Weekend Recap

Happy Monday, all! Happy to be reminiscing a wonderful weekend this morning.

FRIDAY
Friday night I had my girlfriend over for some wine and Chinese food. Also to ask her to be a bridesmaid :) asking my people to be bridesmaids has been one of the top things I've been looking forward to doing wedding-wise, so I've really been enjoying coming up with personal ideas for each person.

Her and I are obsessed with The Office, so I took a little inspiration from Jim and got her a teapot that looks just like the one he gives to Pam. And I put this DORKY note in there for her. Also, she loves tea, so I figured she would actually use the teapot!

Pleaseeee excuse the way I look, but we were laughing while taking this photo because she's a graphic designer and I literally made this note in Microsoft Word and it definitely looks like it was made in Microsoft Word haha. Like why didn't I center anything?! It's all flush left haha.

Anyway, she said yes! :) And then we had a great night catching up over only halfway decent takeout and wine.

SATURDAY

Saturday started off like most do: Henry and I snuggling on the couch.

We were hosting Sammy's parents and his aunt, uncle, and cousins because his aunt and uncle hadn't seen the house yet and their whole family hadn't met Henry! So Sammy and I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon cleaning the house and cooking in preparation for their arrival.

Had to snap a quick picture of our living room before they came over. I was digging the late afternoon light.

We served pulled pork in the crockpot (courtesy of my favorite packaged sauce from Aldi), mashed potato casserole (courtesy of instant mashed potatoes from Aldi haha cause I don't have a KitchenAid to make mashed potatoes with!), green beans, biscuits, and a green salad Sammy's mom brought over.

We had a great visit with them. We all sat around watching movies together and then kind of all migrated around the house, playing with Henry and eating. I ended the night sitting at our kitchen table with Sammy's mom and aunt.  We talked about wedding stuff, but also about family and it just felt right. It reminded me of sitting around the table with my extended family which unfortunately doesn't happen as often as it used to.  I loved every minute of having them over. AND they gave us the COOLEST gift ever, and I can't wait to share for Friday Favorites.

Once they left, Sammy and I sat around until we remembered the second season of Making a Murderer was on Netflix! So we immediately started watching. And immediately fell asleep 'cause we were exhausted from the whole day haha. We ended up hightailing it up to bed and rewatched the first episode on Sunday.

SUNDAY

I headed over to Chelsie's on Sunday morning for a brunch & bubbly she was hosting so all of us girls could see their new house! 

*also to note: I drove myself which was my furthest solo car trip thus far. It's extremely fitting that my first solo trip was to Target, and my first "lengthier" (it was like a half hour haha) car trip was to Chelsie's house. Loved that realization.*

How pretty does she have this set up?! I was obsessing over all the details and how she has everything styled. And you can't beat the natural light they get in here omg.

I got there a little earlier than everyone (it's kind of a tradition we have to get to each other's houses/events earlier than everyone else haha) and was able to give her and her husband their housewarming gift and our thank-you gift (wine and chocolate, of course) from France for watching Henry hehe.

And then she insisted on this picture haha. But she gave me the sweetestttt engagement gift as well.

All my favorite things--perfect nods to Paris, Audrey Hepburn, and Disney ;)

How cool is that?

She served three different kinds of mimosas: regular ones with OJ, ones with peach mango juice, and ones with apple cider with cinnamon sugar around the rim. I stuck with the apple cider #becauseFall and they were so delicious.

Her husband is the self-designated chef and always cooks for us when we come over. He made egg cups with potatoes, peppers, onions, and chopped sausage and bacon, sausage crescent rolls, French toast, yogurt parfaits, and doughnut skewers. Everything was delicious.

We sat around for hours talking and catching up--it's not often our entire group is together because one of us lives a few hours south. And that particular lady happens to be a bride as well, and she asked us all to be bridesmaids! which was so exciting. It is SO good for my soul to be together and it was definitely needed.

I'm thrilled we have two holiday related get-togethers coming up that we'll all be together for: Friendsgiving in early November (which I'm hosting and am ecstatic about!) and a holiday party mid-December Alicia is hosting (which I know is going to be amazing!).

I got home around 4 p.m., Sammy and I had leftovers for dinner a few hours later, watched a few episodes of Making a Murderer, and mostly stayed in this position until we went up for bed (except to get up 800 times to get a new toy for Henry to play with--Mr. Teething needs his attention constantly redirected...)

We need to do a better job introducing him to our bed (even though everyone and their mother keeps telling us not do this--sorry I want my dog to sleep with me OKAY?) so he starts to get used to it more and it isn't such an exciting thing every time haha. Can't wait for this to be our life! 

While this weekend was certainly a good one, it wasn't without its anxious moments. My anxiety has been rather high lately, I think it's been increasing with all these big life changes, so I'm looking forward to upping my self-care this week in the form of a therapy session tonight and a midweek *much needed* haircut. Always trying to be transparent here in order to recognize and remember life as it actually is rather than how it would "ideally" be displayed via social media or in blogland.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead! xo

*linking up with Biana and Johannah!

Friday Favorites | Life Lately

I've missed a couple of weekend recaps {surprise, surprise} so I thought doing a "Life Lately" post for my Friday Favorites would be fun since "Life Lately" posts are some of my favorites to read. 

So let's get to what is essentially a large photo dump ;)

// a few weekends ago, Sammy and I had a day date downtown. 

I had to attend an event for one of my classes so I dragged Sammy to that ;) I loved having him experience a little bit of the world I've been so immersed in for the last several years. It was cool to walk around campus with him and show him where my buildings are and stuff. 

Afterward, we went to DMK Burger for burgers and beer. 

      

Sammy got a burger with gauc, chipotle mayo, and all that on it. I got a salmon burger with Asian relish and a red curry sauce. It was really great. The fries were prettay awesome too. 

I wasn't crazy about my beer only because I'm a snob and don't like hops and only like German and Mexican beer, so don't go by opinion ;) 

After we ate, we headed over to the United Center to see our last Bulls game of the season. 

I had gotten Sammy tickets for his birthday and as you can see I can clearly afford the best of the best since we're so incredibly close. 

We also wore the matching Michael Jordan jerseys I got us which Sammy was mildly embarrassed by. #23IsKing

// on Sunday of that weekend, my best friend Chelsie had all us girls over for brunch which was so lovely. 

      

She, and her fiance Dan, served pancakes with a homemade strawberry sauce, fruit kebabs, roasted potatoes, egg cups with onions and red & green peppers, and I brought an angel food cake like a schmuck. I did, however, bring Bellini mix {$5.99 at Trader Joe's, people!} and champagne for mimosas which is very anti-schmuck behavior so I think I may have redeemed myself there. 

Before we sat down to eat, we found these cute little boxes at each of our seats that Chelsie had put together.

There was a tiny little message in a bottle inside the box and when we opened it we all had little messages to read! 

Here was mine:

Ask me if I ugly cried. Now ask me if there are photographs to prove it. 'Cause there is. There are several. Several. And they are as ugly as it gets. But it's fine because I am honored beyond words and measure to stand next to my sister on such an important day. I seriously can't believe it. 

Obviously, I have become even more obsessed with their wedding {if that was even possible} and am in full swing planning mode for the engagement party I'm hosting for them in June! I can't wait! 

This means I've been on Etsy like every night this week picking out invitations and 47 other printables. 

She's worth it. 

{I'm sure I'll be doing a post on my inspiration soon. Anyone have engagement party throwing experience/advice?!}

// last week it was my Dad's birthday and we celebrated twice because he's worth a million celebrations and because we love food. 

He's the cutest, no?

      

During the middle of the week, we tried Demera in Uptown which is an Ethiopian restaurant. 

I ended up really enjoying it. It was fun to try a different cuisine from what I'm typically used to. 

My favorites were the spicy lentils, yellow peas, and a white fish mixture. 

Also, the beer was excellent. Guess I like Ethiopian beer now too. ;)

      

On his actual birthday, we tried Osteria Trulli a new Italian place that opened up near our houses and it didn't disappoint. I got the margherita pizza and I loved how fresh it was. 

// I got surprise anniversary flowers delivered to the office last week

They were white lilies {my fav} and pink cabbage roses which I'm loving so much more than regular roses now. 

It was such a lovely surprise and everyone who passed by my office said how amazing they smelled. WHICH they still do since they have lasted over a week now without wilting, losing one leaf or petal, or fading in color. I can't believe how amazing they look. 

Also, the card Sammy wrote made me cry at work 'cause I know how to be professional. 

 // Sammy and I spent our anniversary last weekend doing "us" things. Eating, randomly shopping, and lounging. 

      

We stopped over at Scudiero's in Melrose Park which is one of my favorite Italian places ever. It's an old-school deli and I couldn't love it more. 

I always get the eggplant parm sandwich because it's to die for and I don't have time to mess around with anything else {although I'm sure everything is amazing}. 

The deli is family owned for over sixty years which makes my heart disgustingly happy and they're all policemen and firemen so ya gotta love that too. 

The owner was awesome and talked to Sammy about his experience in the academy and told us if we need anything to give him a call. After meeting him once. Ah, I can't get enough of it. 

Also, this sign is everything to me. 

After lunch, we did some random shopping because Sammy is a 72 year old man who has to use his Kohl's cash before it expires. But I'm no better because while we were there, I bought two nightgowns by the same brand my 83-year-old grandmother wears............

Anyway. 

We had the best of intentions to stay out like human beings and actually do things, so we were going to go to Pinstripes until we found out we needed reservations, and there were no openings for bowling that day and no openings for bocce until 10pm. 

Like really, I gotta make a reservation for bowling...

I don't think so. 

So we went back to his house to lay on the couch for 8 hours. Very reflective of who we are ;)

//  I got my certificate from the English Honors Society this week 

And also my pin which I will wear every day since I've never gotten honors in my entire life and I'm milking this shit for all it's worth.

I also had a really good week at school this week which I definitely needed. I've been struggling this quarter since I picked heavy loaded classes to finish out my graduate career {only I would do this...} and I've been feeling inadequate during these first few weeks because there are so many intelligent people in my classes that I'm easily intimidated. 

I struggle with social anxiety to a degree so speaking in class is difficult for me {even though no one would know since one-on-one I won't shut the hell up}. I had to read a piece I wrote for class and I was shaking I was so nervous. You'd think that stuff would start to get easier but it doesn't for me for some reason. 

I didn't feel nervous as I read but my body still acted as if I was nervous which was annoying. 

But afterward, I got the best feedback I've ever gotten in a workshop before. Classmates came up to me after class to tell me how well I read and how solid the piece was. My professor even told me he sees it being an essay if I keep working on it which was the highest compliment to hear from him especially.

I was in need of a positive experience like this before I got really discouraged. I have the above photo as my wallpaper on my phone right now as I've been trying to remind myself of the message every day. My comments are intelligent enough to be heard, and my story is worthy of being told so I need to stop comparing myself to other people and just be. 

I gotta do a little more blooming. 

// and to close, some Benny pictures because I hoard them on my phone like a nut case

      

because we just 

can't deal

can we?

xo