Dancing Feet

My cousin Mary Kate got married on June 23rd. It was wonderful to be back in Chicago with my family for a quick trip. Cheers, Mary Kate and Kirk! I wish you guys many, many years of happiness!

Stained glass windows at St. Vincent de Paul in Chicago

 Me and Michael. Heck of a cousin, heck of a dancer. 

 My cousins Brendan and Bridget

 Bouquet

 Mi familia

 Gorgeous maids of honor. My cousins Nora and Bridget.

 Brendan and Gracie

 Parents of the bride - Aunt Barb and Uncle Tim

 Father and son

 There they are looking stunning! Mary Kate and Kirk!

 Little jokesters

 Lovey dovey

 Me with my cousins

 Grandma Marge's ring

 Centerpiece

 Cahill cousins

Me and my sista sista Lindsey!

Want vs. Need

I was taking a walk around Lake Harriet, and then I got to thinking...

One time I heard a way-too-smart 1st grader say, "I have all that I need," when asked what she wanted for her birthday. Boy, oh boy, that certainly made me do a life check. But, seriously, what do you want for your birthday? Come on. Cake? Pony? Polly Pocket?
So clearly this girl was wise beyond her years. The Winston Churchill of her day some may say. She got me thinking about the distinction between what we as humans actually need and what we just want.  I want a whole lot. Selfish. I mean, at this very moment I could really go for a Philly Cheesesteak. But, again, a want, not a need. (This could be debatable.)
I started to compile a list of my needs versus my wants. Probably just scratching the service. 

Need

1) Family

2) Friends

3) Love

4) Laughter

5) Shelter

6) Nutrients

7) Education

Want

1) Food involving cheese

2) Ryan Gosling

3) A front porch with a breathtaking view

4) Weekly Harry Belafonte dance parties (again, can be argued as a need)

5) A trip to Ireland. Particularly Gougane Barra

6) To be bffs with Harry, Ron and Hermione

7) A baller style that looks effortless but actually isn't

Bridesmaids

 It's funny how certain people can bring out these childish emotions. 

Don't tempt me. 

{via}

TWIN CITIES BBQ

I hosted a BBQ and Olympics party this past weekend. It was a success. Dancing, eating, drinking, singing, games and lots of laughing. Not a shabby weekend one bit. 

{Allison, Stacey, Ari -  Team Azerbaijan}

 {Rachel, me, Kyle - Team USA}

 {Natalie, Ali, Megan - Team Espana}

 {Mal and Carlos - Team Belarus}

 {Rachel just strutting her stuff}

 {Natalie and her beautiful smile}

 {Game spectators in my backyard}

 {Chicas bonitas}

 {Natalie either crushing it or whiffing}

 {Kyle and Ali}

 {Dancing}

 {Dancing and collapsing}

 {Possibly the tango?}

 {Part of the group}

 {Driveway dance party}

 {Stephen and Allison}

 {Allison and Rachel}

 {Team America a lil bit hot and sweaty}

Camping in Somerset, WI

I went camping for the first time. "What you are 23 and never have been camping?" Yeah, yeah, yeah, hush up. I don't come from a very campy family. When I was in 6th grade my best friend Sam and I had a tent sleepover in her backyard and we watched the movie Anaconda on a portable DVD player. Does that count? Nah, didn't think so. 
On this camping trip we had a bon fire, floated down the Apple river, hunted some wild geese and discovered unchartered territory. Those last two didn't actually happen. 
Fun was had be all! Especially me because I didn't even have to use a porter potty or go outside; there was an actual bathroom within 100 steps. Score! In conclusion, I'm super outdoorsy. 

Candid shot in front of DQ wonderfulness - Allison, Mal, Rachel, Stacey, Ari

Me with my first beer/bon fire combo of the summer

Cute friends

Allison

We decided these two songs would make nice companions to our tube floating experience. 

Oh my. Those mutton chops. 

People and Places

Last Friday was my last day of teaching. Summer has been awesome thus far. I've done a whole lot of relaxing and reading. My high school self would never have believed this, but a year of work has actually made it possible for me to naturally get up at 8 a.m. (or earlier). I don't even need to set my alarm. I just wake up, look at the clock, give myself a thumbs up and waltz downstairs to make coffee and toast a bagel. 

I sometimes amaze myself with how much I can get done when I choose not to be lazy. I make a To Do list (I'm a little obsessed with them) and then I just power through that bad boy. Yesterday, before noon, I did laundry, watched my friend's little brother play in a State tennis match, went for a walk around the lake, stubbed my toe, paid bills, contemplated weeding my driveway (but didn't), talked to a college roommate for a half hour, made lunch, ate lunch, did dishes, cleaned my room, swept the entire house and then read the book Mockingjay on my back porch for an hour. ALL BEFORE NOON! Mom and dad, can you even believe this?

In other news, I've been perusing some of my favorite blogs, many of which I like just because of the peaceful and/or funny pictures posted. Looking at them reminded me of how I need to get started on collecting footage for my "Summer in Minnesota" video I'm going to make. I love just walking around town with my camera in hand. Happy place. 

So, here are some pictures from around the world, from both the present and the past. I like em. 

MJ, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson. Always ballers. 

Rachel McAdams. Making girls everywhere jealous since 2004.

They were just babies. Also, who the heck is the guy on the right?

Just look at his proud mama. 

I'm so confused. But this looks awesome.

Love this movie. True love.

Once.

Lovely.

Beautiful.

Well then. Luke Bryan. 

Adorable. My invite must have gotten lost in the mail. 

 Me and my Madison gals in Vegas last year. 

Diverge

{Lake Mendota via}

On my way home from my softball game last night, I was about 2 blocks away from home when this song came on. Now, I'm not particularly a huge fan of this band, but just a few familiar tunes brings on a flood of memories. Two summers ago my aunt invited me to a Goo Goo Dolls concert. She and the rest of her nurse buddies enjoy their songs and bought some tickets to see them at Northerly Island. I had nothing to do, and I love hanging out with my aunt, uncle and cousins, so I gladly accepted. 

I'll never forget how my Uncle Skip kept checking to see if I wanted something to eat or drink. Whenever I tried to give him money, he would just wave his hand and say, "Don't even think about it."

I really miss my uncle. July will mark a year since his passing. He was such a friendly, big-hearted guy. The best of the best. 

So, when I heard "Slide" come on the radio, I diverged from my planned path and instead headed to the lake. I circled that lake two times with my car windows down.  It felt good to just "be."

{Sarah, Sean, Aunt Maureen, Colleen, me, Uncle Skip at the concert}