Thanksgiving travels with a friend…

I just got back from visiting my parents in Springfield, MO for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Only this time, I wasn't traveling alone.  My dog Gates accompanied me on the plane and made for a very interesting trip...

Here's a few tips for flying with your pet.  

First and foremost, arrive at the airport early.  I was lucky I didn't have any trouble with checking in or getting through security, however I am glad I was early and didn't take any chances.  

Second, if you are going to sedate your dog, do so about an hour before your flight takes off.  I gave Gates 15mg of children's benadryl for our first flight but it began to wear off by the time we were actually in the air.  

Next, if you're a bit anxious/nervous when it comes to flying, I highly suggest talking to your doctor about getting authorized to travel with your pet as an emotional support companion.  I know it sounds crazy, but it allows you to bring your dog on the plane and avoid paying almost the price of an airline seat for your dog.  It also enables you to have your pet sit on your lap versus under the seat in the carrier.  In my case, Gates would NOT cooperate and put his head completely in the carrier.  Therefore, I believe it would be nearly impossible to fly with him if he wasn't allowed to sit on my lap.

Thats all the tips I have from our first flight which was only about an hour long.  For Christmas, we will be traveling from Chicago to Vegas, then Vegas to Miami, and finally Miami to Chicago.  I'm sure I will have more tips to add on to this blog post after the holidays.

Cheers!

My blog has been hibernating

I'm sorry it's been awhile since my last post, but my blog has been hibernating….

For my readers in Chicago out there, we have had two chilly nights this weekend… probably the coldest we've had yet this season.  So instead of baring the cold and going out on the town, I decided to spend my Friday evening decorating the apartment.  Even though Thanksgiving is next week, it's coming late this year, so I felt like breaking out the X-Mas decorations a little early.

FFC fit study follow up!

Today was a great day!!  

I began the morning doing a little soul searching and think I've stumbled upon a new positive outlook on life and some pretty amazing goals to reach along the way.

This evening I had my exit interview from the 3 week fitness study to analyze my results and test to see if I accomplished my short-term fitness goals...  Well great news!! I improved all tests by MORE than I had initially set out to do.  My mile time improved by 1:15, I increased my sit-ups by more than 50% and was able to do more push ups than I ever thought physically possible.  

After we re-tested all of the entrance exercises, we met with a representative from the club and discussed various membership options.  We also provided feedback on our experience throughout the fitness program.

Overall, I had an extremely positive experience and would recommend the study to friends if the club were to offer it again.  Even though there isn't a drastic change in my appearance, I feel more in shape and overall healthier than when we started.

I think to join I will really need to incorporate this into my life and make it part of my weekly routine.  With the fit study we were encouraged to participate in at least 4 workouts per week.  If I decide to join the gym, I would strive to maintain the same weekly frequency.  There is also an FFC just down the street from my apartment, so that's an added plus!

Closing thoughts on this post: Continue to set goals for yourself no matter how big or small they might be.  Having something to work toward will only continue to build and shape yourself into the person you want to be.

Revenge Addict

After my brother Charlie set us up with a temporary Netflix account, I immediately got hooked on Revenge.  I know I am a little late to jump on the Revenge bandwagon, but starting a new show in the middle of a season is never appealing to me, so without the ability to start from the beginning I had no interest in watching.  I can now say that I watched 44 episodes in only 21 days... yes there were several Revenge marathons during the last 3 weeks where I would watch anywhere from 6-10 episodes throughout the day.  I'm not proud of this by any means, but can describe it only as how a drug addict must feel toward their poison of choice...yes you read that correctly, I just compared myself to a drug addict.

That being said, I am now counting down the days until the season 3 premiere on September 29!!  One concern is that I will no longer be able to go on Revenge binges by watching multiple episodes in one sitting.  Instead I will have to wait a WEEK in between episodes...another concern is that Revenge airs on Sunday nights... which unfortunately interferes with the NFL, and living with a football fanatic will be interesting to see who gets to the remote first.  Needless to say, I would be willing to DVR Revenge and then watch the following day, but then there's Monday night football.. it's never ending.  This will be a LONG fall.

Favorites collage

Fall is back!!!

Had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season this morning and it was GREAT!!  It was the perfect start to my morning despite the fact that the projected high is 94 today, my office building is closer to 60 which made my decision to opt for the hot fall beverage seem appropriate.

Apparently this week is the last of the hot weather here in Chicago, so as the temperatures begin to dip, thought I would share a quick an easy crock pot recipe for a tasty fall football treat.

3-Ingredient Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

1. 1(1) 2lb. pork tenderloin
2. 2(1) 12 ounce can of root beer
3. 3BBQ sauce of your choice

Directions:

1. 1Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker and pour the can of root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until pork shreds easily with a fork.
2. 2After pork has cooked, drain and discard the root beer. Shred the pork and place it back in the slow cooker. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork and stir to combine. Serve immediately or keep warm in slow cooker until ready to serve. Serve on hamburger buns.

3 week fitness study at FFC

I just started a FREE fitness study at FFC gym in Lincoln Park.  One of my colleagues mentioned it to me and I was lucky enough to be one of the first 50 participants to sign up and get accepted into the program.  

Basically you get full access to the FFC gym and can take as many classes as you would like from today until September 29th (3 weeks).  

Yesterday we had orientation which consisted of a basic fitness test and tour of the gym.  The trainers divided us into groups and explained the requirements of the study and also recorded our weight, mile time, and # of sit-ups/push-ups during one minute intervals.

At the end of the study, we will go through the same fitness test to determine our progress.  FFC is hoping that the results will be positive and will reinforce the effectiveness of their classes.  It is suggested to participate in 4 classes of our choice each week.

I plan on taking full advantage of this opportunity and will try to attend as many classes as possible.  In addition to the workouts, I plan on eating healthy for the next 3 weeks and cutting out all dessert :(  This is not going to be easy, but luckily I have 4 friends participating in the study and will hopefully lean on them when I need motivation.

I will report back in 3 weeks and let you all know how it turned out...stay tuned!

Petition to Amend the Trademark Opposition Process

Please take 30 seconds of your time & sign this petition to reform the patent and trademark opposition process.  My brother put 2 years of his heart & soul into a start-up company he built from the ground up, only to have it crushed by a multi-billion dollar company claiming trademark infringement.  There is something wrong with our system if he cannot even defend himself because of limited funds with no guarantee of legal restitution if he wins.

Link to petition:
United States Patent & Trademark Office: Amend the trademark opposition process

For the full account of this story please visit my brother's blog:
Square Inc. Files 12th Opposition, Ends Indy’s Free Squarejive App in Federal Court

Divvy - Chicago's New Bike Share Program

This past weekend my boyfriend and I decided to try out the new Divvy bikes.  For those unfamiliar, Divvy is a bike share program that launched in Chicago a month ago.  With 4,000 bikes and 400 stations throughout the city, the purpose is to allow users to rent the bike as an alternative travel method to get from point A to point B.  Here are my thoughts on the system....

Positives:

• Given that the program is new, the bikes are in great condition and easy to use for inexperienced riders such as myself.
• There is an accompanying App to download on your phone that identifies all of the bike docking station locations in relation to where you are via GPS.  If the station is full, the app identifies the station in red so that you know you need to find another location to return the bike.  Or if you are looking to rent out a bike for the first time during your trip, a full station means that you are in luck and there will be plenty of bikes available to check out.
• Divvy operators travel to the various stations continuously moving bikes around if stations are full or low on bikes.  This helps maintain an even number of bikes across the various stations throughout the city.
• All bikes are equipped with a basket to hold any personal items you may have.  Bikes also have lights to ensure safety if riding at night.
• The cost to rent a bike for 24 hours is $7 which keeps the system an affordable means of transit.
• Divvy can be operated 24 hours a day for 365 days a year (not sure how much it will be utilized in Chicago during the winter months but we shall see...)

Negatives:

• Divvy's model is to provide transit from point A to point B and is great for short trips.  However, the system requires riders to check their bike into a station every 30 minutes of use.  For lengthy bike rides, this amount of time is to short and we found that it almost took away from the enjoyable experience of riding along the lakefront.  We were constantly checking our watch to be sure we did not exceed the half hour time limit.  If you do go over this amount, additional fees will be incurred.  Another negative associated with the 30 minute trip duration is if you run into a situation where the bike docking station is full and you cannot check in your bike, you must continue on to the next station which may or may not be full.  Again, the operations team is out in the field monitoring the bikes and moving them amongst the stations, but friends have mentioned exceeding the time limit due to multiple full stations.
• Every docking station has a kiosk for riders to submit initial payment for the day and to receive a different code each time a bike is rented.  One negative is that the docking stations only have 1 kiosk, so popular stations get backed up with 1st time riders and riders that have checked in their bike and need to wait to get a new code to re-check out another bike to continue their trip.

Suggested Improvements:

• Extend the trip time from 30 minutes to 1 hour, or allow riders the option to pay $8 versus $7 for 24 hours to guarantee an hour trip time without penalty.
• Create an additional kiosk at the docking station to allow great efficiency for those who are first time renters versus simply checking in for the 30 minute mark.  Another option would be to allow riders to use the same code for the 24 hour period.  That way, if they check in their bike after 30 minutes they could immediately access the bike again without having to wait in line at the kiosk for a new code.

Overall I think this is a great system that will allow commuters another method of travel outside of the CTA or driving.  I was recently given a subscription for a year long membership and look forward to using the program again in the near future.

Happy 1st Birthday Blog

One year ago from today I started this blog.  What was initially created as a source to openly share my thoughts and experiences still very much rings true today.  However, my intent to create consistency among the posts is somewhat lacking...hope the readers don't mind.  I just think that life in the city when you're in your mid-late twenties is NOT consistent.  Today is Thursday and I haven't even thought about weekend plans.  Also, there are times during the week when I have tons of events/activities after work, and then others I'm just going home, making dinner and then going to bed shortly thereafter.

While the subjects/themes of my posts are unrelated(for the most part), one thing I would like to improve upon is the frequency that I'm posting.  In ONE year, my sad little blog has only 35 posts(including this one)!!!  So THANK YOU to those that are actually reading this and please continue to do so because my goal for this year is to start adding new content on a more regular basis.

Another Book Recommendation: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

This month my book club is reading And the Mountains Echoed by best-selling author Khaled Hosseini who also wrote The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.  This book follows several families through generations and explores their hardships and sacrifices for one another.  In the end, you begin to see how the different stories intertwine and relate to one another and how the choices we make follow us for generations to come.  I am almost done with the book and have really enjoyed reading it thus far.  The stories are all very complex and I think our book club will have a really interesting discussion this month!

Keeping Motivated at Work

Came across an article with tips on staying uplifted/motivated at work.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130806145319-5799319-how-to-stay-engaged-when-your-job-sucks

Here are a couple of points that I found helpful:

• Blocking out the negativity - I think we have all had the unfortuate experience of working with someone who is negative and at times that can rub off on you.  Sometimes at work I will be having a perfectly good day, and then someone unloads their own frustrations on me and completely flips my mood as well.  I am going to practice blocking the negative people out and keep my own personal issues outside of the workplace as well.
• Get to the root of the problem - If you are unhappy with something or someone, try to take a deeper dive into better understanding why that is.  The article presents the example of feeling bored or underutilized, if that is the case then WHY?  What can you do to spark your interests and challenge yourself?  

Amazing article on cancer immunology

If you're interested in cancer research, check out the journal article written by Dave Binder!!  I will be honest, I don't understand much (if anything) of this, but wanted to share it on my blog because it's amazing research that will impact the ongoing battle against cancer.

http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/06/25/2326-6066.CIR-13-0058.full.pdf+html

A BIG thank you to Dave and others out there working hard every day to develop innovative treatments for this disease.

Furniture in a box

Working hard for many reasons, the most recent... so that hopefully one day I can purchase furniture that doesn't require at-home assembly.

In the past month I have built, okay thats a stretch...assembled two bar stools and a ladder bookcase. 
Pictures below as proof.

I know this sounds strange, but the allen wrench(yes I know what it's called now) really hurt my fingers, so I used an oven mit to tighten the screws, and it worked!!!

Here's the finished product(I made two):

Ladder bookshelf - This was actually done over the course of 3 evenings.  I had to screw the shelfs to each side of the structure, and there was a little piece inside the wood shelf a few inches from the outside hole that the screw needed to go through...meaning that you had to align the screw perfectly in order for it to go in.  Not being able to see the little piece in the middle was frustrating and took several tries to get it to work.

Obviously haven't put much on the bookshelf yet, just added two framed photos to make sure it worked :)

Easy, quick & light summer recipe: Salmon with lemon, capers, rosemary

I would like to share one of my favorite go-to recipes that's perfect for a light summer dish with minimal ingredients/prep time. Salmon with lemon, capers and rosemary is a delicious meal for one, two or many!  The directions are very straightforward and easy to follow, I wouldn't change a thing!  Even my dad(a non-salmon lover) LOVED this dish!

Ingredients

• 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
• 8 lemon slices (about 2 lemons)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• 1/2 cup Marsala wine (or white wine)
• 4 teaspoons capers
• 4 pieces of aluminum foil

Directions

Brush top and bottom of salmon fillets with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Place each piece of seasoned salmon on a piece of foil large enough to fold over and seal. Top the each piece of salmon with 2 lemon slices, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of wine, and 1 teaspoon of capers. Wrap up salmon tightly in the foil packets.
Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Place the foil packets on the hot grill and cook for 10 minutes for a 1-inch thick piece of salmon. Serve in the foil packets.
Per Serving: Calories: 377; Total Fat: 25 grams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Protein: 34 grams; Total carbohydrates: 2 grams; Sugar: 1 grams Fiber: 0 grams; Cholesterol: 94 milligrams; Sodium: 451 milligrams

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/salmon-with-lemon-capers-and-rosemary-recipe/index.html

Pic from when I made this dish in Florida with Alex.  We paired it with a glass of white wine and green beans!
















On a separate but similar note, I'm a huge fan of finding recipes on FoodNetwork.com.  I love the digital recipe box feature that allows you to create an account and store all of your favorite recipes by category.  This is also convenient if you are not at home and need access to one of your recipes remotely!  Only note is that the flash feature is not available on the iPhone.

Self-checkout nightmare

Is anyone really a fan of the self-checkout line in grocery stores?  I am NOT and everytime I think about giving it one more shot, I almost instantly regret that decision.  The alert to "wait for attendent" seems to appear after each item I scan.  Why is something created to eliminate lines and store traffic actually doing the opposite??  Every time I visit the store, the self-checkout lines are longer than the regular checkout lines, which leads me to believe they should be abandoned all together.

Costco has opted to eliminate them, CEO says that employees do a better job.  Could not agree more!
http://www.businessinsider.com/costco-is-eliminating-self-checkout-2013-6

officially a South Looper

Sorry I've been MIA lately and a little behind with the blog posts.  This past Saturday I made the BIG move to the South Loop!  Naturally, the move wouldn't have been a move without a little chaos...starting with the movers showing up 90 minutes late and ending with my new landlord not answering his phone and then showing up 30 minutes after my truck arrived with keys to the new place.  That being said, now that all of my stuff is INSIDE the apartment I feel pretty good and think it could actually be kind of fun opening all of the boxes.  Sort of like pretending it's Christmas and opening gifts of your own old stuff.

So here's a couple pics I've taken just to give you a sense of where I am in the unpacking process.

Pic of the living room...yes we have an extra bed propped against the wall..any takers?

Boxes featured were courtesy of the Mrazek wedding.

Are Tieks the new Reva?

I was recently introduced to a new(to me) ballet flat called Tieks by Gavrieli.  I am loving all of the patterns and bright colors! Not to mention the cute turquoise bottom!  Could Tieks possibly be the new Reva Tory Burch flat??  From $165-$295 per pair, Tieks are similar in price range to the Reva which ranges from $225-$250.  Another appealing quality with Tieks is that they can fold up in a bag and carried with you in your purse.  8 hours in a pair of heels is never appealing, so it's nice knowing you have some flats to change into if needed.  I've never tried on a pair of Tieks so would be interested to see if they are actually comfortable.

View the collection below:
http://tieks.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fbpost&utm_campaign=whereyourheartis

10 Best Moving tips...helpful website

Came across a really helpful website with tips for moving and staying organized(which I LOVE)!

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/moving-tips/

Not so blue Monday

Monday mornings I generally wake up hating the fact that I have to go to work.  That being said, the grass isn't always 'greener' and I'm really not sure what I would do without a job when all of my friends are working everyday.  I think/know life would get pretty boring and I'd run out of things to do pretty quickly.  

New mentality when waking up on Monday is to be happy I have a job and to look at it as another productive week. Working hard during the week only makes the weekend that much better!

Have a great week everyone!

Personal Bucket List: 30 things to do before I'm 30

30 things to do before I'm 30 (in no particular order)

1. Travel to Greece
2.  Take a sculpting class
3.  Hike up a mountain (a real mountain not a hill, may involve camping overnight).
4.  Re-read the classics from my highschool reading list
5.  Go to a famous party abroad (e.g. Oktoberfest in Germany)
6.  Write a book (just for myself, not to be published)
7.  Sell one of my paintings
8.  Go skiing abroad
9.  Adopt a rescue dog
10. Try some exotic meat
11. Learn how to juggle
12. Visit a fortune teller (even though I don't believe in that sort of thing)
13. Attempt to make Julia Child's famous beef bourguignon
14. Get lasik eye surgery (some day hopefully)
15. Take a sporadic weekend vacation (show up at the airport with no particular destination in mind)
16. Pick up playing the piano again (I quit in highschool)
17. Learn to do a basic spin while figure skating
18. Brush up on my Spanish
19. Get my sailing license
20. Learn to drive a stick shift
21. Go surfing
22. Own a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes (hey, a girl can dream right)
23. Move to a new city
24. Beat Dave in tennis (I've got 3 years to become a pro)
25. Create a blog that receives "hits" by people other than my friends
26. Go hang gliding
27. Become a mentor to someone younger or less fortunate
28. Complete a DIY project from Pinterest (e.g. make your own coffee table)
29. Invest in the stock market
30. Buy a house/condo


Okay so that's quite a bit to do in just 3 years so I may need to revise this and extend the deadline a little...obviously my head is in the clouds today. XOXO #dreampassioncreativity

I took that pic last Sunday :)

Moving is a pain...

I apologize for the lack of posts recently, but I'm getting ready to move apartments which has taken up a majority of my free time.  After 2 years in Lakeview, I'm moving to the South Loop in Chicago.  This is quite the change, but I've heard great things about the South Loop and look forward to a nice change of scenery.  If anyone has recommendations on restaurants/things to do in the South Loop I'm open to suggestions!  Move date is 6/29 which is rapidly approaching...

I feel like I could write an entire blog on the overall "moving" process from start to finish, but I don't want to bore anyone.  Instead, let me just say that it's one of those things that is a BIG pain but exciting after the moving part is over and you're settled in.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly the day-of, although understand hiccups are bound to happen.  Will keep you all posted!

Gates is A-Okay

Just wanted to write a brief update on my furry friend.  Gates is going to be just fine! He is already in high spirits, & every time I walk in the door he is waiting & ready to greet me just like old times.  Outside he is walking and even though I have not let him run, I believe that he will be able to do this very soon.  Thanks to all of you that continued to reach out and check up on the little guy, it really means a lot to me.

A great Friday night with my boys! 

Feeling better...

Someone's feeling better I think! Day 1 he wouldn't touch his food and now on day 3 he's eating on his own.  That's an improvement in my book! 

Book suggestion: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff

If anyone's looking for a great book to read, my book club is reading An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff.  It's a true story about a woman in NYC that unexpectedly meets an 11 year old panhandler on the streets asking for money.  After she initially brushes him off, something tells her to turn around and go back to the boy and offer to take him to lunch.  After their first meeting, they decide to routinely meet every Monday thereafter and form a special bond.  It's an uplifting and touching story that reminds us the power kindness and how it can change a person's life.

The theme of my blog is to be uplifting and to follow your dreams, but I have to share a sad story that happened yesterday only in hopes that it will have a happy ending...

Yesterday when I came home, I found my dog Gates hiding underneath my kitchen table in pain and distress.  As I bent down and got a closer look, I noticed Gates was not only trembling but he was also panting profusely.  My immediate reaction was to reach down, pick him up and bring him out from below the table.  As I picked him up he let out a yelp that will forever haunt me.  Gates was in pain and I knew that this was out of the ordinary.  I immediately called my vet, Blum Animal Hospital, to try and fit him in to see a technician before they closed.  Blum was amazing and immediately scheduled an appointment to see Gates 10 minutes later.  

Frantically, I again scooped up Gates this time with a blanket to hold him, and with tears in my eyes asked my roommate if she would give us a ride to vet.  Immediately upon arriving at the vet I burst into tears, unaware of the other people that were in the waiting room.  A technician came out at once and took Gates back for examination while I was lead to a back room to wait for the results. 

After only fifteen minutes, the vet came in and said that Gates had suffered a ruptured disc in his back and would need an immediate injection of pain medication.  I was told he would need to be confined(i.e. bed rest) for two weeks.  The vet was optimistic and said that if I followed this regiment and made sure Gates did not endure any physical activity he would recover without the need of back surgery.

So now, one day later, I am telling this story while looking down at him as he rests in his dog bed next to me.  If you follow my blog you may recall one of my first posts where I described the moment I saw a photo of Gates and decided he was my perfect match.  He is just a little over 5 years old now and one of the most precious things in my life.  I do believe that he will be okay and I know that this little guy is a fighter and has what it takes to make a full recovery.  

If you're reading this, I'm sure you can recall a time when someone or something dear to you was injured or ill.  How did you cope with this?  I plan on taking it one day at a time and remembering that life is precious and you should never take one day for granted.  Don't be afraid to try new things and live life to the fullest.  Love yourself and others and never give up hope.

This is a photo of Gates and I running and playing in the leaves last fall...we plan on running along the lake again very soon!

the perfect morning

For whatever reason, my internal clock decided it was time to wake up at 5AM this morning.  I took advantage of this rare occurrence by taking a jog along the lake with my dog.  Honestly this has been one of the most relaxing and tranquil mornings I have had in a long time, and highly suggest it to anyone that may be reading.  There were only a handful of people out at that time and it gave me a brief escape from day-to-day city living (i.e. the constant noise from buses, taxis, bikers, pedestrians and trains).

As timing would have it, as I approached the path towards the lake, the sun began to rise.  It was truly breathtaking, the photos do not do it justice...

I am preparing to move into a new apartment and have been finding the littlest things seem to stress me out.  Sometimes in life you need to take a step back and experience something like watching a sunset alone to remember how beautiful and precious life is.  Not to get all sentimental here, but I honestly felt better and less stressed by the time I got home. Not to mention, it's not even 8 and I've showered, made coffee and found time to journal a few of my thoughts here before leaving for work.  I hope my internal clock decides to wake me up early again soon...  ENJOY TODAY!

Sky's the limit

In anticipation for The Great Gatsby movie that I'm going to see this week, I wanted to share this quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Mother's Day

I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday, but still wanted to write a quick note about my mom.  I know everyone feels like they have the best mom in the entire world, but mine truly is amazing.  She is funny, kind, generous, wise and beautiful inside and out.  She is one of the few people I can call for advice and trust emphatically.  If I ever have a problem or an issue, she is always there to listen.  With six children, one might find it difficult to make time for each of them individually, but my mom has got it down to a science.  She has a special relationship with each of us and spends time doing the things that we are interested in.  Whether it's hiking Machu Picchu, climbing the Great Wall of China, helping construct an awesome cell model for science class, or a trip to Tory Burch, she's up for anything!!

I love you Mom!!

Rainy Friday morning

I think this is an accurate illustration of how I look/feel in the mornings...especially when it's cold & rainy out like today... Can't wait for the weekend!

Spring is here...finally

I woke up to go on a run this morning and had to stop and snap a photo of the tree outside my apartment... It appears to have bloomed overnight (or I hadn't noticed until now). After a lonnnnggg winter, I feel like spring is finally here in Chicago!

Today on this gorgeous morning Dave, my boyfriend, will be defending his thesis at the University of Chicago.  This is a long awaited day for him and I'm extremely proud.  He has worked very hard and deserves a break (that is until med school starts again in June)...

Also, this weekend my mom will be running her first half marathon!! I am also extremely proud of my mom, as I've followed her countless runs on an app we share called Endomundo.  By following her, I know that over the course of several months, she never missed one of her scheduled training workouts.  

Congrats mom and Dave, and to those who may be reading, enjoy this gorgeous day!

Long overdue...

Okay okay I have been the WORST at blogging!!!  Given that SOOOOO much has happened since my last post (I think I could write a novel about what I've been up to), I'll fill you in on last weekend instead and then try to become more consistent moving forward.

Last weekend one of my best friends Megan Evans got married!!!  I have been friends with Megan since college and no surprise she married her college sweetheart Tyler Yeakel.  The wedding went off without a hitch and everything turned out beautifully.  She was the most beautiful bride and her maids (myself included) could not have been happier for her.  Below is a pic from the wedding and a quote that I really like.

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery