Five Friday Favorites

Thanks to EatPrayRunDC, YouSignedUpForWhat? & MarontheRun for hosting this link-up. Today I am linking up again with The DC Trifecta Friday Five.  The topic they chose for today is 5 Friday Favorites.

Although the past few years my Friday's are not always how many others think of Friday's.  As most think of them as the signal to the weekend.  For me, they are at times when my work week really begins, especially when it comes to brides and their weddings.  However, I do have a few Friday Favorites to share.

#1 - Wedding Decoration - I love my job and I love to decorate for weddings.  Each bride has different tastes, this gives me the ability to use my talents and create for each of them, their own special beautiful day!  I not only get to have the pleasure of making someones day, but I get the pleasure of doing something I love.

#2 - Hiking - If I do not have a wedding on a Friday, I do enjoy hiking.  I am fortunate to live 20-30 minutes away from 100's of different hiking trails and options.  One of the advantages of living where I do in Utah.  You never know what you'll discover if you get out and see the world with hiking boots and a backpack:)

#3 - Fishing - I love to fish, I am a catch and release kind of gal.  In fact I hate to eat fish, and won't even consider eating them as an option.  But I do enjoy catching them, whether that be a relaxing day at a lake.  Or a morning or evening next to a beautiful river!  I also sport an adorable cute pink fishing vest and hat, and I don't care what people think about that:)  Additionally, I have different reels that I use in various colors because sometimes it's just fun to be a girl and paint my nails to match my reel:)  LOL

Me and my dad, and that is my pink fishing vest and hat I mentioned:)

#4 - Movie in a Park - I actually haven't done this yet this year, but it will come!  There is just something fun about watching a movie in a park!  Or even at times we will go up in the mountains camping and pull out a fun movie for the family to watch in the outdoors.

#5 - Hanging with my nieces and nephews - I have several of them, and they are so fun!  Whether it's a day at the beach (like below), camping trips, hiking and fishing adventures or hide and seek in the backyard.  I love spending time with them!  In fact, that is what I am actually going to be doing today, hiking with my sister and her two kids.

At the beach with the kids - Ignore the greasy sunscreen hair, LOL

Sometimes if I have weddings, my "Last day of the work week, Friday" may be on a Monday or Tuesday:)  But its all good, and these are a few of my things I enjoy doing on those days!

What are your favorite things about Friday's?

Also, don't forget there are just a couple more days to enter the 12 different Health, Fitness & Running related giveaways going on right now on the Fitness Favorite's Blog Hop.  Lots of chances to win, you can start entering them HERE.

Visiting the Nation's Capitol

If you ever get the opportunity I highly recommend taking a trip to Washington D.C.. If you've been there before, you know that there is so much to see, do and tour that it could take a month to get through it all.
Most of us probably can't take that long, but if you can visit for a week you'll have the opportunity to see plenty.

Most things you are going to have to see on foot, and I will tell you there is a lot of walking, and I mean a lot.  So bring your comfy running or walking shoes.
The National Mall has many different memorials to see and learn more about the history behind them.

The unique thing about the National Mall is everything looks vastly different during the day vs. night.  Most of my pictures will be taken at night because I love the way the monuments and memorials look in the night lighting.

It's also a bit less crowded during the evening hours before the exhibits close down.  It also provides for a fun evening walk.

The Korean Memorial is one of my favorites and this is one you must see at night.  In person with the lighting this is really how it looks for soldiers back in that time when they were out walking in war.  My father who is a Vietnam Veteran told me this.  These statue's give an eerie yet fascinating tribute to the soldiers who fought in the war.

Personally, I think even the fountains look far more beautiful at night.  Above is the WWII Memorial, which I believe is one of the newest memorial additions.

Walking around the different memorials, and viewing the monuments and sculptures really gives you a sense of patriotism.  When you walk through the area's, try to imagine what it was like for the soldiers to fight in these wars so that we can have the freedom's we have and appreciate today.

The White House, isn't along the National Mall, but it is nearby within walking distance.  I'll be honest it was much smaller in person than I thought it would be.  If you'd like to tour the White House you can, but you need to get tickets ahead of time from your state representative.  Generally you need to request these 4-6 weeks in advance for the date you'd like to visit and tour.

Of course many of these buildings are very old and were crafted with amazing hands and planning.

These picture's above are from the Library of Congress building, one of my favorites in architecture beauty.

The Nation's Capitol, which is pretty much known by sight from everyone in the world.  In fact did you know some movies actually use the Capitol pictures as the White House for the movie.  I bet you can think of a few and if you can't I bet you pay attention more when watching a movie with the two in it.

Looking up at the rotunda inside the capitol

You can tour the capitol, but again you must get tickets ahead of time from your state representative to see the entire tour.  However, if you only want to see the partial tour you can get tickets a day or so in advance possibly longer during the busy months.

If I showed pictures of everything it would be the worlds longest post:)  But a few other highly recommended spots to visit while in D.C.
* Smithsonian (Just FYI their are so many museums it could take weeks to see everything inside each of the different ones.
*  Ford Theatre
*  Visit Mount Vernon
*  National Archives Building to see the Constitution,  Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.
*  There are also several beautiful state parks and water ways of historical interest to visit if you have the time.