Ball game

I must post these pictures tonight or otherwise Bushra might just commit an assault and battery on me. Today we went to the Nationals game against the New York Mets. The kids schools start Tuesday and Bushra wanted to take them out before the studying started again. Although I'm not a big sport follower, I do enjoy going to a baseball game. My first one was in 2008--my awesome neighbors (Amy & Brian) took me. The best part about the experience was as we were leaving the stadium, a foul ball came towards our direction and Brian actually caught it (or attempted to). After a struggle with some other people who wanted to claim the ball, Brian finally got control of it and gave it to me! First ball game and I got a foul ball. I'm not bragging but come on, that's a pretty good story. Here are my quick phone shots to prove my story. 

Anyways, today my sister dropped the kids off at my work and I drove them to DC. Even with navigation, I got lost for about 29 minutes (that's right, 29 minutes). I hate driving in DC and on top of that, I'm horrible with directions. Horrible. Finally got to Bushra's work and like always Bushra didn't show up 20 minutes later. We drove to the park and found an incredibly close, too good to be true, parking near the stadium. After paying for the parking on the phone we finally read the sign that said "no parking during events" (oh and the cars parked nearby were all cop cars). I really wanted to move the car but Bushra convinced me to leave it there (mainly because she said she would pay any parking ticket I would get and was a parking ticket "expert").

We then walked to our seats and enjoyed the Presidents Race and the game (excuse the quality of the pictures, these were taken from my phone)

The Nats were so close to winning but lost 3-2 or is it 2-3 (my knowledge of baseball comes from playing the Wii). After the game, they had a great firework show sponsored by American University (it lasted much longer and was much better than I expected--definitely worth the wait).

After the fireworks, I rushed out to make sure my car was still there and hadn't been towed (I took a quick shoe shot during the walk back--I love these shoes!)

As I got closer to the car, I didn't see any of the police cars parked near my car but before I could have my panic attack, I saw my beautiful blue civic parked right where I left it. When I got closer to the car, I realized I had not only not gotten towed (that made sense, I think) but I never got a parking ticket! Alhamdulillah. As if that wasn't a great way to end a Friday, we had Taco Bell on the way home. A happy end to a happy day :)

Miami Trip (Day #4)

This is for August 13th.

Sadiah and I decided that this would be the day to walk to the shops near the hotel. We were both craving sushi so we had lunch at a sushi place. They charged by the plates and at the end, we had about 8 empty plates. 

No clue what this was, but it was amazing 

Street art 

A moon picture (they never come out good, do they?)

By the time we were done shopping, Bushra was back from work and we decided to go to South Beach. Like always, we got there a bit late, but the beach was not crowded at all and we got to see the beautiful sunset. 

Yay palm trees

Beautiful streaks in the sky 

Slow shutter fun 

After the beach, we decided to go to Little Havana. As we were driving back, I pulled over on the highway to capture the skyline and failed miserably; actually it's not that bad (the streaking lights would be the cars driving by). We went to Versailles Bakery, where we had Cuban Espresso and this papaya guava filled pastry. 

Cuban espresso 

A Cuban pasty with Papaya Guava 

View from the 12th floor

Miami Trip (Day #3)

Prepare/brace yourselves because today there will be lots and lots of posts (okay, 4 to be exact--maybe 5--or maybe I should just post all the pictures one one but then there will be too many pictures and too many words--no, no I will just post separate ones) (yes, I just had a conversation with myself). I was going to spend the whole weekend studying but yesterday I made a smart decision and wasted the whole day at the mall. Today I was going to study but my books are in my car which my brother-in-law decided to take to work today so I have nothing to do but make more posts. Hooray. 

Anyhow, this post is for August 13th. 

After we drove back from Key West, we changed hotels. We were now in JW Marriott Marquis Miami (although this wasn't on the presidential floor, it was pretty sweet--case in point: it had a TV in the bathroom. yes, a TV). They had one of the pretties chandeliers I have ever seen. We checked in pretty late so I took these pictures the next day. 

The pieces looked like stars

View from the hallway

This day, Sadiah "worked" and I "studied"--it was all very "productive." Around 4ish, Sadiah decided to go flea market shopping. We went to Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market (coolest name ever). It was all outdoor and incredibly hot (I felt like I was in Pakistan). We got there around 5, which happened to be when the stalls closed, so we didn't buy many things. 

They had a stall selling animals

After the flea market, we went to the mall nearby to buy this "halal" nail polish by Inglot Sadiah had recently discovered (only Muslim girls will understand this but it allows oxygen and moisture to touch your nail so you make wuzu with it on). The nail polish is actually really good. Even though the bottle is a bit small, you don't need to double coat it. 

We bought: crimson red, glittery blue, grey and pastel pink

After the mall, we went back to the hotel. Bushra was finally done with work so we went to dinner. 

Enjoyed a sunset from the hotel before dinner

We went to Shore Club South Beach. They had an outdoor restaurant. The whole place was lit with contemporary chandeliers and floor lanterns. They had seating in the back lit with red lights and a clear water blue pool. The food was pretty good too (I couldn't get any good pictures because it was too dark). 

After dinner, we called it a day and went back to the hotel (wow, what a lame ending but this is all I have). 

Time flies

I saw this leaf (so pretty) on my way to my car today and it hit me, I can't believe it's almost Fall. Woah. Where does the time go? 

I know I haven't finished uploading pictures from my Florida trip but I have been crazy busy at school (yes this is a legitimate excuse Bushra & Sadiah). I decided to take 17 credits and work 30 hours a week this semester. Why you ask? I have a simple answer: it's because I'm crazy. Completely out of mind. Since school started, I have barely had a few minutes to myself. It has gotten so bad that I didn't even do my readings for class today. I was sitting in both classes hoping and praying I wouldn't get called on by the professor. I survived one class to be only called in the second one but thankfully it was an easy question and I got away with it. I just need to figure out when to do my readings for class (and on time). Oh and to make matters worse, I need to start finding a job post-graduation. Ugh. It's sad when you don't look forward to graduating because you're scared of whats going to happen afterward. Okay okay I'm stopping now. 

I have so many pictures to post and hopefully I'll have plenty of time Saturday. Until then toodles. 

Lal Qila

Today we went to Lal Qila in Windsor Mill, Maryland to celebrate a graduation. It's an open buffet style restaurant with all halal options (Chinese, American and Pakistani/Indian--I prefer the Chinese, specifically Orange Chicken and Lo Mein), basically a good place to get that I-cant-move-because-I-ate-so-much feeling. The food is good but I don't know if its worth driving 70 miles for. On the other hand, when you have a big family as mine (6 sisters + 9 nieces and nephews + 2 parents + 4 brother-in-laws), maybe it isn't such a bad idea. 

And now, I must do my readings for school tomorrow. Where does the weekend go?

Miami Trip (Day #2)

Its finally here: more Florida pictures! 

This should be dated August 11th because that's when we drove to Key West (it should have taken us about 31/2 hours but I think we finally got there 5 hours later--traffic and a Taco Bell pit stop).  Although Key West was as scenic as I expected, the drive down to Key West was gorgeous. We stopped on the way for a little shopping.

I love me some palm trees

Coconut water

Creepy fish in the water

We finally got to Key West and first then went to the Key West lighthouse. There were approximately 80 stairs (actually I stopped counting after 80). The view from the top was beautiful

After this we went to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and this probably the best part about the trip (although it was really hot inside). There were butterflies everywhere.

After this, we went to the most southern point in Florida.

Southernmost point: 90 miles from Cuba

Looks like paradise!

"No standing on the pier without a smile"

We left shortly after taking the picture at the southern most point. I really wanted to stay and watch the sunset but someone, ahem ahem Bushra, did not. But she was kind enough to stop on our drive back. 

sunset action

Looking back at this, we actually managed to do a lot in a short period of time. I'm actually shocked we managed to get out of the hotel as early as we did. Ladies, I'm still shocked at us.