Heading North

It has been a crazy, hectic week. And I for one, cannot wait for the weekend.

My friend Emily must have known all of us would need a break when she asked us a month ago if we’d want to head up to Green Lake, Wisconsin for a weekend trapped in a lakehouse.

This will mark my first journey north of Chicago. Despite living here for nearly 4 years now (whaaaat??), I’ve never gone north…of Evanston. Which is really not all that far north of the city. I’m so looking forward to a weekend with some friends, movies, pajamas and books. Along with Wisconsin’s beer and cheese curds. And obviously stars…I live for moments when I can just hang out with my head in the sky.

We’re driving up after work, so hello sing alongs to mixed CDs while we sit in inevitable traffic.

Getting Crafty

Usually I leave my craft making for the month of October solely for Halloween costumes. But I’ve found a project that I simply must try: cross-stitching a heart sweater.

Maggie recently started cross-stitching again, so I defaulted to her to see the reality of whether or not I could actually do this. She thinks I can (such a supportive roommate), so I’m gonna.

Game plan is a day trip to Michael’s on Saturday and then spending Sunday sitting around watching season 1 of The Newsroom (we finally got HBO) and creating my Valentine’s Day attire.

Photos to come based on the outcome…

*Note: I blame this total interest in crafting due to the fact it’s so cold outside you can barely breathe, your face is about to fall off and the Lake looks like the iceberg that took down Titanic.*

Photo and Template from Über Chic for Cheap

Bucket List Checks

Summer in Chicago is amazing. It’s what everyone cracks it up to be. It is the reason we all deal with the rest of the year. It’s simply and utterly fantastic. But I will say, since I’ve been here, they have been two things I’ve wanted to do: see the famous Air & Water show from a rooftop and see the famous Air & Water show from the water. Luckily, fate stepped in last week and delivered.

My friends Courtney and Jill recently just moved and have their own private rooftop (which is as highly coveted as having a yard or balcony). They had a day of grilling, Top Gun looping and good friends laughing. And then it seemed as if we had our own private fly overs from the Blue Angels. It was loud and it was a rush.

The next day, we were heading out on the boat for the show. I’ve seen this show a handful of times as we used to come up for it when we were younger (and those were the only times I caught the show on the beach). But by sea? The show is on a whole ‘nother playing field. As I sat on the back of the boat soaking up the sun with Barry (the yellow lab), a fighter jet came out of no where scaring the beejezus out of us both. Yet it was exhilarating, to sit there on a picture perfect day with your heart racing, your thoughts completely drowned out by the engines and being out on the water.

You did good this summer Chicago.

There He Is

Old Man Winter has been MIA here in the Windy City over the past few months. I mean, in Winter 2010, the Puffy Coat came out Dec. 9 and didn’t leave until March. Winter 2011, the coat made its first appearance at the Holiday Party night (Dec. 11), but that’s only because I knew my date would wear a long, black, wool coat and I didn’t want us to match. But since that night, the coat’s hung in the closet waiting for its permanent rotation.

Well look who’s coming off the bench now as Old Man Winter brutally slaps us across the fact with wind and cold temps. Mild winter, it was nice while it lasted. The “feels like 7” bit down there makes me loathe our wind tunnel we’ve got going on between our buildings and the lake. There’s only a few times in the year I despise living by the lake. And those times happen from January-March.