meemish

Now, Go. See. Do.

I Love Books!

What would I do without books? I often feel like I don’t have enough time to read all the books on my list and I start to panic. Then, I remind myself, it’s not an assignment I have to finish. It’s purely for my enjoyment and to open my mind to other worlds and perspectives. And then I continue on reading.

Read All Day: January

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ??????

Genre: Fiction

Murderers are not monsters, they’re men. And that’s the most frightening thing about them.

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman ????????

Genre: Paranormal Fiction

Now you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.

3. Do You Mind If I Cancel? (Things That Still Annoy Me) by Gary Janetti ??????

Genre: Nonfiction

Don’t worry about being normal. It’s an awful thing to aspire to.

4. Gathering Blue (The Giver, #2) by Lois Lowry ????????

Genre: Young Adult

Take pride in your pain; you are stronger than those who have none.

5. So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by Retta ??????

Genre: Autobiography

Bitch, stop wasting time fearing the worst! Living through the worst is never as hard as fearing it. Fight the fear and go do what you gotta do. That’s what you came here for.

6. Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson ??????

Genre: Fiction

I started to care less about the future. I cared more about making the present tolerable. And time passed.

7. Whisper Network by Chandler Baker ??????

Genre: Fiction

We followed the recipe and set the timer for eighteen months and figured by then, the glass ceiling would have shattered under the weight of all the world’s leaning women.

8. Messenger (The Giver, #3) by Lois Lowry ????????

Genre: Young Adult

Things seem more when you’re little. They seem bigger, and distances seem farther.

9. The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion ??????

Genre: Fiction

It is a sign of intelligence to recognize our limitations and of maturity to seek help when required.

10. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin ????????

Genre: Mystery

Sunset Towers faced east and had no towers.

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

Whatcha Readin’?

Ahh! How is it almost July and I haven’t posted Mays list yet? Well, that’s what happens in the month of May when you have three kids Maycember is a real thing, people. Amongst the craziness, I still managed to read some great books. Did you survive?

Read All Day: May

1. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

the_tea_girl_of_hummingbird_lane
Genre: Historical Fiction

Tea is to heal. Always remember that food is medicine, and medicine is food. If you take care of the trees, the trees will take care of you.

2. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

unsheltered
Genre: Historical Fiction

Scientists are not like other people, sir. We cannot slam our portals. We have to follow evidence where it leads, even if no one likes that place. Even if it suggests that all we have ever believed might be mistaken.

3. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

all_the_missing_girls
Genre: Mystery Thriller

People were like Russian nesting dolls – versions stacked inside the latest edition. But they all still lived inside, unchanged, just out of sight.

4. The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

the_curious_world_of_calpurnia_tate
Genre: Childrens, Historical Fiction

Could anything top the promise and potential of a blank page? What could be more satisfying? Never mind that it would soon be crammed with awkward penmanship, that my handwriting inevitably sloped downhill to the right-hand corner, that I blotted my ink, that my drawings never came out the way I saw them in my head. Never mind all that. What counted was possibility. You could live on possibility, at least for a while.

5. A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

I think Maurice is whatever he needs to be, whenever he needs to be it. He’s an operator, that’s for sure.

6. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

the_handmaids_tale
Genre: Fiction

I feel like the word shatter.

7. Pandemic 1918 by Catharine Arnold

Genre: History

However, as bad as things were, the worst was yet to come, for germs would kill more people than bullets. By the time that last fever broke and the last quarantine sign came down, the world had lost 3-5% of its population.

8. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Genre: Fiction

There was something unbearable in the things, in the people, in the buildings, in the streets that, only if you reinvented it all, as in a game, became acceptable. The essential, however, was to know how to play, and she and I, only she and I, knew how to do it.

9. The Cactus by Sarah Haywood

Genre: Fiction

Dealing with members of the opposite sex isn’t that dissimilar from training a dog; you need to be firm and persistent.

10. Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Genre: Historical Fiction

Sometimes, though, you could do the right thing and still feel sick with doubt.

11. The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

Genre: Fiction

I reminded myself that a beginning and an ending are two different places, and, in real life, you might be able to make your own ending, whatever had gone before.

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

= Favorite Read

= Read with Kids

blur-books-close-up-159866

Need a Good Read?

Is anyone else as ready for summer as I am? Aprils sporadic weather had me feeling, well…blah. At least I had some good books to get me through.

Read All Day: April

1. Watching You by Lisa Jewel

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Because that’s the thing with getting what you want: all that yearning and dreaming and fantasizing leaves a great big hole that can only be filled with more yearning and dreaming and fantasizing.

2. The Magician by Michael Scott

the_magician
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

If you tell people everything you take away their opportunity to learn.

3. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

i_capture_the_castle
Genre: Fiction, Classics

Perhaps if I make myself write I shall find out what is wrong with me.

4. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

winter_garden
Genre: Historical Fiction

We women make choices for others, not for ourselves, and when we are mothers, we . . . bear what we must for our children.

5. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

when_breath_becomes_air
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete.

6. Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails by Michelle Markowitz, Caroline Moss and Illustrated by Carolyn Bahar

hey_ladies
Genre: Fiction, Humor

Mason jars. Chalk menus. Social media tie-ins. I’m probably speaking another language to you, right!?

7. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

the_rosie_effect
Genre: Fiction

Dishonesty was part of the price of being a social animal, and of marriage in particular.

8. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

cinder
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth.

9. The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

the_indigo_girls
Genre: Historical Fiction

It seemed a ridiculously careless accident that made me a female rather than a male. The rest of the time I wondered why it should make a difference at all. But it did.

10. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

highly_illogical_behavior
Genre: Young Adult

What he feared the most was that all this hiding had made it impossible for him to ever be found again.

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

= Favorite Read

= Read with Kids

black-and-white-books-design

Looking for a Good Book?

A quick road trip mid-month led to a few extra books on the list this month. Do you like to listen to audiobooks while you drive? What are your favorites?

Read all Day: March

1. Got Ideas? by Justin Jones & Scott Waddell

got_ideas

Building products can seem like a daunting task if you think about everything that has to happen. But if you take it one step at a time, and surround yourself with the right likeminded people, it’s not as massive of an undertaking as you might think. Not to say that you won’t crash and burn. You might? But you have to be willing to fail, over and over again. This very thing is what separates the builders, creators, and doers from the mere dreamers and talkers.

Genre: Nonfiction, Entrepreneur

2. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

the_hot_zone

To mess around with Ebola is an easy way to die. Better to work with something safer, such as anthrax.

Genre: Nonfiction, Science, History

3. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

the_penderwicks

Skye’s always saying exactly the wrong thing to people-it wasn’t just special for you.

Genre: Fiction, Childrens

4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

where_the_crawdads_sing

Most of what she knew, she’d learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would.

Genre: Fiction

5. Final Girls by Riley Sager

final_girls

Because here’s the thing about details—they can also be a distraction. Add too many and it obscures the brutal truth about a situation.

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

6. The Winter Sister by Megan Collins

the_winter_sister

We O’Leary women—we keep our promises to our sisters.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

7. Tweak by Nic Sheff

tweak

Trying is terrifying because I know I will just fail. But I do want things to be different. I do…I am so afraid. I’m afraid to hope again.

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Mental Health

8. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

the_evolution_of_calpurnia_tate

I had never classified myself with other girls. I was not of their species; I was different. I had never thought my future would be like theirs.

Genre: Historical Fiction

9. Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

goodbye_vitamin

A long time ago I stopped wondering why there are so many crazy people. What surprises me now is that there are so many sane ones.

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

10. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

walk_two_moons

You can’t keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

11. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

tales_of_a_fourth_grade_nothing

Some people might think that my mother is my biggest problem… but my mother isn’t my biggest problem. Neither is my father… My biggest problem is my brother, Farley Drexel Hatcher.

Genre: Fiction, Childrens

12. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

yes_please

You have to be where you are to get where you need to go.

Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography

13. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

along_for_the_ride

Just because something’s damaged doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated with respect.

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

14. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

between_shades_of_gray

A wrongdoing doesn’t give you the right to do wrong.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

= Favorite Read

= Read with Kids

broken_glass

What to do During an Earthquake

I just experienced my first earthquake and it turns out, I’m not a fan. Although it was small and caused zero damage or injuries, it made me question what to do in the event of a larger shake. So, here you go. Share with everyone you know.

MYTH – Head for the Doorway: An enduring earthquake image of California is a collapsed adobe home with the doorframe as the only standing part. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. We now understand that doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and do not provide protection from falling or flying objects. You are safer under a table.

For more information on earthquake preparedness visit, shakeout.org

1. Indoors:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and kitchen cabinets with heavy objects or glass. However, do not try to move more than 5-7 feet before getting on the ground. Do not go outside during shaking! The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to break away. If seated and unable to drop to the floor: bend forward, cover your head with your arms, and hold on to your neck with both hands.

2. In a wheelchair:

Lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Always protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available. See earthquakecountry.org/disability for recommendations for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, or are unable to drop to the ground and get up again without assistance.

3. In bed:

Do not get out of bed. Lie face down to protect vital organs, and cover your head and neck with a pillow, keeping your arms as close to your head as possible, while you hold on to your head and neck with both hands until shaking stops. You are less likely to be injured by fallen and broken objects by staying where you are.

4. In a high-rise:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate.

5. In a classroom:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Laboratories or other settings may require special considerations to ensure safety. Students should also be taught what to do at home or other locations.

6. In a stadium or theater:

Drop to the ground in front of your seat or lean over as much as possible, then Cover your head with your arms (as best as possible), and Hold On to your neck with both hands until shaking stops. Then walk out slowly, watching for anything that could fall during aftershocks.

7. In a store:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Getting next to a shopping cart, beneath clothing racks, or within the first level of warehouse racks may provide extra protection.

8. Outdoors:

Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards. Then Drop, Cover, and Hold On. This protects you from any objects that may be thrown from the side, even if nothing is directly above you.

9. Driving:

Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops, then proceed carefully by avoiding fallen debris, cracked or shifted pavement, and emergency vehicles. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

10. Near the shore:

Follow instructions above for your particular location. Then as soon as shaking reduces such that you are able to stand, walk quickly to high ground or inland as a tsunami may arrive soon. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris, and other hazards.

11. Below a dam:

Follow instructions above for your particular location. Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan for getting to high ground.

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

take_a_book

Need A Book Recommendation?

Read All Day: February

What a month! Have you read any of these? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading. Share the love.

1. Where She Went by Gayle Forman

where_she_went

You were so busy trying to be my savior that you left me all alone.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

2. My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper

my_squirrel_days

One of my great hobbies in life is feeling sorry for myself. Nothing makes me feel more alive than when I suspect I have been wronged. Oh, the energy!

Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir, Humor

3. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

then_she_was_gone

When I read a book it feels like real life and when I put the book down it’s like I go back into the dream.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

4. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

the_alchemyst

At the heart of every legend there is a grain of truth.

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

5. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

murder_on_the_orient_express

The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

Genre: Mystery, Classics, Fiction

6. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

the_secret_life_of_bees

After you get stung, you can’t get unstung
no matter how much you whine about it.

Genre: Historical Fiction

7. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

the_mostly_true_adventures_of_homer_p_figg

It all boils down to this: A person has only two options in life, to do something or to do nothing.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult

8. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

beautiful boy

I am becoming used to an overwhelming, grinding mixture of anger and worry…

Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir

9. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

everything_i_never_told_you

The things that go unsaid are often the things that eat at you.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary

10. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

finding_audrey

We’re all on a jagged graph. I know I am. Up a bit, down a bit. That’s life.

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction

11. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

my_not_so_perfect_life

Every time you see someone’s bright-and-shiny, remember: They have their own crappy truths too.

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

12. The Invisible Life of Ivan Insaenko by Scott Stambach

the_invisible_life_of_ivan_isaenko

Don’t die before you’re dead. And if you do, let it be the good kind…when the only part of you that dies is who you were supposed to be.

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary

13. Becoming by Michelle Obama

becoming

If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.

Genre: Memoir, Nonfiction

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

= Favorite Read

= Read with Kids

What Book Should I Read Next?

How many times have you asked yourself that same question? Well, get ready for the answer. This year I’ll be adding a monthly list of the books I’ve been reading to the blog. Read All Day (RAD) will be a complete list (the good, the bad, and the ugly) of the books I read the previous month. So, here goes:

 

Read All Day: January

1. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

                                Nine Perfect Strangers

“The lowest point of your life can lead to the highest.”

Genre: Fiction

 

2. Radium Girls by Kate Moore

                                                                                                                          The Radium Girls

“Radium, he determined, was dangerous. It was just that nobody told the girls…”

Genre: Non Fiction, History, Science, Biography

 

3. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

    The Couple Next Door

“Everyone is faking it, all of them pretending to be something they’re not. The whole world is built on lies and deceit.”

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense

 

4. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

     Olive's Ocean

 “Home was the same as when Martha had left it, but because “she” had changed, her world seemed slightly different, as though she were seeing everything in sharper focus.”

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade

 

5. Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

                                                                                    Locomotion

 “No matter how big you get, it’s still okay to cry because everybody’s got a right to their own tears.”

Genre: Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, African American

 

 

6. A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

                                                                                                                               A Stranger In The House

“Suspicion is an insidious thing: doubts have started creeping in, things that he’d previously been able to ignore.”

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense

 

7. Circe by Madeline Miller

                                                                    Circe

    “It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Historical Fiction

 

8. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

                                                                                                        Hillbilly Elegy

“whenever people ask me what I’d most like to change about the white working class, I say, “The feeling that our choices don’t matter.”

Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir, Biography, Politics

 

9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

                                              The Fault In Our Stars

“But it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.”

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age

 

10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

                                                                                                                                   If I Stay

“Dying is easy. Living is hard.”

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

 

11. Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat by Patricia Williams

 

Rabbit the Autobiography of Ms. Pat

“The way you turn  a sad story around, you should be a comedian! You’re the funniest person I know.”

Genre: Memoir, Non Fiction

 

12. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

                                                                                   An American Marriage

“There are too many loose ends in the world in need of knots.”

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

bottle-container-daylight

7 Easy Ways To Reduce Plastic Waste

The amount of plastic pollution in our oceans and landfills is enough to make me want to change the way I think about what I buy (and throw away). Here are seven easy ways you can greatly reduce the amount of plastic waste in our world.

1. Reusable bags –Holyluck

These are easy to carry with you so you can always say no to plastic store bags.

holyluck

2. Reusable water bottles –Healthy Human

STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER!

healthy_humans_tumbler

3. Just Say No! To straws –SipWell

Stainless steel straws are easy to carry with you and actually keep your drinks colder.

straws

4. Shampoo/Conditioner bars

Check out Lush. Their shampoo and conditioner bars are amazing. Grab one of their bath bombs while you’re at it.  You won’t be disappointed.

bar_shampoo

5. Reusable Utensils –Bamboo Essentials

Carry your own. Wash them. Put them back in your bag.

utensils

6. Bar soap

Let’s go back to the 80’s when we had bar soap that came in a cardboard box. It’s retro.

bar_soap

7. Bamboo Toothbrushes –Isshah 

You won’t even notice a difference, but the earth will 🙂

toothbrush

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

Baby Feet

10 Mom Approved Infant Care Books

Don’t get overwhelmed with the number of infant care books out there. There are so many different books, because there are so many different ways to parent your newborn.  The right one is the one you choose.

1. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

2. Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam

Baby Wise

3. The Happiest Baby On The Block by Harvey Karp

The Happiest Baby on the Block

4. What To Expect The First Year by Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel

What to Expect the First Year

5. Babycenter.com

6. The Baby Book by Dr. Sears

The Baby Book

7. Save Our Sleep: Helping Your Baby Sleep Through the Night From Birth to Two Years by Tizzie Hall

Save Our Sleep

8. The Rights of Infants by Margaret A. Ribble

Don’t let the publishing date discourage you.  It come highly recommended and has five star reviews on Amazon.

The Rights of Infants

9. Children: The Challenge by Rudolf Dreikurs with Vicki Soltz

Don’t let the publishing date discourage you.  It come highly recommended and has five star reviews on Amazon.

Children: The Challenge

10. Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline & Jim Fay

Parenting with Love & Logic

 

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

 

 

Washington Monument

18 Things to Do in Washington D.C With Kids

There are weeks worth of sites to see and history to learn in this amazing city. Here is a taste of the city we explored with three kids ages 8, 10 and 12.

1. National Museum of Natural History

From narwhals to Neanderthals, this museum has it all.  An African elephant, a mummified cat, and the Hope Diamond.

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20560

2. National Air and Space Museum

This one is located on the National Mall. We did not visit this one because we heard the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (still a Smithsonian, further away) was bigger.  Both are free admission, so it depends on your ability to travel farther and how much time you have.

Independence Ave at 6th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20560

3. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Space Shuttle

So worth riding to the end of the Metro line and taking an Uber the rest of the way to Chantilly. It was AMAZING! We saw the space shuttle Discovery, the Concord and the Enola Gay. If you are an audio tour nerd like me, you will LOVE this one.

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Virginia 20151

4. The National Museum of American History

Must sees here are the Star Spangled Banner (it is absolutely amazing), Lincolns hat (I kid you not! His actual famous hat!), a display of the Inaugural gowns of the First Ladies (breathtakingly beautiful), Julia Childs kitchen, George Washingtons uniform, and Edisons lightbulb. So much history in this museum.

Constitution Ave. NW [between 12th & 14th St.], Washington, D.C. 20560

5. Bureau of Engraving and Printing

See how bills are printed. This is a guided tour that last about 40 minutes. Admission is free but you must have a ticket, which are first come first serve.

14th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20228

6. Bike and Roll

Bike and Roll

Rent a Bike and tour the Monuments and Memorials. Bike and Roll can set you and your kids up with bikes and helmets and get you on your way.  They rent by the hour and it took us, on a busy Friday, four hours at a leisurely pace.  Hands down, my favorite part of the trip. Here’s a map to guide you to all the memorials and monuments.

7. The National Archives Museum

This was the longest line we waited in, and the grumpiest guards, but you have to go. Highlights are definitely, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, and the Magna Carta.

Constitution Ave. NW [between 7th & 9th St.], Washington, D.C. 20408

8. Library of Congress

Library of Congress

My book-loving kids and I could have stayed here all day, and would still want to come back. First of all, it’s my favorite building in Washington D.C.  It is so beautiful.  Second, books! Need I say more?  But, I will anyway.  On the ground floor, tucked in the back is the Young Readers Center, they have braille copies of Harry Potter. On the first floor you’ll find the Gutenberg Bible, and on the second floor, Jeffersons library.

Thomas Jefferson Building 10 First St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20540

9. Arlington National Cemetery

The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is something that every American should experience. Words cannot describe this ceremony.  If it’s not on your bucket list, go put it on now.

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211

10. National Gallery of Art 

National Gallery of Art

I felt like angels were singing down on us the whole time we were there.  Well, except for when my daughter tripped and almost wiped out a Calder display. We spent most of our time in the East building and in the Sculpture Garden. There is an underground walkway from the east to the west building that is super cool. Don’t miss the blue rooster on the roof!

6th & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20565

11. International Spy Museum

This is not a Smithsonian, so admission is NOT free, but the kids loved it and I felt like it was worth the cost. Just stay away from the gift shop.

800 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

12. Union Station

Union Station

Even if you’re not catching a train, come to check out the architecture, eat some lunch and shop a little.  It’s a spectacular building.

50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

13. Big Bus Tour

I’m a huge fan of double decker bus tours and Big Bus Tours is my favorite one. I like to spend the first day in a new city on a bus tour and then add to my list of places to go.  Make sure to bundle up. It gets chilly up top, but it’s got the best view.

14. Ford’s Theatre

Just being in this theatre was surreal.  It’s an intimate theatre with a rich history and we were blown away by the production, The Wiz. Such a magical night.

511 10th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

15. National Portrait Gallery

Michelle Obama Portrait

Another building of magnificent art. The portraits of the Presidents was a stroll through art history. I loved seeing the relaxed, humanistic traits appearing as time has evolved.  Michelle Obamas portrait was inspiring as well as many others.

8th and F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

16. U.S. Capital

Contact your local representative and request a tour in advance.  We were able to get a tour with interns from our home state.  They did a fantastic job.

East Capitol St NE & First St SE, Washington, DC 20004

17. White House

Tours have to be scheduled with your congressmen in advance. We were denied a tour (which is common). However, you can still walk around outside the gates and get the obligatory picture in front.

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500

18. The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

9/11 Pentagon Memorial

For best view, visit at night. Download the audio tour from this link or call (202)741-1004 at the entrance and the audio will lead you through various points of interest.

1 Rotary Road, Arlington, VA 22202

 

Now, Go. See. Do.

~meemish

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