photo diary: my trip to the dc cherry blossoms

Even though I grew up around DC, I never really began to experience the city until after I graduated college. I've never been in many of the monuments, and only experienced maybe two of the museums. Now that I live in the city, it's like I'm experiencing a whole new place I've never been to! 

So when it was the perfect weather and the cherry blossoms were in bloom, I was beyond excited to play tourist for a day with one of my favorite couples.

It's been a really long time since I've been out to play with my camera and really take pictures.... and trying to get creative when thousand and thousands of people are walking through your shot is extremely frustrating. I still managed to get a few that I think are worth sharing, and experimented with some in Photoshop as I'm still figuring out everything I can for true photo-editing. [But don't go critiquing cuz like... I know they're not perfect or professional, MMMMKAY?!] 

Unfortunately, most of the trees had already passed their peak, but we still managed to find some of the gorgeous pink trees in the less-traveled areas. We also learned pretty quickly that while climbing a tree for a picture may seem awesome, it's definitely not allowed.

If you ever decide to go to the blossoms during the festival, I'd recommend going towards the West Potomac Park/FDR Memorial/opposite side of the Tidal Basin as everyone else. It was so much less traveled, way more beautiful, and a lot more space to walk around beyond the small sidewalk that most people choose.

And if you've never been a tourist in your own city for any reason, get over that reason and do it. Do it a lot. Use Yelp. Wander around. You'll be surprised how much you'll discover about a city you thought you knew so well.

love,
elizabethany

Tweet

i spy: uncle sam and halloween 2013

So... This year... is not like the past few.

Without giving you [perfectly reasonable] excuses on why I don't have a HUGE collection of awesome costumes from this year, I'll just take the blame... it's cuz I've become a Halloween snob thanks to Pinterest... and expect nothing but the best.

That being said, there were some I totally loved... and these are them!

This is the epitome of hott costume but still legit. Look at their wigs! So many props, ladies.

"What are you blind, ref?! You're blowin' the game!" ... I assume that's what they're doing here, anyway... 

I'll ALWAYS give props to fully homemade costumes, especially when they're simple but still look great! Like both of those.

I was Red Riding Wolf this year :) little red riding hood bitten by the wolf. @luvelizabethany pic.twitter.com/Z3l4M40CYv

— Romula (@RomulaLynn) November 1, 2013

If Red and the Wolf woulda had a baby..... 

@luvelizabethany check out my sweet Princess Leia on a speeder bike costume. Won best costume at the goblin gallop5k pic.twitter.com/kjZyf2yxDO

— Kristell (@krifonz) October 29, 2013

IT'S SO INTENSE.

@luvelizabethany my gf and I!! Chinese take out!! pic.twitter.com/DvILrz7gtn

— Calvin Moh (@CalvinM0h) October 28, 2013

I see what you guys did there... you're going to eat her... wait know that's opposite.

@luvelizabethany I got photobombed but I was Katy Perry last night from her roar music video! pic.twitter.com/vjV4QcSx8D

— Kelly Wilburn (@KellyAnn_6) October 27, 2013

And THESE are some of the ones I spotted out and about during the week...  

Um... YES Colonel Sanders and the chicken! ....and a gorilla... and a female Mr T. 

Do what ya can when you're rockin' a sling, Butla! 

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox! How cute are they, and how great is this for a country guy who doesn't wanna dress up much?

If you're going to be Walt... this is a ballsy and AMAZING way to do it... but homeboy was too oblivious to hear me asking him for a good picture. 

UP costumes always capture my heart...

And THIS guy.. the Drake cover... people were FREAKING OUT over him. It was simple, but fine.. I'll give props. 

Metro station pole! 

I've seen these on Pinterest, but like... I'm obsessed with Slurpees, so.. duh it's on here.

And me! I can never just be a female human for Halloween... and since I'm back home in DC... I went all 'Merican! [Plus... it's kinda been my theme all year...]

What I got: 

-old black flats because I was at a party on a farm

-striped tights from the Halloween store $7

-white button down I already had

-red bowtie from Amazon $2

-blue blazer from H&M $14

-hat from the Halloween store because I decided last minute I wanted a huge one- $12

TOTAL: $35

The best part: I can wear every single one of these pieces again. I've been wanting to mix a bowtie into my wardrobe, the tops are a no brainer, and the socks/hat can be used for many future bar crawls! Score! 

If you had an awesome costume and it didn't make it on here, it's probably because I didn't see it which means you didn't send it to me... and that sucks... but according to the world around me- it's time to move on to Christmas.. so BYE.

love,
elizabethany

Tweet

watch: the best of cory and topanga, to celebrate their return to coupledom!

I'm so beyond giddy I can't even explain it. It's official: Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel are going to be in Girl Meets World!!!

I'm going to be a father! Well, on TV at least. The "Boy Meets World" sequel is officially happening!
— Ben Savage (@BenSavage) November 26, 2012

Who knows if the show will be as awesome [or as awesome as we remember it being], what matters is that the one couple the world can still believe in, always and forever, is Cory and Topanga. And once again, they're proving it!

So, let's reminisce on the good ol' days, shall we?! Here are some of the best moments of the best couple to ever exist.


Looking back, Topanga was such a sass! She had all the confidence in the beginning, and Cory was more the glue as they grew up.

They're freaking perfect. Is it 2014 yet?!?!

love,
elizabethany

  Tweet

i spy: a couple that needs a room

Tweet I can't decide if this whole segment or whatever you want to call it on a blog should be called "I Spy" or "Don't be caught doing this" or "Where are your friends?!"

Again I went out to the same bar as the last time I saw a hoe-bag with no clothes on, and I was definitely not let down.

This couple, who probably just met, decided have quite the rendezvous in the middle of the dance floor... and they didn't stop.

Not for a flash.

Not for random people posing with them.

Not for 10+ flashes. Not even 10 minutes after that.

No, seriously... guys.... seriously... GET A FREAKIN' ROOM. GO HOME.

People get drunk and make out. I know that. It's not exactly an unknown habit of mine... But there's making out, and there's having tongue sex... For entirely too long.

Where were their friends?! Why in the H did no one EVER stop them?! They'd make out, hold each other, stare into their eyes, and keep going as if they were on some love movie that would never end.

I'm not even going to bother blurring their faces out in this one. They need to learn a freakin' lesson- Don't be THAT couple... or at least move over to the wall. Kthanks.

love,
elizabethany

watch: 81 year old high school sweethearts reunite

The Frisky just posted this, and normally I'd wait til I'm off the air to share it, but I can't. It's too good.

Ladies- It's probably NSFW unless you're in your own office and not planning on seeing anyone for a while. It's a tear jerker.

What happens when an 81 year old man wants to reunite with his high school sweetheart he hasn't seen in 62 years? He hops on a plane and luckily sits next to someone who can make a beautiful video out of it.



I LOVE IT! I wanna watch it again and again. He's so funny!

"She didn't age well."

Best. Line. Ever.

Real love does exist and you're never too old for it.. Nor should you ever give up.

love,
elizabethany

alicia keys is going to make beautiful babies

It's officially confirmed! Alicia Keys is going to be the most beautiful mama ever!

She confirmed tonight that her and Swizz Beats are engaged AND expecting a lil one! The baby bump pictures were totally real!

Seriously, though... Imagine how beautiful their baby is going to be. SB isn't THAT hott, but her perfection will totally come through and match with his and danggg... Their baby could totally become my new favorite Hollywood baby... [Especially since Suri is getting old now.]

I can't freakin' wait to see her all big and preggers... And imagine her wedding pictures!

...Okay, I need to calm down. I'm pumped, that's all.

love,
elizabethany

gabourey sidibe would "hit" gerard butler

Ya know the sudden superstar of Precious, Gabourney Sidibe?! Well, she's not a shy one.

It's been a week since the Oscars, but somehow this story slipped under my radar so it's absolutely shareable.

When she was getting interviewed by Billy Bush after meeting Gerard Butler, Gabby told Billy "I'd hit that."

I'm sure she didn't expect it, but Gerard then popped in and asked her to repeat it, and she did, with no hesitation, loud and proud!!!

His response: "I'm here. I'm available. Let's go!"


Oh... My... Goodness. First of all, now Gerard is not only hott, but obviously a cool guy... And I never thought I'd say this, but I'm jealous of Gabby. Wow.

These are the things worth watching for at the Oscars. Stupid work for making me be there and not watch such moments.

[Now I need to make sure I don't imagine said "hitting" occur. That'd be.... unpleasant.]

love,
elizabethany

PS: Other celeb news worth chatting about:

• I'm a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, and I think she should be at a natural weight, but girrrlllll...
• Kelly Osbourn sure has changed over the years, eh?!
• Nahla Berry could soon be taking my "favorite Hollywood baby" title over Suri soon.
• Audrina really only dates losers, huh?! Look how d-baggy Ryan Cabrera looks... still.
• Whitney got it right and is demonstrating reason #32987 I want to be on MTV: I can date other hott MTV stars.

because you want to know: the bachelor

Here comes another one of my ranting posts on something because I know you care about how I think. I will even make this interesting for those of you who don't watch what I shall now talk about.

Now that I've gotten my cockiness out of the way, let's talk about The Bachelor Finale.


First of all... I think you all should know I've been watching these stupid shows religiously for the past bunch of seasons. I've loved everyone they've picked [with the exception of Jillian], and I would have gone on the show to meet Jake if I had even an ounce of heart to give at this time.

That being said, what an idiot.

I didn't really agree with anything he did throughout the whole season, but I figured hey, this guy is smart. He's obviously a good guy. He's super in love with both of these girls, but he's got to realize Tenley is perfection, and Vienna is... Well.... borderline horse/transvestite combination.

If you didn't watch the show, here's what he had to choose from last night:


Tenley on the right, Horse-face on the left.

Tenley is the cute little innocent girl who is perfect for Mom, and that she was. She had the "special emotional moments" with his family, and they absolutely loved her. Everyone on the show hated Vienna. The other girls, his family seemed to... The fans!

Tenley= Well spoken. Knows herself, is smart... Just nothing bad about her. Vienna can't answer a question to save her life without sounding like an idiot. She also clearly has something wrong with her eyes. I don't know if she can't look at someone in the eye, or if she has a lazy eye. Either way, it's impossible to look at her talk.

If all of that isn't bad enough, she's basically Paris Hilton's clone.



Barf.

If you didn't already figure it out, SPOILER ALERT! Vienna gets picked. Jake proposes. The nation gets pissed.

Look at how Tenley reacts when she knows her heart is breaking... I think this shows her character better than anything, and it made me bawl like a kid on their first day of pre-school.



Gah. She's the most optimistic person, and it rubs off instead of making you want to hit her! She rocks.

Anyway... This is the third freakin' time in a row I've hated the outcome of these shows. Sure, I'm glad Molly and Jason are getting married and Melissa has a better life without him, but I was mad at the time.

I say this will 100% certainty that it's not true, but!: I will never watch this show again.

However, I will root for Ali, the next Bachelorette who I of course love, to make the right decisions.

I will also root for Jake in Dancing With The Stars.

Hmph. I don't see myself getting over this anytime soon. I scowled the whole time while watching "After the Final Rose." I did crack a chuckle when they brought out Jeffrey Osbourn to sing "On The Wings Of Love," though. How cheesy. They even did a cheesy dance. Stupid.

Please. Tell me, fellas... [Or, ladies, pretend you're a guy...] Who would you have picked based on pictures alone? Maybe videos, too. I don't want to lead you in one direction or another..............



I do want to thank the Bachelor for making me a girl for a couple hours a week while I watched the show. Isn't romance so cute? Ugh.

love,
elizabethany

jim carrey is a grandpa!

This may seem a little weird to some of you like it did me, but it's true! Jim Carrey is officially a grandpa! And he's super proud of it, too!

His daughter, Jane [who's married but only 22!], had her first kid this weekend. It's a boy! His name is Jackson Riley Santana.

Phew. A real, good name!




First of all, little Jane has grown up to be quite the hott lil mama, eh?! No pun intended, of course.

Second- Do you realize what this means?! Jenny McCarthy is practically a grandma. Woah.

It's hard enough to think that Lloyd Christmas is a grandfather, but Jenny McCarthy?! Of course, he's not her blood grandson... but she's still going to be called Grandma Jenny, I bet!

Talk about the hottest GILF on the planet, right boys?!

Also- I love when people use themes for names in the family. They're all J's!

love,
elizabethany

olympic gold medals love each other

Ooh lookie here! Two Olympic-related posts today!

Apparently there's something new playing cupid these days: The Olympic gold medal!

Nastia Liukin won it in the All-Around for gymnastics in 2008, and now she's dating Evan Lysacek! [He's the first one to win a gold for men's figure skating in 22 years!] Apparently it's been going on since last summer! Looks like the world missed the memo.

When I first saw him, the first thing that came to mind was "Woah. He looks just like a Ken doll. I hope he's dating Barbie!"

Well, I think he is. Look at the resemblance!

Ohh, the irony! It's only right that Olympic gold medal Barbie date Olympic gold medal Ken. Too bad they don't come in the same box... I'm more of a money-saver, all-in-one-deal kinda girl.

I hope it lasts! They're pretty.

love,
elizabethany

carrie underwood looks not-so-hott!

I thought I'd never see the day that I'd say this, but in a recent red carpet walk, Carrie Underwood did not look good!

Okay, okay.... I guess technically she still looked decent, but definitely not up to her perfect par!

It was her first public outing with new hubby-to-be Mike Fisher at the Bell Sens Soiree Carnaval Mystique fundraiser for the Sens Foundation, and her make-up, hair, gothic outfit, everything was looking rough.

Maybe this was just a night of not being photogenic, maybe she had a little too much makeup, or maybe I don't like her hairdo, but I'm disappointed in her uber pale, Amish funeral look she's got goin' on.

It's okay, though... You can forgive someone for not looking perfect once. Just don't do it again cuz then it's shame on me.

love,
elizabethany

PS: In other couples looking rough on the red carpet news, what the H is Amber Rose wearing?! Sure, her ass looks great... But this is not a cute dress. Kanye's look isn't so hott either.

watch: most epic "save the date" ever

Alright everyone... It's time to give up. You're not going to have the coolest dream wedding, you're not going to do the best wedding dance ever or have the best "I Do", and now you're not going to have the most clever "Save the Date" invite.

Jeff and Erin have you beat. They've turned their wedding into a movie of sorts, and this trailer is impossible to outdo. [Yes, some things are in fact impossible.]



I dare anyone to try and do something better, but I don't see it possible. The simple fact that it started out commenting about their incredibly awkward height difference gives them the Oscar.

Hmph. All I've ever wanted to do was be the best at something viral when it comes to the wedding. Fail.

love,
elizabethany

watch: i am tiger woods

I've been pretty anti-posting things about Tiger just because I think there's enough of it everywhere else, but this video is pretty funny. [It's also NSFW language-wise...]

Don Glover does his best impersonation of Tiger Woods and explains what Tiger does besides play golf.



I mean... Wow... Okay. Way to just throw it all out there, right?!

This video reminds me of something my raw BFFs would totally say/do, naturally, on a daily basis. Out of control.

At least you got it off your chest, right Tiger Don?

love,
elizabethany

PS: Steve Harvey was on Ellen the other day and gave a quick tip for Tiger: "Stop eating out."

top 13 things that are a bigger turnoff than you think

You know that everyone has a few bad habits that someone else finds super annoying. No one is perfect, nor is everyone super-tolerant.

BUT... Some things are easy to look past. So your lover snorts... Sometimes it's kind of cute.

Other things irk you more and more each time they happen, and most likely push you to the breaking point.

I asked you on Twitter, talked to some friends and coworkers, and came up with this list of

Underrated Relationship Deal Breakers.

Sure, cheating, committing a crime, not getting along with friends, or getting in a huge fight are obvious reasons to end a relationship... But these build up over time before you realize it, most likely resulting in a "we're done!" or an unanswered post-date phone call.

13. Talking too much
Does this need to be explained? Shut up and let the other person talk a little bit. The world doesn't revolve around you, and there are things around you worth observing. Absorb the moment.
Also included: Being cocky

12. Bad shoes
"Shoes tell a lot about people," says my hickey contest havin' BFF. Dirty shoes, dirty way of living. Ugly/weird shoes: Probably doesn't keep up with the times.
Also included: Bad fashion overall

11. Grammatical errors in text messages.
I'm not talking about the LOL, OMG, ur, etc... I'm talking about writing like a 3rd grader who doesn't know the difference between there, their, and they're. Go back to school and get an education.
Also included: Bad spellers

10. Not being equal in spending
Just because it's chivalrous for the man to pay for everything, doesn't mean he should have to do it every day, every meal. Split the bill, buy each other things.. Make spending relatively equal.
Also included: Being unappreciative

9. Being a picky eater
If you're going to date someone, you need to be open to doing things out of the ordinary. If you only eat well done, plain hamburgers, there's only so many places you can go for a date.

Also included: Vegans

8. Cussing
If you can't say it proudly to your grandma, don't say it at all. And if your grandma is a cussing fiend, well... Just watch what you say. A foul mouth is never a welcome one.
Also included: Always talking down on people

7. Too touchy early on
A little flirty touching in the beginning: Totally cute. Acting like your new crush is your property and touching every inch of them every second you get is not okay. Everyone has their personal bubble... Respect it.
Also included: Being pushy/talking about sexual acts

6. Different levels of the career world
If you're trying to date your boss, I can tell you from experience, it's not going to work no matter how hard you try. It's probably best to date someone out of your field, or within a rank or two.

Also included: Unmotivated/lazy moochers

5. Trying too hard to impress others
Just because you want their friends, family, coworkers to like you, doesn't mean you need to change who you are. Don't make it obvious that you went out of your way to be or like something you normally don't.
Also included: Name-brand-only people

4. Having sex on the first date
You may think it's what he wants, but giving it up on the 1st/2nd date only does two things: Leaves nothing for the imagination and the label of "easy."

Also included: Immediately falling in lust/love

3. Getting shwasted on the first date
So you're going to a bar with your date and both of your friends... That's not another way of saying "going to get hammered." Stay classy, DC. Get to know your date and their friends, and remember it tomorrow.
Also included: Bar dancers

2. Being ignorant to trying new things
So you hate the sound of screaming Rock music, and you think Country is all about losing your wife, your dog, and having an accent. What if that's "the one's" favorite genre of music? Give it a real chance. Don't rule out trying new things... You might like it.
Also included: Extreme home-bodies

1. Smoking
You don't need one more person telling you all the nastiness inside a cigarette or that it's bad for you. Just remember the smell is always lingering, no matter how much you clean. Imagine watching someone drink gasoline and smelling it on them 24/7 [assuming you're normal and don't like that smell]... Not cute.
Also included: Druggies, potheads, coke addicts, alcoholics etc.

Hopefully I've helped each of you either tell your sweetie how to straighten up quick, or realize things you need to work on. Hopefully I didn't make anyone feel like I was attacking them.

Feel free to add to, take away, or comment on this list below!

love,
elizabethany