Why I Love My Parents’ Love…

I love that my parents’ love is unassuming, like a John Prine song. It is soft and simple and real. Their love has no façade built by money or objects or worldly possessions or anything that cannot be expressed in the form of a deep kiss and tight hand squeeze. I love that they still find pleasure in taking a trip together to the gas station to fill up the car on a Tuesday night. I love that my mom knew she wanted to marry my dad the first minute she saw him from across the room.

I love that my dad promised my mom he would show her the world and that today they sit in a small café in Paris drinking champagne for lunch. I love that my mom wanted to see the world with my dad, not so she could spend his money on fancy Italian clothes, but because she wanted to bike with him through the French Alps and visit the heritage that built our family.

I love that my dad will look at my mom on any given Saturday morning and tell us kids how funny he thinks she is. I love that my parents kiss randomly, just because. I love that my mom still writes my dad silly “I love you” notes and wants to rub his old, swollen feet while he watches hockey. I love that my parents dance, not just slowly and sweetly, but fast and drunkenly. I love that my parents laugh together.

I love that my mom started taking golf lessons so she could spend more time with my dad, doing something that he loved. I love that my dad bought my mom a paper shredder for Mother’s Day six years ago and that she still loves him.

I love that my parents beat the odds, not because they were lucky but because they work hard. They fight and the fights are not always pretty or fair or based on the most reasonable argument, but the make-ups and “I’m sorrys” are. My parents committed to a life together twenty-five years ago today. They said vows and I love you and I do and never strayed from those words, those promises. I love that I walked to work this morning with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face thinking about them and that people looked at me with pity when really, I am one of the luckiest girls in this entire world. I’ve seen real love. I’ve seen real love be tested and grown and shaped by the commitment of two amazing people. I’ve seen a love so real and intoxicating that now I know I will never settle for a love that isn’t as unassuming and perfectly simple as the love of my parents. And those people, my mom and my dad, in their oneness as a couple, are what I love most of all.

Happy 25^th Anniversary, Mom and Dad. I love you each and I love you as a whole.

Infinite x’s and o’s

Early Mornings…

…require early morning playlists

Happy Humpday

Infinite x’s and o’s

Chicago Week One

Ahhhh, do you hate me?!

Finals, packing…..Chicago. All in ONE month! Don’t hate me. I’m back, who knows how often or for what reasons, but as of now, Miss Emelia has returned….and with pictures no less

1. When one lives in a studio with limited funds, one must learn to improvise. Champagne is drunken and bottle is reused. Bravo.

2. Sea & city all in one gorgeous, rooftop view. I may never make it the office with a scenery like this.

3. I get regular updates about Figaro. Still a diva. Still miss him.

4. First Cubs game of the glorious summer that is 2012. And yes, I put ketchup on my Chicago Dog. Sometimes, you just gotta learn the hard way.

5. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring my jewelry armoire to Chicago, for packing purposes and cozy living circumstances. Fortunately, a dash of Pinterest inspiration helped me create jewelry organization that is both fun and functional. You never disappoint, Pinterest.

6. Oh. These candles. Mmmm, these candles, these candles. Heaven sent Earth the most divine gift. THE most intoxicating scent. Tamarind Leaf & Lime from the Artisan Collection at Target. I have a leaf- and lime-induced, cheshire grin on my face. Take one whiff, you will too.

Before I sign off, I want to tell you my summer plan. Maybe not exactly….

You see, I’m not sure what my summer entails professionally, socially, personally, etc etc etc. But for my blog, I am least sure of all.

I don’t have my mom’s fancy camera or my mastermind Kitchenaid mixer. I don’t have my entire wardrobe or the funds to buy an entirely new one. BUT, I do have an amazing city, filled with wonderful people, streets upon streets of restaurants, new stories, new discoveries, new adventure. Bear with me. I’ll share with you what I learn about myself, this world, and this lovely city called Chicago. Not my ordinary routine, but sometimes a change of pace is good. This summer will be no exception. I’ll be in touch

Infinite x’s and o’s

Five Friday Finds

{left to right}

1. I love a clean, crisp, big bun. It is a statement in itself. The Beauty Department offers a tutorial video so that even the most hair-impaired of ladies, like me, can learn how to rock the ballerina bun.

2. Everything these days seems to have an app. Apps that teach you how to kiss, apps that help you quite smoking, apps that let you tip over cows….everything. So it should be no surprise that there is a buffet of apps for brides and wedding planners alike. There may be many-an-apps, but one app deserves a little extra attention. Appy Couple has put the entire wedding experience into a single app. Guests can receive wedding invites, learn about how the couple met, share wedding pictures, and follow the wedding day itinerary, all from an iPhone, iPad, and/or Android.

3. Fash Boulevard is fash fabulous.

4. I’ve never been a fan of lipstick. I admire ladies that wear it, I really do. But I’m a little bitter about the cosmetic, mostly because when I do choose to wear it, I look like a second grader who’s just downed a bottle of KoolAid. You know what I’m talking about, those smudgy red lips? Not too sexy. However, I finally found a dose of inspiration and motivation in this Lusty Lip Tutorial.

5. I’m a sucker for a good deal, which is why I am loving BleuDame. This online retailer closely resembles Forever 21 — cute, trendy pieces that fit a college girl’s budget. What’s not to love?

Smile loves, the weekend has arrived. Got any big plans? Let’s hear ‘em:)

Infinite x’s and o’s

Little Bits of Lately…

A little bit of lately, according to my iPhone…

1. Minnesota has been blessed with an absence of winter, which has allowed me some extra-sweet bonding time with my lawn chair and bikini.

2. Two doves on our porch early this morning. I can’t help but smile when I see this.

3. Breaking in the newest addition to my shoe collection.

4. Figaro is a diva.

5. Love that I get to see Minneapolis every day on campus.

6. Vanilla Lattes. Nuff said.

7. The cake I made for my little sisters golden birthday. Classic vanilla cake with classic buttercream frosting. She is wonderfully simple that way.

8. Our backyard is flourishing with greens. So happy to see a little color in the world again.

9. My baby sister at her birthday dinner. Full of smiles. What is not to love about 15?

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week. Smile, the weekend is near!

Infinite x’s and o’s

Five Friday Finds

{left to right}

1. Wood fire, artisan pizza that can only be found at a neighborhood restaurant. Translation: perfection. Pizzeria Lola is a newish restaurant in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Specialties range from the Lady ZaZa (topped with Korean sasuage, kimchi, and soy chili glaze) to the  Sunnyside (La Quercia Guanciale, pecorino, leeks, and two soft eggs), all served on the most divine crust ever made by human hands. I’m no Italian expert…yet, so I unfortunately cannot tell you what the origin, taste, and translation of La Quercia Guanciale is. BUT, I highly suggest you find out for yourself. Last night was my first time and I’m actually considering ordering it for lunch. I have no shame.

2. I want to be his mom. Okay, creepy and also slightly impossible. Maybe I’ll just stick to being his friend. Seriously, I want to be Caine’s best friend.

3. Mmmmm, caramel apples….or so you think. Number 14 = next year’s April Fool’s plan. I can hardly contain myself.

4. I want to marry Brian Atwood. I swear, it’s not even because he’s gorgeous or because he’s a Midwestern boy. It’s because he makes the most insanely ridiculous shoes in the world. I wouldn’t even ask for a ring on our wedding day. Sweetheart, all you need to do is put these shoes on my feet and I swear I will never look at another man again for as long as I live…that even includes Johnny Depp in Public Enemies. No need to hide my total obsession for a man that doesn’t even fancy women. Why is it that the best ones are always gay? PS, who’s Claudia and why was a shoes named after her before a shoe was named after me? That bishhh doesn’t know what’s coming.

5. Hello, remember that dessert holiday list I shared with you last week? Well, today is national Peach Cobbler day! Wohoooo. Here’s a lovely peach cobbler recipe for this festive occasion. Get after it kids.

Happy weekend to all my party people

Infinite x’s and o’s

Five Friday Finds

{left to right}

1. I was sitting on the couch this week and my mom threw the April Nordstrom catalogue in my lap, which is pretty much the same as someone putting a huge plate of steaming garlic mashed potatoes in front of me and then telling me I can’t eat them. Rude. Give me a few weeks my pretty little Stuart Weitzman Whiskerlos flats, momma will get you soon.

2. An entire list of National Dessert Days. Yes yes yes, holidays for desserts. Pure genius.

3. I’m probably the ten thousandth person to tell you to go to this site. I don’t care. #WhatShouldWeCallMe will make you laugh so hard that you cry. Scouts honor.

4. It’s Easter weekend, in case you were wondering. In case the hundreds upon hundreds of blog posts about cute Cadbury cupcakes and elaborate Easter egg centerpieces haven’t already alluded to this fact. But I’m not here to bore you, or to share with you another post about decorating Easter eggs that look like a flippin’ painting by Vincent van Gogh. No no, I’m here to show you this adorable bunny butt cake. My maturity is just shooting through the roof right now, no need to remind me.

5. These earrings would make any girl feel important. They reek of fabulousness. Seriously, I don’t even wear earrings, but I want to make these.

Happy Easter egg hunting my loves:)

Infinite x’s and o’s

Five Friday Finds

{left to right}

1. I am freakishly competitive, as in I don’t like sharing really good tips that I find, as in I want my resume to be better than your resume….ughhh, except I really do like you people. So I guess this one time I’ll share with you this website.  Loft Resumes provides different templates that will help you kick the 1990s out of your resume. It needs to happen. You’re welcome.

2. Alabama Shakes, you make me weak in the knees. Ummm, nope. No pun intended.

3. This, my dearies, is a Russian Spring Punch Cocktail. Russians and vodka is like Wisconsinites and cheese, so I will not question the utter genuisness of this drink. Plus, it has champagne. Plus plus, it is served in one goblet of a wine glass. Hello my pretty, I vant to drink youuuu.

4. Tell me you don’t want to live here. Yep, you’re lying again.

5. If I had 700 buckaroos, I would buy one ring for every letter of my name. I would then wear all of these rings at once. I’d be like a white, suburban Birdman.

Happy weekend my fluffer nuffers:)

Infinite x’s and o’s

Five Friday Finds

[left to right]

1. It was an itsy bitsy, miniature, polka-dot-filled manicure. So before we talk about this life-saving DIY polka-dotting tool, can we please acknowledge my mad rhyming skills? I know, they rock….allllmmmmost as much as this gem of a dotter.

2. Tis the season of spring. What do we do in spring? Do we plant flowers? No, my silly friends, we eat them. We eat them in lollipops.

3. So I have a new playlist on my iPod. It has two songs, these two songs. It has been on repeat since Monday. Yep, I have folkie problems.

4. Hello, do you like me? Because I like you and I think we’d maybe kinda make an AWESOME pair. Just an idea…take your time, think about it. My closet and I will be waiting.

5. I have a [[blog]] crush.

It is the first weekend of spring. Happy happy happy first weekend of spring my loves:)

Infinite x’s and o’s,

Five Friday Finds: St. Patty’s Edition

{left to right}

1. Please, please, please do not put on the ever-haunting shamrock t-shirt for tomorrow’s festivities. Yes, you can get saucy, but why not look sexy while you’re doing it?

2. St. Patty’s Day, a day to celebrate the centuries upon centuries of spirited drinking [[or so my generation thinks]]. A day to be started with this extra strong, Irish whiskey-infused cocktail.

3. What kind of St. Patty’s Day post would this be if I didn’t teach you how to Irish tap dance?

4. Irish Coffee Cupcakes. Just another way to incorporate alcohol into the day.

5. These shoes. These shoes. These shoes. If I have any Irish luck, these Charlotte Olympia Sandals will be in my closet by the time I wake up tomorrow.

Happy holiday to my Irish friends…and to the my-great-grandma-twice-removed-had-an-affair-with-a-man-that-claims-his-father-was-a-leprechaun folks as well. I know we all wish we could be Irish this weekend:)

Infinite x’s and o’s