Trip To Chicagoland Speedway & Taste Chicago | Buckets Lists | Personal

I have a bucket list. I don't have an age limit attached to it, but whenever the opportunity (and finances) arise I like to cross those experiences off. Two big ones I have already accomplished are Visiting Japan and Skydiving. My current list has a lot of travel (Europe, Seattle, ect.) and experiences like a hot air balloon ride or holding a red panda. One thing I never really thought about was combining my bucket list with my husbands. After we got married Marcus's bucket list became a part of my own. One of his bigger desired achievements include visiting all the NASCAR tracks in the US. This past weekend we crossed our fourth track off the list by traveling to Chicagoland Speedway! 

It was a smaller track that is curved so no matter where you sit you will be able to see any part of the track. Marcus loved it; he brings a hat to be signed and was able to get a total of 10 signatures on it from this trip.  Although his favorite driver (Kyle Larson) didn't win, we still had a blast at the race. 

Monday, we explored downtown Chicago! We started the day with a Taste Chicago Food Tour by Tastebuds Tours. This was our second food tour our first being in downtown Minneapolis. These were our foods and Stops.  

Deep dish Pizza by Pizano's Pizza , a Brownie at The Goddess and the Baker, a sandwich at Als, cupcakes at Sugar Bliss, Chocolate at Fannie Mays and then we finished out with a brat at Berghoff. 

Our favorite food was by far the Brownie from The Goddess and the Baker. It was rich, moist, and delicious enough I ate it before getting a photo. The other foods on the tour were just so so. Our tour guide was sweet and knowledgeable making the tour worth while.   

After the food tour we went to the Skydeck at Sears Tower (Willis Tower) and went out on the Ledge. Not being afraid of heights, I started to walk out all confident and then about halfway changed my mind and started to walk backwards ! We finished the night out with deep dish pizza from Giordano's at Navy Pier and watched an Imax viewing of the Movie It. (We are horror movie people)

Minnesota History Center Wedding Photography | Holly & Steve | Minneapolis Wedding Photographer

On a beautiful windy September day, Holly and Steve decided to get married at the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul! They are one of the most fun and easygoing couples I have had the joy to serve. We started their day at Kellogg Mall Park for their first look. Steve was quick to show off his bright green shoelaces, excitingly telling us that he has a shoe lace guy in Canada. (Yeah he has connections, message me if you need any assortment of colored shoelaces and I will see what I can do!) Holly was dolled up in a simple sweetheart dress and white flowers in her hair. It was a perfect representation of her spirit, simply elegant and sweet. All morning Holly and Steve were bubbling with energy for their wedding day! It was finally here; it is a cool feeling seeing everything you have been planning actually happen!

They surrounded themselves with loved ones from all stages of life from all over the country. (Their guestbook was a map of the US with hearts over where they had lived! It was so fitting for their two adventure buddies.) As Holly walked down the aisle with her mother and father, she smiled around excited to see so many people come together for them.  As they said their vows Steve had Holly laughing and crying along with everyone else attending! 

Steve's father has a tradition of singing with a group at wedding reception. The halls of the History Center echoed with the beautiful, funny song and laughter because the lyrics were pretty great!

The maid of honors speech was filled with advice of kids some simple and some surprisingly mature for their age.
The whole day was beautiful, but nothing was more beautiful than the love shared between Holly and Steve. I hope their life together only grows in love and they never loose the laughter in between them.
They finished the night storming the dance floor, partying with their friends with the Minnesota State Capital glowing bright in the large picture window.

The best part of an amazing wedding day?? - Holly and Steve couldn't stop laughing and smiling with each other. It was simply the best. <3

Drugan's Castle Mound Country Club Wedding Photography | Ethan & Katelyn | Minneapolis Wedding Photographer

Ethan and Katelyn got married last Friday at Drugan castle mound Golf Course.  It was a beautiful breezy fall day, perfect for a September wedding. Although nerves were high (Ethan revealed that he had hardly slept the last two days) Katelyn and Ethan surrounded themselves with people who loved them. As Katelyn got zipped up into her dress her bridesmaids were all smiles, excited and in awe of Katelyn's beauty. (But who wasn't the whole day?!)
The wedding party reflected the changing trees in bright orange, white and grey, which set off the festive feel for the day! As the ceremony began and the bride was walking up with her father on one arm, Katelyn only had eyes for Ethan. The officiant shared that their union was a symbol of Christ and the church. As a nod to Ethan's heritage, they bound their hands together. When the pastor mentioned that they are holding the hand of their best friend, that was the point where I lost it!  It was a beautiful ceremony! After the ceremony the bride and groom wanted to make sure to thank every one who came in person. As they thanked their guests, Katelyn was a little cold (the day was sunny but in the shade there was a cooler fall breeze). Someone offered to get her a shawl but I think one of the bridesmaids said it best - " Katelyn doesn't need a shawl! She has a husband for that now!!"

The reception was laid back with a social dinner; the bride and groom went from table to table making sure to talk to everyone who made the trip out.  Thankfully the whole wedding day happened without a single problem ( besides one busted zipper at the reception, because there is always one thing ), but even if it had I don't think it would have distracted these two lovebirds from each other anyway. Congratulations to Katelyn and Ethan!!