Aunt Eva's birthday dinner

I got to play with my new Canon PowerShot camera today at Mr. F's aunt's house in La Grange. Aunt Eva's birthday was Friday so we got together for a dinner celebration.  I love taking pictures of Tigger, the cat,and Asta, the German Shepard puppy. She's almost two now, but so hyper and cute.Aunt Eva's garden was amazing to photograph too!Mack found a stick to play with while I looked at the flowers. How cute are Tigger and Asta waiting outside the door?  After dinner we sang happy birthday and ate German Chocolate Cake. It was delicious.  Happy Birthday, Aunt Eva!

Groupon Riding Lessons at Bell Acres

My cousin, Katy, and I got a Groupon for riding lessons and we finally redeemed them last weekend and this weekend.We drove out to Homer Glen where the Bell Acres kitties  greeted us as soon as we got out of our car!

For our first lesson, we had horses named Trotsky and John John. We also saw a cute hackney pony too!We had our second lesson last Sunday and we rode two different horses, Reba and Maggie.Today, we had our third and final lesson. The cute orange cat greeted us again. However, our lessons were a lot harder today. I have never ridden saddleseat before and it was really difficult! I wasn't used to the double reins or holding my arms at a higher angle, even the bits look completely different than the basic snaffles I'm used to!  Katy and I are looking for riding lessons at a Hunter/Jumper or Western barn next!

Lucky

Do you hear me, 
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

Source: melissaesplin.com via Isis on Pinterest

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again 

Source: kcassidyphotography.com via Katie on Pinterest

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jason_mraz/lucky.html ]
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
Though the breezes through trees 
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Source: rockettstgeorge.co.uk via Tricia on Pinterest

To Do in Chicago this Fall

At the beginning of the summer, I made a list of Chicago foodie places that I wanted to check out this summer. We checked out Kuma's Corner,  and got the Lair of the Minotaur!We also went to g.e.b.!It was hard not to love the atmosphere and delectable food.I really enjoyed the handmade cavatelli. We even saw Graham Elliot!!!He also replied to one my tweets from the night! 

@grahamelliot I had such a great time at g.e.b. that I blogged all about it. …ewofemilysfavoritethings.blogspot.com/2012/06/geb-an… GRAHAM ELLIOT @grahamelliot @Fettbot sweet pics! 08:07 PM - 14 Jun 12 via Twitter for iPhone

Last weekend, Mr. F and I were jogging in Lincoln Park and went to Pequod's Pizza for lunch!

There are still a few restaurants that I'd love to check this fall, like the Girl & Goat

Source: google.com via Emily on Pinterest

and also the Purple Pig. 

Source: google.com via Emily on Pinterest

I haven't been to Big Star yet, either! 

Source: google.com via Emily on Pinterest

Are there other cuisines, or restaurants, that I should try soon?

Engagement and Anniversary Party in St. Louis

Mr. F and I celebrated the three day weekend in St. Louis! We got cupcakes at Jilly's cupcake bar and cafe, a shop near the in-laws house. The owner won Cupcake Wars a few years ago!How cute are these bee cupcakes, called the Bee Sting?! They were delicious vanilla cupcakes with honey lemon curd and lemon cream cheese buttercream! The honey comb was white chocolate bark too!

On Sunday night, we celebrated my sister-in-law's engagement and our four year wedding anniversary with Mr. F's parents' friends and a few family members that I hadn't met yet!I loved all the sunflowers at the party. I even brought some back to Chicago for my desk!