• Salt steak

    Our friend Travis is a serious griller. Not only do he and his wife Heather make several gallons of chili every fall weekend for Navy game tailgates, Travis still always makes sure to bring beef or pork (often rubbed with the awesome coffee his brother makes, and accompanied by some kind of homemade sauce), hamburgers, […]

  • Fab Fave Friday: Red, white and blue

    I’m sorry I haven’t done Fab Fave Friday for a while, but, in keeping with my Fourth of July theme, I thought I’d share some of the red, white and blue items I’m coveting for summer! Clockwise(ish) from the top left: Polka-dot dress: Anthropologie. How cute is that little cutout in the front? Blue suede shoes: […]

  • Rhubarb pie

    It’s almost of the Fourth of July, so for the next few days I’m going to try to focus on foods that would be perfect for your holiday cookout or get-together. Today: Pie. Because what’s more American than fruit pie? Though many of you might guess that I favor cake or cookies, pie is actually […]

  • Seersucker and floral

    I have a navy-and-white stripes problem. It’s major. My friend Joan apparently has the same problem. But the best thing about it? When we were shopping and she told me that she can’t stop buying navy-and-white striped shirts… I was holding a navy-and-white-striped shirt. Obviously. Anyway. I meant to buy a navy-and-white-striped cotton jacket at […]

  • Macaroni and cheese

    I love macaroni and cheese. Any kind of macaroni and cheese. Well, maybe not that dusty-tasting kind from fast food-type restaurants (I’m looking at you, Boston Market), but any other kind. Frozen, from a blue box, whatever. But I think this is the best traditional (read: no weird ingredients) macaroni and cheese ever. Seriously. Now, […]

  • From sea to shining sea

    Well, we made it. The movers arrived at our house in Virginia on June 6, and after a lot of drama, way too much driving and an insane amount of boxes, we’re in our house in California with all our stuff. We’re still sorting and putting things away, so no photos of the house yet. […]

  • Rainy day dots

    As our trek across the country continues, I wanted to share an outfit I wore on a rainy day in DC just before we left. I actually used to hate polka dots — they made me itchy for a year or so after a childhood bout with chicken pox — but I got over it, […]

  • Chocolate-bourbon pecan pie

    I am not sure how I missed National Bourbon Day, but honestly? Just about every day is bourbon day in our house. And I think we were in Kentucky for at least PART of bourbon day, so I think that counts for something. Anyway, I’m a little late with this pie, but it’s so delicious […]

  • Navy and lime

    I am not a suit girl. I always had an interview suit or two, of course, but I usually felt like I was playing dress-up when I wore it. And most of the places I’ve worked have been pretty casual. But the Maryland statehouse, Capitol Hill and the Pentagon aren’t really jeans-and-a-T-shirt kinds of places, […]

  • Raspberry lemonade

    A few weeks ago, I happened to be watching The Pioneer Woman on Food Network, and she made raspberry lemonade. It looked really easy and delicious. And hot pink. Not long after, my mother-in-law was in town and we were grilling for dinner. I realized I had a bunch of lemons and a big container […]