Bye Beantown, Hello Windy City

So, the past few weeks have been crazy. Like really crazy. In less than a month, I accepted a job in Chicago, sold most of my furniture, moved out of my apartment in Boston, rented a mini-van, drove halfway across the country, moved into a studio apartment in Chicago and started work at PR agency in Chicago. My head is still spinning a little. Don't get me wrong, I loved Boston. Really loved it. (Seriously, check out all of these great memories I have there.) But I always knew I would find myself in Chicago in the next few years. Did I think 2015? No. But everything sort of just fell into place. And I'm a true believer that some things are just meant to be, and if all the signs are saying go for it - you better effing do it. So I did it.

(Home sweet home)

I've gotta give a major thanks to Babcia and Poppy because they helped so much in the moving/setting up a new apartment process. I've never lived completely by myself before. I've had a variety of unique living situations, but never completely by myself. I wasn't sure how much I would like it at first - I'm a people person, I like company and people to talk to and do stuff with. But so far, (maybe I'm jumping the gun by saying this because I've only been in the apartment for two weeks) but I LOVE it.

The space is small. Like really small. Do you know how small 350 sq ft is? Neither did I. But I sure do now. Honestly, at times it feels like a glorified dorm room. I can see my bathtub and kitchen sink all from my bed. I'm taller than my refrigerator. My bathroom may be larger than my kitchen. But it's great and it's all mine. That's what I love about it. All 350 sq ft of it are mine.

I haven't been able to do much exploring of the city yet (and haven't really wanted to since the weather has been cold, wet and windy) but I can't wait to. There's so much to do right in my neighborhood! And my commute to work is SO easy (pending traffic it can be as quick as 15 minutes door to door with about 4 minutes of walking).

I can't wait to document what my new adventures here will bring - I've already had a couple!

Recent Reads: Yes Please

I don't think I've ever read a memoir before but I think Amy Poehler's Yes Please was a great one to start with. The book is very conversational, it feels like Amy Poehler is just causally talking to you in your living room - sharing her life experiences and thoughts on different topics.

I grew up watching Amy perform on SNL and loved to hear her take on things. She discusses growing up just outside of Boston, the birth of her children, the beginnings of her career, her time on SNL and her work on Parks and Recreation. She touches on her divorce and throws in bits of wisdom and life lessons. The book is funny. It's relatable. It's very worth reading.

The book itself is fun to read. Amy adds color by sprinkling old candid photos, scraps of paper and notes, and fun quotes to live by. A few of my favorites below:

(I actually half disagree with this one.)

Amy also discusses her work on Amy Poehler's Smart Girls - a wonderful site that I just learned of and that you should definitely check out.

This book is so worth reading if you're looking for an enjoyable, uplifting and relatable book. Also, I'd just like to put it out there that I really think if Amy Poehler and I ever met we would be best friends.

Rowing Life Lessons: #2 Losing Doesn't Mean You Failed

I'm a fairly competitive and bossy person by nature. When I was little, most of the games I staged with my little sister were really contests - dance contests, cartwheel contests, hula hoop contests, diving contests, - you get the picture. And I was always very dead set on winning all of these contests. I even would alter the rules of the board game Pretty, Pretty Princess to ensure that I always won. (Thank god I have a fairly low key sister who just went along with my antics because otherwise I'm sure a lot of hair pulling would've been involved.)

I like winning.