MN & IA

When it comes to travel at my job, my colleagues and I have to bid on what trips we want.

Needless to say, when the Minnesota/Iowa trip came on the schedule.

I was the only one who wanted it.

I was ecstatic.

As I've said a million times before and what I'll continue to say...

the best part of my job is when I'm able to mix business with pleasure,

which is exactly what this trip was all about :)

One of my best friends growing up, Charla, and her husband Darin just recently moved to Minneapolis and so I was able to spend the two nights I was in town, hanging out with them.

Charla and I haven't seen each other in almost three years...insane! So we spend the first night talking for hours and hours...

It was so wonderful.

The second night, well we spent it eating :)

The cupcakes were delicious!

Me and Charla. Oh how I've missed her!
BFFs since 14.

Though I was sad to say goodbye to Charla, heading to Iowa had its own treat as well.

Jenny!

Jenny and I were roommates in Arizona and then she got married and had these 3 adorable little boys and they all moved to Iowa a year ago for her husband to attend Law School.

I was able to spend a whole day and night with the family and we had such a great time.

These boys were just too cute and they even let me read to them.

Melt my heart.

Jenny and I were able to just catch up and enjoy each others company.

It was so nice. She is a great mother and a great friend.

I am so blessed to have so many incredible people in my life.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE my job?

Enjoying DC

After spending a week in Paris, I realized that I have got to take more advantage of my own City.

DC.

So over the weekend, I did.

Friday night went with a few friends to catch the last "Jazz in the Garden" for the season. Basically its a free Jazz concert in the Sculpture Garden.

I know, it really is amazing.

Kat and I just enjoying the beautiful weather and straining to hear the Jazz music (there were TONS of people everywhere.. haha)
Friends enjoying some Jazz.

Saturday a few of us went back into the city to check out the Arts of Foot Festival.

It was so much fun!! I mean, Mental Note: I will attend this Festival every year I'm in DC.

There was live music, tons of Artists selling their goodies, loads of Restaurants with dollar samples of their best edible creations and even a free showcase of all sorts of Art going on in the city. We sat down and saw two dance numbers, an excerpt of a play and even a Chorus concert.

After checking out the Festival, we strolled into the National Portrait Gallery to see the new Norman Rockwell Exhibit.

I have always enjoyed Norman Rockwell, but this exhibit, well it pretty nearly changed my life.

It was the personal collection of George Lucas and Steven Speilberg and there was even a short video of the two of them discussing why they collect his art.

Seeing all those pieces together just reminded me of what I love about this Country. The Four Freedoms, the goodness of Man and just Patriotism.

Honestly, if you're ever given the chance.

Check it out.

We topped off the day with a trip to the greatest Gelato place in DC.

Which by the way, I had just discovered the night before.

What can I say?

I heart Gelato :)

Nearly as much as I heart DC.

Another great weekend at home.

Love it.

I love Paris in the Fall

I heart Paris.

It's just that simple.

I was able to spend a week in the city and it was absolute perfection.

70 degress the entire time, hanging with my parents, strolling through the city streets, eating crepes whenever I wanted and laughing my head off with some of my favorite DC friends.

Oh it was wonderful.

Me, KA and MJ inside the Eiffel Tower, where we enjoyed an amazing lunch with my parents.
Mom and I atop the Eiffel Tower.

Blowing away on top of the Eiffel Tower.

Aren't my parents adorable?! Oh how I love them

Me and my Daddy.

We spent the whole first day in Paris with the Eiffel Tower. From every angle. It was awesome.

Just taking it all in.

Hall of Mirrors. Versailles.

Golf Cart through the Versailles Gardens. An absolute MUST.

Marie Antoinette's Chateau.

Little Garden off of Marie Atoinette's Chateau.

Versailles (I just love Versailles!!)

McDonalds. I don't care what you think.

I love it!

Front Row seats to the Mona Lisa. Turns out, all you gotta do is tear your ACL, get a wheelchair and your VIP baby.

I was laughing so dang hard when they wheeled her over....hahahaha.

Just taking a stretch break in the Louvre.

Don't know about you, but I get super tight after walking a few miles.

Aww...sunset outside the Louvre.

Merry and Bright.

Love this picture.

Sunset in Paris. Gorgeous.

Notre Dame.

Enjoying some down time by the Seine River.

These next few photos just crack me up... KA had my camera and was able to capture the slow motion destruction of my crepe and apparently proving that I am 5 years old and incapable of eating properly. Hahahaha.

It begins to fall...

Attempting another bite...

And I'm done and covered in chocolate.

Out of control.

Oh she is just too beautiful for words.

Standing on top of the Arc de Triumphe.

Yearning from afar.

One of my favorite photos from the Normandy Museum at Caen. These are French Women liberated when the American and Allied Troops arrived.

So real. You can just see the joy on their faces.

Another photo, this one from the actual D-Day landing.

Incredibly humbling.

WWII/D-day Museum at Caen (Normandy).

It was the greatest museum... I could have spent a whole day in there alone.

The only thing I really wanted to do this trip, was Normandy. So we signed up for the Full Day Tour with a guide. It was the best money I spent all week. We hit the museum and the Beaches and the American Cemetery. It was such a powerful day. This is a picture of us at Gold Beach (I think).

Looking down at one of the beaches the Allies stormed on D-day.

Another beach shot.

MJ singing and bonding with our Tour Guide.

Outside the American Cemetery at Normandy.

Rossi, our other Tour Guide and our personal Fave. She knew everything and was such a sweetheart. I love French people :)

June 6, 1944.

D-Day.

Standing there with the rows and rows of White Crosses was a very reverent experience.

Reminded me of Gettysburg.

Hallowed Ground.

We are so indebted to those who have fought and who continue to fight for the cause of Freedom.

Gratitude.

Omaha Beach.

I love this girl. We had so much fun together.

Attempting to jump and not quite capturing it... haha.

Our very last stop on the tour, it decided to down pour. It was Pont du Hac (?). It was where the Rangers crawled up the cliffs and fought it out with the Germans for 2 days.

Incredible.

Mom and I at Angelina's with the girls. The desserts at this place were INCREDIBLE. Seriously, rock your world, good.

Another Sunset...our last one in the city. Beautiful as always.

Our last night we walked along the river from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower. It was the best way to say farewell to the City of Love.

Oh, Paris, I already miss you.