Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel

My brother Joe's all-time favorite, and definitely in my top 5. Some of you might appreciate noting who the song's writers are.

Three Months

Can't wait to marry you Scott!

"These Days" - Rascal Flatts

If you asked me what my all-time favorite country song is, I'd say this one. It's easily 5-10 years old, and I love it as much as I did when it was new.

The week of country music

It's recently come to my attention that one of my favorite readers isn't a fan of country music. This week I'm going to post some of my all-time favorite country songs. I hope you enjoy them!

Photo of the Day: Jenga Edition

Nothing like a game of Jenga and a bucket-of-beers to spice up an evening.

Love Box

During my amazing Bachelorette party, my beautiful and generous personal attendants gave me a box of love (there's no other way to describe it).

Along with a thoughtful and sweet poem, the box contained all of my favorite things: lipgloss (THAT I LOVE) in a subtle enough color that I will wear it, my favorite mints, delicious tea, 100-calorie packs in the sweet AND salty variety, my favorite nail polish, a beautifully smelling candle, a new kind of facewash, a manicure set including my all-time favorite color and kind of polish.



I don't even know what to say about this - the whole box made me feel so loved. Kelly and Jen clearly put so much time, energy and thought in to this (plus the actual cost!) and I feel so loved. I am so lucky to have them in my life - everyone should be so lucky as to have people in their life like this.

Photo of the Day: Martini Edition

Happy weekend!

Bachelorette Shenanigans: Part 2

Saturday night can be summed up in three words:

best. night. ever.

We started at a fabulous sushi restaraunt downtown, Oysy.

Then we headed back to my apartment for some quick primping (and a photo shoot) before the other guests arrived.

Once the guests arrived, we had cocktails and amazing appetizers (which I stupidly didn't photograph - but I assure you, they were both beautiful and delicious!)

Next we headed to Wrigley.

We went to a few bars, had a few drinks and danced our feet off.

The night was a whirlwind of fun - it was crazy to have so many of my favorite people in one space - my amazing CousinFriends, my mama, high school friends, college friends, Scott's cousins... it was an amazing night, and I feel so lucky that so many amazing women made such an effort on my behalf. I am SO lucky to have each of them in my life.

Bachelorette Shenanigans - Part 1

Tonight is my bachelorette party, and many of my favorite people will all be in one place.

(Look out Chicago).

One favorite landed at O'Hare last night. Two others land in a few hours. Friends and family are coming from four states, more cities, and I couldn't be more excited.

Starting the weekend of fun off right, my amazing coworkers surprised me with this beautiful box of bachelorette goodies.

My nails are painted red, my apartment is spotless, and the countdown is on!

Tabletop

Scott and I celebrated Valentine's Day this weekend by checking out a new (cheap!) Thai BYOB cafe in Wrigleyville. The food was disappointing but the decor was fabulous. The place was too dark for me to take photos except one shot of the tabletop.

Photo of the Day: Salmon and rice edition

In hindsight, the picture below looks a little like a t-rex or something, but it's actually a piece of salmon with wild rice and spinach.



My new favorite (boot camp approved) meal.

100 Days!

Scott and I got engaged on August 11, 2009.

We set our wedding date on October 3, 2009.

At that time, there were something like 575 days until May 28th... and as of today, there is only 100!

The countdown is on, and I couldn't be more excited.

(Luckily for me, one of my favorite people shares the sentiment).

Photo of the Day: Windows Edition

These windows are kind of cool, no? (They show the address AND double as windows!)

Beach Body Emergency

Turns out, working out is addictive.

We are now finished with the second week of our February boot camp class, "Beach Body Emergency" (the name is killing me). It's from 7-8:15 three days per week, and it promises to be challenging - and awesome. Just like last month, Scott and I are taking it together.

(As you can imagine, that means I trash-talk him through the whole class, wink).

I will be the first to admit that I don't typically enjoy working out. While some people crave the way a run makes them feel, I crave the way I feel after I'm FINISHED running and can go back to the couch to watch Law & Order. (Kidding, but you get the point). Boot camp has completely transformed my life. I truly look forward to boot camp, and while it kicks my butt, it also makes me want to work out (WHO AM I?)

I know I've mentioned it before, but boot camp is my new boyfriend, and I plan to keep him around.

Photo of the Day: Ballet Slippers Edition

This seems to be turning in to my nail polish blog... oops.

Here's my all-time favorite color, Essie's Ballet Slippers.

Happy Heart Day

I was working late last week and I got a picture text from my valentine - homemade cornbread with corn in it (my favorite).

I think that's what love's about, no? Knowing exactly what dessert-y thing I wanted to eat and making it for me for after boot camp?

Wishing you a happy Valentine's day (cornbread optional).

Sink or Swim - Tyrone Wells

"This is what I thought I wanted,
Why am I afraid? "

Photo of the day: My favorite snack edition

Photo of the Day

Hoping your weekend is sweet.

Ben Does Life

Do you know Ben Davis?

For more from my favorite blogger (myself included) go here. Start at the beginning, and prepare to be inspired.

If you're too busy to read it, let me leave you with a quote from my favorite entry:

"To say I fulfilled a lifetime dream would be a lie. But maybe that’s the beauty; I had just done something that I perceived to be so far from possible that I hadn’t even dreamt about it. 12 months ago I was locked in my bedroom killing virtual demons and eating pepperoni Hot Pockets. Today, I’m a marathoner" - Ben Davis

18 Months Ago Today

Eighteen months ago today, my true love made it permanent.

#3 Read the Sunday NY Times in a new coffee shop

Last week, I checked out the Argo Tea by my apartment, and #3 was officially completed! (I have to admit, it's been a LONG time since I read an actual paper-copy of a newspaper!)

Quote of the Day: Dreamers Edition

"Happy are those who dream dreams, and are ready to pay the price to make them come true" - Leon J. Suenes

White noise nails

Since my post on red nails was such a hit, here is my current polish color. Thoughts?

Ari Hest, "When Everything Seems Wrong,"

Since 2002, I have claimed Ari Hest's "When Everything Seems Wrong" as my all-time favorite song. I recently stumbled upon this live version, and goodness gracious, if it doesn't still make my list.

Marriage Monday: Inspiration Edition

Since Scott and I began living in the same town again, it's been interesting to realize how many differences we have. To be honest, we probably have more differences than similarities.

(For example, my favorite Beverly Hills housewife is Adrienne, and Scott prefers Kyle).

Kidding aside, I'm type-A, he's not. He's laid back, I'm wound tight. I love politics, pop-culture, and a spotless apartment. He loves architecture, cars, and isn't a cleanliness freak. I'm a city girl, he's a Southern boy. I love Ellen, he loves Howard.

But.

I'm glad he's not my twin. How boring would that be? And at the heart of it, the things that matter, matter to both of us.

“Sometimes, when we’re lying together, I look at her and I feel dizzy with the realization that here is another distinct person from me, who has memories, origins, thoughts, feelings that are different from my own. That tension between familiarity and mystery meshes something strong between us. Even if one builds a life together based on trust, attentiveness and mutual support, I think that it’s important that a partner continues to surprise." --Barack Obama

Snow More

Woke up to fluffs of white snow pouring from the sky.

Enough already... c'mon Spring.

Forget what I said before

Remember when I said this and felt so strongly about cheering for the Steelers?

Disregard that, please.

I'll be cheering for the Packers today, and though I've received some gentle encouragement from my favorite anonymous commenter, I have Donald Driver to thank.

(Also, NOT a fan of Ben Roethlisberger).

(Forgive me, Bears).

Quote of the Day: Accidental Children Edition

"See, a male and a female can do something that a homosexual couple cannot: They can create children accidentally. That's the issue. It's not about love. It's not about romance. It's about driving state policy toward responsible procreation." - Rep. Rich Anderson, R-Clarinda, IA

Scenes from a commute

The blizzard is over, but the snow remains.

Scenes from yesterday's commute.

(The above picture taken a half second before my foot got soaked)

(You probably can't read the weather sign, but it was 16 degrees!)

Anyone else ready for Spring?

Photo of the Day: Good Stuff Edition

Wishing you a weekend of good stuff - whatever that means to you.

Photo of the Day: C'mon Spring Edition

After all the winter-weather blogs lately, a little springtime cheer (thanks to the Dominick's Floral Department)!

Snowed In

Remember how I blogged about the snow being par for the January course?

Well, turns out, the answer to the "Snow What?" (so what) question would be "Snowed In".

Twenty inches of snow kind of sucks. A lot. I was homebound for almost 40 hours straight (minus a quick trip to the 7-11 across the street for a Redbox and a Vitamin Water). While it was nice to catch up on Gossip Girl and chores around the house, I'm surprisingly eager to get back to the daily routine today.

While (briefly) outside, I snapped these shots of the 2011 Blizzard. Brr!

I love you, Zach Wahls

Yes, yes, yes. To everything he said.

Photo of the Day: Spring Flowers

I know it's only February, but these flowers make me feel like Spring is just around the (ice-covered) corner.

Lyrics of the Day: Longest Night

i was close

to a fault line

heaven knows,

you showed up in time.

was it real?

now i feel

like i'm never coming down.

- howie day, longest night

Snow What

Today Chicago is expecting 18-24 inches of snow. Up to two feet. We are in a "blizzard warning" and the snow has barely started to fall.

Last night, while walking back to my apartment from "Beach Body Emergency Boot Camp" (more on that later), Scott and I stumbled upon a live taping of a segment on the Weather Channel. While it was too cold and windy to stick around and watch, it was amusing enough to merit a blurry camera phone picture.

My friend's Facebook status updates have been equally amusing.

"Snow/ice/blizzard day in STL!"

"Kids aren't even here yet and we've announced an early dismissal! I'll take it!"

"Too many names to call our first winter storm of the decade. So far I've heard Snow-pocolypse, Snow-mageddon, Snow-nami, Flurricane and Snow-valanche".

"Bring it, snow!"

"Brrrrreerrrrr rrrr".

And these are just comments from the past two hours.

I understand that two feet of snow is a LOT of snow, and they are anticipating that it is going to fall fast (the NBC newscaster suggested a rate of up to three inches per hour).

But....

We've had a pretty mild winter so far, no? And it is Chicago in February, so like... this kind of goes with the territory. (Although I will concede that 24 hours is a bit excessive).

Anyway, I hope Chicagoans (and anyone impacted by the upcoming weather system) take advantage of this kind of warning and use extra caution in the coming days.

Stay warm!