Five Years

This weekend Hubby and I reached a milestone: we celebrate FIVE years of marriage! Although aren't officially celebrating until Tuesday night with a dinner reservation at a celebrity restaurant we've been dying to try, and later with a gift exchange we decided on earlier this week {more to come on that}.

This weekend we spent most of our time hauling stuff to our storage unit, packing, cleaning, and dropping off piles  to donate at The Salvation Army {naturally}. The weather was awful and I had crazy back spasms all weekend. We were able to spend a little time celebrating with Hubby's parents {who came to help us move and take a trailer full of things we don't need back to Michigan}. We had dinner at a classic Chicago restaurant: Marcello's.

Happy Anniversary, Hubby. Thanks for being my "partner for life".

xo,

PJ

Weekly Gratitude: 19th Edition

{via We Heart It}

These are the things I'm thankful for this week:

• My sunglasses from Target


• Fun time with family: prepping our new room, cooking, and going to a baseball game


• Getting my cousin's wedding invitation for a summer wedding - I'm so happy for her {and her soon-to-be hubby}


• Purging in preparation for the move: getting rid of stuff that we don't need/use/want anymore feels INCREDIBLE.

In all honesty, this week has been pretty rough. Hubby and I are going through so many changes right now. It feels like if I have to adjust to even one more thing, I'm going to lose my marbles. Do you ever have times like that? It's awful.

We move into our new room starting this weekend. We're moving over a few of our furniture pieces, and then finishing the move the following weekend {which just so happens to be our 5th wedding anniversary} by cramming all of our stuff into a storage unit and cleaning out our current apartment. Packing always makes me 1) Realize how much stuff we really have that we don't actually need and 2) Reminisce about all of the stuff that we're moving {hey, remember when ... OR hey, I remember where I bought this ...}.

I will be even more thankful when these next few weeks have passed, and we are settled into our new living space.

xoxo

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Coeur de Pirate

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/1852925 w=400&h=270]

Coeur de pirate || Comme des enfants [vidéoclip officiel] from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

For this week's installment of Inspired Tuesday I bring you Coeur de Pirate. Confession: I don't speak French. There's just something about the language {this song especially} that makes me feel inspired.  Basically, this song makes me want to dance around the room and sway.  Do you feel it too? {I credit to my obsession with French and French music to the film "Amelie" and the Amelie Soundtrack.}

Be Inspired. Enjoy.

xoxo

PJ

PS: Isn't the video adorable?!

Weekly Gratitude: 18th Edition

Things I'm thankful for this week:

• The heat: I love the heat. I'm so thankful for the sun and the warmth that it brings to the City.


• Spring smells: fresh-cut grass, blooming trees, it's so refreshing to have new scents around the City.


• Happy hour(s) at Starbucks: half price frappuccino, anyone? Don't have to ask me twice.


• Outdoor seating at restaurants.


• The park: nothing is better than spending time on a Sunday afternoon relaxing at the park with my Kindle.


• Fun events: this week I attended a Fleet Feet Girls' Night Out and got cupcakes, drinks, and a free sports bra fitting!

To learn more about Weekly Gratitude, click here.

xoxo

PJ

The Next Chapter

When Hubby decided it was time to go back to school {to get a Master's in Nursing Degree}, we talked about the sacrifices we would need to make. I took on a twice/month weekend job to help make ends meet with Hubby's inevitable switch to a part-time job.

Any married couple {or long-term relationship couple} knows that over the years of being together you learn to problem-solve together ... it's much easier this way. We discussed moving into a studio apartment, selling off a majority of our belongings, having roommates, moving out of the City ... exploring pretty much every option imaginable. After deciding that the City still fits our goals {PJ's job, Hubby's school}, the next thing to decide was where we were going to cut our living expenses.

My parents {who live just a few miles from our apartment} offered us a room in their home to save money on rent/expenses while Hubby was in school {insert sharp inhale}.  We talked about it: agreed, disagreed, analyzed, and ultimately came to a conclusion {after about 6 months} that it's an incredible opportunity to hit the reset button and prioritize our lives. So that's where we're headed at the end of May. We will be moving in with my parents to save money, pay off debt, and shed the extra stuff in our lifestyle to be better prepared for the future.

Follow along as the next chapter unfolds ... as we reflect on our experience of living with our family: the good, the bad, and the yet-to-be-determined.

xoxo

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Bloomin'

This week's Inspired Tuesday post relates to the beauty that is blooming around Chicago right now. {I think this is a Pink Satin Crabapple tree ... }

All of a sudden it's as if the trees, plants, and flowers have sprung to life again. It's so lovely.

I'm inspired to enjoy this season: to spend every minute that I can outdoors soaking up the sunshine rays, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying long walks along Lake Michigan.

Are things blooming to life where you live?

xoxo,

PJ

New Blog: PJ & HUBBY

Hear ye, Hear ye!

I've moved. 

Blogging platforms, that is.

Find me {and hubby} at our new blog:

PJ & HUBBY

xoxo

Foodie Monday: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

[slideshow]

A few weeks ago Hubby and I went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for the first time. There are several locations now throughout the city, and we've heard good things. I had the "little cheeseburger" which was just enough for me & Hubby had the "regular cheeseburger" {which was too much for him}. It was really delicious {hello, toppings}! The drink station was my favorite part: you can mix and match flavors with pop/carbonated water {I love grenadine}.

All in all: good burger, good fries, and good drinks.I think we'll be back.

xoxo,

PJ

Momma

This year for Mother's Day my sister {the one who lives in Chicago} and I decided to take Momma out for a classic Girls' Night Out: dinner and a chick flick. We enjoyed dinner at That Little Mexican Cafe in Evanston, and then saw Something Borrowed. Lots of laughter, a few tears, and quality time together to celebrate our Momma. I'm so thankful for my Momma: for her grace, patience, and love. She's an amazing woman, and I'm so thankful that she's my mother.

xoxo,

PJ

Weekly Gratitude: 16th + 17th Editions

This week (and last week) I'm thankful for:

• Hubby only having two weeks left of classes (yay!)
• Moving plans coming together
• Plans to celebrate my Momma with a girls' night out for Mother's Day weekend
• Paid vacation/personal time; I'm thankful that I can take a day (or two, three, four) off when I need it
• New sunglasses from Target
• Laughing with my Hubby about silly things: Lennon's farts, and when I'm wrong about something and even though I know I'm wrong, I'm adamant about it
• Good music from my favorite KEXP (if only I lived in Seattle!)

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

Weekly Gratitude: 16th + 17th Editions

This week (and last week) I'm thankful for:

• Hubby only having two weeks left of classes (yay!)


• Moving plans coming together


• Plans to celebrate my Momma with a girls' night out for Mother's Day weekend


• Paid vacation/personal time; I'm thankful that I can take a day (or two, three, four) off when I need it


• New sunglasses from Target


• Laughing with my Hubby about silly things: Lennon's farts, and when I'm wrong about something and even though I know I'm wrong, I'm adamant about it


• Good music from my favorite KEXP (if only I lived in Seattle!)

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

Re: Launch

I first started "blogging" in college when everyone was obsessed with Xanga. Do you remember Xanga? I was obsessed: constantly updating posts, featuring photos, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Fast forward a few years to when I have completely forgotten about Xanga, but suddenly blogs are everywhere: blogs dedicated to shoes, bags, clothes, home design, kitchens, homes, bathrooms, children, and pets. Woah. Blog overload. Enter Pilar, looking for a way to re-join the blogging community. I love shopping, fashion, and clothes. I should blog about these things, right? Wrong. It's not really "me". So I've taken stock of the things that I do blog about: my life in this city, my husband, our dog, recipes, food, photographs, an occasional outfit that I adore, etc.

I'm starting over, folks: relaunching, if you will. I'm launching myself (and Hubby, too) forward into a different direction, a blog that better represents myself and my life. 

More updates coming soon.

xoxo