Well, Hello There!

Well hello there my friends! It has been too long, and I have missed you all and this little blog. I was struggling keeping up with it as is with my new job and the new house...but then add planning a wedding {across the country!} into the picture and needless to say I've been quite busy. However, as I've said before - this blog has been truly a happy place for me so I'm really going to make a conscientious effort to invest in more time for myself, creative pursuits, and this blog. So to catch up, I thought I'd share a little of what I have been up to as of late {via my Instagram account}.

My mom threw us the most beautiful and thoughtful engagement party a few weeks after we returned from Thailand. It was very emotional being surrounded by all of our best friends and family and was the first time that we really felt like, "Wow...we're actually getting married!" My mom saw this cake on my pinterest board and had our favorite grocery store create it for us. So perfect!

Visiting one of my absolutely favorite places in Indianapolis, The Cake Bake Shop. The owner is a genius and is as much of a Francophile as I am. I love stopping in to grab a croissant and pretend like I'm in Paris. If you're ever in Indianapolis I couldn't recommend this bakery enough, and please do try their high tea.

We got wallpaper installed in our downstairs guest room/my office and I have to say that I am obsessed! The wallpaper is Smokey Rose from Anthropologie. Any man that allows you to install floral wallpaper in your home is a keeper in my book :)

I just couldn't help myself from picking up these adorable cake plates and card from Bhldn. I just love buying little gifts for Ryan just because!

We went to Chicago for the weekend for Ryan's cousin's wedding and hdd time to head to the Trump Tower for cocktails. Talk about a view!

Memorial Day weekend my mom and I packed our bags and headed west to spend five days in Napa and Sonoma. It was absolutely magical!

During our wine country trip I fell head over heels for this beautifully designed and impeccably curated shop in Healdsburg. SHED features gourmet groceries {read: perfect place to stop before your vineyard picnic}, unique housewares, and a fantastic little cafe. If you're in the area you absolutely must visit!

I finally got rid of my mountain bike circa 1999 and upgraded to a sleek and comfortable hybrid bike. Finally, I can enjoy the fantastic bike trails that Indianapolis is known for!

While I actually haven't gone dress shopping {we JUST now picked a venue!} it has been fun to stop into a few bridal stores just to look. Pictured is a beautiful new bridal boutique that opened up a block from my childhood home in Oakwood called Louise Christine.

I've seriously been loving our back patio! Unfortunately it has been unseasonably rainy this summer, but whenever the sun peeks out I head out here with a glass of wine and a book.

Two weeks ago we headed up north to the lake house my family has visited for the last fifty years. It is on a pristine lake in Northern Wisconsin and feels like it has been untouched since the 1950's. The house doesn't have internet or cable {we like it that way!} so we spend our days swimming, fishing, kayaking, and of course eating cheese and drinking wine.

A lake tradition - a gourmet cookout at the cove. This year we enjoyed salmon burgers, roasted vegetable quinoa salad, and fire grilled potatoes. We drank wine that my mom and I picked up during our wine country trip and for dessert ate s'mores. It was perfect!