Today is the 1st birthday of my friend Jackson.

In the last year, I’ve seen this little human get bigger. Bigger in size, bigger in personality, bigger smiles, bigger hugs, bigger laughs. My friendship with his mom, the reason I even know Jack, has gotten bigger too. The last year has meant milestones for Jack but for Kate and my friendship, it’s meant becoming engrained in the every day parts of life- countless coffees, trips to the Green City Market, dinner parties, cookouts, pool days, phone calls for everything under the sun. The very best parts of life, the kind that are real, no muss, no fuss…and feel a whole lot like family.

Yesterday, was a milestone however and a big celebration. Surrounded by their family and friends, many of whom Ryan and I have met, we celebrated Jackson’s 1st year. Cake, cookies, wine and a whole bunch of people bonded over their love of a 1 year old. It was so genuine and warm, something I must have needed to feel on is particular Sunday because it meant so much to me. Genuine and warm, real and feels like family…that’s really all you can ask for from friendships, huh?

I texted my Dad to tell him what a great time we had and how grateful I am to have Kate, her husband and Jack as friends…that it felt like a really special day to be a part of. His response summed it all up.

“Special people have special families and special friends. Isn’t life good and God great?”

Yep, Dad…it really is.

I returned to my alma mater this weekend for the first time in 4 years. It was great to be on Michigan State’s campus again, even if our football team did NOT show up to play.

Seriously, what was that? Pull it together, Sparty.

Chicago to EL is no short trip and while I am exhausted today, being on the banks of red cedar is the best and I am glad we made the trip. Go Green!

First:

Take everything you’ve ever learned and everything
You’ve yet to discover and place it in a box labeled Thank You.

Second:
Take a picture of your face and remember
That in many years time you will be amazed at how gorgeous you were.
Be amazed now.

Third:
Find someplace to live.
Make sure it has the ability to let light fall
Across the room in such a way that every so often,
You’ll stop and mouth the words “Ah, sunlight.”
Before you finish dusting the books.
Don’t let the books get dusty.
Open them and reread your favorite sentences
Or give the books away.

Fourth:
Fall in love.
Touch. More than you think.
Have a child if you want one.
If you don’t, don’t.
Let your child out into the world
Discovering for themselves just how magical
It is. Or it isn’t.
It’s theirs to decide.
Give your child a lot of books.

Fifth:
Get a job.
Remember this job is not who you are.
You get to open the silk door of You,
And decide, over and over, as many times as your socks,
Just who you are.
You get to say your own I am.

Sixth:
Do yoga.
Let your body discover what it’s like to move
without your brain holding it’s hand.
Tell your brain to take a hike.
Let your body believe fully in it’s own powers.
Let every person you’ve stored inside your muscles out every so often,
to breathe.

Lastly:
Do things that make you feel good.
Let your joy be contagious and spread through
Your home, your job, your children.
Let it spread through the world
Like a virus so that when you forget it,
Every so often, you’ll catch it from someone else.

By Jen Pastiloff

(Via onherway, emphasisadded)

I used yoga to tell my brain to take a hike tonight. It worked.

I am in Columbus, Ohio. This is notable because:

1) this lunch just happened. Northstar was everything Columbusers (Columbusonians?) claimed it was and more. The Buddha Bowl was glorious.

2) “The Great Gold Shoe Hunt of 2012” is over. I have to wear gold heels for a wedding I am in and have spent the better part of a month scouring stores and online for something that isn’t covered in glitter or fugly in general. I was ready to go home and buy the very expensive pair I do not need when the Columbus shoes gods shined on me and delivered the perfect satin pair insanely on sale. I won’t get specific but let’s just say they were over $19 and under $21. Practically highway robbery, those shoes.

3) In exactly one week, I get to see one of my favorite people on the planet who will be in Chicago for the aforementioned wedding. I adore him and it’s been too long- he is living a life he loves in San Fran but super selfish me really wishes I could see him more…in Chicago.

So, yeah, Columbus…redefining Ohio for me today.

One of my very favorite events of the year is back! Bright Pink provides fabulous support for young women and the way I figure it, supporting them at a fabulous event is the least I can do.

Click here for your VIPink 2012 tickets.

You guys. Piccolo Sogno Due. Go. Immediately.

Short story long: Ryan and I were in desperate need of a legit date night. One that didn’t involve using Seamless.com or cooking at home because we were too lazy to shower. So we snagged a 9pm reservation, I threw on my Manolos, Ry actually shaved and there we were- on a real, live date.

Piccolo Sogno Due is Italian with a focus on seafood, which was exactly what we were craving. Simple, fresh food, incredible wine list (drank a bottle from the region I lived in Italy, Le Marche!) and for as much as Ryan loved his veal, I must say that the house made squid ink spaghetti with shrimp, huge clams, mussels and calamari in a light-as-air sauce that I ordered was the winner of that meal. Perfectly cooked and date-worthy- not heavy at all.

Toward the end of our meal, it started pouring. It turns out, the rain was the perfect excuse to order cappuccinos and split a cannoli, served with a side of candied figs and oranges.

Life has been moving at this break-neck speed lately. My relationship comes first, our little family comes first but it is hard, at times, to be sure you’re living your priorities every day. I am proud of the sweet moments we have been able to sneak in but Saturday night, making a point to sit down, enjoy great food and wine and talk about things that matter and some that don’t…well, it was special.

Moral of the story: Piccolo Sogno Due is the bees knees, I love wine, real cappuccino is 100 times better than the crap at Starbucks and taking the time to put on the big girl shoes to enjoy a date with my main squeeze is always worth it.

Friday night. Jenga. Cat that has no regard for personal boundaries.

What here doesn’t fit?

Ray’s Salad at Karyn’s Cooked rocked my Friday lunch world. Karyn’s serves healthy, delicious food that happens to be vegan. I am very, very tempted to sneak back to tonight for their enchiladas.

This salad and catch-up session with a dear friend is exactly what I needed, I hope you all are having days that are full of what you need. Happy Friday, all!

Perfect morning for a run or perfect morning for a run?

All of the bubbly. I’ll take it all.

In champagne cocktail fun facts, one of my favorite convos my Dad and I have ever had was while I was sipping a Poinsettia (not because of the Poinsettia, mind you) and my Mom and I have taken it upon ourselves to be the utmost authority on what makes a good French 75. We’ve done the legwork, trust.

Ah, memories and champagne.