Shiny and Pretty and New!

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Some new invitations

I created these little invites for Betsy's bridal shower and bachelorette parties in June. I can't wait for the Gilmore Girls-themed shower...coffee, pie, yellow daisies and Sam Phillips!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

It's finally here!!!! The Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry is now open! I highly recommend it, even if you don't really love puppets the way I do. Seeing Kermit and Bert and Ernie and all the other little puppets and drawings was SO COOL! They definitely did a great job designing the exhibit to be playful and interactive for kids too. It's here until January, so check it out!

Starved Rock

We drove to Starved Rock State Park over Labor Day. It's in Ogelsby, IL, near Ottawa I think (?), around and hour and 45 minutes from Chicago. It was pretty crowded around the riverfront and the shorter trails, but people became more scarce as we hiked in deeper. They're supposed to be known for their waterfalls, although I guess those only happen after heavy rains, since everything was dry when we were there!

Garfield Park Conservatory

Not in a great part of town, but very beautiful (and free!) and definitely worth the trek.

Bring on the felt!

via Nerd Boyfriend

September 24th is the opening day of Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry! Drawings, props, and puppets will be there. I can already feel my head exploding with puppet happiness!

My little big brother is getting married!

Heading to Florida tomorrow for the big day...I really hope Derek wears another
short/suit/kneesock combo. Congratulations Derek and Amber!

Villa Terrace

Beautiful Italian Villa on the Milwaukee lakefront, built in 1924 to remind the couple of their honeymoon in Italy.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

Really beautiful, pretty large, and it's not too hard to sneak in booze. It's also free to get in, if you can avoid the $20 parking fee.

Ye Olde Renaissance Faire

The Bristol Renaissance Faire in Bristol, WI is faaaannntastic! I want to run away and live there. The buildings are all permanent so it's really realistic, and there are all sorts of people that work there and don't work there that dress up and "huzzah!" and just have a really great time being themselves in codpieces. I couldn't get enough of the babykids dressed in Renaissance gear-having the time of their lives or permanently scarred?

Pallets!!

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
-Roald Dahl

Now I know how it feels.

Memphis you sly devil

Not quite as fabulous and sparkly as Nashville, but I loved the streetcars, barbecue, history and of course GRACELAND!!

Guess Who!

Lincoln Park Zoo

One of my favorite places in Chicago.

It's weird when it gets dark at 5 p.m.

Oh Ducky.

Walking through the Loop in the fall always makes me feel like I'm in a John Hughes movie.

Oriental Insitute at the University of Chicago

Definitely worth checking out.