I belong with you
You belong with me
You're my sweetheart
-- The Lumineers
Here you'll read all about my life and the ones in it!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Last Minute Valentine's Day for Two
Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I love Valentine's Day, but I pretty much love every holiday. Also, I just really love LOVE. It might only be because I already have the man of my dreams who makes me happy when skies are grey, either way I still love love.
We don't really feel the need to make extravagant plans for Valentine's Day mostly because we both prefer staying at home, watching tv in our pajamas instead of getting all fancied up and going out for the night. Don't get me wrong, sometimes getting all dolled up, going out, and waiting for others to serve us can be quite nice. We didn't really make plans for Valentine's Day this year because Vinnie was supposed to work and wouldn't be home until pretty late. So originally we thought we could go out for a late celebratory drink or dessert. It turns out that Lady Gaga is cancelling her concerts in Chicago tonight and tomorrow night so Vinnie unexpectedly has the night off. But instead of braving the crowds and having to wait an hour for a table (obvi we didn't make a reservation) I have decided to cook a little dinner for us so that we can enjoy the night together in our cozy apartment with our little fur monster (Marley, duh!).
So now I'm kind of scrambling around for ideas for what to cook tomorrow night. Luckily I have the night to go grocery shopping and to come up with something delicious. If you're like me and you're planning on making something for an intimate Valentine's Day for two, I found some cute ideas.
This website gives you a pretty simple, but cute, three course meal complete with a delicious dessert. Definitely a good idea for anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to plan and cook an extravagant meal.
You can find the recipe for these yummy looking Valentine's Day Mini Cheesecakes along with a bunch of other Valentine's Day treats DIY projects.
Don't have time to go out and buy a last minute card? Make one by printing out this Valentine's Day print. You can use this print for several Valentine's Day crafts as it shows you on this website!
Do you want to serve a Valentine's themed cocktail with the dinner you're making tomorrow night? This drink featured on The Daily Dish's blog looks (and probably tastes) awesome! It's a pomegranate champagne punch. I'm definitely thinking about debuting this little number tomorrow night for our Dinner!
Wanna be really sweet (and really embarrassing) and make your sweetie a Valentine's themed lunch? Here's 10 ideas for Valentine's Day lunches. We all know I won't be doing this since I can't wake up early to save my life, plus I don't often feel like being nice for the first couple of hours that I am awake in the morning. Sorry Vinnie.
And if it comes down to it and you don't feel like doing a damn thing for Valentine's Day (AKA you're single or not able to be with your significant other and you feel like stuffing your face with ice cream and crying for a couple of hours) just watch this movie. Also, remember that tomorrow night is the one night that you should be allowed to make your boyfriend/fiance/husband watch a sappy, girly movie. It's Valentine's Day, he can't say no (but he'll probably try).
Alright and now I'm feeling all kinds of inspiration to make tomorrow a lovely day for my special Valentine :)
But enough of the mushiness. By the way, I haven't always loved Valentine's Day. One year it ended up being a really terrible day for this girl. My freshman year of high school. My first boyfriend I ever had (also my first kiss and the first guy I thought I loved, emphasis on thought) broke up with me on Valentine's Day. I got a dozen roses from him delivered to my house (first time I ever received roses) and then he called me 2 hours later and broke up with me. Talk about a mind fuck. Don't worry, we got back together a couple of weeks later when he was another girl's date to the MORP (prom backwards) dance. Oh yea, he left that girl for me mid-dance. And then obviously we proceeded to break up and then get back together for the next 4 years.
Welp, you have it all in this post. A little mushy love stuff, some last minute Valentine ideas, and a little bad Valentine's Day story. You're welcome!
XO. Tarah
We don't really feel the need to make extravagant plans for Valentine's Day mostly because we both prefer staying at home, watching tv in our pajamas instead of getting all fancied up and going out for the night. Don't get me wrong, sometimes getting all dolled up, going out, and waiting for others to serve us can be quite nice. We didn't really make plans for Valentine's Day this year because Vinnie was supposed to work and wouldn't be home until pretty late. So originally we thought we could go out for a late celebratory drink or dessert. It turns out that Lady Gaga is cancelling her concerts in Chicago tonight and tomorrow night so Vinnie unexpectedly has the night off. But instead of braving the crowds and having to wait an hour for a table (obvi we didn't make a reservation) I have decided to cook a little dinner for us so that we can enjoy the night together in our cozy apartment with our little fur monster (Marley, duh!).
So now I'm kind of scrambling around for ideas for what to cook tomorrow night. Luckily I have the night to go grocery shopping and to come up with something delicious. If you're like me and you're planning on making something for an intimate Valentine's Day for two, I found some cute ideas.
This website gives you a pretty simple, but cute, three course meal complete with a delicious dessert. Definitely a good idea for anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to plan and cook an extravagant meal.
You can find the recipe for these yummy looking Valentine's Day Mini Cheesecakes along with a bunch of other Valentine's Day treats DIY projects.
Don't have time to go out and buy a last minute card? Make one by printing out this Valentine's Day print. You can use this print for several Valentine's Day crafts as it shows you on this website!
Do you want to serve a Valentine's themed cocktail with the dinner you're making tomorrow night? This drink featured on The Daily Dish's blog looks (and probably tastes) awesome! It's a pomegranate champagne punch. I'm definitely thinking about debuting this little number tomorrow night for our Dinner!
Wanna be really sweet (and really embarrassing) and make your sweetie a Valentine's themed lunch? Here's 10 ideas for Valentine's Day lunches. We all know I won't be doing this since I can't wake up early to save my life, plus I don't often feel like being nice for the first couple of hours that I am awake in the morning. Sorry Vinnie.
And if it comes down to it and you don't feel like doing a damn thing for Valentine's Day (AKA you're single or not able to be with your significant other and you feel like stuffing your face with ice cream and crying for a couple of hours) just watch this movie. Also, remember that tomorrow night is the one night that you should be allowed to make your boyfriend/fiance/husband watch a sappy, girly movie. It's Valentine's Day, he can't say no (but he'll probably try).
Alright and now I'm feeling all kinds of inspiration to make tomorrow a lovely day for my special Valentine :)
But enough of the mushiness. By the way, I haven't always loved Valentine's Day. One year it ended up being a really terrible day for this girl. My freshman year of high school. My first boyfriend I ever had (also my first kiss and the first guy I thought I loved, emphasis on thought) broke up with me on Valentine's Day. I got a dozen roses from him delivered to my house (first time I ever received roses) and then he called me 2 hours later and broke up with me. Talk about a mind fuck. Don't worry, we got back together a couple of weeks later when he was another girl's date to the MORP (prom backwards) dance. Oh yea, he left that girl for me mid-dance. And then obviously we proceeded to break up and then get back together for the next 4 years.
Welp, you have it all in this post. A little mushy love stuff, some last minute Valentine ideas, and a little bad Valentine's Day story. You're welcome!
XO. Tarah
Monday, February 11, 2013
Why Aren't Weekends Longer?!
How is it already Monday? Seriously, I feel like yesterday was just Friday. I know I always say that the weekend flies by (doesn't everyone say this?) but this weekend literally feels like it didn't even exist! Why aren't weekends longer?! The answer to this question is the same as the answer to the age-old "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" question:
How many people now have that terrible Lil Kim song stuck in their head? Just me? Ok, cool.
Well, like most of my weekends, this weekend was pretty lame. I worked Friday night, slept in Saturday morning, skipped going to the gym and chose to sit on the couch and watch movies with my roomie all day Saturday, and then worked Saturday night.
Sunday I got up and decided to be productive. After some breakfast and coffee, I went to the gym and did an intense elliptical workout, lifted some free weights, did some squats, and some abs. Today my thighs and butt are screaming at me, but it's a good screaming. I then made a quick Target trip and was very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and not breaking the 'No Spend February' rule I've created for myself. I even made myself put back the pair of yoga pants I had picked up and put in the cart. Good job Tarah. Of course I still ended up spending an assload of money on cutsie Valentine's Day stuff but none of it was for me. It was all for Vinnie, my roommate, and Marley of course. And of course I forgot to buy dog food for Marley, which is one of the main reasons I went there in the first place.
When I got home I decided to continue with my productive day by doing some laundry and making the Peanut Butter Chip Heart Cookies that I just talked about here on Friday.
I have to admit, they turned out quite well and taste so so good!
When Vinnie got home from work we both showered and got ready and went out for a...wait for it...DATE NIGHT! We haven't had a date night in like a zillion years so I was super excited. We went to a place called Copper House because it was close to home and they have TVs so we knew they would be playing the Blackhawks game. We didn't know that it would be completely dead (4 other customers in the whole place) and that they would be playing some weird ass old school (I'm talking terrible acting, black and white old) movie on one of their TVs. The movie was called "Carnival of Souls" and it had to be made in 1950. Of course they decided to play the sound to this movie instead of the sound to the Blackhawks game so we were terribly distracted. But they were really nice and they food and beers we had ended up being pretty delicious also. Our waitress even gave us a couple of tasty shots before we left. I think she started to feel bad because it was clear that we were trying to watch the game and pretty strange that they were playing a 1950's horror movie.
When we got home we took the blankets that I had just washed out of the dryer, made a couple of Crown Royal Maple/cokes (have you tried crown royal maple? so effing good), and watched some tv with Marley.
I love this dog but literally 10 minutes after I took this adorable picture, he jumped down because he wanted to play and then realized we weren't going to play with him so he shot back up onto me, spilling my drink all over my white sweater and all over the fresh, clean blankets that I had just pulled out of the dryer. I was pissed, to say the least. He made up for it when we all went to bed and he cuddled up with us.
And now it's Monday, I'm falling asleep at my desk (typical), and I've blabbed on for far too long.
Hope you all have a wonderful week with fresh, clean blankets that don't smell like maple syrup and coke!
XO. Tarah
How many people now have that terrible Lil Kim song stuck in their head? Just me? Ok, cool.
Well, like most of my weekends, this weekend was pretty lame. I worked Friday night, slept in Saturday morning, skipped going to the gym and chose to sit on the couch and watch movies with my roomie all day Saturday, and then worked Saturday night.
Sunday I got up and decided to be productive. After some breakfast and coffee, I went to the gym and did an intense elliptical workout, lifted some free weights, did some squats, and some abs. Today my thighs and butt are screaming at me, but it's a good screaming. I then made a quick Target trip and was very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and not breaking the 'No Spend February' rule I've created for myself. I even made myself put back the pair of yoga pants I had picked up and put in the cart. Good job Tarah. Of course I still ended up spending an assload of money on cutsie Valentine's Day stuff but none of it was for me. It was all for Vinnie, my roommate, and Marley of course. And of course I forgot to buy dog food for Marley, which is one of the main reasons I went there in the first place.
When I got home I decided to continue with my productive day by doing some laundry and making the Peanut Butter Chip Heart Cookies that I just talked about here on Friday.
I have to admit, they turned out quite well and taste so so good!
When Vinnie got home from work we both showered and got ready and went out for a...wait for it...DATE NIGHT! We haven't had a date night in like a zillion years so I was super excited. We went to a place called Copper House because it was close to home and they have TVs so we knew they would be playing the Blackhawks game. We didn't know that it would be completely dead (4 other customers in the whole place) and that they would be playing some weird ass old school (I'm talking terrible acting, black and white old) movie on one of their TVs. The movie was called "Carnival of Souls" and it had to be made in 1950. Of course they decided to play the sound to this movie instead of the sound to the Blackhawks game so we were terribly distracted. But they were really nice and they food and beers we had ended up being pretty delicious also. Our waitress even gave us a couple of tasty shots before we left. I think she started to feel bad because it was clear that we were trying to watch the game and pretty strange that they were playing a 1950's horror movie.
When we got home we took the blankets that I had just washed out of the dryer, made a couple of Crown Royal Maple/cokes (have you tried crown royal maple? so effing good), and watched some tv with Marley.
I love this dog but literally 10 minutes after I took this adorable picture, he jumped down because he wanted to play and then realized we weren't going to play with him so he shot back up onto me, spilling my drink all over my white sweater and all over the fresh, clean blankets that I had just pulled out of the dryer. I was pissed, to say the least. He made up for it when we all went to bed and he cuddled up with us.
And now it's Monday, I'm falling asleep at my desk (typical), and I've blabbed on for far too long.
Hope you all have a wonderful week with fresh, clean blankets that don't smell like maple syrup and coke!
XO. Tarah
Friday, February 8, 2013
Friday's Letters!!!
Happy Friday! We're mere hours away from the weekend! Ya wanna know what I'm most excited about for this weekend??? Sleeping in! My exhaustion level is through the roof right now!
Now it's time for some Friday Letters!
Dear Snow: STOP ALREADY! It snowed over 9 inches in some parts of Chicago yesterday and last night. I hate the snow and it just won't stop! It's supposed to keep snowing throughout the day today! It's cold, it's slippery, it makes traffic a biatch to drive in, and did I mention it's cold?!
*these pictures were taken from the Chicago Tribune
Dear work: please go by really fast today and tonight. Closing the restaurant tonight is going to be really rough. it's a good thing I brought a redbull for my afternoon snack today!
Dear Marley: Can you get any cuter!? Seriously, I love coming home and snuggling up with you. Thank you for being such a happy, cuddly dog. That smile of yours makes my heart melt (yes, my dog does smile).
Dear Express: Why do you tempt me so bad! I'm trying to participate in 'No Spend February' by not spending any money on ANYTHING that is not necessary (aka food, soap, toothpaste) but with the Express texts and the e-mails I receive from you everyday with awesome coupons and deals, it is very hard to stay away from your website. FYI it is now February 8 and I am going strong still.
Dear Chicago Runners: It's February, it's freezing, and there's a blizzard outside. Go find an effing treadmill to run on and stay out of the crazy Chicago weather before you either catch pneumonia/get frost bitten or slip on the icy pavement and crack your head open. Running on a treadmill might not be the same as running outside but it is not worth dying over people!
On that note, Dear motivation to go to the gym: Hello? Are you out there? I haven't been to the gym once this week (mostly because I think that when it's snowy and cold you are actually required to spend as much time laying on your couch with your blanket, dog, and hot chocolate). I'm expecting you to be here tomorrow morning so we can end this 'No Gym Time' streak!
Dear Vinnie: You are amazing, funny, smart, and extremely handsome and I am fall more and more in love with you every single day. I am so blessed to fall asleep in your arms every night. I am also very happy to hear that you will be off of work early on Valentine's Day so we can at least plan a little something special for that night. Thank you for always being by my side, even on my grumpy girl days. I love you more than anything in the world!
Dear Ice Cream: I love you, you delicious little piece of heaven. I don't care how cold it is outside, I will always eat you (even if I have to do so with gloves and a scarf on). Last night I enjoyed a lovely combination of ice cream, Pretty Little Liars, and a whiny little Marley who wanted to enjoy you just as much as I did. Sorry puppy!
Dear Valentine's Day: I don't care if you're a Halmark Holiday. I still love this day that is devoted to love. I do agree that we should show love every day but it's nice to have one day where you can really take the time to appreciate that special love in your life. Although I don't expect anything from my love for this holiday, I am going to enjoy giving him the gifts I bought for him! Also, I just love hearts. Heart jewelery, heart decorations, heart shaped treats...love them all!
That's all for today! I know I will definitely be spending this weekend and next week making Valentine's treats, crafts, and cards!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! And if you live on the northeast coast...hope you survive the 2 feet of snow that the weather forecast is calling for! Suddenly 9 inches doesn't seem so bad!
XO. Tarah
Now it's time for some Friday Letters!
Dear Snow: STOP ALREADY! It snowed over 9 inches in some parts of Chicago yesterday and last night. I hate the snow and it just won't stop! It's supposed to keep snowing throughout the day today! It's cold, it's slippery, it makes traffic a biatch to drive in, and did I mention it's cold?!
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| Pretty much what my drive home looked like last night. |
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| And what my street looked like this morning. |
Dear work: please go by really fast today and tonight. Closing the restaurant tonight is going to be really rough. it's a good thing I brought a redbull for my afternoon snack today!
Dear Marley: Can you get any cuter!? Seriously, I love coming home and snuggling up with you. Thank you for being such a happy, cuddly dog. That smile of yours makes my heart melt (yes, my dog does smile).
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| Snapped this pic before I left for work. Lucky dog gets to stay in bed while Vinnie and I get up early and go to work! |
Dear Chicago Runners: It's February, it's freezing, and there's a blizzard outside. Go find an effing treadmill to run on and stay out of the crazy Chicago weather before you either catch pneumonia/get frost bitten or slip on the icy pavement and crack your head open. Running on a treadmill might not be the same as running outside but it is not worth dying over people!
 |
| From the Chicago Tribune |
On that note, Dear motivation to go to the gym: Hello? Are you out there? I haven't been to the gym once this week (mostly because I think that when it's snowy and cold you are actually required to spend as much time laying on your couch with your blanket, dog, and hot chocolate). I'm expecting you to be here tomorrow morning so we can end this 'No Gym Time' streak!
Dear Vinnie: You are amazing, funny, smart, and extremely handsome and I am fall more and more in love with you every single day. I am so blessed to fall asleep in your arms every night. I am also very happy to hear that you will be off of work early on Valentine's Day so we can at least plan a little something special for that night. Thank you for always being by my side, even on my grumpy girl days. I love you more than anything in the world!
Dear Ice Cream: I love you, you delicious little piece of heaven. I don't care how cold it is outside, I will always eat you (even if I have to do so with gloves and a scarf on). Last night I enjoyed a lovely combination of ice cream, Pretty Little Liars, and a whiny little Marley who wanted to enjoy you just as much as I did. Sorry puppy!
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| If you haven't had this gelato yet, go get some...NOW! |
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| Recipe on Erin @ Living in Yellow's blog today! |
That's all for today! I know I will definitely be spending this weekend and next week making Valentine's treats, crafts, and cards!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! And if you live on the northeast coast...hope you survive the 2 feet of snow that the weather forecast is calling for! Suddenly 9 inches doesn't seem so bad!
XO. Tarah
Thursday, February 7, 2013
SPD: Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
First and foremost, who's glad that it's Thursday? I know I am! I've been sleeping like crap but all I want to do is sleep because the weather is so gross in Chicago right now.
I'm definitely looking forward to having the weekend to cuddle up in my warm, cozy instead of being woken up by an alarm at 6 am!
Now, on to more important things! I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I had made Hawaiian BBQ Chicken in my crock pot and how delicious it was. I also mentioned how I was going to give the super easy recipe later in that week. Welp, somebody never remembered to do that. So, today I am linking up with Steph and Katie for the 'Saw it. Pinned it. Did it.'
*Sometimes I also throw in a chopped up green pepper and chopped onion . . . it tastes good with or without it.
Seriously, this is so easy. Only 3 ingredients, thrown in the crockpot for a few hours and *poof* you have a delicious meal. It's almost magical (hence the *poof*). It's even easier than making Mac and Cheese.
So there you have it. Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ chicken...easy and delicious. The next time you're at Target (which if you're like me will be today after work) pick up a bottle of Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce so that the next time you're feeling lazy you can throw these ingredients in the crockpot and prepare for your mouth to water as you smell it start to cook.
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| Cold, snowy, gloomy walk to work everyday. |
Now, on to more important things! I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I had made Hawaiian BBQ Chicken in my crock pot and how delicious it was. I also mentioned how I was going to give the super easy recipe later in that week. Welp, somebody never remembered to do that. So, today I am linking up with Steph and Katie for the 'Saw it. Pinned it. Did it.'
Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
 |
| Original Pin |
Ingredients:
4-6 Boneless Chicken Breasts (mine were still frozen!)
1 Bottle Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce (from Target)
1 20 oz. can Pineapple Chunks, drained
Directions:
Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray for an easy
cleanup! Place frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot and cover with
sauce. Empty can of drained pineapple chunks on top. Cook on High for
2-3 hours or Low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks while
still in the crock pot so the chicken will be well coated with sauce.
Serve over rice.*Sometimes I also throw in a chopped up green pepper and chopped onion . . . it tastes good with or without it.
Seriously, this is so easy. Only 3 ingredients, thrown in the crockpot for a few hours and *poof* you have a delicious meal. It's almost magical (hence the *poof*). It's even easier than making Mac and Cheese.
So there you have it. Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ chicken...easy and delicious. The next time you're at Target (which if you're like me will be today after work) pick up a bottle of Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce so that the next time you're feeling lazy you can throw these ingredients in the crockpot and prepare for your mouth to water as you smell it start to cook.
What would we do without Pinterest? I know I would be eating a lot more macaroni and cheese...
XO. Tarah
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I'm Going to be a Bridesmaid!
Hi hi! Happy Wednesday. This week is actually going pretty quickly for me. I feel like I've been going non-stop though so I'm pretty excited to have a lazy night at home with Marley tonight. I'm still deciding whether or not I'm even going to make it to the gym tonight after work. Looks like I need to get on pinterest for a little inspiration!
Last night when we got home from looking at 2 awful, AWFUL, apartments I checked the mail and, much to my surprise, I got something that actually wasn't a bill or some sort of junk mail. I got a nice little card from my dear friend, Maggie, asking me to be her bridesmaid in her wedding in August. Maggie was my college roommate and became one of my best friends after that first year we shared together. She was also, definitely, the best roomie I ever had!
This picture was taken on the night that Maggie and her fiance, Brian, got engaged in December. Brian proposed to her in Chicago at the Millenium Park ice skating rink. Her childhood friend and husband are on the left, Maggie and Brian are in the middle, and obviously I am on the right. This was at the restaurant where we celebrated after they got engaged. I feel like I have to add, Vinnie had to work so he showed up later and is not pictured here.
So, obviously, I accepted her proposal to be a bridesmaid. Today I started looking back through pictures (on facebook of course) of the two of us and it made me miss, not only her, but those wild, carefree days that we spent together. We met at a restaurant that we both worked at closer to my hometown. We both started working there when we were 20 years old and instantly became friends. We soon found out that we were both attending Illinois State University and I needed a place to live. It ended up working out perfectly because the 2 girls that currently lived with Maggie at the time, were moving out the next year. I saw the place, signed a lease, and moved in a few months later.
Here is a look through our friendship via pictures:
Maggie was with me to celebrate my 22nd birthday, which ended up being the craziest (yes, crazier than my 21st) birthday I've ever had. I definitely will not ever forget that birthday.
When we were in college, Maggie and I used to go to a bar called 'Medici' every single Wednesday night. Wednesday was a huge night to go out at our college because the bars in uptown Normal had great specials for poor college kids. It was called Whiskey Wednesday if that gives you an idea of the shenanigans we got ourselves into back in the day. We ended up becoming friends with a couple of the bartenders there who ended up never charging us for anything we ordered. Of course we always gave them a nice, healthy tip at the end of the night (money people, get your mind out of the gutter, we're not those types of girls!). We lived for Wednesday nights, since we both worked at restaurants on the weekends this was a big 'going out' night for us!
'Mike and Joe' was a band that played every few weeks at a bar called 'Daddio's' in downtown Bloomington. We fell in love with their music and their band members and used to go to their shows every time they were in town. Oh the good ol' groupie days.
We both love making fun of other people.
We both have a huge sweet tooth and would do anything for cheesecake!
Katie (pictured below) is another close friend of ours whom we met working at that first restaurant together. The 3 of us have stayed friends through the years and she is going to be a bridesmaid for Maggie too!
We weren't that good of friends at the time that I moved in, but neither of us could have ever imagined how close we would become that year. I think we both met each other at a critical time in our lives. We both needed each others friendship more than we even knew. I am so thankful and glad that I met Maggie and became such great friends with her. She still lives close to where we both grew up, which is a few hours away from Chicago, and we don't get to see each other as often as we would like but we try to stay in touch as much as possible. I'm so happy that Maggie met the love of her life and I can't wait to be by her side on the most important day of her life, her wedding day.
What a wonderful trip down memory lane!
Today I'm linking up with Shanna for 'Random Wednesday'.
XO. Tarah
Last night when we got home from looking at 2 awful, AWFUL, apartments I checked the mail and, much to my surprise, I got something that actually wasn't a bill or some sort of junk mail. I got a nice little card from my dear friend, Maggie, asking me to be her bridesmaid in her wedding in August. Maggie was my college roommate and became one of my best friends after that first year we shared together. She was also, definitely, the best roomie I ever had!
This picture was taken on the night that Maggie and her fiance, Brian, got engaged in December. Brian proposed to her in Chicago at the Millenium Park ice skating rink. Her childhood friend and husband are on the left, Maggie and Brian are in the middle, and obviously I am on the right. This was at the restaurant where we celebrated after they got engaged. I feel like I have to add, Vinnie had to work so he showed up later and is not pictured here.
So, obviously, I accepted her proposal to be a bridesmaid. Today I started looking back through pictures (on facebook of course) of the two of us and it made me miss, not only her, but those wild, carefree days that we spent together. We met at a restaurant that we both worked at closer to my hometown. We both started working there when we were 20 years old and instantly became friends. We soon found out that we were both attending Illinois State University and I needed a place to live. It ended up working out perfectly because the 2 girls that currently lived with Maggie at the time, were moving out the next year. I saw the place, signed a lease, and moved in a few months later.
Here is a look through our friendship via pictures:
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| At a mutual friend's wedding in October 2009 |
Maggie was with me to celebrate my 22nd birthday, which ended up being the craziest (yes, crazier than my 21st) birthday I've ever had. I definitely will not ever forget that birthday.
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| Walking to a bar on my 22nd b-day |
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| We both had the snarl lip thing going on pretty well. |
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| We took pretty pictures after drinking for hours. |
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| You couldn't catch me without a drink in my hand on Wednesdays. |
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| With our favorite bartender. We obviously both decided to cut our hair off at somepoint during college. |
'Mike and Joe' was a band that played every few weeks at a bar called 'Daddio's' in downtown Bloomington. We fell in love with their music and their band members and used to go to their shows every time they were in town. Oh the good ol' groupie days.
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| Watching our favorite band, Mike and Joe! |
We both love making fun of other people.
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| At a mutual friend's wedding in Summer 2010 |
We both have a huge sweet tooth and would do anything for cheesecake!
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| Maggie's 23rd birthday |
Katie (pictured below) is another close friend of ours whom we met working at that first restaurant together. The 3 of us have stayed friends through the years and she is going to be a bridesmaid for Maggie too!
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| We all reunited last year! |
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| Maggie came to Chicago to celebrate St. Patty's day last year! |
We weren't that good of friends at the time that I moved in, but neither of us could have ever imagined how close we would become that year. I think we both met each other at a critical time in our lives. We both needed each others friendship more than we even knew. I am so thankful and glad that I met Maggie and became such great friends with her. She still lives close to where we both grew up, which is a few hours away from Chicago, and we don't get to see each other as often as we would like but we try to stay in touch as much as possible. I'm so happy that Maggie met the love of her life and I can't wait to be by her side on the most important day of her life, her wedding day.
What a wonderful trip down memory lane!
Today I'm linking up with Shanna for 'Random Wednesday'.
XO. Tarah
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Animals Have Souls
I'm so glad it's Tuesday! I hate Mondays but yesterday was terrible. Just a bad day.
I can't get out of the funk that I'm currently in. And I hate it.
You know what helps though? 14 Stories that Prove Animals Have Souls.
Seriously, if you love animals as much as I do you will cry about this. It's adorable and it proves to be that Marley really does understand me.
I'd be lost without this little cuddle monster!
Tonight we are looking at apartments after work. Our lease is up in April and we were planning on moving out for sure. Now that my room mate is definitely moving out in April we have thought about staying because we do really love our apartment and so does Marley. It's just a little too far away from the city. Vinnie and I both work in the city so it would be nice to be a little closer to the city and the exciting night life. But we'll see what happens.
Now that it's been proven that animals have souls, I'm gonna go on a little soul searching myself.
Toodles.
XO. Tarah
I can't get out of the funk that I'm currently in. And I hate it.
You know what helps though? 14 Stories that Prove Animals Have Souls.
Seriously, if you love animals as much as I do you will cry about this. It's adorable and it proves to be that Marley really does understand me.
I'd be lost without this little cuddle monster!
Tonight we are looking at apartments after work. Our lease is up in April and we were planning on moving out for sure. Now that my room mate is definitely moving out in April we have thought about staying because we do really love our apartment and so does Marley. It's just a little too far away from the city. Vinnie and I both work in the city so it would be nice to be a little closer to the city and the exciting night life. But we'll see what happens.
Now that it's been proven that animals have souls, I'm gonna go on a little soul searching myself.
Toodles.
XO. Tarah
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