images from the weekend...

i clearly love my hipstamatic. oh, and the lake house. and birthdays too i guess.

note to self...

the older you get...

the more candles on your cake...

the more likely you are to catch your hair on fire...

and come close to being a bald thirty year old.

(thank god for small miracles...and family members who think

capturing this on film is more important than putting a fire out of my hair)

dftba

{via my photo blog}

don't forget to be awesome.

my friend just texted me this.

and it made my day.

sidenote: thirty is looming. help.

i left my heart in...

dear chicago,

you are my favorite.

dear over grinder,

i would be fat and okay with it

if that meant i could have your flatbread every day.

dear michigan avenue,

husband is really mad at you.

dear chicago water,

my hair is just not the same without you.

dear lou malnati,

if you wanted to move to atlanta

i could be okay with that.

dear martinis at every chicago establishment,

i am still in recovery from you.

dear oprah,

i am sorry i missed you...

but i'll be back soon.

i love chicago.

{caits and me....chicago '97}

and now i am off to my very. favorite. city.

with my very. favorite. ladies.

see you all on sunday when i am 10 lbs heavier,

and have a much cuter wardrobe.

xo.

{via i can read}

it's sunday again...have a great week y'all.

anne benjamin appreciation day.

this was my bridesmaid card i sent out to my girls.

it was created by anne benjamin who designs mok duk.

and whom i love love love...

a. because she lives in chicago and

b. because she totally got what i was looking for...

i told her that i love doves, banners, midnight blue, and the saying,

"who do you want standing next to you..when all your dreams come true"

and she made this beautiful image.

anne also designed my save-the-dates, the header of this blog, and did our silhouettes which was the basic theme throughout the wedding. visit her here.

notes

so of course, right on the tails of a wonderful week,

comes one that runs you over like a freight train.

life is funny.

as i work to get out from underneath a less than dreamy mind frame

i think i will take a minute and share with you all what's really good right now.

so that i can remind myself too.

1. golfers.

mikie has been promoted to head pro....

and on sunday he leaves to go down to sunny florida for the last part of his pga program.

passing this final test will be the end of a long and challenging road for him and i wish i could be there to see the exhale he takes when it is all finished. what a great moment that will be.

2. chicago.

this is one of my favorite places in the world. every year myself and three of my favorites, including my mom make this trip to say hello to the city we love, and pack on a few lbs of lou malnati's pizza. some of my favorite memories are from this trip and and seeing as i leave for it on wednesday...it could not come at a better time.

3. thirty.

on the 29th i will be thirty. i have long dreaded this event and the fact that in the past year alone my body has shouted loudly that it is moving right along has not helped. but i believe i am finally coming to terms with this occassion and it's because i am right where i want to be. not everything is perfect. but i am happy. i am married to the man i am madly in love with. i have a job that although made me want to drown in a sea of red bull this week, i love. my family, my friends....they are the best and growing and doing amazing things in their own lives. and most importantly, i am learning and growing in my own. so bring it on thirty...i am ready for you.

xo.

mom

i love her, thats all.

(happy mothers day)

i want a house.

i want a house. a house with a chalkboard wall.

a house, a chalkboard wall, and these so so cute wall decals.

{wall decals by shanna murray here}