT EVER.

So then when I tried to get on the bus, the nice driver was all

"Just give me whatever you've got!"

(Which was a meager 30 cents by the way)

And then he let me go home!

I was very thankful for his generosity last night.

- Then when I got home, Christian had made dinner already AND done the dishes.

So then we ate, IN BED. Which was awesome.

And then he started a bath for me!

And THEN we watched Lord of the Rings!

So basically even though I felt like crap, he made my night happy.

*internet hug for my sweetie*

- Also if you were ever wondering how crazy DC gets when Obama wins the election, I will tell you.

CRAZY.

Like we had to bust out the earplugs last night because the screaming and honking was incessant.

Idiots.

Basically that's all.

And now it's time to get my Netflix on.

how to survive a hurricane

(Disclaimer: I hesitate to write this post as I normally would due to the topic.  I feel so much for those who received the rough part of the storm, especially those whose homes and lives were damaged.  I understand the somber/serious point of the hurricane, and it makes me sad.  With that being said, anyone who reads this please understand that I am not ignorant nor am I trying to make light of the situation--I am simply explaining how Christian and I dealt with the storm.)

Step 1: first and foremost, definitely DON'T go to work, like this guy here.

Chances are you wont even have the option because, OH WAIT, all the public transit is shut down.

Step 2: Sleep in. A must.

This works best if you have a cuddle buddy.

Bonus if he will also rub your back for you.

Step 3: Eat cookies for breakfast. Also a must.

Step 4: Check the weather 8 thousand times.

Also read every article about FRANKENSTORM that you can get your hands on.

Make sure you tell anyone who will listen (read: Christian) literally everything you read.

Step 5: Watch a lot of movies.

Netflix becomes your best friend.

Some examples of ones you might enjoy are:

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Signs

Catch Me if You Can

Charade

Dial "M" for Murder

Vertigo

Maybe we watched 3 of these yesterday......

Step 6: Play Scrabble.

Play Banana Grams.

Play Quirkle.

You can even play Werewolf if you like!

This works best if you dominate every game like a champ.

Step 7: Give yourself a bangin' manicure and pedicure.

Complete with cuticle trim.

Step 8: EAT MORE COOKIES.

Also, cereal.

Step 9: Have a spaghetti dinner banquet with everyone in the Barlow Center.

Complete with Jazz music.

And never mind the fact that you've been eating all day already....

Step 10: Stay up super late because GUESS WHAT.

You don't have work again the next day.

And THAT my friends, is what to do when you are stuck inside for 24 hours straight.

Courtesy of Frankenstorm.

another weekend post, sorrynotsorry

Last weekend we:

- strolled through Georgetown and got stuck at H&M in a downpour.

- ate at Shake Shack

(this is how we feel about that place.)

- toured a destroyer turned haunted house at the Navy Yard
Aka the worst thing ever.

(here's a few tricks I learned so that you don't pee your pants in potentially horrifying situations....

Make your husband walk behind you, gripping your waist the whole time,
laugh, even if it's a fake laugh, a lot, 
and talk to the people trying to scare you!

Freddie Krueger can suck it because I know what's up in haunted houses.)

- biked through the city, visited the Newseum (AMAAAAAZING!!) and had a caramel-apple -Hocus-Pocus-party with fellow Barlow Center residents.

Oh weekends, we love you!

fall in the district

I figure I should probably document all this beauty before FRANKESTORM comes this weekend and ruins everything with cold weather and rain.
(I swear to you I saw a headline in which they gave that misnomer to hurricane Sandy.)

So when cooler weather started setting in a few weeks ago, I was gushing to a friend here about how much I love fall, and how much I miss being in Provo right now, as all things autumn are befalling that little city.

I mean hello, those glorious mountains?! Kill me!

THEN she went on to say that fall here in DC is way better than in Utah!

My initial reaction to such an audacious statement:, and I quote:

"PSSSSSHHHH"

However, I might have to eat my words a bit.

Because fall here IS beautiful.

It certainly doesn't compare to the majestic beauty of Provo canyon, 

but it lasts WAY longer here than in Utah! 

I mean, more than 2 weeks of legit autumn weather?!

It's awesome!

I mean, it's still pushing 70 degrees here most days, but all of the leaves are still glorious!
(Plus, it DID snow in Utah today so.... we win.)

So let's just say, I could never stop loving fall in Utah.

But fall in DC has not been disappointing in the least.

sunday funday

Here's the thing:

Sometimes when I get tired and hungry, I also get REAL grouchy.

(And sometimes actually means all the time)

So last Sunday when both befell me, all I wanted to do was curl up in bed all afternoon and let my pancake lunch settle.

(So gross right?)

Anyways, thankful I have a husband with an insatiable desire to see things, and after much coaxing, we ventured out on a bike ride through UNBELIEVABLE weather down to see the monuments.

Thank heavens for a convincing man like Christian, because it was the most enjoyable Sunday afternoon we've had here so far. And biking around the city is quickly becoming our favorite past time!

gettysburg

Last weekend, we were privileged to visit beautiful Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

It was a gorgeous fall day, and the spirit there is unbelievable.

A must see if you are ever in this neck of the woods.

Didn't get the memo that we were taking a serious picture with the cannon, obviously.

 Just me being cool taking landscape pictures from the bus.
Barf.
But I just couldn't help myself. This field was so pretty in real life.

'Murica.

it was totally serendipitous

Last weekend, we had a fun little date night.

We went on a boat tour of the Potomac with some friends from the program

(which was kiiiind of pointless since we could hardly see anything.

But the company was great, so we still had fun)

Followed by a trip to Georgetown Cupcakes

(I thought nothing could be as delicious as Sprinkles, but I was wrong.....)

A stroll through Dean & Deluca
(to my fellow Felicity fans, it was AWESOME!)

And then dinner at Serendipity.

(Which was a little pricey but delicious.

And no we didn't get the famous frrrrozen hot chocolate... we figured since we had dessert BEFORE dinner that another was a little uncalled for.

I know. I'm surprised at our restraint.)

Anyways, it was fun

We love the friends we've made here.

And Georgetown is magical in the fall.

The End.

apartment tour

So when we first moved into our shoebox apartment, I was beyond excited.

You guys. 

It's seriously so cute.

And even though it's totally itty-bitty,
it's perfect for us right now.

And all the dorm-room-furniture-and-stake-center-like-feel of the Barlow Center is oddly comforting.

So without further adieu, I give you our little space of the world.
(And try not to cry over our lack of Halloween decorations.
I know.
It kills me too.)

feeling blessed

This weekend, I am thankful for the temple.

Thankful for conference.

Thankful for prophets who truly speak for God in this day and age.

Thankful for fall, the most exquisite time of year.

Thankful to have enjoyed it out on the Potomac river this morning with my sweet husband and sweet friends.

Thankful for this beautiful country we live in.

Thankful for my family.

Thankful, simply, just to be alive.

So undeserving. But oh so thankful.