What's up?

Hey gang! Some quick updates:

• I have some blog ideas brewing for content. I just haven't delivered yet. Whoops.
• I haven't delivered because I've had a ton on my mind and am sick. Not much sleep, either.
• I also haven't delivered on content because I feel like I need to catch up on reading other blogs first. I'm two weeks behind. Double Whoops.

BUT!

Happy news!

• My brother and sister-in-law are having a little kiddo!!!! Tim and Jackie are two of the most amazing people in the world, and really, there needs to be more of them around so it's pretty cool they're having a baby. And, selfishly, Andrew and I are PUMPED to have another little one to spoil!

AND!

• Tim and Jackie had a gender reveal over the weekend! Every family member from both sides gathered either in person or via Face Time (yay technology!) to watch as they cut the cake and saw PINK frosting!!!! They're having a girl!!!!!!!! I already have a lot of ideas for gifts...mainly Steelers and Pirates and Penguins onesies and the like. Oh, we'll get her pink stuff, too, don't worry. Lots of sparkles as well. Being an aunt is seriously the best!

DOUBLE AND!

• This weekend cannot come soon enough. We are so excited to hang out with BOTH sets of parents, aunt and uncle and cousins in Saugatuck! We haven't all been together since the wedding and I've been on major family withdrawal. One of the best parts of wedding planning is all of the family time. I really miss that!

OK I think that's all of the updates.

Hope you're all doing well!

Weekend Update!

What a long weekend! Linking up with the gals to share in the fun!

My long weekend started as any should: on a Thursday. At the yearly company outing to the Cubs game...with an open bar. And then we went to another bar. And then I met Andrew for Greek food. Not too shabby, eh?

On Friday I had an interesting time at boot camp considering the previous night's activities. I muscled through (pun intended!) and then slept a couple more hours. That day we relaxed, watched football, and did our fantasy draft.

Saturday we headed to Saugatuck!!

The weather was absolutely perfect! We had so much fun, full of cooking and devouring delicious food, enjoying sweaty beach time, watching gorgeous sunsets, going on morning runs, and having lots of family time laughs. Andrew and I ventured into town on Sunday night to celebrate the unofficial end to summer (and a Tigers sweep of the Sox). Monday morning me and the ladies did the annual bridge walk, which is so super cute. It's meant to "compete" with the Mackinac Island Bridge Walk, but is only 0.10 miles...in other words, it's a hilarious small beach town tradition. 

It was tough to leave!

On the way back we stopped at the Michigan City outlets. We weren't impressed but came out with one good find each, so at least we didn't leave empty handed (or even more broke)!

What were your weekend highlights?

A Little Bit About Me

Well Hello!

One of my friends, P!nk Pers!stence, from the Wedding Wednesday link-up, wrote a post including some fun facts about her. It made me think about how I really don't write much about myself, other than about how chubby I am, yummy recipes I've made, some products I like and the workouts I complete. OK fine, I guess I do write a lot haha! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share a little bit more about little 'ol me.

Four names that people call me other than my real name:

1. Mary Sue (my middle name is Susan, but I love Mary Sue!)
2. Mare
3. Animal (an old junior high/high school sports nickname involving a funny story).
4. Krulia (my maiden name)

Four jobs I've had:

1. Bob Evans hostess and server
2. Legal Administrative Assistant
3. Intern. I've had so many internships.
4. Digital and Social Media Analyst (love it!!)

Four movies I've watched more than once:

Gosh, only four?!?! I could go on and on for this one!

1. Love Actually
2. The Holiday
3. Any Back to the Future
4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Four books I'd recommend:

Sheesh! Four?!?! I love so many that my book club has read and others over the years!

1. The Shadow of the Wind
2. The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm (such a great series!)
3. Anything written by Adriana Trigiani. She is awesome!
4. Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Four places I've lived:

1. Lancaster, Ohio (born & raised!)
2. Westerville, Ohio (college!)
3. Washington, DC (probably the happiest and definitely the craziest four years of my life)
4. Chicago, IL (current)

Four places I've visited:

1. Costa Rica (honeymoon!)
2. New Orleans (loooove this city)
3. Charleston, South Carolina (loooove this city, too!)
4. Santa Barbara, CA (soooo pretty! Loved going to wine country with my sister and brother-in-law!)

Four five places I'd rather be right now:

1. On the couch, in sweatpants, with Andrew and our cat Teddy, with a happy coffee (Bailey's, coffee and whip cream), watching a movie
2. On the couch, in sweatpants, with the whole family, in the basement in the house where I grew up in Lancaster, watching a movie
3. Visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Atlanta (with everyone!)
4. Visiting my sister, brother-in-law and niece in San Francisco (with everyone!)
5. Visiting my in-laws with Andrew, Daniela and Sylvia in Austin!

Four things I don't eat:

1. Olives
2. Bugs
3. Veal
4. Beets

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Pizza (Jets is my current favorite!)
2. Chipotle
3. Anything my mom, mother-in-law and Tia Sylvia make.
4. Anything sweet. Seriously, I'm not picky.

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Law & Order SVU
2. Nashville
3. Property Brothers
4. Downton Abbey

Four things I'm looking forward to this year:

1. Our niece and Goddaughter Scarlett to arrive!!!!!!!!
2. A trip to Spain!!!! We haven't booked it yet, but we are saving for it and are dreaming about it!
3. Any trips involving family
4. Trips to the cottage in Saugatuck!

Four things I'm always saying:

1. I'm hungry!
2. Will there be food?
3. Cheers!
4. I feel fat.

I'd love for other bloggers to do this and send me the link! If you're not a blogger please comment!!

Have a good one!

2015: A Year in Review

Hi there!

2015 has been quite a year to remember, and yet I haven't documented too much of it on this blog! Why?
Well, I don't exactly know. I used to love blogging, but this year I just didn't feel like writing too often or didn't think I was that interesting.

In an effort to remember this amazing year, here's a little review!
OK fine, it's a long review.
Like, really long.
Enjoy!

January:

We hibernated and did Whole30. The only fun thing was an incredible overnight trip to Milwaukee to watch Georgetown beat Marquette!

[Whole30 recap post here]

February:

More hibernation, but also a day trip to MSU for a basketball game and a much-needed trip to Florida to get out of the cold and get our toes in the sand!

 

March:

Our niece, Scarlett Susan, arrived!!!

 We also saw Bob's Burgers Live at the Chicago Theater. It was hilarious!

I rounded out the month running the Shamrock Shuffle 8k. My favorite race to date!

April:

My parents came for Easter and it was an awesome visit! We also started Wedding Season on our First Anniversary!

May:

One of our busiest months! We attended two weddings (our first barn weddings!), celebrated my 30th in DC over Memorial Day weekend and went to Atlanta for Scarlett's Baptism (we love being her godparents!). We also found out that my sister was pregnant! Another baby on the way! YAY!

June:

Went to our fourth wedding of the season here in Chicago, took a weekend trip to Boston to visit friends, saw Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett at Ravinia and celebrated Andrew's 30th!

July:

Went on our first trip to San Francisco for the 4th of July, attended a wedding in Ohio, squeezed in a girls' night, ran the B1G10k and went on a gorgeous MSU Alumni boat cruise with fireworks!

August:

This was a quieter month but we had friends visit us and enjoyed our city!

September:

Enjoyed our annual Labor Day Weekend trip to Saugatuck and a quick day trip to DC for a surprise engagement party! We also had fun seeing my sister and her family for a short visit as well as with Andrew's Dad and Justin for trips to MSU and Cubs games! I also photobombed a picture with the Cubs owner. #highlight

October:

Our first vineyard wedding! We also had a blast going to our favorite Virginia vineyard and hanging out with friends in DC. We wrapped up the month with a visit from a DC friend, a Cubs playoff game and as a Strawberry for Halloween.

November:

Celebrated the relaunch of the Women in Wireless Chicago Chapter, went to DC and back to the spot Andrew proposed at Georgetown, welcomed our gorgeous new niece Maggie (!!!), watched MSU beat Kansas, attended a cupcake decorating birthday party and enjoyed Thanksgiving in Austin!

 

December:

Performed in our church's Christmas Choir, called Deck the Hall! It was seriously one of the best experiences! We also attended work holiday parties, pretended I could ice skate, baked for book club and had the most amazing Christmas in San Francisco for Maggie's Baptism and Napa for soooo much wine!

 

 

What a year!! I can't believe everything we managed to fit into the year and can't wait for all of the fun that 2016 will bring!

Cheers to 2016!