Winter Wedding

Travis and I attended a beautiful wedding in The Woodlands, Texas for our dear friends Jay Bryan Ingram and his lovely bride Kelly at the first of December. We really enjoyed being a part of their special day, and celebrating with their friends and family. The 70 degree weather in Texas was a nice change from DC as well!

At the rehearsal dinner

The beautiful couple!

With our DC neighbors, who happen to be the sister and brother-in-law of the groom.

Go Steelers!

Trav and I have a new team to cheer for: the Pittsburgh Steelers. Our friend Chris Scott, former University of Tennessee offensive tackle, was drafted by the Steelers in the 5th round. At 6’4” and 319 lbs he is a force to reckon with, and we are so proud of him!

When we found out the Steelers were coming to Baltimore to play the Ravens at the beginning of December, we had to go. We got to visit with Chris before the game, and then shivered through one of the coldest nights ever (so glad I went to school in Tennessee…how do folks up north do this!?).

I'm going to pull this picture out when I want to feel petite!

Downtown Baltimore

Blurry pic--probably because the person who took it had shaky hands because it was freezing!!!!

Travis and Chris at the hotel before the game

It was quite a game…despite the win (final score 13-10), we saw Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers QB) get his nose broken and a really hard tackle that left Heath Miller with a concussion. Yikes! This is why they pay them the big bucks!

Carve me!

For me, the most wonderful time of the year is most certainly THANKSGIVING! Ahhh… the stuffing, the bread, the mac n’ cheese, the pie…..

And oh yes, the real reason for the season: What a wonderful time of celebratation with family and loved ones! Trav and I were fortunate this year to spend a long weekend in Tennessee, and although it was busy, we were thankful to get to see most of our family members and eat THREE Thanksgivings (and I’m not going to lie, I felt fortunate that leggings were an acceptable fashion choice in 2010. Leggings + Thanksgiving = Bliss)!



Meal #1



Jackson and his girlfriend, Shaylee

Pa, Trav, me, and Ma at my grandmother's house



Trav and Momma Jan at the UT game

So what are you thankful for? For me, this year has made me incredibly aware of the importance of focusing on the things in life that matter, and especially the importance of cherishing every moment with the people that matter. Here is my (brief) list of some things I am most thankful for:

·         My faith.

·         Travis. Enough said.

·         My amazing, loving, supportive family. And in conjunction with item 1 above, my hubby’s amazing, loving, supportive family.

·         Friends who make me laugh, and especially my long-distance amigas who keep it real, despite the miles that separate us.

·          My health.

·         My job, especially the fact that it’s only a 10 minute walk from home! And thankful busy season only happens once a year!

·         Washington DC. Ok, it’s realllly cold for part of the year, but I really love living in such a pretty city, getting to meet interesting people, and yes, most of the time I actually enjoy the extra exercise I get from walking!



Hey Stranger…..

It’s been TOO long since I’ve posted! The Greaves (Greaveses, Greaves’, Greaves’s…whatever!) have been busy little bees. Since my last post we have:

Been to 3 amazing weddings in Knoxville, Baltimore, and Austin (listed below in order of appearance):

Mr. and Mrs. Mart Marasco

Mr. and Mrs. John Pellegrini

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Coe

Had several visitors, including 1) Cameron and Mart; 2) Jan and Gran (pictured below); 3) Stefan Hubbard and Kevin Rice; 4) Valerie Wilkins; 5) Austin Holt





Hiked in Great Falls National Park:

Celebrated Halloween:

Russell Brand and Katy Perry...don't worry, if you didn't recognize us you aren't the only one!

Learned that we are going to be Aunt Holly and Uncle Travis (version 2.0) in February…..Kara and Matt are having a baby boy in February!

(ok, so it's not this baby, but when I searched "cute baby boy", he appeared)

And last but not least…..I worked over 200 hours in the last 2 weeks…..

And am now officially done with busy season 2010! So expect lots of new posts in the very near future!



A Good Read

I’ve always been an avid reader and have a love for books. Growing up you could always find me curled up with a book and a handful of chocolate kisses, whenever there was time to spare! Nevertheless, my time for pleasure reading diminished in college, and then went almost static when I started working in public accounting. And oh how I have MISSED the delight that comes with starting a new book, reading the last page about 15 minutes in to make sure “it’s all going to end ok”, flipping the crisp pages (sorry Trav and Ash!), and basically losing myself in a good story…..ahhhh.

Anyway, since marrying Trav and watching him devour countless books a month (he’s an attorney folks) I’ve started to make reading a priority again. I was also invited to join a monthly book club, which forces me to set aside time for my favorite hobby.

The rules of book club are simple: there must be good books, good food, and good conversion! We take turns hosting and moderating, and we rotate the type of books we read, which has opened my eyes to some great reads.

So here is a run-down of my 2010 reading list to date. The good, the bad, and the ugly!

1. The Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer

Ok, so maybe this was on the 2008 reading list, but I had to give it a shout out. It’s a delicious easy read (not one of my book club selections, I should add) and if you have missed out on this craze that’s sweeping the nation, it’s your loss!

2. The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

This is a short read you may have read in high school English. I admit it is a good work of literature, and interesting because the plot describes a young woman’s mental breakdown that is scarily similar to the author’s own life. However, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions and a little bit angry. So read with caution!

3. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

If you haven’t read this book, stop reading my post and go get it! It’s more enjoyable than this blog entry, I promise, and it’s definitely among my top picks of the year. Soon to be a major motion picture too!

4. Before you know Kindness, by Chris Bohjalian

I almost quit book club after this book. The plot is centered on a family in crisis, whose relationships are forever changed when a young girl accidently shoots her animal rights activist father with her uncle’s hunting rifle. I know a lot of folks who praise Chris Bohjalian’s work, but it’s just not for me. Not to mention our book club discussion turned into a heated debate about gun laws in America (being my father’s daughter, you can image what side of the debate I was on.) Two thumbs down on this one.

5. The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy

Another book club pick, and not something that would have normally jumped off the Border’s shelf and into my hands. However, I loved this book! It’s a little slow in the beginning, but the author eventually unfolds a great story set in India that delves into topics such as politics, race, and rights of women—all from a child’s point of view.

6. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

One of Hemingway’s first major novels, the book is set in Paris and Spain in the 1920’s. Though I wasn’t around when it was first published, I can imagine it was probably quite a racy book for it’s time! The book focuses on a group of literary types (mostly ex-patriots) who appear to be running around Europe drinking, partying, and drinking some more. Similar to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the book is certainly a critique of the vapid, careless, and immoral culture of the 20s. Not the most thrilling read I’ve ever read, but certainly entertaining. I would especially recommend it to anyone traveling in France or Spain.

7. Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt

A book club selection which holds a particular fondness for me, not only because it was an EXCELLENT read, but also because it was the book of choice the night I hosted at mi casa. (Side note: It is popular to make a meal that is in keeping with the theme of the book. Since Angela’s Ashes is set in Ireland, I did a Potato Bar and Guinness Cupcakes. Big hits!). The book is a memoir told from the perspective of a young Frank McCourt in the 1930s and 1940s. I laughed and I cried, and the book made me realize how incredibly lucky I am to be an American living in modern times. I believe there’s even a movie, for you non-readers out there!

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

If you don’t know someone reading this book or haven’t seen it all over your local bookstores, see my comment in the discussion re: The Twilight Series. Ok, I’ll repeat it. If you have missed out on this craze, it’s your loss…but you are probably getting more sleep than me because I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime reading this series. Despite its reputation as a page turner, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (and the subsequent books in the series) has a lot of complex themes, especially about women. Buy it now!

9. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

One of my favorite books of all time! July 11th marked the 50th anniversary of this Pulitzer Prize winning classic, and our book club joined in the celebration by selecting it for our July book. Pick it up, read it again, and I bet you’ll be surprised to learn something new in Ms. Lee’s tale.


10. The Big Short, by Michael Lewis

So you saw The Blindside? You read Liar’s Poker? All Lewis’s work. Michael Lewis is a former investment banker/bond salesman turned journalist. His writing is authentic, and he has the ability to explain the most mundane and complicated topics in such a way that you are waiting for the climax with the turn of the first page. In The Big Short, Lewis tells the story of the current financial crisis by focusing on the eccentric players who created the housing and credit bubble and then watched it crash. It’s a pleasurable work of non-fiction that will entertain even those less financially inclined!

Shrimp and Grits. Sort of.

Every Sunday I try out a new recipe. I’ve had some hits….and some misses. For example, last Sunday, my sister in law, Amber, was in town. As she is a vegetarian, I decided to make Giada’s Mushroom Bolognese. One of my book club friends made it, and it was divine….not so when I prepared it! Amber was a good sport, but it was a reminder to me NOT to serve an un-tried recipe to company. Never. Ever.
Anyway, this Sunday I made a recipe from Cooking Light that I’ve been dying to try for a while. It’s pure comfort food, under 30 minutes to cook, and per the magazine should only be around 500 calories a serving….I know, more than a Lean Cuisine, but it’s Shrimp and Grits! Sort of.

Spicy Shrimp and Grits (Cooking Light, March 2010)

• 3 cups 1% milk
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 4 slices applewood-smoked bacon
• 1 pound peeled, deveined large shrimp, uncooked
• 1 cup thinly vertically sliced white onion
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce or chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon ground or crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup green onion strips

1. Combine milk, water, butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer; gradually add grits, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium; cook 4 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in cheese.

2. While grits cook, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings; crumble bacon. Add shrimp to drippings in pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Remove shrimp from pan. Add white onion to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in bacon, tomatoes, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; sauté 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp, pepper sauce, and red pepper; cook 1 minute or until shrimp are heated. Serve over grits; sprinkle with green onions.

Rascal Flatts

Trav’s best friend Wes Murphy is currently touring with Rascal Flatts. It’s a pretty cool gig….think Ryan Seacrest at the Emmy Awards. Wes and his talented co-host Lauren are responsible for psyching up the crowd before and during the show. They do fan interviews, crowd interaction, etc. etc.

Anyway, Rascal Flatts played in Bristow, VA on Saturday night (along with Kelli Pickler), and Wes was kind enough to arrange for backstage access for me, Trav, Amber, and Amber’s friend Stacy. We also got to watch the concert from the pit! It was awesome.

The crowd loves him!

Trav, Amber, Stacy, me

BFF forever :)

Wes and Lauren

Washington DC goes Hollywood

First there was MTV’s Real World DC, then the Blonde Charity Mafia (a CW reality show that never aired in the US), and of course, Bravo’s Real Housewives of DC…..but a TV series dedicated to DC’s very own Georgetown Cupcake? Unbelievable.

TLC rolled out its newest reality show, DC Cupcake, on July 16th. I’ve only seen a couple of episodes, but I’m just not that impressed. While the previews promised lots of drama (think shortages of red velvet cupcakes on Valentine’s Day and incompetent employees who can’t perfect the “signature swirl”) it’s my humble opinion that Sophie and Katherine (sisters and co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake) should stick to what they know best…baking! And the baking, let me assure you, is good.

Trav, Amber, and I made our way to Georgetown Cupcakes on Monday night, and even then, the line was LOOONG!

The shop was cute, and it is certainly hard to imagine a full camera crew in here. That's probably enough drama itself!





We ordered Chocoloate Coconut, Chocolate Birthday Cake, Chocolate Ganache, Peach, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Birthday Cake (come on, if you wait in line for 30 minutes you have to sample a lot!).

Trav and I argued over the first bite.....

And then went home, happy and content.

Was it worth the wait? The hype? Maybe…the cupcakes were pretty delicious and the signature swirl was attractive, but if you want my opinion, skip the line and the hoopla, and walk 3 blocks over to Baked and Wired. You won’t be disappointed!

Hellllllooo Houston

Our good friends Jennifer and Alex got married on July 17 in Houston, Texas, and Trav and I flew down Saturday for the gorgeous ceremony and reception. It was a beautiful wedding, with lots of personal touches (not to mention the best wedding band ever). We had a blast celebrating with friends from Houston and were honored to be a part of the festivities!

Jennifer Brand, Ashley McDonough, the Bride, Holly, Sarah Miller

We also got to spend some time Sunday with Trav’s Mom, his Gran, and his sister Amber, which was long overdue. It was a great weekend and we only wish it could have lasted longer. A weekend trip just isn’t long enough to see all of our dear friends and family from Tejas, but we will take what we can get. Congrats Jen and Alex!

Martha’s Vineyard – Day 3 through Day 5

After a busy weekend of sight-seeing in Boston, Travis and I were both in need of some R and R to top off our summer vacation. From Boston, we headed to the coast and caught the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. The ferry ride was nice but I couldn’t help but think about the Grey’s Anatomy episode where the ferry crashed and Seattle Grace was overwhelmed with injuries…..once you are on the boat, in between all the decks, cars, dogs, etc, it is easy to imagine how quickly disaster could strike if something went wrong!

Anyway, that’s morbid and we had a very nice easy trip. We got off at Vineyard Haven and took a taxi to Oak Bluffs where our B and B, the Pequot Inn, was located.

Our charming Bed and Breakfast

Each town in Martha’s Vineyard has its own personality. Oak Bluffs is best known for its gingerbread style houses and the puritans that once called it home; we picked it primarily because of its proximity to the beach!

Apparently, Oak Bluffs has another fan….we spotted Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics out with his lady friend for dinner at the Sweet Life Café!

Squint your eyes and look at the table behind Trav…..that’s him!

We had to keep taking pictures at dinner so Ray didn’t get the wrong idea….

We did make time to tour some other parts of the island (via Bike!). My second favorite place next to Oak Bluffs was Edgartown. The architecture there is, like Oak Bluffs, of consistent style and theme. Most of the shops, restaurants, and houses are white and quant.

We had another celebrity sighting in Edgartown: Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace! We weren’t quick enough with our camera to catch him though (which I am sure was greatly appreciated).

Our bike ride was really of the best parts of the trip. The island is incredibly biker-friendly, and it gave us a chance to see some of the more private parts of the Vineyard. Overall, the island is really a very low key, family oriented destination, and I can see why it is a popular destination spot for some well-known folks. We hated to say good-bye!