LOVE. PRIDE. CHILLS & KLEENEX

  

The Time Is ALWAYS Right,

to do what's right. 
~Martin Luther King Jr.

      

Fenn Valley Chili Cook-Off 2013

My life has been forever changed for the best since I first experienced the Fenn Valley Chili Cook-Off  last year. 

My buddy Steve organizes this annual trip, and it remains highlighted on my calendar with a countdown accordingly.

To me, it is heaven :)

I mean, what is there not to love about a getaway Winter weekend in GREAT company?

Then add a vineyard that throws a chili cook-off in their cellar and hires a band?!? 

YES.PLEASE.THANK YOU.I SUBSCRIBE. 

This year we had the ABSOLUTE fortune to sit directly next to the 2013 Chili Cook-Off Queen, Karen Todd!

I lived vicariously through her awesomeness (and then created her a Facebook Fan Club page, obvs ;)

We "may" have tried to invite ourselves to her head-table next year...

And I "may" be slightly obsessed with the idea of becoming a Chili Cook-Off Queen in my lifetime. One can dream, right?!?!

My stomach hurts from a mix of way too much food, entirely too many bevs, and side-splitting laughter :)
I cannot WAIT for next year!

Da Bulls

Went with several co-workers to cheer on Da Bulls...

Admittedly enjoyed the inflate-a-bull-oons much more 
than the basketball "part".

#shinyobjects

Happy Friday, Friends!

Thoughts on Perspective

"They" say that your thirties 
are infinitely better than your twenties. 

Here's why I wholeheartedly agree: 

My life has become a kaleidoscopic in regards to perspective. 

Back then (HA!) for whatever reason, 
we used to all feel like we had to be on the same page 
and didn't foresee how cool it would be 
to create our own totally individual chapters. 

Being part of many different circles of friends, 

I make a very concerted effort now to know where I stand personally on issues, before consulting the peanut gallery ;) 

   

Prime example #1: 

I recently went out on a date with a guy
(a real "catch" according to most)
that showed up high. Like, as in, he also brought a bunch of weed with him assuming I'd be game.

Side note: 

99% of people who do not know me well tend to assume I smoke. Maybe it's the nose pierce or my "keep calm and carry on" demeanor. It's just always awkward when I have to "say no to drugs" while I'm a good twenty years too old to hold that convo. And so goes the story of my life...

Let's continue:

So, me being me, I'd told everyone and their dog that "I have a date!" because, let's be real, I'm now in my thirties, and everyone and their dog is laser focused (aka: highly concerned for no apparent reason) about this aspect of my being. 

The reaction when telling my single friends 
your date showed up high: 

"BAHAHAHHA! Yesssss, did he at least offer you any? Wait, we should set him up with {insert so-and-so here}! How many appetizers did he order at dinner?!" 

   

The reaction when telling my 
married friends who live in Chicago 
your date showed up high:

"He clearly has some growing up to do."

The reaction when telling my 
married friends who have kids who live in Chicago
your date showed up high:

(This conversation would actually never happen in person or on the phone due to the opposite nature of our lifestyles so I don't actually know what their genuine gut reactions would be, but the email replies are always very chipper. Like, "Well, he's not it but it just takes one!" or "You have to kiss a lot of frogs, but then!..." As if reading the ending to the perfect bedtime story ;)

The reaction when telling my 
single and/or married friends who live in NYC
your date showed up high: 

"I'm not seeing the problem here. Are you judging him?"

The reaction when telling my siblings 
your date showed up high:

"So, he didn't pay enough attention to you - was that the issue?"  

The reaction when telling my gay besties 
your date showed up high:

"Well I hope you at least got laid!"

Sooo here's where I'm at.

I'm 31.4 years old and I wholeheartedly agree with what "they" say: your thirties are infinitely better than your twenties. 

    

Because when you know who you are (finally), it's so fun to listen to advice from EVERYONE you know and love, yet only to digest the advice and commentary you actually resonate with. The rest is just humor coupled with respect that your friends, all of them, in their very own special way, just genuinely care about you (even if your lifestyle is pseudo-martian to the mainstream ;)

My new years resolution for 2013 is to be honest to myself.

If I feel it in my heart -- that's what counts. 

But it's always worthwhile to gain perspective. 

To stay grounded. To respect that none of my groups of friends are on the same page. And I LOVE THAT! 

       

I mailed this card to myself when I was living in Florence my junior year of college. I wanted to make sure that the version of me while I was studying abroad, was able to tell the version of "back at home me" to remain better. Always. 

    

My resolution, since then, has been 

a commitment to constant self-improvement. 

     

My forever mantra:

           

May 22nd, 2002

[I was 20 years old]

It's all coming to an end and surprisingly,  I want to go home. I guess home truly is where the heart is. I am making a pack to myself that today, May 22nd, 2002 - I promise myself that I will not let myself be defeated by comparison, competition or materialistic matters. I will always remember how happy I was with myself while living in Europe - despite weight gain, despite unresolved issues, despite the fact that I was so far from home. Living in Europe taught me to be a better person. To spread contagious happiness. To be a better listener, to be a good friend, daughter and sister. I don't know what lies ahead - I will see in 3 days, I guess, but I need to let fate handle what I cannot and have faith in God and in myself for the rest. Follow your heart. Be good to others. Be honest. Be genuine. Have good character. Listen. Smile. Feel. Live. Don't be afraid to love. BELIEVE. ~Amore :)

   

Slightly Obsessed

I devoured "Gone Girl" on the plane to Germany and literally had to stop myself from reading to the end because...

Confession: 

 I have a "thing" about where I am at when I finish the last page of a GREAT book. I'm a hopeless romantic in that regard.  Kinda like how I think your first kiss should always be special. It takes a little restraint to do so, but it's always worth the memory.

So I waited until I was home on my couch, 

snuggled with my favorite blanket 

(and "a" glass of white wine) 

to read the last chapter. 

LOOOOOOOOOOVE

I adored this book and I hope you will join me in supporting the Windy City's very own, Gillian Flynn, my new role model in lit, who I very much hope to befriend someday here in Chicago :) 

(One can dream, right?!?)

  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Per usual, I am just beginning to turn the page to the new year a "few" days late... seven to be exact ;) 

And with doing so comes the laundry list of everything I failed to accomplish over the Christmas holiday because I spent every waking second outside of work enjoying time with friends and family... aka: the reason for the season!

  
{Working on posting updates from the past month as I type}

You have my word that my "Hall-iday" cards are in the works (and that they will be out by Valentines Day ;)

  

You also have my word that not a single day went by in 2012 that I didn't thank my lucky stars for, and not a single day will go unaccounted for this blessed year either.

On behalf of all things Zippidy Do Da, 

HAPPY 2013!

   

Cheers

  

THE Voice of Germany

If you haven't been listening to my rants and raves about 
Nick Howard over the course of the past six+ years, 
it's time to get on the bandwagon my friends :) 

CONGRATULATIONS, 

"COUSIN DUDE NICK"!

I can only hope that someday, I'll add as my much joy to your & Katelyn's lives, that you have both brought to mine.

Can't wait for our next adventure!

Smitten with Life

Confession: 

For a single person, I do realize that I send-and-receive a lot of Christmas cards. But, I'm a firm believer that you get outta life what you put into it, and let me tell you... words truly cannot express the sincere happiness I feel while smiling as I look at each and every new little life my besties have created, and the love that they've found in another.  To me, it's the highlight of the year. Not the places I've been or what has seemingly been accomplished, it's the people. The outstanding friends and family in my life who make absolutely everything worthwhile :)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for you being you, 
and for sharing your awesomeness with me! 

XOXO