i present the cocktail of choice for marta’s birthday weekend.

a sister is a gift to the heart,

a friend to the spirit,

a golden thread to the meaning of life.

— isadora james

with this gal’s birthday being on tuesday we decided to kick off the celebration early, so i’m wilmington bound for the weekend. with work closing before lunch due to the impending inclement weather, party time will also come early.

[bring it]

gpoyw | missing this girl edition

i seriously think i’m going through withdrawals.

i spent most weekends this spring/summer in wilmington with her & emma,

and i dunno — i guess i got used to seeing them all the time.

i haven’t been down there since my birthday in july, she’s been super busy with work/school & things have been crazy here as well.

it’s so tough being 2 hours away from someone you love so dearly.

rhyan & i are going to see her and em next weekend,

and goodness knows it can’t come soon enough!

this weekend was for marta — as you see above, she was all up in the mix!

she drove into town friday after work,

& we sat around with a cocktail before meeting friends for dinner.

after which we stopped by at our local watering hole,

just for the heck of it.

saturday brought an early morning workout outdoors,

& catching up over the best nachos ever and crispin hard cider. 

we spent time with our oldest friends at their farm,

much needed after news their grandfather passed earlier in the week.

a late night brought late sleeping on sunday,

& watching dvr’d olypmics in our pajamas.

pool time for us both, homework for marta & snooze time for me.

a haircut debacle with rhyan that needs will be a post of it’s own,

& dinner at nana taco and frozen yogurt at moonberries.

a dead battery in the car after grocery shopping,

so thankful for a good friend who was more than willing to help.

this weekend was full of so much,

& i’m so happy marta was here to make it what it was …

marta likes to be reaaaaally close to me … can’t say that i blame her!

(taken with instagram at ocean ridge cabana)

gpoyw | missing my sisters [& islands] edition

after a day on the beach there’s nothing better than hittin’ up your favorite taco spot for $1 tacos in a bathing suit! hands-down the best tacos around, paired with an ice cold beer … it just doesn’t get much better.

can’t wait for my next trip — missing these girls so very much.

besties!

and the matching outfits weren’t planned,

promise. (taken with instagram)

best card ever, or best card ever?

sent from my baby sister marta …

gosh, i miss her so.

there’s a special kind of freedom sisters enjoy.

freedom to share innermost thoughts,

to ask a favor,

to show their true feelings.

the freedom to simply be themselves.

— author unknown

marta’s 21st birthday weekend was for

surprising her by arriving early on friday

an afternoon spent catching up

many margaritas and our favorite mexican spot

an early morning run outdoors

lunch and an afternoon walk around downtown

naps, manis and pedis

sky-high heels and one beautiful gold sparkly dress

dinner for two at a quaint local italian spot

a gathering of close friends jumping out to yell surprise!

drinks and laughs and photos

a delicious breakfast and walk on the beach

and a sunday funday we won’t soon forget

an afternoon dance party

and a recreation of the night before

an afternoon jam session on the guitars

and an impromptu wedding ceremony from the trunk of a car

my cell phone being ‘lost’ for the remainder of the day and night

only to realize it went home to fayetteville in said trunk

marta ordering her 1st official margarita

a pineapple upside cake was made but never eaten

presents were unwrapped and fawned over

and all was well with all of us …

until it was time to say goodbye.

finding a hidden card

your little sister/best friend hid

when she was home for a day

is the best.

sometimes the words you need to hear

come at just the right time

and you are reassured

despite all else

everything is gonna be okay.

marta couldn’t make the trip to michigan due to her work schedule,

and her presence was missed so much throughout the week.

it was the first holiday we’ve ever spent apart,

and i couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.

it was a good life lesson, how things changes and we adapt,

how traditions won’t always stay the same.

and while change and distance can be difficult at times,

we remember how blessed we are to have each other in the first place.

gpoyw | i could really use a nap edition

this was taken over the summer at a family gathering.

we had eaten a huge meal and were stuffed.

and obviously exhausted.

the exact way i’ve felt today,

minus the feeling stuffed part.

smile friday | these girls are coming to visit edition

my youngest sisters

emma and marta

texted last night saying the were coming for a

surprise!! visit!! today!!

it’s been since the hurricane weekend back in august that i last saw them,

and that seems like decades ago.

smiling big for the weekend that’s sure to be filled with

lots of laughter and

sister time

staying up late watching movies and

drinking seasonal beers

oh, and we can’t forget about nc state tailgating and football tomorrow.

followed by a sunday relaxing on the couch with more football.

oh happy day!

sidenote: this photo was taken last christmas. out shopping at target one night we decided it would be fun to wear matching zip-up pajamas and surprise everyone on christmas morning. needless to say, they were a hit: the other siblings were quite jealous, and we were quite warm.