March Mentions

Books I Read

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - This book was a recommendation from a friend and it provides a quick but fascinating and informative read. The book tells the story of Lale Sokolov, the tattooist of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Jewish man who was conscripted into tattooing the infamous numbers on the prisoners as they arrived at the concentration camp. Lale befriends workers from the nearby village, falls in love with a fellow prisoner and uses his position to steal, scheme and survive the horrors of the concentration camp. The most interesting part of this book is that it's all true - the book is survivor Lale Sokolov's story, shared with his son and now published as an excellent book.

Circe by Madeline Miller - This book follows the story of Circe, the daughter of Helios (god of the Sun) and a goddess in her own right. After being banished from her father's halls, her story intertwines with notable characters throughout Greek mythology: Prometheus, the Minotaur, Jason, Odysseus and many more. The book took a little longer to get into than usual but it eventually hooked me and I really enjoyed it! I think it helps that I'm a fan of Greek/Roman mythology - so that helped!

Books on the Shelf

I've still got plenty to read - I just started The Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes (it hasn't hooked me yet) and I also have The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes as well as The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Bedani. That's all I've got for now, so those should easily take up April...ha-ha!

Must See TV

Let me be real - I would never pretend that I wasn't watching TV because y'all know I love a good TV show - I just have been doing a lot of my watching this month via streaming & I've outlined those below. I am still watching This Is Us (which wraps up it's third season on Tuesday the 2nd) and Home Town each week, but beyond that - everything I've been watching can be found on streaming services as opposed to actual TV networks!

Movies of the Month

Captain Marvel - The 21st movie in the MCU (how are there already 21?!?) is also the first movie in the MCU to feature a female lead and if the post credit scene is any indication, she's also key to defeating Thanos in Avengers: Endgame - so way to go for the first female superhero for Marvel! The movie is set in 1995 and features so many nods to the 90's, from a playlist that is on fire, a grunge look that screams "90's" and hello...she literally falls through the roof of a Blockbuster! This movie was touching, fun, filled with action and heroics, heart and honestly - every scene that Goose the "cat" was in, he completely stole. Go check this one out - you will NOT be disappointed!

Dumbo - I will preface this with the fact that I never liked the original movie as a child...it just made me feel too sad. I did really enjoy the live action version although it also made me feel like I might cry a couple times too! The classic touchstone moments from the original movie are there - a stork drops off the baby elephant, the song Baby Mine is there and Dumbo uses feathers to fly. It was a wonderful little update to a classic and I enjoyed it so much more than the original animated version! Also - Colin Farrell is aging like a fine wine. 

Streaming Selections

Schitt's Creek - I cannot over emphasize what a gem this show is! It was a recommendation from a fellow blogger (and podcaster) and once I started it, I was hooked! The show is hilarious but also has a ton of heart and I just cannot say enough about it. The first four seasons are on Netflix (but apparently season 4 expires like... in two days *sigh*) but if you have Pop Network with your cable provider you can watch through the current episode - the 11th episode of the 5th season. You can also download the Pop Now app to your phone and watch all five seasons. 

Catastrophe - This show was a recommendation from my younger sister a few years back and it is absolutely hilarious! The fourth and final season premiered on Amazon Prime on March 15th and I binge watched all 6 episodes in about three hours - they're only about 25-30 minutes each - and hilarious. I will say, it's rated MA for a reason - so definitely an adult show. If you've got Amazon Prime, check this one out!

Shrill - Another short comedy show; each of these episodes are 25-30 minutes each and the show is on Hulu... and I honestly don't know what to think about this one. I wanted to like it and aspects of it really spoke to me, but abortion is used as a tool for empowerment on the first episode and then subsequently used as a source for jokes throughout the six episode first season and that...along with other aspects left a sour taste for me. So I'd have to say while some parts were good, for the most part this one was a bust. 

Tunes & Talks

I have been loving listening to 80's and 90's throwbacks (especially after seeing Captain Marvel), especially I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston and The Best by Tina Turner. Also loving Noah Reid's acoustic version of The Best from a season four episode of Schitt's Creek - it's fabulous - and because of that, I also stumbled on Noah Reid's album called Songs from A Broken Chair. I've also been listening to the soundtracks from all seven seasons of Game of Thrones too, because the excitement for the final season is getting real!

I stumbled on the podcast Invisibilia by NPR and it's really fascinating. I'm still listening to The Popcast with Knox & Jamie, Lore and The History Chicks. Another new find is Blackout, a podcast narrated by Rami Malek - the first three episodes are available now with a new episode each week. 

Tasty Treats

Who knew there were so many delicious treats in the month of March? When I was poking around on my phone to see what I could find, I was blown away by how many things I'd snapped pictures of this month that were yummy!

Some definite favorites that stand out this month: everything I ate at Paula Deen's Kitchen at the start of the month, the delicious truffles from Culpeper and of course - both times I got the chance to eat cookie dough just like ice cream! 

Anticipations 

Baseball Game(s) - Baseball season is officially here and I've got ticket to at least one game in April! Perhaps there will be another one but for now, the 12th is the next game on my calendar and I can't wait. Experiencing Opening Day will probably be one of the highlights of the 2019 season, but I can't wait to keep watching my Nationals play throughout the Spring, Summer and hopefully well into the Fall!

Game of Thrones Season Eight - Ooh, I'm pretty sure I will do a blog post all about Game of Thrones on it's own...but the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones premieres on Sunday, April 14th and I am so looking forward to it. I think. Ha-ha! I am anxious to know the conclusion but I'm also anxious about who we'll lose along the way to the conclusion - eek! It's bittersweet to see the show coming to an end for sure - but mostly I cannot wait!

Avengers: Endgame - The end of April is when what happened after that fateful *snap* will finally be revealed! I'll be heading to see this new Marvel Cinematic Universe installment with the same awesome group of friends that I've seen almost every MCU movie with, but I've actually roped my Mom into the movies too and so she'll be joining us as well! At just over three hours, this movie will be the longest in the MCU thus far - I can't wait!

***********************************************************

That's a wrap on the month of March - and on the first quarter of 2019! Time just keeps on flying y'all!

Opening Day 2019

Opening Day at National Park has been something I've wanted to experience ever since I went to that fateful game in May of 2015 and the baseball bug bit me. I mean - the first Nationals game I went to was in July of 2011 but I was only visiting my parents at the time and while I decided then and there I'd be a Nationals fan, the idea of going to Opening Day...or baseball games in general was not at the front of my mind. I was just enjoying the game.

Fast forward to 2015 and I was living in Northern Virginia - we went to watch the Nationals take on the Braves and I was totally and completely hooked. I knew from that moment on that I wanted to attend the Opening Day festivities one day...and each year since, I've looked into it. Whether it be work or life or whatever... this was the first year that it was a go - so I bought tickets and I was counting down the days until March 28th! 

Among my people - exiting the Metro!

I'm loving this new banner - loving it!

I found exactly what I was looking for...after a short hunt!

Traffic getting to the Metro was sort of ridiculous - all the road work and "improvements" really slow down traffic - blah! Once we finally got on the Metro, it was pretty smooth sailing and soon enough, we were pouring out onto the street with tons of other Nationals fans and walking up the street toward Nationals Park. A street performer was playing "Bustin Loose", the sky was blue, all the fans were feeling excited and I could not have been more excited! I rocked back and forth while waiting in line, trying to contain all my excitement! 

When we were ushered through the metal detectors, I passed under the new banner for 2019 and picked up my free shirt that has the home season on the back and just breathed in the joy of another season of baseball in the nation's capital! I do think Nationals Park is (for me) one of the happiest places on Earth! We pretty quickly made our way into the Team Store and I searched around until I found my hat - the hats that were debuted during Spring Training that I knew immediately I wanted one of!

  

Opening Day Line-Up - Angle One

Opening Day Line-Up - Angle Two

*sigh*

I have to say - I have never seen Nationals Park so crowded! There were people absolutely everywhere and every single spot to buy food was at least ten people deep - way more in most cases!  The line in the Team Store wrapped around the entire store and so my Mom and I took turns standing in line while the other looked at all the new Nationals gear. I found my awesome hat and that was my only purchase of the day - but it was enough on it's own, ha-ha! 

New hat selfie with the field in the background!

Nationals swag!

Cheesing alongside the Curly W balloon wall!

The Pitching Powerhouse - Strasburg, Scherzer & Corbin!

Baseball Besties - Rendon & Turner!

We made our way to our seats via the bottom concourse to see if we could spy any new food options along the way - and while I won't be interested in the fried shrimp and lobster rolls, I was glad to see that See You Tater wasn't gone completely but had just been moved on to the concourse. Listen - tater tots with all kinds of delicious toppings - that's a great food option! 

Our seats were in a section I've never sat in before and while the view was good, it was much more breezy than I'd originally thought it was going to be so I was extremely thankful for my jacket!

The view from the top!

  

  

  

As this was my first time attending Opening Day, I had no clue about all the pageantry that went along with it - but it was all so fun! The entire staff and the whole 40 man roster were introduced and when the line up for the game was announced, each player had fireworks shoot skyward when their name was announced - so fun! The american flag was escorted on to the field by two Clydesdale's, carried by members of the US Navy and there was even a flyover of three F-16's at the conclusion of the anthem!

The players lining up on the base lines. 

Such an amazing American flag!

She was freezing... ha-ha! And to think, she almost left the house without a coat!

The game swung into gear right on time at 1.05 and Max Scherzer pitched a pretty excellent game - he tallied up 12 strikeouts through his eight and 2/3 innings but a solo home run in the first inning was the only run the other team needed because the Nationals just couldn't get their bats going. 

Play Ball!

Change of view while making the lunch run....

Just being a little artsy with my new hat & the Park. 

The stare of Mad Max.

We made our way down the concourse and to the standing area behind the outfield to watch the final inning of the game - and alas, my Nationals didn't win the day. However, I absolutely loved being able to attend Opening Day - it was the most wonderful thing to experience and it's another bug that's bit me - because now I think I'd like to experience Opening Day every year! Only time will well if that play out, but it would be awesome to make it a tradition!

The moon - mounted on the new condos. 

As we left the Park, I noticed that the moon that had been mounted on a crane for the past few seasons has now been mounted on top of the new condos built right outside the ball park - which I thought was a fun touch. While the Nationals didn't win the day, there are still 161 games to play on the season and I'm excited to see it unfold. 

Friday Favorites

Friday is finally here - and what a wild week it has been! Work has been unusually hectic this week, I feel like every day but Monday (isn't that wild) I left the office with my head spinning! Dislike! So this week I've got Friday favorites because I'm not 100% sure that I'll come up with five things, haha!

Opening Day Comedy - I went to Opening Day at Nationals Park yesterday and it was so much fun! I think I'll need to go every year from here on out! I'll share a post all about Opening Day tomorrow because I took plenty of pictures and have plenty to share... but I couldn't resist sharing these funnies that I found!

Endings & Beginnings - I have been watching Game of Thrones since the second season (I played catch-up on the first about a month before season 2 premiered) and I can honestly say it's my favorite television show of all time. The final season will be starting in April and while I cannot wait to see the final six episodes, it's sad knowing that once it's over...it's over for good. This meme I spotted on Facebook illustrates those feelings all too well.

Anyone else a die hard Game of Thrones fan like I am? I mean - sure, there are still two books to be released and it will be interesting to see how George R.R. Martin ends things on his terms, but the TV show is about to take it's final bow.

Lucky Number 7 - Perfectly Posh is running a special March 28th through March 31st where you can choose seven items for $70! There are over 40 items to choose from, so you can customize your bundle any way you choose! You can shop the deal through the end of the month at http://NatalieSummerlin.po.sh - the products are amazing and everyone deserves some pampering!

Weekend Plans - I don't have much on the agenda for this weekend... planning to get dinner tonight and pick up a few things from the store (like contact solution & puppy poop bags, thrilling stuff y'all) but otherwise just lay low! Saturday is supposed to be in the mid-70's so I feel like doing something outdoors would be amazing! I'd love to go see the cherry blossoms in DC but I don't know if that will happen... 

I've contemplated going to see Dumbo but I just can't decide. I love all things Disney but Dumbo was never a favorite of mine...so I can't decide if I'd like the live action version better than the animated of not really care... I guess I'll keep you posted on that one. Sunday afternoon the little stinker pictured above is having her 2nd birthday party, so the family will be going to celebrate her! I can't believe she's already two! Time absolutely flies! 

************************************

That's all I've got for this Friday! I told you I wouldn't get to five things, ha-ha! I'll be back tomorrow to share all about Opening Day and on Sunday I'll share what I've loved in March. I cannot believe that this weekend closes out the month of March! I feel like it absolutely flew by!