Iowa throws a wedding.

I have a cousin named Laura. The best word to describe her would be fabulous. There is nothing low-key about her. Never has been--even when we were six years old.

Even though she grew up in a small Iowa town and remained in state for college, it was really no big surprise to anyone when she moved to NYC upon graduation to pursue a career as a fashion designer. She's done very well for herself--working for Tommy Hilfiger and J. Lo among others.

Laura got married a few weeks ago. Jack and I headed back to Iowa for the wedding.

Remember, she's fabulous. So nothing less than fabulous would do.




Pictures cannot do this wedding justice. Everything--absolutely everything--was perfect. Nothing chintzy, nothing out of place. As someone who can appreciate a good party, but possesses absolutely no party-throwing skills, I counted myself lucky to participate in such fabulosity.

The other days of our trip were slightly less over-the-top. For instance...

(that goat possesses an alarming amount of personality, no?)


I have spent twenty-one of my twenty-eight years in the Midwest. No wonder it feels like home.