The Girly Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 11: Some Personal News
Welcome back! If you missed my last issue, find it here.
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your healthy lunch recipes, bad date rants, and favorite day trips by replying to this email.
Some Personal News
Well, I wasn’t just on vacation last week. I had a good excuse to take a break from the newsletter — my boyfriend and I got engaged! (If it had just been a run-of-the-mill vacation, I would have never skipped a week.)
If you had asked me how I thought I would get engaged before I met my fiancé, I would have guessed at a nice dinner or a cute picnic. But when I started dating Nick, I knew everything would be an adventure. On our first date last summer, he promised me that life with him would not always be easy, but it would always be interesting.
It turns out that “not easy” meant hiking our gear a mile into our campsite in Healy, Alaska, watching out for grizzlies in Denali National Park, and going way too long without showers. But it was worth it. The morning of the proposal, he told me we were going out to breakfast. Instead, we pulled up to an airport in Talkeetna, Alaska.
The entire trip, we had been trying to get the best glimpse of Denali, one of the most impressive mountains in the world. Without my knowing, Nick arranged for us to see it up close, flying directly to Denali Base Camp where climbers wait for conditions to become right to climb. We got out of the plane, stepped onto the glacier, and before I knew it he was down on one knee.
I pretty much cried happy tears for the next 30 minutes, even as the engagement photographer who had blended in with the other passengers on our flight tried to take pictures (which I’m sure will feature a few frozen teardrops).
If you had told me in early 2020 that I would be getting married in 2021, I would have laughed at you. Whatever feelings and frustrations you’ve had about DC dating, I’ve probably had them too. I used to be convinced I’d never find my person in DC. It turns out Nick and I would never have met if it weren’t for the Swamp (thanks, I guess??).
That’s why I’m launching Ask Evie, an anonymous form that lets you ask your burning questions to be answered in the newsletter! I can’t promise I have all the answers, but I have lots of wise friends/Sex and the City plotlines I plan to consult to help you guys navigate the minefield of DC dating.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want advice from you guys! Please send all wedding planning tips and marriage advice my way.
Interview with Ellen Dunlavey
Every week, I plan to introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of DC.
Ellen Dunlavey is the woman behind the “all things homey” account @welcometoellens. Give her a follow for healthy meal inspo and more!
Why do you love your neighborhood?
I live right on the border of Kalorama and Adams Morgan. Here’s a fun fact: The Spanish steps in Kalorama are a hidden gem. They were built in 1911 and are the only place in Washington where a staircase is built on land designated for a street. I give historical walking tours of Kalorama, so let me know if you are interested in learning more by clicking here!
What does your job look like during quarantine?
I serve as the Program Manager at the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, an independent federal agency and the 33rd president’s official memorial. We award scholarships to college juniors interested in pursuing a graduate degree in a public service field. I’ve been working from home for the duration of the pandemic, and I love not having to meal prep. When we start working in person again, I’m going to bring a toaster into my office, so I can enjoy fresh avocado toast for lunch.
What’s your favorite coffeeshop in DC?
Is this question even possible to answer? For a close-by and reliable cup, Pitango in Adams Morgan is my pick. They have nice outdoor seating for a midday change of scenery, plus they serve gelato! Win, win. I also love Tryst for a coffee date, Philz for an afternoon pick-me up, and La Colombe’s black and tan latte.
What recipe are you currently loving?
I have been loving this recipe for iron-rich granola bars. I recently learned that I am iron deficient. Ladies, if you are feeling generally tired, you might need more iron. It’s pretty common. This recipe is from Elyse Kopecky, an elite distance runner and nutritionist. It is seriously tasty. Plus, I just donated blood last week and raised my hemoglobin level by three points. And I feel great!
What’s your quarantine beauty routine like?
My routine is so simple. I’ve loved not wearing much makeup except for the occasional face and mascara. I also just tried a new face wash – Cosrx Salicylic Acid Gentle Daily Cleanser. Those masks are not doing our skin any favors, and this has been so helpful.
How would you describe your style?
Blue, beachy, baskets. I have been totally influenced by my New England roots. I am a huge fan of the Nantucket basket, anything blue and white, Trader Joe's hydrangeas everywhere, espadrilles, shell accents, and most things from LL Bean. It takes a lot of willpower for me to stay away from my go-to DC thrifts @misspixiesdc, @clothesencountersdc, and @dcsecondi. My current style icon is Mamie Eisenhower, because she popularized the classic 50’s shade of pink.
The Haps
Lindsay Lohan’s RomCom Revival?
Lindsay Lohan is starring in an upcoming romantic comedy, set at Christmas no less! Is this the romcom revival/LiLo comeback we’ve been waiting for? Read Variety’s story here.
“Lindsay Lohan will star in a new romantic comedy about a newly engaged and spoiled hotel heiress who finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner and his precocious daughter after getting total amnesia in a skiing accident,” Netflix announced earlier this week.
Will Lindsay bring back the romcom genre from the dead? Only time will tell.
Lana Del Rey Surprises Her Fans
There’s only one feeling that comes close to emerging from the Alaskan wilderness as a newly engaged woman, and it’s emerging from the Alaskan wilderness to find out Lana Del Rey unexpectedly released three new songs. Links here.
Lana dropped three tracks — daddy issues anthem “Text Book,” lush love song “Wildflower Wildfire,” and country lite “Blue Banisters” — last week. I’m torn between “Text Book” and “Blue Banisters” as my favorites. The latter’s references to John Deere and occasional country guitar give me hope that Lana will have a country phase soon!
Bad Date on Blast
“I met a guy through a dating app (as one does), and he asked to meet for drinks at a bar in Clarendon. I arrive to find him in a basketball jersey, sitting at the bar, cheering for his alma mater’s basketball team. To be clear, he never told me we were going to watch the game.
“He proceeded to only make eye contact with the TV (often interrupting me to yell at the TV), the only exception being brief breaks to tell me how people treat him differently because of his super elite job on the Hill and how hard it was to meet people because everyone wants to use him for his power (he was a low-level staffer, just for reference).
“To cap off the night, he tried to get me to drive him home (about 20 minutes out of my way), and when I said no (twice) he said ‘So you are really going to relegate me to public transportation?’ It took everything in me not to respond ‘I figured your eLiTe job would provide you with a driver!’ Here’s to DC dating!” - Confused in Clarendon
Congrats & More
HARVEST PRUDE joins The Dispatch as a politics reporter after three years with WORLD Magazine. Connect with her on Twitter and read my interview with Harvest by clicking here!
EMMA POSEY joins American Moment as Coalitions Manager. Connect with her on Twitter!
Send your announcements by replying to this email!
Got feedback, or just need to vent about a bad date? Email me at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com.