This is La Vie en Rose

I know I’m super far behind, but here are some pics from Lisa’s wedding weekend. It was a perfect weekend filled with love, laughter and of course, dance offs. After arriving on Thursday, we had an impromptu BBQ in the patio of the hotel, where we met 77% of the wedding guests…Lisa’s Overman Family. And it’s where Sebastian and I first met with my poor Spanish speaking skills. He was a great sport with my charades.

Friday morning we had an early rehearsal at the mountain…my first time seeing the venue. It was simply breathtaking. I seriously felt like we were getting ready to shoot a movie, it just did not feel real. Jem also finally came in town and our 2-year absence from each other’s lives ended. I seriously could not stop smiling having him back around.

The wedding was like all weddings, a complete whirlwind that felt like it was over in minutes. But I am so very thankful I got to be a part of the day and Lisa and Ryan just looked stunning.

My favorite part of the weekend was Friday night before the wedding, sitting in a hotel room with Lisa and a few other girls. We did a jumping on the bed routine (where Bridesmaid Cora accidentally punched Maid of Honor Rachel in the face) and I was just in fits of giggles. Lisa is just the same lass I met 8 years ago.

Lisa and Ryan’s first dance was to Louis Armstrong’s La Vie en Rose from WALL-E, their first date. Needless to say, this wedding weekend purely captured the love that continues to blossoms between these two. Cheers to Mrs. & Mr. Watson!

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The Funny Bones

This week, the Dalai Lama provided a bit for The Daily Beast from his new book My Spiritual Journey. The whole article stems around the power of laughter and smiling. It’s no secret that I truly do enjoy laughing. I think a good belly laugh can go a long way. And I think a day is successful when I laugh until I can’t breathe, squirt something out of my nose, snort, double over in pain, etc. A few of what the Dalai (or is it Lama?) wrote in his book makes me eager to pick up a copy:

We are always amusing ourselves, teasing each other, joking. It’s our habit.

I truly believe that this idea of constant joking is key to my life being as fantastic as it is. Yea, life is rough. And the world is flat. And woe is me. But focusing on all of these doesn’t do anyone any good. It’s finding the humor in every situation I encounter that makes me able to continue on, no matter the challenge or problem. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure I would never leave home.

If we want those smiles, we must create the reason to make them appear.

Nothing lights up my life more than giving someone a smile. It’s something we all have in abundance in our lives. Our time, our money, hell our life only has so much “wealth” to it. But smiles? Those are something we can easily pull out at any time to change any type of mood. Life is only what you make of it. It’s only what you put in to it. So why not create fantastic moments that leave people with a feeling of jubilation?

I try to remember these ideas when I get wrapped up in a moment or argument. Will this matter in five years? Will I still feel this angry in five minutes? I have yet to answer these questions with affirmative yeses. So instead, I smile and laugh at myself for taking life way too seriously.

 

Despite wearing a Cubs shirt, and being surrounded by Cubs fans, I'm elated. Has everything to do with the company you keep, and mainly, spending an afternoon with Manch.

 

 

 

36-Hour Man-cation

Every year, the Oakville boys come up to Chicago for Cubs/Cards games. And no girls are ever allowed (though a few manage to sneak in from time to time). This year, it was all man, except a few of the boys needed a place to crash…so I obliged and in turn received the coveted invite to the Man-cation event.

On Friday, once the boys decided to leave STL, they got here at like midnight I believe. It’s pouring rain, I’m exhausted, but in true man fashion, we head out to the pubs around my place. Which means we’re out until four. I tried not to nag (nothing worse than a woman nagging on man-cation), so I just casually fell asleep at the table. Thankfully, they took the hint.

The next morning we awake to……..Deutman cooking up some meat. I had my first ever, steak ‘n eggs. A slab of meat with some scrambled eggs. Manly. Finally we’re out the door and heading to Wrigley for the game and meeting up with a few more boys. I literally was in tears throughout the whole game just laughing. And I’m sure everyone around us sat there wondering what a little lass with pigtails was doing with 6 dudes. After the game, we ventured into Wrigley, met up with even more high school guys and ran into some other boys (more STL, Kansas). It was just so fantastic to turn around and see more friendly faces dressed in red.

Needless to say, I never once was in the company of a gal (until Jackie showed up) and I loved everything about it. I loved the fact there was always at least 2 guys looking around wondering where I was. There was always someone to talk to and someone to make you laugh until your sides split. There was always a dance partner to hit up the dance floor with. And most importantly, there was always someone ready to leave with me.

Most of these guys I have known since 7th grade, but some of them, I never really talked with during school. And I rarely see these boys when I head home. But when Erik & Company left the apartment on Sunday morning, I felt a little sad. Then I immediately scrolled through my contact lists and got in some serious chat time with all my gal pals.

We’ve come along way from our days at OJHS

Street Fest with Jeff & Co and wrestling masks

A friendly face from Q’s