Spring Forward

Cannot believe we're 2 months into spring already! With the crazy weather plus busy schedules and lots of change - I don't know that Spring has gotten its fair share of attention this year.

Even though I love the beautiful colors of DC's fall and even enjoyed the Snowpocalypse that was this years winter; Spring is my very favorite season in DC. The weather and flowers (cherry blossoms!) are incredible (though much cooler than at home), but what I like most is the people, who are out in full force on every sunny day. Patios are full to the brim, jackets are off, sunglasses are on - and people just seem vibrant. Like they've been waiting eagerly for the sun to come out and want to enjoy every minute of it. I don't know how long we'll stay in DC (though, sorry Mom, no plans to leave for now!) but something about not knowing does make me appreciate it a little more; I want to remember it all and soak it in while we're here!

Since my last blog - we've had a lot of change around the Soheili household. :) Sie was promoted to Communications Manager with Capital One and is excited about his new role (he works hard & I couldn't be more proud of him). And I... (drum roll) decided to leave Accenture after five and a half years! I am starting my new role as Program Finance Manager with Dyncorp International this Monday and am pretty pumped about the opportunity to do something new. Accenture was a great company to work for; I'll never forget the friends I made and the experience gained from my time there. But change is good- and since that was my first and only job out of college - change is also semi-terrifying! ;) haha! Luckily the excitement trumps the fear (for now!)

We also had some travel and awesome visitors:

End of March/early April, our friend Chad (checkout his awesome blog about his time traveling Japan & Australia) & his girlfriend Rei came to check out the Cherry Blossoms and while they were here, we also enjoyed a fantastic rooftop birthday party for our good friend Ellen. When I told our friend Katie we had friends coming in town, she said "you guys and your visitors!" I guess we've gotten alot of visits from friends and family but it never gets old. We love it - and each time we realize visitors make us get out and see the city (sometimes we get set in our routine!), so it's been a real blessing, not to mention lots of fun. (and yes this is an invitation- come visit, there's an air mattress with your name on it)

enjoying Ellen's rooftop birthday, with fireworks courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. What a beautiful night!

cherry blossoms and bomb pops. how very all american.

Then we took the most amazing trip to New York with Dean and Becky!! I think I pretty well documented it via facebook but I have to say, we had a total blast. Sie & I had never traveled with just my parents before- they make a really good travel couple. They're flexible and always down for a good time!

Since Dad had never been to NYC before, we knocked out all the must-sees: top of the Empire State Building - I had actually never done this before and absolutely loved it. Night time is the way to go; Chrysler Building (not because we thought it was the Empire State building or anything- that would be absurd...BAH), Grand Central Station, Central Park, Bryant Park, Times Square, Highline Park & of course a small glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Aside from all that (90% of which we somehow packed into day 1!!), we looooved Soho, little Italy, a beautiful place called "the Park" in the Meatpacking District and really enjoyed seeing Billy Elliot on Broadway. It was SO good (even Sie, who lets say was musical-hesitant, really enjoyed the show!) ;)

We also had a lot of fun doing our own little version of a pub crawl (and by pub I mean we ended up in Aidan & Steve's bar from Sex in the City drinking cosmos- mom & I were in heaven!!) and let's not forget the pharmacy crawl (we somehow hit up every CVS in the city). We ate a lot of delicious food... I'm trying to think of which meal I loved the best. I think I'd have to say China Grill. Even though it was so much food, we left in borderline pain; it was: TO.DIE.FOR. I think my favorite bar was Randolph's at Broome in Soho, a chic little hipster place where our bartender mixed custom cocktails based on whatever we liked.

A few pics of our trip (between I-phones, blackberry and several cameras, its safe to say the trip was WELL documented!) I'm cracking up remembering one awesome fact we learned regarding Becky's very unique photography approach. An approach that may or may not involve getting your entire head in the picture. Can't wait to see some of those gems.

Mom & Dad in Central Park

about to experience the everlasting sandwiches and what would become "reuben brickette" that we enjoyed at Carnegie Deli.

these 2 being goobs at Calle Ocho

 did someone say 8 different types of bottomless sangria? don't mind if we do!

I have to thank our amazing friends Andrea, Jerome, Skye & my Aunt Debbie for all their awesome NY knowledge- we were all over their suggestion lists! (Andrea- should I post the NY suggestion list as a blog, that thing was priceless!) I'll get the ok from her first- she may have bigger plans for the list than my nerdy blog. ;)

Then my beautiful cuzzie Whitney came to visit for an Art Education conference in Baltimore (while Sie was in New Orleans for Matt Gantt's Bachelor party!!) We had so much fun together- she's such a fun, positive, inspiring person to be around. Whit also became an expert commuter, getting to & from Baltimore on the MARC train & was so city-sophisticated! She raved about the American Visionary Art Museum which she visited as part of her convention experience, so I've got to go to now :) While she wasn't convention-ing, we enjoyed Eastern Market & Dupont Farmer's Market together, and walked all around the Capitol Area. We even did a short trip to a few art galleries (which had always intimidated me, but Whit was not afraid!) and the Freer-Sackler art gallery which I had never been to before. 

Whitney inspired me to check out the Phillips Collection (right around the block from us!) on my week off, so after she left and I had a week of free time, I finally went and really fell in love. They're currently showing a Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit which was so beautiful. Can't wait to have you back, Whitney- love you!