her majesty's tea room

Yesterday was my sister Ella's 23rd birthday. She actually just arrived home for the summer from Bratislava, Slovakia, where she's teaching English. We're obviously very excited to have her around for a few weeks since we only get to see her a couple times a year :)

For her birthday she requested a girls' visit to Her Majesty's Tea Room, which is basically a British/Victorian emporium just oozing with kitschy floral extravagance. That's the best I can describe it I think... We drank three kinds of tea and ate trays and trays of tea sandwiches and little sweets, and we each got our own tiara to wear.

Well, I've been unemployed for 7 months now for a variety of reasons, not counting a couple months substitute teaching this spring. Sometimes it's frustrating and stressful BUT I will say I greatly appreciate the flexibility to travel around the Midwest all summer to catch up with family.

Off to nurse my sugar coma!

heat waaaave

 

It is HOT HOT HOT here in Illinois. The corn and day lilies are out in force.

I'm looking forward to a relaxed and low-key weekend. Why do the weekends of summer become packed so quickly?? Ben is back in Chicago for his bachelor party, so I think I'll take my alone time to make a dent in my wedding invitation project.

Speaking of wedding, I think I found my wedding shoes!

Gold, sparkly, flat, and only $16.99. Oh yeah. Why not pair the most expensive dress I'll ever own with some good old Payless? Isn't that a thing, "high/low fashion" or something?

Stay cool this weekend! Have anything fun planned?

at the farm

 

So my summer job is basically to be a farmhand at my grandma's farm. AKA how many projects/manual labor jobs can we get done?? So far it's been painting picnic benches, hauling dirt around the garden, and knocking Japanese beetles off rosebushes. 

I've spent a lot of Christmases here lately, but haven't been around during the summer in a while. It brings back memories of when my sister and I would make magical kingdoms in the pine grove or make paper dolls in the mysterious dark upstairs rooms.

In other news, Ben and I are heading to Chicago this weekend to search for an apartment !!!!!

Wish me luck, or shoot me now. Hopefully we can find something decent enough to live for a year!

I hope the weather for you is as good as it's been here. It's officially SUMMER!