Safari On!

Today Neil booked our room at the lodge we will be staying at during the safari portion of our honeymoon and it looks amazing! The pictures are making me so excited for our trip! I can't wait to see the "Big 5" which are: lions, African elephants, Cape buffalo, rhino and leopard!

I've started looking for clothes today online! I imagine myself wearing one of the outfits below with effortless hair and a nice natural glow.

I know that I won't look like that though, and I'll be sweating the whole time, but a girl can dream!

Weekend Wrap Up

Spring is springing (I'm not ready to say sprung yet as Chicago weather doesn't seem to be too reliable these days)! This weekend was fun, relaxing and warm! 

Friday night started off with a drink (multiple drinks) out on the balcony followed by pizza and exploring Netflix. I recently signed back up in preparation for Arrested Development and Neil and I were so excited about all that we get to watch! 

Saturday Neil and I went to get my car looked at and then ate outside for lunch! It felt so good to nosh on chips and salsa in the sun! Afterwards we stopped by the apartment to pick up Clark and took him to the dog beach at Belmont. It was ADORABLE!! Though little Clark didn't actually swim, he did get in the water and was in his element! He loved the dog beach and was running around and bobbing for tennis balls all afternoon (he couldn't figure out how to actually catch the ball in the water and it looked like he was bobbing for apples with no luck). 

                                                          Eyeing up the ball, but just not ready to swim yet! 

                                  He would get a sand mustache around his lips after running around in the sand.

My sister Megan came over for a few drinks after the park and then Neil and I checked out a Tapas place in our neighborhood that was really good! It was a super fun ambiance, it made us feel like we were on vacation! I definitely see eating here a lot in the summer! 

Sunday I met my sister Megan for brunch at Publican (seriously, amazing brunch) and then we went over to a wedding event where former brides were selling stuff from their receptions (center pieces, votive candles, etc). This was a great idea, but wasn't executed that well. Hopefully it will evolved over the years (when I'm ready to sell my stuff)! Afterwards, Neil and I met up at the dog park where Clarkie met a little lady he seemed to be crushing on! When I say crushing on, I mean they shared a ball and he humped her a few times. 

Lovely weekend and hopefully foreshadowing into more weekends like this! 

Spring?

I'm jumping on the bandwagon and officially complaining about this weather! Much of the time I talk about how much I love Chicago and everything this city has to offer, but lately, the city and I are fighting. I'm sick of the cold weather, the wind and the rain. It was 37 degrees this morning when I went to the park with Clark. 37 degrees. On April 24. Ridic!

Though this does appear to be the end of the bad weather (please, God, please!!) I feel as though it's really affecting me and everyone! I'm super tired all the time and just ready to go outside without a coat, scarf, hat, gloves and boots. Is that too much to ask for?

Spring, please come. Even when you make me sneeze and make eyes itchy, I promise I'll be nice to you!

It's Friday!!!

A Dog and His Pillow

When we first gave Clark my old dog Dublin's pillow he really took to it! He slept on it and loved it immediately. Then we washed it (after an accident) and he started eating the pillow and suddenly lost interest in it. Sad.  

Last week we re-introduced him to Dublin's pillow and little Clarkie cannot get enough of it! He sleeps on it at night and during the day he takes it out of his crate and moves it around the apartment so he's always sleeping on it. These are a few places I have seen him with the pillow lately: 

                         This was the first time Clark took his pillow out of the crate and over to the window

                           We found him just sitting on his pillow looking into his crate last night... odd. 

                                                               Eating a bone hanging out

        Hanging on the balcony (ok, I'll admit, we put the pillow on the balcony so he'd come hang out with us) 

                                                                       Hanging out 

                                                                                               Sawing logs. 

I'm so glad Clark loves Dubbie's pillow! He does have a tendency to nibble on it sometimes, but I just think that's because he cares for it so much! 

Life Changing Events

Over the last year some very exciting things have gone on in my life and I am so blessed and lucky for that. This weekend, will be another day for the record books; Neil and I are getting a parking spot in our building!!!

I've lived in Chicago for almost seven years now and I've always done street parking (with the exception of two years when I had a parking spot in a lot down the block from my building). In those seven years I've rearranged my life around finding a parking spot. If you think that sounds dramatic, you've never lived in the city without a parking spot. When I first moved here I lived near Wrigley Field. So much fun, but worst parking decision of my life. I'd get to work extra early (almost always still dark outside) and leave early so I could get a parking spot and the habit carried on to all the other places I've lived out of necessity.

Since moving into this building last June, things have only gotten worse with parking! We have about 6 spots out front and Neil and I thought we could make it work by not having a spot in the building (because it's ridiculously expensive). But, this brutal winter has made us realize that we have to bite the bullet and get a spot!

We finally got word that our car will have a home as of this Saturday!! I liken this feeling to what I imagine my wedding day will feel like or the day our first child enters this world. I literally cannot contain myself! I'm already plotting where I will drive and when I will drive there! I no longer have to hold off on doing something or drive around the neighborhood and walk a mile home!

Things are looking up, my friends!

Weekend Wrap Up

This past weekend was busy and productive!!

It started off on Friday after work. I headed over to my sister's apartment to do some "make up trials" for me and Neil's engagement photos. Megan and I spent about 10 minutes on make up and the rest of the time catching up on DVR, eating sushi and drinking wine. Success!!

Saturday morning Megan and I met up bright and early to go look at bridesmaids dresses and we found one! I love it! I've always been a big fan of one shoulder dresses and this one looks so simple and classic! I can't wait to see the girls in them!

At night I went out with a few of my college roommates; Mary Kate, Caitlin and, in from Las Vegas, Krista. All of the girls who got married over the last year! It was so fun to just hang out on Mary Kate's amazing wrap around and catch up all night. We all laughed at how much has changed in those years. Not one of us had a drink and we are all married (or in my case, engaged). Seven years flies by fast!

I know I've said this before but I love my friends so much! I truly am so thankful for them every day! Sunday marked three years since my brother Colin passed away and my college roommates, as they have done the last two years, sent the most beautiful flowers. I don't think I can really express how much this means to me. Love you, ladies.

Sunday morning Neil, Megan and I went to brunch at Perennial in Lincoln Park and it was great. Good to be out and see all the little babies in cute Easter dresses! Afterwards, Megan came over to help me prep for the engagement photos! Megan is amazing at all things fashion and make up so I was super thankful to her for helping!

I had my first glass of champagne since Lent began. Though I didn't stick to the no drinking as much as intended (no week days!!), I actually did give up champagne, which is my favorite thing to drink! 

My cousin Bryan is an amazing photographer and we are so lucky and thankful that he offered to do our photos! The three of us hopped around the city to get some lovey dovey shots on Neil and I! It was a ton of fun and the day was beautiful (although a tid bit windy). Thank you so much, Bryan!

After the pictures Neil dropped me off at Megan's so we could spend some time together, sharing memories and great stories about our brother. Megan found this amazing bottle of champagne for us to drink.

                                                               Colin's a classy dude! This stuff was not cheap!

Overall, it was an amazing and emotional weekend. Spring is around the corner and all of Chicago is chomping at the bit!