The Washington Nationals - 15 Things

You guys - the Opening Day of baseball is only ONE WEEK away! Can you believe it? I'm so excited that it's finally going to be baseball season once again and so I decided to update and revamp a post/page that I'd done a while back about the 15 things a Nationals fan should do before they die.

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If you've been reading my blog for even a short amount of time, you'll know that I am slightly obsessed with the Washington Nationals. I attended my first Nationals game way back in July of 2013 (I wore jeans to a baseball game in July - not a wise choice) and sort of fell in love. 

I feel like it didn't hurt that the team's nickname is "the Nats" - but there was something more there. The thrill of each at bat, watching pitches whip past batters, hearing the crack of the bat - the sights, sounds and experiences of baseball are absolutely one of my favorite things. So - using the book 100 Things Nationals Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, I decided to make myself a Nationals bucket list - so to speak. 

I've only put fifteen things on my list, so it might not seem like a very long list but some of these things will require time...money...luck...or a healthy mix of all three, ha-ha! So, we'll see how long it might take me to try to attempt the things on this list. I think; after four seasons of being a die-hard fan, I'm well on my way!

The List

One. Cheer on the Racing Presidents - The President's Race takes place in the fourth inning of every home game at Nationals Park, so just attending one game allows this one to be accomplished easily. Teddy Roosevelt is a fan favorite - mostly because he loses all the time - so the fans have signs that say "Let Teddy Win". I think Abe is my personal favorite! I've completed this point on the list multiple times and I'll keep on completing it with each game I attend. 

 

Two. Experience the Battle of the Beltway - The Baltimore Orioles are the Nationals biggest non-division rival; you see, when the decision was made to bring baseball back to Washington DC the MLB voted 29-1 to bring the national pastime back to the Nation's capital. The one person that voted against bringing baseball to DC? The owner of the Baltimore Orioles!

Nationals Park and Camden Yards are less than 40 miles apart and it's safe to say the Nationals have "stolen some Orioles fans away over the past fourteen years. The two teams only play 4-6 times a year and the match-up has been dubbed the Battle of the Beltway; the beltway being the name for the stretch of interstate between DC and Baltimore. I watched a game in the Battle of the Beltway on July 11th of 2015 and cheered my Nationals to a victory! 

Three. Take a Nationals Road Trip - This is just what it sounds like; you make your vacation plans around the Nationals. You can do this in one of two ways: the first is to go through the Washington Nationals website and by doing this you not only get tickets to two of the three games but you also get hotel accommodations, a VIP tour of the ballpark, a pre-game reception with unlimited food and drink that also features a Washington Nationals player meet and greet and a gift bag that has a t-shirt, hat, MLB game ball and ball holder and access to all the pictures taken by the Nationals staff. Pretty sweet!

  

The second way to take a Nationals Road Trip is to pick a baseball city, buy your tickets and GO! The cities in closest proximity to Nationals Park are Baltimore (the Orioles @ less than 40 miles), Philadelphia (the Phillies @ 134 miles), Pittsburgh (the Pirates @ 228 miles), and New York City...which offers two options in the Mets ( @ 245 miles and no thank you) and the Yankees ( @ 236 miles). So...there you have it. 

I've been to Camden Yards, so while it wasn't a road trip sponsored by the Washington Nationals I have made a road trip to watch my Nationals play! 

Four. The 2018 All-Star Game - Which was hosted at Nationals Park in 2018 and was the first time the Summer Classic has been hosted by Washington DC since 1969! The week's festivities included the All-Star Futures Game, the Home Run Derby, Fan Fest, the All-Star Legends & Celebrities Game and of course; the main event, the All-Star Game! 

This whole event was a hit or miss because it just depended on timing, schedule and tickets. I missed getting tickets to any of the festivities but I did watch the Home Run Derby with baited breath and cheered Bryce Harper to victory! It was awesome to see him win and a lovely way for him to say good-bye to the city of DC (since he left "us" for Phillie...boo). 

Five. Visit Cooperstown - The Baseball Hall of Fame is a must for any fan's list and for Nationals fan, Cooperstown is only 380 miles away from home field. Cooperstown holds baseball mementos and memorabilia from the game of baseball's inception all the way back in the mid-19th century to present day. Definitely on my list...and I'm thinking...long weekend trip to New York that's all about baseball? Sounds perfect to me!

Six. Visit RFK Stadium - The stadium that hosted baseball's return to Washington DC has hosted numerous games throughout it's tenure - including 1,000 combined games between the MLB's Senators (the precursors to the Nationals), the Nationals themselves and also the NFL's Redskins and MLS' DC United. 

The stadium has also played host to a multitude of concerts but has spent the last twenty years serving as the home base for DC United. The timeline for visiting RFK Stadium was pretty short; it was in decline and DC United's new stadium at Buzzard Point has been opened and is in use, so I guess I've missed my chance on this one. *oops*

Seven. Watch the Nationals Minor League Teams - There are five teams in the National's Minor League System and I've listed them all below. Catching a Potomac Nationals game or a Hagerstown Suns game seem like the mostly likely options. 

AAA - Fresno Grizzlies; located in Fresno, California. These players are literally a step away from the major leagues.

AA - Harrisburg Senators; located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Senators are where the Nationals send players for rehab starts.

A - Potomac Nationals; located in Woodbridge, Virginia.

A - Hagerstown Suns; located in Hagerstown, Maryland.

A - Auburn Doubledays; located in Auburn, New York.

Eight. Meet the Lerners - The wealthy owners of the Washington Nationals; Ted Lerner and his son Mark purchased the Washington Nationals franchise for a cool $450 million in July of 2006 and have since gone on to build the club so that it now stands at a value of approximately $1.2 billion! Not bad for thirteen years of management!

I'm not sure how you'd go about meeting the Lerners - although since they always sit in the Lexus Presidents Club Seats, perhaps it ties into number nine?

Nine. Sit in the PNC Diamond Club Seats - What could only be described as the ultimate in Nationals fan experiences; the seats in the PNC Diamond Club (located in the Delta Sky Lounge) range in price from $200 - $400! So you'll see what I mean when I say that some money might be involved in accomplishing some of these...ha-ha! 

  

Does it count that I sat in the Lexus President's Club seats (now known as the PNC Diamond Club) on my tour of Nationals Park in November of 2015? I didn't think so... Maybe one year for a "big" birthday I can get a seat there?

Ten. Learn the Names on the Ring of Honor - There are 19 names (at present) on the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park. To be named to the Ring of Honor, you must be: in the Baseball Hall of Fame, must have played with the Washington Nationals, Washington Senators, Homestead Grays or the Montreal Expos and must have played significant years with the above mentioned franchises. 

May 2015

This one is just a matter of reading my book and learning the names! I do know Frank Robinson and Frank Howard are the most recent additions; Frank Robinson was the first manager of the newly created Washington Nationals from 2005 - 2006 and his name was added to the Ring of Honor on May 9, 2015. I know because I was there! I was also there when Frank Howard was added to the Ring of Honor - alas, I cannot remember the date!

Eleven. Hang out with Screech - On a warm spring day; April 17th, 2005 if we're getting specific, a rather large egg wandered onto the field at Nationals Park and the (large) baby bald eagle that hatched from the egg was christened "Screech" because he wouldn't stop screeching about his favorite team - the Nationals! 

June 2016

This one was fairly easy when my seats were located right near the field in June of 2016! I snapped this gem of a picture then! 

Twelve. Go to Nationals Park on Opening Day - This one is obvious; who wouldn't want to attend Opening Day? The 2016 season for the Nationals started on the road but I definitely contemplated tickets. I'm happy to report that I'll be going to Opening Day this year - in just one week! I'll definitely be posting all about that next week! 

Thirteen. Go to Nationals Park on July Fourth - Nothing scream patriotic like wearing your red, white and blue while watching America's favorite pastime, right? My little sister and I were at the ballpark for July 4th of 2016 and we returned again for July 4th of 2017! 

July 4, 2016

July 4, 2017

Fourteen. Watch a Concert at Nationals Park - Baseball games happen at Nationals Park 81 days of the year, but attending a concert at Nationals Park is just one way to change up the Nationals Park experience! The Park has been host to over 20 concerts over the last few years and they don't seem to be planning on changing that any time soon! I saw Billy Joel in June of 2016!

 

Fifteen. Get Autograph(s) - I'll go ahead and say that number fifteen on this list will also be the one that requires the most "luck"...but hey; I plan to be a lifelong Nationals fan, so I have plenty of seasons to try my luck! 

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My ideas were cultivated from the book 100 Things Nationals Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die by Jake Russell. You can grab a copy on Amazon and if for some crazy reason you cheer for some other major league baseball team (why...why would you ever want to do that?), then I've noticed they also seem to have books just like this one for each and every team. So that's cool, I guess!

Watson Wednesday

Living his best life - relaxing in front of the fire. 

Fab Fit Fun - Spring 2019

Happy almost the first day of Spring! In honor of the first day of Spring arriving tomorrow, I wanted to share the amazing contents of my Fab Fit Fun Spring Box - because it was full of goodness! Are you a subscriber to Fab Fit Fun? If not - let me share about all the good things in my box and I'll let you know how you can sign up too! 

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TULA Purifying Face Cleaner ($28.00) - This isn't an ordinary cleanser. It uses the power of probiotics to gently remove dirt, impurities and makeup while leaving the skin balanced and clarified. 

 

I've been using the cleanser this week and it has a light, floral scent and a jelly-like consistency that gently cleanses my face, leaves it feeling soft and clean. So far, I'm really loving this product... only time will tell if I'll be willing to shell out $28 for a facial cleanser.. 

Trestique Color & Contour Cheek Stick in Bora Bora Coral ($28.00) - This blush stick features a lightweight cream-gel formula for a natural, cream-powder finish. Say goodbye to broken blush powders, say hello to a rosy disposition and natural flush. 

This was my mystery product and I am 100% in love! I have been using a cream blush stick from Clinique and it was almost gone, so I'd been contemplating purchasing a new blush stick - and this arrived! I am in love with the color, in love with the magnetic cap and built in brush to smooth in the blush and best of all - the product is available on Amazon and I definitely think I'll add this to my make-up bag for all of eternity! 

Dr. Brandt Skincare Needles No More, No More Baggage Eye De-Puffing Gel ($24.00) - Visibly reduce the look of under-eye bags and dark circles with this breakthrough under-eye solution.

 

I've been using this product for almost a week now and I'm sad to report that I don't see any remarkable differences in my under eye circles. I feel like I have the worst bags under my eyes lately and I was excited to see if this product made a difference - but so far, I don't have much to report. *sigh*

Show Me Your Mumu Brie Robe ($84.00) - Just stepped out of the shower? Planning a day of lounging? Slip into this beautiful floral print robe, which features a removable belt and a high-low hem. 

When I saw this was a one-size option, I was sure it wouldn't fit because I'm a curvy girl - but I was pleasantly surprised that it does fit! It's very lightweight and comfortable and while I haven't worn it yet because it's still a bit chilly for such a lightweight robe... it will be perfect for the warmer months ahead! Side note - I find it hard to believe this retails for $84 but I'm not going to balk, because I plan to enjoy mine!

S'ip by S'well ($19.99) - Sip in style while reducing single-use plastic consumption. Whether hot or cold, the stainless steel water bottle is insulated to keep your drinks at just the right temperature. 

 

I was pretty tickled to see a S'well bottle in my Spring box; I've contemplated buying one for a while now since I'm trying to be more aware of my water intake. I have been using this bottle pretty much continuously since I pulled it out of the box and I love it!

OUAI Leave In Conditioner ($26.00) - We're OUAI obsessed with this multi-tasking leave in conditioner. It works all day to smooth, soften and detangle hair with moisturizing properties and enhanced heat protection. 

Full confession - I haven't used this yet! But I am looking forward to giving it a try because my hair could always use a little pick me up and some deep conditioning! 

Manna Kadar Champagne Charcoal Body Scrub ($34.95) - Formulated with charcoal and Dead Sea minerals, the luxe and gentle body scrub removes dirt for polished, hydrated and refreshed skin. 

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed this lightly scented body scrub that leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft - it's a really lovely body scrub and I'll use it up to every last drop. Having said that, since I literally sell body scrubs from Perfectly Posh that are just as fabulous but cost less - I can't see myself buying this again!

Quay Vivienne Sunglasses in Black/Smoke ($60.00) - Flattering on every face shape, these over-sized aviators feature a black metal frame, double bridge and adjustable nose pads for a no-slip wear.

These are hands down my favorite thing in my Spring box! I completely forgot I'd selected this as one of my options and they arrived in the nick of time - the sunglasses that I had snapped in half while we were in Mississippi recently and I was without a decent pair! These provide light sun shade and are so cute - they even have their own case! These are definitely the nicest pair of sunnies I've ever owned!

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Fab Fit Fun boxes are a quarterly subscription box that ship out in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and each box costs $49.99...but contain over $200 worth of products. As a member of Fab Fit Fun, your boxes will contain fabulous finds in beauty, wellness, fitness and fashion that are hand-picked by the team at Fab Fit Fun. 

My Spring box had a retail value of $296.94 - the sunglasses alone cost more than the entire box itself, so this is why Fab Fit Fun is one of my favorite subscription boxes! None of the products are sample-sized, everything is full-sized, fabulous and with a seasonal subscription, the $49.99 price tag isn't budge crippling! 

If you'd like to give Fab Fit Fun a try, I've shared my link - and if you sign up through my link, I'll get $15 off my Summer box! So thanks in advance!

Check it out: http://xo.fff.me/mhXV-

Weekend Goals Accomplished

How did Monday get here so fast?!? I feel like I was just scooting my way out of the office on Friday afternoon and somehow here I am, back at my desk again! I blinked and the weekend had passed! Doesn't that always seem to be the way of it though?

I'm pleased to report that I accomplished my weekend goals - and my weekend goals were to do absolutely nothing, ha-ha! Okay - that's not entirely true, I didn't do absolutely nothing but I didn't do a whole lot and I enjoyed doing not a lot.

We got off work early on Friday and the weather was absolutely perfect - not a cloud in the perfect blue sky, a light breeze and temperatures in the mid-70's - so after a quick Wal-Mart pit stop, I picked my puppy up at home and we made our way to the Virginia State Arboretum to explore. There weren't too many signs of Spring just yet and not a lot was in bloom, but Watson thoroughly enjoyed exploring. 

Wondering why I'd want to sit down when there is so much to see...

One tree starting to bloom...

Wee purple flowers on the ground...

Lots of greenery on the surface of the swamp...

Friday evening I cooked one of my favorite random recipes that I found in an edition of Women's Day months ago and fell in love with: Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon & Scallions! It's so yummy y'all! I shared a little pasta with Watson and proceeded to binge watch the final season of Catastrophe on Amazon Prime - and yes, I watched all 6 episodes on Friday night. Each one is only about 25 minutes long, so I essentially watched a long comedy. I also took a really nice bubble bath and finished up reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz - an excellent read. 

I slept in until almost 8:30 on Saturday morning and that was an absolute delight! I sipped my coffee and watched the Hulu series Shrill - which is honestly a hit or miss for me. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it...however my ambivalence did not stop me from watching all 6 short episodes. Around lunch time, I packed it into the car and went up the mountain to hang with my friend Katie and her sweet little son. 

Look at his little Viking hat!!!

We had lunch and caught up, I built block towers with little fellow and read books and we talked - little fellow just talks up a storm and has the cutest little voice! *swoon* I stuck around with them until around 3:30 and then headed home to walk the pupper and spend a little time reading out on the back porch in the sunshine. 

I passed the rest of the evening making Plain Chicken's Nacho Chicken Soup for dinner (which Watson begged for extensively) and continued my binge watching of Schitt's Creek for the evening. I took another lovely bath and went to bed earlier than on Friday night...mostly just so I could lay in bed, be toasty and start reading a new book: Circe. 

Sunday morning after sipping my coffee, I made sure to add green to my wardrobe for church - I didn't want to get pinched! The pastor spoke on living life to your full potential; it was an excellent sermon, I always feel like he's speaking right to me. It's wild. I popped into Taco Bell (guilty pleasure) for lunch because I had a gift card... and of course, Watson wanted all the bites...

I rounded out the rest of the weekend with a quick Target run where I actually only bought the things I needed - shocking, I know! Once I came home, I did some laundry and took a little nap (with my pup). I also had to rescue my pup from the neighbor's dogs - snapping at him through the fence. *sigh* I sense lots of confrontation with the neighbor pups as the weather gets warmer...

I met my parents for dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant and then once I was home, I watched an episode of The Great British Baking Show with my Mom and sampled some of the fabulous chocolates that she brought me back from her weekend trip to Lynchburg! And - that was my weekend in a nutshell - a whole lot of binge-watching, relaxing and enjoying myself... just as I planned.

Perfect chocolate truffles. 

Five on Friday

It's Friday! Who else literally hears those words and becomes the meme of the minions cheering wildly? *raises hand* That's definitely me on this third Friday in March. WAIT! How is it already the THIRD Friday in MARCH?!?

One. Spring Things - The weather for the past 48 hours has been resplendent! Warm temperatures, gentle breezes and blue skies with puffy clouds - in short, the perfect Spring weather! Now I know it's not officially Spring until next Wednesday but we are getting off work early and I definitely plan to pick my little pup up and cruise around the Arboretum to take advantage of the fabulous weather!

It was on a perfect Spring day like today; albeit five years ago, that I was able to snap one of my favorite pictures of Watson. The skies are a bit more cloudy today but perhaps I'll get a good picture or two of the little fellow and of Spring peeking it's head out?

Two. Lunch with a Friend - I'll be sleeping in tomorrow morning... but around lunch time I'll be heading up into the mountains to have lunch and catch up with my sweet friend and her delightfully squishy little boy! We're going to have sliders, salads and some kind of treat (courtesy of me) and just catch up! Here's hoping the weather continues to be awesome - her back porch has some of the most gorgeous views! *sigh*

Three. A Little Binge Watching - I don't have a lot on my agenda this weekend besides exploring the outdoors with my sweet pup, catching up with my friend and church on Sunday morning... and I'm really thrilled with that! I was out of town the past two weekends and so I'm looking forward to having time to decompress all by myself (hello Introvert tendencies shining through...). I've got a couple things I'd like to binge watch in my spare time - the fourth season of Schitt's Creek on Netflix, the fourth season of Catastrophe on Amazon Prime and Shrill on Hulu.

  

All three shows are comedies and each episode comes in under 25 minutes, so they're all fairly quick watches! I'm not sure which one I'll pick to start with first...but I'm leaning toward Catastrophe!

Four. Easter Pampering - Perfectly Posh has a limited time offering of some Easter-themed pampering: a whipped body souffle, a tightening face mask and a lovely roller ball perfume (which is only available in the bundle). I know the products are awesome, have an amazing light and Spring-like scent and best of all - they're all made in the US from natural ingredients! Shop those products and more at: http://NatalieSummerlin.po.sh

Five. Sinus Struggles - I can only guess that the combination of going from the MS climate to the VA climate, combined with the arrival of Spring has created the perfect storm for my sinuses... I have spent all week fighting the pressure, sore throat, stopped up nose and general icky feeling that comes along with sinus issues and I am about ready to be done.

But change that to sinuses....

Add to that the time change + medication and most mornings this week, I've woken up with a substantial medication hangover that left me gasping for my first cup of coffee. So - not having an alarm clock tomorrow morning is really going to be a lovely experience. And hey, maybe the weekend will allow my sinuses to get their act together? 

Watson Wednesday

It's a flashback snap on this Watson Wednesday! This picture was taken five years ago and of course, my silly dog would happily chill in the front yard with his leash wrapped around his nose. What a lovable little goofball. 

Random Pictures & the Rest of Vacation

Well - I'm back in the Commonwealth and couldn't be more pleased about that. It was good to spend time with family and see friends (really just a friend) that I haven't seen in a while, but I also feel pretty strongly that when I go to Mississippi - I know that's not where I belong anymore. 

It's also really nice to sleep in my own bed again and snuggle my sweet puppy who has been at the kennel for the past 10 days! Whoosh! I wanted to share some pictures that somehow missed the Five on Friday post about all the going and comings of vacation - so those are below. 

This shop sold products made from honey & beeswax - it was fascinating & the doormat was fabulous!

Wandering along the tree top canopy walkway at Anakeesta!

Goofing off after coming back from Anakeesta. You can see the ski lift up the mountain in the background!

I sort of had a dream come true while we were in Gatlinburg... y'all will laugh at this one, but that's alright. I have always loved eating raw cookie dough (I know - it's not good for you, but I haven't died yet); my Aunt used to invite me over when I was little to eat cookie dough with her! Well I've seen all about "Do"- the shop in NYC who sells edible cookie dough like ice cream and wanted to give it a whirl... imagine my joy when we stumbled on a shop called Cookie Dough Bliss in Gatlinburg! And yes - it was as yummy as you'd imagine!

The mountains - smoking...

We discovered a new restaurant to add to our list of favorites while we were in the Smokies - it's called Five Oaks Farm Kitchen and the atmosphere, staff and most importantly the food were all excellent! We will definitely be going back and if you're in Pigeon Forge, you should give the place a try. What I will tell you is that you should arrive hungry because along with monster portions, all meals are served with a cup of soup, a salad and rolls to start. And my food was literally delivered to the table in a shield sized skillet - I can confirm it was all divine but I barely made it through half of it!

Who eats this much food?!?

Having lunch @ one of our favorite - Applewood Farmhouse Kitchen!

Peanut Butter Pie @ The Old Mill Pottery Cafe - it was divine!

One of our traditions when we vacation in the Smokey Mountains is to eat at Pancake Pantry on the morning we head "home" and so before we started the drive down to Mississippi last Monday, we popped over to Pancake Pantry and had breakfast. I'm not a huge breakfast eater and sometimes having sweet things for breakfast really turns me off - but I was craving cherries and so I grabbed a cherry waffle that was to die for!

The rest of the trip was outlined and cataloged in my LONG Five on Friday post, so I'll go ahead and jump to the weekend and share that with y'all. I may or may not have gone back to that Five on Friday post and done some editing that made it even longer... but oh well, ha-ha! We didn't do too much on Friday but when the evening rolled around, we made our way into the backwoods of Mississippi to meet up with some extended family and eat at Bloomo Junction.

The food was great and the company was even better - imagine a table of genteel Southern ladies and their spouses - but never be fooled by a genteel Southern lady; she's usually spicy and made of steel. That definitely describes these fabulous and fabulously fun Southern ladies that are my distant relatives - they are so much fun to talk with and learn from and I love spending time sharing their company! I did leave smelling like fried food - but oh well, such is life! It was time well spent and thoroughly enjoyed.

The whole reason we planned this trip was to see my cousin Alex get married to his longtime sweetheart Alexia (no kidding, their names are Alex and Alexia - too funny, right?). Saturday morning we slept in, had lunch at Mugshots and then around 3:30 packed up the car and headed for the wedding. The ceremony was so sweet, the groom was quite dapper and the bride looked lovely - it was a wonderful wedding!

Alexia & Alex - exchanging vows. 

The new Mr. & Mrs. Summerlin, being married by my Uncle!

We popped into the reception for about an hour to visit with family, have some dinner and watch a few dances by the bride and groom before we headed out to start the drive back to Virginia. The food was tasty, the company was entertaining and I loved the sugar cookie with a stylized "S" on it that I had for my dessert! 

Wedding Cake & Groom's Cake...and some beer in the background... *face palm*

Cutting the cakes!

The weather all day Saturday was really... spastic. For the first time in probably at least a year, if not longer...my phone dinged to tell me we were under a tornado watch. That was a regular occurrence when I lived in Mississippi, but I don't think I've heard thunder more than twice since I've lived in Virginia. Virginia just doesn't have really crazy, intense thunderstorms (or at least - they haven't in the past five years...). We were hoping we'd be able to make it to Fort Payne, Alabama on Saturday evening without encountering any rain or strong storms - and by some miracle we did!

Rocking my second day hair & Laurel Mercantile sweatshirt somewhere in the midst of Tennessee...

Home Sweet Home!

Our drive back wasn't too bad and we arrived back in Northern Virginia around 6:30 on Sunday night - which left plenty of time to un-pack, snuggle my precious pup, have some delicious pizza for dinner, take a long shower and read in bed before calling it a night. I enjoyed vacation - but boy am I enjoying being home again! I'll leave you with a snapshop of my favorite fur ball, sitting next to me last night at home.