Category Archives: Friends and Family

Oct 18 2012
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Chicago Specific Fun, Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family

Day 24: Who are you?

Sometimes I find meeting up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long while (like multiple years) stressful. I wonder who we are to one another and worry over whether we will have anything in common anymore. This morning I had brunch with a friend from college that I had not seen since college, other than that time this summer when I saw her in a play and was like, “whoa you live here?” Not only did we have plenty to say, but we also agreed we should be better friends.

Over our delicious brunch (at Over Easy on Damen), we caught up but mostly we talked about how we define ourselves–we, she and I and we, society. And I’ve been thinking a lot about something she said, “We are so focused on what do you do but really we should be asking who are you?” I’ve been thinking about it a lot because I went in to our brunch with a set one-liner about my job and why I’m not doing what I set out to do after college. I had an excuse of sorts but when she and I really got in to it, yes it is true that I want to do more or better or something else but I shouldn’t feel bad that I’m not doing that now. It does not define me. And it was really refreshing (and fun) to get in to all that with a new/old friend.

Oct 17 2012
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Around the House/DIY, Friends and Family, Fun for Couples, Online Fun

Day 23: Holidays are coming?

On the list if things that bring me joy, you will find the Holidays very near the top. I love that time of year from Thanksgiving to the New Year. All the baking (eating), decorating, football, first snows, presents and general sense of cheer and love. In October, I start to get the itch but usually suppress it. Let’s be clear, I do not condone putting out Christmas decor before Thanksgiving. Maybe that is why I went for the glass pumpkin and pumpkin candles at Foursided the other day.

Looking through all the photos from the shoot this morning, I got an idea. Design a holiday card! (Ok maybe I had this idea when I originally requested the time slot for pictures. And maybe I withheld that information from my husband to ensure he would be on board. Because maybe I was having major regrets about our decision not to send cards last year. Not that he’s a grinch or anything. He just doesn’t totally understand why I love the Holidays so much). So for the holiday cards we will definitely be sending this year, why not make it personal? I love getting family photo cards, especially from my friends with kids. What better for my husband and I than a family photo with our dog?

And I do enjoy a good photo project (really iPhoto makes it so easy) so I picked a layout, incorporated the perfect picture and chose some words of cheer for the message. All I have to do now is order the appropriate amount. A little bit of holiday joy this morning to tide me over until the real celebrating begins.

Oct 17 2012
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Friends and Family, Fun for Couples

Photoshoot Update

We already got our photos from the shoot on Monday and I am so in love! Here is a link to Emily’s blog post with more pictures. I just had to share.  http://66.147.244.60/~emilyalt/?p=657

Oct 15 2012
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Chicago Specific Fun, Friends and Family, Fun for Couples

Day 21: Photoshoot

I realize that today is supposed to be Guilty Pleasure Monday, however my little family and I did something so fun I did not need a guilty pleasure. We had a photo shoot with our friend, Emily, who, aside from being a very busy Chicago Public School teacher, has a photography business.

She does these Mini Shoots where, for a great price, you get 20 minutes and 40 shots with fully edited digital prints. It’s a great way to get some high quality pictures without a major time or monetary commitment. Now, my husband and I have been in front of the camera a lot recently having two wedding events but we don’t have a lot of casual photos. We have hardly any photos of us with our dog, and I’ve been feeling and moving a lot better. So when I saw Emily had some time slots open, I knew we needed to take advantage of the opportunity.

The three of us (husband, dog, me) met Emily under the Bryn Mawr overpass and took a variety of shots on the path and by the lake. To say Elphie was excited would be an understatement. She was running erratically, sniffing everything and jumping at our photographer. But once she calmed down, we got what I think I can safely assume were playful, funny and endearing shots.

Emily’s talent for photography is very organic. She does not pose people (or animals) just captures their best moments by putting them in a natural setting and letting them be. Her pictures from our destination wedding include some of my most favorite and I’m always checking her blog for more adorable children and couples. We had a great time today and are looking forward to seeing the results!

For more info on Emily’s photography, visit www.emilyaltphotography.com

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Oct 14 2012
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Friends and Family, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 20: A Simple Phone Call

A few days ago, my Grandmother left me a voicemail while I was at work. She heard that I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to check on me. I loved getting that voicemail because she does not usually call me (I think she thinks it bothers me if I am busy?) Too often, I think she waits for me to call her and too often, I let too much time pass between our conversations. For example, this is day 20 of the blog and I have not talked to her since I started. Until today.

I love talking to my Grandma because she is just about the nicest most positive person. She always has something good to say about whatever situation I find myself in. On me complaining about working too many nights and weekends, “I know it’s rough but isn’t it nice to come home and your husband and your dog are there waiting for you? Beats an empty house!” On the sorry state if the Chicago Cubs, who she loves dearly, “It’s awful. I know it. But if they get some of those young guys in there and give them a few years, they’ll turn it around. We’ll see.” On my whole arthritis situation, “Boy I wish I had it instead of you, Sarah. You’re too young to have to deal with all that. That’s for Grandmas. But you do a good job and you’ve got good friends. I hear your husband does a great job too. And I love you.”

I never feel sad after talking to her, only bad that I don’t call or see her more. At 88, she lives in an apartment that is part of a care facility. Most of her immediate needs are met on the campus but she still maintains her own residence, car and independent lifestyle. She does not have a computer, cell phone or even an answering machine, by choice. She sends hand written letters, bakes cookies at Christmas and watches as many sporting events as she possibly can, rooting for Iowa if it’s college and Chicago if professional. She is also 60 years older than me to the day. I, her first grandchild, was born on her sixtieth birthday and I think it is one of the most interesting things about me. We plan to throw a big party when I turn 30 and she turns 90. It will be so big that, in her words, “we might even have booze.”

It was great to talk to her. I feel rejuvenated and ready for a new week. As I continue to do fun things, I find more activities that I want to incorporate more regularly in to my life. Calling my Grandmother every week just jumped right to the top of that list.

From my sister’s wedding, 9/10/11.

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