weekend in wisconsin

hello! i've been MIA since the beginning of this month, and i only have a good excuse for about four of those days. that leaves eight days unaccounted for. how about i make it up to you with pictures? lots of pictures?

i just got back from a long weekend in wisconsin with the boyfriend. he was born and raised outside of milwaukee and moved to raleigh around the same time i did about 4 1/2 years ago. one of his good friends from back home asked him to be the best man in his wedding so i went along as his date and had a chance to meet his family. what an awesome trip! his family was really great and welcomed us into town with a cookout complete with delicious brats straight off the grill. wisconsin knows how to do it up right.

i didn't take as many pictures as i hoped to. we were so busy with activities and hanging out with his friends and family that i forgot to take more pictures. i guess that's a good thing though, right? having such a good time that you lose track of where your iphone is? i'm going with it.

it was really sweet to see dan interacting with his family and good friends. they love him so much, and he was super happy to spend time with them. i just love to see him smile. it makes his blue eyes even bluer if that's even possible.

thanks for a great trip, wisconsin! i'll be back. you have the most delicious creamy custard, and don't even get me started on your cheese curds.

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jewelry souvenirs

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if you guys have been around my blog block recently, you know that i love to travel and i try to as much as i can. within the last year i've been able to travel to lots of different cities (and a new country!)

i've had such wonderful experiences during each of my travels, and as a way to help me remember my trips, i decided to start a new tradition. instead of getting a type of souvenir that i honestly won't use-a plastic snow globe, a gift store t-shirt, a picture frame with garish colors-i had the idea to get a piece of jewelry from each place i travel.

i think it's such a cool way to remember a trip and definitely something that i will actually use and wear. the piece of jewelry doesn't have to be expensive (one of the bracelets i got in england already has fake jewels missing, who cares), but it does have to be something i like, something that will remind me of the trip when i wear it. and it's fun to be able to tell people where it came from when they ask!

here are most of the pieces i have collected within the last year.

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starting from two necklaces at the top:

necklace on the left: claremont, ca
necklace on the right: charleston, sc
brass triangle bracelet: wilmington, nc
jeweled chain bracelet: cambridge, england
stone wrap bracelet: nashville, tn

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small silver studs and turquoise square studs: cambridge, england

do you guys have any special souvenirs from travels you've made? the jewelry idea works for me, but i'd love to hear if you look for a different something special when you go on trips!

headed to california

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today i am california bound with my family! i haven't been to california in several years, and it's been even longer since i've seen my grandpa, uncles, aunts, and cousins who live there. i know our plans include celebrating my grandpa's 90th birthday and eating our body weight in mexican food, but other than that i think our itinerary is pretty open. i will be sure to take loads of pictures and instagram at least one meal a day. i think that's the minimum requirement in the blogger's handbook. i think i would lose my blogger license if i failed that one.

i'll be MIA until late next week. hope you guys have a great week, and i will catch ya later! surfs up.

england bound

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dear union jack, red phone booths, double decker buses, 

HERE. I. COME! 

tomorrow evening i am flying to jolly englandtown for a week of vacation with good friends. of the trips i have taken in my life, i have a strong feeling this one is going to top the list.

have any of you ever been to england? any suggestions for me? we will be staying in cambridge, but i definitely want to make the trip into london a time or two. 

i have been a bad blogger as of late. guilty. life has gone from 0-60, and i have taken an unintentional break from posting for the last week or so. ah well. such is life. you still love me, yes? RIGHT?

off i go across the pond. cherrio! will return with many pictures of our adventures with which to bore you. 

a day in the mountains

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last saturday, my bestie chelsea and i drove up to blowing rock for the day. we had a great time exploring the walking streets and driving along the parkway. it was cold and windy but so gorgeous with all the trees turning red and orange and yellow. i just can't get over the beauty of fall. everything is dying but there is such richness in the changing colors, and there is inspiration in the snap of cold air on your cheeks. unlike any other season, fall reminds me that there are fresh starts and beginnings and newness. it reminds me that things don't always stay the same, and there are changes around every corner in life. and even though it is my favorite season (by far), i always feel this very present, immense sadness. it's like i want to hold on tight to everything and everyone i've got. i think about the people who are present in my life and how much i love them. i think about the people who are no longer in my immediate circle but who have impacted my life in the strongest and best ways. i feel weepy and quiet and in the next breath loud and flush with excitement. tumultuous. that's the word. bittersweet, too. does anyone else feel the same?

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such a good day with a good friend. happy fall.  

storyline photos

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i bought a new camera cord to replace the one that went missing, and we are in bizness. had a chance to upload the photos from the storyline conference i went to a few weekends ago with carrie the great! 

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nashville, thanks for the good time. i'll be back again.