DC Photos - Part 2: National Mall, WWII Memorial

Everyone knows the story of WWII and how the United States entered the conflict that encompassed nearly the entire globe.  There are wings of Smithsonian's dedicated to this war and an entire museum devoted to the Holocaust.  A visit to the National Mall is not complete without a visit to the newest monument, the WWII Memorial.  On the day I visited the mall a group from Honor Flight had brought a group of WWII veterans from Chicago to the monument.  Honor Flight Network works to bring those who are honored by the monuments to the mall to the see them.  Below are just a small portion of the photos I took at this monument. 

DC Photos -Part 1, Arlington National Cemetery

It's humbling to visit Arlington.  It's hard to find inspiration in a place that holds 25-28 funerals daily.  But through the delicacy of human emotions that are so close to the surface when visiting these hollowed grounds one can find more of a sense of honor in being apart of such a great nation.  The reverence with which everyone you encounter there from tour guides to grounds keepers holds these remains of those there with the utmost respect and dignity.  While there it is not unlikely that you will see a funeral.  Of the two processionals I saw there is one that I will never forget.  The processional began with a full military band, a bugler, the casket upon a caisson, a group of over 50 mourners and then the processional of about 30 cars.  Everyone on the tram fell silent.  You could hear the drum beat of the band and the click of the hoofs from the horse.  The groundskeepers stopped pruning trees and mowing lawns, all vehicles stopped, and everyone held their collective breathes.  Its enough to make you proud to be apart of such a great nation.  I only saw a fraction of the memorials but I have an even deeper respect for those who have given their all to our country.  Below are a selection of photos from Arlington.

Del Mar Decadence

Not exactly elegant decadence.  More caloric decadence.  This years San Diego County fair was a ton of fun that included an extensive variety of carnival classics and other wacky creations.  Here is a sample of stuff we ate and saw...

Funnel Cake

Dippin Dots

Footsie Wootsie

Plastic Toys

Cheesecake on a stick...yes it is amazing

'Alice' cake in a competition

Fresh

I have written before about my adoration for Sephora and its wide product range.  But now a favorite product has added a new color in its repertoire.  For a few years now I've been using Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment.  This replaced my former go to lip treatment, the Rosebud Salve.   I've gone through several tubes..but still had to apply a lip color afterwards.  Enter my solution...Fresh came out with Sugar Rose last year.  A perfect pink hue that makes my pout sparkle.  I'm on my third tube in less than a year.  And my family wonders how I have VIB Status at Sephora.  Now they have introduced Sugar Plum.  Similar to Clinique's epitomes Black Honey lipstick/gloss but more moisturizing.  These three lip products are living happily within the confines of my makeup bag.  I've even gotten my mom and sister in on the act.  Both of them use the Lip Treatment and Sugar Rose.  If you want a no fail summer lip color run...do not walk to Sephora and pick one up.

Slacking

Yep..thats me.  I've been slacking.  Not for sake of trying, I have been busy actually.  Work, friends, family, and general musings about town.  But I do have a new BFF,...its my iphone.  It keeps me untethered from my macbook.  And *sigh* I am now one of "those" mac people.  I can't stop gushing about the many apps, features, and fun things that keep my obsessed with my iphone.

So, this weekend while I surprisingly don't have to be anywhere I am (finally) working on some posts, cleaning, and prepping for the big family vacation.  Isn't it awesome not to 'have' to be anywhere.  Its very freeing and lets my inner sloth emerge onto the couch, cool drink on the table, laptop on snack tray, movie downloading on iTunes (told you I was a mac person), and two adorable dogs sitting at my side.  Don't get me wrong I love being busy and the fact that my phone keeps buzzing with new emails.  But, sometimes in our harried lives its nice just to sit for a while and leave all obligations behind.

Dollar aisle garden

I love Target.  It has the best product selection of affordable items for your wardrobe, kitchen, home, etc.  I am currently obsessed with their blue corn tortilla chips and cheddar and bacon dip...perfect for homemade nachos!  But their dollar aisle is always calling my name.  Whether it be craft items or adorable party items there is always something new to look through.

A few weeks ago we bought some dollar aisle grow your own herb garden potted plants.  It sounds kinda sketchy...a potted plant, from the dollar aisle.  Would they grow?  Would they just be empty pots of dirt sitting on the counter?  Well...the photos below show that (a) they do indeed work...and (b) I can grow stuff!!  Now I know why my grandma likes gardening so much...the results.  Its so fun to come out in the morning and see the progress that they have made overnight...or sometimes just in an afternoon.
Enjoy the photos!!

They have grown so much since I shot these on Sunday.  The sunflower has popped up out of the dirt and I can see a second sprout coming up.  Currently they all have some foliage popping out of the ground.  Can't wait to see the flowers and herbs!!! 

Technicolor Disney

I know there is a collective sigh amongst my friends and family when I say that I am either going or just returned from a trip to Disneyland.  I am a lucky girl.  I live in Southern California with the best weather in the world and I get to visit the happiest place on earth practically whenever I want.  And really as I've posted before it really doesn't get old.  I see new things virtually every time I am there. This last trip was no different.  Here are some of the most colorful photos from my recent trip two weeks ago.  My technicolor Disney! (to see the photos in their full capacity double click on the photos to enlarge them)

The newly transformed 'Fun Wheel' at California Adventure.  Love the new 'pie-eyed' Mickey look!!

The ultimate 'technicolor' sign.  Although red doesn't show up well in photos..*sigh*.

'Cheshire Tails' at Marceline's Confectionary.  We went in for sugar cookies and I had to snap a photo of these...their sparkly purple sprinkles were calling me.  

Ice Cream!!  Swirled cones on a sidestreet on Main Street, where when you sit at the tables you can hear the 'residents' of Main Street holding conversations above you!  

This caught my eye in the penny arcade as I was walking to get coffee on Main Street.  The only three alike in that section.  Super cute shell design and all brightly colored!

Grizzly River Rapids while taking the scenic route to Soarin.  

I cannot escape peacocks...its like they find me.  I should start taking more photos of them.

My favorite of the bunch.  These remind me of the singing flowers in Alice in Wonderland. Kinda like the tiger lilies that growl at Alice.  These were on Main Street near the 'Partners' Statue.  

Now what to do with these lovely photos?  Hmmm...normally they'd just go into a file on my computer and wait for the day that they'd be used.  Well...I saw this online on my fav crafting site, Etsy...these picture cards/post cards caught my eye.  Simple and useful.  Combining three of my loves: crafts, photography, and stationary!  I could even extend into the world of creating my own journals...but I'd need a zutter.  Let's see how this goes before I invest 75 bucks into another crafting tool...not to mention the added accessories.  That's a pretty penny to make journals.  Another project...ahhh I love crafts an endless source of creativity!