The Golden Gate Experience

And...FALL IS HERE! Although, in Chicago, it is more brisk than everyone would like. However, I will take it! Scarves, leggings, sweaters, and the purple and burgundy trend; I love it all!  

This weekend was the first official weekend of Fall, based on the seasonal calendar system, and with that I am going to work on welcoming in a new attitude. Summer ended in a bit of a hazy fog.  I kicked off summer with a bang and was so excited to get to the beach and take bike rides, etc.  Towards the end of summer I was trending fall so much and looking forward to wearing my new riding boots that I took the last few days for granted.  

As most of you know, I just got back from a trip to San Francisco.  I was invited to attend the Grand Re-Opening of The Men's Store in Union Square in downtown San Fran.  I chose to fly out earlier than needed to do some sightseeing and exploring.  I had never been to SF and was so excited to see what that city had to offer.  

What a trip!  I would love to go back again and visit, however, I don't think it will be by myself again.  Not that it was a bad trip, but there were experiences that I had, that I would love to share with someone else, the next time I go back.  This was my first, true adult vacation.  The city is a great city to visit.  The Golden Gate Bridge is so pretty.  I would love to go bike riding over it the next time as well as take a trip to Napa and Sonoma for an official California Wine Tasting.

Now that I have had some time to reflect on the trip, I am so glad that I took it.  I am also so proud of myself for going out there solo for a couple of days to explore.  During that time I was able to pack in some QUALITY writing time!  Needless to say, my journal is almost halfway done. :)

Planning out my day at a coffee shop in Fisherman's Warf

Back in Chicago and ready to trend fall appropriately, I am excited to see what this season brings.  In just a few more months I will be at my one-year anniversary.  It will be here before I know it. :)  My how time flies.  Enjoy the pictures below! 

For now,

Blair

The entrance to Fisherman's Warf

Alcatraz Prison

Golden Gate Bridge- So pretty

Loved these images

The Random Life I Live

Whenever my friend Mindy comes to visit me in Chicago, she always laughs because she thinks that the most random events happen to me.  Well, as much as I would like to consider myself a normal, mundane person, that is just not the case.  I have to say...I am starting to agree with her. 

The other day I was offsetting my hours for work (had the day off) and was getting ready to walk into Water Tower Place to do a little shopping.  Before I knew it I was stopped by a blonde woman with a clipboard, asking me if I would be willing to be an audience member at The Steve Harvey Show taping tomorrow.  I didn't really know what to say, but considering I had the day off on Thursday as well, I decided to accept her offer.  

Thursday evening around 4pm, I entered the NBC building to attend The Steve Harvey Show.  What an experience.  Given the demographic of the average audience member I stood out like a sore thumb.  Also, I will have you know that when we walked onto the stage to hold the taping, they were playing, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire and Salt-n-Peppa's Push It!  :) I would expect nothing less.  

The taping took 4 hours which is a long time to hold a show.  They will edit that down and it will be a one-hour show.  I ended up sitting beside the coolest girls.  One was a South African Diplomat and the other was a French Ambassador.  It just goes to show that you shouldn't be afraid to go out and attend various activities by yourself because you never know who you will end up meeting.  The funny part about everything was that they just kept asking me about my employee discount with Macy*s or what sales were coming up.  At the end of the day...girls are girls and we love a good sale. 

For now, 

Blair

The Weekend Update

So with the chaos that living in a city can bring, I decided to head home this weekend for a relaxing few days with my parents.  The benefits of going home don't even compare to any vacation I could ever take: 

1. Hugs from my momma

2. Morning coffee chats with my poppa

3. Soft water to make my locks nice and shiny

4. Wine, wine, and more wine

5. Naps on my favorite couch

At the New Buffalo Farmer's Market

After a couple great days at home, my parents and I decided to head up to Southern Michigan and explore the various wineries in the area.  The first one that we went to was Founder's Winery in Baroda, MI.  While there, we struck up conversation with the owner and ended up extending our tasting to every bottle they had to offer.  "That was one of the best tastings I've ever had,"-Jana Burkholder

At Founder's Winery

Following Founder's we traveled to Sawyer, MI to get a flight of beer at the Greenbush Brewery.   The flight was delicious.  Split between the three of us, we were able to try 6 different beers. 

 

Our flight

We ended our trip to Pure Michigan with a dinner at Skip's restaurant.  I had a delicious wasabi tuna steak! Yumm!

Overall, the weekend was full of laughter, hugs, and amazing conversation between myself and the parentals.  I am so truly thankful for both of them!!!!  

As my mom puts it, "Remember, you can always go home again!" 

Take Care,

Love Blair

The Weekend Update

This past weekend was so relaxing and much needed after the past couple of weeks. With traveling for work and 2 really big events in two weeks and then a stressful week at work last week....I was due for some R&R. 

Friday was the start of the extra associate discount + One Day Sale at work so after work I went on a little shopping spree!!!! A few pairs of jeans, 2 handbags, and a new pair of boots later I am ready to start fall.  After shopping I went to Bucktown/Wicker Park to have drinks with a couple friends.  It was great to get to know each of them more that I already had.  We went to The Blueline Martini Bar.  I had the classic mojitto... delicious!  After drinks I met up with friends from my building at Ra, across the street, for late night sushi and conversation! 

Saturday was brought in with a morning workout session and a day full of errands.  One of the handbags I bought on Friday was damaged and needed to be returned.  It was so nice outside...I ended up walking into the loop to run my errands.  Stopped by Macy's and the new city Target!!!!  Saturday evening was a little more relaxed.  I went and saw, To Rome with Love, with Alec Baldwin and Ellen Page.  So good.  There is a cute little Independent film theater in Lincoln Park.  The movie was in half english and half italian.  I highly reccommend.  Very funny and such a cute story.

The new handbag! :) My first Big Girl Purse!

Today I awoke to the planes of the Chicago Air and Water Show! Feeling like I'm on a military base I am a bit stir crazy and about to go get a taste for the sunshine on a nice long bike ride along the lake! :)

Happy Weekend everyone!

Take care,

Love Blair

Back to the Classics

Recently, I have decided to try some new tactics in dealing with the stress that can come with real life.  A few are listed below:

1. Writing on the beach; just to put my feet into the sand and listen to the waves on the lake crash onto the shoreline....like the sea is taking a breath and each breath is so deep and intense.  I've found this is a place where my thoughts are so clear! I have been trying to find a balance between actual writing and blogging and going to the beach to journal has been a great escape. 

2. The classics; Okay, if any of you actually know me and how I grew up, you would not be surprised to know that the artists on my iPod range from Billie Holiday to Emminem.  As a way to relax and unwind from a stressful day I have found peace in listening to classic songs from the 1940s. Natalie Cole, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, the list goes on and on.  The simplicity of each song is so moving.  How pure and in love the artist is with the lyrics... Love back then was such a pure and fragile thing.  Men courted the women.  Walking past their doorstep just because they can't stop thinking about a girl....it was so sweet.  Romance wasn't jaded with technology.  All conversations had to be innocent as the family telephone was usually placed in a central location within the house and everyone would hear your words as you spoke to your love.  

3. A bath: I really forgot the beauty of drawing a bubbly bath every now and then.  In my new apartment I was given a great bathtub.  The other day I bought bath bubbles from Sabon.  The musk scent reminds me of a combination of a desirable men's fragrance and vanilla...a sweet and savory mix to unwind! Combined with the classics???? Pure bliss! 

Happy 6 month Anniversary!

My new apartment! :)- Thanks Mom!

Wow! Well it's crazy to think that I have been in Chicago now for 6 months.  I have to say that this move was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  In the past 6 months, I've tried to really get through the transition of moving back to the midwest again.  Finding a sense of peace in my routine and figuring out what makes me happy in this new city. I have realized that there are three things that I need to have in order to be in sync with myself: 1.) a great nail salon, 2.) a good gym, & 3.) a church.  I have successfully found 2 out of the 3.  I am still looking for a great church to attend.  I've got a couple different ones that have been of interest to me, but nothing has compared yet to Trinity Grace, in Chelsea.  

A couple weeks ago my mother came up and graciously painted my apartment for me.  I am now in love with my new apt and get excited about decorating it.  I'm in the market for a bookshelf and a vanity and then it will be complete.  

My bike was brought up to the city the other day as well.  I've LOVED riding around the lake on Sunday afternoons.  It's been so peaceful! Found a new trail the other day with Steph!  It was great...we just kept riding until our stomachs signaled to us that we should stop for some food.  We ended up eating at a great Korean BBQ restaurant.  

Overall, the past 6 months have been a HUGE growth experience.  I have learned so much more about myself and what I want out of life.  With a commitment to changing my health, becoming more disciplined by working out consistently, and focusing on work I have realized that change is not necessarily a bad thing.  It's how we adapt to the changes that make us who we are.  I know that I was called to move to Chicago for a reason...it's just time now to allow God to move me in that direction and keep me on his path. :)

For now,

Blair

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!