What a trip.
Tags:I have always wanted to visit Washington, DC. Most of the time when I travel to teach all over the place, there is just not enough time for me to get to experience any other part of the city besides the store (and you know I love the stores). Being able to get out and actually see DC, Georgetown, and Alexandria was huge for me. To see all these places I have read about, seen on TV, etc was a major highlight. So much happens in this small area of our country. It is almost hard to comprehend how amazing it really is...
Being there I experienced a mixture of emotions. Pride in our country. Saddness for all the lives that have been lost...and thankfulness for all those men and women who have fought and continue to fight for the ideals we hold most dear. Even if my politics don't match the current administration, I was still so totally excited to see the presidental choppers flying overhead. (The above photo was taken up inside the Washinton Monument.)
Speaking of choppers...Marirosa, Ashlie and I had just come down from our adventure to the top of the Washington Monument. We were walking acorss the lawn towards the WWII Memorial when we heard the choppers coming - and then we saw them. FOUR of them. I totally got so excited as I saw them turn towards the White House that I full on sprinted towards the White House across the lawn. I wanted to see who was getting out! Marirosa and Ashlie were totally laughing at me, but I did not care one little bit. I felt so excited...that little kid kind of excited. I ended up not seeing much except the press corps getting off the last chopper - that was cool enough.
After being in the heart of DC we headed to Alexandria (earlier we had visited Georgetown - totally never realized how close it is to the Capital - and visited one of my favorite stores Paper Source) and lunch at Union Street. YUM - especially those garlic mashed potatoes and the local beer.
I found my favorite purchase of the trip at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (the coolest place) made by a designer names Jenae Michelle. The bag is made of vintage coats. In looking at her site this morning I found a link to another cool site: unsung desginers (I am sure I can find just a couple things on that site).
This was on the wall of the little shop where the bag was found:
Also while browsing around the Art Center I came across a painter that I now love: Susan Finsen. Love to get ahold of one of her paintings one day. Totally inspiring.
After all the touring and shopping and eating we headed back to Ashlie's for a potluck. I got to meet a bunch of wonderful women who were brought together because of scrapbooking and they brought awesome food along wtih them.
Saturday morning it was time for classes and the crop. The weather forcasters were all calling for snow. And it started coming down with avengence by early afternoon. I liked it of course (speaking of that it was snowing here this morning too). And just about everyone made it to class. Loved connecting with everyone in the classes. So many beautiful, friendly faces. We laughed a bunch and everyone worked really hard. I especially love commments about how tough the homework was for Perspectives - tough but good - just how it should be :).
I know I have said this before, and it is true everytime, I LOVE meeting all the people in classes. Thank you all for being so kind and for being excited and willing to play.
Hung out after the classes on Saturday night and then taught again Sunday morning before heading home Sunday afternoon. Made it even though the weather was on the questionable side. Happy to make it home on time since I leave in the AM tomorrow for a couple days in Salt Lake before heading to The Netherlands on Sunday.
And then, something else I thought was totally cool: the girls at Get Croppin are selling these awesome colanders with personalized rub on phrases. They made me one that says "Capture Life. Create Art." Of course, I love it. Totally perfect for storing more of these supplies I keep acquiring.
So thanks, my dear friends, for one of my most favorite trips yet. I am sure there is more, but I need to get to work.






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When I was teaching high school chorus, we took the band and chorus on a trip to DC. One morning while standing on the sidewalk in front of a museum waiting for it to open, President Clinton rode by on his bicycle followed by about 3 black Suburbans full of Secret Service agents. We lost about half our kids who went tearing off after him towards the whitehouse once we'd realized who it was, lol!
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ali,
love the way you "blog".
-p
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Loved reading about your trip to Washington... sounds like you had a wonderful time and I really love the bag... it's beautiful!
There is something about those choppers... they make you act goofy. I live about 20 miles from the President's ranch in Crawford and the choppers are always flying over when they come in and out. I always have to stop and watch them. Once we had to pull over for his motorcade to pass us on a two-lane road and he was in one of the suburbans. I was waving like crazy and acting so giddy... you would have thought it was some famous hunky movie star in there. My husband thought I was nuts.
Oh, well, he is the most powerful person in the free world!
Have fun on your trips to SLC and The Netherlands... look forward to more shared details and stories.
Pam C.
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That purse is adorable!! Love the colorful colanders, too!
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Collanders. What will they think of next???????
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Oh. My. GOOOODNESSSSS!!! Ali, I can't believe you were RIGHT WHERE I USED TO LIVE -- the place I love dearly, and out of the 20-something places I've lived, the place I call home. We still own our place in Alexandria, literally three blocks from Union Street Pub and a couple more from the Torpedo Factory (one of the reasons I fell in love with Alexandria). Looking forward to visiting dear friends there in April...good grief, I can't believe you were there...so when are you coming to San Antonio, LOL?! I never miss your blog, but don't post much because I figure my comments would be lost in the scores of others...but this time you pulled me out! :)
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LOVE that colander. And that purse is so freakin' cute!!!
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LOVE the wall words. Love coming across a quote that mirrors my own thoughts. (strenth in numbers, right?).
Me and the hubbers spent 9 months living just North of DC. It was incredible. We came down to explore every chance we got. Theres just something about being in DC that brings out the warm fuzzies. Incredible, inspiring place. Glad you got a taste. :d
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oh ali....awesome pictures. fun travels. now i must go to dc. so when you're in my neck of the woods i'll drive you up to w's ranch in crawford so you can give him a piece of your mind....lol. oh...the purse is adorable...i'd be more inclined to display it somewhere special though. lovely!
g
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Ali, sorry to be getting to you so late, but hey -- If I'd been there and seen/heard those choppers, I'd have run, too!! What an awesome time you had in D.C. Happy and safe travels!!
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oh my goodness...
i am completely in love with that bag.
sooooo cute.
love reading your blog.
thanks for the inspiration...
pamela, nw wa
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Ali-
I was thrilled to get your report on Alexandria, I am headed there in April for a work conference. It is comforting to know that I can find a scrapbook store anywhere I am...what a great hobby!
Thanks for the great shopping info..can't wait!
robin
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WONDERFUL, wonderful. And reading you description of the helicopters coming down made ME giddy. How fun.
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ahhh I am so jealous! I love that city, I spent a decade in my "early adult years" there and it's still in my heart. Jenae Michelle shows her work at Eastern Market, try to fit in a visit there next time you're in the area on a weekend. It's my old neighborhood and gives you a view of the small-town feeling DC can have, it's on Capitol Hill and is a great contrast to all of the monuments.
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Here is another great site for handmade cool stuff: etsy.com. Glad you had a good trip!
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I love Washington D.C. Could spend weeks and weeks there. It just has a different feeling there, different than anyplace else I have ever been.
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Oh my gosh, Ali! We were on the Washington Mall at the same time!!! I can't believe it....a girl from Oregon and a girl from Iowa, both hard core scrapbookers probably within yards of each other. Had I saw you, I would have definitely walked up and said something.
I had the opportunity to spend about 3 hours at the National Gallery of Art...totally amazing experience...
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Ali,
thanks so much for the links to the art gallery...OMG! I was in heaven looking at the paintings. Nice way to spend my lunch hour.
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