Sprinkles Cupcakes

Having a cupcake-a-day habit (not really, but at least a weekly taste), Liz and I have researched, scouted, and tried several cupcakes around town. Myself being gluten-free and Liz being what I call a "Vegan Individual", we definitely have discriminating tastes. 

So far, we have tried Hello Cupcake and Red Velvet. Last night? It was Sprinkles. We thought we didn't make it to their Georgetown store before they closed, but they are open until 9pm! (Washingtonians, take note!)

We waited in line, but if they knew what was good for them, they better have gluten-free and vegan cupcakes available. We have been burned by wanting a cupcake at the end of the day and people being out.

The little cups of red velvet deliciousness were amazing. The cream cheese frosting is like no other. So delish and so glad that Sprinkles is in the 'hood!

V is for vegan, G is for gluten-free.
(Add an A and you have a dirty joke.)

Oh, and you can spout off about Georgetown Cupcakes from DC Cupcakes of TLC, but since you have to pre-order gluten-free or vegan cupcakes, they are dead to us. Oh, and Crumbs is on notice, too for not even having gluten-free or vegan cupcakes.

Lounging Weekend

After a stellar night of kickball (read:cocktails), I used Friday to recover and recharge the batteries. It was nice to do little things around the house that needed to get done, catch up on DVR, and paint my nails.

I was rallied by my new friends through Tri Delta alum brunch and happy hour.

Time out:
Wanna know how small the world is when you're in a sorority? I follow Lindsey's blog Lovin' My Life, which led to twitter follows and tweetbacks. I checked in for the Tri Delta happy hour and we discovered that we're sisters! Because our convo was on the feed, another follower named Ashley told us that she's a Tri Delta, too! We are everywhere.
Time in.

Back to Friday night rally efforts. I managed to last until about 12:30 before I called it a night. I was proud to have made it that long.

Time out for a confessional:
You know how I lasted so long? There was what I could only describe as an American Beefcake across the way at the bar that I couldn't help but stare up and down. I was caught several times, but whatever, he was so ridiculously good-looking I couldn't help it. I'm not necessarily into that "type", but he was like an Adonis. Seriously. Wow.
Time in.

Today was filled with more naps, movies, and finally taking all my boxes to the dumpster. I realized I couldn't keep making excuses. It needed to get done. I rewarded myself with a Slurpee and Ben & Jerry's, naturally. (Oh, and I totes did a workout because I felt guilty for have two straight days where I didn't walk at least a mile. Score one for me. Minus several thousand for the entire pint of ice cream for dinner.)

I think I would have gotten out today if it weren't for the blustery, rainy weather. We had a tornado watch. Seriously? We're several hundred miles from Tornado Alley, so what gives?

Tonight, I enjoyed getting caught up on blogs and ironing, and plan on getting up early to hit up the farmer's market before a brunch with some co-workers, then I have a date with Trader Joe's and Target. (I have to make dates because I have to schedule a Zipcar, which also makes me much more efficient at errand running because I'm on a time limit.)

I like that I'm back to being normal while the luster of living in DC is starting to wear, it's more that I appreciate it rather than stand in awe that I live here. Hence the whole staying in for a couple of days. Oy.

So What Wednesday

Here's what I'm saying "So What" to this week by linking up with Shannon over at Life After I Dew:

So What if...

• I didn't get the BFF's birthday card in the mail in time to get there by today? I know that Chelsea will be reading this. And if I give her blog A Colorado Cupcake a shout out, she can't be that mad.
• OK, she totally has the right to be a little mad.
• I have happy hour tonight, kickball + night out tomorrow, and then a day off? God put seven days in a week and seven different nights in which to enjoy an adult beverage.
• I'm planning multiple brunches - almost one a weekend. A girl's gotta eat. And drink champagne.
• I think that acronyms are a new language? When someone says Effaredee, they really mean FRD and I have a tough time deciphering.
• I am plotting my errand running. It's not like I can hop in the car anytime I want, I have to schedule it like everything else in my life.
• I'm excited for my parents to visit, but have no idea what to do with them. I mean, there's all this touristy stuff, but #beentheredonethat
• I use hashtags in daily conversations via email, text, fb, and of course, twitter. It's like Brick whispering to himself on the The Middle.
• I now look like I'm disinterested in the world when I'm walking around town? I have discovered audiobooks from my library (FREE! to download) and am now enjoying the company of Maj. Dick Winters and his memoir Beyond Band of Brothers. Love it.

Go over and link up with Shannon and say your own "So what"!

Alone Time

Talking with the BFF Daisy yesterday, I realized why I haven't even thought about Colorado that much since I moved: I finally have alone time.

Back in Colorado, someone was always around. Sometimes it was just Harry, but that sweet face cuddling up on you can completely zap your motivation to clean/do laundry/move.

Here, I can get out, explore, meet people, and do what I want. Yesterday, I walked all around the neighborhood while talking to Daisy on the phone because I wanted to get out. It was perfect.

I get to have control of the TV.

I get to have the oven/stove/fridge space that I want for dinner.

I'm to blame for eating the last Peepster. (Blessing and a sadness.)

I don't have to worry about leaving hot water for the next person.

I can do laundry without interruption.

Basically, I missed being on my own and independent. Being an only child, I can handle it. It's something that keeps me walking a fine line between a hermit/crazy cat lady and a social butterfly. There are just some things in life that I want to do and experience alone. Some things, of course I want to share, but there's something about being with yourself that makes you just that more awesome.

I likened it to yoga for Daisy. I am getting active and a workout by walking all around. I get the meditation from being by myself. I have to do the deep breathing to get up the stairs at Dupont Circle Station. I haven't done yoga in awhile because, here, I get it in everyday activities. I can sit back and watch the world go by all while enjoying the quiet in my mind.

Alone time is simply wonderful and completely restorative.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh....

Oh, and for an update on some of my life, head over to Adventures in the District for some catch up.

So What Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon over at Life After I Dew, here's what I have to say "so what" to this week.

So what if...

• I have a stack of boxes just sitting in my living room? I haven't had anyone staying with me and it's been too cold/hot/windy/late/early to take them to the dumpsters.
• I have cupcake-a-day habit? I'm walking over a mile a day with my new place and I'm taking into account...strawberry frosting and lemon zest cake count as fruit, dairy, and grain servings, right?
• I chose to cheer for Butler because their coach is cute? I'm a girl whose bracket was busted early on, so I need to revert to my instincts.
• I blogged about wearing heels when you go out, but will probably wear flats out this weekend?
• I'm more unsure how to dress for DC weather than Colorado weather? I don't know how to dress in layers for a place that does and doesn't need layers. I'm so confused.
• I carry coffee onto the Metro? I have caught myself giving the stink eye to tourists eating and drinking on the Metro now that I know that you can't eat and drink on the Metro, but my coffee is concealed in a travel, no spill mug tucked into my little Metro bag. (Thanks, daddio.)
• I purposefully will carry a large purse in this city? Charging for bags makes me crazy, so I will cram my groceries into my purse. (And I do carry a reusable bag in my Metro bag in case I stop to shop on my way home from the office.)
• I am considering getting a Xanex prescription for taking the escalator into the Metro at the Dupont Station? Between the vertigo and anxiety with falling, I'm a wreck when they're not on and I have to take them like stairs. (Kidding. Kinda.)

Flats vs. Heels

Here's what I get and what I observe. On the nine-to-fivers, there are practical, comfortable shoes that get you from A to B in a fast and blister-free look. Not to mention, if you're walking around and around a new office that you're constantly confused with, then you need to have some shoes that don't fatigue your feet.

I get it. I am that girl. I have several pairs of flats, from Tory Burch & Cole Haan to Payless & Target. I have gel insoles in most of them. Let's be honest, when your feet are happy, you're happy.

What I don't get is when you get gussied up to hit the bars, friend an ass-tastic pair of jeans or a banging dress that you feel faboosh in, why oh why would you wear flats?

I get that you're standing for a period of time at the bars, that you're walking from bar to bar, but have you ever been to Vegas? Because lemme tell you, you should be able to rock those heels, ladies. Vegas is a marathon and a typical Saturday night out is a measly 5K.

I get flats, I really do, but there are some ensembles that require a pair of heels. So, get a pair that has a little platform to make the heel less extreme, get a half size bigger and wear gel insoles, try not walk as much (hitch a ride or get a taxi), and remember if your feet hurt and you sit down, your feet are going to hurt hella worse when you stand up. Just keep a drink in your hand to numb the pain a little, dance to make them a little more numb, and then pack a little pair of roll up flats for the walk home if you're unlucky in finding a cab.

Rant over.

(Oh and feel free to point out when I wear flats out and remind me of this post.)

Hello, Cupcake!

On my second day in my new 'hood, I found this great little shop called Hello Cupcake.

They serve, you guessed it, cupcakes. But, not just any cupcake, but beautiful, artisan, flavorful cakes of goodness.

The best part? The gluten-free flavors rotate. Daily.

For my work BFF, they also rotate their vegan flavors daily.

Could this be? Within 24 hours of being in this town, I find the perfect cupcakery?

It is true.

I had a delicious strawberry lemonade cupcake...lemon zest cake with strawberry frosting.

AH.

MAZE.

ZING.

Take a second to peruse their website savoring their delicious visual eats. And if you're near Dupont Circle, make a point to visit this little shop and taste the yumminess for yourself.

Legit went tourist in this shop.

(This also serves as notice that anyone that comes to visit me will have a mandatory stop. Just sayin'.)