All posts tagged chicago

My gas stove (I hate everything about cooking with electric stoves!) and new tomato spoon rest from World Market.

Believe it or not, I’ve barely stepped foot in my own apartment for the past month.  I’ve been spending most of my time in Indiana, working out of the office in South Bend.  Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending so much time with Marshall and his family, I’m so excited to finally have some time to spend in my own girly apartment.  In my own city.  I’m not the kind of person who usually gets homesick.  I used to go on 3-week trips across the country during the summers when I was in high school, and never missed home.  I didn’t even cry when my parents dropped me off at the dorms on my first day of college.  But, especially this past week I’ve been longing for my bed, my kitchen, my complete wardrobe (which is going to be getting purged this weekend!), and my flowery pink couches.  Well, I guess they’re Allison’s flowery pink couches, but you get the point.  Anyway, here are a few simple pleasures I’m soaking up during my extended stay at home. 

This vintage-inspired rooster hook plate that holds my roommate’s vintage aprons.

The little yellow teapot that my grandma gave me that is more decorative than utilitarian.

Our deck that is filled with a potted garden.  I give all of the credit to Allison for this one.

Sunshine on beautiful flowers.  Impossible not to feel calm and content when surrounded by these little gems. 

(Cabs hurry through the intersection that my roommate calls Times Square.)

Yesterday, I spent one too many hours engrossed in this website.  Not surprisingly, it made me want to: a. move to the beach - immediately.  b. workout for 12 hours a day. c. eat only fruits and vegetables for two weeks, and d. get a serious tan.  All of this (in addition to the plethora of drunkards roaming the streets for St. Patty’s Day) made me want to get as far away from Chicago as possible.  But, then I walked home.  It was 68 degrees.  The perfect kind of warm that makes you feel almost as if you’re suddenly on vacation after a long winter.  There was the tiniest of breezes, and almost instantly, my spirits were lifted.  The ability to walk any- and everywhere is by far one of my favorite parts of city life.  Mundane as it may seem, I snapped a few photos on my way home from and to work this morning to share a little bit of neighborhood life in my city. 

(A little Wisco pride on Halsted.)

(My shoes and legs!  It feels so great to go outside with bare legs again!)

(Some leftover Halloween decorations.)

(A mini Eiffel Tower at a restaurant I’m eager to try.)

(Bonus! I got to see Colleen last Friday.  Always a treat to see this special little ginger.  Can’t believe it was already a week ago!)

Sorry for my lack of posts this week.  For the past three days, I was entirely snowed into my apartment.  Chicago had the 3rd worst storm in history this week, and my roomie and I made the best of it!  On Tuesday, she got done with work early, and we started the storm off right with a trip to the Burwood Tap.  We sat next to some girls who were taking a shot for each inch of snow that fell.  They brought a tape measurer and all.  Even though I ate way too much take out food, and had to spend three hours shoveling snow to dig my car out, it was nice that the snow brought a break from regular life, and a chance for me to take some naps and watch some movies. 

This much snow fell in one hour while we were out eating breakfast!!!  Allison decided to sweep it up!

Here is the last post to catch you up on what I’ve been up to for the past week.  On Sunday, the Grandparents Rice came to our house to celebrate Christmas.  I also got my first Packer shirt from my Grandma Tiffany (a.k.a. “The Nons”), and decided to back the pack in green and gold while we watched them take down the Giants. 

Let me just tell you how super cool my Grandpa Rice is.  He is a luthier, which means he makes instruments.  He has made my brother an electric guitar, my dad a mandolin, and this year my mom got this hand-made acoustic guitar from him for Christmas.  Then, the boys played guitar, and the girls sang Christmas carols.  It was a really fun night!

A couple of days later, the one and only Amy Wedel decided to stop by Chicago for a little wedding dress shopping.  It was a fun girly day, and we found the dress! I was so happy that I could be a part of such a special day! (Note: I think it’s really funny that I’ve shown pictures of State St. three times this month.  I never go downtown to shop, but this Christmas season I was down there a ton!)

Amy’s little sister, Meghan, begged to go to the bean.  Naturally, I thought we should take the most tourist-y photo ever.

Truth be told, this time of year was always my least favorite in college.  The streets of Madison often started to fill with snow, and the dread of final projects and exams was constantly looming over me.  Football games were not even as fun because attendance required multiple layers of scarves, mittens, and hats. 

But this year, my Badgers are really kicking ass.  Although I’m totally thrilled to be living in Chicago right now, I’m a teensy bit jealous of all those kids still living it up in Madison.  But, the one thing that definitely helps is hanging with fellow Wisco Alums in my new city.

One of the disadvantages of working in an office with mostly men is that I sometimes get ridiculed for my fashion choices.  Let’s take yesterday for example.  It was supposedly the worst storm we’ve seen in Chicago for 100 years. Dramatic much?  Who knows? Anyways, like any normal, city-dwelling girl, I wore these Hunter Wellies in the torrential downpour to the office.

One man asked me if I was going deer hunting, and said that I looked like I came straight from Bass Pro Shop.  One asked me if I was planning on going fishing later in the day.  Yet another told me my boots looked like highlighters.  I believe it is important to tell you that I did not wear these boots all day.  I wore heels.  I just wore these to the office and quickly changed.  Yet, I was continually teased all the day through. I even told them that Kate Moss wears the same boots.  I don’t think they even know who Kate Moss is.  For those of you who doubt me, please look at Exhibit A.

Exhibit A:

Wait, what?  Both Nicole Richie AND Kate Moss where them?  Need I say more?

It wasn’t until the absolute end of the day that a guy, coincidentally my carpool buddy, said my boots were “slick” and that he recently purchased a similar pair for his girlfriend.  Hmmm… there is a God apparently.  Whilst on the topic of my carpool buddy, we were discussing city dogs on our two-hour commute yesterday.  We discussed our desires for dogs, but complained about the inconvenience of a large dog and living multiple floors above street level.  We thought a French Bulldog could be a perfect compromise, however.  And I have this little soft spot for French Bulldogs.  Please see Exhibits B, C, and D below.

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:

Trying to decide between the names “Louis” and “Napoleon” for the dog that I probably won’t get for five years.  Hey, when Miss Amy Lou got a Great Dane, I decided I should maybe get a small dog so we could take really funny pictures of our dogs together.  Oh, the possibilities!

Last weekend was exactly what I needed.  I went down to Lincoln Park with the intention of staying for dinner and maybe the night, but ended up staying in the city all weekend.  I watched loads of college football (My Badgers won, by the way!), played LCR for the first time, ate way too many potato products, went to the most deliciously crazy dive bar of my life, drank a ridiculous mix of beer, vodka, gin, and tequila, and rounded out the weekend with brunch and people watching out of Allison’s window. 

P.S. I move back to the city in approximately 32 days!

As Michael Scott says, “Today is my b-day.”  Since I started keeping track of my horoscope, I’ve been excited for today.  Because everyone gets an extra-special, additional horoscope on their birthday.  Mine is below. 

Today’s birthday (9/7/10). Priorities involving a partner recede now as you take on a powerful new role in your career. This year you move forward toward your dreams of success and greater stature. Make your own luck by relying on intuition to find the best strategies.

Here are a few pictures from my birthday dinner the other night.  Special thanks to Emmy and Jaime for getting so many Wisco people together!  I had such a fun night with you girls!

And thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday today! I feel so loved! I’m the luckiest girl in the world… It’s going to be a great year for sure :)

Jess: Are a Cubs or a Sox fan?

Neil: I really don’t care.  I hate baseball. 

Jess: You have to like one better.  You can’t like both.  You can’t.

Neil: I’ve been to both fields.  I really don’t care.

Jess: (evil eye)

Neil: Girls are hotter at Wrigley.

Jess: Thank you!

I was all over the place this weekend - literally.  Here is some photographic documentation of the places I went, the people I saw, and the miles I put on my odometer.

I went to Madison and visited some of my favorite girls, two of which are moving to Chicago this fall.  Score.

Then, I drove to Waunakee (suburb of Madison - yes, Madison has suburbs) to congratulate this little lady on her high school graduation!

Next, I took my ex-roommate out in the city for a little wine action before she moved to Vegas. 

On Sunday, Dawn and I ventured to Whole Foods and found the tiniest watermelon in human existence. 

After that, I got to spend some quality time with this little stud muffin.

But that’s not all folks!  After Whole Foods, I went to a company picnic in St. Charles, and hung out with my parents. 

After an intense sand volleyball game at the picnic and a 2-hour search for falafel, I ended the weekend right by drinking one of the largest margaritas in human existence.