Hula Girl Food Truck Tryout

            With the snow subsiding, everything in DC is returning to normal.  I check out the L’Enfant food truck offerings and decide to try Hula Girl Truck.  Well, I’m glad I did because its teriyaki, sticky rice and macaroni salad lunch plate is more than enough for lunch and dinner.  Below is the bountiful feast.  I foresee myself returning to this food truck whenever it comes back to L’Enfant Plaza!

CNN Features Fashion Week Cleveland

            This evening I check out the Business of Fashion and come across a CNN article highlighting the importance of other fashion weeks. I am very happy that CNN mentions Cleveland first because it is the third largest fashion week in the country.  As soon as I read it, I post it on my Facebook and Twitter accounts cc Fashionably Cleveland. Below is the article’s hyperlink: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/24/living/fashion-week-cities/index.html

Friday Night’s Gilt City DC Warehouse Sale

            This Friday I attended Gilt City DC’s warehouse sale.  Two weeks ago I purchased the opening evening ticket as soon as the event went live because I knew that the early bird got the worm.  This was going to be a hot ticket.  My budget was $350 and was happy that the Valentino dress that I bought was $349 ($364 after taxes).  Its original price was $1990.  Grabbing that made me feel victorious. Yeah, I went over to the purses and shoes even though I wasn’t looking at the former and the latter didn’t go to size 42.  Below is my catch!

Keep on Trying

            Yesterday I originally didn’t even want to drag myself to my Perfect Your Skirt sewing class because I felt like I was so behind. Last week the raggedy rock n roll marathon made me late and I was lagging behind everyone.  I arrived early to buy some fabric because I couldn’t get to any fabric store. I had a very hectic week that depleted my energy.  Luckily, I found some navy cotton fabric that was long enough to become a skirt. Yes!  Now onto the sewing.  Mind since I didn’t own a sewing machine I hadn’t practiced for a week.  This was my fourth time sewing.  I had to take out my seams many times because they were crooked.  In addition, I had to remove my knee-high boots twice while fitting my muslin skirt. I was walking around the floor with sub-zero temperatures.  My instructor told me that normally a tenant would live where the thermometer was so all the company had to do was tell him to turn it up.  It was bad enough that it was winter but to cut off the heat was equally bad. My tootsies were freezing! I did manage to make up some time by cutting my fabric and cutting a V into the seams.  Finally, I felt accomplished ready to return this Saturday to sew my skirt and invisible zipper together.  Below was the front and the back of my skirt. 

A Go? Maybe Not.

            I received an email from the very professor I contacted in regards to the status of a course I always wanted to take. Mid-February I asked her if that course was still a go; and, both she and the school said no due to low enrollment. This class cost $49 instead of $499 complete with a certificate upon finishing 50% of the coursework saving me $450! After the professor answered all of my questions, I purchase the book and the class.

            I was on cloud 9 until I took the first self-assessment quiz receiving a very low score.  The problem was the system didn’t provide instructions that there could be more than one answer. I inferred that there was only one answer per question.  I took a screen capture attaching it to my email explaining my confusion over lack of proper instructions. This is just messy! A couple of hours ago I was ecstatic about the prospect of taking this time. Now I was stuck thinking that I got what I paid for. Hopefully, the professor would add the instructions because that was a confusing quiz! Regardless, I purchased the book and at 101 pages looked like a short read. I will finish it supplementing the text with financial risk exercises.

The Snowquester That Wasn't

            Last night the weather channel predicted this massive snowstorm and today I only saw 15-30 minutes of snowflakes. Yesterday I went to Bourbon Steak and ate Angus skirt steak and truffled mac and cheese as my last meal before being stuck inside for at least 24 hours. Below is the photo of my meal.  Though the Snowquester was a dud, this meal wasn’t.

Angus skirt steak and Truffled Mac and Cheese

Bits of Thread Intro to Sewing Class

I attended my very first sewing class at Bits of Thread this afternoon.  I boarded the metro exiting at Woodley Park.  I didn't know that I had to cross the Duke Ellington bridge in order to get there.  That wasn't half of it.  The company had wrought iron gates where I had to buzz in.  Needless to say, the buzzer didn't work forcing me to call the company where a woman walked down to let me in.  Being from DuPont Circle, this was new to me.  I guessed nothing said 'gentrification' like iron gates and getting buzzed in.  I walked up two flights on stairs to room #5 where there were four sewing machines.  Though it took me a little over the two hours allotted to complete my drawstring pocket bag, I created it!  Here it is

Drawstring Pocket Bag

Though I had registered for beginners part two, my head ached so bad from stretching that I didn't go.  Nevermind the fact that I didn't get the $40 back, I felt bad that the man in my first class wanted to take the class. I would had kindly let him take my place. What I also decided was to drop next Saturday's draping basics and use that money to reenroll in beginners two.  I needed more practice before taking an intermediate class.  

Fashionably Late?...Never

            Initially I was against going to the final GWFCC fashion design 101 class but since I bought the Erin Fetherston lipstick jeans especially for the finale, I might as well sashay in there.  Though I made a pitstop at CVS for more posterboard and McDonalds for cinnabon for breakfast (who knew McDonald’s sold them at Union Station) and arrived at 11am (class started at 10am), I arrive.  Reading the fashion business book and cutting out more dresses have accelerated my progress because I am not that far behind the other classmates.  Though I haven’t carried a pencil due to my downsizing to one bag and leaving my purse at home, my instructor has mechanical ones.  When sketching, the instructor says that I should have multiple tops to a bottom.  I start sketching four different kinds of blouses and collars.  Next I ask her if I can replicate these collars on my dresses for my capsule collection and she says ‘absolutely’.  Though no one knows when patternmaking is happening, I have 6 sewing classes starting tomorrow.  I might not even be able to enroll in patternmaking due to my being booked the entire month for sewing.  I simply cannot wait for the organization to open classes when I have a vision and need to acquire the requisite skills to be bring it fruition.  Bits of Thread has a patternmaking class which I’ll enroll in April.  It all seems to be coming together.  

Being Fashionable

Yesterday my Erin Fetherston lipstick print skinny jeans from CUSP by Neiman Marcus arrived one day early (They were supposed to arrive today). These are the ones which I'll wear to my final fashion design 101 class and put those lame chicks to shame (I entered this class cold, with no sewing or any fashion knowledge.  There are 7 women in my class, 4 are designers and I've run laps around them by employing my MBA business acumen.). Here are my Erin Fetherston pants

Erin Fetherston Lipstick Print Skinny Jeans

Houston Aquarium

            I’ve taken some time off from NBA All-Star Weekend to take in the sights.  I promise myself that I would go to the aquarium.  It is conveniently located two blocks from my hotel so why not?  The Houston aquarium doesn’t disappoint!  Below are some of my photos:

Jellyfish

Coral Reef

Anemones & Seastars

Octopus

Asian Rainforest Archerfish

Rainbowfish

Emerald Tree Boa

Rainbow

Electric Eel

Turtles

NBA Jam Session, Celebrity Game and BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Game

            Yesterday I attended the NBA Jam Session and Celebrity Game.  The Jam Session was sensory overload!  There were so many events happening simultaneously: autograph signing, hoops action, people in the NBA Store, Hall of Fame wall, everything!  The Jam Session gave people the full-fledged All-Star experience in a family-friendly environment. If I were a kid, I would had never wanted to leave.  45 minutes into the Jam Session, the Celebrity game line started backing up. I decided against getting in line until after security started letting people in.  Viewing the celebrity game map, I wouldn’t be that far from the stage so I was nonplussed.  Once it got closer to 5:30pm, I started looking for the exit.  The volunteers couldn’t tell me how to get from the Jam Session to the Celebrity game so I went through the black curtain. I showed my ticket to the lady and walked into the bleachers.  Section 202 was closer to mid-court which was advantageous for photo-taking.  I had both my camera and Blackberry on hand though I hadn’t used the latter until tonight because it gave better resolution (I will break down and purchase a professional camera that photojournalists use because I am fanatical about taking the BEST photos!).

Me in front of the Basketball Hall of Fame

Center Court End Zone Access

Me in front of the Center Court Wallpaper

Me in the Spacesuit

NBA2K13 

NBA Banners

NBA Store and Jam Session Sign

When the West team roster was announced, I was confused as to why Common was on it though he lived in Chicago which was in the Eastern conference. Conversely, I was perplexed as to why former San Antonio champion Sam Elliott was on the East though he played for the West.  

Houston Rockets Little Dippers

Houston Rockets Power Dancers

Celebrity Game

Rapper Common on the Foul Line

Usain Bolt being introduced on Jumbotron

Carl Sager and NBA Mascots

Anyhow, I had to skip out to walk to the Toyota Center for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge game.  I was proud that Cleveland had 4 players! I went through security then came to the section 121 club level.  There was every amenity and convenience I needed: gift shop, food court, bathroom. I ordered my pizza and drink in the Amex card lane because using mine to book my trip, it would be rude not too! My seat was in the fourth row right behind Team Shaq where three Cleveland players sit. Someone was sitting in my seat because they decided that it was four of them. Fuming I snapped ‘Well, at least I can get my pop holder!’ He moved his drink.  I ate my pizza and ready to see my Cavaliers in action; and, although Team Shaq got blown out by Team Chuck, I was happy to see Kyrie dominate.  When he broke Brandon’s ankles twice I was there in the front row.  Having this kind of experience, magnified why I didn’t spend $220 for the Saturday Night upper-deck and $519 for the NBA All-Star game upper-deck seat.

Toyota Center All-Star Houston 2013 Sign

Houston Rockets Mascot Clutch

BBVA Rising Stars Game in Action

Player Introductions

Team Shaq Bench

Inside Club Level Suite

Walking to Section 121

Inside Club Level Suite

Air Elite NBA

Air Elite

Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving

Kyrie on Floor

Cleveland Cavalier Tyler Zeller

NBA All-Star Practice

            I snagged these tickets through Amex pre-sale before they were open to the general public January 30^th.  My ticket cost $50 and the majority of attendees were seated in my section 202.  Since I arrived 15 minutes later, I sat a couple of risers higher than yesterday’s celebrity game, however, I managed to take pretty good photos.

Western and Eastern Conference All-Stars converge on center court

Eastern Conference All-Stars warming up

NBA All-Star practice stage

Western Conference All-Stars