A Few State Championships Later

Always try and keep your promises, especially when they're to someone who means the world to you. 

My father missed the 2002 Little League State Championship game, coaching for Grosse Pointe Farms-City Little League, to take me to my first Detroit Shock game to see (and meet!!) my idol play against her former college roommate and teammate for the first time. 

I'm really not sure what other memory I have with my Dad that tops this one. My dad stayed true to his word no matter how conflicted he was. Thank goodness he was coaching with a great man, Mr. Getz, who told him to take me to the game. 

Getting to meet Swin Cash and Sue Bird, getting autographs and seeing them play each other in their rookie season, was better than anything I've ever received on Christmas morning. 

Everything seems to be coming full circle, because on Saturday, I'm seeing my idol play in person, eleven years later, for probably the last time. Chicago, here I come. Conway's seeing Cash one last time! 

Oh yeah, the Farms-City boys won that state tournament :)

xx #32

The last Detroit Shock game I ever attended!

(Another great memory I have of my Father was when he had his 2001 Little League State Runner-Up team come to a swim meet of mine to cheer me on. I was the 10-year old little sister who never missed a game of my brother's. Now, I swam like the 3rd event, the 17th event and the 37th event. My father just asked them to see me swim my first event, but the boys stayed for the WHOLE meet and cheered me on like I was racing for an Olympic Gold. Looking back, I probably should have lived up my popularity a bit more, but hey, I was just so excited they were there to support me. I'll never forget that.)

July Recap

The month of July could quite possibly be my favorite month of the year, even if it is when I somehow always get 3rd degree sunburns. Although it's so busy and just flies by, it is filled with so many perfect events, nights and weekends with my favorite people.

It all started with my company's summer work party which was held in downtown Detroit at the unbelievable and beautiful Campus Martius Park. I had a friend accompany me and I definitely met a lot of new co-workers, strengthened the relationships I had previously developed and took advantage of everything the party had to offer - especially the photo booth. Seriously, NEVER throw a big party without a photo booth...

Over the 4th of July, I had a "staycation," which was much needed after go-go-going since I started my position on May 13th. Finally finishing an overdue library book, doing loads and loads of laundry, hanging out with Granmo, organizing my room and watching season 1 of The Newsroom was how I spent 48 stress free hours. 

Then I spent two PERFECT weekends in a row up at Pointe Aux Barques with my best friend. Her cottage, #Cottage35, treated us to a much needed escape from our 8-5 jobs. 

I did not take this photo, but it is the best photo I've ever
seen that attempts to represent how beautiful PAB truly is.

My best friend and I on Thumbnail...
Literally, the very tip of the thumb of the Michigan mitten!
(I love when I get friends to represent Aquinas... Go Saints!)

My second weekend up at PAB was "The Best Weekend of the Year," which is also known as July Dance Weekend. This year, my best friend invited her college golf teammates up for the weekend, and most of them came (even her teammate from Indonesia...!!) I can't even begin to describe how perfect July Dance Weekend always is. Saturday night is my favorite part of the weekend because all the girls dress up in Lilly Pulitzer dresses, Jack Rogers and their grandmother's pearls. The guys sport different colored pants, their best Brooks Brothers bow ties/ties and sport coats. We take an absurd amount of photos before, during and after dinner, which is oh so annoying at the time, but oh so awesome come Sunday morning. The dance itself features a live band and dancers from the ages of 16 all the way up to 80+. From Sweet Caroline to Shout, it's always a night that will go down in the history books. 

The preppiest group you have ever seen, in front of #Cottage35

It's hard to follow a weekend at PAB, but fortunately the St. Clare Golf Outing gets that pleasure. The St. Clare Golf Outing Committee and Athletic Committee started working on this outing over Memorial day, and our recap meeting is tomorrow night (read: Finally, the golf outing is over! Wait, it's over??!) It truly is the only golf outing I've ever been apart of where I enjoy every second of it, regardless of the stress it brings. This year, everyone's hard work, planning, sales, marketing and donations made it the most successful outing yet! My best friend golfed with me, along with two of my friends from St. Clare (one just so happens to be my best guy friend). Although I arrived at the course at 9:45 am to set up, and did not get to bed until 2:30 am, the fact it was so much fun trumped my lack of sleep (and lack of coffee in my bloodstream). The golf outing was such a success that we ran out of open spots for golfers & golf carts at the course. At the after party, we even ran out of beer, food, utensils and plates!! Thank goodness they were quickly replenished by our awesome volunteers! :)

"Once a Falcon... Always a Falcon"

Even with all of the craziness the month of July brought, I was still able to volunteer a bit for the AAU Junior Olympics, coach basketball and give back to some young athletes, pass my 60 day evaluation at work (phewf) and do a bit of exploring in Detroit! 

"If you want to learn what someone fears losing,

watch what the photograph"

xx