While most of Sean's party were local or already in town, my girls were scattered about the country: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, to be exact. On Friday, they all crept in throughout the day. Some, but sadly not all of them, began the day getting mani-pedis with me!

 And then it was off to the church to set up for the next day before rehearsing

First up on my lesser known gem tour of course would have to be a museum.  I can't give you a favorites list of anything Chicago without one!  Number one would have to be the Chicago History Museum.  2.5 miles north of the Loop and right at the southern edge of Lincoln Park (the actual park and the neighborhood) this is a perfect place to head to get away from the craziness that can be the Loop during tourist season.  This museum is a great place to learn about Chicago past and present.  I actually just went this past weekend with my good friend Lauren.  I won't tell you too much cause I'm going to have a nice big post for you next week on my blog.  Needless to say it's worth the 156 bus ride north.  The Chicago History Museum has everything from the 1893 Columbian Exposition (a favorite of yours truly) to Al Capone to current temporary exhibits like the fashion of Ebony Magazine (a Chicago based gem!).  Oh in case you're wondering that's me as a Chicago style hot dog at the Chicago History Museum.   

One of my all time favorite places in the Chicago area is Russell's BBQ.  It's located in Elmwood Park just outside of the city.  Unfortunately the easiest (and safest!) way to get there is driving.  We have been going here since I was little, heck I think my dad (and various aunts and uncles) have been going here since he was a kid, the place has been open since 1930 after all.  The best thing is their BBQ pork sandwhich.  MMMM!  I'm salivating just thinking about.  When I say bbq pork you probably think of shredded meat doused in BBQ sauce well not here. At Russell's they slice their pork, and probably the beef and ham too but I've never gotten those, and you can add as much BBQ sauce as you like at the table. 

Bad Apple is a yummy place I found earlier this year when my friend Saige was in town.  It's just a bit south of Montrose and Lincoln, so there are definitely public transportation options to getting there.  They are known for being a gourmet burger joint but what really sets them apart is the gourmet frie upgrades.  Definitely try the fries with the truffle or garlic seasoning ... but beware of the garlic YOWZA!  Not for date nights, unless the person really likes you already, like the hubby and I cause I know he would most likely go for those fries and I would let him cause I'm an awesome wife like that.  I actually didn't end up even having a burger that night I had the Hickory Hillbilly (pulled pork) and it was delicious.  I did try a bit of my friends Edmund Fig-Gerald (Edmund Fitzgerald porter, fig & bacon relish, goat cheese, smoked onion) and it was so good.  I would do it without the onions though (yech!).  If you're going on a weekend I would head there early because it was packed but they are open super late so maybe your chances would be better then. 

My last hidden gem of Chicago is the Frango Mint Cafe in Macy's on State St.  Can you tell I like to eat?  This place is one of my favorites when we're in the Loop.  Most people tend to go to the Walnut Room while they're at Macy's but I prefer the Frango Cafe.  It's only open for lunch so be sure to take that into account.  They have a  yummy half sandwich, cup of soup with chips and a pickle meal for a great price (last time I was there it was $7.95) but the best part of the meal is that it comes with either a piece of Frango Mint Cheesecake or Frango Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Pie!  The ice cream pie is AMAZING!  If you don't make it for lunch at the Frango the Walnut serves the ice cream pie as well.  MMMMM!  

I'm Holly and I blog over at Back Home Again, mostly about my family and our attempts to live sustainably. This summer we, along with another family, joined a CSA. It's something I have wanted to do for awhile now and I'm so excited we got to finally do it this year.

 

A CSA, or Community Shared Agriculture, is a farm dividing up all its produce among a group of shareholders who share with the farmer the risks and benefits of farming. Each week we get a share of the fruits and vegetables grown at the farm. We've received all sorts of goodies, some of my favorites are broccoli, spinach, strawberries, Sungold tomatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, kohlrabi, green beans and blackberries. We've received many more veggies than this too.


Our CSA lasts from mid-May through early-November - almost six months! I absolutely love it. Having fresh veggies every week that are locally grown AND Certified Naturally Grown is so awesome. We have more than made up for the cost of our share. Another thing I love about it is that my son gets to experience first hand where his food comes from, something that I think is definitely lacking in this country - and he loves it! Once my daughter is old enough, she will come along too. Localharvest.org is a great website to find local CSA's. They're expensive, but if you're able to afford it or can split the cost with another family, I highly recommend joining a CSA near you.

Guest: Did you make this?

Me: Yeah.

Guest: It's really good.

Me: Thanks. I wasn't sure how it would taste with pumpkin beer.

Guest: It's good. I have some beer bread mix at home, and I should make it, but I'm scared I'll ruin it with the wrong beer.

While #1 is technically true, you are getting ripped off if you are buying beer bread mix. Beer bread contains three ingredients, and there's a good chance at least two of them are in your home at any given time. That should help you see already that #2 is false, and thus, I am posting this super easy, super lazy recipe to save you a few bucks....and so your house can smell of fresh baked bread!

Today starts the September Sponsors Giveaway from Southern Beauty Guide! Some amazing prizes are up for grabs, so make sure that you enter to win! Each sponsor offers something unique and interesting, so make sure you stop by and check them out!

I felt it a few weeks ago when I finished reading 40 Days of Dating

I felt it again last week when I watched the season finale of Breaking Pointe

Frustration. Pure and simple frustration. My mind screamed so loud, I wasn't sure if it was really my mind or if it was actually me. The reason for the frustration is the same every time;the above scenarios have a serious flaw in common. I'm finally going to empty my mind and talk about the frustration. 

In all fairness, the media doesn't show us everything. In all fairness, I've been married only three years. But we've been together nearly nine and the "D" word isn't in our vocabulary. God forbid it ever makes an appearance, I hope I remember the words I am recording now, because I feel this is the reason so many relationships are failing.

People are giving up. They aren't trying. They aren't fighting. They're just quitting. It's sad and infuriating all at once.

I, like many citizens of blog land, eagerly awaited those last few 40 Days of Dating posts that Tim and Jessica withheld from us for a few weeks. Some days, it seemed like they could never work out. Other days, their relationship looked promising.

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SPOILERS AHEAD

Of course, we know that by day 39, things looked pretty bleak. What should have been a romantic trip to the "most magical place on earth" went very wrong. A fight was picked and nasty words that can't be taken back were said...all fueled by a forgotten jacket.

It wasn't the fight that upset me. Yes, it was awful, and honestly, I wouldn't want to be with a guy who said things like what Tim said to Jessica that day. They were unfair, unwarranted, unnecessary.

What upset me was the lack of trying, mainly on Tim's part. In the beginning, we see the two share their goals and their drawbacks. They typecast themselves as the commitment phobe and the serial monogamist.

But wasn't the goal of the experiment to investigate why and to work on those things? I feel like throughout the blog, we see Jessica taking her counseling to heart and applying it. Instead of being offended by Tim's actions, she thinks about why. When something she does upsets him, she takes the criticism and tries something different the next time. A perfect example was the very fight I just referred to. Tim complains that Jessica doesn't defend herself, so she does. And you know what? He reacts and chooses not to like it anyway. Really, dude?

In the meantime, I feel like Tim has his good moments, but for the most part he's whining. All throughout the project: "I feel pressured!"  He says so all. the. time! We see maximum whining and minimal trying. Then on day 40, he has the nerve to say "I know now that I’m in love with her. I love her, yet I know there’s nothing else I can do."

Really? Really? Love involves actions and trying and things you could have done if you didn't put yourself on the defensive this whole experiment. Agh! Both parties admitted feelings for the other; Imagine how different things could have been if both parties actually tried. The best moments in chick flicks are the ones where one party fights for the other. That element was notably absent here.

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I don't know how many people watch(ed) Breaking Pointe. It's a reality ballet mini-series on the CW. I found the first series on hulu and was thrilled when a second season was announced.

Of course, what would reality tv be if it were all dancing and no drama? There was drama aplenty this season, some from a younger, immature dancer, and more from two married dancers we met the previous season, principals Chris and Christiana.

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Right from the beginning, Christiana admits there is trouble in paradise. We don't know specifics, and we see very minimal interaction between the two all season since she has decided the two shouldn't talk at work. Many times, we see Chris try to approach her only to receive a cold shoulder.

Again, in all fairness, tv can hide or show what it wants to. What it does show is a vague interview almost every episode saying the same things: we're going through hard times, we shouldn't talk at work, I need to get on my own to figure things out and get my life back on track.

It's sad. We don't know specifics, and again, we don't see interaction whether it be conversation or argument. We see some attempts from Chris to reach out before he eventually gives up.

The season is short, focusing on one winter ballet. I was hoping that with the stress of the performance removed, they could work together. Take a time out? Fine. But see a counselor, talk it out, something!

Instead, we see a sad Christiana withdrawing more and more, and an exhausted Chris in the last few episodes acknowledging that he doesn't like things, but he "has to let her go."

I hate that phrase. What does that even mean? She's your wife! Marriage works when people take the harder route of holding on, not letting go! Fight. for. it.

But. alas, he lets her walk away. And when the series finale aired, the end "where are they now?" text reveals that the two have since divorced.

My heart sank and screamed at the same time for both of these couples. A love story that could have so easily been preserved with effort. But our society doesn't seem to believe in effort anymore.

My love story is young. Only three years of marriage (though many more of dating). Things haven't been so hard on us. Life has been hard, but marriage has not. We haven't been forced to try. Yet.

One day, we likely will. I pray that I will be wise enough to look back to what I'm feeling now and remember my own words. Try. Do something. Fight for your love story. Isn't it worth it?

  Holly     •     Brianna     •   Aleshea    •    Katie    •      Betsy

Let me know if you try le recipe. Heck, or you could just let Bekah know. I'll see it on the count of me being her slacker. 

One word - wedding!

We had a great time with family as Sean's cousin, Nicole tied the knot! It's always great to see everyone and have some fun. 

I decided to enjoy the event and company versus take a ton of pictures, so there aren't too many. Here's a few of us, some details, and the gorgeous venue!

Diaries of an Essex Girl // Niescior's Notes //

Beauty Without Limits // Boone and Owl // Crazy Perfect Life / Gee Whiskers! // H & K Style Journey // Karly Kim //

Love Me, Dani Marie // PINKx3 // Realities of Brandi // Re'solve // Scarves etc. // The Rancic Army

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No Maryland! via

No MD here either :( via