ACD Freebie: Indiana State Parks

With the weather getting warm and summer drawing near, I think we are anxious to get out and about.  While it's still not something we can do at shops, restaurants, and museums, we can get out in the great outdoors.  A few times in the last week or so Indiana State Parks came up in conversation.  I was reminded that I made a map and list as part of my father's birthday gift last year.  I figured now is the perfect time to share the love with everyone.  If you want to download a copy and use it as a check list for adventures, feel free to here.  Be sure to check guidelines and properly prepare for your adventure before you leave your house.  

Stay safe and happy adventures to you! 

Fall Farmers' Market

I have posted before about how we enjoy our local Farmers' Market.  As the season is winding down, we tried to venture downtown for at least one more market Saturday.  We picked up some fresh produce and an oatmeal crème pie each.  The weather was gorgeous and vendors have all the delicious fall fruits and vegetables. We will miss our market mornings this winter and can't wait until they return next spring.

Life Lately

The last couple weeks have been a blur! We had family in visiting and the 4th to keep us busy but it was so nice to have that time with family and friends.  We took the long, scenic route home from Wyatt's parents' house one evening because the sky was gorgeous.  Nothing makes me feel at home like driving through country roads with corn fields and pretty summer skies.

I decided to drive down to Indianapolis to look for some things for a couple of rooms we are working at the house and had lunch with my sister on Sunday afternoon.  We ate in Broad Ripple and decided to get ice cream after...because ice cream!  We walked on the Monon Trail back towards where I was parked after ice cream and enjoyed seeing Public Greens' garden.

We went to a cookout with friends on the afternoon of the 4th and then went over to watch the fireworks in Wyatt's parents' neighborhood.  I still cannot get over how impressive the display is from just an individual.  I decided to take this red, white, and blue fruit salad and decorated sugar cookies!

I recently request my swab kit to become listed on the donor registry.  A touching story of a family member of someone I knew in college finally gave me the courage to go ahead and get on the registry.  I have thought about this for a decade and always battled with myself over it, and ultimately talked myself out of it each time.  I am proud to say that I got the kit and sent my swabs in last week!  It was super simple and only took a few minutes of my time.  Everything from DKMS comes clearly and easily labeled.  You match a couple of bar codes with the proper documents and then put it in the pre-addressed and paid envelop.  It's a simple as that!  If you are interested in registering or want more information, please go here.  In order to request your swab kit, you just have to answer a few questions.

Last Friday, Wyatt and I went to Bella Beige downtown to pick up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I can't wait to share the finished piece(s) of furniture.  We knew for sure we wanted to do a dresser, but we are also thinking of painting the matching chest of drawers as well.  I am almost done with the dresser so we will evaluate its finished product.  I am working on creating a warm and inviting master bedroom with a lot of whites, beiges, and neutrals with a pop of color.  I definitely have a vision that I can't wait to see come to fruition!  I wore this fun outfit last weekend to dinner and an evening in with some friends.  Obviously when I saw the pineapple critter shorts at J Crew, I had to get them.

Farmers' Market Saturdays

We love our local farmers' market!  Life has been busy lately so last weekend was the first chance we had to go to our market this year but we took full advantage of the morning.  We grabbed some fresh produce, some break and yummy baked goods, and lamb chops!

Sangria Tea from Scone and Doilies was delish!

We also took the opportunity to check out some of the art downtown.  They have been working on a project on our Main Street that had me avoiding the area because of construction but it's turned out so nice.  They bumped out the sidewalks to allow for some of the restaurant to have outdoor seating.  Since I hadn't been downtown much for quite some time, it was fun to find some new (at least new to me) alley art.  There are also a couple of new sculptures and murals throughout the downtown area.  I can't wait to go back downtown and check everything else out!

And although this is not new, it's still one of my favorites to come to our downtown area.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Winkler!

Wyatt and I drove down to Columbus, Indiana to attend the wedding of a very dear friend of mine on Saturday.  I've known Jordan since junior high and he has become such a great friend over the years.  We realized we were both planning to attend the same college and he came up with the brilliant idea of me rooming with my freshman year roommate.  During those four years at IU, we experienced a lot together.  We had a couple of classes together freshman year, we had season tickets to basketball games all four years, and spent countless hours with each other as we made a group of tight knit friend.  It was at IU that Jordan really turned to one of my best friends that I knew would always be looking out for me just as I would him.  As the years passed since college, we saw each other less and less.  It seems the only time that I could hang out with him and a couple of our other friends that we had a tradition of hanging out with over breaks and at holidays is when someone gets married.  In fact the last time I saw him was at Jaron's wedding. It is also the night I met Catherine.  We had a blast hanging out with them and getting to know her a bit.  So when Jordan texted me letting me know that he had proposed to her (at IU of all places!), I was ecstatic for him!

Their ceremony was at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church.  The church was beautiful and their ceremony was lovely.  My favorite part of ceremonies is watching the couple interact and I actually really love that in Catholic ceremonies you get the opportunity to watch them sitting together for a little moment in time as they are participating in one of the biggest days of their lives.  These two were just adorable.  Their reception was held at the Commons in downtown Columbus.  It is such a cute little town and that venue was great!

As I mentioned earlier, it really is hard for my friends and I to get together at holidays because we all have so many different family obligations and we seem to always be missing each other.  It was truly a highlight to be able to catch up with Jaron, Chelsea, Lindsey, and Scott.  I definitely decided that I will make more of an effort to see everyone more often!  We are between 1.5 -3 hours away from everyone so at least that is manageable!  Jordan and Catherine danced their first dance to 'Fly Me to the Moon' in front of a wall of windows with the backdrop of the night sky and moon.  It was just perfect.  I was a little obsessed with the floral arrangements on the tables.  They were perfect.

I am just so happy for Jordan and Catherine! I wish them the best in this new chapter of life together and hopefully the two lovebirds have a fantastic honeymoon next week!