Around Indy

How I Spent My Summer

~ reallifesparkle ~ Leave a comment

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White Pants | Shoes | Purse | Earrings | Bracelet 1 | Bracelet 2 | Lipstick

Good news, guys, I’m still around! My Labor Day weekend has kicked off with a trip to the Minute Clinic to find out my husband has a sinus infection and bronchitis, so I thought it might be a good time to explain my absence while he hopefully sleeps those antibiotics into his system. You may notice a bit of a change of scenery there in the background there, as we’ve started redoing our bedroom this summer! I’m obsessed with the changes so far, but that’s a post for another day.

I said awhile back that I needed to press pause, and at the time, it was because I was just too overwhelmed with work, training for the half-marathon, and just general life stuff. Although my training ended, work didn’t start to slow down until very recently. I was so exhausted by late nights (the kind where your husband asks if he was dreaming or were you actually on the phone with your coworker at 1 a.m. – yikes), deadlines, and everything else we had going on this summer, that the idea of getting back on my computer and blogging was just too much. I missed it and still took lots of pics though; my phone is basically an “I should blog about this” graveyard.

I’m excited to say that things have finally slowed down enough that I think I’m finally able to make my return. I’m ready to share outfits, recipes, and all of the other stuff I’m excited about again. To make up for a complete lack of posting all summer, and in honor of the time-honored tradition of starting the school year by sharing all of the details of your summer break. I figured why not finally share some of my photos, so get ready to scroll!

Run 317 Circle

My cousin and I ran a 5k through downtown Indy less than 2 weeks after the Mini Marathon. The Run 317 series goes through Indianapolis neighborhoods, supports local charities, and comes with two beers at the end from Thr3eWiseMen! This one started and ended on Monument Circle – so fun!

Indy 500

We went to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. It was an awesome day with our friends and family. It was also HOT, so this one is me in all of my sweaty, unfiltered glory.

Colin-Liza Wedding

We celebrated the wedding of one of our oldest friends (Colin, my chili-adoring bestie)…and thought we were still young enough to close down the bars in Bloomington like college kids (we’re not). If you’re ever in B-town, check out The Big Cheeze! True love is your husband surprising you with a grilled cheese at 2 a.m.

Happy Camper

We spent a weekend in Chicago catching up with old friends and celebrating one of my best friend’s baby shower. The picture is a little blurry, but the look of pure joy on my face is because the Happy Camper is a bar with tire swings. Beers with friends from high school, pizza, and tire swings made it basically the best thing ever.

Run 317 Mass Ave

We did another Run 317 in the Mass Ave area of downtown Indy, and this time my sister joined us for her first ever 5k! It was the kind of ridiculously hot and humid day where you sweat just standing still, so they had to turn it into a non-timed “fun run,” which was just fine for us. We have one more Run 317 left in October, so hopefully my sister will be joining us again!

My very favorite weekend of the year every year is Dave Matthews Band weekend with my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends. Dave plays two shows in Indy, and each night is a totally different show and setlist, so we go both nights. Our first night was up-close and personal in the pit so you can really see the band, and then the second night is on the lawn and dancing barefoot on our blanket (although that part is more just me…). It was SO HOT – are you noticing a theme here for this summer in Indianapolis?

Alyssa Wedding

August kicked off with my cousin’s wedding and an after-party at our house that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I have a lot of cousins, and I LOVE hanging out with all of them. It was so much fun, and will definitely be a night we remember for a long time.

First Anniversary

Speaking of weddings, we celebrated our first anniversary on August 15th! I cannot believe it’s been a year already, time truly does fly when you’re having fun. I honestly planned to do so many wedding-related posts about how I got ready for our big days (we had two weddings: one on 8/15 at a church with just our family, and one that was a great big party with our family and friends on 8/21), but we’ve already been over my lack of posts. Now that we’re getting ready to ramp up planning my sister’s wedding, I fully plan to share my tips, tricks, lessons, and memories from ours as we go, so stay tuned!

Speaking of our anniversary, Kendra Scott just happened to open a store in Indianapolis the weekend before. My sweet husband knew I’ve been lusting after this necklace forever, so he played detective to find out when exactly they’d be opening, and he even figured out that if we went on opening day, I’d get this (perfectly Colts blue) bracelet for free! Isn’t he the best? Did you know that if you go to Kendra Scott during your birthday month and show your ID, you get 50% off of a piece of jewelry? August just happens to be his birthday month, so it was even more of a bargain. You can guess where I’ll be heading in October!

So that was our summer in a nutshell. Can you believe it’s already September? I love summer, and it’s my favorite season, even when it gets ridiculously hot. I have to say though, I’m ready for the calm that comes with fall. Fall means calmer schedules, bonfire and chili nights with our friends, football Sundays (and the snacks that go with them!), and so many other great things. I love my sundresses, but I also love the fashion that comes with the cooler temperatures.

Thanks for bearing with me while I took some time to re-group, and I promise to be a much better blogger in the weeks and months to come.

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Indianapolis Mini Marathon!

~ reallifesparkle ~ 1 Comment

My cousin and I after the race.

Top | Crops | Headband | Shoes

Although I’ve been MIA for a bit, I had to share an update on my half-marathon experience. We did it! And lived to tell about it!

After 12 weeks of training, lots of miles logged, and sore muscles, we officially crossed the finish line of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. It was hard, but we ran almost the entire thing (our walking breaks were definitely less than a mile total). Our time was 2 hours and 41 minutes, so only 11 minutes over our goal of 2:30, and still pretty respectable for our first go (and not running at all prior to mid-February). We ran through sun, light sprinkles, and a straight-up downpour at various times, and although my body was aching by the end and my feet were KILLING me, I’ll definitely be back for more.

In case you’re wondering what I wore – because let’s be honest, picking out what to wear for the big day was pretty fun too – I EARNED my Lululemon reward. This mint top is described as “light support,” but I can tell you it was very secure and way better than any other “light support” sports bra I’ve ever worn. I’ve also learned I have to have a (moisture-wicking) headband of some sort, otherwise sweat drips in my eyes and I hate everything. This one from Lululemon was great and never felt like it was about to slip off, plus it’s reversible. My leggings were a find at the Gap outlet on our way back from Garth Brooks. These are similar, but if you want the contrast stitching and don’t mind a different color combo, these are $11. I’m also still completely in love with my Mizunos. You may have also noticed that I matched my outfit to my shoes, because of course. (There was also a jacket from Lululemon in the perfect berry color that would’ve really completed the ensemble, but Husband heard the price and it became a “we’ll think about it.” Sigh.)

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Waiting to start.

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Kissing the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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About to cross the finish line and finally seeing my husband and sister waiting for me at the end. My cousin was long gone – she decided to end her suffering and took off for the finish line around mile 11. I couldn’t blame her, I totally would’ve too.

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After we crossed the finish line! 

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Toasting our accomplishment and recovering (right before we ate sooo much pizza).

The biggest surprise out of all of this has been that I’ve found myself looking forward to running. When I was growing up, people always asked me if I was a runner, just like my dad was. I remember my mom telling me that he had planned to have me start running with him before he got sick, and I laughed because I’ve NEVER been a runner – it’s always sounded more like torture than anything enjoyable. I won’t miss the “homework”aspect of knowing I have to get a certain number of miles in each week, but I’ve come to enjoy the clearheadedness that comes from putting in a few miles after a stressful day. Plus, I’ve never felt stronger than when I realized I could go 6 miles without having to walk at all, a feeling that’s grown after completing the 13.1 – walking bits and all. I’m not going to lie, that final half mile or so was absolutely brutal. While the encouragement of the other girls helped me when my feet were screaming at me at the end, the thing that really got me through was thinking of my dad running it so many years before, and fighting through to cross the finish line just like he did. I’m not sure I’d ever thought I’d find myself becoming a runner like he’d always hoped, but better late than never, I suppose.

Dad Running

My dad running track in high school. He’s the one with the long, flowing, 1970s hair who’s receiving the baton. 

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Ready to Run…Sort of…

~ reallifesparkle ~ 2 Comments

The month of May in Indianapolis is a pretty big deal. The city spends the whole month celebrating the 500 Festival, which is capped off at the end of the month with “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500. Kicking off the 500 Festival at the beginning of the month is the Mini-Marathon, a half marathon that includes a lap around the 2.5 mile track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To commemorate 100th running of the Indy 500, this year, Mini participants will get a medal featuring a mini version of the Borg-Warner trophy, the trophy the winner of the Indy 500 will receive Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully we’ll be at the Speedway for the Indy 500 at the end of the month, but for the first time ever, I’ll be one of the runners kicking off the celebration in the Mini.

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Am I a runner? Nope. To be totally honest, until last Monday, the last time I’d laced up my running shoes was last March. Over tapas and beers, a friend convinced me I could totally train for a half marathon and it wouldn’t be that hard (Ha…). After a few beers at Bacon Fest and a cocktail at Hotel Tango, my sister and I agreed we’d take on this adventure together. I figured it’d be a great accomplishment for a milestone year, so why not?….Then, my sister sprained her ankle the night before training was supposed to start. Sooo, it’s just me right now, until I can convince someone to take on her spot.

In all reality, I don’t have to run the whole thing to feel like I accomplished something and I was part of a really cool tradition in my city. I’d like to run as much of it as I possibly can, but let’s be real, I’m not above walking when I need to – I just want to kiss the yard of bricks at the Speedway (yes, really, it’s a thing) and not die.

Week 1 of training has been a challenge, to say the least. My body has been pushed and it’s also let me know it’s pretty shocked about the change. Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL 72 degree day, so I hit the Monon Trail for my first outdoor long run. The Monon is this fantastic path that runs through the city, and there were hundreds of people who had the same idea for the gorgeous day as I did, so the people watching certainly helped the mileage go by. The thing about the Monon, is you have to remember you need to turn around at some point, which doubles your mileage. On Saturday, I forgot. So 8.47 miles later, my legs were feeling pretty strongly about my decision. (No, I did not run the whole thing. I ran a total of 3 miles, but not all together…I’ll get there.) Luckily, my sister and her fiancé were waiting at the end of my trail at Big Lug Canteen, a fun new brewery just off the Monon Trail.

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Their Quintana American Wheat Ale was a refreshing treat after my miles, and yes, I drank lots of water afterward too. My sister and I also shared a great salad, but of course we also sniped more than a few fries from Jair too. Today was not so warm and a little more like February in Indiana, and I learned how my asthmatic lungs feel about running in cold air. Spoiler alert: they don’t love it, and I’ll be figuring out a way to take my inhaler with me from now on. Whoops.

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It’s going to be an adventure, but I have 75 days to get myself in gear and ready to cross that finish line. Wish me luck!

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Devour Downtown!

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The past couple weeks were Devour Downtown in Indianapolis, which is always a fun way to try a prix fixe menu at some of the city’s best restaurants for a fraction of the price. Though my husband and I have taken advantage of the semi-annual event before, he’s not always the most adventurous eater, and a night out with girls was a great way for me to test the waters of a restaurant to see how he’d like it. On Saturday, I found two winners that I cannot wait to go back to!

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A girls night out is always a great time to pull out the fun things from your closet. My tunic is on clearance at J.Crew Factory for a crazy $9.99, and I wear it alllll the time. I took advantage of the night on the town to test drive the “leather” leggings I was finally brave enough to buy, and I have to say, I’m a fan. My cape/vest/coat hybrid was a steal at $22, and you can also find an even cheaper version of it here. I liked that it was an extra layer without being too hot, so I didn’t have to worry about taking it off and trying to keep track of it. After being so in love with my black OTK boots, I decided to buy another pair in brown (they only seem to be available in black now), and I’m loving the versatility of having two pairs without breaking the bank. I finished everything off with one of my favorite necklaces and monogrammed earrings.

We started the evening at Bluebeard for cocktails and appetizers while we waited for our dinner reservation at Marrow. I’d heard amazing things about Bluebeard, but hadn’t had a chance to go there yet and now I’m totally hooked. They make their ginger beer and sodas in-house, and every cocktail we had (because let’s face it, when you’re with ladies, you get to sample everyone’s) was perfect. The meat and cheese assortment we had was also incredible; I could’ve gorged myself on charcuterie and never made it to dinner. One of my favorite parts was that they give you your check in an old book – how cute is that?! Kaitlin’s came in Little Women, and I had to snap a pic and pretend it was mine since Little Women is my all-time favorite.

Our dinner reservation was at Marrow, and it’s definitely a place I can’t wait to go back to! Naturally we started with cocktails, so I got the Royale with Duck (no actual duck in the cocktail – yes, I had to ask), and Alex and Liz got their House Old Fashioned, which is actually made with “bone marrow-washed” rye.

We didn’t all stick with the Devour Downtown menu, but there was plenty of food to go around! I started with shrimp and mussels in a Thai peanut sauce (so good), and I didn’t get a picture of the Paneer with Shells, but it was this delicious version of shells and cheese (my favorite comfort food on earth) that I’ll definitely be back to have again. We each got different entrees, and every single thing was that level of amazing where everyone stops talking and is just focused on eating. I had the Thai-style Fried Catfish (surprisingly light and refreshing), Kaitlin got the Tandoori Fried Chicken (also incredible), and Alex got the Spare Ribs (perfectly sticky/spicy/sweet), but the star of the show that I can’t wait to go back for more of was Liz’s Pork and Noodles. The combination of the noodles, pork, and that runny egg was beyond amazing. Our Devour Downtown menu came with a dessert, and all of us got the Chocolate Miso Creme Caramel, which magically tasted like a s’more and was the best way to end the meal.

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Of course, we couldn’t resist playing with Kaitlin’s Polaroid all evening, and the fun part is that everyone gets to take home a real picture! So fun!

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Girls Weekend and Indy’s Bacon Fest!

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There’s nothing better than a weekend with your besties, am I right? The weekend kicked off at my house on Friday night with wine, cheese, masks, nail painting, and all sorts of other girly fun together.

GirlsNight-Cheese

I love a good spread of meats, cheeses, hummus, fruits, and veggies. They’re easy to pull together, and they never fail to look fancy without too much effort (you know, when you actually bother to put the hummus and salsa in bowls instead of leaving them in their plastic Trader Joe’s containers – whoops). This ended up being our dinner for the evening, paired with a few bottles of wine, of course. Then came face masks, painting our nails, and a Hulu marathon while my husband hid out at let us do our thing.

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We knew Saturday would be full of food at Indy’s Bacon Fest, but that didn’t stop us from starting it off with a breakfast of toasted bagels, avocado, and a lesson in poaching eggs from my friend Erin. I can’t wait to see how many eggs I ruin trying to recreate this little bit of heaven, but I’m obsessed with a good runny yolk and anything avocado, so it’ll be worth the effort.

The main event for the day was Indy’s Bacon Fest, an event featuring bacon and “pork inspired” products from 20 local restaurants, beer from a local brewery, and so much deliciousness. It was the second year of the event, and I’m SO PROUD of my sister’s best friend, who has organized the whole thing both years. Baconfest-SarahKristiBaconfest-shirtBaconfest-MeSarah2Baconfest-girlsfood

Have I ever mentioned that one of my husband’s favorite things is a photobomb? All. The. Time. The day included samples like BBQ Sorghum Glazed Bacon from Bent Rail Brewery, Bacon Glaze Donuts from Jack’s Donuts, a Potato Bacon Terrine from Union 50 (my favorite of the day), and so many other amazing things. We were absolutely stuffed trying everything, but luckily it was a perfect 60 degree day that allowed us to go sit outside on the patio and enjoy an afternoon in the sun – so rare for Indianapolis in January!

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Don’t worry, that Indiana Pork tattoo on my sister is temporary…even though we may have tried to tell our mom it wasn’t. Our beers for the day were from Tow Yard Brewing Company, and I was a big fan of the Goldie Hops Golden Ale.

My striped shirt is on sale for less than $15 at Gap, my blanket scarf is probably one of my most-worn accessories, and of course, I think I’ve made my feelings about my Pixie pants pretty clear by now. Kaitlin’s buffalo plaid vest is also on markdown right now at J.Crew with an extra 40% off, and I love it so much I may need one of my own.

After Indy’s Bacon Fest, we took a nice (long) walk in the gorgeous weather to Hotel Tango, a craft distillery that’s one of our favorite places to grab a cocktail. Although we intended to go out to dinner and out on the town Saturday night, we ended up ordering in Thai food and keeping things pretty low key. We did learn that the whole use white wine to get out spilled red wine thing really does work though. Life lessons.

Our weekends together are my favorite, and it felt like forever since our last visit after the summer full of wedding festivities meant lots of play dates. Weekends with your college girlfriends are like food for your soul. Can’t wait for the next one!

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Girly Saturday: Brunch & Antiquing

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I had a girly day yesterday while my amazing husband and father-in-law were at our house fixing our water heater. It’s been rough for the past few weeks – you had to choose between lukewarm-to-scalding hot water with zero water pressure, or lots of pressure with ICE COLD water. Luckily, my father-in-law is super handy, and he was able to show my husband how to fix the blocked valves and save us from spending a ton of money on a new water heater. The difference today was incredible, so thank goodness for parents who are constantly helping us figure out this whole homeownership thing.

Now, doesn’t that brunch look amazing? One of my best friends moved to Indy a few months ago, so she’s definitely helping me stay cool and try fun new restaurants. Yesterday we went to Milktooth, and what you’re seeing is the most incredible grilled raclette, cranberry, and walnut grilled cheese, drizzled with black truffle honey and topped with a local duck egg. The other girls had a spaghetti squash pad thai pancake (so good!) and the “Milktooth Double,” which was a double burger that our friend said was amazing. Of course, it’s not brunch without cocktails, so I had a French 75, and the other girls had a michelada and beer mimosa. If you’re ever looking for great brunch in the Indy area, Milktooth is absolutely worth the trip and the wait (it’ll be packed, expect a wait).

After brunch, Kaitlin and I went antiquing to find fun things for our house and her apartment. It was my first time really going antiquing, and it was crazy seeing all of the different things in the stalls. I picked up the wrought iron part of an old clock face (shout out to Kaitlin for seeing it tucked in the back corner of a booth and letting me snag it) and this fun old vase. I think the clock piece will be an awesome edition to the gallery wall we’re trying to put together.

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We had actually planned to go to a different antique mall, but ended up missing the turn, so we decided to try out a place my father-in-law recommended instead. We followed up antiquing with her coming over for an evening at our house of takeout, wine, and standup comedy on Netflix, so it was a pretty fantastic day.

Because I knew we’d be walking around a lot and be outside, I tried to layer up and dress for the unexpected.

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It was a day for a plaid tunic, comfy cardigan, my favorite charcoal Pixie pants, and pink Hunter boots just for fun. My monogram is probably my most worn piece of jewelry – not counting my wedding rings, of course. I actually got my pink Hunters about five years ago in the shoe sale room at our local Von Maur, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw other bloggers talking about how Hunter had a “new” pink color last fall that was exactly the same as my old ones. My plaid tunic and cardigan aren’t exact matches, but are still super cute steals from Old Navy. The Pixie pants are marked down to $50 with an extra 40% off right now, making them an amazing deal at $30, so go, go, go get some!

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Today I stocked up on supplies for upcoming craft projects and we’ve got another cold weather favorite planned for dinner, so look for projects and recipes coming soon!

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