five on friday: the dreamy edition

Last week was such a dream, I tell you, an absolute dream (minus the dreary, rainy, and not so beachy weather). I didn't even care about the weather because it was a week full of family and friends. Full! Of fun! With family! And friends! Which means this week has been full of sadness as I'm reminded that my family and friends don't live a hop, jump, and a skip away. More like a hop, jump, skip, leap, and 5-10 hour drive away... But really, does anyone else go into major post-hostess blues when your guests leave? I kind of felt like lying in a dark room and listening to sad music (read: R.E.M.) all morning after Caroline left Monday. And by morning I mean I still feel like doing that here 4 days later.

Sigh.

Having my mom and Robbie here for 3 days immediately followed by a long weekend with my best best best friend eva completely spoiled me.
Side note:
I don't think you understand what I mean when I say best friend. Whenever I told people my best friend (who I had not seen in 8 months) was coming into town they were like Oh, cool. or How fun! No, just no. You didn't hear me correctly. My best friend. The best. The kind of best friend where I just believe there are no words to accurately describe how best best of friend. But whatever, I guess it was cool and fun.

So today we will be talking about
5 Reasons Having Family/Friends In Town Is The Tops.

one.
You get to learn new things. Like this trip I picked up the new skill (or my mom painstakingly taught it to me) of embroidering. In my mind I see it as a way for me to make adorable things like this...

Via

And then turn my guest bedroom into the adorableness of this...

Via
Here's how it really all went down during the week:
Freddie: Isn't that something old people do?
Robbie: Haven't you finished yet?
Man at the post office handing me my embroidery package: Aren't you a little young to be doing this?
My mom: Ooooh, it looks so great!! Keep going!! <---- obviously the best. 

two.
There are musical concerts all the time. Like...all the time. Between my mom bringing and playing her mandolin, to sing alongs with harmony (why does Freddie never join in when I sing Sound of Music?!), to performing rhythm chants, we've got all the fun here and you're obviously missing out on it.

three.
Because finally someone can go shopping with you and convince you actually to make a purchase or actually to buy a new purse that you've been talking about getting for over a month now. Over two months? Over three months? I've lost track. Number three is brought to you by my mother saying You're welcome, Freddie. Now she'll stop talking about needing a new purse. 

four.
Someone actually wants to craft with you. Hobby Lobby, or Hob Lobs as the cool kids say, is heaven on Earth. I fully 100% cross-my-heart believe that. So when Caroline comes into town and wakes up ready to get our craft on I can't say no. The Holy of Holies (Hobby Lobby) will not let me say no.
And then a little while later we have these beautiful, magnificent, wonderful Disney coaster creations.

five. 
You get out of the house and on to enjoying the town more. Hashtag: even in the rain.
As I mentioned above, the weather was less than dreamy. It was windy. And chilly. And rainy. But did that stop us from hitting up the hot spots of Charleston? Negative. Well, okay, maybe half negative.
We said poo-poo to the wind and had drinks on the Rooftop Bar anyways.

MC is rockin' that wind blown look. Model status.

We said poo-poo to the torrential downpour and spent Friday night sitting at the bar of a hip Prohibition bar with soaking wet clothes and hair. Worth it.

We said poo-poo to the cold air and dressed up all fancy like for an evening downtown.

Why are they obnoxiously flashing their rings? Oh, I will tell you. Those just happen to be our matching bff rings that we've had for almost 15 years. The ring I lost in the ocean and happened to find a replica of at an arts festival. The rings that inspired this tattoo. The rings that rule them all, sorry Frodo.

Of course there are many other reasons why family/friend visits are the best. Someone to stalk old Facebook photos with you. Someone to eat copious amounts of delicious food with you. Someone to drink wine with you while Freddie cooks. Yadda yadda yadda, you get the picture.

I said something whined to my mom about wanting her to live closer and she said PSH, you'd get tired of me! Ummm. Let's test out that theory because I think life is just better when family is nearby. For sure. No doubt. Let's get this thing going already.

Happy Friday! Hope you give your family and friends an extra big squeeze this weekend.