Weekend Recap + Some Blogging Thoughts

Hi all, it's Monday, hi, hello.

Another good weekend in the books. It was a packed one, but it was good. It's been nice to have things going on outside of the house since Sammy and I haven't been clicking lately. We've just been off. We'll have a good morning or evening and then the next day we'll be totally out of sync and in bad moods and not the nicest to one another. I think a lot of it has to do with his new position and how he's been feeling about it, adjusting to the new schedule, etc., but it's been kind of exhausting.

We leave this Friday to go to a wedding in Denver and I'm hoping the little trip revitalizes us a bit. It will be really nice to have no responsibilities for a few days (God bless friends who willingly take care of your dog while you're gone), getting to sleep in, drink cocktails without deciding which one will be the DD, no cooking, etc. 

Sammy's mom rented us a house that we'll stay in with them and Sammy's brother, SIL, and our niece, and I'm excited to spend the extra time with them. It has an awesome backyard with a ton of lounge-y seating and I can't wait to plop myself down with a book and relax. 

But enough about next weekend—let's recap this past weekend.

FRIDAY

Friday I left work around noon (and I'm definitely going to miss these half days come Labor Day) and treated myself to McDonald's and some uninterrupted reading time in the air conditioning before running errands. 

I had to stop and get a few things for the shower my girlfriends and were throwing on Saturday for one of our friends and get a few things for hosting friends over that night.

This was on sale for $6 so I grabbed it to go with the "give some advice for the bride" station at the shower. I thought the penny candy jar was a super cute look.

Friday night Chelsie and I hosted our friend from elementary school at each of our houses. We all got to meet her boyfriend (and their tiny dog, Hendrix!!) and show them our places and it was a really lovely evening. Chelsie hosted appetizers and they all came over to our house for drinks and dessert.

I was telling my dad that it was so wild to be in each others houses together. There was a moment when Chelsie and Dana and I were washing dishes in Chelsie's kitchen and I thought to myself how amazing it is to have remained friends with these women. We were in brownies together as kids and I still feel like that little girl but now I have a kitchen to wash dishes in. It was a cool feeling.

I mean...can you even? Henry LIVED for playing with Hendrix and Hendrix did too until he was over it haha.

SATURDAY
Saturday was Jacqueline's shower! And it turned out really nicely, and more importantly, I think she was really happy with how it turned out. She's probably the least bride-like person I know, but that almost makes you want to do more for her because she appreciates the littlest things so much.

We're big Coke people, but the bride's love for it might top us all.

One of my best friends and bridesmaids made personalized cookies as part of the favors. They're of Jacqueline's two cats and I think she really, really, really loved them ;)

I've always felt the connection between these two, but after this shower, I'm reminded just how much of a connection they have. I loved watching them play this silly shoe game and agree on every.single.question (which I've never seen and I've watched this shoe game many times) and open gifts and move seamlessly as a team (which isn't to say it's perfect, just that it works well for the two of them). It made me even more excited for the wedding in less than two months—ah!

After the shower, Chelsie and I met her brother and cousins for a quick drink at Cooper's Hawk where her brother's girlfriend was working. Then we went home and hung around the house all night which is exactly what I was hoping we'd do. 

I bought a Kindle Fire during Prime Day and it delivered on Saturday so I spent the evening setting it up and ultimately getting annoyed when I couldn't figure something out ;) 

SUNDAY

Sunday morning I went with my mom to Sammy's parents house where his mom was hosting an "eyebrow party" and I wish there was another name for it haha. Sammy's mom invited a few women over and my cousin, who's an esthetician, came to their house and waxed whatever your heart desired. Most people got their brows done and I definitely needed it. 

She had coffee and mimosas and bagels and some other things and it was a really nice morning to spend together, especially since I got to see my cousin.

Afterward, I went with Sammy's parents to his grandma's to celebrate her birthday for a few hours in the evening. Sammy and a few other family members met us there and it was nice to be together for a little while then too.

Sammy and I picked up Boston Market on the way home, got home around 8 and ate, did some laundry, packed lunches, played with Henry, and this girl started season four of my beloved Queer Eye. I didn't do as much laundry as I had hoped because we got home later than planned, so I have mountains to do tonight but at least I have Queer Eye to watch while I put it all away. 

That was our weekend! It was a good one, like I said.

And now, per the title, some riveting blog thoughts. I said in my last post (or whenever) I wanted to write other posts other than just recaps and shit, so maybe to hold me accountable, here's a list of what I want to document on here:

-another wedding check-in to recap some things we've done in the last few months, which really isn't much at all, but I'd like to record it before the summer ends because I think our venue should be contacting us in the fall to schedule our first planning session/tasting with them

-our engagement photos
-first year in our house
-Henry's first year (but maybe I won't do this because I include so much of him in my posts already haha)
-summer bucket list is in my drafts list but since we're halfway through summer already...I may have to tweak this

I think that's it for now. Hopefully I can get my act together soon...

Have a great week, all! xo

Weekend Recap

Ah, I'm currently in that phase were the only posts I can get up on here are ones where I'm recapping the weekend.

*shrugging emoji*

Hopefully soon I can get some other drafts done, but until then...back to the weekend.

FRIDAY

Friday after work I met my girlfriends for lunch (since I only work half days on Friday during the summer) and some wandering at Half Price Books (my haul below). It was so nice and a great way to spend an afternoon.

On the way home, I stopped to get some baking essentials so I could make my mom her birthday cake (and by baking essentials I mean I purchased every single thing I needed and didn't make a damn thing from scratch since I'm the worst) and race into the library before it closed to pick up my holds—'cause I need more books in the house, always.

We met my mom, brother (my sister was sick), grandma, and uncle for dinner at a pub in Barrington, per her request, to celebrate her birthday.

I had a spicy chicken sandwich and tater tots and I was surprised at how good it was!

My gorgeous momma. She and my dad are truly my favorite humans on Earth—I hit the parent jackpot—and I love celebrating them on their birthdays. I got her a French cooking class as her gift and I'm excited to go with her in a few weeks :)

SATURDAY
Saturday I got up and stayed in bed and in my chaise for hours finishing Call Me Zelda (which I definitely recommend) and then I organized my books from the library because I'm a NERD.

Then we met my parents and brother for breakfast at our favorite diner to continue my mom's birthday celebrations. And I brought a book, yes. For the gram ;)

After we got home, Sammy ran back out and got Henry a $6 pool from Walmart. He looks happy but he wasn't a huge fan hahaha.

We left in the early evening to head to the final graduation party of the season and it was awesome. It was like a small wedding and was so fun to attend.

These are the main women on Sammy's mom's immediate side of the family (we're just missing my SIL!) and I love being a part of it.

We got home around 11 and Sammy went down to play video games which meant I got to snack in bed while watching the Golden Girls. I haven't watched in a while and have had a snack in our room maybe twice in the year we've lived there, and this from the girl who used to watch tv before bed every.single.night. WITH a snack. So that's sort of been an adjustment which feels like a dumb thing to say because who actually cares? but it weirdly felt so, so good to have a night like this because it felt so authentic to who I am.

SUNDAY
In the mornings on the weekend, we are forever being watched by a boy who wants OUT.

The night before, Sammy had suggested kayaking at Three Oaks on Sunday morning and I happily obliged. We're both very calmed by being on or near water.

He's so handsome.

And you know your bitch brought a book on the kayak ;)

We came back home and got ready for the day. Sammy took Henry to his parents for the afternoon and dinner and I got ready to go to a former coworker's son's first birthday.

But before the party, Morgan and I stopped at DQ so I could try the infamous gravy sauce and I am truly thankful there aren't any DQs near us that serve food because I would go there every day and be the most unhealthy person alive. AND I tried the oreo cookie jar blizzard...bitch. SO good.

Got a picture of these two from Sammy in the afternoon ;)

The party was cute and it was nice to sit with my friends and talk for a few hours. One of our friends left for a trip to London yesterday, so it was nice to talk to her about her plans before she left.

Sammy was home when I got home and we settled in for the night. We had cleaned earlier before either of us had left for the day, so we were able to just relax when we got home.

I had planned to read but scrapped that once we realized The Lion King was on ;) (we got our tickets for this week! can't wait to see it) and then watched Starsky & Hutch. Sammy has a knack for finding movies I've totally forgotten about and think I don't like and putting them on and then I have the time of my life haha. It's such a dumb movie but I live for rewatching stuff I've forgotten about.

Henry was being really good and playing by himself and then eventually fell asleep on his own (never happens) so we were able to snuggle with him and watch movies which we haven't ever been able to do since we've gotten him. It was a really nice way to end the weekend, especially since Sammy and I have been getting on each others nerves a little bit lately haha. It's always nice to come back together and feel that click again.

So that was it! It was a really lovely weekend and I hadn't anticipated it would be as nice as it was, so that was a treat.

My parents and brother are leaving this morning to visit my aunt in Missouri (have I mentioned my parents are divorced? haha), so I'm on cat feeding duty at my dad's house tomorrow and Thursday morning haha. And Thursday night we're seeing Lion King, as I mentioned, and we're super excited for that :)

Hope everyone has a great week! xo

Midweek Check-In + a birthday!

Because what else am I famous for other than a random ass check-in on here?

Last week was a great week. I've been looking forward to it for months haha. I live for days when I can meander around the house and do nothing all day if I choose.

To kick off the long weekend, we had Sammy's parents, grandma, and my mom over for dinner on Wednesday night. I snagged some rotisserie chickens from the store and made a compound butter to brush on them. We also had roasted potatoes, corn, salad, and some crusty bread.

On the fourth, I got up and read.

And tidied up the house a bit while Sammy headed off to his friends' place downtown.

And did some more reading before my family came over to hang out for the night.

On Friday I had zero plans for the day except making my way to the library to pick up some holds they had for me. I wound up outside with Henry for most of the afternoon and finished this book while getting some sun.

Friday night we did some more relaxing before heading out to see Spider-Man which we looooved.

Saturday we got up and went for a walk at Three Oaks where we met a younger golden retriever friend for Henry! He convinced Henry to do a little swimming for the first time ;)

His little head popping out is my favorite. Mr. Apprehensive.

This was extremely exhausting for some of us so we rested up before heading to a family graduation/fourth of July party.

My boys :) It was such a fun night with family, we look forward to it every year.

And someone was SO tired after all that socializing that he even slept with us for a little bit (which only happens when he's REALLY exhausted). But then got too hot and retreated to his crate. ;)

Sunday I went to Chelsie's for coffee, bagels and doughnuts, and girl time. It was awesome, per usual.

Crystal Lake does their fourth of July celebrations on Sunday, so Sammy worked the parade in the morning and then hung out at home until I came home. Later that night we took Henry to the dog park and then made our way to the Lakeside Festival for some dinner before the firework show.

We watched fireworks from our lake and I was living for it. They did SUCH an awesome job and I'm so glad we went because we weren't able to go last year for our first year because Sammy had to work.

It was a great way to end a long weekend, although I've been dragging this week haha.

In other news, I gave audiobooks another try and haven't cared so much for this one at all unfortunately, so I think I'll return it and try again. (They have women doing men's voices... I don't get that!)

I started this lovely one this week and am truly loving it. Erika Robuck is so good. And I've said it a million times already, but if you're interested to see what I think about any books I post here, you can check my reviews out HERE. :)

And in the biggest news... our man is ONE today. Can't believe it. We've got big plans tonight including dinner outside, visit to the dog park, and cake (homemade by mom last night) and presents at home.

We love you, Henny. You make life so much more fun.