I floated on cloud nine all week. I was thrilled to finally be with my daughter in our beloved college town of Auburn, Alabama, eagerly anticipating the arrival of family and friends from across the country. The excitement was palpable, and every day felt like another step toward the celebration we had been planning for so long.
Despite surviving on very little sleep, I made it a point to attend the 6:30 a.m. Lux Lab Xformer class every Monday through Thursday. The Xformer is a low-intensity, full-body training machine inspired by the Lagree Method. While it shares some similarities with Pilates, it has its own unique feel, featuring heavier spring resistance, standing platforms at both ends, and endless possibilities for slow, controlled, muscle-shaking movements. The studio is intentionally kept dark, the music is upbeat and energizing, and in just 45 minutes I left feeling stronger, refreshed, and ready for another busy day of wedding festivities. The best part, they offer a discount for new members; 3 classes for $45 total!
Sleep may have been in short supply that week, but between a good cup of coffee and my morning Lux Lab sessions, I had all the fuel I needed. www.luxlabstudios.com/
Despite surviving on very little sleep, I made it a point to attend the 6:30 a.m. Lux Lab Xformer class every Monday through Thursday. The Xformer is a low-intensity, full-body training machine inspired by the Lagree Method. While it shares some similarities with Pilates, it has its own unique feel, featuring heavier spring resistance, standing platforms at both ends, and endless possibilities for slow, controlled, muscle-shaking movements. The studio is intentionally kept dark, the music is upbeat and energizing, and in just 45 minutes I left feeling stronger, refreshed, and ready for another busy day of wedding festivities. The best part, they offer a discount for new members; 3 classes for $45 total!
Sleep may have been in short supply that week, but between a good cup of coffee and my morning Lux Lab sessions, I had all the fuel I needed. www.luxlabstudios.com/
Thursday, July 16, was a day of welcoming. We delivered gift bags to the hotels and prepared our VRBO for a casual open house where family and friends could stop by, reconnect, and begin celebrating together.
My son, Trey, flew from Milwaukee to Atlanta accompanied by his grandmother (my mother-in-law) and his great-aunt. Both women are in remarkable shape, but anyone who has traveled knows that air travel can present a few unexpected challenges. It was reassuring to have Trey along to manage luggage, navigate the airport, and troubleshoot the inevitable surprises that arise.
In this case, Aunt Sally's ticket had been issued with an incorrect birth date, requiring extra time at the ticket counter, and my mother-in-law's luggage prompted not one, not two, but three TSA searches. The culprit? An outfit packed with a built-in underwire bra! Thankfully, the flight itself was uneventful, and they arrived safely in Atlanta. Trey arranged an Uber, and together they made the 90-minute journey to Auburn.
Once they arrived, Trey and his sister, Auburn, immediately headed to one of their favorite college chicken finger restaurants: Foosackly's. Returning to Auburn University for the first time as an alumnus was meaningful for Trey. As students, we often take those years for granted, but distance and time have a way of deepening our appreciation. Now that he is back in the Midwest and fully immersed in adult life, I think he treasures his Auburn experience even more. And perhaps that is one of life's gifts—the places that shape us never really leave us; they simply become sweeter in memory.
My son, Trey, flew from Milwaukee to Atlanta accompanied by his grandmother (my mother-in-law) and his great-aunt. Both women are in remarkable shape, but anyone who has traveled knows that air travel can present a few unexpected challenges. It was reassuring to have Trey along to manage luggage, navigate the airport, and troubleshoot the inevitable surprises that arise.
In this case, Aunt Sally's ticket had been issued with an incorrect birth date, requiring extra time at the ticket counter, and my mother-in-law's luggage prompted not one, not two, but three TSA searches. The culprit? An outfit packed with a built-in underwire bra! Thankfully, the flight itself was uneventful, and they arrived safely in Atlanta. Trey arranged an Uber, and together they made the 90-minute journey to Auburn.
Once they arrived, Trey and his sister, Auburn, immediately headed to one of their favorite college chicken finger restaurants: Foosackly's. Returning to Auburn University for the first time as an alumnus was meaningful for Trey. As students, we often take those years for granted, but distance and time have a way of deepening our appreciation. Now that he is back in the Midwest and fully immersed in adult life, I think he treasures his Auburn experience even more. And perhaps that is one of life's gifts—the places that shape us never really leave us; they simply become sweeter in memory.
It was especially meaningful to have Grandma Larson, Aunt Sally, plus Wisconsin and Texas cousins visit Auburn University for the very first time after years of hearing our family talk about it. Some places simply have to be experienced in person, and Auburn is one of them. Words never quite capture the beauty of the campus, the charm of the college town, or the unmistakable spirit that makes so many people fall in love with it. Auburn has become woven into our family's story. My brother and sister are both alumni, my niece and nephew are current students, and my brother even serves as chairman of the Auburn Alumni Club in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area of Florida.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, our VRBO became a revolving door of family and friends. We kept the menu simple—yes, Wisconsin cheese curds made the trip south!—and welcomed everyone with an open-door policy. Members of the wedding party began arriving, some after driving straight through from Wisconsin and others flying in from Texas. For hours, people drifted in and out, catching up on life, swapping stories, sharing hugs, and filling the house with laughter. It was exactly the relaxed beginning to the wedding weekend we had hoped for.
Summer in Auburn is hot, humid, and often punctuated by surprise afternoon thunderstorms. Being only a few hours from the Gulf Coast makes those quick-moving squalls part of the landscape. Fortunately, we managed to duck and dodge the rain all weekend, and none of the storms interfered with the events that mattered most. They may have shortened a little browsing downtown, though, where the boutiques, art galleries, and locally owned shops are some of my favorite places to explore. Earlier in the week, Auburn and I had wandered through Main Street, and she found the most adorable dress for just $26—a perfect bargain and the ideal outfit to pack for her honeymoon in Curaçao.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, our VRBO became a revolving door of family and friends. We kept the menu simple—yes, Wisconsin cheese curds made the trip south!—and welcomed everyone with an open-door policy. Members of the wedding party began arriving, some after driving straight through from Wisconsin and others flying in from Texas. For hours, people drifted in and out, catching up on life, swapping stories, sharing hugs, and filling the house with laughter. It was exactly the relaxed beginning to the wedding weekend we had hoped for.
Summer in Auburn is hot, humid, and often punctuated by surprise afternoon thunderstorms. Being only a few hours from the Gulf Coast makes those quick-moving squalls part of the landscape. Fortunately, we managed to duck and dodge the rain all weekend, and none of the storms interfered with the events that mattered most. They may have shortened a little browsing downtown, though, where the boutiques, art galleries, and locally owned shops are some of my favorite places to explore. Earlier in the week, Auburn and I had wandered through Main Street, and she found the most adorable dress for just $26—a perfect bargain and the ideal outfit to pack for her honeymoon in Curaçao.
Tomorrow I'll share one of my favorite discoveries in the Auburn area. Just a few miles away in the charming town of Opelika sits a stunning plant nursery that is home to The Botanic, the beautiful venue where we hosted The Bridal Brunch.
The Botanic is the vision of Auburn, AL resident Stacy Brown, founder of the wildly successful Chicken Salad Chick franchise.(We need these in Wisconsin!) I first learned more about Stacy through her inspiring interview on NPR's How I Built This, and her story stayed with me. She built an iconic restaurant brand from humble beginnings, endured significant health challenges, experienced the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Kevin, and somehow found the courage to begin a new chapter. Together with her husband, King Braswell, she transformed a former nursery into Botanic—a destination that celebrates nature, hospitality, exceptional food, and community. It was the perfect setting for our bridal brunch, and I can't wait to share more about this remarkable place. www.npr.org/2018/06/29/624713103/chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown
The Botanic is the vision of Auburn, AL resident Stacy Brown, founder of the wildly successful Chicken Salad Chick franchise.(We need these in Wisconsin!) I first learned more about Stacy through her inspiring interview on NPR's How I Built This, and her story stayed with me. She built an iconic restaurant brand from humble beginnings, endured significant health challenges, experienced the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Kevin, and somehow found the courage to begin a new chapter. Together with her husband, King Braswell, she transformed a former nursery into Botanic—a destination that celebrates nature, hospitality, exceptional food, and community. It was the perfect setting for our bridal brunch, and I can't wait to share more about this remarkable place. www.npr.org/2018/06/29/624713103/chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown
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