not all a loss

thanks for encouragement after my terrible trip! I'm feeling much better about it now that I'm home, so I wanted to share the few bright spots.

One of my favorite things about Grand Rapids is that one of my dearest friends lives there. On my lunch and afternoon breaks during the 10-hour days Cait and I met up for brunch, lattes and shopping.

First stop was Marie Catribs. trendy, tiny, and yum--all natural fresh ingredients.

They served my omelette in a puff pastry!

(the seasoned potatoes were delish)

The next day we stopped for quick bite at Red Ball Jet. Sangria, crab cake slider and a margherita pizza.

in addition to that we had fun shopping (I scored an adorable red jacket I'll share next week), sipping some MI cranberry wine, playing Just Dance on the wii and chatting. I'm so thankful I got to spend a little time with Cait during this trip!

Pure Michigan

The second leg of my work trip was to Grand Rapids, MI. I extended my stay by a day so I could spend some time with my dear friend Cait.

We both got off early on Friday afternoon and headed to Robinette's to start off the weekend. I was pretty excited to experience all I'd been missing about the midwest fall.

The Apple Haus did not disappoint

We stood in line oogling the goodies, and left with two cider/cinnamon sugar donuts, a pumpkin cinnamon sugar donut, an apple turnover, and two apple ciders.

glee!

but do you notice anything funny about this picture? (other than my hair frizz)

look a little closer:

Its pesky bee!

Pesky bee bothered me the entire time we sat outside (and didn't bring any friends to bother Cait). he buzzed in my ear, attacked my donut, swam in my cider, and was a general nuisance.

After I took this photo he lost his footing and plopped right into my cup. So I poured him (and my delicious cider) out on the ground and watched him roll around in juice-induced stupor. that's alright buddy, happy hour's on me today. Take it easy this weekend, ok?

We finished up the afternoon with a wine tasting where I tried peach and apple wines for the first time. So different from a California wine tasting, but YUM nonetheless.

(what's fall without an over-sized iron apple?)

We continued the evening at Schuler Books and Music to sample some new music, and were perplexed by the long line of kids and parents trailing to the back of the store.

It turns out that Jan Brett was in store signing copies of her new book, 3 Little Dassies.

This would be inconsequential except that, that very morning, I had heard part of an interview with Jan Brett on NPR, and proceeded to gleefully exclaim so to Cait.

It would be inconsequential except that a nice man walked over "sorry to interrupt," who just happened to be Jan Brett's manager (i think?) and ask me how the program went because he said it was a tough interview, and we chatted for a bit. I think she sounded great, and I'm now looking for an opportunity to buy the sweet book (I think I need a niece or nephew).

It was a pretty fun coincidence!

Then we headed to one of my favorite places in Eastown-The Winchester. It's fun and eclectic and has delicious food, and a great atmosphere.

What I love the most is the diversity of its patrons. There was a group of guys in their 20s with beers watching a football game and two older couples dressed to the nines sipping wine near us in the corner.

Caitlin had a white fish with roasted veggies




I had sirloin with braised brussel sprouts and celery mash

We both sipped on an Autumn Lager and chatted about cooking and married life.

Saturday morning brought us to a favorite spot of Cait's, Sparrows, for a muffin and a latte. I was so excited for the latte art (maybe I should have asked for a heart?)



It couldn't have been a more perfect morning--colorful and lazy and sunny.



After strolling through a couple vintage stores and thrift stores, I got on the plane back to rainy San Diego.
I miss you already Cait!

Thanks for letting me share how I spent my perfect 36 hours in Pure Michigan!

(ps. I wasn't kidding about the rain out here. We've gotten 313% more than average lately!)

Cait's wedding, pt 2: the trial[s]

I've known about Cait's wedding for longer than I'd had my date set, and I knew I was going to make it to her big day no matter what our situation.

I hesitated buying plane tickets, because I wanted to clear the unpaid time off with my new boss first. When I finally got around to it, the airfare was pretty expensive.
In order to keep our newlywed budget in tact, I ended up flying out friday morning (the day of Cait's wedding) with a return flight on Saturday evening.

Because of a three hour time change, I convinced my mom and grandfather to meet me near the airport with two cars (so I wouldn't have to rent one), in order for me to make the 2.5 hour drive up to Western MI. I planned to arrive an hour early to the wedding to spy on pictures being taken, or just relax at my cousin's girlfriend's house.

All was well Friday morning...my plane arrived 10 minutes early, and I met my mom, grabbed the car and was on my way.

After about an hour cruising up I94, I decided to stop at a rest stop/visitor center on the MI border to reapply makeup and change into a dress. I gave myself about 15 minutes leeway, and right on time I hopped back into my car to go.

Key in the ignition, check the lipstick in the rearview, and start the car.

I said--start. the. car.

I was getting nothing. But level headed, logical me was not about to panic. I've had a dead battery before. I got this...no problem

I calmly pulled my jumper cables from my trunk, popped my hood and asked the older couple in a mini van next to me if they wouldn't mind giving me a quick jump.

The gentleman, (I'll call him John) was more than helpful, offered to take over and I think I'm set. But after the fifth try and not getting a single response from the car...I'm getting nervous.

The couple asks me where I'm headed and I just lose it. "My friend's wedding...I'm still an hour and a half away!" I blubbered. I called our mutual friend JR, but he had already arrived and if he would have headed back to pick me up, we would have both missed the wedding.

John tinkered around under the hood for 15-20 minutes and said he thought it might be the starter, but there was nothing more he could do. He apologized and headed to the bathrooms with his wife, telling me to see if I could hitch a ride. I thought I would have to just head home.

At this point tears are streaming down my face and my makeup is falling apart. I wanted to call Cait so bad to tell her I couldn't make it, but didn't want to distract her on her special day. I was a mess!
Then John walked back up to my car window with another couple in their early 60s.
"This is Larry and Janice, and they're heading up past Grand Rapids. We just met them in the bathroom and told them your story. They'd be happy to take you up with them."

I just blinked through my tears, got out of my car and profusely thanked them. He wouldn't take my money for his help and time. John said, "We just heard a sermon about helping others. For all I know you could be an angel in disguise."

I grabbed my bag and walked over to Larry and Janice's van. I tried to gain composure, introduce myself and explain my situation again. Larry and Janice from Kansas City, MO, were heading up to Cadillac, MI to see family and for a class reunion. We were both leery of one another at first...the whole car ride I kept thinking--I'm hitch-hiking! What am I thinking?!

Larry and Janice wouldn't take money either, and I don't have any contact information, but I'm so grateful for their kindness. It makes me a little sad that I'll never see them again, but God was so good in keeping me safe and providing me with such kind people that day!
Larry and Janice dropped me off on a highway exit to meet my cousin's girl friend, Nicole, who brought me the rest of the way to the wedding.

I realized shortly after we left the rest stop, that I was going to miss Cait's wedding ceremony. I was pretty devastated and tried to hold back the tears the rest of the drive. I arrived at the wedding just as all the guests were walking back from the ceremony site to the reception tent.

What I saw of Cait's wedding was lovely, and I can't to see more of it. In the meantime, this tear jerking video of the wedding was posted yesterday. You need to check it out to see what I missed!

I'm not kidding! Go! you can come back here when you're finished.

Cait and Wil have the funniest siblings ever and their toasts were spectacular. It was a big wedding, so it was hard to grab one-on-one time with the bride and groom, but we managed to snap this.

taken on my camera by bride's bro

The dances were beautiful and we sent them off with a smokey sparkler tunnel to blissful married life :-)

guest photo by s.c.

(Oh, how did I get home being stuck carless in MI, you ask?...my mom and grandpa save the day again and make a 5+ hour road trip to come get me. I arrived home with barely an hour to pack up and head to the airport for home! And I couldn't have been happier to be at home, in CA, with my hubby.)

If you're still reading this, I'm amazed. I tend to be really long-winded. More exciting picture heavy posts are coming!

Next up: pre-wedding celebration re-caps!
Bachelorette party, bridal brunch and rehearsal!

Cait's wedding, pt 1

Last weekend was quite a crazy one. I meant to post on Thursday that I was getting away from the weekend for my dearest friend (and bridesmaid) Cait's wedding.

Cait is a college friend whom I love dearly. She's been my relationship shoulder since E and I started dating. She's the only one of my friends who was dating when E and I were, and now the only close friend that's married.

Cait met E before I did at school, and I was the late comer to the group of friends. We became close the end of my junior year (her sophomore), chatted over the summer, and I was thrilled for her when her summer crush made it official that August.
In the meantime, things were stirring up between E and I, and within the first week back to school, he asked me out...and shortly after we became official.

I know this all seems very high school, but there is a point to the story!

Cait and I have been at the same relationship stage for last couple years, and it's been so fun to experience everything with her. When she got engaged in early fall, I screamed with excitement at a restaurant with friends before she even got out the words to tell me why she called. I knew. :-)

E called her the morning before he proposed to me to let her in on the big news. We set wedding dates 5 weeks apart and have been having girl-time bouncing ideas off eachother for 9 months! While we were planning very different weddings in different situations, she kept me grounded and focused on the important things--marriage and family. And I was always on the lookout for little details to match her classic black/green outdoor wedding! We've chatted about everything from centerpieces to birth control, and her support on the wedding day and as it approached was a life saver.

It was so fun to see her own wedding come together, especially considering how insane she was--interviewing for a new job the day before the wedding!
I loved seeing how happy she and Wil were to finally be together forever!

So before I tell the story of my crazy weekend getting to the wedding, I just wanted to share a few of these very sweet first dance pictures I took of the two lovebirds.

Congrats caiters! I couldn't be happier for you.






(ps. the pictures are edited because I was a terrible photographer with a point and shoot camera, no patience, and a migraine)