It's just another maniac Monday, ok, Tuesday. . .

Lately, work has been hard. Most of the difficulties are due to the fact that my bank is merging with another bank. It seems that daily I receive another piece of bad news. I saw this cartoon and I knew it would come in handy someday.

Funny and so true!

12 Dates, No Kisses

After all the hype and all the nerves, I went, I saw, and I survived my first speed dating experience. I have to say that I was kind-of hoping for a few more ridiculous interactions to write about on my blog. I was looking for something a bit salacious to balance out all of the pre-dating anxiety. I guess I could write about the guy at the restaurant (who was not part of the speed dating) who sat down to "date" me for 4 minutes. That was strange and a bit creepy, and he touched my knee two too many times. I could also write about the one guy that was so clearly 15- 20 years older than me (which would make him 25-30 years old than Emma). Not so cool. I could end the post about how we got turned around on our way home and ending up on an army base.

However, instead of sensational, I would say that speed dating was fine. Not overwhelming good or bad, just fine. I met some very nice guys. I didn’t think that any of them have long term potential but I would not mind running into some of them again. The hardest part for me was at the end. You have a sheet of paper with all of the names of your “dates” and you have to pick who you liked. I felt bad that I wasn’t picking some of the guys because I didn’t want to hurt their feelings (I know, dumb!). So, if I had more than 5 minutes to pick, I probably would have picked fewer guys. You live and you learn. I don’t know yet if I “matched” with anyone (meaning I picked them and they picked me) but I really don’t care. It was actually surprising comfortable and I would do it again. I am glad that I went because I learned a lot about myself and I learned a few things that will be on the non-negotiable list like, must not hate, in fact must strongly like, maybe even possibly love Utah. So, 12 dates and no kisses, that has to be some sort of record (just kidding, Mom).

Bank Holiday DENIED!

I work for a bank and one of the perks of working for a bank is the Federal Bank Holiday. Ten times a year I get a day off of work just because I work for a bank. Now I am sure that there are a lot of other companies that are closed for these holidays but mine is federally guaranteed! HOWEVER, if you work in Utah and work for a bank, you get one extra bank holiday and it happens to be today, July 24th or Pioneer Day.

On July 24, 1847 upon entering the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young declared,

“This is the right place.”

Since that time, Utahans have celebrated with parades, reenactments, church activities, and family gatherings. I always get a bit melancholy for Utah on July 24th because I am missing out on the fun, the family, the homemade root beer, oh, and I have to go to work. Gotta run.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Go SPEEDRACER...GO!

I feel that I have told most people but here is a confession. I signed up for a speed dating night. OHHH. I can already hear the "yahoos" and the "are you crazy?" comments. For the record, the movies make speed dating look so fun and interesting so I thought I would try it out. (I know, the movies make lots of things look fun and I should not use that as any sort of gauge.) However, to be honest, the moment that I signed up I regretted it. The only redeem grace was that I thought, "Well, at least I can blog about it." Hours of potential torture and I am excited because I can write about it...sick, sick, sick.

I told a few co-workers that I signed up for the speed dating event and here is one exchange I had:
Me: "So, did I tell you I signed up for a Speed Dating event?"
Mormon co-worker: "Seriously?"
Me: "Yeah, it is organized by a professional group in D.C. and they put together Jewish, Catholic, etc. speed dating events and I signed up for the Mormon Speed Dating event."
Mormon co-worker: (Coughing while saying), "Boring. You know they actually call that a scripture chase, Moses 1:34"
Me: (Laughing) "Well, it gets better, it is on July 24th (Pioneer Day for all you non-Utahans) and they are holding it at a wine bar."
Mormon co-worker: (Laughing) "Yeah, that is funny."

Our conversation concluded by his telling me how he is so glad that he didn't have to be in the dating scene and how he felt bad that I had to be. Not that I wasn't nervous before but that night I went online and found an article entitled, The Pros and Cons of Speed Dating by Amy Schoen. It was actually very helpful at putting the situation into perspective.

Here is part of the article , (it is long but if you interested in Speed Dating, it is a good read)

Let me give you a bit of a set up: Most speed dating organizations organize the event by age groups, interests, even religions. You arrive at a bar, restaurant or community center with about 2 dozen other singles - half women and half men. You sign in and are given a number and a card for taking notes about the people you meet.Pairs are assigned and you find the person for which you will begin with. Different organizations have different time limits. The time to spend together can range from 2 minutes to 10 minutes. After the first round, you move onto subsequent rounds with a new partner. If you are interested in someone, you put their number on the card.By the end, if both people like each other and put each other's numbers down on the card submitted to the organizers, then they receive each other's contact information so they can meet outside the event. However, if one person puts down an individual and that person doesn't reciprocate, then no contact information is given out. Below are some Pros and Cons to consider so you will be aware of what you may be facing in this kind of dating prospect venue.

Cons of Speed Dating:

1. How you decide to meet someone is based on superficial stuff - it's only natural to judge someone on looks and first impressions. You may be turned off right away and then not make any effort reach deeper to get to know someone's inner soul.
2. If you know that you have no interest in someone, you still have to spend the rest of the time talking to him or her. This can be torturous - especially if your partner has no conversational skills. Minutes can seem like hours!
3. You have to subject yourself to rejection. What if you like someone and they don't like you back? Speed dating is not for the thin-skinned person. Your inner critic will have a field day if no one picks you.
4. There may be a cute guy across the room (okay, we can't help being superficial!) and you are never paired up with him because of time constraints. You may never get a chance to meet him. It seems like the stars are conspiring against you and there was a major opportunity lost.
5. No connections were made; you feel like the evening was a waste of time and wish that you stayed home that night watching Gray's Anatomy!

Yes, speed dating can be a disappointment ... but the good news is that there have been successful meetings at these events. I know a married couple who met this way. I also have had clients meet nice people to date. Here is the positive side of speed dating.

Pros of Speed Dating:

1. You get to meet at least a half dozen people who are inclined to give you their undivided attention for the time allotted.
2. If you sit back and relax, you can get a sense of someone, their demeanor and their essence - whether it's positive or negative. This is when it's helpful to know how to read body language.
3. You know the majority of people are serious about meeting someone to date. Why else would someone subject themselves to this?
4. You can see if you can carry a conversation with someone. You'll find out if there are interests in common. You may not meet the love of your life, but you could find a person who could be a life long friend.
5. You may actually meet someone you like that you would consider dating. Now you're ahead of where you were when you walked in the door!

I wish I had read this article BEFORE I signed up because apparently, I am actually paying for the experience of possible rejection. Lucky for me I am also dragging my friend Emma along for the ride. Wish us both luck because we are in for an adventure.

Lemonade for Obama

On Sunday, across the street from the Chevy Chase Chapel was this little lemonade stand. The sign said Lemonade for Obama. No matter your political affiliation, I thought it was so cute that these kids wanted to be involved in the political discussion. When I asked them why they wanted Obama, they said that they wanted the troops out of Iraq. (good reason) Anyway, I bought some lemonade for $1.00 and then I asked them if they knew who Senator Harry Reid was. They said, "No." and I explained to them that he was the Majority Leader of the Senate and he was probably in the building across the street from them. (As some of you might remember, Senator Reid attends a ward in my stake). The boys then told me that would explain the Secret Service men who were with Senator Reid when he came and talked to them. I thought it was cute that these two kids in Chevy Chase, Maryland had a lemonade stand for Obama and the Senate Majority Leader showed up. Only in the Washington, D.C. area.

Mix n' Mingle- Round 2

First of all, the definitions:

I was thinking about the terminology used for gatherings after church services and I came up with these distinctions.

Linger Longer: A linger longer is a family ward event where parents try and talk with the friends but they can't stay for the duration due to their kids either running around, grabbing multiple cookies, and/ or the baby's nap schedule. The linger longer usually has a plethora of really good homemade food and is loud and chaotic. (I think they are great!)

Mix n' Mingle: A Mix n' Mingle is an event for single people where individuals try and talk with their friends while feeling like they should move out of their comfort zone and meet new people. (a.k.a the mix and then the mingle) The singles can stay for the duration but are usually weighing supply and demand equations while deciding when they should leave for their Sunday naps. The Mix n' Mingle usually has limited food with many store bought items. The atmosphere is contained while hopeful. (I think these have potential!)

Today was my second Mix n' Mingle in the Chevy Chase Ward.

I have decide that one way to make friends and influence people is to fill their stomachs with yummy treats. I have also decided that I will never go to a Mix n' Mingle empty handed or in flats but that is another post. The question was then sweet or savory. I went with sweet and I made The Barefoot Contessa's Outrageous Brownies. This was the first time I made this recipe but Ina made it look simple on her show. (I should have know, nothing is that simple.)

Here is the recipe.

1 pound unsalted butter

1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate

6 extra-large eggs

3 tablespoons instant coffee powder (It was a church event so I left this out:))

2 tablespoons real vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups flour, divided- 1 cup for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips and nuts

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups diced walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Melt together the butter, 1 pound chocolate chips, and bitter chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature. Stir together 1 cup of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for about 30- 35 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.

Copyright 1999, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
This was adapted from a recipe for Chocolate Globs in the Soho Charcuterie Cookbook.

I made these brownies late last night and I am not sure if I was tired but the brownies became a bit of a headache. First of all, they spilled over the pan which left a lovely burning smell. Then, after they were finished baking, I tried to cut into them and it looked like the batter had separated or I had made chocolate scrambled eggs. I put them in the refrigerator and I tried to salvage what I could this morning. The brownies have a rich, dark chocolate flavor and I could see how you would want to add in the nuts for some contrast. Next month, I am not going to experiment on a baking project and I am going to stick to something I know. Even with headache, I was pleasantly surprised when people wanted the recipe. They actually did taste really good and it is interesting how something a little above and beyond can get a response. One of the girls I met through the brownies wants to have a cooking group which would be a fun way to meet more fun singles. Thanks to the Barefoot Contessa for coming through in the end.

Concert in the Park

One of the many benefits of living in a big city is that there is always an enormous list of concerts, exhibits, lectures, movies, etc. that you can attend on any given night. Last night the singles group went to a free National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park. They let you bring in food and the amphitheatre has really chairs so it makes for a very comfortable evening. I loved seeing all the families with the children enjoying the concert. Before the concert the orchestra holds a "petty zoo" where children and adults can come and play with different instruments.

Here is the program from last night:

Marcelo Lehninger, conductor
"Music from the Americas"
Gershwin: Cuban Overture
Williams: Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Copland: El Salón México
Chadwick: Symphonic Sketches – i. Jubilee
Gould: Latin-American Symphonette – ii. Tango
Grofé: Mississippi Suite – iv. Mardi Gras
Dvorák: Symphony No.9 "From the New World" – iv. finale

For the singles part of the evening, it was fine. I met some new people and I reconnected with some people that I have seen at other events. To be honest, I almost did not go because I just get nervous about the whole singles scene and I don't like showing up to the events by myself. But, I did go and I am so glad I did because it was a very fun night.

Catch-up

This week has been super crazy at work so today is my day to catch-up!

. . .but it needed a home.

I had a few extra minutes on Friday so I decided to stop by Goodwill. I was getting ready to leave when I saw it, wait for it. . .yes, a lonely table looking for a home. I couldn't help myself. It was strong, stable, and it relatively good condition (sounds like a good boyfriend). Oh, and it was only $30!!! I really DO understand that I did not NEED another table but my heart breaks for lonely things (and people) and I could not say no. We should be glad that you cannot adopt kids or pets at the Goodwill because I would have a house full.

Here is my new table. Isn't it so cute?!! Seriously one of my best finds this year!! I called my friend Emma and she helped me move in my new table and move 2 other tables to find a place for it. It does need some TLC but who doesn't?

July 12th: 12 of 12

I know I am late getting this up but honestly I had a really hard time taking pictures on the 12th. I thought that because it was Saturday that I would have an easier time but I forgot that I usually spend my Saturdays by myself. I don't mind but the weekends are very quiet.

Starting left to right, top to bottom.

1. Flowers from my overground, under-cared-for garden
2. My alarm clock. I slept in and took a nap.
3. Twilight (I am rereading the series before the next book comes out)
4. Eclipse (Book 3 in the series)
   
5. Doing laundry- my drying system
6. My TIVO remote
7. A whole wheat sweet roll. I treat myself to one on Saturdays after the gym.
8. Grocery shopping with my reusable bags
9. My running shoes
10. New Moon (Book 2 in the series) I finished the first two books and started the 3rd.
    
11. My feet
12. I bought a watermelon

Not very exciting but I am still glad I did it.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

"The acupuncture makes you well real quick
If by chance you're feeling sick
She works and works the whole day long
To help you feel well and strong "

Meet Maureen, my acupuncturist.

Jan is the office manager and she is great!

Here is the definition from Wikipedia, “Acupuncture (from Lat. acus, "needle", and pungere, "prick") is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific points on the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes. According to acupuncture theory, these acumpuncture points lie along meridians which qi, a kind of vital energy, is said to flow. There is no generally-accepted anatomical or histlogical basis for these concepts, and modern acupuncturists tend to view them in functional rather than structural terms. Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Tranditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Different types of acupuncture (Classical Chinese, Japanese acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world."

Whenever I tell people that I go to acupuncture, they have a lot of questions. Here are some of my answers to the common questions/ statements.

1. Does it hurt? Sometimes but if you ask Maureen I am more sensitive to the needles than most her patients.
2. I am scared of needles. I could never do acupuncture. I am scared of needles too but it is just not the same as getting a shot.
3. Does it work? It works for me or I wouldn’t go back as much as I do.
4. Do they reuse the needles? No, acupuncturists use new, clean, sterile needles each time.
5. How many needles do you get at one time? It depends. Usually a minimum of 10 and then it just go up from there.
6. I just believe in going to doctors. I believe in going to doctors too. I just feel that there is a place for both Eastern and Western medical philosophies.

If you had told me three years ago that I would be an acupuncture devotee I would not have believe it. Thanks Maureen! You have been a real lifesaver!

I would like to thank the people who made this possible. . .

My fun trip to Utah could not have be possible without some help.

Thanks to:

1. Delta Airlines

(Direct flights ROCK but seriously what is up with the
$25 charge for a second bag?!)

2. Alamo Rental Cars

(Having your own car. . .priceless!)

3. My high school friends!

Can you believe it has been 15 years?!

4. The little people

Thanks for all your hugs and kisses! Aunt Chrissy loves you!

5. To the Millcreek parade committee.

Great Job this year! See you in 12 months!

6. To Mike & Shonna

Thanks for looping around Salt Lake so I could find brisket for the party (apparently the 4th store was the charm). I also appreciate the pictures and the kitchen help. I am glad you guys moved back!

7. To the parents

Thanks for squeezing one more person into your house- I think twelve was plenty.

8. 24-hr Fitness
I really appreciate the free 7-day pass. It honestly went to good use.
9. Jack
You know who you are!
10. Thanks to all the people who get so excited when I come to Utah.
I feel like a rock star!

I have 21 nieces and nephews (yes, I am serious!) and I love being Aunt Chrissy.
This trip I saw 15 out of the 21, 71% is not half-bad. This trip just went by way too fast.

Miss you already!

Brisket Birthday Dinner

For my Grandmother's birthday party in Utah I made Luanna Rogers’ Brisket and BBQ Sauce. The meal was fantastic. Due to the 4th of July weekend, there were no briskets to be found. I finally found our brisket at Snider's Bros. Meats (the 4th store we tried).

Here I am with the prized brisket and below is the recipe. It is super easy and really an affordable way to feed a crowd.

Brisket

This recipe is for 4 pounds of Brisket

1. Put fat side up and wrap in foil many times (about 5)
2. 2 T. Liquid Smoke (directly on brisket)
3. Make rub and rub on brisket
1 ½ t. salt
1 ½ t. pepper
2 T. chili powder
1 t. crushed bay leaves
4. Bake at 325 degrees for 4 hours (If needed sooner, start at 350 degrees for the 1st hour and then turn down to 325 degrees)
5. Once the brisket is done, take the fat off the meat and shred.

Barbecue Sauce

3 T. Brown Sugar
1-14 oz. bottle of ketchup
½ cup water
2 T. liquid smoke
4 T. Worcestershire sauce
3 t. dry mustard
2 t. celery seed
3 T. butter
Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Mix together in pot, bring to a simmer
2. Makes enough for 4 lbs. of brisket

Serve with good rolls and Bush’s Baked Beans (BBQ flavor), warm up beans and add a bit of meat and some BBQ sauce to it.

Star Spangled Spangled Banner

I know the 4th of July is over but I found this video and I thought it was a perfect companion to my parade slide show. Happy 4th!

The GREATEST PARADE on EARTH!

Here is a slide show of this year's East Millcreek 4th of July parade. This parade rocks! I have been going to this parade since I can remember and there is no place I would rather be on the 4th of July! I hope you enjoy the slide show!

It's that time again. . .

Tomorrow is July 12th and you know what that means, it is a 12 of 12 day! I have seriously been looking forward to this for a month (yes, I need to get a life!). So, I would love to see some of your 12 of 12 creations. If you need help creating your mosaic, go here.

GOOD LUCK!

Yes, another post about my trip.

Highlights of Day 3 on VACATION!

1. I took my nephew Ben with me to see my Grandmother. He was so cute when he found the ewukalaylee (as he called it). Hey Ben's parents: He said he wants one. Maybe Santa should bring him an ewukalaylee. (hint, hint) Doesn't he look so cute?! He also loved the chickens and playing shoot the moon.

Ben & his Great-Grandmother Todd
Ben did not want to pose for the picture. I think the $1 bribe was money well spent!
(Hey, I can bribe other people's kids, right??:)

2. Sometimes I feel that I only get to see my friends for a few minutes when I am on vacation. Here are some quick shots of us before everyone had to run their separate ways.


3. I loved staying up really late with Liz, Lynnette, Anne, and Brad! It was such a great beautiful evening to just sit outside and talk.

All in all- a great day!

Book Group: Twilight!

I played hostess (with the mostess) to this month's Book Group. We read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight in anticipation of the August 2, 2008 release of the 4th book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn.

The book group was fun because we invited young women over the age of 14 years old to join us. We had three girls with their mothers attend and it was interesting to get their insight on the books. Someone told me that a man in our ward wanted to come to book group because he had read the whole series and I was sad that he didn't come. He might have felt a bit out of place but I think we would have enjoyed his perspective.

On one of my last Goodwill trips, I had found this punch bowl and cups for $14.00. It came in quite handy for the book group. Cute, huh?!


Here is a small mosaic of our night. I love having events in my home because it just makes my house feel lived in and it also gets really clean!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

When I was growing up in Salt Lake, we did not have central air for cooling. We only had a swamp cooler and that was just not enough. Summers in Utah are hot, hot, hot (and dry). Most summer nights, my mom decided that we would go up the canyon for dinner instead of cooking in the hot house. Millcreek Canyon is about 10 minutes (at the most) away from my parent's house and just driving up the canyon transports me to a tranquil state. There is really no other place in the world where the smells, the sights, and the tastes bring back so many fond memories. On Wednesday night, we took up the family for a cookout.

Here are some of my nieces and nephews learning how to start a fire.

My favorite, fire roasted hot dogs.

Nate and Jake's favorite too!

Mike & John showing how to get it done.

The perfect marshmallow roasted by John to make his perfect s’more.

Story time by Ben.

Group Shot!

I smelled like canyon, fire, and dirt when I got home and I wish I could have bottled up that smell and brought it back to D.C. with me.

A Pretty, Great State

Travel Log- Day 1 & 2:

Tuesday evening, I flew into Salt Lake. For dinner, my brother John and I went for sushi at Ginza in downtown. If you like sushi, they have yummy unique rolls and great miso soup.

Wednesday, I dropped by Evergreen Park to see some of my old high school friends and their children. I only had a few minutes but it was great catching up with everyone and seeing how their kids have grown. It was so fun to reconnect and play the game, "Oh, guess who I ran into?" For the record, I never just "run" into anyone from high school in D.C. so I always lose the game but it is fun to play anyway.

After the park, I meet up with my friend Catherine. Catherine and I were running partners in college and we are very comfortable just talking for hours. (When you are on a long run, you just talk about anything and everything.) Catherine is fabulous (even though she reads my blog and never comments:)). We would be happy doing anything but here is how we spent our day.

My brother John told me of a cafe named Toasters in downtown Salt Lake which made the best sandwiches so we decided to try it out. I needed change for the meter so I walked in to Toasters and I heard, "Chris?!" I turned around to find my brother Mike and my cousin Rich. What a crazy coincidence and a great way for me to get change for the meter, I mean come on, what are brothers for?! (Thanks Mike!!)

Here is our yummy lunch. A turkey and avocado toaster. They put balsamic vinegar on the sandwich which gives it a nice sweet and tangy taste. The cafe has an European flare to it that is very quaint. I would definitely go back!

Last year when I was in Utah I saw a museum exhibit of black and white photographs of historical Utah buildings. I thought that it would be really fun to get some of those photographs framed for my house. When I asked at the museum about the exhibit, they said that they were photographs from the Utah State Historical Society Archives. I have been waiting 7 months to pick out pictures so after lunch, Catherine and I headed to the Rio Grande building (one of my favorite buildings) to go to the archives.

They archives were awesome. They probably had 100 file cabinet drawers filled with old pictures. You can purchase copies of the photographs in any size you want or you can have them burn you a CD ($8 a photo). I opted for the CD because I wanted to have the ability to make different sizes of the photographs. Catherine and I picked out some fabulous pictures and we had a great time looking at all the old photos. When my CD comes, I will put them on the blog. If you cannot make it to Utah, you can always go to the archives online.
Honestly, it was a great afternoon.

What would a hot day in Utah be without a Sno Cone
and you know how I like Sno Cones.
At Bob's Brainfreeze, you can get cream on the top of your cone.

SO GOOD!

What a great day but wait it isn't over! It was so hot that we decided to go up the canyon for dinner. . . . more to come.

GO WEST!

I spent the 4th of July weekend in Utah.
I had lots of fun and I did a lot of great things.
Hope you enjoy my travel log!

Some (ok, many) of the pictures from this trip are courtesy of my brother Mike. He just got a fancy new camera and has already become a great photographer.

Thanks Mike!

My CEO can beat up your CEO and he rides a Vespa. . .

Fidelity Trust & Bank CEO find new way to save money
Washington Business Journal - by Tierney Plumb Staff Reporter

Motor scooters are becoming more common around D.C. than black SUVs. But if you see a guy in a bespoke suit riding one down MacArthur Boulevard in the morning, chances are it’s Barry Watkins, chief executive officer of Fidelity Trust & Bank.

Watkins commutes from his non-Metro accessible Potomac home to his office on Eye Street NW on the Vespa he bought three years ago. He says the commute takes him about half the time it does when he drives, and, at 75 miles per gallon, uses half the gas.

"It's fun to go to the pump and fill up on $8, compared to $85. The problem is municipalities haven’t embraced the concept," says Watkins, referring to the lack of sanctioned scooter parking spots in D.C. He parks his on a sidewalk and chains it to a meter.

Scooters are no longer just the ride of choice for gamine students and hipsters. Overall scooter sales were up 24 percent across the nation in 2007, with the Washington area ranking ninth out of 1,000 markets, according to the Irvine, Calif.-based Motorcycle Industry Council. Sales are up 25 percent from last year at the Washington Vespa dealership at 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
“And ‘tire kicking’ is way up,” says Kevin O’Neil, assistant manager at Washington Vespa, referring to the spike in shoppers browsing the $3,200 to $9,000 Italian bikes in the 6-year-old store. “We are also seeing an increase of sales of bigger-engine bikes because people are commuting farther.”

George Buder, owner of Mopeds Mpg in Fairfax, says his showroom isn’t bare yet, but his $1,250 to $2,295 cheaper Asian models are going fast- and the shipment-to-customer-store process can take up to seven weeks.

When life hands you lemons. . .

...make Lemonade!!

I think lemonade is the perfect summer drink- refreshing, sweet, and hopefully a little tart. Minute Maid lemonade (the frozen can variety) is outstanding but if you want a little rustic, homemade flare, try these recipes.

Perfect Lemonade Recipe
1 cup sugar (can reduce to ¾ cup)
1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
1 cup lemon juice
3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

1. Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.
2. While the sugar is dissolving, squeeze 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice
3. Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to reach the desired strength.
4. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

I think the simple syrup method makes the best lemonade because the sugar dissolves completely. My friend Bri makes the simple syrup recipe but adds the lemon juice to the simple syrup and seeps different kinds of herbs into the hot mixture for a fantastic result. You can either put the herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, ginger etc) in a mesh tea ball/infuser or wrap them in cheesecloth.

For other variations try these from Real Simple. You could adapt any of these recipes to start with the simple syrup.

Farmers' Lemonade
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups water Lemon slices (to garnish)
1 16-ounce package fresh strawberries, stemmed and pureed
Ice 1 cup heavy cream

Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, the strawberries, the cream, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice.
Real Simple, AUGUST 2005

Lemon-Mint Cooler
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups water
Lemon slices (to garnish)
1 cup torn fresh mint leaves
Ice
2 12-ounce cans club soda

Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, the mint leaves, the club soda, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice.
Real Simple, AUGUST 2005

Tropical Lemonade
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups water
Lemon slices (to garnish)

2 6-ounce cans pineapple juice Ice 1 12-ounce can apricot nectar 2 12-ounce cans ginger ale Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, the pineapple juice, the apricot nectar, the ginger ale, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice. Real Simple, AUGUST 2005

Ginger Zinger
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups water
Lemon slices (to garnish)
3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
Ice
1/4 cup honey

Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, the ginger, the honey, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice.
Real Simple, AUGUST 2005

Oh, and the picture above is from Pottery Barn- such a great idea!