weekly highlights!

MONDAY: bingo ofcourse!
TUESDAY: i was recently asked to train new project leaders for chicago cares. this is a huge honor and i'm so flattered to be given this responsibility. i had the training for this on tuesday night and i'm excited to get more involved!
WEDNESDAY: awesome event for work - fireworks boat cruise! we got a wonderful overview of architecture along the chicago river and an excellent view of the fireworks from navy pier. everyone really enjoyed it and i was so happy it went well!
THURSDAY: date night with the bf at the brew & view. gotta love cheap flicks, draft brews and snuggling with my babe!
FRIDAY: my oldest friend asked me to be in her wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm SO unbelievably honored and excited to be a part of their special day!

estimated weekend highlights....
SATURDAY: going skydiving. omg. that will be a whole post on it's own next week!
SUNDAY: going to michigan with the bf

lucky me photo collection.

i'm so lucky because of the people in my life and the wonderful, exciting things i get to do with them all.

top to bottom - left to right: 1. visiting my bff in munich for oktoberfest '08 2. posing in praha with zdenek - my amazing tour guide from study abroad 3. horseback riding in lake geneva with my bff 4. feeding the penguins at brookfield zoo for my '09 valentine's day gift 5. bff photo shoot 6. with my wonderful parents and the bf in front of my favorite ice cream shop in michigan 7. shot of my study abroad girls in vienna 8. with my other family - the bf's at hunky dory 2009 9. all my best friends on my 25th bday 10. one of my fav pics with the bf in san francisco

welcome fall!

it's fall in chicago! maybe not officially but it definitely feels like it this week and i LOVE it. the past couple of days have been super rainy and cool. i got to fall asleep the past 2 nights to rain showers with cool air coming in my window. it's starting to get darker earlier. i know there will be a few more blazing days in chicago but right now i'm happy that i don't have to deal with sweating and a/c. when i go out this weekend the streets wont smell like hot garbage and the bars won't be stuffy and gross. with this weather i get to pull out a few of my favorite things! i've been having day dreams about wrapping up in my favorite gray, cozy wrap, breaking out my favorite brown riding boots, wearing layers and fall fashion. i never wear bright colors so i'm glad my neutral and dark colored wardrobe will be appropriate again. i am getting major deja vu as i always do at this time of year. the crisp air and early sunsets are giving me colorguard/marching band flashbacks...yes i was a dork. but it was a huge part of my high school life and this is definitely marching band weather. and being in chicago this time of year reminds me of my first quarter at depaul. that was such a special time for me as a transfer student-discovering and exploring chicago, meeting new friends and starting new classes with a new major. i love that when this time of year hits it brings a rush of favorite memories that i associate with weather. i'm not a summer hater but fall is definitely my favorite! i'll be sad to ditch the flip flops for flats but honestly, the pros of autumn definitely outweigh the cons for me. yay fall!

oldies but goodies.

quick stories about various older people that make me smile:


last night at bingo O-67 was called and the bingo caller said, "just around the summer of love" at which my tablemate peggy said, "oh, i had some summers of love way before that!"
-freaking LOVE it.

http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
- speaks for itself.

on saturday afternoon the bf and i got to visit with his grandma. it was so wonderful to have a lengthy visit with her and we could tell it made her very happy. she is so amazingly sweet and kind. we chatted about our trip to nashville and hunky dory and she shared some hunky dory memories of her own. when we were leaving she told me i was lovely and told us she was a lucky duck. i felt just as lucky to be able to spend time with her.
- miss my grandmas.