Five things.

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Today I received an email from one of our registries informing me that there are only "8 weeks left until your big day!" I can't get over how fast the time has gone. It makes me crazy excited that our wedding will be here so soon, yet slightly anxious for all that's left to be done. I'm not stressed though, promise. 

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Cheremosh's concert at the Cowles Center was fantastic. It was so strange to not be backstage among the chaos that inevitably drives everyone slightly crazy before show time. I was, of course, nervous as I waited for the curtain to come up for Pryvit, and found myself counting/tapping/thinking through the steps and combinations that I knew in my head more than once during the program.  This was actually the first dance concert I've ever watched in full from the audience in my life. Everyone did an incredible job, and I'm so proud of all the dancers. 

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It's my mama's birthday this Thursday. I can't think of a better way to celebrate with her than to actually do just that in person - we'll be home in time for dinner, Ma!! 

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Yesterday afternoon, Andrew and I went to the beach that's just a few blocks from our apartment. It was crowded, but felt absolutely perfect to be out in the sun. It made me want to take a vacation to someplace tropical and hot with fresh sea food and bright sunshine. For the time being, though, Atwater and Lake Michigan will just have to do. It's so nice to have it so close by! 

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A big congratulations to Alex at Life. Law. Luck: happy wedding planning!! 

Spring fever.

So we're nearing the end of March and it is technically spring, at least according to the calendar. I'm defying Old Man Winter every chance I get. This afternoon, for example, I refused to put on a real coat and went out in yoga pants (yes, cropped) and a light workout jacket that's more or less a thin hooded sweatshirt (yes, I looked lovely) for a nice long walk by the lake. I'm fully aware that I may be risking some cold or other weather-inflicted sickness I might happen to get, but I can't take the puffy down jacket and (very) worn-out boots any longer. And it's really not that cold, just too cold for my liking after a long winter.

But springtime is trying so hard to get here, I just know it! The snow is finally starting to melt, fresh flowers are being sold in stores, and the lake has this hint of brightness to it that's been missing for the last few months. You can tell that everyone wants to get outside: I saw so many people out on my walk...everyone is craving sunshine. 

Come on, vesna, you can do it!

PS: Did you see this? How it makes me miss MPLS! 

Fall colors.

When we first moved to Shorewood, I knew that the many trees lining the streets in our neighborhood would be just gorgeous in the fall. I looked forward to watching the colors change and the leaves scatter along the paths by the lake. Last week, my mom and I were able to go on many walks and see for ourselves just how lovely the autumn colors can be. Below, some shots of our neighborhood dressed up for the fall party...no wonder it's my favorite season! 

To the lake.

Shorewood is adorable. It's full name is actually "the Village of Shorewood," and it really does feel like a little village. Dotted with coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores, everything we need is basically within walking distance.

A view of our apartment building - more shots of inside will be posted once the apartment is finished! 

What makes our new neighborhood even more charming, though, is its proximity to the lake. Our old apartment in Minneapolis was really close to the Mississippi River, and we'd often walk down St. Anthony Main and cross the Stone Arch Bridge. I do miss the downtown skyline, the views from the bridge over the river, and the familiarity of East Hennepin. Here, though, the walk to Lake Michigan takes us down tree-lined streets where we pass by gorgeous old houses. People are always out for strolls, walking with their dogs (it seems like everyone has a dog) or with their sleepy babies lounging in their strollers. It's really lovely, and a welcome change from all the student housing that surrounded us in Minneapolis.

Atwater Beach is just a short walk from our apartment. Following our street down seven or eight blocks, you come to a big grassy knoll with a playground that overlooks Lake Michigan. How fun would this have been as a kid, to have such a cool place to play with these incredible views? 

It's so peaceful; we've spent an afternoon at the beach already. As lovely as these views are in the summertime, I can only imagine that it's going to be absolutely beautiful in the fall. I can't wait to see all the leaves change! But for now, we'll enjoy this last day of August (how can that be?!) just as it is.

~N.