Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, January 2014 Visit

Happy New Year All!

This past weekend we went back to the Mitten to visit Hunky's sister who is a novice in the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.  It was great to see Sister Mary Andre and get a sneak peak into her life at the convent.  She spends her days in prayer and study with a dash of free time and group activities.  They are such a devout group of joy filled women - it is inspiring to see the sisters in their element.  It is always lovely, yet rare, to have the group of usual family members together.

There were so many beautiful crush scenes all over the convent.  They had kings traveling all over the place - we found them propped in window panes, under tables, and traveling through hallways.

The beautiful alter in the chapel - just breathtaking!

I married into a family of very intense board game players.  Here is a new one we are addicted to, called Hedbanz.  It is meant for a much younger crowd - but we have such a great time trying to ask rapid fire questions to determine whether we are bacon, a horse, or some other random object!

The weekend seemed to end as quickly as it started - it was so much fun to all be together for a brief moment.  Rachel, Nick, and Baby Joseph headed home after dinner to beat the coming snow.  It was nice to get in so many baby snuggles!

Hunky's sister, Bethany, and her fiancé, Mike came from Pittsburgh for the visit as well as to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.  It was great to see them, hear about wedding plans, and catch up as we do not get to see each other as often as we would like. We all had to leave pretty quickly on Sunday to beat the Polar Freeze.  Our normal 3.5 hour drive took nearly 5 hours --- which is such a looonnggg time to be in the car.  Mocha Bean and I were going stir crazy, enough to get out and bound around in the snow at the gas station. 

Visit weekends are always a whirlwind - leaving us feeling like we need a long nap to recover.  It's fabulous to get our Laura fix... I mean Sister Mary Andre fix.  We are still getting used to her new name. :) 

An 8 Course Meal

To celebrate Hunky's return home after 6 months on the road we purchased a Gilt City coupon to have an 8 course dinner at a local restaurant Merlot on Maple.  It was an experience.

Before we get into the details here are a few things I learned about attending our 8 course celebration dinner...

• Don't arrive too hungry.
• Don't arrive too sleepy.
• Your courses won't arrive with instructions - so just do the best you can - and hope that those that you are eating with aren't embarrassed as you attempt to, for example I don't know -  cut through really hard cheese without shooting pieces of it across the room...
• Don't fill up on the bread basket - even if it is delicious and the time between courses makes you want to gnaw off your own arm.
• If the atmosphere is headlined by a British couple in an argument due to a lack of music or any background noise you and your dining partner will probably come down with a case of the giggles. 
• If another couple is seated very very close to you - close enough that you no longer notice the British couple arguing - close enough that you might as well be sitting together - close enough that their conversation, which is super awkward, might as well be your conversation - then the giggles may continue.
•  You may get hungry enough at some point during taking photos of all 8 courses that you forget to take a photo of a few courses and just clean your plate.
• 2 ravioli is never enough.  Not ever. Especially when they are delicious.
• If your waitress doesn't seem kind or engaging - try the person who buses the tables.  Her name was Alma and she was fantastic!
• I truly, truly missed my husband he is probably the most fun person I know and I am so happy to have him back home!

 

Cheers to Hunky being home!  Note the tired looking eyes, the sleepiness will set in around course 5, just before the food sickness. Also - I wish this photo captured sound so you might be able to listen to the British couple bicker.  Even though they were obviously angry their accents were just lovely.

  Prosciutto and aged Parmesan - how does one eat this? 

 

Our Menu

 

I could eat this quiche everyday for the rest of my life - it was that good.  And those greens, don't they look manly?  I hope you think so, because they are called "Manly Greens" 

  

This soup was really cheesy.  I believe that the next course is the one I devoured without photographing - it was a yummy little egg plant bite.

I believe this was Hunky's favorite course.  A super meaty sauce on a bed of homemade noodles.

 I could have eaten about 20 of these ravioli - by far my favorite course!

Hunky is such a good sport. He's probably starving waiting to eat those ravioli!

Look how blurry I am!  Hopefully you can make out the thumbs up - we're most the of the way through our dinner and still going strong! 2 bread baskets in!  And yes, in case you are wondering, I have worn my jean jacket pretty much every day since I purchased it :)

The meat course.  Now this is what a palm sized serving looks like!

 Drunken angel food cake with a chocolate filling... yumm

We made it to dessert!  We missed the final course of assorted cookies because Hunky wasn't feeling well.  Which was okay because it gave me an excuse to down more bread before we left!

Have you done any fun Groupon-like excursions lately?

Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary

Hunky's Grandparents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary this past weekend! What a milestone! I am so excited/blessed/geeked to be marrying into this great family that has so many examples of lasting love to look up to.

The happy couple with their children and spouses - minus a few. (I forgot to give my camera to someone when we did the big group picture - one of those will be coming soon!)

bellazamia

Matchy Matchy

Dear Best Friend,

I apologize for showing up dressed like your twin at your graduation open house...

... but you have to admit - as much as we say our tastes are 100% different...


We've got to have some kind of similar taste - Remember your birthday in the fall..?


When the same exact thing happened?


We rocked it then - but I just want to say - we already have your dress for the wedding picked out and if you show up wearing an alabaster gown - I might make you walk down the aisle too!

The winner of the snapcrafty 50 piece cab giveaway was entry #7 - Sarah from Yes, Teacher!
Can't wait to see what you create with your winnings!

Happy Monday All!

Graduation Day!

To walk across the stage and accept our diplomas Hunky and I wore these fabulous gowns each made from 8 recycled plastic bottles. Our school is really running with their whole "Go Green!" thing...

Here we are trying to figure out how to put Hunky's hood on. I was convinced you were to see the bright colors - he knew that the brown, which is called "drab" (how terrible!) was to be on the outside.

This is the photo of all of the MSU Alums! My dad, Hunky, and Hunky's dad - the next day it would be me too!

I'm so blessed to have such a supportive group of people in my life - I simply love my family. So happy to have just graduated with 1 degree - notice the yellow tassel still waiting to be flipped!

With my grandmother and little sis - these ladies were such troopers! My family stuck it out and attended a graduation at 11 am then one at 7:30 pm - it was great to spend the whole day celebrating!

My fabulous mom, sister, and me!

Hunky & Me!

Pointing at Dad's empty pockets... :D

We stopped by the Campus Museum to show those who weren't able to attend the opening, my gown Swatches, in the re:Dress Exhibit!

Most of the group in front of Beaumont Tower - such a pretty area on campus!

My Interior Design Academic Adviser and my best friend helped me get through the program while maintaining my sanity!

All the girls who came to the Interior Design Banquet - one of the professors bought us hot pink construction hats!

A group of us getting ready for the 7:30 graduation.

I did it! So happy to have finally completed my time at MSU!

My cousin Beth also graduated at my 7:30 ceremony - here's a picture of some fabulous sisters!

So happy to be DONE - I certainly worked my buns off while I was here! Now - does anyone want to hire an interior designer or fashion designer in the Chicago area..?

Happy Birthday Hunky Week!

This post is a bit late - but if you had been a mouse in my pocket this past week you'd understand why it's okay...

Hunky turned 23 on March 5th! Hooray! Happy Birthday! We have been celebrating since March 4th - yes I said since... last night wrapped up day 9 of some sort of celebration for Hunky. Let's just say it has been fabulously fun and equally exhausting!

Delicious lemon cake with tiny beer can candles!

Blowing out the candles! The only other photo I took in the past week - I just wasn't on my A game with photography this week!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Happy Anniversary : Stunning Parents

26 Years & Going Strong!

I'm so very blessed to have such a wonderful, loving, and supportive family.

Hunky and I are taking them out for a celebratory dinner tonight - I am so excited to give them the fabulous card that I bought from Etsy shop persnicketypelican!