Well, here it is. A whole month of photos of life lately, and they all take place in Minnesota. At times it feels as though August has just flown by, and at the same time I feel like I've been here forever. It's strange and sad that I haven't seen my dad or Rocky in a month, haven't gone to work in an office or gone out for dinner with girlfriends. But I have talked on the phone and Skype with so many people I love--much more than I did when I was in Roanoke, and I've run more this month than I have in a long time. And seeing Rob every day after a year of distance is kind of amazing. So here's to August. It was great.

1. My first grocery run for my new home.

2. One of the only times I have dairy: a whole milk latte when I'm out for breakfast.

3. I'm on the lease! Holding my new key.

4. Saw The Postal Service in St. Paul and it was incredible.

5. Dinner and drinks at Chino Latino with my mom, brother, and Rob.

6. My sweet mom at Modern Times Cafe.

7-8. Little peeks around the apartment.

9. Sean and Rob are such good friends and it melts my heart.

10-11. Took a day trip to Somerset, Wisconsin and saw Passion Pit play at Summer Set.

12. I know we're getting married and everything but we're like, dating now.

What did your August look like?

Life Lately According to Instagram is a once-monthly feature in which I showcase my favorite Instagram shots. You can follow along with me in real-time if you'd like--I'm @megan_flynn.

I was homesick this weekend.

It happened in the strangest way--right alongside feeling like I'm more at home here than I have been in the past month. There's one lone box of clothes to be hung up in a corner of our bedroom, and everything else is more or less in its place. All of my books are here. I've cooked countless meals in the kitchen already. Every morning, I wake up beside the man I'm going to marry in less than nine months and he goes to work and every evening he comes home and we have dinner. And yet, I have parents and a brother and a sweet old dog in Virginia, and when I talk about them, they are always "back home."

I'm now trying to accept the fact that it's okay to be happy and sad at the same time--to love it so much here and miss my family and friends and mountains so dearly. Life is rich and complicated, and the shiny vacation feeling of a new place and new furniture and a farmers' market every Saturday might be rubbing off a bit, but real life is just as beautiful.

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."

--Frederick Buechner

Rob and I have been celebrating weekends together and exploring new restaurants in the Twin Cities by doing a little research and hitting up happy hour specials. I love happy hour.

Last Friday, we ventured to Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar, a fun place in Minneapolis with fabulous rooftop seating. There is a rooftop happy hour, but it's not available on Fridays. So we took advantage of the indoor happy hour that was going on and sat inside by a window, feasting on oysters, ribs, a spicy tuna roll, peel-and-eat shrimp, and a couple drinks each. They're serious about that two-for-one drink special, and Rob laughed at my surprise when, after ordering a glass of wine, the server brought me two, right then and there.

  

If you're ever in Minneapolis, you should definitely stop by Stella's! And you should tell me first so I can meet you there and have two more glasses of wine and another bucket of shrimp.

Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar

1400 West Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55408

Food 4/5

Service 2/5

Atmosphere (inside) 3/5

Prices & Specials 4/5

Paleo-Friendly 5/5

I hope you enjoy me sharing our restaurant adventures in Minneapolis and St. Paul with you! I'm hoping it will be a fun way to document all of our favorite places, while simultaneously encouraging our friends from home to come visit immediately.