Soups, Songs, and Scots

I'm trying to sum up 2 weeks of adventures and wanted to use some literary devices (alliteration & rule of 3, anyone?) so here goes...

SOUPS
If you know me, you know that I adore soups and can eat it almost time of the day. I've had a delectable variety lately...
Seafood Gumbo

Southwest Chicken Corn Chowder, and mushroom pizza - ooh baby

Spicy Peanut Soup, courtesy of Mike (I chopped vegetables and taste-tested haha)

Chinese Hot Pot - you continuously add in various ingredients and make your own soup while eating it.

In some ways, Mike is more Chinese than I am

Believe it or not, everyone at this table speaks Chinese

Try it for yourself - Uncle Liu's Hot Pot in Falls Church!

SWEAT and SORENESS
Obviously, a girl can't just eat and store calories, so I've been pushing myself physically...
Kazaxe = Zumba + Hip Hop (kicked my butt hardcore)

Hot Yoga +/= hot date (Mike's first yoga class - it was his idea! - and my 15th or something. The room wasn't even that hot but the instructor at 532Yoga pushed us both to our very limits!)

(The instructor came up with these poses just for fun and we weren't the only ones in the class)

And afterwards, we ordered pizza from a new shop (zpizza - highly recommend it) and enjoyed the wit of The Lady Eve.



3 kinds of mushrooms and LOTS of garlic mmMmm

the "Santa Fe"

Gym - elliptical trainer & free weights for me (What's almost as great as a bf who still likes you without makeup and will work out with you? A bf who will take silly pics like this with you hehe)

Salsa dancing - went to The Salsa Room with Mike and Melanie; she's moving back to Utah :'( (the pic didn't turn out good)

SINGING
'Tis the season for caroling! Mike & I joined a great group to share some Christmas cheer around the neighborhood. Though we sang to many closed doors and scared toddlers, the adults seemed to enjoy our singing...

Ended the night with some hot cocoa and one of my favorite Christmas movies - The Santa Clause!




(awkward timer pic)

You can't see it, of course, but Mike and I sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and other seasonal delights while we cooked up a new improvised recipe :) Tip: put some spicy mustard in your veggies for a kick of flava

Ate it while watching one of his favorite Christmas movies - The Muppets Christmas Carol




Let's keep this alliteration going...

"SOLD!"
Attended my Church's annual Christmas auction. That lady auctioneer was impressive, she raised $1,000's that went towards presents for needy families in our ward...

Too poor/cheap to bid on anything but it was fun watching others drop $hundreds

SCOTS
We sat in the freezing cold in Old Town Alexandria to watch a parade of kilts, dogs, and bagpipes...

I sat between a Irishman and a Welsh girl who taught me alot about the Celtic culture :)

SHAKE!

Ok, technically it was a malted frozen custard (my 1st time!) but mmMmm, it was good!

SCHOOL
I survived my first semester of grad school!! Instead of finals, I had 2 presentations. One of them was a poster presentation on a current issue in higher education. Since I have been interested in becoming a professor, I did mine on "Balancing Motherhood and Tenure". And yes, I did dress to match my poster :D

December is speeding by and I aim to enjoy every day that's left of 2012!

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they may have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)