My Family in My Life: friends

Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

Monday, September 16, 2013

Love letters to two dear friends

Blogtember topic for the day: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Today I found that there are two ladies I really wanted to write to - both are so special to me and have been so impactful in my life. Here are my letters...

Dear Megan,

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL! You're 27 today, an age I know you've dreaded for some silly reason, but don't worry, I'll be there with you in just a couple more months. I bet it won't be so bad. :)

I wanted to thank you today for 11-ish years of loyal friendship. You and I have known each other through so many clunky and awkward stages of life - the end of high school, all of college, several boyfriends, big life changes like marriage and moving and the death of loved ones and redefining who we are after school and after we both worked at that same little restaurant for weirdly lengthy amounts of our life, and moving into new homes and thinking about babies and planning for the future and worrying about getting older. We had so many Friday nights and Saturday or Sunday mornings together, bitching about nasty customers and loving on old people and rolling in the tips and late nights at Chili's and the movies when we had to be back up in four more hours for the next shift. We've been friends through all of that, though you've always been more constant and reliable than me, which is part of your personality as a Caregiver, I now see. Thank you for being my friend through it all, even when we got on each other's nerves, which is bound to happen over the course of 11 years... ;) One thing is for sure, I never stop loving you, respecting you, and admiring you for your wonderful heart. Cannot wait to see what the future holds for us both. It's always nice to walk through life with a friend, isn't it? Hope today and year 27 are beautiful, just like you. :)

Love, love, love,

Jenni

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Dear Kristin,

I'm not even sure where to start on this letter - it's funny, because we've had our ups and downs in this weird online/offline friendship, but one thing that remains constant is that I always have so much fondness and warmth in my heart for you, and I'm always so thankful you're my friend. You've said before that you feel out of place in this world, like an outsider sometimes, but I disagree, and I think you belong very much and add so much beauty, specifically to anyone who is lucky enough to be close to you. You've inspired me endlessly with the warmth of your beautiful home and spirit, the way you care for people (the way you've cared for me), the care you take for the small details of your world (you know how God-awful I am with small details, so I find this particularly inspiring), and the fresh perspective you always give me and which always surprises me in pleasant and helpful ways. On more than one occasion you've given me advice that was exactly what I needed to hear and saved my life in different ways, and I've appreciated our relationship of accountability, even when it seemed like I didn't. For people like me, accountability can be extremely annoying but nonetheless extremely important. I've loved growing closer to you over the last year in particular, and I hope that only continues. I respect and admire you more than you know, and I'm so proud of all you continue to accomplish.

Lots and lots of love,
Jenni

A few from the 4th

I didn't take very many photos from our 4th celebration yesterday... we were having way too much fun spending time with family and friends and doing lake things and crashing frat parties to use their giant slip-n-slide... you know, normal stuff like that. You'll have to trust that it was fun since I have very few photos to prove it. :)

Here are a couple featured SOML sponsors to keep you busy over the weekend! Enjoy 'em!

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Back East Blonde is an adorable blog by an equally adorable Calirfornia-turned-East-Coast-girl named Nadine, who is just as funny as she is sweet. Her about page is a great place to stop first and get to know her a bit, and then perhaps go have a chuckle at her latest post on categorizing bloggers. There are a bunch more popular posts organized nicely for you right over here, so go get busy. You will love this girl!

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Priscilla is the brains behind The Wheelchair Mommy, a lifestyle blog that documents this amazing woman's adventures in motherhood despite being a paraplegic ever since a car accident in 1999. You'll be blown away by Priscilla's incredible attitude about what some might consider a great misfortune - to her, the "wheelchair" portion of her life is, essentially, a non issue. Get to know this neat lady and her family a bit better over here, browse her archives and pages, have fun, and don't forget to let her know you stopped by. :)

Walton's, Austin

Lunch or coffee dates with friends are fun, sure, but I feel it's also my duty to find the cutest places in town for said lunch or coffee dates, and then inform you about them. I snapped some pictures inside Walton's for a blog post about a year ago, which is sort of a haunting post to revisit because I remember so well how disoriented Edd was that day, but also how much he enjoyed that carrot cake cupcake. :) I thought I'd dedicate another post to Walton's, because it really is such a cute place! It's actually one of Sandra Bullock's two restaurants in town (the other is Bess Bistro, which I'm dying to try!), and I must say, Ms. Bullock, you did a fantastic job with Walton's!

It's a gift store, flower shop, and cafe all rolled into one, with delicious food, great lattes, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a perfect little NYC deli complete with exposed brick and attention to detail around every corner. I met up with Shalyn and Jennifer, and we had such a nice time. :)

Happy Thursday!

Two (or ten!) heads are better than one

I adore this girl.

Lately I've been learning a lesson on how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded individuals and other professionals in your same career path and otherwise people whom you can bounce ideas off of and brainstorm with and learn from. The other day Shalyn and I met at the cutest little coffee shop in town (Vintage Heart) and a work date turned into a dream/brainstorm session that got both of us fired up and excited. And then last night, Erin and I met up on Google Hangout with 8 other newer bloggers and had this awesome and fun Q&A chat, which also left me feeling re-inspired and motivated, even though Erin and I were supposed to be the ones doing that for the others. Point being, sometimes you really DO need to get out of your comfort zone and meet your counterparts or competition in your field or make mutually beneficial relationships and share knowledge and dreams and fears and hopes. I tend to be such an individualist (I don't need anyone! I got this! I'll figure it out myself!), but maybe the people who wind up truly successful at what they do are the ones who involve others in their goals. Just some food for thought on this fine Friday. :)

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And now for today's featured sponsors! Let's do this!

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Pretty Leanne is the brains behind Fresh Season, a beauty, style, and life blog based in Ottawa, Canada! Go Canadians! :) You can get to know miss Leanne a bit over here on her about page, but I'll give you a hint: she's a grad student studying really smart-sounding stuff that intimidates me (hehe), loves her pup and her man, cooking (great recipes here!), traveling, and more! Head on over and say hello.

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Last but not least is the truly lovely Amanda of Marshalls Abroad, a blog that radiates light and love throughout the blogosphere, and also happens to post the most amazingly beautiful and delicious recipes that actually make me want to eat healthy! :) Amanda and her handsome military man live overseas in Japan, and their blog is escapism at its finest. I dare you to go there and not immediately fall in love with the two of them. Perhaps start here with their love story? You will swoon.

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Happy Friday!! :)

Going to the chapel...

My best friend's wedding has come and gone... it was a beautiful, fabulous weekend and we made memories we won't soon forget. Friday night, us girls and the bride went out for a grand time on the San Antonio riverwalk (what happens at Pat O' Brien's, stays at Pat O'Brien's...) and Saturday we managed to get the bride successfully to the absolutely gorgeous chapel and the reception that followed. I can't wait until the photographer has more pics to share from the day. I didn't want to step on the photog's toes OR feel like I was working, so I just snapped a few shots here and there and called it a day.

Megan and Brandon, wishing you a life together as beautiful as your lovely wedding was! Cheers... :)

Megan's Grandma made her this stunning brooch bouquet!

bridesmaids' flowers

my updo was perfection.

everybody now: "awwwwwwww..." :)

Have a happy Monday!

A black and white themed bridal shower

My best friend's wedding is fast approaching (December 1st! SO soon!), and as maid of honor, one of my duties was to throw the bride-to-be a shower. Well, that shower happened the weekend before last, and it was a great success if I do say so myself!

Megan's wedding colors are black, white, and light yellow, and so I stuck with those colors as a theme for the shower. Pinterest was a huge source of inspiration because, frankly, I have zero vision of my own when it comes to these things and, also frankly, I was shocked that everything came together as splendidly as it did in the end. Here are some photos from the day!