83 and Sunny.

Have I mentioned how much I love living in North Carolina?? Well, I do. Since the end of April we have had multiple days of gorgeous weather...83 and sunny (which would NEVER happen in Chicago in April). So to celebrate said weather, I pulled out Grier's old baby pool. Don't get it twisted, baby pools are for toddlers too. She loved every minute of it.  I can tell this pool will be a big hit all summer.

Oh, and we had ice cream. And also, Chloe is ridiculous. 

Random Tuesday.

Masters. 

I could really care less about golf, but I love this win for Bubba Watson. (Side note: his real name is Gerry Lester Watson, Junior. I think I'd go by "Bubba" too. Just saying.) Anyway, the tears, the waddling toddler, it doesn't get any better. Good for him and his young family.

Chicagoland.


OH. MY. GOD. How did I just find this gem? We lived in Chicago for many years yet I never really knew much about Rahm Emanuel, but gosh, I have kind of fallen in love with him. This show has literally brought me to tears. And mostly because of the wonderful people fighting to make life better for the kids of Chicago's South Side. It is truly gripping and definitely worth watching.


Sick toddler.


Grier has a never ending cold so we took a trip to the doctor yesterday...and she loved it.

Snow.


My cousin Whitney, who still lives in Chicago, sent me this today:

Snow in April?! Gross.



Happy Tuesday! xo

Rewards.

2013 was a year of change for us. Big change. The biggest? We left our lives in Chicago for a place we had never visited.  Kevin received a job offer and within two weeks we were packed and on our way to North Carolina. It sounds crazy and may seem really scary to some people (especially with a small child), however, moving to a place you've never been is really quite an adventure. When Kevin and I first started dating (waaaaay, way back in 2007) we both quit our jobs in Indianapolis and moved to Chicago. Looking back on that experience, I should have been terrified. I didn't have a job, Kevin didn't have a job, we didn't really know anyone, and we relocated to a place that was considerably more expensive than Indy. BUT, to me it was an adventure and you know what they say, "If you want big rewards, take big risks." True dat...Chicago turned out to be a big reward in every aspect of our lives. So when we had the opportunity to change our lives and take another big risk in 2013, there was no hesitation. And now, here we are, a day away from 2014 and life is so good. Kevin loves his job, we have made so many new friends, the weather is like a million degrees warmer, and we are building a home for our little family (more on that later!). 2013 was good to us and I can't wait for all the big rewards of 2014. Cheers!

Southern Weddings.

Southern Weddings Magazine's official launch for their V6 issue is Tuesday, but I found a copy yesterday. I'm already married, but my BFF is getting married next summer so I picked it up for her (SO excited for her wedding!). As soon as I got in the car I started flipping through and immediately asked my husband if we could have our wedding again. As expected, he said no (boooooo), so I decided to relive our beautiful southern wedding on my blog.

Kevin and I got married at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. Since we were living in Chicago while planning the wedding, we did a very quick engagement session on the Thursday before our Saturday wedding. I initially didn't want to do an engagement session because I think sometimes the pictures look really cheesy and forced. Looking back at these pictures, I'm so glad we did them. And yes, I definitely pulled these pictures off of our photographer's website (shout out to the amazing Kip Beech!). This wedding was three years ago, people!

The sky was so beautiful in the beach shots.

We make cheesy look goooood.

At the time I was so against this picture. Kind of love it three years later.

Shirt, skirt, belt, and bracelets: J.Crew. Shoes: Jack Rogers.

Cheesy but lovely.

We had our photographer blow this up with a matte around it for guests to sign at the reception.

The ceremony was in front of a beautiful iron gate on the property and the reception was at the Holliday Cottage, which was built by Southern Living. It was such a gorgeous place to spend one of the best days of my life. Our colors were green and navy with pops of pink and orange. Our destination wedding was small, around 65 people, and such a fun party. 

Place settings.

My bouquet. Cheryl & Co cookies. Yummo.

Dress: Judd Waddell. Shoes: Kate Spade.

Obsessed with this veil.

After searching for all these pictures for this post and flipping through all the beautiful weddings in the V6 issue, I have decided that our wedding was so perfectly us and I would not change a thing. I would, however, do it all over again a million times over. And although Kevin said no yesterday, I know deep down it was such a special day for him too and he would for sure do it all over again.

You may now kiss the bride.

Dresses: LulaKate. Shoes: I let the bridesmaids wear shoes they already owned in fun colors.

Ties: Brooks Brothers. We let the guys all wear their own navy blazers and khakis.

Our wedding party.

This picture doesn't even look real.

Birthday Outfit.

Grier's second birthday is next month, which is so crazy to me. It really doesn't seem like that long ago she was taking her first steps and saying her first words. It is incredible how much she has changed in the past year (more on that in a later post!). Last year for her birthday I found a really cute tutu and cupcake onesie on Zulily. I think after tax and shipping it was around 70 dollars. It was a very cute outfit that she wore twice. She wore it to her actual first birthday party and again to the Sears Tower Skydeck Ledge (I will never call it the Willis Tower!) for a little photo shoot.

This. Face.

That. Little. Hand.

This year, I have decided to make her a tutu and some sort of monogram applique shirt. The shirt is still under construction, however, the tutu is dunzo. And let me just say, it took like an hour and a half and cost under $5. So. Simple. I will never pay for another tutu. Ever. Stay tuned for the finished shirt!!

Cutting the tulle strips took the longest.

Tulle knots on ribbon.

Finished tutu.

Snow...Finally.

The first real snow is finally happening in Chicago! The past few days it has been bitterly cold...I'm talking about a high of like 4 degrees with a wind chill of like -15 degrees. Say it with me, BRRRRRRRRR. So, it's only fitting that it is finally snowing. However, if it is going to be brutally cold, I'd like a lot of snow. I'm thinking huge snow storm...16 inches...city shutting down...grocery stores running out of food. Okay, maybe not so much that last part, but sometimes I think it would be nice to live in a place like Alabama. When it starts to snow in the deep south, like a few flakes falling and not even sticking, businesses and schools immediately send professionals and children home. I have facebook friends that post statuses that prove this is a real thing. That definitely never, EVER happens here. Salt trucks are getting their salt on. Over it. Thinking about summer. And sun dresses. And wedges. And Jack Rogers. And linen shorts. Are we there yet???


Hunter Boots. Big time classic.


Chloe. Snow puppy for life.