rain on my parade.

Ask anyone and they'll tell you that I knew it was going to rain on my wedding day.  Not in a weird sixth sense sort of way, but because it had to.  It's rained on every "significant" day of my life -- proms, graduations, you name it, it rained.

Andy's dad and the downpour outside

I was a shockingly calm bride.  Even I was surprised by how okay I was with everything.  Except when it started to storm.  My bridesmaids put on a good show by telling me, "We just looked at the radar and it's supposed to pass by 3, we're totally fine!"  Liars. 

My favorite people in the world: my bridesmaids

The rain did let up enough for a few pictures outside (stay turned for more pictures soon!) and it provided us with a nice breeze during the ceremony and a welcome relief from the incredibly high July temperatures we had been experiencing.

I wish I could go back and relive every second of that magical day.  These are just a few of my favorite shots from the hotel (thank you Amalfi, for your wonderful hospitality!). 

Husband-to-be

 

 

A hat pin that belonged to my Nana (my something old)

My mom (and grandma) helping me get ready

Fulfilling the "maid" aspect of their duties by getting me in my shoes

(How amazing is our photographer?!  Thank you, Pam!)

home.

I have been incredibly lonely for home recently.  It's not exactly a feeling of being homesick, it's slightly more than that.  I miss living in New York, waking up in New York, knowing that you have nothing to do and you will do nothing in New York.  Visiting is one thing; stops at John's, The Strand, Fishes Eddy, a quick detour through the park, a street vendor pretzel.  All of those things are well and good, but I miss the feeling of calling Manhattan my home.

My decision to move to Chicago was one of the best I've ever made and I will never, ever, look back on it with regret.  And no offense, Chicago!  I love you, you're great!  We have a beach down our block and your food is delicious, but you're just not New York.  We are committed to living in Chicago and one day growing our brood of gingers here, that has to say a lot about this new city of mine.  I guess all I can really hope is that they have my attitude and love visiting the streets their mama grew up on.

Chapter 1.
He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion...no, make that: he - he romanticized it all out of proportion. Yes. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin.
Er, tsch, no, missed out something.

Chapter 1.
He was too romantic about Manhattan, as he was about everything else. He thrived on the hustle bustle of the crowds and the traffic. To him, New York meant beautiful women and street-smart guys who seemed to know all the angles...
 No, no, corny, too corny for a man of my taste. Can we ... can we try and make it more profound?

Chapter 1.
He adored New York City. To him, it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. The same lack of individual integrity that caused so many people to take the easy way out was rapidly turning the town of his dreams in ...
No, that's a little bit too preachy. I mean, you know, let's face it, I want to sell some books here.

Chapter 1.
He adored New York City, although to him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. How hard it was to exist in a society desensitized by drugs, loud music, television, crime, garbage...
Too angry, I don't want to be angry.

Chapter 1.
He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat.
I love this.
New York was his town, and it always would be... 

                          - Woody Allen, Manhattan

life lately.

I always love when bloggers do a post simply consisting of a bunch of photos from their lives.  It’s such a nice, quick, glimpse into their world and I feel like it brings the blogger and the reader a little bit closer.

Since we're just getting to know each other, I figured I share a few photos of my life recently (if you care to take a peek).  Enjoy!

 

 Summer weekends spent with my (now) in-laws lounging by the pool

 Weddings that took us to Westchester and Beale Street

 

 Brightly colored outfits (I’ve been very into pinks recently)

 

Lots and lots of time spent gearing up for the big day

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