life lately. {mary grace}

i have a mass of photos to share here on the blog, as (obviously) you can see i have been very behind in posting. but, that just means i've been wonderfully busy with life, school, friends, and family. so, i can't complain :) here is a little bit of what my march and april has looked like...

^^yes, please. keep these sunsets comin', chicago.^^

^^ a spontaneous trip downtown with a friend to escape dining hall food :) sometimes another meal from the dining halls is just not an option for your taste buds, so you hit up downtown chicago & splurge on sushi from hot woks cool sushi ;) ^^

^^finally...finally! i got to see my precious nuggets over easter break after months apart & i could not have been happier. nothing can brighten your day like the bubbly presence of a toddler...and the presence of four is even better :)^^

^^how i missed you, big brother.^^

^^how lucky i am to have been able to see so many lovely faces in such a short span of time. the weekend after my easter in st. louis, my best friend kristin took the train down to chicago! and, of course, our first pit stop was to the chicago diner (meat free since '83...score!) to grab a hearty lunch. you can't leave there without trying one of their acclaimed vegan milkshakes...trust me, you won't regret it.^^

^^wicker park, here we come...^^

^^oh myopic books, every time i visit i truly think i have found heaven on earth.^^

^^if you're looking for a funky treat while exploring wicker park, hit up glazed and infused doughnuts.^^

^^such spectacular city views from the top of navy pier's ferris wheel.^^

^^oak street beach! the beautiful & warm spring weather has got me in the best mood, but seeing everyone out & about--walking, biking, roller-blading, beach lounging, etc.--makes the atmosphere so much better. this city is bursting with activity & it's hard to not let it inspire you...^^

^^a quick stop at argo tea for some pomegranate yumminess. and! lunch at toast. seriously, yum. kristin & i stumbled upon this lovely little cafe (off of the fullerton red line stop) and loved it. veggie chili & the caprese sandwich with mixed greens really hit the spot.^^

^^a bit more oak street beach fun.^^

^^just because i got the coolest new leggings & i love them.^^

^^loyola beach day! plus, a little picnic on the pier. it's so much fun to see everyone out enjoying the beautiful weather.^^

i hope life has been filled with family, friends, and fun. bring on the warmth, spring :)

xoxo,

mary grace.

solo date night. {mary grace}

saturday night was lovely. i spontaneously made the decision to get up & get out. i dressed up casual-cute and headed out for a night with just me, myself, and i. i took the L to a part of chicago that i had never been to before, logan square (red line to blue line), where the cute old-fashioned logan theatre awaited me. i may be the only one, but sometimes i just crave a long subway ride alone, with headphones in my ears vibing to the best music. and for the people watching, of course.

once there, i bought my ticket outside at the vintage ticket booth, picked up a thick, creamy and steaming hot chocolate, and settled into the plush movie theater seat to watch selma.

sometimes a date night with yourself is all you need to clear your head & let your mind wander. it's fun, i do recommend :)

^^such a charming little theatre.^^

^^hot chocolate is always a good idea.^^

go treat yourself to a solo date night! nothing beats adventuring into new areas of town, wherever you may be.

xoxo,

mary grace.

monday motivation.

^^ from free people's pinterest ^^

a little motivation to start this week... 

the start of a new month & easter weekend are just a few of the things to look forward to. 

wishing everyone a week full of nothing but good luck. 

xoxo, 

mary grace and caroline 

a few of my favorite things.

^^my ohio sunset a few nights ago^^

lately i've been trying my hardest to unplug more and more before bed to have a better night's sleep. however, i was never one to count sheep. when i find my mind wandering (which often times leads to worrying), i count things that make me happy. i always have those cliche happiness items in there, but my favorites are the ones you don't often stop and think about. there truly isn't anything better than falling asleep with sweet thoughts floating through your head.

here are a few of my favorites....

-------------------------------------------------

1. the moment the lights shut off right before a concert. 

2. waking up on the morning of your birthday. 

3. being in a location that enables you to see the stars perfectly. 

4. the second you feel the wheels on the plane touch down at your destination. 

5. looking out at the ocean, unable to see where it ends, and realizing how tiny you are. 

6. pulling back the covers from a perfectly made bed & crawling in for the night. 

7. hearing a new song from one of your favorite artists for the first time. 

8. the sight of fireflies on hot summer nights. 

9. the smell of old books. 

10. walking through untouched snow or sand. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

what makes you so very happy?

xoxo, 

caroline 

a few thoughts. {mary grace}

lately i've been taking more time for myself, and i have had nothing but lovely results. there's a certain boost in self-awareness that surfaces when you reserve time for yourself and i think this is so important. every single day i find myself seamlessly wandering and moving through time and life, but until i take a step back and treat myself to a chunk of 'me-time', i don't think i truly cherish the moment//the present//the now for what it is and its utmost importance.

i know that this is a hot topic among our generation and at this point it almost sounds cliche or very 'stop-and-smell-the-roses', but i think there is more to it than that. turning inward and allowing for personal mindfulness and appreciation is special and allows you to reflect and focus on your physical & mental wants, needs, and their current state of wellbeing. it's only fair that we take a little time away from others to care for and think about ourselves.

this time can be whatever you want it to be, as it's strictly personal and differs for everyone. for me, on different days i crave different things. one thing i do keep constant, though, are my sunday nights. from 9 pm to 10 pm is my reserved hour for mass and it may just be my favorite slot of time throughout the entire week. it's something i look forward to as it encourages spiritual reflection and a quiet time to think. if nothing else, it serves as a quick step-back from a busy schedule and provides closure to the ups & downs of the past week.

recently, i have been craving more and more time with myself. i think i've finally discovered its beauty and its benefits. it helps me refresh my outlook on life. i've been waking up a bit earlier, allowing myself to eat and enjoy breakfast and do some reading just for fun. it's always nice to steer the focus away from school for a bit. this time also allows me to crank out a few yoga moves, go for a run, or just stretch out my body. it may just be me, but i always feel much happier and motivated to start my day after even just a few minutes of deep stretching.

mornings have become my favorite time of day. i never quite realized how important they were until i started taking advantage of them. even just waking up an hour earlier than usual does wonders on my happiness and on my outlook for the upcoming day. now that i get to spend the quiet mornings with myself, i don't mind waking up, as i have something to look forward to and something to be excited about...every single day! i love it. i have also found mornings to be so important to the upkeep of my body. early exercise pumps out my endorphins and a yummy breakfast replenishes it. reading jolts my brain cells awake and stretching awakens my muscles. it's a time to take care of my body before everything begins, especially during these unpredictable college years.

my days vary. sometimes i want to experience quiet, reflective moments with myself, such as studying (studying has always been a solo act for me; for some reason i find it to be a very personal activity) or a solo trip downtown to walk & think & explore. other days call for more pick-me-up moments, such as cleaning my room while simultaneously having a jam session; it's fun but it still makes me feel more put together than i was before.

sometimes you need this to remind you that life isn't all that serious, but your relationship with yourself and your body is and always will be.

now, go spend some time with your lovely self. i promise you'll enjoy it.

xoxo,
mary grace

^^a quiet chapel after mass has ended.^^

^^some morning dorm yoga. always more fun with a pretty mat.^^

^^some light & fun travel reading.^^

^^the sunrise during one of my morning runs.^^

cancun, mexico.

nothing beats an escape from the cold chicago air, especially when it's an excursion to the beachy, breezy warmth of mexico. i'm a lucky gal, having had the opportunity to spend time on the beach twice in the past 4 months. spring break has rolled around and two of my friends & i decided to fly down to cancun, mexico, a country that none of us had previously been to. after a long, sleepless week of tough midterms//exams//tests, we were ready to relax and soak up some vitamin d on the sands of cancun. 

we stayed at gran caribe real resort, an all-inclusive, which i honestly recommend if you're looking for a place to stay down there. it was perfect for us, and is only a 25 minute walk from downtown, where you can find the mexican markets & and the pulsing nightlife & nightclubs (you've got to check out señor frogs!).

all in all, it was a blast and gave us some much-needed relaxation. 

here are some photos...

^^we're off!^^

^^a beautiful morning began with a round of yummy mimosas. cheers!^^

^^mmm, aren't sunsets just the loveliest??^^

^^the sun went to sleep, but we were ready to get up and go out.^^

^^filling up on breakfast at the beachfront restaurant.^^

^^if you want a fun & fruity drink in cancun, i recommend the electric lemonade.^^

^^señor frogs, thank you for one of the best nights ever.^^

^^a little glow party never hurt nobody.^^

^^another señor frogs outing.^^

^^last night in mexico :( we dressed up and opted for a fancy GNO and dinner.^^

^^a little beach yoga.^^

^^bye bye mexico, hello chi town.^^

beach, mexico, & warm weather, you will be missed. but chicago is being kind to us now and providing us with some pretty 50 degree weather, so i can't really complain. spring is around the corner for us all :)

wherever you are for spring break, i hope you get to enjoy some warm weather!

xoxo,

mg.

links we love.

some of our very favorite links we are loving right now. we hope you do too! 

1 ... some of our very favorite quotes and a perfect dose of nostalgia. 

2 ... so fun: the number one song from the day you were born. (mg- fantasy by mariah carey. caroline- gangsta's paradise by coolio... HA!) 

3 ... a very cool 30 day minimalist challege.

4 ... naomi's chocolate chip cookie recipe has our mouths watering. 

5 ... some momma love! 

enjoy & have an awesome weekend!

xoxo, caroline & mary grace.