An Open Letter to George Clooney

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Dear George,

I wanted to be among the first to send my congratulations on your recent engagement. Since everything written on the internet is true, I have to assume that the reports are accurate and you are indeed engaged. My fiance was actually the person who alerted me to this development. Again, since everything written on the internet is true, I think you getting engaged constitutes breaking news for men since there has been much reported about your alleged aversion to marriage- there’s a bit of a “last man standing” fist bump men reserve for you. However, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I think your happiest days are ahead of you. This engagement thing is good stuff.

Before I got engaged, I was in a very happy, committed relationship. People who were engaged or married asked frequently when we were getting married and regardless of my reply, I was told that “It’s totally different when you’re engaged/married.”

I wanted to punch those people in the face.

I’m happy! Marriage isn’t necessary for happiness! Leave me alone!

But you see, George (I can call you George, right? Please- call me Nina), there is something to be said about taking that love you have for someone and declaring that this is the person you are choosing to spend your life with. I know, I thought that it was just words or a piece of jewelry too but in the 10 months since my fiance dropped to his knee in our kitchen at 9am on a Friday morning, I have felt a sense of…peace. Calm. Love magnified times more than I thought possible. Is it my really nice ring? No. Maybe. Kidding. It’s knowing that my partner and I are on the exact same page about growing old together (for the record- you look great, haven’t aged a day and I doubt wrinkles are going to be an issue for you) and we get to shout from the rooftops that we are choosing to spend our lives with our best friend.

We have to find rooftops- so nice that you have US Weekly to shout your news for you.

The moral of the story, George, is that being engaged has been some of the most fun months of my life and I wish you as much fun, excitement and paparazzi free days as humanly possible. And really- congratulations. Finding someone who lights you up to the point where you absolutely must spend your life with them is magical and no trivial endeavor.

Also, just to throw it out there, we are honeymooning in Italy and have a spare 3 days in the middle of our trip- if the Lake Como house is empty, I am totally willing to go check on it for you.

Love, light and wedding planning,

Nina

 

Monday

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Spring kicks to brighten up this dreary Monday.

Something else to look forward to- The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday! Big hats, bourbon and friendly bets…and, of course, me choosing the horse with the name I like most. I think my pick was called Cuddly Kitten or something last year…

Happy Monday, friends!

So Full I Could Burst

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This post could alternatively be called “The Time I Cried Upon Being Seated at HUSK”.

I have been wanting to go to Charleston for a few years, specifically to go to HUSK and The Macintosh, and for one reason or another, haven’t made the trip. Well, this weekend I went away with some girlfriends and in the spirit of “bacherlorette’ness”, they planned everything…and a trip to BOTH restaurants were on the agenda.

Which is why I cried after the HUSK waiter handed me a menu that said “Congratulations!” on it this morning. I was so happy to be at that table with women I love and who were so lovely in their wanting to celebrate me and my upcoming wedding this weekend. The entire weekend was so sweet and thoughtful; a friend who couldn’t make it sent her celebrating in the form of my favorite bottle of champagne and there was a welcome basket with my favorite magazines, nail polish, candles and beach essentials waiting for me in my room upon arrival.

I have never felt so celebrated in my entire life.

Back to the food. Manhattans on tap, ricotta dumplings, sheepshead fish on a bed of the best vegetables ever cooked and banana pudding in a mason jar at The Macintosh. Biscuits with lemon ricotta cheese and lingonberry compote and shrimp and grits at HUSK. My best friend halfheartedly offered me a bite of her heirloom tomato omelette and later said she was happy I said no because it was the best omelette of her life.

Charleston is next level with their amazing food. Good lord. Next. Level.

I am heading back to Chicago with the fullest heart and belly I have ever had. I am so, so grateful for this absolutely delicious season.

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Best Donuts in America: Charleston Edition

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The Thrillist came out with their list of Best Donuts in the country this week. This is also known as the most important thing they will ever write. As luck would have it, I’m in Charleston with girlfriends this weekend and was able to check out Glazed Gourmet Donuts, #3 on the list.

Life changing. These are life changing donuts.

Public service announcement: check out the list and if there is a donut shop in your town, do not pass go, immediately head there.

Quotable

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I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.

Anne Lamott

On Connection. And Brisket.

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On Saturday evening, we attended our first Seder at the home of some of our dearest friends. These people have felt like family from the beginning but we were still so honored that they would include us in such a special tradition.

Ryan and I are Catholic and Episcopalian, respectively, and even though we read up a bit on Passover before last weekend, we learned so much during the meal. Judaism is such a beautiful religion and it was the coolest to see our friend lead the Seder in his home, a home that now includes a wife and darling little girl, with his parents, aunts and uncles looking on.

Related: I want to eat Kugel every day for the rest of my life.

Walking back to our hotel (the sheer amount of brisket consumed made a walk very necessary), Ryan and I reflected on the evening and in addition to how much fun we had, the thing that came up the most was connection. The connection to religion, to family, to tradition, to each other. It’s something we have been craving and to be present to it for an evening was really, really special.

When I count my blessings, these friends that are family and connecting with them across a table full of love, conversation and food is at the top of the list. So infinitely grateful for these special times and opportunities to learn.

Proposal Magnet

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I have, approximately, seen a million couples get engaged.

Okay, that number may be a little exaggerated but it’s a rare month that goes by where a guy doesn’t drop to his knee somewhere in my general vicinity.

I have seen proposals on the lake front running path, random street corners on Michigan Avenue, on the river. The nature observatory in Lincoln Park, well, that’s just shooting fish in a barrel. 2 weeks ago, I saw someone propose at a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Before we were engaged, my fiancé thought I was making this up to get him to propose but now that he has been around for a few drive-by proposals, it’s clear that I have seen an abnormal amount.

We were in Washington DC this weekend and found the cutest, quaint bar in Georgetown to grab a nightcap. In our booth, there was a newspaper clipping that informed us that Martin’s Tavern is the oldest bar in DC and that JFK allegedly proposed to Jackie in Booth 3. Immediately, I tried figuring out which booth was #3 because I LOVE the Kennedy’s and omg if we were in that booth, I would die. I was ordering another drink (champagne, obviously- we were in the bar Jackie O got engaged in!) when we hear a burst of applause and see flash bulbs going off in the booth behind us.

Guy on his knee. Big sparkler. The yelling of “yes!”. Family and friends running out from corners of the bar.

Proposal number million and two. Huzzah for love!