Happy 3rd Birthday Maximus & Zeus!

Today is Maximus & Zeus's 3rd Birthday!

I love these little love bugs...

{this is how we are celebrating today}

They got new necklaces (collars) and a few new toys for their big day ;)

We are visiting my lovely MIL for a few days.  TL is resting and getting better and my dad came along with us.  It's been a wonderful couple days so far.  Can't wait to share more pictures!

My Sister's Wedding Dress

I loved my sister's beautiful wedding dress!  I will never forget the day she tried it on.  The look on her face was priceless, she was in love.  It was exactly how any bride trying on her dress for the first time should look!
She found it at Bridal Galleria in San Francisco and it was designed by Monique Lhuillier. 

Julie looked stunning in it on her big day.  Shortly after her wedding, my mom brought to our attention that Vanessa Minnillo wore a very similar Monique Lhuillier dress on her big day marrying Nick Lachey!  Their wedding was July 15th. (My sister's was July 16th)

{Vanessa photo courtesy}

Here are a few other pictures of my sister in her gown:

{putting on her adorable Kate Spade bow shoes!}

My sister's dress was a two piece.  

She didn't set out to find a Lhuillier gown, but when she tried it on, it was the perfect fit for her.  Lucky for her, she found her gown during a trunk show of all of Lhuillier's new season dresses!

The drought.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks.  TL's been sick, i've had my fair share of coughs and sore throats... and oh yeah, my sister got married, bachelorette party, ect!

Before the craziness started, I was back into my running routine.  It's a routine I love having.  When I run, I clear my mind and I feel physically and mentally healthy.

I had even started tossing around the idea of running a marathon.  Yup, the full 26.2.  I've run two half marathons, and loved them both.

But now, I feel as though I am back in square one again.  It's been almost 2 weeks since I have tied up my tennis shoes and frolicked along my favorite route.

I've been singing the blues.  My garmin stares at me each morning and it makes me depressed.

And what's worse?  I feel bad blaming time for my reason of not running.  You have to make time.  And I just haven't.

So... this is my letter to myself.  I am getting back into it.  And... I am going to start re-considering the 26.2 idea.  I am also tossing around the idea of running another half in October.

Lately, I have been seeing running for what it really is.  A gift.  Some people will never be able to - and here I have two legs that can carry me around.  I need to use them!

Please tell me these 'exercise droughts' happen to you, too??  I'm getting my butt back in gear... today.

images via pinterest

Our visit to Edinburgh, Scotland

When TL suggested we go to Edinburgh while planning our European adventure, I slightly brushed it off because I hadn't heard much about it before.

Well, if you have never heard that Edinburgh is a must see - allow me to be your reference!

It is a fabulous place - one of my favorite stops of all of the European countries we visited.

It's old, rustic, friendly, and haunted.

We stayed at The Sheraton Grand Edinburgh, and it was the perfect spot for our 4 day stay. 

Edinburgh is small enough to walk - and we did lots of it!

The Royal Mile runs right through "old town" from Edinburgh Castle to The Palace of Holyroodhouse - it's the perfect walk, lined with pubs and shops, to get a feel of the city.

We pub hopped our way around old town and visited both Edinburgh Castle & The Palace of Holyroodhouse (Her Majesty The Queen's residence in Scotland).  We also toured The Royal Yacht Britannia. (Where princess Diana & Charles spent their honeymoon)

We also spent one late night walking around the haunted cemetaries - and... we did a tour of The Real Mary King's Close!  It was very interesting - and spooky!

Edinburgh is absolutely unique.  It's architecture is old, but strong, masculine & gothic.  The entire city looks like a postcard.  My camera had pooped out by the time we made it here, so thank goodness, our friends C&K were with us to snap photos and let me borrow a camera!

{looks like a postcard!}

{view of Edinburgh Castle from Starbucks...}

{Royal Wedding China}

{we crammed in as many pubs as possible!  The local brews were delicious!}

{Edinburgh Castle}

We have so many pictures, it's hard to choose the ones that truly show off this city.

It's very beautiful... and very charming!

We cannot wait to go back someday!

The Rehearsal Dinner

Juls & Matt's rehearsal dinner was at the same location they got married at and we stayed at for a few days around the wedding.

It's called The Viaggio - and it has a beautiful, rustic & Italian feel to it.

On the menu: pizza, salad, & finger food!

A live band, Random Shuffle, set the mood and we danced the night away.

{The bride even started her own 'train' around the dance floor!}

{My dad, his 6 brothers, the bride & groom}

{my dad, sisters, and me}

{hard to tell from this pic, but the train was about 30 people long!}

It was a fabulous night of celebration!!

Wedding: Juls & Matt {Allison Stahl}

My sister used Allison Stahl as her wedding photographer... and when we saw the sneak peek of the pictures of the day on her blog, all of our mouths dropped.

Allison has a unique eye for photography.  She was the perfect photographic match for our family, capturing the most unique ideas and details.  I love her style!

I can't wait to have more occasions to use her for (more family weddings, babies, and maybe just a family photography session!) 

{Julie & Matt's engagement pictures are some of the best I have ever seen, too!}

I can't wait to see the rest of them, but here's a little peek!

I wish I had her talent!!

To see more of her work, click here.

{thank you, Allison, for allowing me to post your pictures!}