Bean and the Stalk

My WordPress Blog

WANDERLUST IN PARIS

As Vanessa Williams said, save the best for last. In reality, the task of narrowing down my photos from Paris was a daunting one that I kept putting off, so that's why I'm sharing them so much later than I planned (I traveled there last summer!) but it was my favorite stop on our Europe trip. (In case you missed it, check out London, Rome, Positono, and our adventures outside of Paris). When I say we walked everywhere, I mean we walked everywhere. We stayed in this amazing Airbnb in St ... View Post

BRIGHT RED FOR SPRING

First, I'm so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I've felt after publishing my last post. Even though I sat with the mouse hovering over the publish button for a little bit, I'm so glad I shared my story. I know everyone says that this is an experience many women face, but I can't believe just how many of us have this tragedy in common. I hope that by sharing mine, it brought a little bit of hope and peace to others who may have struggled with a miscarriage who may experience one in the ... View Post

LOSING THE UNEXPECTED

I've been sitting on this post for a couple of days now. To try and pretend that I'm a closed-book would be laughable. I'm a very open person and my experience is not something I'm ashamed of or I find too painful to talk about - I just didn't want people to feel bad for me or tip-toe around me. But if there's one thing I learned throughout this process it's that other people's stories can help other people, and hopefully I can pay it forward to one girl who may go through a similar ... View Post

Bonjour, France!

Bonjour from France! (I wish) In my second to last post from our summer Europe trip I'm sharing our time outside of Paris. I shared before that one of my childhood best friends was getting married in France and I was in the wedding, and the entire wedding party and attendees stayed at the Chateau de Chissay, located between Montrichard and Chenonceaux. The chateau was once a castle built under Charles the 7th for Pierre Bérard, chancellor of France, and both Charles the 7th and Louis the 11th ... View Post

FOUR TINY GOALS I’M SETTING FOR SPRING

I am so happy that it's Spring - even if it really doesn't feel like it outside. Okay... maybe it doesn't feel like it outside at all, but just knowing that it's a new season makes me feel better. I actually don't mind the winter too much. Sure, I complain about the cold and my extremely dry skin, but I also love to watch the snow fall and I am a sucker for a large Grandpa sweater. Also there's the whole not having to shave your legs thing. Not that I take part in that... Outside of being an ... View Post

STRIPED SWEATER WEATHER

One of my best friends from childhood said this sweater makes me look like a "humanoid hipster BB8" and I couldn't agree more. Also since my husband is a huge Star Wars fan, he's probably going to want me to wear this sweater all the time. You can tell in these close up shots that we went out in the rain to shoot these (those droplets on my head is not dandruff, I use my head and shoulders). This is also one of my favorite streets in Chicago. I love driving down it during the fall and ... View Post