my weekEnd.

This past weekend started with Urmi's Baby Shower... it was a brunch held at Pinstripes... and was just the cutest party ever.  My favorite part was craft time.  Out with the games and in with the crafts... my kind of party.  We each got to pick a letter and do what we wanted with it, so that Urmi and Ed can hang the entire alphabet in the baby's room.  E was taken so I went with J.  Seriously, Urmi's sister thought of everything... scrapbook paper, decoupage, stickers, puff pens, markers, glitter, paint, yarn... we got to do whatever we wanted.  All the letters turned out pretty cute.  We can't wait for Baby G to arrive!!!

The shower had a small peacock theme that I loved.  Since the shower was a hour away, Alisa and I planned MY entire baby shower, even though I am with out child, with no particular plans of one.  By the way, I know Urmi thru Alisa.  Along the way, we became friends too, so I was happy to share in her special day.

Hours after the shower, Adam and I picked up Jennah and Gabe from the train.  They were in town for the weekend and we couldn't be happier.  We always have a great time with them, and I got to meet Baby H too!!  We took them to my friend Danielle's restaurant, The Gratto.  So delicious.

For breakfast we went to Portillo's before we dropped them off at the airport.  Absolutely nothing wrong with eating beef sandwiches and milkshakes for breakfast.

Until the next time J, until the next time!!!

Vino Van Gogh

"Cover the canvas at the first go, then work at it until you see nothing more to add." Camille Pissarro

Okay, so I barely passed art class in junior high, high school, and college... but I still have a love for it and a really bad want to be good at it.  I can't draw... my pottery turn's out lopsided... I can't cut a straight line, or even color within the lines.  Everyone in my life knows about my famous "gargoyle."  I gave my sister in law a UFO I made, that she thought was a turtle.  I had many a teacher, step back, and say, "What are you trying to do?!"  And sadly, I have never won a game of Pictionary with out cheating.  

But still,  I could not wait to wrangle up some friends and try this.  Vino Van Gogh!  Basically the thought behind it is to bring people together to local restaurants where Vino Van Gogh rents out a room, has you sign up, and then you show up.  They encourage you to purchase food and drink to support the restaurant, and VVG provides the canvas, the paint/brushes, the apron, and the teacher instruction.    

We met at Lucky Monk in Hoffman Estates, to draw Cherry Blossoms.  This is the real painting.  Well the not the real painting, but you know, the copy of the real one.

Here is my class. 

The teacher draws along with you so that you can copy exactly what she is doing.  They make it super easy to do and anyone can do it.

Here's my friend Jen.... putting a side touch on.

Lesson learned:  Next time, eat dinner before participating.  I told the waitress to keep the wine coming and ended up needing some food... it was too hard to paint and eat an actual meal so these pretzels were the best option.

Concentrating.

Here's my teacher holding up Meredith's portrait from far way to show her she doesn't really need anymore cherry blossoms.  I kept calling her over to help me critique too.  "Do you think I need anymore cherry blossoms? TEACHER: "No, look how nice it looks now."  She walks away and I add 12 more.... 

My final product.

Here I am with the girls and their final products.  We all had so much fun.  The schedule only comes out a month in advance, so we are all deciding on a time to do it again.  I look forward to the next one!!! 

Smiles Part Deux

Things that made me smile this weekend...

Getting together with the first friend I ever made, Lisa, and meeting her new little bundle, Grace.  We met Friday night at Starbucks, and it just made my weekend.  I hadn't seen Lisa since I graduated high school, so it was fun to catch up even for just a hour or 2.  Little Grace started fussing, but for the record, I held her the entire time.  While Lisa described her as "the monster," I just couldn't see it.

 My husband reading to our great nephew Alexander.

 Charlie meeting his match in tug a war.

 Mohawks.

 Resting

And the largest potato I ever bought.  

Last Weekend

Last week at work was completely crazy.  

As a nurse you are constantly reminded of how lucky you are to be healthy, to have a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and family and friends to love and care for.  

Rather, than going into detail... I just want to be reminded of what made me smile this weekend...

 Hugging Gavin

 Tailgating with Happy Meals

 Seeing Sara Evans... with Rachael.

Squint real hard, and you will see her.