January and February Restaurants of the Month - Argia's and Barcode!

My January Restaurant: Argia's! Falls Church, VA So, most of you know that I have a goal to try one new restaurant a month and write a review based on my experiences. As we all saw with my previous submission, Barcode was my February restaurant of the month. I know I did it a little backwards, but now comes the review of my January restaurant. Who said you had to do things in an orderly fashion, right? I'm following my own rules here. My restaurant for the month of January was a small, quaint Italian restaurant located in the heart of Falls Church, VA, called Argia's.  To much of my surprise, I've lived in Falls Church close to three years and I drive by this restaurant at least once a week, but I've never tried it. I've heard it's incredibly good, but let me be real with you folks...the Italian dishes made by my grandmother, Helen Farro, and my mom, Maureen Barnard, are hands down amazing. I was probably one of the few kids who grew up with homemade sauce on my spaghetti. (Until my mom realized that kids never knew the difference :-)). Italians are known for their love of rich, delicious food and good wine. Italians know the meaning of love in all sense of the word - they cook with love, finely shaping every noodle with handmade dough or spending hours over the stove cooking that sauce to perfection. Italians don't shortchange a meal, plain and simple. So, back to business....the food!   I went to this restaurant with my friend, Stacy, and oddly enough, she has lived in this area much longer than I, but has never been to Argia's either. To start off, our service was really great. Mike was our waiter - such a friendly guy, that Mike! We were greeted with a warm smile and a list of all the wonderful specials they were offering. I want to make a note that I always think a waiter/waitress is a great one when they can easily offer suggestions about what to order. Mike was on his a-game that night, offering suggestions of Antipasti, Entrees, and dessert. We started off with the Portobello Arrostito, an Oven roasted portobello with artichokes, spinach, sun-dried tomato pesto & goat cheese over arugula -- YUM! It was the perfect antipasti for a party of two. The portobello mushroom was cooked to perfection and the combination of the sun-dried tomato pesto and goat cheese was so mouth-watering and I savored every bite. For our entrees, I ordered the Fettuccini con Salsiccia, which was Fettuccini with hot Italian sausage, butternut squash, broccolini, oregano aglio e olio topped with ricotta salata. Again, another YUM! I want to highlight, though, that Argia's has a Gluten-Free Option for their pastas, which I think is pretty darn cool. You can substitute any pasta dish for their gluten-free spaghetti, which I did since I try to stay away from gluten and wheat as much as I can. My friend, Stacy, ordered the Lobster Ravioli. I cannot put into words how each bite of these dishes melted in our mouths. My pasta dish had a perfect blend of flavors, the tangy/sweet of the butternut squash combined with the Italian spicy sausage hit all of my favorites. The chef was more than accommodating in swapping out the regular pasta for the gluten-free pasta, which I might add was ABSOLUTELY delicious. It tasted better than regular pasta to me. Stacy's Lobster Ravioli was so fresh, decadent, and rich that we almost thought there was a secret ocean in Falls Church where they went to fetch the Lobster the moment she ordered it. Additionally, Argia's did NOT skimp on the lobster. They loaded that plate up with so much lobster, which is alone deserving of a 5-star rating. All in all, both meals had the perfect blend of ingredients to make each dish one that I can't wait to come back for.     Furthermore, I can't leave without discussing portion sizes. How many of us hate paying a ton of money for a delicious, but SMALL meal? Well, if you must know, it's one of my pet peeves. I hate overpaying for food. I don't care how good it is, if I'm not full by the time I leave, I'm not satisfied. I want to highlight that Argia's was the perfect-size for those ladies that are not afraid to truly EAT! :) It's not too small, but not too big... it's the perfect size dish. We were actually too stuffed for dessert.As I discuss all of this glorious food, I want to say that our waiter, Mike, was on top of things and had that perfect balance of friendliness and timeliness. It's always nice to have great service, from A-Z. Argia's gets a 5-star rating from me. Now, I'm not going to compare it to my grandma's or mom's Italian, because there's never a comparison when your Mom cooks, BUT I will say for all the Italian foodies out there, this place is a must! The perfect place for a date night or family style dinner!

My February Restaurant - Barcode! Washington, D.C (Farragut West) My first glance at Barcode, located on 17th and L in Washington DC, happened when I was in a cab heading to Dupont circle one night. We drove past it and it looked really cool. I came home that night to look it up and realized it was a fairly new place, and seemed to have the perfect blend of shabby/chic and a fun sports pub. What better way to try a new restaurant than with old friends of mine from Dickinson! A few of us headed out on a Wednesday night to have a casual dinner after a long day at work. Callie and I were the first to arrive and I have to admit, the decor took me by surprise. It was 6:00 pm and I felt like I walked into a club: music was pumping, people were sitting in chic white lounge chairs sipping a cocktail, and the intense combination of blue colors and mirrored walls gave this place a huge amount of flair. I also noticed that the crowd was well-diversified with all ages, which I prefer more than a place coated with recent college graduates who think it's still cool to get drunk on a Wednesday night.  Ok, on to the food - the menu was simple, yet plentiful. There were so many options but I felt like at the same time, I was going to have a good home-cooked meal. Their happy hours are really good - $4 glasses of wine and $3 beers, and I might add that the waiter was awesome by telling us that there were three minutes before happy hour ended and that he'd be able to get any last minute orders in at the special rate. Big bonus point right there. Callie and I started with the avocado dip with these little flatbreads. FYI - this was not guacamole, it had chunkier pieces of vegetables and was absolutely delicious.For our meals, three of us ordered the Barcode Burger on ciabatta bread. Now, I've never had a burger on Ciabatta bread before, but it was really tasty and cooked to perfection. Served with fries, this was a meal of comfort but felt like I was at a five-star restaurant given the service and decor. Callie ordered a Veggie Pannini and it came with a side salad. I think she was quite pleased with the meal. Overall, I give this restaurant a two thumbs up and A+ rating in my book. It's conveniently located near the Farragut West or North metro stops, has a great selection of food, and is an extremely classy and spunky place!

The Ripple Effect...

2011 has been an awesome year so far. Granted, it's only been a couple of weeks into January, but so far, so good! I've had some really fun weekends celebrating with friends and I've made extra efforts to strengthen my relationships. Most recently, over the holidays and into the new year, I've really been doing some deep soul searching about myself and how circumstances in your life can impact you whether you realize it or not. This entry I'm about to write is more therapeutic or cathartic for me, and in no way is meant for sympathy or pity.

I'm a big believer that YOU own your life and I'm not a fan of those that blame their circumstances and use them as a justification for their bad behavior, poor decisions, or a negative demeanor in life.

Most people who cross my path would describe me as an upbeat, positive, and happy girl. I am all of that, but there's another emotion that I think I never really allowed myself to see until more recently. To be brutally

honest, I grew up without a father and I never really thought twice about it until this last year. I have an amazing life, an amazing Mom, and friends that support me through everything, BUT.... there's always been that missing puzzle piece to my life - a dad who was never there, a dad who never saw the struggles and challenges I overcame, and a dad who didn't watch me off to my prom, high school graduation or help me move to my first apartment after college. My mom did it all and I don't know where I'd be without her. I'd like to clarify that I truly love my life and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without my mom. And, I'm blessed with an amazing stepfather who loves me like his own. I'm not depressed or angry at the world, and I actually use those challenges as away to achieve and do more with my life. But this is about me finally realizing that not having a father affected me more than I thought. I've always been the strong girl, the tough girl, the girl who has it all together. I've never shown weakness or vulnerability, but I guess I'm finally learning it's okay to express emotions. I never really realized the impact of the situation until now... and if there is one theme you can take away from this blog entry, it would be to ALWAYS realize the effect your actions have on others. The choices you make today can affect more people than you realize. Just like when you throw a rock into the river and the ripples start to form, your actions can have a ripple effect on so many people. My high school principle, Dr. Wayne Rose, used to end the morning announcements each day with the same saying, "What you do is your choice, so remember to make good choices and have a great day." Boy, is that so true.

Most people know that I'm an open book and that my father and I are not the closest. He walked out on my family when I was two weeks old and left my mom to take care of three children on her own. And when I say he walked away, I mean he made a conscious choice to leave three kids behind and have no involvement in their lives. I will never understand how a parent can do that to their child. Growing up with only a mom seemed normal to me and I remember coming home from my friend Valerie's house when I was 7 years old and I looked at my mom and said, "Mommy, Valerie has a daddy and he lives with them...that's cool." My 7-year-old mind didn't get it, but it sure brought tears to my mom's eyes. I used to tell my mom to go shopping at Kmart and find me a daddy (haha!). The point is, my life was normal to me and I can attribute

that all to my mom NEVER allowing me to go off the straight and narrow path. This past year I had a ton of emotional ups and downs and when I really got to the heart of why I was sad....it always circled back to the same thing - how can my dad not WANT to see me, how can my dad be completely fine with the fact that he has no idea what his own daughter is accomplishing, and how can my dad just leave and never look back.

The hardest thing for me to wrap my brain around is the fact that I've done so much in my life that my Dad will never see....and no matter how hard I try, he just doesn't get it. I tell him something major and he has a phone call to get, or I try and talk to him about how I'm feeling and he has a meeting which conveniently occurs at 2 pm on a Sunday. I've never been one to have the "woe is me attitude". I deal with things and move on. I forgive people....and forgiving my dad was a big part in my emotional healing, but by no means does that mean I can't have the feelings I have. I think I've learned to use that emotion to accomplish more, develop more genuine relationships, and maintain a happy outlook on life.

I finally allowed myself to feel the hurt, the pain, and the sadness that came with the fact that my dad left me. I think recognizing it is a great first step to truly dealing with it. I know I can't change the past and I never will understand why I was born into this circumstance, but I do know if my positive attitude and personality can help one person, then it's worth it. If it's one thing I've learned through all of this is my dad's actions to walk away from a family over 24 years ago still to this day affects SO many people. My sister and brother don't

really think twice about it -- or, at least, they block it all out. I, on the other hand, am having a hard time doing that. I have the personality where I want to see the good in everyone; since I am so giving of my time, energy, and loyalty, I expect everyone else to be the same way. It's a harsh reality to face that my dad will never be the dad I wanted him to be and that he won't care no matter how hard I try. Honestly, I don't really know what it would take for me to view the situation differently... would seeing him help? ... would an apology

help? ... I just don't know.

A couple of things I DO know is this:

1) I'm on a mission to truly evaluate the decisions and choices I make in my life and the people I associate with. The choices I make today can affect someone else's tomorrow.

2) Surround yourself with positive, happy people.

3) Show appreciation for the people in your life.

I think I'll still have times where the lack of father will affect me; for example, every year on father's day, I get emotional. When I get promotions or awards at work, he won't see that. When I walk down the aisle someday, he won't be there. When I have my own children, they won't know their grandfather. I've come to accept that I've done all I could do...and now the rest is up to him. Some people may think I'm harsh, but you don't understand unless you've been in my shoes. I don't know what the future holds for me and that is a scary thought, but I do know that I'm going to allow myself to face my emotions - whatever they may be. I've forgiven my father for his actions and I've realized that it's okay to still get emotional over the situation.

Just always remember, your actions affect more people than you realize....

We're Making a List and Checking it Twice!

Yesterday, my two friends and I (Caitlin & Amanda) all sat down over a bottle of wine and some baked brie to discuss our crazy lives and our Top 11 for 2011 Lists! It was a great time, filled with a lot of laughs, reflecting thoughts, and a few of what I call "ah-ha" moments.  I learned a lot about my friends just by what they want to do, accomplish, and learn in 2011.

I think it's suffice to say that we all have tremendous lists, with tangible goals that will make 2011 an amazing year.  And, when I reflect back on what I've done and accomplished in the last 3 years, I realize that I've done more than most - I've been to Maui, traveled a ton for work, went to a Bellagio wedding in Vegas with a random stranger, worked at the White House, danced my heart out till the sun came up, won three awards at work, been to so many country concerts (VIP style), gone ziplining, saw Boys II Men in concert, etc.  Beyond that, I have tremendous friends and love in my life.  I'm surrounded by great people who love me for me and encourage me to be the best Marissa I can be!  I have the best mom in the world...her love for me breaks boundaries and I'm blessed to have her.

Before I reveal the 11 items on my list, I have to lay the foundation for the rules of engagement.  We all agreed upon guidelines that we must follow as we try and complete our lists.

Rules of Engagement:

1. We must support and encourage each other through various activities on our list.
2. We only have until January 1, 2011 to change an item on our list.  Once the first of the new year rolls around, they are set in stone!
3. If one of us does not accomplish an item on our list, we must buy the other two a drink (phew, that can get pricey $$) 
4. The items on our list have to be things that completely depend on our doing - not an external source.
5. We must check in with one another every couple of months to see how our goals are progressing!
6. Have fun and blog about it when we accomplish a goal!

Keeping in mind that I'm able to change an item until January 1st, I will most likely reflect on these items over the next week and a half.  I'm proud of my list - some are crazy, some are very personal, and some are small things I want to accomplish - all of which will make me a better person and enjoy my 2011 year! Feel free to make comments and post ideas or feedback!  FYI - These are in no particular order....

My 2011 List:

1. Try one new restaurant each month and document my review on Urbanspoon.com
2. Volunteer at least 40 hours to a Children's Organization
3. Go Skydiving
4. See my father (For those of you who know me well, you know my father and I aren't that close. I've met him once in my adult life and that was 6 years ago. I don't know why but I feel as if I should see him again this year. Sometimes I wonder why I try so hard, but I know it would be good to see each other again.)
5. Meet one celebrity OR attend a celebrity-like event (i.e. music awards).  (I'm going to need a plan of attack for this. I don't have any connections into the celebrity-esque world, but I'm going to have to really work at this one!  I'd really love to meet Ellen and play her word game...I'm sure I would give her a good competition).
6. Eat an atomic wing at Quaker, Steak, and Lube. (For those of you who don't know, this place is found in Pittsburgh and you have to sign a waiver to eat the wings - they are THAT hot!  Road trip to Pittsburgh!)
7. Learn how to shoot a gun at a shooting range
8. Travel to an exotic location
9. Ask one guy out that I would totally be scared to approach.  (Obviously, this is dependent upon my relationship status, but we've all been there with that one person that completely makes us nervous! I'm going to work through the nervous feelings and just do it!)
10. Write one Children's story (I have ideas, I just need to put them to work....finally!)
11. Participate in the Warrior Dash (http://www.warriordash.com/register2011_maryland.php) - I know, you may think I'm crazy for wanting to do this!!

There you have it, folks.  There's my list.  I would LOVE your feedback or ideas. Cheers to a new year ahead of us.  2011 is going to be great!

It All Started at a Happy Hour!

How many of us out there hate New Year's Resolutions? If you're like me, you're probably nodding your head in agreement.  I often wonder what it is about the first day of the new year that makes everyone think they are going to take profound leaps in their life and change something...only to find out that two months into it, the monotonous routine of life kicks in and they're back to where they started.  No one likes to feel as if they've failed; I'm a firm believer in setting realistic goals and doing your best to accomplish them, but the feeling of knowing you once put your heart into a "resolution" that didn't last is daunting. That's why I'm not even dealing with a resolution. I'm not going to make a promise to myself that I know I can't keep. I mean, seriously, who wants to eat less chocolate or drink less on weekends?? Not me!

Well, this is where my wonderful friends come into play. Instead of making an unrealistic resolution, we decided to come up with a list of 11 things we want to do/accomplish in the year of 2011.  These could be small things like wanting to host a dinner party or volunteering with a specific charity, but they are going to be concrete, measurable "things" we can and will accomplish.  Each of us are going to put together a list of Top 11 Goals we have for 2011...so, 33 things amongst the three of us!  This genius idea started over a happy hour at Dogfish Head!

So, I have a few things in mind as to what I want to achieve next year...some of my ideas are crazy, some may give my mom some shock value, and some will better the world in which we live. :)  It will give me a chance to hold myself accountable to my goals, while having fun, building confidence, and bonding with two great friends.

If anyone has any cool ideas, feel free to send them my way.  Next step is creating the list and discussing over wine with two fabulous ladies!