Celebrating with Chris and Melinda

This past week, we were fortunate enough to travel to New Haven, CT for Chris and Melinda's wedding. Besides getting to see the beautiful east coast, we were so happy to be reunited with our law school friends! It was a wonderful celebration!

The wedding could not have been more perfect. Chris and Melinda exchanged vows on the beach, with the ocean and an iconic light house as their backdrop. The ceremony was in the heat of the day, but they were well prepared, with fans and straw hats presented on each guests' chair. I loved how they subtly incorporated both Asian and American cultures into their wedding decor. The reception pavilion was just a few steps away from the sand, and a faint ocean breeze kept the temperature pleasant for the cocktail hour and reception.

The reception was just as lovely as the ceremony. Sheer drapes cascaded from the ceiling along with white globes hanging for aesthetic contrast. Candles and strings of lights illuminated the reception after the sun set. And the table center pieces were simply green and white hydrangeas, elegant and sophisticated. For a pop of color, they placed pink tissue paper flowers on each place setting and displayed fun monogramed sunglasses at the top of each charger as their guest favors. We dined along side of a beautiful carousel, that we thoroughly enjoyed riding after dinner.

The food was delicious and the drinks top shelf. But the best part of all was getting to spend time celebrating with Chris and Melinda. We had so much fun talking, dancing and being goofy with them on the dance floor! They were so thoughtful to all their guests and even had a brunch for us the next morning where we could spend more time together.

It was such a joyful celebration!

Newlyweds for...

2 years and 11 months today! I can't believe in one month we will have been married for 3 years!!! We will be celebrating our anniversary by taking a vacation to the east coast. We fly out from Chicago and start in New York City for a few days. Then we head over to Yale in New Haven, CT for Chris and Melinda's wedding. From there we'll travel up the coast to Boston and then to Maine. So exciting! Pics and details to come in one month!

An ipad Easter

The countdown ends...

Joey woke up early Saturday morning, with a childlike joy, to venture down to the Apple store on Michigan Ave. to pick up his beloved, pre-ordered, ipad.

The day after:

Joey: What day is it today?

Me: April 4th. And Easter.

Joey: Yeah, April 4th. The day the world will never be the same.

Me: Huh?

Joey: Yeah, the day after the ipad came out.

Me: sigh

Well, at least he pre-ordered and did not have to wait out in the rain for the UPS truck to drop off his ipad like this poor guy. I bet he's glad his wife captured his anticipation for the world to see. I giggled a little bit because I could totally see myself snapping a picture of Joey doing the same thing. HAHA

Quarter Century + 1

#26

It was a great day! The do list entailed:

1. Sleeping in
2. Lunch at Joe's Seafood with Rachel, James and Joey
3. Relaxing at home, catching up on my T.V. shows
4. Going out with JG to COACH for my bday present
5. Tapas with Joey
6. Bed early for a good night of sleep

I worked Friday and then we headed to Surfari Joe's to hang out with the whole family for the weekend! More to come on that later...

Contributing to My Cavities

I just ate four Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies...because I wanted to...and because it's my birthday in an hour.

Valentine's Weekend

Taken from the Ladies Room at the Signature Room

We started off Valentine's Day weekend with a bang. First a spa mani-pedi double date with Sam and Justin at Image Nail Salon downtown on Washington Street. I took a picture of Justin getting pampered in the massage chair but I think he'd kill me if I posted it, haha! Anyway, my newest OPI fav is a dark purple (almost black) called "Lincoln Park After Dark," which I later found out is part of OPI's Chicago Collection. I got that on my toes and my classic go-to "Bubble Bath" for my fingernails. After our appointments we had dinner at Kinzie Chophouse then met up with Rachel and James. They suggested having drinks at the top of the Hancock Center at the Signature Room Lounge on the 95th floor. Wow I'm glad we went since it was the most beautiful view of the city! (Although it was a little scary being up that high and my ears were popping like crazy). Valentine's morning we had brunch across the street at the little french restaurant where Joey made friends with the owner. Old Town Brasserie did not disappoint. Thankfully it was a beautiful day so we did a little shopping and enjoyed the city. To cap off the night we dropped by Molly's Cupcakes to enjoy while relaxing at home.

Now Joey is working and I'm taking down all our Christmas decorations with a tear...

and yes, I realize it is February and it is a little (okay a lot) overdue.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Welcome to Graduation

On May 6th, I took my last final (Sec Reg) and handed in my last project (Negotiation) and like that, it was done.  Law school is officially over!!!  To celebrate, Kimmy and I met my parents at a great new(er) restaurant in Detroit, Roast.  A modern take on a steakhouse, it was fantastic.  Everything we ordered was off the charts.  It couldn’t have been a better meal.  I am so grateful to Kimmy, and my parents, for all the support they’ve given me during these past 3 years of law school.  I’m also thankful for all the cards, gifts, and words of encouragement I’ve received over the last weeks from friends and family.  It’s meant a lot to me.  Thanks again.

So now I have a few weeks to rest (play golf with Tim) before the next challenge begins, studying for the IL bar.  Then after that, we’re off to Chicago (hopefully).  For now though, I’m just trying to enjoy (and reflect on) the end of an era.  I’ll never have to go to school again!

The End of Classes

Today was Joey's last official day of class in law school!  I’m so proud of him!  Now he just has to make it through the next couple weeks of finals.  We’re on the home stretch...

Trey's 3 Years Old

Wednesday night we went back to Joey’s parent’s house to celebrate Trey’s 3rd Birthday with the whole family.  It’s been so fun to watch Trey grow up over these last 3 years and to really be a part of that experience.  It’s incredible how quickly he’s become his own person and he really is a little boy already. 
Mom (his Grandma, or Ma as he calls her) asked him what he wanted to eat for his birthday and although his first response was “balloons” he then asked for “fries” which I guess meant hamburgers too.  The meal was great but of course the best part was his little Sesame Street ice cream cake that followed.  He seemed a little hyper the rest of the night.  I wonder why?

It was so great to have the whole family in town because of Angie’s baby shower this weekend (more on that later I’m sure), but it’s especially nice having Angie here for a little while.  It’s been hard having her so far away after we had spent so much time with her the past few years.  And we know it will only be harder after her beautiful baby boy is born in just over 2 months now.  Even so, we can’t wait to go visit her in Texas once he’s born!

It's a BOY

Yesterday I spent the entire day hanging out in Farmington Hills for Angie’s baby shower.  It was a gorgeous, 70 degree day for her party.  To begin, we had a lovely brunch consisting of spinach quiche, scones and  heavenly fruit trifles.  Then we moved on to a couple fun games (one of which I won by drawing a baby with my eyes closed)!  After brunch and games we headed downstairs where many of the ladies shared motherly words of wisdom with Angie.  (I couldn’t contribute but still will use their advice, especially from Julie’s letter that I’ll never forget).  We wrapped up the day watching Angela open all her wonderful gifts. 

Once the guests left, the family was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather outside.  I had a really good time catching up with Aunt Pat and Adam since I haven’t seen them since the wedding almost two years ago.  And we had Joe’s favorite, Chicken King, for dinner which made him very jealous.  (Angie and I witnessed one of the funniest conversations ever on speaker phone from him)! 

My favorite part of the day was after all the people were gone and the house was quiet.  Angie and I had a great time just talking and packing her things together for a couple hours.  All in all it was a good time had by all!

Happy Easter

We had a great Easter Sunday.  Kimmy woke up to an Easter basket hunt resulting in a basket filled with all her favorite goodies.  (Check out the pictures for the final hiding place).  Next we went to church at New Life with Dean and his little brother Christian and for the first time, Rich and Chris!  It was great to be there with all of them.  Then we met our small group out for a little brunch at Afternoon Delight.  It was our first time there, but it lived up to hype. 
The best part of the day though was having Joey’s parents come out to our apartment for Easter dinner.  It was the first time we’ve ever hosted a holiday meal and although it was just the four of us, it was still very special.  We made ham and Kimmy’s famous pretzel salad and Mom brought all the favorites, Asian salad, corn flake mashed potatoes, and bunny cake.  The only bummer of the evening was that Angie’s flight into town was delayed so she couldn’t be there.  Hosting a meal was fun and it definitely makes us look forward to doing it more (especially once we have a bigger place).