my type of people // until we meet again


I once read that there are six types of friends you should have: 
the friend who is cooler than you
the friend who is up for anything
the friend who you aspire to be
the friend who doesn't know any of your other friends
the friend who is painfully honest
the friend who has known you longer than you've known yourself

I feel fortunate to call a lot of my friends many of these things - from being way cooler than me to giving me a little bit of honesty that I need to hear - I can't count the ways I count on my friends.

This weekend I went to D.C. to visit Allie with Maggie and Jordan and by the end of the trip, I couldn't decide which was which, because they're all so outstanding at each category. My only complaint is that we were missing a few key people (ahem, ahem and ahem). Another weekend without them just won't fly.  :)


Some weekend highlights include dinner at Founding Farmers Friday, as well as dinner at We, the Pizza, Saturday. Wildly different spots, but both insanely delicious. 

We also went shopping at Eastern Market Saturday morning, where we all were successful in jewelry purchasing.



We watched the Hoosh dominate Purdue at a local IU bar. 


And so much more!

Sunday, when Allie took us to the airport, a Veteran watching us say goodbye said, "Never said goodbye. Say, until we meet again. It's never goodbye with those you love.

So, my friends, thank you for a wonderful weekend. Until we meet again...

{love}

 
As with all holidays, I'm a mighty fan of Valentine's Day. As far as I'm concerned, single doesn't have to be synonymous with cynical when it comes to February 14. Sure, it's not necessarily my fuh-avorite to go flowerless while others around me are being showered with roses. Nobody likes their have nots highlighted.

But that feeling is fleeting and greatly trumped by the happiest thought: that we're all sitting here, on this day, blatantly celebrating love. Shouting it from the rooftops - instagramming our flowers, tweeting our cards,  eating our chocolates.
 

Today, I had a few hours in Vegas before my return flight. My boss told me, in no uncertain terms, not to work this morning after our intense week. Never one to disobey orders, I thought it the perfect time to go to the outlets.

My cab driver took me to the mall, then said he'd wait for me while I shopped, since I only had about 30 minutes, then take me to the airport.

Are you sure? I asked.

Of course, he assured me.

So then I said: Well, in that case, can I leave my bag with you?

And his face lit up. He said, in broken English: that means the world to me. That you think I'm trustworthy. That you don't know me, but can tell I will protect your bag.

And while some may argue that I look at this as a lesson in being just slightly too trustworthy, I'll take a different perspective.

You see, he then went on to tell me that he left Haiti after the earthquake. He ran an orphanage there, and lost 17 of his 26 children in the aftermath. He and his four biological children and wife came to America to try to rebuild - beginning again completely. He's a minister and he's saving money right now so they can move to New York or Canada. He already has $700 saved, too and someday, when his daughter becomes a doctor, they're going to go back to Haiti to save children.

And while I sat there listening to his story, I thought about the fact that we all just want someone to listen, to care. To think that our story is worthwhile. That we're worth investing in.

We're all the same: we just want to be loved and give love.

So today, instead of thinking about the flowers that didn't get delivered to your door, or the card that didn't quite have the sentiment you were hoping for, think about all of the love around you. As you're walking down the street, or checking out at the grocery, give someone an extra long smile, or a warmer gaze than you usually do. Because today, we celebrate our love for one another. And everyone deserves to feel loved.

discovery weekend

Since moving to Atlanta, I've become slightly obsessed with knowing the city. Exploring it on foot - discovering new gems - knowing the vibe of each area. I'm ashamed to admit that if you asked me for recommendations on Indianapolis, Chicago or even Bloomington, I would run out for all three combined much faster than I would for Atlanta.

I'm not sure why this is, but I think part of it has to do with the fact that when I moved here, it was just mine - no one from my family, nor had any of my close friends ever tapped into it. So I needed to make sure I learned it, so that when they visited, they, too would realize they needed to move to this wonderful place.

I've yet to convert anyone, but I've gained a solid list of activities to show for it.

This weekend, I stumbled upon two new places that I'm now wondering how I lived without.

Melissa and Katie and I have this small obsession with being locals somewhere - those girls that are always there just loving life and happy together. Katie and I decided it might stem from a desire to make Atlanta more like our home towns - for someone to know me in the way they do in Zionsville - how I take my coffee or that I like my margarita without salt.
Melissa and I now live about ten steps from N. Highland and you're going to be hard-pressed to get us to do anything anywhere else. Seriously. We will.become.those.girls. 
Friday, we discovered Blind Willie's. If you haven't been and have any sort of appreciation for blues music, an excellent atmosphere, or old men asking you to dance, you must add it to your bucket list.
Saturday, I co-hosted a shower for Katie (photos to come) at Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Room. We had to have it at a restaurant, because, while planning it, I became somewhat homeless and didn't know where I'd be living come February (the rats had more power than even they knew).
Katie's sister, Ann Marie, found the venue. I have a tendency to be a little controlling when it comes to event planning (I made an project plan), and because Ann Marie had found the place, I wanted to let her take the lead on this portion of the shower. It took almost every bone in my body to keep me from "swinging by" or "checking up" on the place. But I really wanted to restrain myself to prove I didn't have to control everything.
The day before the shower, I talked to Ann Marie after she'd gone by to check in, and she wanted to warn me that it was "a little gritty".
I obviously panicked.
However, I was pleasantly surprised come shower time. The venue, although a little gritty, is adorable. It's quaint and warm, the food was wonderful and the shower was so happy. I would definitely host another event there, or just go enjoy afternoon coffee in Candler Park. I strongly recommend it.
So there you go - a weekend of discovering. Can't wait to share more shower pics! I hope you had a good weekend and maybe did a little exploring yourself!