oh so thankful

jason and i were spoiled with a week off from work. it was so incredibly relaxing for me to be home. seeing our families & friends was just what i needed and i am so thankful for the time we had. our time was so amazing i didn't capture many photos because i was taking it all in. the week went by so, so quickly!

we flew in on monday afternoon and danny snagged us from the airport. kristen and i took a dance class together while the boys watched monday night football. oh how i miss our weekly dance class, dinner & shopping.

tuesday we headed to jason's folks house. we were able to grab our first taste of in-n-out and enjoy some time with his mom, dad, marc, erica & his grandparents. very cool to see them all. plus jason got to drive his baby. it still hasn't sold! sad lip. anyone looking for a car?

wednesday...jason had to head to LA for some business & i got to spend the day with my mom and granddad. we enjoyed a tasty lunch and ran some errands to prepare for turkey day! that evening i spent some much needed time with erica & linds. we sat and chatted until 2am. uh nothing in the world like girlfriend time. heaven.

thursday...we enjoyed a scrumptious meal that included everything thanksgiving has to offer. thank you mom & dad for making such an amazing dinner for us to devour. we were truly blessed to spend the holiday with so many people we LOVE.

i know this photo is blurry but i just can't resist how cute my grandma is!

brent & taka came and celebrated thanksgiving with us!
what a treat to see them! thank you guys for coming!!

every year (since i started working for classic) the tradition has been for me to design the table.
i LOVE it. i LOVE thinking of a new look each year. this year was not over the top THANKSGIVING but still festive...i think. a farmhouse chic look is what i would call it.
bundles of wheat. mason jars stuffed with hydrangeas. milk glass vases filled with kale and ruffled white flowers. i was pretty happy with the finished look. clean. crisp.

each napkin was tied with twine and accented with wheat.

friday was spent relaxing. jason and i took my granddad to breakfast. my mom and i went to target. oh how i miss target. and then we went to dinner with all my fav peeps.

saturday we headed down to the boyle's. the harper's joined us. we grabbed lunch. did some shopping. and just spent time hanging together. love this time together.
oh and the super bonus...we got to see Brooke's new house and her adorable family.

erica getting a little massage! oh yeah!

sunday. one of my favorite things during the holiday season is my parents house during christmas. it is so magical there. my mom constantly has christmas music playing, fires in the fireplace & sweet holiday smells filling the house. i was so glad i was able to help decorate her mantel & see their christmas lights before we left. we won't be home for christmas...so this was a special treat for me.

we are back in NYC now. i am fitting off the flu, which is a bummer. but, i am so thankful for the week we had. thank you all for making our thanksgiving so special.

oh & SNOW is in the forecast for SATURDAY!!!
we'll keep you posted.

Fall is Fading

jason and i decided to head down to central park with the pups yesterday. a crisp, clear blue sky hung overhead, as the sun danced between the buildings. one thing you learn quickly in NY is that sun does not equal warm. it was a gorgeous day even with a slight chill in the air.

we hadn't been down to central park in a couple of weeks and we wanted to catch the last taste of those glorious fall leaves. colors that we just don't get in California. most had already tumbled to the ground but a few trees were holding tightly to those brilliant red, orange and golden leaves.

we strolled around central park for a couple of hours, playing with new settings on our camera, letting the pups smell & smell & smell until their noses should have falling off.

i love this picture of us!

jason getting fancy with the camera.
fading out the background and focusing on the ring.

the rest of our day was spent shopping, organizing and finally getting some pictures on the wall! our engagement photos are in a frame, after over a year, what a concept!

tomorrow we are heading to the airport and flying home for a WEEK to celebrate thanksgiving with all the people i am so THANKFUL for!! i am so stinking excited to see our families and friends. i miss you ALL!! and yes, i said home. home is where the heart is.

how are you enjoying the thanksgiving holiday?

Reunited & it feels so GOOD!

jason and i enjoyed a long weekend with two of our FAVORITE people. we met up with DK & Kristen's mom & dad in Chi Town. it was awesome being on danny's turf & getting to meet so much of his family. it was so needed for me to see familiar faces and have a little taste of home...so ready to come home for thanksgiving!

we arrived in the windy city on saturday afternoon.
it was a gorgeous day, warm, sunny, perfect!

our first night there we headed to victory liquors (a sports bar) to watch the notre dame game at danny's friend's bar. it was a blast hanging with everyone and meeting danny's family.
bad part...notre dame lost! bummer.

irish nachos. seriously wrong but so tasty.

the next morning we enjoyed a tasty breakfast at the original pancake house.
it was right across from the hotel...PERFECT!

we walked our full bellies off on michigain ave with some serious shopping!
i finally feel like i have a decent amount of warm clothes for the winter.
oh & did i mention that warm, scrumptious weather i mentioned disappeared by sunday morning. what a tease!

the water tower...the only building that didn't burn in the great chicago fire.

love the chain D!

really? do i need to say anything?

snack time!
i have heard kristen talk about this popcorn for YEARS!
finally...we got to taste it! 40 minute line for popcorn.
it was worth the wait.

christmas is EVERYWHERE. i honestly felt like thanksgiving has come and gone with all the christmas music, lights and wreaths we have been seeing lately.

waiting for the train.

danny's cousin performs in an improve comedy group & we got to go see it on sunday night!
so funny! i love those things! ryan was hysterical.

monday morning we braved the cold, windy weather & ventured out onto the river for an architecture tour. it was COLD but so cool.

yep. that cold. that windy.

sears tower (the black building). which is now named something else.
but really, it will ALWAYS be the sears tower.
it's the 4th tallest building in the world.

we warmed up with a tasty lunch in the walnut room. we got to spend some more time with danny's fam...which was great!

then we headed to millennium park to see the bean. again, i have seen so many pictures of the bean at DK's house...i was so excited to see it in person!

the boys.

the girls.

and then it was time to say goodbye. again. i think this is going to be the hardest part about living in NY for me. always having to say goodbye to people that i LOVE oh so much.

thank you danny, kristen, mike & debbie for a FANTASTIC weekend!