FRIIIDAY!

Phewwwwww, Friday!

So, here's a throwback that has resurfaced from years back. Remember this girl?

nancy. meagan. cori. courtney
express edwardsville - 2012

^^ [Original photo from  THIS May 8, 2012 entry] This was from Meagan's going away party, during my time back at the Edwardsville Express office. It's been about 3 years since I worked with Courtney, but she just recently paired up [such a small world!] with one of Rob's good friends.

Happy Birthday, Courtney! 

lol.. happy birthday, girl! 

At work, we were [still] celebrating Elisa's birthday; she chose The Eagle for her lunch out, and with it being our standard Friday office lunch, it worked out perfectly.

the eagle | otr - cincinnati, oh 

^^ YOU GUYS. If you've not been to this place yet, you need to go. :) This is the first time I've been there for lunch, but it's just as good if not slightly better than dinner. Haha. YUM!

We endulged ourselves with chicken, spoonbread, mac&cheese, grits, fries and succotash before wrapping up and heading out. Well, almost heading out. Despite the bitter sting in the air, we braved the walk down a few blocks to 1215 for some mid-afternoon pick-me-ups:

elisa & i spotted a fun selfie wall...
1215 wine & coffee bar | otr - cincinnati, oh

peppermint mocha = per.....fect! 

Peppermint mochas on Fridays are an incredibly encouraging touch. What's even better though, is when you receive a little something you've been anxiously awaiting for a few weeks. 

That was today, too! It was a random day perusing Etsy when I ran across The Copper Fox, specifically a Latitude & Longitude bracelet stamped with a line I will forever love: The House That Built Me. Anyone who knows me knows the gratitude and love I have for the house my parents built, in which I did grow up: physically and emotionally. That place built me, just as much as my parents built it. So when I saw this item listing, it wasn't a tough decision to fill and empty the little shopping cart icon. 

IT ARRIVED TODAY: 

i am... in love. 

And I... I can't. It's beyond perfect. This girl Sarah who creates these pieces and runs the little Etsy shop will never know how much I truly treasure this little cuff and what it represents to me. Love, love. LOVE. 

I took off at the day's end, en route to get Sydni and thankful for it being Friday. Rob called as I was heading back to the house, and let me know that Jesse had made it town and was at the house with Zeppelin! Syd and I pulled into the driveway at the same time, and spent the next hour or so catching up with our friend... and furry friend :)

yay, weeknd visitors! hi zepplin! 

And then there was the question of dinner: Jesse wanted to try out something local, so we voted again for Buca Di Beppo, where we wound up with enough leftovers to last us probably through the middle of next week. #PIZZA. Haha. 

buca with mini! 

So that's not a bad way to start the weekend!

We're supposed to get some heavy snow overnight tonight folks - be CAREFUL out there if that applies to you, too!

TGIF!
xo | cmd

Happy Birthday, Jessica! | Pre-Valentines Valentine

Ya'll know me; I LOVE birthdays.

We're heading south to Red River Gorge tomorrow to celebrate this gal's 30th, but today is her actual birthday, and I hope it was phenomenal! She's one of my "newer" friends [thanks, Cassie & Shayne!], and I'm so grateful we connected.. because she's a flippin' blast.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSICA!!! 

jessica! happy birthday!!

At work, we had our own mini version of Galentine's Day: Elisa, Carri and I ventured out of the office for lunch and found ourselves at Wild Ginger. We tagged this as Elisa's early birthday lunch as well, and that was that!

sushi lunch with the ladies - early birthday lunch for elisa! ;) 

Back at the office, I rounded out the week by completing a project that's been on my plate for... since we opened, pretty much. It's amazing how difficult climbing up and down a ladder can be when you're wearing heeled boots. I made it through with no crashes, but I absolutely do not recommend this.

workers comp in the making ;)
[jk. jk. JK.] 

So TGIF! With Valentine's Day approaching tomorrow, Rob & I were planning to celebrate everything tomorrow when we are in the Gorge for Jessica's birthday. What I didn't expect to see when I returned home was this!

he knows i'm not a flower kinda girl...
... unless i can eat them. he's a keeper!! 

We also opted to head out for dinner, and settled on Buca Di Beppo. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, like many of our choices are, but the food was delicious and for his first time being there, he really enjoyed it.

garlic bread... just the tip of the iceberg..... nom nom nom!

Happy birthday again to you, Jessica.. and happy early Valentine's to the rest of you!

TGIF!

xo | cmd