Washington Nationals Opening Day Baseball vs. Atlanta Braves

Did I tell you I play in a fantasy baseball league? My team is called SoDo Mojo, for South Downtown Mojo of the Seattle Mariners. I love my Mariners but I have to say the Nationals have really found a spot in my heart.

I wonder if it is sign my two favorite baseball teams are the only two teams to have never been to the World Series? With my baseball luck they will go the same year, and yes, hell will probably freeze over too.

This year since we were in DisneyWorld we thought it would be fun to 'scout' some players at hit a spring training Nationals game. It was so nice to be outdoors, in a t-shirt (a new Jason Werth shirt) and warm in the sun! The Nationals players that came up and talked to us were really sweet. Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa were great, and they chatted up Piper until she gave them one of her looks over her glasses. (no loss in trading Nyger Morgan and that is all I will say about that). The Nationals played the St. Louis Cardinals, Jordan Zimmermann did not have a good outting at all, I chose not to draft him after watching that 4 inning fiasco.

However, with all that said we approached opening day with our usual mix of excitement and trepidation. Excitement that baseball for 2011 was on and we were part of it and of course, with their recent record of wins and losses, a bit of trepidation as to what this season will hold.

So far it has held a very cold 40 degree afternoon! Burrrrr!! I wore almost the same clothes to the Opening Day Baseball game as I did to Army-Navy Football in December!

That said, the day was fabulous. In part because someday some statistician in baseball will also recognize that starting pitcher, Livan Hernandez, making his 9th Opening Day start, was paired with one of the best catchers of all time, Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez, in his last opening day start too. For me, it was kind of awesome. I taped the opening out Livan made and both of them at their first at bats. (I know I geek out on some crazy things once in a while).

The Nationals didn't win this one, in fact in all their home openers they've only won one, but still you've gotta love the home team. I will say we love our new outfielder Jason Werth, he had a base hit on his first at bat.

Despite the cold and the loss our day at Nationals Park was fun, and we are excited the season has started. I am sure there will be warmer days ahead for watching Nationals baseball and I am sure there will be many wins as well. I will also say with the warmer days ahead there will be cold beers to drink and a lot of new food stands to try at the park. This year we have to get Pudge to autograph the foul ball he hit and Piper caught last August. Stay tuned and I will keep you updated on my quest.

DisneyWorld and a 6th Birthday

I remember some of my birthdays...the surprise party my folks threw in 3rd grade, my 10th in Hawaii (that happened to coincide with Thanksgiving). 31 years later I celebrated my 41st birthday in Hawaii again. I have celebrated many of my birthdays with Apple Cup wins, and one year Brad threw me a fabulous surprise party at Uno's! So I am sure this birthday Piper just celebrated will be one she looks back on and remembers too. We started her big day early by getting to Magic Kingdom as it opened at 8 am.

As we walked down Main Street USA, it made me all teary eyed, so magical every time you walk in. Piper was enthralled, and there ahead of us was Cinderella's castle. It really is a magical place.

We had a little time before her surprise breakfast so I coerced Brad into going on the It's a Small World ride right away. We had the entire ride to ourselves, it was so cool. After that we grabbed fast passes to Peter Pan, saw Mary Poppins and chatted with her...of course right?

Finally it was 9 AM and we took Piper to the Castle, and said, "guess who you are having breakfast with? The Princesses!!" She was so excited and they do such a great job with the kids. Piper met Cinderella, and had a formal photo done with her that they gave us, plus extra 4x6's, before breakfast was over and then we are taken up to the dining room. Breakfast is okay, service is great and Piper loved it all. She was given a 'wishing star' and wand that Ariel has all the kids use to make a wish at the end. During the breakfast they do these elaborate introductions of Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella and Ariel and then the princesses come to each child and chat, take pictures and give hugs.

As you can see Piper was loving it. She also had a purple cupcake with a candle, and we had a special white chocolate slipper filled with frosting and surrounded by strawberries and blueberries, we loved it!

When breakfast was done, the princesses were all hugged and we'd collected our pictures off we went to ride the rides and enjoy the Magic Kingdom. I think Piper loved the roller coasters best of all and said no to ever going in the haunted mansion again...or at least for years to come. Ha ha. Splash Mountain and the Big Thunder Roller Coaster were awesome. I figured I had a roller coaster girl on my hands and it was confirmed. We were able to ride both twice and then enjoyed the bears show in the Frontier Village and then over to Tomorrowland and Buzz Lightyear. Here is a sweet picture of Piper making a wish in the castle's wishing well.

Tomorrowland should be renamed to 'crazyland' there were so many people all over the place and they kept stopping, in the middle of the walk ways. Totally drove Brad crazy and then it started bugging me too. Ha ha ha. By the time we were done riding Buzz Lightyear, shopping through Main Street and watching the afternoon parade it was close to 4 pm. So, what does the birthday girl want to do? Yep, 80+ degrees out and we hit the pool. Fun swimming for everyone and afterwards a drink of course.

Can we say fun?? What a great birthday! The next day we did Epcot and Hollywood Studios and on Monday we flew home. But, not before we went to Magic Kingdom again and rode Big Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster SIX more times in a row at 9 AM. Now that is what I call a birthday trip!

A Birthday Tea for My McB

This past Saturday we had a birthday party for my little girl who is turning 6 this week. She invited 7 friends over to have 'tea' with all the appropriate foods.

It was very sweet, they were all dressed up, complete with heels, pearls, hats and dresses. Everyone used their tea cups and stuck their pinkies out. The one concession was no tea, instead sparking pink lemonade was the beverage of choice. Here the girls are all sitting and enjoying some crustless cucumber, cheese and peanut butter sandwiches along with fruit.

Between course we did a group picture and also made individual flower arrangements.

Finally we sang happy birthday to Piper and she blew out her number 6 candle on the cupcake and we opened gifts. The cupcakes (which I ususally make) were from a great little shop in Old Town Alexandria called Alexandria Cupcake. I think they are just about the best cupcakes around, yes, even better than Georgetown and just as good as Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, NJ.

Such a fun afternoon for everyone, but I was exhausted when it was done! Our girlie had a really special day and now I can't wait to take her to the Ritz or Mandrin Oriental for an even fancier tea. (and a glass or two of champagne for mama too!).

Happy 40th Birthday Starbucks!

As a proud shareholder of Starbucks for 18 years now I am thrilled they are doing so much to celebrat the 40th anniversary. Keep it up Starbucks!!
Go into a Starbucks and you will see the 40th Anniversary Tribute coffee, it is delicious. Between this brew and their Pike Place Roast they have turned out some pretty fabulous new blends!