I'm going back home to the west coast...

image via

Last night I picked up my cap and gown. On Sunday I will graduate from DePaul University with a master's degree in journalism. All that stands between me and the finish line is one final paper that I'll finish and turn in tonight. I can hardly believe grad school is almost over. I actually made it!


In less than a month I will also bid farewell to the Windy City, which I've come to love over the past three years. Like in the song by Coconut Records', "Cause I miss you, I'm going back home to the West Coast..." Earlier this week I was offered a job at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. My dad recently started a new job with U.S. bank and soon my mom and sister will join my dad in Spokane. Now, I won't be far behind!

After almost 10 years of living at least a thousand miles away from my immediate family, we'll be reunited and see each other on a regular basis. I can't help but smile at the prospect of coming over for Sunday dinner, taking Brinkley and Skittles for walks in the park, and going to Gonzaga basketball games with my dad. My mom and I can do crafts together, I can visit my brother and his husband in Seattle, and my little sister and I can cruise the town in my new car (purchase forthcoming).

I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to live closer to my family and move on to an awesome job with a fantastic university. I've always been impressed by Gonzaga--in fact, I almost went there for grad school--however, I knew at the time DePaul and Chicago were where I needed to be.

Chicago has been good to me. I've made some truly wonderful friends, had amazing experiences, and done some pretty awesome things. I'll always look back on my time here with fondness. It was hard to move to a city I'd never been to with absolutely no one to call a friend or even acquaintance, but although the journey hasn't been without its fair share of bumps and roadblocks, I'm proud of the life I've built for myself.

I will sincerely miss living in Chicago and the people I've met here who have changed my life. Leaving people you love is always the hardest part about change. But I feel like my future is bright and that Spokane is the perfect place to start the next chapter of my life.

This move, unlike many of my previous moves over the years, isn't fueled by the need to get away from a painful or bad situation. I'm not running away from anything or anyone. I'm choosing to move forward and pursue new opportunities so that I can continue to create the kind of life I seek.

With Heavenly Father's help, I making things happen and that feels really, really good.

Published on The Everygirl!

 I'm so excited and honored to have my writing published on The Everygirl today!

A few months ago after writing this post, Alaina contacted me about expanding the post into a feature-length piece. I was so touched that she reached out to me. My first summer in Chicago I had the chance to be among the first batch of Everygirl interns. It's always been a goal of mine to have a feature piece published on the site.

I wrote many drafts until I felt my essay accurately conveyed my feelings about being single. I couldn't have done it without the input and feedback of two dear friends, Sarah and Tasha. Thanks ladies for helping me figure out what I wanted to say and how to say it!

I hope this essay resonates with readers and helps someone in some small way.

"I don’t want to be alone but right now that’s my reality. Even though I’m uncertain about my future, I’ve learned to put my trust in hope rather than fear. My life is not the way I pictured it. I’ve had heartaches, successes, and adventures I would have never imagined. And even though I’m afraid of ending up alone, I know the fear won’t last forever. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel—I’m sure—it’s just further away and a different hue than I always expected." - Clarissa Fidler

Happiness is...

The past few weeks I've been a little black rain cloud--grumpy, agitated, frustrated, and just in an overall bad mood. Certain periods of life are particularly overwhelming and I'm in one of those right now. I'm so ready to be done with grad school. Every day I want to quit and throw in the towel. It's taking every ounce of effort I have in me to keep going. The Polar Vortex has brought a bitter, long winter to Chicago and I'm at my whits end. Spring needs to come NOW!

But this post isn't going to be a downer or an attempt to understand some deeper life issue. I want to pause and reflect on the happy things. Because even amidst all the crap I'm trying to deal with right now, there are still moments where that make me stop and truly appreciate the life I've been given.

For me, right now, happiness is...

• Taking Uber to work because I was running SUPER late this morning (I swore I'd never do it due to my measly salary but sometimes you just have to go big or go home)
• Watching episodes of Nashville on my Kindle
• Receiving a text message of encouragement from a dear friend
• Spending Saturday night with one of my girl friends at our favorite hot spot...Target!
• Paying $3.50 for a delicious cup of Starbucks hot chocolate. Treat yo' self.

One more day!

One more day and my mom will be here! I'm just a little bit excited that she's coming to Chicago for a visit. I'm taking Thursday afternoon and Friday off work so we can play until Sunday when she heads back home to Utah.

Lately, I've really been missing my family and having a hard time being so far away from everyone. Don't get me wrong, Chicago is great, but sometimes I wish I was just a little bit closer to the ones I love. I need a mom visit. Bad.

While my mom's here we plan on going to her favorite Chicago pie shop, Hoosier Mama, taking a trip up north to the Chicago Botanic Garden, and doing a little crafting. I'm also super excited for her to see my new apartment and get her decorating advice. My loveseat and chair arrived over the weekend and I'm at a complete loss as to how to arrange my place. Mom to the rescue.

Aren't moms the greatest?!

Y'all ready for this?

Y'all ready for this? I don't know if you can handle it. Donuts. Ice cream. Together? Say what?

Firecakes has been receiving a lot of press ever since they debuted these scrumptious treats last month. They even extended their hours to accommodate the rush.

Last night, my friend Irish and I finally tried our very own donut ice cream sandwich. It was amazing. Absolute perfection. Party in my mouth.

The whole experience was over way too soon. I already want to go back and have another one. It's probably a good thing Firecakes is all the way downtown or I'd be there every night.

A donut ice cream sandwich will set you back $4 and let me tell you, it's well worth it. Nestled between glazed donut perfection is either vanilla or espresso ice cream with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. So simple and yet so good.

If you live in Chicago, go now. If you don't live in Chicago, get on a plane baby. They're that good. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm moving!

Next month I'll be moving to a new apartment. It's a little bittersweet to be leaving my first Chicago home but I'm really excited to have a little bit more space and a dishwasher.

I've been having fun on Pinterest dreaming up decorating ideas and finding furniture I can't really afford but would love to buy. I have purchased a few decorative pieces to spruce up my new abode, including a clock and a fun motivational print for my gallery wall.

An added bonus to moving at the end of the month is that my dad will be coming out to visit/help me. He drove cross country with me when I moved to Chicago two years ago and has yet to come for a visit. Plus, he'll finally get to meet the little baby muffin (aka: Harper) in real life.

While my dad's here we're going to catch a Cub's game, eat Italian beef sandwiches at our favorite place, and go on the lake and river boat tour. It's going to be one busy, fun weekend.

My mom was sweet enough to order me some moving boxes from Costco. This weekend operation packing will commence.

Here are a few images and a DIY project that are inspiring me as I plan my new space. Enjoy!

The Everygirl: How to Style Wire Shelves for a Living Space and Kitchen

Bedroom

The Glitter Guide - Style at Home: Amanda Dawbarn of 100 Layer Cake

DIY IKEA distressed wooden shelves

Summer in the City

It's official summer. My weekend was full of fun activities in areas of the city I'd never explored. Saturday night Irish and I went to the She & Him concert at the Aragon. Talk about a peculiar venue. Inside it looked like a Bavarian kingdom. The ceiling was an inky blue complete with constellations. It felt like any moment sorcerers would come flying out.

Zooey Deschanel was amazing and M. Ward was fabulous and oddly sexy. They did a double encore and for the very last song Zooey sang "I Put a Spell on You". Phenomenal. We ran into my friend Kate at the concert so she hung out with us for the evening. After the concert we headed downtown to Grand Lux Cafe for their irresistible molten chocolate cake.

Sunday I ventured south to U.S. Cellular Field to attend my first White Sox game. My co-worker Jessica and I had never been and decided to get a group of people from work together and go. It was a perfect day at the ballpark. A mild 72 degrees plus hot dogs and cotton candy--so good.

After the game my co-worker Dana showed me around Bridgeport and we rendezvoused to Little Italy to have Mario's Italian Lemonade. I got watermelon lemon complete with real chunks of watermelon. Talk about delicious.

Summer has never been my favorite, but I have to admit Chicago in the summer is pretty fantastic. Here's to more summer fun in the city!

Chicago Women's 5K

 

3.1 miles. Conquered. Woot, woot!

Yesterday morning at 6:50am my friend Tasha and I ran the 5K portion of the Chicago Women's Half Marathon & 5K. Despite the early start time, the race was awesome. 

The course started in Grant Park and wrapped around the lake to the Museum Campus. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. There were about 1,000 women who rank the 5K. It was a wonderful, diverse group of all ages and sizes.

While our training using the C25K app was far from hardcore or amazingly consistent, it got us moving which was the whole point. We ran most of the course and finished with a time of 38:30.  

Three to four months ago it had been two years since I'd run on any consistent basis, if at all. I ran my first 5K five years ago in Everett doing the YMCA Yankee Doodle Dash. I'm definitely not going to wait five years again until I do another one. 

I have no desire to ever run a half marathon but I'd like to stay in shape enough to run a 5K whenever I feel like it. That's my ultimate fitness goal.

I'm so grateful Tasha and I decided to run a 5K together. Running with a friend is so much more motivating, and now we know we can do it! Next stop, the Hot Chocolate 5K in November and finishing under 35 minutes.

P.S. Like our good buddy Mindy Kaling, we run so we can feel better about eating pancakes. After the race we rendezvoused to Kanela for brunch. I enjoyed the French Toast Flight, which included four types of french toast: lemon poppy seed (the winner), orange, banana, and red velvet. Amazing.

a good day in chicago

April showers have given way to rising May temperatures here in the Windy City. Blossoms are everywhere. Yesterday the temperature was perfect. The essence of spring lifted my spirits. It was a good day.

Running along Lake Michigan the fresh air took my breath away. I felt alive and free. Chicago truly is a gorgeous city. Yesterday, instead of feeling alone and insignificant, I felt a part of something bigger.

Later in the evening I visited my friends Brooke and Elise. We hung out on their rooftop in the heart of downtown. Gazing east towards Millennium Park I felt the urge to swing from building to building like Spider Man. Twenty-three floors up the surrounding architecture took on a unique, tangible sensibility.

I'm grateful for days like yesterday that offer relief from the day-to-day stress of life. A brief escape and sense of satisfaction. Peace. 

a weekend of food, friends, and fun

Oh the wonder of not having to worry about school! This weekend I enjoyed fabulous food, friends, and fun. Friday night Brooke and I headed to the movie theater after work to see Admission with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. We laughed our heads off. The rest of the audience was a little less enthusiastic. 

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to meet up with Irish at Doughnut Vault. People lineup every morning for their delicious donuts. We waited in line for about an hour but it was well worth it. Until this weekend I hadn't had a good donut in this town.

Next we headed to Bel 50 for brunch. Absolutely superb. They serve artisan sandwiches on waffles, plus they have fantastic sweet potato fries. I would highly recommend checking it out.

With very full, satisfied tummies we headed back towards Michigan Ave. We perused Forever 21 for a little bit and then went to see Silver Linings Playbook. Jennifer Lawrence definitely earned that Oscar. Her performance was brilliant and Bradley Cooper wasn't half bad either. The storyline was raw, honest, and original. Absolutely flawless.

I'm not ready for it to be Monday again!

Weekend Happenings...

This weekend I spent a little too much time having fun and eating good food rather than doing my homework. Oops! 

After work Friday night I went running with Tasha (Day 3 of C25K!). On my way home I stopped at TJ Maxx where I found a fabulous, sophisticated bedding set. I wasn't sure if I could afford to buy it, plus I wanted a night to sleep on the decision, so I decided to hold off on my purchase. I crunched the numbers and to my delight, new bedding fit into my budget! 

Saturday I returned to make my purchase. For $98 I got a new comforter, two pillow shams, and three throw pillows. I was very pleased. Harper, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled about the new bedding. Whenever I actually make my bed she tries to be mommy's little helper and consequently, gets banished to her chair. 

In other weekend adventures I finally made the tomato basil soup recipe my mom told me about from Pinterest. So good! The soup has orzzo and Greek yogurt in it, which makes for a unique texture and flavor. Irish and I also tried a new place for brunch, Meli Cafe. The banana caramel pancakes were definitely worth the hour-long wait.

Two great weekends in a row. I'll take it.

P.S. Happy 176th Birthday Chicago!

The Oscars

Sunday evening I accompanied my dear friend Irish to an Oscars viewing party at Rockit Bar & Grill, hosted by Michigan Avenue magazine. Irish is interning for Michigan Avenue right now and asked if I'd be her plus one. Naturally, I said yes.

We navigated the altered red line route and arrived right on time. Rockit has an urban, rustic feel accented by rich, dark wood and antler chandeliers. Upstairs in the lounge, flat screen TVs lined the perimeter. Mini Oscars statues graced the tables and booths. One may or may not have come home with me.

Irish introduced me to her coworkers and found a quiet back wall to people watch and down the delicious appetizers brought out by waitresses in tight black t-shirts. Slider cheeseburgers, truffle fries, crispy shrimp salad. We tried everything. No shame.

Famous film critic Richard Roeper hosted the event with Billy Dec, Rockit's owner and CEO. Twitter was a big part of the night's festivities promoted by the hashtag #rockitoscars. I took to the twittersphere and was re-tweeted by Rockit a few times. Kinda cool.

I wore kitten heels and my feet were killing me after less than two hours. I don't know how the stars do it. I read on Twitter that the first thing Adele did when she walked off stage after singing Skyfall was kickoff her stilettos. My kind of girl.

While we enjoyed the event, Irish and I aren't big party girls or late-nighters. After a few hours we headed back to her apartment, grabbed Cheetos and ice cream at the 7-Eleven, and watched the rest of the Oscars from the comfort of her bedroom.

Oscars Highlights: So happy Jennifer Lawrence won. Could she be more adorable? Anne Hathaway's first dress was HORRIBLE but I'm happy she won Best Supporting Actress. Adele rocked it. Loved the Les Miserables performance. I definitely need to see Life of Pi, Argo, Lincoln, and Silver Linings Playbook.

P.S. I love the red carpet. In my online perusing I stumbled upon this awesome project by The New York Times. Check it out!

Jennifer Lawrence image / Oscars logo image

What I've been up to lately...

Illustration by Katie Rogers of Paper Fashion

Over the past few weeks I haven't blogged consistently, if at all. As I've mentioned before, doing grad school and working full-time has taken its toll on my ability to balance everything in my life. However, I'm happy to say as of last Friday at exactly 12:00 noon I kissed another quarter of grad school goodbye! Can I get a woot, woot?!

This quarter I had the opportunity to delve into an new area of writing: politics. My class focused on hard news reporting, social media, and video editing (something in which I had absolutely ZERO experience). I feel like my skills and knowledge have grown so much. I was terrified going into the class but I was also determined to look my fear in the face and kick butt.

I've included links to all the work I've done this quarter in case you're interested in taking a peek. I think I'm most proud of my tweeting on Election Day. The Chicago Huffington Post even re-tweeted one of my tweets!

Happy Monday everyone!

Election Day Coverage:

• Election Day Proves Quiet on the Protest Front
• My Election Day Twitter coverage
• Red Line Project Storify - Election 2012: Social Media Coverage

Other Work This Quarter:

• Storify - Third Presidential Debate: Obama and Romney's final face-off
• 2012 Presidential Election Q&A: Chris Wernecke, DePaul College Democrats
• Cook County Expects Absentee Voting Increase

Apple Picking in Wisconsin

Happy October! How was everyone's weekend? I spent my Saturday in Wisconsin picking apples with friends at an adorable farm. We also enjoyed homemade donuts, bratwurst, and apple cider shakes. It was the perfect way to usher in fall--my favorite time of the year.

Last night I made apple crisp (I've already eaten half of it!). This week I plan to make these apple recipes featured on The Everygirl. I can't wait to try the cheddar apple quick bread. Yummy!

Wisconsin is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to visit. As much as I love the city life, it's always refreshing to get out and enjoy nature. It really is a beautiful state and I'm sure more Wisconsin adventures will ensue in the coming months.

What's one of your favorite fall activities? 

Labor Day in Door County

Over Labor Day weekend I headed off to Wisconsin, the great land of cheese. My friends Charlotte and Colin took it upon themselves to organize a group camping trip in picturesque Door County along Lake Michigan. I'm so glad they invited met to tag along! The entire crew included: Me, Emily, Charlotte, Colin, Jamie, Jordan, Jimmy, Taylee, Bob, Brooke, Casey, and Elise.

Saturday morning we ventured out to Sisters Bay for breakfast at the legendary Al Johnson's,  a Swedish restaurant which houses goats on its roof! Emily, who grew up on a goat farm, was beside herself with happiness.

In the town of Fish Creek we took a nine mile bike ride to a lighthouse. About halfway through the ride Colin remarked, "I think I'm getting high off of this pure air." The rest of the afternoon was spent at the beach where Jimmy proceeded to do his best impression of a swimsuit model/baywatch girl. Hilarious. Once Bob, Brooke, Elise, and Casey arrived we celebrated sweet Elise's birthday with the entire crew.


Sunday morning we attended Church in a pocket-size building filled with friendly, devoted members. It's always refreshing to see that the gospel is the same where ever you go. Next, we set off for brunch at The Bistro. What should have been a leisurely hour filled with syrup and laughter turned into an epic ordeal. The Bistro should really change its name to The Bee-stro. Upon receiving our food, bees began to descend at a rapid rate. Charlotte's cherry french toast was a lost cause. We ended up moving inside and sitting at the bar. Come to find out, there was a nice hornets nest right above our table.

Tuckered out from our bee-filled meal, we returned to our cabins for a splendid Sunday nap. That evening we went on a hike to find a lighthouse in what Elise called "not a real place". Our hike required us to employ the childhood skills we'd acquired from days playing hot lava. The terrain was filled with muck resembling what I think dinosaur poop must of looked like. Even though we got dirty the lake view was worth it. We finished our busy day with an amazing meal at Shipwrecked. The sweet potato fries, pork butt sandwich, and root beer were beyond delicious.


The much needed long weekend was filled with good food, friends, and fun in the sun. It was wonderful to exchange buildings for trees and work for play. We'll be back Door County!

One Year in Chicago!

I remember seeing the Chicago skyline for the first time driving east on the highway. My heart started racing. We passed historic Wrigley Field, a mere 10 minute walk from my new apartment. Driving along famous Lakeshore Drive my eyes skipped furiously from building to building. Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan completed the breathtaking scene. I kept repeating, "I live in the coolest place ever!" Eloquent, I know.

One year ago today my dad and I made the final trek across Wisconsin, completing our four-day road trip to the great the city of Chicago. Our ride across the Badlands the day before was one I'll never forget. More on that tomorrow for Wednesday's Wisdom.

Time is a strange entity. It's both present and fleeting. We move forward even if it feels like we're standing still. I'm always afraid that a year from now I'll be in the exact same place I am today.

I never planned on going to graduate school, let alone moving to Chicago. Looking back on everything that's happened and changed over the past year proves my worry that I'd be in the same place was once again unfounded. That gives me hope for the future.

Some major highlights from my first year in Chicago include: adopting my cat Harper, making new friends, exploring the city with visits from friends and family, selling my car, finishing my first year of grad school, interning with The Everygirl, and getting my first full-time job with benefits, vacation etc.

Living the dream isn't perfect like the movies. It's messy, hard, and confusing. I'm still not entirely sure why I'm here in Chicago but I know that good things can and do happen.

The Job

Last week I achieved a major adult milestone. I was offered my first full-time job. Benefits, vacation, sick leave, my own office--the whole shebang! As if that weren't enough, the remainder of my master's program is going to be paid for, which will save me over $25,000 in federal loans. This new reality is completely overwhelming. I feel incredibly blessed.

So what's my new position you ask? When I started grad school at DePaul University last fall, I began working as a programs assistant in the department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse. Starting next Monday I will begin fulfilling my new role as the second department assistant.

My previous position was a student-worker position which was only 25 hours a week with no benefits, vacation, tuition waiver etc. Essentially, this a major promotion. I'll continue to manage the department's website, online teaching evaluations, and graduate assistantship applications, but will take on more responsibilities associated with department curriculum, student advising, and event planning.

I had hoped and prayed for this job all summer as soon as my supervisor told me it was going to be available. My career goal is to work for the advancement department, alumni association, and/or public relations department at a university. This is my first real foot in the door. Knowing this job will make me completely financially self-reliant is a huge burden off my shoulders. I'm grateful to my family and friends who've supported me and prayed for my well being.

Now it's time to decide what color to paint my office and how I'm going to decorate it. I have my own office...how cool is that?! I'm a big kid now.

the best weekend of the summer

 

This weekend was the best I've had all summer. My dear friend Irish and I have finally reunited! She's been gone most of the summer visiting her family in Dubai and Manilla. I'm so happy she's back!

Friday night, I joined some friends to watch a movie in the park. Hugo was the selection for the evening. Beforehand, I knew little about the film except that it was directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese and had won several academy awards. The film is a visual masterpiece. I can only imagine how long it must have taken to produce. While it's not something I'll watch over and over it's definitely worth seeing.

Saturday, Irish and I enjoyed watching the annual Chicago Air & Water Show. It was so fun to see the Blue Angels! They are a Seattle Seafair tradition and a Fidler family favorite. After the show we enjoyed a delicious early dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe. Molten chocolate cake--that's all I have to say about that. We spent the remainder of the day hitting up wholesale accessory stores.

On Sunday, although I was late, I finally made it to church! Miracles never cease. It was wonderful to feel the spirit, partake of the sacrament, and make connections with people I know.

Here's to more great weekends!

hugo image / blue angels image

last weekend of July...

This Saturday I ventured over to the Randolph Street Market in the West Loop. I've wanted to go all summer but have been busy or out of town the other weekends it's been held. The market was amazing! There were so many neat items I wished I could have taken home with me. The vintage furniture was amazing (including the asking prices). It made me wish I had a bigger apartment and more money to furnish my place.

Aside from a plethora of furniture options, there was tons of jewelry, Schwinn bikes, vintage clothing, art, and household goods. Admission is regularly $10 but I scored a sweet discounted ticket for only $3 because I am a student. There are some perks for paying thousands of dollars for an education.

As I perused the different booths and vendors I stumbled upon an old books seller. Jackpot! I love buying books and am always on the lookout for great finds and deals. The seller had an impressive assortment of Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, Hardy Boys, The Bobseey Twins etc. I had a difficult time choosing which books I wanted to purchase. I only brought $20 with me to be sure I curbed my spending. Ultimately, I selected a copy of Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. They're copyright 1926 and 1928!

Other fun things that happened this weekend: 1) My J.Crew bubble necklace found for $16 via eBaby came in the mail and 2) I started reading The Hunger Games (I know, I'm a little behind the trend but better late than never).

The only thing that would have made this weekend better was if I'd gotten my butt to church today. I'm trying to be better about consistent attendance but I'm still falling short. I've got to do better next week!

I can't believe the start of August is right around the corner.

Valentine's Day in The Windy City...

On my way to work I saw a dad and his little boy putting the finishing touch on his valentine's inside Caribou Coffee. So adorable.

At work I popped a few Twix bars and sent e-valentines to family and friends. During my lunch break I took a trip to Molly's Cupcakes for one of their red velvet treats. Before leaving work for the day I ordered takeout from my local Joy's Noodles.

On the walk home I passed more than a few men carrying flowers. Couples held hands as they strolled into restaurants for a romantic evening.

Harper and I enjoyed watching the latest episode of Hart of Dixie while I savored my Phad Thai. I watched "Valentine's Day" while I did my dishes.

Before going to bed I had a fabulous Skype date with my high school bestie, Miss Keely Coxon. I love that girl so much.

Valentine's Day 2012...the best day of my otherwise crappy week.

photo source