Loop Yarn Shop

Remember how I told you here that Daniel and I visted a yarn shop while I was in Milwaukee?

I think it's a good thing that I didn't have very much time to shop or very much room in my suitcase...The shop was bright and cheery, with all of the yarn stacked on shelves by weight and color. 

(Loop Yarn Shop)

Ah, so pretty! I love it when things are arranged by color! I actually bought some of the yarn in the picture below in light blue.

And the shop is right next to an Alterra coffee shop - what could be better?

(What could be better - or worse - is that I just discovered they will soon have an online shop!)

While there, I also bought some yarn to knit a scarf for Daniel. I think this is how the deal went down*:

Me: (while admiring a chunky cream scarf and some bulky weight yarn near it) This is really nice!

Daniel: It is. It looks really warm!

Me: I could make you one like it, but I don't have any needles big enough for this size yarn.

Daniel: I could make you some needles...

Me: Really?!? Ok. If you make me some knitting needles, I'll knit you a scarf.

Both: Deal!

Done.

Yep, Daniel made those for me. Isn't he the best?

The yarn is fifty percent wool and fifty percent alpaca and extrmely soft. I had so much fun using my new needles to make the scarf, and I can't wait to give it to him!

:)

*I just made up half of that conversation, but that's basically how it went.

How To Waste a Gallon of Milk

During my trip to Milwaukee, I decided to try my hand at latte art.

(Yes, I just linked to Wikipedia. Don't judge. You know you use it, too.)

Daniel works at an Alterra coffee shop in Milwaukee and is learning how to make latte art. Here's one of his mocha creations...

...be still, my heart.

I wanna learn! So learn I did.

We used a gallon of milk, some old espresso beans, and Daniel's new Presso espresso maker.

My first attempt? A major fail.

I think I'll call this "blobby-bent-spoon-thing."

Just let me tell you now that I am a perfectionist, and I don't like trying something new and failing. I was determined to make something pretty. I think Daniel was amused by my eagerness to keep trying!

Attempt number two:

Sigh...more blobbiness. (I just decided that's a word.)

I turned to the internet for a little help and watched this video about ten times in a row.



Attempt number three was a little better...

...a blobby heart.

I watched the video a few more times, put my game face on, and moved on to attempt number four...

...SUCCESS!

Isn't it pretty? :)

Daniel can tell you that there was much squealing and jumping up and down after I made this one.

(I did try one more after this, but let's just say I should have stopped while I was ahead.)

Here's one of Daniel's from the night:

:)

p.s. More on the yarn shop later...I know you guys want to hear about it!

Chicago, Chicago!

During my trip to Milwaukee, Daniel and I drove down to Chicago to spend a day exploring with my aunt and cousin.

We met them in Millennium Park and went ice skating!

(I am not the best ice skater by any means. Daniel had to drag me away from the wall. I consider it a successful outing if I don't do a face plant.)

Daniel's "Man Pose" on ice...

...and by The Bean.

We all tried the Man Pose...and I ended up giggling.



I think this picture from Giordano's needs little explanation other than yummy.

This picture from the Hershey's store needs no explanation at all.

We waited until after dark to visit the observatory of the John Hancock building, and the views were gorgeous!

I'm pretty sure I have a sixth sense when it comes to finding H&M stores, and I just have to go in when I find one because we don't have one in Greenville. So there it was - on the Magnificent Mile - calling my name. Cue my "I'm-really-sorry-you-have-to-go-shopping-but-we're-going-in face" to Daniel, and a happy hour was spent buying a cozy sweater and pretty dress while the boys tried on goofy hats.

And apparently Daniel has a modeling career in his future. Pretty good, no? ;)

We later went on a carriage ride!

Ahh, the perfect ending to a very lovely day!

:)

Chocolate Milk. Oh, and Milwaukee.

I'm back from my trip to Milwaukee!

(And a trip this weekend to Augusta to play with the symphony.)

Daniel and I had a great weekend together exploring Milwaukee!

He picked me up from the airport, and during the car ride to his house he told me that there was a present waiting for me in the refrigerator. (Wait, what?)

Yes! Chocolate milk! He apparently read this post, and there was chocolate milk waiting for me.

He's a keeper, right?

That night we went downtown to dinner and the symphony, where we saw one of my favorite violinists, Itzhak Perlman, play! It was a beautiful concert!

Here we are all dressed up - and freezing - waiting for the bus.

On Friday, we drove down to Chicago! Lots of pictures to come!

The next day, we went on a tour of Lakefront Brewery. It was a fun time...

...and we met up with a friend of mine from Florida State who is now living in Milwaukee.

By the end of the tour, I was pretty giggly, and Daniel and I tried to take some photos. He and his family often make "The Face" in pictures, and I tried...and failed. It's hilarious!

On Sunday, we made some yummy breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and some real bacon...

...and drove around Milwaukee for a bit looking at some huge houses, including one by Frank Lloyd Wright. (At one point, I wanted to be an architect, and I love Wright's architecture!)

We stopped for some coffee at Alterra, the coffee shop where Daniel works, and I ended up buying a cute mug and a t-shirt. (I have a thing for coffee mugs. And teacups. And t-shirts.) I also had my first taste of chai - so yummy!

There happened to be a yarn shop across the street...more on that later. Let's just say that if there had been more time to shop and more room in my suitcase, my bank account may have been depleted...

So, on Monday, it was time to say goodbye, but we got to hang out again this weekend in Augusta!

:)

You'll Lose the Blues in Chicago

Daniel and I are heading to Chicago this morning!!!

(Chicago Skyline)

This is my first trip to Chicago, and I am super excited!

We, of course, have plans to visit the Bean, among other things...

(The Bean)



...including pizza at Giordano's.

Yum.

(Giordano's)

We're meeting up with my aunt and a friend from Greenville, who are going to show us around the town.

I'll be sure to have pictures when I get back home!

MKE. Brew City. The Wauk.

Yep, I'm heading to Milwaukee today!

(Milwaukee At Night) 

Although when I get there it will probably look more like this...a little frozen over.

(Milwaukee)

I've had my fair share of cold and snow this week, and I'm hoping that I can get out of the South without too many problems!

I'm going up until Monday to visit Daniel, and I am so excited!!! We haven't seen each other in over a month now!

We have plans to see Lake Michigan, drink coffee, travel to Chicago, visit the Milwaukee Art Museum, go on a brewery tour, and go ice skating.

But tonight when I get there, we're going to see Itzhak Perlman, one of my favorite violinists, play with the Milwaukee Symphony!

(Itzhak Perlman)

What to wear to said concert in frigid temperatures and still manage to look cute is a bit of a head scratcher, but I'll figure it out. I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back!

Have a great day everyone!

:)

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I want to thank you all for the birthday wishes! They really made my day!

There isn't much you can do on my birthday, but I did enjoy getting a new camera, playing in the candlelight Christmas Eve service, and eating the red velvet cupcakes my mom made for me.

See Exhibit A:

Mmmm, yes, please. I should definitely mention that she made these from scratch. Not out of a box. From scratch - icing and all.

Also over the holidays, I was nominated  for a couple of awards.

The first is a Stylish Blogger Award from both Mindy of In the Loop and Nichelle of Vintage Wanna Bee. Thanks ladies!

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself. Ok, here goes.

1. I really, really like chocolate milk. I, however, did not like it until recently, which is strange, considering my chocoholic tendencies. I drink it almost every night before bed, and I specifically like Publix's chocolate milk. I'm not sure if I could live in a place without a Publix. I wonder if they would ship it to me?

2. I'm a violinist, and I will be graduating on May 14th with my Masters in Violin Performance. (It's already written in my planner. I'm ready.)

3. I want to be a strings teacher, and I am hoping and praying to find a job for next year.

4. My mom and I were talking the other night, and she told me that when I was in kindergarten I said, "The only boy I like to play with is my Daddy." Sorry Daniel.

5. I'm pretty sure my first celebrity crush was Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Ha, 90s anyone?

6. One of my favorite children's books is Goodnight Moon. I was always concerned that the mouse was too close to the fire and was going to get burnt.

7. I don't have a southern accent despite living in the south for my entire life. The rest of my family does. Weird, I know.

I'm supposed to pass along the award to more lovely bloggers, so here they are:

A Hasty Life

moonbeamwishes

much love, illy

{good times never seem sew good...}

The Sweetest Petunia

The second is a Trendy Blog Award from Lulu in Los Angeles. I'm so honored!

 I also get to pass this award along: {meg's musings}Sandy a la ModeNice Girl NotesNella DesignsHiya Luv Go check out these lovely ladies' blogs!