Missing Minnows

Gratuitous shot of Flossy impatiently waiting for a ride on the pontoon

We just returned from a family trip to Wisconsin, where we stayed in a cottage on the shores of Lake Okauchee, spending our days boating and our nights eating/drinking local favorites and playing board games. Though the fish weren’t particularly interested in our bait, the crystal-clear water, crisp air and amazing Songza fishing playlists (seriously, check them out) made the endeavor completely memorable. I'm already looking forward to a return visit to the area this December.

Hence the title of this post

At my insistence, my family's new go-to board game

Heading out on the water after the front cleared through

A seriously amazing meal at Glenda's Cafe

One of the coolest roadside signs that I've ever seen, somewhere out in Lake Country

Taking on the beer sampler at Water Street Brewery during a Packers game

Cincinnati Celebration

This past weekend could not have been more fulfilling. From roaming through my hometown like a tourist, to attending a gorgeous outdoor wedding and catching up with long-lost best friends over far too many Sea Breezes, sitting in the backyard amid glowing lightening bugs and visiting with a great-aunt I’ve never met, and revisiting a tiny amusement park with my parents and their friends. It truly was as though all worlds collided in Cincinnati for a few unforgettable days and nights. A filmstrip of some of the sights...

Up For Air

Mini-pontooning the Chain with my sister (pictured) and parents

Hi!

Remember me?

I know. It’s been awhile. Please forgive me. I can tell that my life has spiraled out a bit by the mounting stacks of unopened mail, DVR that’s 98% full of unwatched Jubilee celebration specials and episodes of Kardashians and Housewives (New Jersey, O.C., and now New York? How can a girl possibly be expected to keep up?), and the facts that I haven’t picked up my routine morning edition of the RedEye in nearly two weeks, couldn’t tell you what the hot topics are on Twitter right now, and I can barely button my jeans because I’ve been incessantly eating out and frequently finding reasons to skip the gym.

That’s not to say that life has been unfulfilling as of late, though. As I previously mentioned, I’ve had family popping in and out of town for the last few weeks and I’ve been happily entertaining and taking in some of life’s simpler pleasures, like drinking plenty of these, boating, beach combing, planting my community garden plot, dusting off balcony furniture, indulging in multiple manicures, attending my favorite annual street festival, and absolutely ripping through a certain risqué book that is currently captivating women across the country. And now, I’m slowing down long enough to take a mid-week breather and steel myself for a few more days of work before a relaxing, lounge-on-the-couch kind of weekend. 

Chasing daylight on my newly planted balcony

Turning the style up at brunch with glitter shorts and my new favorite nail combo: Essie's Topless & Barefoot with Shine of the Times at the tips

A sweet little chess pie from Hoosier Mama that's perfect for a beachside picnic

Prepping space for a lazy weekend with a comfy Etsy find

Ryerson Woods

One of the great things about living in the Chicago region is the different variety of daytrips within reach. We try to take advantage of the many nearby neighborhoods, forest preserves, beaches, museums, gardens, and attractions as much as possible. On one such recent occasion when we felt the need to get away for the morning, we made a trip to Ryerson Woods for a short stroll beneath the trees.  An added bonus of this particular daytrip: breakfast at Walker Bros. Pancake House on the way there. 

Whirlwind Weekend

I recently had the pleasure of showing my boyfriend’s parents around my hometown and, in typical fashion, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to indulge in a few local favorites like this, this, and this. While we were out and about, we managed to squeeze in a Queen City Underground Tour, during which I marveled at the state of things down on (and under) Vine Street these days.