So July Happened

Hello friends.

They say that when people make plans, God laughs. Well, He must have absolutely cracked up when I sat down and made my summer goals last month. "Blogging three times a week? WORKING OUT?? That's hilarious Hailey. Good try." He knew that my life would change quickly and dramatically soon after those goals were made and that brand new goals would take their place. I just wasn't in on it until about three weeks ago.

Ebiji proposed on July 7th. It was a beautiful, if not slightly humid, adventurous, romantic day full of surprises. The complete story involves date invitations, birthday candles, friends hiding in bushes, and a strange little bird named Felix. In my experience, it takes about 20 minutes of phone time to tell the story right. If we haven't talked yet, text me and we'll do it soon!


Since that day, a lot of plans have gone into action. (These are the new goals I alluded to earlier.) My hope was to get all of the big, important, time-consuming wedding decisions made before school starts. Thankfully, we've accomplished that goal with time to spare! So far, we have selected:

1. a venue. The Bluestone.

Ebiji and I will be getting married at The Bluestone, a gorgeous old church-turned-music-venue in downtown Columbus. The sanctuary will house both our ceremony and reception. I think the combination of stained glass, a big stage, and crazy lights and sound system make it a perfect space for both events. Funny story -- Ebiji hasn't seen it yet! He was out of town the day we booked, but he loves everything he's heard about it.

2. a wedding date. July 19, 2014

Because of several scheduling conflicts next summer, including another very important wedding (looking at you, Jos), Ebiji and I had a limited number of dates to work with. That was almost an issue, because Columbus venues are already pretty booked for next summer! Thankfully, the one date The Bluestone had available was the date we were most hoping for! This is one reason we knew The Bluestone was the perfect spot for our wedding.

3. a photographer. Kimberly Potterf.

The Bluestone has a list of preferred venders - people they most enjoy working with. After doing some research on my own, hoping to find a photographer on the cheaper side of things, I checked the preferred venders list to freshen my perspective. Kimberly was one of four photographers on that list and I absolutely fell in love with her photographs. We've also met with her in person, and she's quite lovely too. We're so excited that she'll be capturing our day!

4. the dress.

I found my dress at David's Bridal on my very first trip out. In fact, it was the first dress I saw and the first one I tried on! (Don't worry, I also tried on several others). It is the ideal pretty, simple, flowy, elegant but casual dress I had been hoping for. And it was on sale. We just couldn't walk away.

One of the funniest moments of engagement day. Our friends got us giant champagne goblets.

We've been working on a few other projects, toying with details, and day-dreaming on the internet, but after a whirlwind three weeks, I'm ready for a break! Perfect timing too, since we move into our apartments in a week and start school shortly after that. (I'm going to be tired forever, aren't I.)

Best despite all the excitement, the best moments of our engagement so far are when we get to spend quiet evenings together, soak the change in slowly, and talk in calm voices about what the future holds. In every bit of my loud and fast-paced existence, this man keeps me grounded. I am so thankful to finally call him my fiancé.

The 4th of July in Instragrams

Happy Belated Independence Day! 

It's been a very eventful two days of celebrating. Here in Columbus, Independence Day starts on July 3rd when (what feels like) the entire city floods downtown for a day of greasy food, live music, and drinking beer on the street. Honestly, is there anything more American than that? I prepped by giving myself a red, white, and blue manicure (with the lovely Gabrielle) and then I met up with some friends for Red, White, and Boom! 

The crowds were epic, but we made the most of it by dance-partying our way through. Then a fight broke out. So we dance-partied in the other direction. The city is full of excitement, lemme tell ya.

Speaking of the city, Red, White, and Boom takes place in the heart of downtown Columbus. It was a beautiful view and such an incredible venue to appreciate the freedoms and opportunities afforded to us in this remarkable country of ours. The city makes me feel things, guys.

Beautiful friends

Gettin' ready for a show!

And then, there were fireworks. And they were fantastic.

The next day, on the actual 4th, we got up early to enjoy our favorite day of the year: INDEPENDENCE DAY IN UPPER ARLINGTON! It's like Christmas to us native Upper Arlingtonians, we just love it so much. First up, the parade!

UA Alums!!

It drizzled a little during the parade, but we never lost our enthusiasm. We were standing and shouting most of the time. We just love America so much ;)

But I mean, with floats and attractions like this, who wouldn't?!?!

*****

Next up was lunch at Bodega, a gastropub in the Short North. The Short North is the trendy arts district in Columbus and gastopubs are basically bars that serve really high quality food. For a city girl who loves a comfy environment almost as much as she loves to eat, this meal was right up my alley. Ricotta pancakes topped with bananas and bacon and a strawberry lemonade cocktail for lunch. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

The party broke up after lunch and Ebiji and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon at his parent's house. When we all met up again for the UA fireworks, though, the weather was pretty nasty. We sat through about an hour of rain before the show started. But you know what? I would do it again. Those fireworks blew us away. 

Upper Arlington, you know how to celebrate, and we love you for it.

But, because it was raining, this is the only photo I snapped at the fireworks. We really do bring the party with us wherever we go. Claire and Meaghan especially.

We had the happiest 4th of July! I hope you did too!

Apartment Prep

Apartment prep is in full swing around here! I don't move into my little studio until August, so all the shopping I've done is a little premature... but I just can't help myself. 

It's too much fun!

This is one side of my parent's family room right now, consumed by (almost) all of my apartment stuff! I've done all of my shopping at consignment shops, goodwill, and my mom's kitchen, so I'm doing pretty well budget-wise. Searching through consignment shops also feels a lot more like treasure hunting than actual shopping, which is a total plus. All of my smaller pieces are currently resting on my kitchen table, one of our best finds to date. It's in great condition and it's going to add some much needed prep space to my little kitchen!

These are some of my favorite goodwill finds: my dishes and baking canisters! They're fun, retro, and were a total steal. $.99 a dish? Can't beat that.

I have to say, though, that these are my favorite little purchases so far: my colander and bed-side lamp -- not entirely (okay, maybe entirely) because they're my favorite color :)

Those are some of my favorite finds, but my end tables are the pieces I'm most proud of. I bought two of them at $15 a pop and decided to give them a little face lift!

They were bare wood and pretty beat up when we rescued them from the consignment shop. But after a few coats of spray paint, they're looking pretty good!

Sophie would like to be recognized for her part in the process, namely, agreeing to play inside while Hailey painted in the yard. Sophie, we appreciate your sacrifice.

Also important for a law student in her first apartment is an agreeable desk/office chair situation. I think I'm off to a good start with these two. (The desk is currently in pieces in a box, but it will look something like that when it's all put together!)

And finally, my couch. Well, love seat, but I feel kind of weird using that term. Another consignment shop find, I like to think that this couch belonged to a little old lady who would spend quiet afternoons here crocheting and drinking tea and snuggling with her cat, muffins. She passed this winter due to complications from loving too much, and her dying wish was that her couch, which brought her and muffins so much happiness, would go to a caring home. So I bought this couch and plan to treat it with the love and respect it deserves. 

This is for you, muffins.

And there's my other end table! We wanted to add some place mats to protect the paint, and my mom found some that match my throw pillows perfectly. That's some beautiful coordination right there! 

So that's where I am so far! The only thing not pictured is the twin bed that I'll be borrowing from the Akah family. I'm also still looking for a dresser, a bookcase, and some other odds and ends,  but we're off to a good start. In just over a month, this stuff and I will be out of my parent's house and into my apartment! I do feel bad for Sophie, though. I think she's getting attached. (But not Hans. He's too cool to care.)