Birthdays and I DO!

Part I Birthday

So my man really knows how to take care of a girl on her birthday. My birthday fell on a Friday this year, which was probably caused by some alignment in the stars for an incredible weekend to begin with. I don't know. You be the judge. We started the morning with a 9am breakfast at Stepping Stone Cafe. I went with two eggs, bacon and a big-ol' pumpkin Mancake. Seriously tasty, but then I'm a sucker for pumpkin in the fall. And we decided why not Bloody Mary's?! It was my birthday and Friday after all...

I dropped my heart off at school the set out to spend a couple hours of my birthday treating myself. I succeeded with finesse. With an incredible experience with Eva at Ward Shroud Salon and a bit of dark sparkle to perfectly match my nail polish (found this awesome guy at Stella's on 21st) the day continued on with me feeling pretty spectacular. 

Lunch at the mall at Hot Dog On A Stick after some pants shopping with my love! It was the first time we'd ever been mall shopping together but luckily I love shopping for my man and did what I could to show him what a shopping buddy really is. We found these red chinos from Express for him which fit like a dream (he's worn them a couple times. hot!) and aren't too bright, along with jeans and a couple slick dress shirts. Shopping Success!! 

Part II Birthday GIFT!

The day got even better though...seriously...

Le Bf took me out to our favorite Italian restaurant, Enzo's Caffe Italiano. It's Italian food, cooked by charming Italians, at an Italian pace and the last time they brought us a peach on fire for dessert so it felt like the right celebratory environment. Boy, was it! But before leaving for dinner he decided to give me my birthday present which he'd been teasing me with all week! On one knee, in his red pants, ring and everything in the dining room of our first apartment together he asked me to be his wife. It wasn't until the shock wore off the next day that I became super swoony. 

He knows me so well! I can't be more excited! I'll be pretty busy on Pintrest for a while.

Part III Party On!!...

The next day we called everyone! Many of my friends were at our friends' wedding so the news was quite the hit! I drove over to tell my mom in person and we had breakfast at Dockside. It was her 60th that week, and we casually talked about her plans. Little did she know we had a surprise wig party planned for her at Kells Brew Pub! The look on her face as she walked in the door wearing her purple wig and tiara with my cousin was priceless and the birthday cards were exceptional this year (we buy a lot of birthday cards). 

My sisters, the Birthday Girl, and myself rocking our crazy do's.

Luckily we stuck with 2 candles ;)

My sister loves sugar, clearly...

It was an incredible weekend. And I know my fiance and I (*blush*blush*blush*) thank everyone around us and in our lives for making it the best few days we've experienced together YET!

<3<3<3

A Perfect Thing.

"Guess what? There are people that you can spend every single second of seven days with, waking and sleeping, in a studio apartment with a single bathroom and you won't want to kill each other at the end. In fact, you will feel a little teary eyed at the airport and never want to leave. I find this hugely life affirming." - Rachel, Heart of Light

Whoa. Talk about a first impression. This is the first thing I read today on Heart of Light. For the first time ever reading her stuff, it couldn't have been a better thing to have read right now. I've been crushing hard on my man the last couple of days. Pretty great after being together for nearly two years and casually living with him for about 1 year and 3 months.  Love you, N. 

I'll need to revisit Heart of Light, but for now...onward.

10 Great Documentaries.

A CUP OF JO's writer, Joanna Goddard (probably the first blog I read every morning right now), always posts great top 10's. And considering my man and I love a good, informative, and enticing documentary, I wanted to share her 10 Great Documentaries list. I'd especially like to see First Position and Being Elmo has been on Netflix lately. 

See her list here.

No Last Minute This Year.

Despite how much I love costume and in turn adore Halloween, the last couple years I've dropped the ball on developing a showstopping costume for myself. A couple ideas I've been considering:

I'd love to come up with something from Mirror Mirror. The costumes are huge and grand but I think I could come up with something to get the story across.

I think I could come up with something pretty rad for the evil queen in Snow White and the Huntsman. The only problem would be my hair...

Last year my absolute favorite was definitely Sea of Shoes with The Fantastic Mr. Fox. So brilliant.

Have you heard any great costume ideas this Halloween? Share!

A Real Autumn Day.

Today was such a beautiful day. There's something about a sunny, windy Autumn day. So Shevy and I spent half the day at the park running around in the first sweatshirt of the season. We'll probably have to take another walk to wear new hats and scarves!!

Back to Old Chicago.

I've decided I really need to embrace the twenties. The flattering dropped waists. The alluring cloches with rouge on the lips and cheeks. PIN CURLS (which I can't wait to try once I let my hair grow out). And with Fall around the corner it's the best time to try it out with hats, gloves, tights and t-strap heels! Here's a few I'd love to sport this season...

   

Cloche

A Friend in Beads Dress

Fourth Wall Heel

SANDCASTLES.

A great deal of my happy moments include reference to this kid:

Success Kid.

Success Kid.

Or as Nate and I call him, Sandcastle Kid.

Hence the face & fist made. at. every. SANDCASTLE. yeah...