One of the first things Dave did when we moved up here was to find us new car insurance. He really only shopped for price, so I feel incredibly lucky and grateful that in the process he also found us a darn-good insurance agent. When we had massive water damage on our fifth day in the house, I was even more grateful. Our insurance agent was the one who recommended the excellent restoration company that helped dry out the bathroom… Read More

Because I'm a fairly lazy housekeeper, I've always been a fan of the Swiffer line of products. I realize they're disposable, which makes them less than environmentally-friendly, but we've always had a dog and nothing picks up wiry terrier fur like a Swiffer dust cloth. When we moved into this house and had the hardwood floors put in, I figured I'd vacuum them with my Dyson and then use my Swiffer WetJet to clean them, just like I'd done with… Read More

It has been a ten-year work-in-progress, but I think I've finally perfected the chocolate chip cookie. I'm not kidding when I say I've been working on it for a decade; I've researched everything from types of butter to the perfect flour to baking sheets and temperatures. If you like the kind of cookie that I like, which is to say - barely firm on the outside, cake-like yet not too gooey on the inside, not flat, not too brown, just… Read More

I've always tended to err on the side of fashion, rather than comfort when it comes to footwear. Sure, I spend my summers in flip-flops, but I only wear the CLASSY ones, I promise. If you had asked me a year ago if I'd ever wear Ugg Boots (or something similar), I would've sworn up and down that NO, I'd never stoop so low.

But low I've stooped and now there's no going back.

I recently bought… Read More

Today the gardener popped into the backyard to mow the lawn again. It always surprises me when he shows up, but we're glad to have someone to help with the yard work. Now it looks all clean and pretty and since most of the leaves have already fallen off the trees, it should stay that way for a little while at least.

The highlight, though, was when the gardener's daughter peeked around the gate to come play with Alex… Read More

It's hard to believe our luck, but we've already made a few really good friends since we moved here. We've officially been Washingtonians for only five months, but we already have some of the closest friends we've ever had in our lives. I think a big part of it is that we finally feel like we can host people at our house without feeling embarassed about where we live. I've always been a social butterfly and LOVE having parties, etc,… Read More