Michigan/Northwestern Tailgate

Aka: The most wonderful time of the year :)

Love getting to see so many college friends on Saturday and cheering on the Wolverines. GO BLUE!

MADE MY DAY

Katelyn & Nick just sent me this from the University of Virginia...
and it will shortly be framed :)

Status UpDate

This weekend is the annual Northwestern/Michigan tailgate and since my dad's been in recovery from knee replacement surgery, I've been leaning on Max as my co-host for the occasion.

So the other day one of his buddies asked him how our relationship is going -- to which he replied, "I added her to my CostCo membership."

I belted out laughing :)

The couple that buys beer and burgers in bulk together, stays together. 

HA! Gotta love the Midwest...

   

Sven & Kev Got Married!

To the new Mr. & Mrs. Brown, 

It has taken four days but I've officially recovered 

from your wedding and the only thing that still hurts 

is my whole entire face from smiling :)

CONGRATULATIONS and CHEERS to a lifetime 

filled with so much love, health and happiness! 

You two are such an inspiration. 

May we all be so lucky!

XOXOXO,

Stace

Yep, yep, yep...

You know you're casually nailing life when your wedding has The Chicago Blackhawks National Anthem singer kick off the evening.

SERIOUSLY!

I LOVE THIS COUPLE

LOVE BABY MAEVE AS THE FLOWER GIRL!

I LOVE THESE LADIES!

 

I LOVE ME A PHOTO BOOTH!!!

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A CIRCLE PHOTO?!?

AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE A 

GOOD TAMBORINE JAM SESSION :)

What a night!

LOVE

This Kid...

Officially has PIGTAILS!!!

Best "milestone" ever ;)

Stella Grace

17 months

Rock of Ages

Over the course of three days in NYC, we covered nine different neighborhoods on foot, caught up with almost two dozen friends, ate eight totally scrumptious meals, and got to see not one, but TWO Broadway productions! 

Max is rapidly catching on to the fact that little moss grows under this rolling stone...but he hasn't run away just yet (likely because he's too exhausted to try). So I've got that goin' for me, which is nice ;)

Alyssa's bestie (and in turn, my buddy) Genson Blimline is the star and narrator of Rock of Ages and I cannot say enough great things about this epic musical!

Genson plays the lead of Lonny and has you singing along and laughing for two hours straight. Cocktail waitresses roam the aisles serving canned beer and Jell-O shots which pretty much makes the entire experience a dream come true for any child of the 80's who's ready to relive the best hits of their life. 

This show literally ROCKS!

Cheers to following your dreams, Genson :)

 You are such an inspiration!

   

Donnybrook Reunion

When I introduced Max to my friend Dyramuid, the owner of Donnybrook, it felt like two incredible chapters of my life were coming together, and a huge smile came across my face :)

Dyramuid explained how I "came with the lease" given I lived at the same corner of the bar and was the first customer to walk in the door. I was so excited for Donnybrook to open after months of watching it be constructed so I brought a bottle of champagne to congratulate them... Dyramuid replied, "Ya don't bring sand to the beach young lady!" A line that still makes me laugh to this day.

While I lived in New York, Donnybrook was so much more than a corner bar for me. It was my modern day "Cheers". A trusted home-away-from-home in a city where change is the only constant. So needless to say, it was incredibly special, 4 years later, to walk back in the doors only to be greeted with a giant hug from Frances, the bartender, who said, "My God it's good to see your face! Isn't life just magical?" 

It sure is :)

 

SO MUCH LOVE!

     

The Real Thing

Max got tix to see The Real Thing on Broadway

and I gladly packed my bags to get back to the 

Big Apple for a long weekend :)

After the performance (which was spectacular!) I asked Maggie Gyllenhaal if I could take a picture with her she said, "No pix. No time." 

But I simply turned my frown upside down...

Ewan McGregor is my new hero as he finished signing autographs and casually rode away on a ten-speed bicycle. No big deal.

Certainly one of my most memorable nights in Manhattan :)

LOVE

      

Day Two! GO BLUE

Congratulations, Tyler & Paul!

To the new Mr & Mrs. Simon,

There's no greater blessing than to see two people you love, find love in one another. Cheers to a lifetime of a million more laughs and wonderful memories together :) Thank you for a FANTASTICALLY fun and super special evening. What an honor to be there to celebrate!

XOXO,

Stace