Hot Time, Summah in the City!

My love for the New York magazine officially peeked this week when I opened up to the feature article, only to see 
the beautiful city of Chicago :) 

 

With that, I've decided it's time to end my subscription, 

turn the page, and leave our reading relationship on a high note. 
  

But I must admit that this article (click image below) 

sure did solidify my feelings for our three year romance ;) 

Onward and upward!

Last night I had the pleasure to hit up North Avenue beach 
for our Monday night Sandbox volleyball league...
  

This my friends, is why we put up with Winter :) 

   LOVE

     

Hairy Situation ;)

My cousin Kari came all the way in from Jakarta for the family reunion! She's hands-down one of the most interesting women on the planet and I love spending time hearing about her travels. 

  

Yesterday we got to talking about how we somehow got "old" and I told her that I'd recently found THREE gray hairs on the side of my head. She was cracking up and asked me to point them out...
  
As she began searching for the enemy, 
our conversation went as such: 

Me: 

Blondes don't have to deal with this shit. 

Maybe that's why they have more fun? 

Kari: 

Oh, I found one!

Me: 

Baaaaah, that makes FOUR.
Should I stop plucking them and just start to dye? 

My mom from afar: 

Stacey! Don't be so dramatic. 

You're not going to DIE from gray hair. 

Me to Kari: 

Hahaha. The woman can't hear me when I'm a foot in front of her face yet her bat ears tune in to call me out. Priceless. 

Kari: 

Ohh, I found another one!!

Me:

Welp, that's it. Death is immanent ;)

     

Family Reunion

  

I always find it funny that the phrase "family reunion" tends to be associated with a negative connotation. I'm sure many are boring, but I truly look forward to going to Beachwalk every Summer to spend time with the whole Goetz clan. My mom's side of the family honestly couldn't be a kinder bunch :)

  

I just can't believe how big all the "kids" are getting! Yesterday I talked to Morgan about college applications and prom dates -- doesn't seem humanly possible that it's been 17 years since we started this tradition.  Guess time really does fly when you're having fun!

  

 Family Reunion 2011, Michigan City

  

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS

Ahh-men ;)

  

   

Get Well Soon Grams!

I'm not terribly religious, but definitely believe in putting things in the Universe. Unfortunately, my Grandma Stella was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday and has to have a surgery :(

But we're all sending LOADS of get well wishes her way.

If you have a moment, would you mind doing the same?

Thanks friends

     

HAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENDRA!

Last night I felt so lucky to tag along with Kendra and her amazing doctor friends from residency. They all wrap up this month and have signed contracts with some of the best ER's around the country - so the reasons to celebrate were endless :)

We started at Devon for possibly the best
hidden Happy Hour deal this city has to offer...
$10 lobsters and $6 martinis from 5-7pm. 
Ummm, yes we did!

YUM

But what's the surf without the turf?!

God forbid we miss out on a deal,
so it was off to Dunlay's...

Home to the BEST $5.00 cheeseburger special in town!

Although I had to split one,
I'd still give it a major DOUBLE YUM!
  

I'd also highly recommend their white wine portal which they've appropriately named "Summer in a Glass". No joke, we each took a sip and agreed that BOOM...Summer! There it was. 

Right there in your mouth ;)

Two cakes later. Repeat: Two! 

(that's how much Kendra is loved)

We also agreed across the board that it was the perfect "Average Chicagoan" evening. One I'd gladly rewind and relive 

any day of the week :) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE! 

xoxo
  

Uno de Juno

6 months down!

WOW

My 2011 thus far, has had it's ups and downs. 

But last night, when I couldn't fall asleep (per usual), 

I got to thinking that the pro's have most definitely 

outweighed the cons and that life really is good :)

Milestones to date...

January

Finished the UCB writing program and actually
performed comedy on stage in New York City!
Soaked up every last minute of an AMAZING chapter in my life. 

February

Moved back to Chicago. Changed jobs. Settled In. Overcame a "slight" case of seasonal depression (in combo with admittedly, very much missing Manhattan and those within it)

March

Experienced Austin, TX for the first time. LOVE.
 Rang in Kate's big 3-0 in Denver & Breckenridge.

Consumed green beer for a week straight.

Figured shit out. 

Developed a new idea for a company I hope to start.

Got happy again :)

April

Celebrated loads of birthdays and baby showers.

Found a GREAT new j-o-b.

May
Got situated at Sandbox.

Scored an incredible sister-in-law!

Guess it goes without saying, I'm seriously 

psyched and ready for the second half of the year.

BRING IT :)
  

"Coach Stacey"

Yesterday our company took the afternoon to volunteer for an absolutely wonderful organization called Girls in the Game. 

Laura, Melissa and I taught Dance for 3 hours and laughed so hard with all the girls. All in all, it was a full afternoon of silly awesomeness :)

Pix to follow!

5 Year Plan

Tonight, while walking home from work and admiring all the gazillion dollar single family homes that surround my apartment,
I thought to myself (in all seriousness), "Is it wrong that I just want to be successful enough to have a slide as an option for stairs?"

Yes...

Please...

Thank You!

This will happen :)

     

Wknd Rewind

Back-to-back Cubbies games

a whole lotta rain, 

laughs, encased meats, and canned beer...
  

Was a really nice wknd hanging with friends 

and spending time with my fam yesterday :)

    

Ever thankful to those who serve this country 

past, present and future!

   

Oh HAIL Yessss

June 6th can't come soon enough

    

Haaaappy Memorial Day Wknd

  

Hope you have a GREAT one :)

   

Way to go, Sandbox runners!

Yesterday I cheered on our team at the 

JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge 5k. 

WAY TO GO DUDES :)

   

Bits O' Truth

   

Great Music. Even Greater Cause.

Last night my buddy Nick Howard played a benefit show
with the ever talented, Matt Alber... Arguably the two most kind hearted musicians out there :)

Part of the proceeds went to help the UCAN foundation, an organization here in Chicago that helps aid youth homelessness and provides a safe haven for LGBT teens and young adults.
What an incredible and important cause to support.
  
Way to go, Nick & Matt!

   

Mr. Snake's Monthly Mouse

Just another Wednesday at the office ;)

SNAKE FEEDING DAY!!

Welcome to the world, Stella June Gooden!

Life was made all the better this week by welcoming 

beautiful baby Stella :)

Congratulations, Gina & Jeff!!

I cannot wait to meet your little 
6 lb, 7 oz bundle of  fabulousness :)

(and to give lots of puppy love to Lily & Maddy too!)

 xoxoxo

    

Best Wedding Week Ever :)

There's just too many awesome pix to share from Pensacola, 
so I created Stephen & Kendra their own blog
to remember all of the amazing memories!

http://steveandkendrasweddingweek.blogspot.com/

ENJOY

I sure did ;)
  

Blog Break!

In sunny Pensacola this week to gear up for
Stephen & Kendra's WEDDING wknd!!
Wooohoooooo

The fun has begun :) 

Many more pix to follow on Monday
once my brotha's officially scored me a sister-in-law!

           

Andersonville Wine Walk

Yesterday was the perfect storm of awesomeness!

My friend Steve and I had a full day long friend "date" and it was honestly the best Sunday I can ever recall having in Chicago :)

We met at 9am to get our butts kicked at Yoga Sculpt class (highly recommend!) and didn't speak the whole walk home because there was no energy to be had.

Since we live three blocks away from each other, I have the absolute fortune to trade Steve wine for laundry. He actually has a washer and dryer in his apartment (jealous = me!!) 

LOVE

Once the boring Sunday chores were done, we hit up the Clark 22 bus to head to Andersonville to caffeinate and indulge in one of the best brunch spots my taste buds have ever been... M.Henry, you complete me :)

I had the bacon wrapped baked eggs with polenta and mixed greens, which should really be called "PERFECTION ON A PLATE - PREPARE TO SALIVATE!" But that's just one suggestion ;)

Double Love
  
3pm came before we could even get to ordering the rosemary potato flatbread so we took it to go and headed to pick up our tickets for the Andersonville Wine Walk! Let me tell ya, if there was such a thing as a triple rainbow, this would be it :)

Steve and I had the mission to each meet a boy while drinking and shopping (wishful thinking ;) 

and even though we were not successful on that front, it was hands down one of the most fun events I've ever had the pleasure to attend...

Drinking + art galleries + vintage thrift + flower shops + unique whatnots + some more drinking = YES.PLEASE.THANK YOU.
DON'T MIND IF WE DID!

Sunday Funday! Andersonville Wine Walk

Hot Mamma :)

Was so nice to catchup with Rorie and see baby Wade  --
however, I think all of our girl talk put this beautiful baby boy
straight to sleep! 

LOVE
    

BOO!

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND :) 

    

One Highly Comical Commute

I find it impossible not to laugh at least a dozen times on the mere 8 block walk I have from the time the Halsted 8 bus drops me off at Fulton Market, to the arrival at our office door on Racine. 

New York may be known for it's hip Meat Packing District,
but holy hot damn, Chicago's got the real deal!


While dodging delivery trucks and crates,

I took a mental inventory this morning and counted that in just eight short blocks, my fortunate eyes get to see the following,
each and every morning on my walk to work:
  

- 5 meat packing factories

- 2 fruit and vegetable whole sale warehouses

- 1 egg factory

- 3 autobody repair shops

- 5 art and furniture galleries

- 3 gym facilities

- 5 new awesome restaurants 

- 4 doggy day care centers

 and countless renovated lofts.

It's such a trip!

(literally)

Once I contain my giggles after passing 

"Bee Jays Meats"

I look forward to squeezing between the egg boxes 

to hit up Jupiter Outpost for coffee :)

This is one chaotically cool slice of Chicago,
I feel so lucky to see in action everyday!