accidentally {in} Concord, Mass.

This weekend, we're in Massachusetts! Marty's beautiful cousin Christine is getting married, and we have the honor of shooting her wedding. Chris and Kevin are tying the knot on Saturday, but we showed up today to scout out the area, get settled in, and eat as many whoopie pies as we possibly can. {I'm pretty sure they originated in New England. pure, confectionary amazingness!!}

On our way out of Boston, we accidentally found ourselves in Concord. And wow. and wow. and wow. and wow... for a literary nerd like myself, this town was unbelievable. Not only did the Revolutionary war start there, but some of America's incredible, incredible writers are buried there! Henry James Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne... can you believe we just "happened" to drive through this place?!

It was also our little guy's first plane ride... he did really well {really, really well, actually!}, but the minute he hit the hotel bed, he was all smiles :)

Happy Labor Day weekend!

{up north}

A few quick snapshots from a perfectly lovely weekend in Minnesota:

A heavenly candy shop in downtown Stillwater, MN... lots of chocolate, jelly beans, fudge, and taffy. Yum.

{my sister bought dark chocolate-dipped Oreos. holy cow. SO GOOD.}

A friendly little bookstore down the street... where I could have literally spent the entire day {and my entire bank account}.




My favorite part of the trip was getting to see my sister's everyday life. Now, when I call her, I can see her and her husband sitting on the couch in their comfy living room, or pouring coffee from a french press, or making the world's best bagel sandwiches... :)




{sunset over Minneapolis. who said Minnesota wasn't beautiful?}

While I was browsing through bookstores and sipping lattes, Marty stayed behind to--you guessed it--work on our house. All weekend, he texted me pictures of freshly-drywalled ceilings and doorways. mmm, progress. He's working so, so hard to get the house done before baby decides to make an appearance. Only nine weeks to go... yikes ;)

{i'm married to the most amazing man in the world.}

Hope you had a fantastic weekend :) Next up: a short work-week, and Thanksgiving!

sunset

{Have you ever heard an entire restaurant hold its breath while the sun set, and then burst into a round of applause as it finally disappeared? I have, and it was absolutely beautiful, even if some of them didn't know who they were clapping for.}

pelican

flight

travel itch

There's something about a rainy night. Water drops on the window panes, cars sloshing through wet parking lots... I curl up with a cup of coffee and imagine faraway places I'd like to visit. China. Sweden. Alaska. Ireland...

Here's a shot from my mom's recent trip to Ireland (isn't she a great photographer?):


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

luck o' the Irish

My grandma grew up on a farm in Ireland.
She came to America as a nurse,
met my grandpa (a Hungarian),
and settled in Chicago to raise their six children.

This week and next, my grandma and most of her kids
(including my mom) have traveled back to Ireland
to visit our relatives.
My great Aunt Theresa lives in a small town in the south of Ireland;
her family owns and runs a flower shop, a funeral parlor, and a pub.
(they've got their bases covered, wouldn't you say?)

I dream about going to Ireland someday.
But for now, pictures will have to suffice.
Here are some that my mom took on her last trip (in 2004).
(Don't you think she has a knack for photography?
I've just popped them a bit in Photoshop...)
With St. Patrick's Day approaching,
it seemed appropriate to spread a bit of Irish cheer :)

Since I didn't take any of these pictures,
I can't tell you about any of them--except for this one.
That's my mom on the left, and two of her sisters:

See the rainbow?

Now you want to go too, huh?
:)