350 TREES ON FIRE. ON A LAKE.

My friends. I am SO excited to share this post with you today, because this weekend was amazing.

Before I get too ahead of myself, let me share with you how ridiculous the weather in the Midwest is. I've lived in other states and countries, and none of these places have the ridiculously quick climate changes like Wisconsin. Tuesday it was 55 degrees. Wednesday we got 8 inches of snow. Thursday it was -25 below zero with windchill. WHAT. WHY. BOO.

Needless to say, after that weather rollercoaster, I was ready to relax over the weekend. 

Michael and I drove back to my hometown in Minnesota and enjoyed some time with my family in the sun & fresh snow.

This weekend was the weekend of the Epic Tree Bonfire. 

It's been going on for 8 years or so, and every year it gets more and more insane.

This year we had a bonfire or 350 old Christmas trees on the ice.

Yes, on the lake.

For those of you who didn't grow up in a place where you can walk on the frozen lake in the winter, I'm sure you don't believe that a bonfire that big can happen on a lake without falling through. I assure you, it can.

Enough talk, here is some photo evidence:

(yes I got carried away with M's iPhone 5 Panorama)

(home sweet home)

(lake pre bonfire)

(bonfire time)

Michael and I went out to see the huge structure my dad & neighbors built before it got dark out:

It was about 22 feet high!

Here she blows... it's impossible to really capture how high the flames/smoke rose...it's just breathtaking!

To make the night even more amazing, it was snowing the whole time. You can kind of see the flakes in this photo: 

 Amazing, right?!?!?!

Now, we don't just stop at the bonfire. My amazing neighbors made a whole bar area, not only with seating and lights, but a full homemade ice bar, ice shot glasses, ice votive holders, and ice coffee tables. Yep, this is what we crazy Midwesterners do in our free time! 

Here's me checking out the ice bar while they were still constructing it, huge down coat and all:

 We didn't get too many shots of the bar at night, but Michael did get a few of the light up ice tables and the lights. The bar entrance had a Hawaiian theme this year, and my neighbors made "palm trees". They constructed them out of poles & piece of pine trees! Amazing! 

Okay, I'll stop going on about it. Promise.

For those of you NOT enthused by big bonfires, check out some sneak peeks for this week's Valentine's Day themed posts:

XO art DIY:

The sweetest of sweet V-day treats: 

Sidenote: How freaking amazing was Beyonce/Destiny's Child at the Super Bowl? Oh. My. Gosh. 

Stay tuned, this week is going to be a good one!

What was great about your weekend?

Any other ice bonfires? Anyone?

xo, lp

** don't forget, discount codes still valid from last week's Etsy post!

Psssssssst: Find more pictures of the insane fire HERE on Instagram.

MORE PEANUT BUTTER THAN ANY HUMAN COULD EAT

Happy Monday, folks.

After the ridiculous ice storms hitting the country, I hope you all are getting around safely! We got a good old layer of ice yesterday, but I can't complain because it's going to be insanely warm this week. 45 degrees people! AH!! That's practically bikini weather around here. 

Michael and I declared this weekend to do nothing but hang out together & take care of ourselves...after weeks of being sick lame idiots. We did just that. We cleaned. We ran errands. We cooked meals together. We drank a ton of coffee and played a bunch of Scrabble. I baked and did Valentine's crafts. 

Wow. I just realize we sound like we're 80. Yikes.

Here are some awesome things from last week, and a few things to look forward to this week:

Thing 1: Dude, run to your nearest GAP and get this indigo striped shirt. If I didn't work in merchandising surrounded by insanely stylish people who would fully notice...I'd wear this shirt daily. Fact. Buttons in the back too. Yup.

Update: I just found the shirt online, and there's 30% off at GAP today! Treat yo Self! (Runs true to size)

Thing 2: The 24th was National Peanut Butter Day. Did you all celebrate? My coworkers are awesome and one of them organized a peanut butter tasting. Skippy Creamy still wins it for me. All those runny organic ones can go away. I like mah corn syrup in mah peanut butter.

Thing 3: Polka dot chambray, orange necklace and curls.  Again, I'd wear this all the time if I could. For reasons why I can't, see thing #1 above.

 Thing 4: Like I said, Valentine's Day baking and crafts this weekend. Tomorrow is post one of two about cookies. Yup. 

Thing 5: Did you see GAP's new clutches? Total Claire Vivier look, but about 1/8 of the price. Under $30 and with the 30% going on online right now? Done. Done. Done. 4 Colors, this is my favorite:

Okay. That's all I've got today kids. 

Tell me something good about your weekend.

Did you celebrate National PB day?!?!

xo, lp

Psssssssssssst: Find me on Instagram HERE!

NO SHAME.

How was your weekend, people?

My life is pretty great right now, because the Packers beat the Bears last week, and the Badgers won on Saturday (barely, but still). 

------------

Here's what's up with me lately:

My sister Louisa and her boyfriend were in town this weekend, and we spent Saturday afternoon with our other sister Ann and my adorable niece Lyddie. Michael hid one of her toys, and the first thing she did was leap on his lap and grab his collar to look down his shirt. No shame, that girl. No shame. 

I grabbed this beauty from J.Crew yesterday.  I loves me some burgundy & lavender. Besides the fact that it's crazy soft, it's on sale AND J.Crew is doing free shipping. Holla. Get yours here.

 (image via J.Crew)

This week in outfits (yesthatispolkadotchambraythankyouverymuch):

Let's have a quick conversation about this bag. Remember last week when I was talking about my favorite fall bags? Well throw that out the window. Here is THE perfect one. And it comes in three colors. Anyone else care to validate my feelings, here?

(photo via ZC)

Tomorrow I'll be sharing this recipe (zucchini latkes with paprika cayenne topping):

Per usual, thanks for hanging out with me as I ramble. You all are positively lovely. 

Also: I feel like I haven't called it out in a while, but if you're on Instagram let me know what name you use!

(you can find me here. @lpodlich)

What did your weekend look like?

If it didn't include a cute niece looking down your boyfriend's shirt, it must've been a real bummer...

xo,lp

Negativity & News

Happy Monday you incredibly attractive (I'm assuming) people.
I saw this the other day on Pinterest and realized I majorly needed to do this:

via

I'm a super sarcastic person- and I'm well aware that there's a fine line between heavy sarcasm and just downright negativity. As I mentioned in my "Things I'm Afraid to Tell You" post, I really am not a fan of living in the South. Richmond has a lot of historical and beautiful things about it- but we just don't...fit here. It's been that way since we got here- and after long enough of giving it the benefit of the doubt-


Michael and I have decided to move (again)!!

My day to day thoughts have become less and less sarcastic- and more just real unhappiness and annoyance with our current situation. Rather than whine- we've decided to be adults and make a change. We realize that at this point in our lives, the Midwest is where we're supposed to be.

I happen to work for an amazing company - and am moving to [hopefully!] attain a position at their headquarters. Where I'm at now just isn't fulfilling- and thus last week I put in my official two weeks notice. Michael has also decided to pursue grad school so he can become the studliest History teacher on the planet! #biased

We could not be more thrilled to get back to the energy and life in our favorite city back in Wisconsin- and are ready to move closer to the friends and family that have been such amazing supports while we've been out here. (Getting to see my adorable toddler niece grow up is a huge plus too!)

That being said- we'll be spending the next few weeks packing and doing all of our favorite RVA things...so sorry in advance for an Instagram overload. Before we go, we'll be taking a nice old New England road trip- hitting each and every state- so if any  DC/MD/NJ/DE/CT/RI/MA/ME/NH/VT/NY/PA bloggers have recommendations for great places to eat/see/stay- PLEASE. PLEASE send me an email [beautyandbeard@gmail.com]  or leave a comment. I would love your forever if you did. (Especially Boston or Providence Bloggers- we're hoping to be there for the 4th of July!!!)

We are beyond excited to see where this next chapter leads (cheeseball alert), and can't wait to take you all along with us!

Are you a New England Blogger?

Email me with suggestions of your favorite places to see/stay/eat/shop in your state!

[beautyandbeard@gmail.com]

XO,LP


pssssssssssst : If you're an RVA person and know anyone who wants to buy any furniture or home goods, contact me! We're selling everything- and it's all really new!

(linked with join the gossip)