nashville

via andersondesigngroup

Ebert and I are headin' to Nashville for the weekend. We'll be visiting some friends who recently moved there from LA. It's great having friends from our LA days, which seems like a lifetime ago, on the same side of the country as we are. We're hoping the drive is easy so we can visit them often. They just had a baby too, so we're super excited to meet their little guy. This will be my first time in Nashville. Any suggestions on things to do and places to eat?

Checking one more thing off the list. Summer…you're absolutely the best!

not someday

via triptrotting

I don't know about you but I'm going to create my happy today. It's a perfect spring day in Chicago- the sun is shining and the weather is relatively warm, or at least it's getting warmer. There are so many possibilities for fun and adventure this weekend. I hope you can get outside and enjoy!

clap your hands

Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band via sideonedummyrecords

It's a dreary, rainy Monday here in Chicago and I don't know about you but I need a reason to clap my hands today- feeling a little on the low side is not how I want to start my week.

If you need a jumpstart to your week too then watch this video from The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, I guarantee you'll be clapping your hands and stomping your feet in no time. Ebert and I went to their show this weekend and it was awesome!

Let's turn today into a Happy Monday!

sunday brunch

Last Sunday we went to brunch at Monkey's Paw with family. Brunch time is probably one of my favorite times. It's that feeling of time slowing down, of not having to rush off to something, of the whole day being ahead of you to create your happy or doing nothing at all- which is sometimes pure happiness too. It's a time when you can savor every bite and every moment.

The food was a bit heavier than what I typically like for brunch. This meal stuck with us for the entire day but all that rich, cheesy goodness was delicious. The bloody mary had a nice, spicy kick to it but this one will always be my favorite. We'll definitely go back especially during the summer when they open their patio doors and you can just sit for hours enjoying the warm sunshine...that sounds perfect right about now.

groundhog day party

{all images via create.your.happy}

"Well, it's Groundhog Day again..." just like it is every February 2 and since this year it fell on a Saturday and was the 20th Anniversary of the movie Ebert and I decided to host a Groundhog Day party. We also wanted to celebrate Ebert becoming a craftsman, although we didn't find out until the day before the party if he passed his apprenticeship. Good thing he passed (yay!) so there was lots of celebratory drinking!

The week leading up to the party was crazy busy so I didn't get as much pre-party stuff done as I would have liked. Needless to say on Groundhog Day Ebert and I had so much to do that when the first guests arrived at 5:59pm we were not ready.

We had a DIY chili bar with a "groundhog" meat chili and a vegetarian chili. We had an assortment of different chili toppings, as well as tater tots and noodles and fritos for the chili to go on top of. We made a "Gobbler's Knob" cheese ball and a gluten-free carrot cake served with rocky road ice cream. Friends brought cornbread, wasabi coleslaw, chicken wing dip and chocolate rice krispie treats. And, of course, to drink we had "Sweet Vermouth on the Rocks with a Twist" which is surprisingly good.

We played Groundhog Day trivia and the winning team got a copy of the movie.

Here's where I gathered my inspiration:

diy chili bar from celebrations at home

lily jane stationary's groundhog cake topper

groundhog day banner

green party template for the banner and food signs from birds party

As you know I love theme parties (as seen here and here) and this one was particularly fun to plan. I think we should do it again and again and again...

be...

via comebacktome

What a great quote for a Friday. Now go kick some ass this weekend!

happy long weekend!

via loveandlemons

Here's to the last few days of summer and to a glorious long weekend. I'll be enjoying the flavors of summer with some baking and cooking along with a busy weekend of rehearsals, creating my happy, and spending time with family and friends! Why can't three-day weekends be every weekend?

What exciting plans do you have this weekend? Will you be watching the blue moon tonight?

happy monday!

cocktails

chips & salsas

tacos

avocado ice cream

Dining at de cero with my husband makes me happy! Especially on a Friday night after a long work week. It was a great way to start the weekend. And a big thank you to my cousin's for the gift certificate- it was a great birthday present and I'm glad we finally used it!

solo

via thatinspirationalgirl

I have the apartment to myself this weekend. It sure is quiet. Ebert went up to Wisconsin to go camping with his family and I decided to stay behind. I'm going to miss him- I've already told him like a hundred times that I miss him already. But I really wanted (needed) to take some time just for me. It's going to be good!

Happy Weekend!

the cobb salad

via create.your.happy

This is how Ebert and I started the long weekend...with a homemade cobb salad and a bottle of rose. It was the perfect combination for a warm May evening, a perfect way to welcome summer.

And, in case you're wondering, here's one story on how the cobb salad came to be. I love that it was created at the Brown Derby. One of my favorite 'I Love Lucy' episodes takes place at the Brown Derby with William Holden ordering a cobb salad. It is so funny. My side hurts every time I watch it.

a long weekend

via greenlikebathwater

Hello friends! It's been awhile and I am in much need of a long weekend. I wish my weekend was going to be spent on a porch like this enjoying the outdoors, being away from it all but I think I'll only be able to visit this place in my dreams. That's ok because in dreams is where the magic is born. I'm looking forward to what these next few days will bring...I'm taking a class, I'm going to bake a delicious dessert, and I must absolutely, no matter what, see this movie...or maybe this movie.

Whatever plans you have for this weekend I hope you are creating your happy.

let's start this s%#@ up!

ze frank via kottke

This video has been my motivation this weekend! I'm chasing my wild dog down and not giving into my cheese monster.

happy weekend!

via ignitelight

It's the weekend...yippee! It's a beautiful spring day in the city. A perfect day for creating your happy! Do what you can, even if you just do one thing that makes your heart sing- that's a start, a really good start.

weekend fun

via create.your.happy

This was our weekend...the city was our backdrop. We spent time with family and friends, made homemade pizza, drank wine from our favorite vineyard, slept in and went on a couple bike rides. There was no green beer or crazy antics just some rejuvenating relaxation for the busy week ahead. Oh geez, we must be getting old!

pancakes

via browndresswithwhitedots

via katiequinndavies

via sproutedkitchen

via bippityboppityboo

via honeyandjam

Thank goodness it's almost the weekend when I can finally celebrate National Pancake Week properly. My Saturday morning is going to be fully dedicated to pancake making....short stacks, full stacks, drizzles of maple syrup. Oh, it will be delicious!

downton abbey

via chadthomas

If I had known about these Valentine's Day cards you can be sure that I would have given one to my sweetheart. Maybe I'll surprise him with one anyway since it's never too late to tell the one you love that you love them. I know he would appreciate it, he's just as big of a fan of Downton Abbey as I am. We've spent the last couple of weeks catching up on the past episodes so tonight will be our first time watching the most recent episode on television and not the computer. Needless to say we're very excited about this! Lots of cuddling time over the weekend makes for a great weekend.

saturday mornings

via designismine

This is how our Saturday morning looked....sortof. If we had a dog I bet this is how it would look. And I think Ebert would look just as good as Paul, if not better, in tube socks and shorts. Even if it wasn't quite like our morning it looks like love and that makes me happy.

sunday mornings

via create.your.happy

Sunday mornings make me happy. Everything seems to linger on a Sunday morning - the last sip of coffee at the bottom of my cup, the aroma of breakfast, the rays of the sun brightening one end of the apartment to the other. I love this feeling that Sunday mornings bring....that everything has slowed down for a moment.

Now if only there was one more day in the weekend.

steal

via austinkleon

There's been some creating going on this weekend. Ideas are flowing. It's a slow start....baby steps. But I feel the momentum. It's thrilling!

fall fun

{all images via create.your.happy}

I went to the Lincoln Square Apple Fest yesterday afternoon. It was my first official fall fun activity and it really got me excited about the change of seasons. I'm now looking forward to the crisp, cool air (although it's raining today and I am not excited about that), the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg, and the wearing of scarves and boots. I was very tempted to take home that big skillet of homemade apple pie, but I decided that a bag of apples would be a better choice - I am now rethinking that decision. I love just walking through the crowds of people as I make my way to each vendor's tent to admire their artfully organized displays. There was something peaceful about watching people stand in line for a cup of apple cider, couples sharing an apple pizza, and parents helping their kids pick out the best little pumpkin. Maybe it was just all the smiles and laughter that filled the square, but whatever it was it was apple-tastic!

Here are some other fall fun activities I'm looking forward to -

Oktoberfest at St. Alphonsus

pumpkin donuts in a pumpkin patch at Pumpkinfest

apple picking and cider donuts at Kuipers Family Farm

autumn beer tasting in the garden

There will also be lots of new recipes to try this fall. I actually kind of missed cooking and baking this summer.

What are some of your fall fun plans?