A week ago, I was drinking prosecco with my husband in Venice with this as a view.
I just had a mediocre cup of coffee in a small Midwestern town.
The prosecco/view combo totally wins.
Tagged with love
National Donut Day
I think we’re all pretty clear here on my great love for donuts, right? Well, it’s National Donut Day tomorrow so I thought it was important to give you the heads up so you could plan accordingly.
Here is a list of national chains doing special deals (free donut with coffee at Dunkin’!).
Here, again, is the list of Best Donuts in America. If you’re in one of these cities, make it happen and report back (I’m looking at you, Minneapolis and Brooklyn).
I don’t know of any specials in Chicago but Do-Rite Donuts and Dinkel’s are my current favs.
Fun fact: the first Donut Day was in Chicago in 1938 as a fundraiser to help people suffering during the Great Depression.
And as my Dad and I always say, “You know what’s better than going to get a donut? Going and getting a box of donuts.”
My work here is done.
(Image taken at Dandee Donuts in Fort Lauderdale, FL- the first stop after my parents pick me up from the airport)
This City
I thought 2 things on my run this morning: 1) There is truly nothing better than starting the day with a good sweat and 2) God, I love this city.
An Open Letter to George Clooney
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
An Un-Shower Shower
I was pretty against having a bridal shower.
Ryan and I aren’t 23 (spoiler alert) and have lived together for almost 3 years; the idea of a party designed to help us “set up house” didn’t feel quite right. And God help me with the shower games. The idea of being quizzed on how well I know Ryan gives me an anxiety attack just thinking about it and being stared at while opening gifts sort of does the same.
But my mom’s friends kept asking her how we were going to celebrate so my mom talked me into a luncheon with no mention of “bridal” on the invite. Celebration luncheon. A champagne celebration luncheon. I could do that. I wanted to do that.
Moral of the story: let the people who love you do nice things for you.
It was the most wonderful day. Women who have been influential in my life came together for bite sized food and mimosas and bellinis. It was so wonderful to see everyone, thank them for the mark they’ve made in my life and acknowledge that I am getting married and that is a really exciting thing.
Oh and guess what? I opened gifts and it was fine. It didn’t make me nervous, probably because I had known everyone in the room since I had a perm and I was so touched by the generosity and thoughtfulness of everyone who came.
Bubbly and dessert with people you love, all before 2pm? It was the best day.
Also- the Garrett’s Popcorn favors were a hit! It makes me happy to think that people enjoyed a bit of Chicago after they left.
Peace, love and desserts with tiny spoons,
Nina
