My Week in Photos

This past week has been so busy, I couldn't even get photos of everything that happened!  Here are a few things that kept me entertained...

As you may have heard, the National Book Festival was in town last Saturday and Sunday.  My mom came all the way from Illinois to see authors, and we truly had a literary visit.  Here's Jeffrey Eugenides (author of The Marriage Plot, The Virgin Suicides, and Middlesex, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize) giving a little speech about how much he likes DC (who doesn't?).

On Sunday, Mom and I woke up early for a 6-mile run with Mia, who was so tired afterward she needed three pillows to soothe her achy muscles.  At least she was tired!

Summer joined us for the Sunday festivities!  Here those girls are, listening so intently to some grown women talk about being embarrassed in middle school; the NBF gets real, y'all.

Mom had a question for the Steads, who wrote the Caldecott Award-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee.  They were an adorable couple!

Steve Inskeep from NPR's Morning Edition was there, too; weird to see a face when you're only used to hearing a radio voice! 

On Monday, we went to yet another author talk, this time Naomi Wolf discussing her latest work at Politics & Prose.  What a fabulous bookstore!  They have 475 author events a year; what a logistics fun-for-all that must be! 

Armswag for Tuesday morning's stroll through Georgetown.  From left: Declaration Boutique, self, gift from Jessilyn (cute owls!), Fossil, self, gift from Haley (love the beads!), gift from Mom (old, old, old from Cracker Barrel!). 

No trip to DC is complete without sweets from Baked and Wired!

I had about 15 minutes between my mom's departure and Belen's birthday arrival on Tuesday; here's JP, Belen and her roommate celebrating with Georgetown Cupcakes!  So cute.

Not pictured: Mandu with the betrothed Ana and Adam (I need photos next time!), DC United game on Sunday night (we won- currently tied for 3rd in the eastern conference and so close to play-offs), Comet Ping-Pong pizza with Mom, mushroom and dumplings for dinner on Saturday, and cute new work pants from J.Crew.  Let's hope this weekend has a little breathing room to recover! 

My life in a few photos

Hello, you wonderful readers!  I apologize for being off the map for the past couple of weeks.  There is no excuse, but would it help if I say there was a long visit from my mom, the National Book Festival, and lots of delicious food?

My mom and I got pedicures in Dupont Circle during her visit; it was terribly relaxing.  They asked if we wanted coffee, water, or champagne.  I think our answer was pretty obvious.

I would like to think that she came up solely for me, but the Book Festival was going on that weekend!  Here is Julianne Moore, discussing her children's series, Freckleface Strawberry.  She is gorgeous and well-spoken and great with kids.

Brian Selznick wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is a beautifully and thickly illustrated book about a young boy who lives in a train station.  (It's going to be a movie by Martin Scorsese this November.)  He's a dynamic speaker- really enjoyed hearing about his creative process, which involves lots of research.

Amy Chua (we were in the back- trust me, the view was better in person!) defended her memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which details her strict upbringing of her daughters.  The tent was pretty charged with opinions of her parenting style, but I really enjoyed her talk!

Summer joined us!  It was a great day- low 70s and cloudy.  We had a great time!

On Sunday morning we trekked to the Dupont Farmer's Market, where we picked up honeycrisp apples and peaches.  Yummy!  Also had brunch, then headed back to the NBF for the second day of speakers.

I really enjoyed Joshua Foer, the guy who wrote Moonwalking with Einstein.  Very articulate and, not surprisingly, the memory champ did not use any notes.

My Sunday ended with Garrison Keillor.  He recited sonnets he had written; they were lewd and hysterical.  I could listen to him speak all day.  What a wonderful closing author!