NY Trip

So good to see a yellow line up again

Love her. 

Call Me Maybe dance party

Night 2

The Cloisters

Moagan and I at The Cloisters

Meeting the Southwest Team!

Casual Sunday

A Windy City Summer

Wow! Well, summer is in full swing in Chicago! The temps have been amazing and are currently hanging out in the 90s consistently everyday.  I had the opportunity to kick off summer with event-less weekends allowing me to go out with friends and enjoy my weekends in the Chi.  A bunch of my friends got together at the beginning of June and hung out al the time.  Going out with Kylie and Shawna has been fun...very reminiscent of college. Kylie and I have known each other since we were little girls.  We are both from the same hometown and only live a few houses away from each other.  Shawna and I met in college and have always stayed in touch.  She was so helpful in getting me accustomed to the new life in Chicago.  Here are some pictures of us all going out together.

Take care,

love Blair

So after moving into my new apartment, I have been so excited to decorate.  The apartment is finally starting to come together.  I received my couch a few weeks ago and then my rug yesterday.  Let the decorating begin!

New York Friends

Sue & Ja Kuphall- my Chicago parentals

I realized tonight that the friends I made in New York were friends I made for life.  I always thought that my college girlfriends would be my staples, but with the distance between all of us and through my chaotic lifestyle when I was in NY, only a few of those girls remained truly there for me.  My girls in NY were mostly girls that I met while working or knew from FIT.  I think life is so hard there that everybody understands what each other is going through, so friendship is treated VERY differently than any other place I've lived.  Everyone is a transplant in NYC and is there to "live in New York."  Each person that I meet, who happens to live in NY, seems to completely understand how hard the city can be, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter because "they are still in NY."  It's this mentality that draws people in that city towards each other.  

Anyways, so with the lifelong friends, come the lifelong relationships with their family members.  Last summer I came to Chicago with my best friend Leigh to visit her family and meet her friends.  I am now in Chicago only a few minutes away from Leigh's parents.  Tonight I got a text from Sue, her mom, asking me if I wanted to come meet them for a drink.  I was so excited.  It's always so nice seeing her parents.  Tonight was just what I needed.  A chance to converse over a drink with someone.  I miss those moments.  They have been few, far, and in between lately...slowly picking up, but I still really cherish moments like tonight.  

As we were leaving and saying goodbye, Leigh's mom gave me a hug and told me something that I will never forget.  It meant the world to me to hear that from her.  I hope she knows that those words truly meant so much to me.  I will forever be thankful for all the amazing people God has placed in my life.  I know my mom is just as thankful as well! :)

Well for now, 

Take care, 

love Blair

New apartment

This past weekend was spent moving into my new apartment! One of my longtime best friends came up to the windy city and helped move me up 7 floors to my brand new apartment.  I moved into the building in April in the hopes that I would be able to move into a studio apartment at some point.  I was in a one bedroom deluxe apartment on the 2nd floor and now I have a much better view, great apartment-studio style, and an extended lease...so no more moving on my birthday!!!!!! 

I am so beyond thankful for Mindy coming up.  She ended up staying until Sunday because of moving complications.  Turns out the elevator was only available for me from 6:30-8:30 on Friday morning or Saturday evening from 5:00pm-7:00pm.  We took the later time slot. 

Mindy came up on Thursday night to come to my Men's Style event as well.  She was given a taste of what my job is like.  After the event we chose to go get dinner and go to The Pump Room for a cocktail.  Friday morning we had breakfast at the apartment and then took the day and went shopping.  We had lunch in the new cafeteria at Water Tower Place-Foodease.  How delicious!!! It reminded me so much of lunch in New York at a bodega! Oh, how I miss those. 

Friday night, Mindy and I went out in Wrigglyville.  It was so fun! I usually go out in River North, so it was a nice change of pace being up north at some new bars.  Here are some pictures from the weekend! 

Love my job!

 Pump Room

At Kate Spade playing around.

Out on Friday night!

 Kylie and I at JohnBarleyCorn

 The view from my rooftop! Breathtaking!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Well this past weekend I had an event on Saturday and then took the train home so I could be home for Mother's Day! It was great! Austen was actually in town on Thursday for a couple job interviews that he lined up and then had the opportunity to stay and see one of my events.  We then had the privilege of taking the South Shore Train Line home together.  After finally arriving at home, I was able to spend some quality time with my momma.  It's always so great to give her a hug.  Every time, I feel like I'm still younger and that I'm giving her a hug everyday, like when I used to live at home.  Her hugs are full of comfort and joy! They always make me remember our special times together reading.  I used to read to her out loud and sometimes she would read to me out loud before bed.  Being a teacher, she knew how to read so well.  Always using inflection on the punctuation.  So here is to my mother!  Happy Mother's Day mom!!!! You are loved so much and always will be! 

Best, 

Blair