52 photos/weeks 17-20

17.)  Road trips are good for the soul, and a weekend trip to DC was all we needed to restore ours.
18.) I think I'm slowly turning into a "plant person." I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. But on the bright side, my succulents are growing like crazy.
19.) First truly warm day of the year. First day sans socks. First summer dress of the season. And later, the first cocktails on the balcony. I am such a sucker for warm weather.
20.) Bagels with an old friend at one of my most favorite places on the planet.

52 photos is my personal challenge to take one awesome picture per week in 2014. All photos were taken by me on either my iPhone 5s or Cannon EOS Rebel T3i (my "big girl" camera). If edited, I use Snapseed, Instagram, or Adobe Lightroom. Follow me - @maspad - to see these and many more pics!

Smoothie season!

Maybe it's because the weather has finally (finally! finally!!) warmed up, but I seem to be back on the smoothie train. There's just something so refreshing about sipping a cool beverage as a gentle breeze wafts in through the open window while I get ready for work - talk about a great wakeup call! The recipe below is for my favorite smoothie - made with orange juice and pineapple bits, it temporarily transports me to a beautiful island much more tropical than Manhattan :)

Tropical Green Smoothie
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 whole banana, peeled and sliced
- 2 tbsp. pineapple chunks (TJ's sells a bag of frozen pineapple tidbits that I just love)
- 1/2 tbsp. coconut flakes
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 oz. apple cider vinegar (use a shot glass to measure or just eyeball it)
- 1 cup orange juice

Place all ingredients in the cup of an immersion blender and and blend until everything is smooth and liquid. Pour into a glass and serve with a straw!

DC in pictures

Last weekend, J and I took advantage of some beautiful weather (finally!!), an available room at an aunt & uncle's house, and two days with a whole lotta nothing on the schedule - so we hopped in the car and drove down to our nation's capital. With no major agenda, we were able to wander the mall, say hi to some animals at the zoo, try out Chipotle's Thai-flavored younger brother named Shophouse (personal opinion - it was fantastic - let's get one in New York now!!), say hi to the White House, visit with my favorite college friend over Ethiopian food, and relax in that pretty little garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. Sometimes, it's good to get away ;)