the little things

In May, we went to Austin for Ashley & Sean's wedding in Austin, and even though this is a belated post and I'm 99% sure she doesn't even read this blog, I had to share some of the photos that captured what a beautiful job she did on this wedding. (We all know Sean had one job: show up on time).

Planning a wedding is such a roller coaster. It's so joyous, and so exciting, and SO TIME CONSUMING. To be able to really see your vision through to the end is just about impossible. You have an idea of the theme, vibe, color scheme, whatever, and the next thing you know, in-laws, budgets, timing, and stress get in between you and your concept...if you even have a concept to begin with.

But Ashley did. And even though I know those challenges reared their ugly heads, she stuck to her vision, pushed through late nights crafting, and created the most beautiful vintage-chic wedding I've ever seen!

Some details:

A 50s inspired luncheon

Hand-sewed bunting (which reappeared on the pedicabs)

Mason jar vases

Favors

Centerpieces / Tablecloths

Parasols

Handmade cake topper and awesome floral arrangements as the bottom layer

And of course, the dress and the suit

I just loved every second of it. As someone who's obviously planned a wedding, I could see little pieces of Ashley's vision everywhere I looked throughout the weekend. It took her so much work, but all the special touches made it an unmistakable Fric 'n Leitch extravaganza.

summer? is that you?

Chicago finally flipped the switch to summer (who needs spring?!) and I'm loving it like I a fat kid loves cake!

Summer in Chicago means:

• ring game on the deck...don't forget to check in on foursquare
• biking on the lake path
• 3 out of 9 seedlings surviving - praise baby Jesus, we might get a sprig of cilantro by the time this is all said and done!
• lightning bugs
• PRIDE
• Bossypants
• visitors! if Brad had stayed one more minute my diaphragm would've caved from too much laughing
• the Cubs
• Thirsty Thursdays at work (4 p.m. themed happy hour, did I pick it right or what)
• using our masterfully-manipulated-grill from the neighbors
• leaving the windows open
• beach volleyball

Still on the summer to-do list:

• making a friend with a boat
• swimming
• being hot enough to swim
• camping
• leaving work before 7 not that I'm complaining about being gainfully employed
• securing a 30% seedling-to-plant turnover rate

Let's please also have a moment of silence for Austin summers, which involved leaving work every day at 5, at least one happy hour with friends a week, the CoPo, and it being too hot to even think about growing something.

.....

Now, back to awesomeness here.

rosemary lane in the house

The amount of work looming over my head should prevent me from doing any writing right now, but I'm coming off such a lovely weekend with Jackie and Katie and thought there's no time like the present to post about it!

Their trip was relatively last minute, but thanks to a new slew of vacation days gifted to us to use over the summer, I didn't have any problem taking off Friday afternoon to enjoy the phenomenally beautiful day! The girls came in the night before, so they spent the morning getting some coffee and walking through the neighborhood, and then ventured onto public transit to come meet me at work - what city girls!

Deep dish pizza, Giordano's

the bean, Millenium Park

after watching about a hundred teens take

prom pics in front of Buckingham Fountain, we needed our own

great table for drinks at the Signature Lounge

(where Brian and I got engaged)

the view!

with our beach v-ball courts in the distance

After all that on Friday, we finished off the night with sushi and some ring game on the porch. PHEW!

Saturday was less touristy, with a delicious stop at the coffee shop, more local shopping, frozen yogurt, a rainstorm & TV, Thai food, a patio bar, and multiple bunny sightings on our walk home (what in the WORLD are they all doing here???).

sporting some local 312

Unfortunately Jackie left early on Sunday, but Katie and I enjoyed brunch and more walking and shopping before she had to leave. Oh and this gem:

Ginger Twin from our super local brewery, Half Acre

8% discount if you're a ginger.

10% if you have a red beard too.

25% if you have a twin.

50% if you are ginger twins.

Presumably 100% if you're that dude on the bottle.

Another highlight of the weekend was getting to randomly meet up with two friends in town!

Sally in town for work!

KT's high school friend Matt in town visiting his boyfriend.

This boy makes me giggle, always.

The weekend was so fun because it gave me a great reason to check out new places, walk a ton, enjoy the amazing weather, and truly be happy to say that this is where I live!

As our three lives continue to shift and naturally take different courses (most specifically, courses that don't involve us all living together, taking classes together, and constantly knowing every detail each other's lives), it's so great to have a couple of days to just be in each other's company with no particular "activities" driving the interactions. Weirdly, I really loved just sitting around and watching TV because it felt so normal, and sometimes it's hard to get to just do nothing with each other when we get so little time to spend together. Sometimes those little moments of nothing add up to everything, don't you think?