and that’s a wrap.

Morning, chickadees!

And yes, I’m back.

And still catching up on some sleep after fourteen nights in hotel rooms and fourteen days of running around, meetings, and getting.it.done.

I spent the weekend unpacking, watching JW hang up all our photos on the walls, and running into my new favorite neighbors.

 

After two weeks without my favorite kids, they were a sight for sore, tired eyes.

I’m giving myself one more day to put some books on shelves, try to get into my building with my six thousand new keys, and relaxing before I head back into the office and try to remember what a normal (ish) life feels like around here.

And also maybe catching up on my DVR backlog for the next few hours.

I’m just trying to be honest.

I’m so excited, chickens, to be back to the city for my favorite season of the year. I’m ready for trips to the beach, outdoor concerts (already started yesterday with a trip to Ravinia to see Jewel), and festivals until Labor Day.

Oh man, you guys, there is nothing more beautiful than this spot for the next three months.

And with that, I’m off to shelve books and make a plan to get right back into it.

Enjoy the sunshine, chickadees, the start to this week is a great one.

 

are we gonna do this or what?

All right chickadees, that was a nice weekend.

We spent it packing, working, visiting, celebrating my nephew’s soon to be arrival on the lake, eating ribs, and doing some more work.

I can’t complain too much about that.

 

And now, it’s back to the grind chickadees. In three short days, I’m hopping a plane to Orlando, where I’ll hang (read: work a lot and catch up with some of my favorite people) for seven days, take one long breath, and jump on another plane to Dallas, where I’ll spend the next week doing it all again with another group.

When I come back, I’ll (fingers crossed) have a new home and a nice nap, and it will officially be summer, for me.

So we’re full steam ahead over here packing up, tying loose ends, finishing slides, and taking all the cleansing breaths I’ve got until I leave.

I’m not sure I’ve been away from home longer than a week since I went to Rome, and you guys, that was almost ten (GASP) years ago and so totally not the same thing.

But bring it on, because also, I can totally do this no problem.

Or with minimal problems anyway.

Like do I have enough clothes for this?

Wish me luck, chickadees- and enjoy this short week!

 

i just want you to know who i am

Good morning chickadees!

And welcome to the beginning of another full week.

I’m not complaining: after a weekend of visiting with family, celebrating birthdays, doing yoga, playing soccer, and putting more of my apt in boxes, I’m feeling rested and accomplished.

I’ve also seen the forecast for this week, and it looks beautiful.

We’re moving in the right direction.

Also amazing this weekend:

The Farmers’ Market has re-opened, which essentially gives me a reason to live.

Or at least a reason to stop eating so many frozen vegetables.

Since it’s only mid-May, the offerings were limited to flowers, asparagus, cheese, and eggs, but man, I’m not complaining one bit about that.

 

I ended up with two big bundles of asparagus, a dozen eggs, and some bison jerky, up-sold to me by the delightful farmer who always manages to make me spend more money than I was anticipating.

I’m a sucker for a man who teaches the population about the importance of locally sourced meats, chickadees.

And yes, I know that sounds a little bizarre.

And with that, I’m off to start a new week with a new book (it seems I’m loving teen novels only, these days)- this is gonna be the kind of Monday that’s fully bearable, chicks.

Enjoy the sunshine if you’ve got it.

telling the story

Morning chickens.

Despite the fact that the weather has cooled off and it looks like rain out there, it’s a Friday, and that’s the story I’m sticking to this morning.

It’s the right story to tell.

Yesterday I was busy running late for an early meeting (early meetings, you guys, are the worst) and blogging for my little sister over here, so I couldn’t make an appearance on my own landing page.

Sorry about that.

In any case, after a long week of adult appointments, meetings and other office-y woes, I’m ready to put my head down, get through this day, and then head to a little Friday evening yoga.

I’ll take 60 minutes of calm any way I can take it, chicks.

Bonus when there’s a good playlist and a head stand involved.

Also tonight: a Cinco de Mayo-esque mini-celebration with my pals involving both Mexican food and tequila.

I can think of nothing else I’d rather be doing to start off the weekend.

The next two days are the last ones before mid-June that aren’t full-to-the-brim with activities, plans, and traveling.

That means a combination of packing, relaxing, and laughing as much as I can.

I’m enjoying every last second of it, chickadees.

Enjoy this one- we’ve hit the weekend!

please shine down on me.

I’m making this one quick, chickadees.

I may have had too much fun yesterday, resulting in lots of laughs and an early bedtime.

I don’t regret that it’s got me moving a little bit slower than usual this morning.

Also a delight: the sun finally made an appearance this weekend, along with seasonal temperatures, clearing the way for soccer game watching, bonfire having, and deck sitting.

All things I’ve been waiting (im)patiently for during the past few months.

So in the absence of well-placed words this morning, here’s what the weekend brought to me.

 

 

That’s how you enjoy two days off, chickens.

Next up, a day at work, a hot yoga studio, and trying to make my home look a little bit less like a crack den.

Things get weird when you’re in the midst of something new, chicks.

It’s time to get things organized over here.

Enjoy this beautiful start to the week, everyone!

five good things: that’s what makes you beautiful edition.

Chickadees, Friday is upon us.

And the sun is shining.

And it’s rumored to be in the 60s this weekend.

So in the spirit of what’s been a long, gray, tough couple of weeks, let’s focus on five things that make it all right.

1. My baby sister’s pal KC has written a book.

A book that will be published.

A book with a new cover.

KC is from New York and lives in Boston and is generally my soul sister and my role model.

I’m just so proud of you, sweet girl!

2. Walking from work to the train the other day, after a week of umbrella incidents and swollen joints and general malaise, I strolled across the State Street bridge to this.

 

It’s a good week to be breathing, chicks.

3. We’re in full purging mode over here in our apartment. I’m trying to picture all my weird, old stuff in my new condo, and if I can’t think of a place for it, it’s got to go. Determined to contribute in what has mostly been a JW-driven project thus far, I decided to deal with all of our living room drawers last night. I bravely opened what I knew was a drawer jammed full of strange objects, but it slid right open, and was basically empty.

JW, I’m onto you.

Also, thanks for staying a step ahead of me.

In addition, what’s more fun than finding photos like this?

4. Minimal things are planned around here this weekend. I’ve got several options, which include bells, organizing, soccer, trying to see the teens & their baby brother, and hanging on my parents’ patio.

This is what a spring weekend should look like, chickens.

5. I’m starting this weekend off with yoga in a big, airy studio and my sticky mat. There is no cure to a long week like a couple yoga poses and some deep breathing.

Namaste, chickadees, and enjoy every second of this beautiful day. You deserve it.

 

keeping it together.

Morning, chickadees.

While it is still pretty gray out over here, it looks like it’s not quite raining, and I’ll take that.

Yesterday was the kind of day that demands that you spend it on the couch catching up on television, so after work, that is precisely what I did.

I’m feeling much more ambitious this morning.

I also woke up to NPR informing me that there is a chance it might not rain until next Tuesday after just a few more showers tonight.

This is the best news I’ve heard in days, chickens.

Especially since my umbrella is on the fritz.

After messing with it all the way up and onto the platform, I couldn’t get it to close.

I spent the entire train ride home last night clenching it with all my temperamental joint strength- no matter how much closed and shut it, it resisted.

I had visions of clocking my seat mate to the floor in an explosion of pink vinyl and metal spokes.

I thought that would probably get me kicked off the CTA.

Luckily, I made it all the way home without injuring anyone or myself.

A feat of strength, if you will.

A little sunshine would really take the pressure off, chicks.

Enjoy this one, especially if you’re dry.

 

 

learn some respect.

Chickadees.

This rain.

Our pocket of the city (and many others, I suspect) has had enough water, and it’s actually starting to flood.

It’s looking pretty scary out there.

I have concerns about having to swim to work.

And important questions come to mind, like, should I even bother drying my hair?

This should be an interesting commute.

*****

Last night, CJ, LM and I decided to stay downtown post work for just one drink.

Which obviously turned into five drinks.

Which meant laughing for three hours.

When we piled into a cab (still raining you guys- it’s always raining here), we fought over who went home last.

We also argued about the exact path of I-94 vs. Lakeshore Drive, wildly gesturing what west and east turns we thought each route would take us.

LM noted that she was really getting the worst deal of all passengers onboard by being dropped off last.

We’ll give you cash, we joked.

I don’t mean my money, she said seriously.

I mean you’re taking up all my precious time.

More laughing.

Eventually, we got home, and LM had to battle a by-now-cranky cab driver who she insisted “learn some respect” as she paid him.

I arrived home to JW flipping between Willy Wonka and one of the Saw movies, which didn’t even seem that odd, due, I think, to the five glasses of wine I’d had.

Ending the night with Willy Wonka is maybe one of my new favorite things.

Stay dry out there, chickens.

 

getting right into it.

Morning chickens!

And welcome to a brand new week.

Yesterday was a lovely respite in this otherwise still.pretty.bleak spring season that we’re having.

Friday is threatening snow flurries, and I’m really having a hard time wrapping my head around that one.

All this rain better make for one beautiful, green summer.

That is all I can say about that.

However, in the spirit of keeping it positive, and also, you guys, at least it’s not 25 degrees out, I give you the following:

 

It’s good advice, chickadees. And what I have is one lovely weekend complete with condo hunting, sunshine, soccer, bells, celebrations, and dinner with my mom and dad and baby brother.

Also one long, lazy afternoon in which I finished the entire first season of Girls (and yes, it’s my favorite thing), and rifled through old papers and pictures under my bed. Here’s one of the gems I found:

 

Yes, the sweatshirt is awesome.

I know it.

Also found: rules for a happy bedroom written by Jennie and I circa 1995, a letter I wrote my roommates’ when we graduated from college, and original artwork by Aus when he was eight.

Also, a note he wrote me from his second grade class. Of course, original anything by tiny Aus made me burst into tears, because when did he get so old?

In any case, chickens, I have a whole host of beautiful, amazing things that are propelling me into this week with a good attitude.

Despite the rain.

I’ve got an umbrella, after all.

Enjoy this one chicks.

I only knew how to hold on tight.

Good morning, chickens!

And welcome to the very middle of the week.

Which isn’t really a bad place to be, all things considered.

I’m hoping to be a bit more productive during this one, since last night consisted of one giant headache and three solid hours of catching up on my DVR.

Sometimes I think you just need to give into the need to couch it.

Also, sometimes you need to get your husband to show you as many funny television shows as possible following the series finale of the Walking Dead so that you can fall asleep without having dreams about zombies and one-eyed governors.

I recommend the Mindy Project for scenarios like that one.

Up today: the Second City inches towards 50 degrees, I maybe one day get my wallet back (I left it at my mom’s a week ago, and have somehow managed to live off of one twenty dollar bill JW gave me since- this either makes me resourceful or cheap- I can’t decide which), and I hit up kettlebells after one week off.

Which essentially means that I’ll be panting for an hour while G blasts Metallica and insists that I am a person of the sun.

It’s all in the name of being a healthy, well-balanced individual, chickens.

Although sometimes I think the elliptical might be a quieter place to live.

Enjoy this one, everyone!