May 7, 2013 • 1 note
2013: New Year’s Day and my first trip to Portillo’s I don’t know if I ordered the wrong thing, or Portillo’s had just been so hyped up by all the locals here, but when I finally got to try it for the first time on New Year’s Day with former Chicago native Kelly P (see birthday girl Kel in photos below); I was honestly not impressed.  Which is good - not everything on this blog needs to be sunshine and rainbows (although I do have a skewed view of the world being covered in those things) - but it was a funny way to kick off a new year, full of excitement and hope for good things to come and then have one just be “meh” at best.  I know folks, I’ll give it another try and get a chocolate cake shake someday. Promise. 

2013: New Year’s Day and my first trip to Portillo’s

I don’t know if I ordered the wrong thing, or Portillo’s had just been so hyped up by all the locals here, but when I finally got to try it for the first time on New Year’s Day with former Chicago native Kelly P (see birthday girl Kel in photos below); I was honestly not impressed. 

Which is good - not everything on this blog needs to be sunshine and rainbows (although I do have a skewed view of the world being covered in those things) - but it was a funny way to kick off a new year, full of excitement and hope for good things to come and then have one just be “meh” at best. 

I know folks, I’ll give it another try and get a chocolate cake shake someday. Promise. 

May 7, 2013 • 2 notes

2012/2013: New Years Eve

Fitting that my first NYE as a Chicago resident was invaded by some of my favorite people who I lived with in LA. Netto came up from Virgina (she left LA right before I did) and Kelly came in from San Diego (she move shortly AFTER I did) and if you get back to Zoo lights you know about Megs and Ryan being in town. It was a lovely merging of old friends, new friends, old new friends and old old friends at our friends Caitlin and Allison’s. They hosted an amazing house party, and we put on our favorite sparkling items, grabbed some BYOB sushi and headed over to their place in Lincoln Park. Somehow, karma was on our side and we easily got cabs all night, including one that took us to Raven’s late night where I got mad they were charging a cover (“Why? I’m here almost every weekend!”) and then there was some unnecessary but fully entertaining popcorn throwing. So all in all, a standard good time. 

May 7, 2013

2012: Zoo Lights

Good friends Meghan and Ryan who I met in LA but are both Midwest raised came to Chicago to bum around and celebrate New Year’s Eve with me in the city. Which was AWESOME. They got in a night early and before heading to see Book of Mormon, I made us some spiced hot chocolates and we headed to check out the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights. People, let me tell you, this night was awesome. First of all, I learned that the Lincoln Park Zoo has giraffes. Didn’t know that until we went here. Secondly, the lights are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. We had a blast exploring the sites and I look forward to making a visit to the Zoo every year part of many Christmas seasons to come. 

And for the record, this morning I ran through the Zoo. Just a side note that running through a free Zoo whenever I want is pretty damn awesome, and I saw a Sichuan Takin, which I didn’t even know was an animal until today. So yea, Chicago, you keep on winning at life. 

May 7, 2013
2012: First visit to Publican Quality Meats All I have to say is this place is life changing. So delicious and really started getting me a little too into eating into the West Loop, and hanging out with KK and Kawa. Like those two could suggest anywhere for food and I will follow them into the dark.  Also - had my first Zombie Dust here.. wow that’s great beer. 

2012: First visit to Publican Quality Meats

All I have to say is this place is life changing. So delicious and really started getting me a little too into eating into the West Loop, and hanging out with KK and Kawa. Like those two could suggest anywhere for food and I will follow them into the dark. 

Also - had my first Zombie Dust here.. wow that’s great beer. 

May 7, 2013

2012: Christmas in GP

Overall, Christmas this year was awesome. It was fun being in the Winter Wonderland of Chicago and falling in love with winter weather and snowflakes. But what really rounded out the season was heading home to be with friends and more importantly, family. This Christmas was the first time we’ve had my niece and nephew home, and it was so fun. Kids ripping through presents and then watching Elf as a family, it was all in all a perfect holiday. 

May 7, 2013
2012: Christmas Gift from our Office Cupcakes, hot chocolate and Carolers. Awwwwwwe.

2012: Christmas Gift from our Office

Cupcakes, hot chocolate and Carolers. Awwwwwwe.

May 7, 2013
2012: ChristKrindlmart Visit From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, Daley Plaza in Chicago turns into a German Christmas Village that is cheesy and wonderful and really makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside when you go. (perhaps my spiced wine in a boot help with that?) The city started this tradition in 1996, and moved it to its current location in 1997. They have gift shops that have any ornament you can dream of (so many German pickles!), games for kids, food, hats, sweaters. It is a very fun outdoor open air market (and also a great place for a date). And the website says it’s a great place for you to practice German in case you ever want to do that (looking at you Sherene). 

2012: ChristKrindlmart Visit

From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, Daley Plaza in Chicago turns into a German Christmas Village that is cheesy and wonderful and really makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside when you go. (perhaps my spiced wine in a boot help with that?) The city started this tradition in 1996, and moved it to its current location in 1997. They have gift shops that have any ornament you can dream of (so many German pickles!), games for kids, food, hats, sweaters. It is a very fun outdoor open air market (and also a great place for a date). And the website says it’s a great place for you to practice German in case you ever want to do that (looking at you Sherene). 

May 7, 2013

2012: 12 Days of Christmas Bar Crawl

Well again; I have come to the realization I’ve been slacking BIG TIME on not only my Facebook albums but the list I made back in January of uploads to do… it’s 114 days old according to my phone. And oh yea, spring is here so why not go back to reliving that freezing cold winter? 

This past December, my old pal Maria invited me on what proved to be one of the most fun bar crawls I have ever been on. The 12 Days of Christmas, where every person in the song is cast and we crawl. I got to be on Maria’s team of 9 Ladies Dancing. What was really fun about this besides the epic costumes was the fact everyone was 1 to 2 degrees from knowing each other, so it was pretty much the most amazing mixer ever. Ran into friends of friends and made plenty of new ones - and finally got to wear a tutu on a bar crawl. I’m hoping to make the cast list again next year! 

May 4, 2013 • 1 note
#firstvisit #derbyhat #wrigley #cubs #ihaventwatchedonesecondofthegame (at Wrigley Field)

#firstvisit #derbyhat #wrigley #cubs #ihaventwatchedonesecondofthegame (at Wrigley Field)

April 25, 2013 • 2 notes
Happy what-would-have-been Six Year Anniversary to me and Los Angeles. I miss your golden sunshine, sandy beaches but most of all; I miss the amazing friends I had out there. Thankfully, they will be mine for a lifetime. #californialove

Happy what-would-have-been Six Year Anniversary to me and Los Angeles. I miss your golden sunshine, sandy beaches but most of all; I miss the amazing friends I had out there. Thankfully, they will be mine for a lifetime. #californialove