texas.

I can't wait to be in this beautiful state in three weeks!

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans." 

-John Steinbeck

how to do D.C. in three days

I went to Washington D.C. during my fall break to visit two of my favorite friends. And I'll be honest with you, I fell in love while I was there. I want to live there so badly! Me and Sara just might trade places.

Shoving D.C. into three days was hard, but if you ever find yourself in this situation, my itinerary worked out really well:

Wednesday Night:

Flew in, accidental detour through Virginia, slept on a trundle bed.

Thursday:

It poured rain on us all day! Perfect for the Smithsonians. Air and Space Museum, Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Museum of National History, The Archives (Declaration, Constitution, Bill of Rights).  You have to seriously pick and choose if you don't have 2 weeks for each museum!  We ate at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl (so gross and so good), and headed over to my main-girl Ingrid Michaelson's concert.  9:30 club. She rocked it. Metro. Sleep.

Friday: Such a beautiful day! Capitol Building, Library of Congress (favorite), Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial (other favorite), WWII Monument, Vietnam Veteran Monument, White House, Arlington Cemetary, Iwo Jima, Old Town Alexandria, sushi and frozen custard with more friends. Shin splints. Sleep.

Saturday: Eastern Market for the best buckwheat pancakes on this planet. Spend too much money. Georgetown stroll. Nap. Trader Joe's, homemade pizza.  Rewalk the Mall and monuments at night. Add Einstein Monument.  They are so amazing at night! You can't go to D.C. without it. Sleep.

Sunday: Fly home. Go to church. Sleep.

It definitely fits into my top three vacations! It was jam packed, and the only thing I really wish I could have seen was the D.C. Temple.  But I plan on going back in the near future!  You in?

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
-James Matthew Barrie

The Last Five Days:

Road trip with three of my favorite girls

My first In-N-Out Burger

My first trip to Vegas

My first trip to California

My first ocean

Sending a best friend into the MTC

Finishing spring semester

Smashed between two of my favorite people

"The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters" -Thomas Jefferson