Crewcuts

Have I mentioned how much I love Crewcuts, the J.Crew line for kids? I should really be paid by J.Crew for telling everyone I know how great their clothes are. Malia and Sasha Obama sent Crewcuts' popularity into the stratosphere, but I had already been an admirer of their separates for children.

Crewcuts is not too preppy, too hipster, or too girly. Most of the pieces are basic and comfortable enough for everyday activewear.

Here are some things I recently purchased for Sophie:

she's modeling this one, above

Score!

I wrote about Bensimon Tennis Sneakers the other day. I'm still looking for the kids' version, but yesterday I was at Urban Outfitters and what did I spy in the clearance section? Bensimon sneakers! And for $10! It doesn't get better than that.

Sunday breakfast

Warm biscuits with cream cheese and orange marmalade. Yum.

Home Tour

I've added a new gadget to my blog -- a slideshow of our home (see the right hand side of this page).

It's a work in progress and I'll add pictures as we make updates to our home. Enjoy!

Eastern Market

image via Brightest Young Things

So, the plan for today was to wake up early and go to Eastern Market. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and we had to postpone our day of flea marketing. My cousins and I are going to try and meet up for a late lunch and try to salvage the last bit of the weekend. I'll leave you with some pictures of Eastern Market to hold you over until I can post some of my own. Tata! Enjoy your Sunday.

image via Keith Stanley

image via The DC Traveler

No, it's not 10 Downing Street

Update: We got our lion head knocker in the mail from Design Toscano and I had to install it immediately. It really creates a focal point on our shiny black front door. I love it!

My front door

I've found the perfect accessory for our new glossy black front door, thanks to our stylish friend, Ann. She suggested a lion head door knocker, and ever since then, I've been obsessing over them.

A quick search on flickr revealed over a thousand very cool lion knockers. And many of them are on shiny black doors like my very own! Here are some of the best...

image via Neon Bandit

image via Sparks68

image via Piagenes Gruffer.

image via xingwushu

image via Mermaniac
This one is my favorite...love the snake detail.

image via duncan
Very art deco, don't you agree?

And here's the one I ordered online...It turns out it's a replica of the exact one at 10 Downing Street, the most famous address in London! I can't wait.

Meals on Wheels

I'm going to take a page from my cousin Lyndsey's blog and make a photojournalistic entry about my day. I volunteer with Meals on Wheels a few times each month. The organization is responsible for delivering daily meals to the elderly and infirm around the Falls Church area of Fairfax County. Today, I was lucky enough to have the help of family. They did all the work, I just did the chauffering! Thanks guys!

Here we go...

Elmo DVD, check. Chicken nuggets, check. Sippy cup, check. Sophie's packed up and ready to go.

Picked up the meals from Huong Binh Bakery & Deli.

On the menu today, we have some soups, rice and other Vietnamese dishes.

Driving around some of the lower income neighborhoods in Falls Church.

Wendy taking a meal in for a client. She's doing this on her summer break from college. What a trooper!

Gotta see where to go next. The list changes on a weekly basis, since clients are sometimes unavailable due to hospitalization or even worse.

That's my aunt. Yes, my aunt! Doesn't she look like a teenager? She has two teenage kids! But, I digress...

We're all done and we've earned a meal at La Madeleine. Sophie is happy to stretch her legs.

These refreshments really hit the spot, I tell ya.

Contentment. We've done some good today.

On a more serious note, the Vietnamese Meals on Wheels program is part of the Fairfax County Government's Agency on Aging. Its 39 volunteers now serve 480 traditional Vietnamese meals to 48 county residents who speak Vietnamese. The Vietnamese Meals on Wheels is one of 22 County Meals on Wheels volunteer partnerships providing this service to residents of Fairfax County, Falls Church City and Fairfax City.

Volunteer deliverers provide a brief but important connection to older, isolated Vietnamese adults who may not speak to anyone else all day.

The Vietnamese Meals on Wheels program is currently recruiting volunteer deliverers. The commitment is just once or twice a month for a few hours (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). To volunteer, call the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-3552, TTY 703-449-1186 or e-mail Kim-Ha.Ly@fairfaxcounty.gov. Callers can leave their name and telephone number in Vietnamese or English.

If you only have 2 -3 hours each month and are looking for a way to help your community, this is a wonderful program that truly makes a difference. I have met some wonderful people through Meals on Wheels--from volunteers who really care, to seniors who desperately need the help. Volunteers do not need to know how to speak Vietnamese. If you'd like to help, but don't know how to get started, please feel free to e-mail me, or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.