Yesterday afternoon, Ryan and I were anticipating a good great news phone call. After talking about it for the millionth time, we decided to order deep dish and open a bottle of wine to kick off the across-the-miles celebration. I uncorked the bottle and went to ask Ryan what glasses he wanted me to use (like he seriously cared) when I saw my phone lit up with a missed call. I had that thing practically strapped to my body all day and the second I leave my post for a little wine…jeez.

It was the call we had been waiting for, sharing the news that my best friend is engaged to be married to the most wonderful man. There was crying and laughing, texted pictures of excited faces and a stunning piece of jewelry. More than that though was the exclamation that “I get to marry my person!”. All I have ever wanted is for my dear friend to find her person, someone to be in partnership and love with, a co-pilot of adventures and now that she has…well, that’s just really what it’s all about, right? Toasts and high-fives all around!

Meanwhile, this was happening outside. Worth pausing for, Ryan and I went out on the porch to snap this photo and just take in all of the beauty, the beauty happening outside our window and in our lives. This season is really what we’ve been waiting for; no, working for. And this amazing news from my amazing friend is just confirmation and makes me so excited for all that is ahead, for all of us. It’s a good season.

Holiday themed coozies, a (very chilly) run on the lake, a Spartan win, and a pair of heels I’ve been lusting over purchased, on sale. I don’t think there’s anything else to check off my Saturday list! Hope your days have been full of little joys as well- Happy Saturday!

How to roll a sleeve the J. Crew way:

Most people tuck the cuff of the sleeve in and roll that up, but the cuff is a fun detail on the outfit….so….take the cuff and bring it up to the elbow… THEN roll the remaining part of the sleeve up to the elbow. This way the cuff is always showing.

And to think that I’ve been rolling sleeves without a technique for years…

(Via eminnyc)

If I only do one thing before October 31, it must be to watch Hocus Pocus. When I was a young, I was ub-sessed with this movie. We own a well-worn VHS of it but I don’t own a video tape player anymore… It’s got to be on DVD, right?

Old person alert: it’s incredible, in only 20 years, we don’t even watch movies the same way! All of those tapes from my childhood stored at my mom’s, I have no way to view them. Most of my DVDs are pretty obsolete too as I watch a lot online, through our Apple TV. It’s pretty remarkable, really. Kids these days…

5 Fun Facts about Hocus Pocus.

A morning run in Michigan…I love me some skyscrapers with a side of Lake Michigan but there’s something to be said about running through crunchy leaves, 2 turkeys crossing your path and trees as far as the eye can see.

Ryan and I had a blast Friday night at Saks Fifth Avenue celebrating my absolute favorite organization: Bright Pink. This is the 3rd VIPink I have attended and to see it get bigger and better every year is amazing. Lindsay and her team raised over $30k at this fashion show, cocktail soirée, all going to breast and ovarian cancer awareness and support programs for young women.

11pm on Thursday night after dinner with the girls sounded like the perfect time to carve a pumpkin. Luckily this freestyle face turned out (mostly) even.

City Winery’s Fall Crush lured my Mom and I out to the West Loop to try our hand at wine making. This winery/concert venue/restaurant blew our minds- the space was so gorgeous, yet comfortable, the food was incredible, the wine was on tap and they let us get out hands a little dirty picking out bad grapes and twigs on this handy little machine.

Pumpkin macarons from Eleaven. There are no words.

This week has been busy in the best possible way and I can’t help but feel like I was ready to hit the ground running on Monday because of how much I enjoyed the weekend.

Seriously, just pound it out already. We’ve got an election day to get to.

In other news, I sent a Paperless Post to nearly everyone I know in the last hour. Dinner party invites, date night suggestion, political high fives…free and in the palm of my hand.

I adore the Gold Coast neighborhood north of Division. I go through it a lot- walking to North Ave and back is our favorite quick little jaunt.

I’ve passed this house a million times but on my lunchtime little walk today, I noticed a plaque that said 1239 N. Dearborn was where Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley lived shortly after they were married. Apparently, they lived on the 4th floor for 3 months before they moved to Paris, which was the massive tipping point in his career. I read “The Paris Wife” last summer which is all about Hemingway’s marriage to Hadley and part of what I loved about it (besides my obsession with 1920s Paris) was their courtship in Chicago. I can’t believe I never looked into where they lived!

All I wanted was to stretch my legs a little and what I got was a little history lesson. I love this city.

-a sunny day
-a brisk walk through Lincoln Park
-a little road trip w/ a really fantastic colleague
-the way I feel when I see the skyline from afar and know I am almost home
-endless support from my family & partner
-great leftovers from all of our cooking this weekend
-a soundtrack of musicals while straightening up the apartment (Musical Monday, I say!)
-a good Monday!

Need more gratitude? Check out Kate Gives Thanks: One Lucky Girl. Super sweet girl, super sweet blog.