southern prep

after the volunteer work, o and i had planned to meet up for brunch.  i drove my way towards wrigleyville and proceeded to shop my time away {if anyone knows olivia, she’s fashionable late!}, until olivia was ready to go.

perusing racks and jumping from shop to shop, she finally met me at paper source {who doesn’t love paper shops?!}.  she helped me select some paper for my upcoming project and off we went to brunch!

we decided on wishbone.  southern style cooking.  an oldie but a goodie and it’s been awhile since we’ve eaten at this yummy, yummy place!  we sat in a booth, by the window, and we were giddy to spend some quality time together.

me and o

wishbone rooster

wishbone food

olivia

knowing how we are, we jumped right away on deciding what to order {because, typically, we can’t shut up and pause to pick out what we want to eat!}.  then we talked, and talked, and talked.  we ate our food, we talked some more.  it rained a lot and we talked some more.  we gabbed so much we had nooooooo idea that the restaurant closed at 3 {oh my gosh}!!!!!  they were so kind to let us sit there for an hour after {honestly, we didn’t have a clue}, and finally one of the bus boys said…”we closed at 3 but we open back up for dinner at 5.”!  we jumped from our seats {and giggled on how silly we were}, put on our coats and ran out into the rain.  i drove her home {which was literally 3 minutes away and yes, we drove, it was raining!}.  i doubled parked in front of her apartment and yes, we talked for another 45 minutes!!!!  silly!

we finally said our goodbyes and off i went, home to see my hubby charming!!!  yay!

olive

it was another fun night out with the wonderful olivia!

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we met up at 50/50, in wicker park, for a charity trivia night benefiting saints mary and elizabeth hospital.  i’m so not a game player, so i was reluctant to participate in trivia [is it weird i don’t find games very amusing?!] but was motivated to help out for the charity.

it was a lot of fun!  the lower floor was rented out and everyone downstairs was there to help raise money for the hospitals.  the raffle prize were two tickets to a hawks game!  we ordered drinks + food and laughed our way through the trivia {well, we did our version of ‘playing trivia’}.  one thing i do love is hearing facts {i’m also a nerd btw} and the mc was quite entertaining about it.  we caught up, we gossiped, we whispered, we amused ourselves.  it was great to meet some more peeps in liv’s life {crazy i haven’t met everyone?!  that’s bananas!  especially since we’ve been friends for years}.  it’s always a great time with this lady.

she’s just the sweetest girl you will ever meet.

sip + spend

the new anthropologie in lincoln park just opened up!

i was very excited to attend the grand opening ce soir [i mean, who doesn’t just love that store?!].   drinks, appetizers, music, and shopping…a perfect combination!  we sipped cocktails {signature drink – moscow mule: vodka, ginger beer, + lime juice!}, ooh’d and ahh’d over the merchandise, did a lot of people watching, and some folks in our group spent some moolah {not me!  *wink* to hubby charming}.

my favorites?  rifle paper goods, the best candle ever: volcano, every necklace, every set of earrings, ag denim, and pretty much every dress they sell 🙂

seours

soeurs

cheers!

cheers!

planters

planters

dana, thuy, + leyla

dana, thuy, + leyla

paper flowers

paper flowers

i heart green glass

i heart green glass

ombre fringe bag

ombre fringe bag

i see you

i see you

love!

love!

awesome art installation (spoons!)

art installation (spoons!)

all shopped out!

all shopped out!

 

 

seriously, i could buy every ceramic piece in that store!  all the textiles, paper goods, and accessories {love the accessories!!} are to die for!

such a dreamy place, right?  until next time my lovies.

bread + butter

hubby charming is out of town.  no, i don’t like it.  not one bit.  but i must make do with it, so typically i keep myself busy.  i’m usually productive but i tend to be in overdrive without the hubs around.  my mind races with possible projects, like what could i craft, who can i see, what can i do, where can i go.  relentless thinking.  relentless doing.

i was super excited to be able to have dinner with the lovely dana.  we’ve been friends for a good five years but honestly, it feels like forever in such a good, cozy way.  we are like ying and yang.  like cookies and cream.  bread and butter.  salt and pepper.  ya know?  those friendships that just balance each other out [ditto for my awesome hubby charming…a perfect balance].  i just adore her.

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we had lots of chit chat.  yummy food.  wine + beer.  low key and relaxing.  i had to send her home with cookie favors as well.  it was my parting gift…who would refuse free cookies?!  that’s like the best free gift ever.  besides hugs.  and kitten + puppies.  ok, i could list a lot of fabulous free gifts.  um, anything free is good!

ahh, goodnight lovies.  it’s been fun!

girl time

it’s been awhile since i have been able to meet up with kt and kar.  leading into the holidays, we get so wrapped up [no pun intended] in so many things that it’s hard for us to get together!  we were able to finally catch up and have plenty of girl time today, although it’s never enough talkee time, ever.

so away we went with our late lunch date, so typical of me and kt…we are such sleepers!  the later, the better {ya know, we gots to get in our beauty sleep!} for us.

i should know better, that if i leave a decision up to kt, she can’t make one!  i offered a plethora of choices for lunch establishments but should have realized she would choose the one i have taken her to already!  well, who can say no to the ever fabulous bongo room?  as usual, we all had an amazing meal.

:p

:p

kar + kt

kar + kt

the girls

the girls

my cute little gift from kt

my cute little gift from kt

banana hazelnut + bacon

banana hazelnut + bacon

fabulous

fabulous

lol

beanie top

vintage chapeaux's

vintage chapeaux

afterwards, we did a little shopping [woot!].  milwaukee is a gold mine of vintage shops.  we had a blast perusing all the racks and finding such unique items!  after that, we parted ways and i sashayed my way back to our place.  i can never not stop by my favorite little paper store, paper doll!  i had to visit rhoda, the cutest little pug in wicker park!  after playing, petting, prancing, and carrying the sweet little dog around the store, i headed back home {for reals this time!}

i heart rhoda

i heart rhoda

 

power lunch

i love lunches, brunches, eating, meeting, greeting with friends.  sometimes the world gets so crazy busy but you have to slow down to take some time to connect [that’s what makes life great, friends + family].  on my list, it’s paramount.

people tend to make up excuses on why they don’t have time to connect {too busy with work or blame others for lack of effort}, or just don’t make enough effort themselves.  some people just have different priorities than others.

life can get quite convoluted but i believe in finding the time if an opportunity arises.

ande <3

ande <3

i just love ande + matt.  they are such a fun bunch.  get us together and there is never a dull moment!  we are such a ‘type a’ group {our common thread of controlling, clean, organized antics}.  probably the most gregarious combo of peeps anyone would ever witness.   we tend to talk over one another a bit too much but find it so normal to do so.  between the three of us [never one to be succinct], there is never a moment of silence!

 

pumpkin pancakes + bacon

pumpkin pancakes + bacon

matt <3

matt <3

every so often, we are able to squeeze in a lunch or a dinner.  the latter is better for us [due to our long winded nature] but lunches will do. although they are just too short!  so, knowing we don’t have a lot of time, we race through our conversations!  we always say we should have the husbands join us [naturally all three of them are the more quiet, reserved types] but only say it because we feel like it’s nice to ‘try’ to include them.

 

well, there you go…two hours later {and that was our version of a ‘power lunch’}, many topics later, many tasty bites later, we wrapped up our delicious date at the fabulous bongo room {one of my two favorite brunch spots!!!!!!}.  until next time my lovelies!  xoxo

 

 

jodi’s baby shower

my wonderful friend, jodi, is having her first baby!!!  baby boy s. will be here in mid-march.  oh boy oh boy…a baby!  so life changing!  i am very excited for her & she is definitely meant to be a mommy.  i was so excited to shop for her gifts, well, shopping in general is my favorite pastime no matter what the occasion is!  baby stuff is just so stinkin’ cute!  her shower theme was so adorbs!  an animal theme through and through, from the animal cookie favors to the cute little elephant sign holder.  so many thoughtful touches executed by her step mom, kelly!  we can’t wait to meet the cute little bugger {yay!}; see you soon!!

mommy to be, jodi, me, and kt

mommy to be, jodi, me, + kt

write a wish for baby boy s.

write a wish for baby boy s.

kt + moi

kt + moi

cute little details

cute little details

purty wrapped gift

purty wrapped gift

the goods!

the goods!

another mommy to be, kim!

another mommy to be, kim!

what a sweet time it was!  so excited for the baby boom going on around me!  we are all so very blessed.

children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.  Psalm 127:3

for the love of mr. kagann

farewell mr. kagann.  my beloved 2nd dad.  i remember days of shopping with you, copious amounts of girl scout cookies in the cupboard {gotta love the tagalongs!  i would devour a whole box in a sitting!}, yummy dinners you cooked, helping you with your campaigns, woodridge fairs, and just hanging out.  growing up with carol, in your household, led to many adventures and many, many memories i hold so close to the heart.  you were such a great part of my life and i will always be thankful for all that you did for me.

 being there at the very last moment to be able to say goodbye was surreal, a blur, so clear, overwhelming, unexpected, intense, and complete closure.  i love you and i will miss you so dearly.

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r.i.p mr. kagann 2.7.13

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…” Matthew 5:4

falling fluffy cotton balls

it’s pretty much has been a snow-free winter here in good ol’ chicago up until this past week!  {whoa, snow}  i must say, though, it’s nothing like the snowpocalypse we had a few years back!  that was cray.

anyhoo, i’m loving my sorels in this weather!  they’re just tough…and i like tough and little fuzzy at the same time.

snow, snow, snow

snow, snow, snow

my valentine

my valentine

i heart oliva

i heart oliva

well, i was super duper excited to be able to host miss olivia at our place.  {hubby charming is away making some dough, so a little company is always welcomed!}  i cooked pasta, we had some wine, and talked non-stop {we loooooooove to talk}.  i just love girl time and catch up time and just about anything time.  she came over with the cutest homemade valentine’s day card *sigh* and homemade cake pops!  what a gal!  it just got me all excited for the holiday!  i’m so sure the little cupid is looking over my shoulder right now 🙂

 

super bowl sunday = super snack sunday!

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to be honest, i’m not into football.  i mean all the technical talk…all the rules [blah].  i love parties, friends, food, beer, wine, fun.  so when this goes hand and hand with football, hells yes!  marina + corey hosted a few friends at their house and cooked up some good snack grub.  and so the mindless eating began!

bowl XLVII // ravens vs. 49ers

 fact: first time ever two brothers coach against each other at the superbowl

fact: the lights went out!  ooooohhhh, somebody got in trouble!

fact:  i ate too much [burp]