April showers bring May flowers

I'm really glad I made a pact with myself to not wear a coat for the rest of the spring season. For many reasons. #1 being that ever since I made this pact, Chicago's weather has vastly improved. On Friday, it was 80 degrees. No joke. So you know what we did? A group of us from the singles branch got together and played sand volleyball at the beach. Three silly boys even jumped in Lake Michigan. I dipped my feet in. It was freezing. They submerged themselves. And then Amanda and I went running around the Lake. The Lake was to our left, the city to our right. It was almost midnight and people were out and about strolling, watching movies on the grass on their laptops, bike riding. It was so fun. I think the best part is that the trail we took led to the AMC movie theaters. The plan is for the rest of the summer to run the Lake and then see a movie at the end. Motivation? I think so. The above and all the below were taken with my camera phone. Sand from the beach is what is contributing to the grainish of the image (perhaps the poor quality of the camera phone as well). 

Amanda and I (self photo) during our run. I was so SO SO happy about the warm, beautiful weather. I don't even mind the incredible frizziness of my hair, because that frizz tells me that it's summertime. 

And then Saturday night was way rainy and thunder storming. It was a little bit of a bummer because my sisters came down for the night and we had big plans to go to this one area of town, Wicker Park, with lot's of cute shops and restaurants and just walk around and shop. Instead, we ended up going to Ed Debevics. Have you heard of it? It's this 50s themed restaurant, with hamburgers and milkshakes and rude waiters. No joke. They give you a hard time, you give it right back. We enjoyed ourselves throughly. 

Sisters are the greatest. 

Can you believe it's almost May? 

askmen.com rates chicago #1 best city to live

my heart was bursting with pride as i read this article. 

askmen.com rates chicago #1 best city to live

so if you're looking for a new place to settle down single or family-minded. keep chicago in the front of your mind. it rocks. seriously. askmen.com says so. and me. then we can hang out too. yeah!!

coming soon. pics and details on friday's cubs game. including the sweet home plate season ticket seats pictures my firm has.

sneak peak of the beautiful view below. more to come promise. 

a little shout out

my sister michelle graduated from byu-i two fridays ago. congrats. 

the #1 question - what are your plans? 

everyone will be asking you this. 

you will probably answer - i'm not sure. 

why this is a superb answer - every person is asking themselves this same question about their own life. basically, they just want to hear your life plans so they can get ideas for their own.  

here's to the future great job, grad school or a mission! the world is your oyster.

Have you seen this?

Lesson learned: Never judge a book by it's cover.

On the Britain's Got Talent (American Idol for Britian, even staring yours truly Simeon Cowell) a rather awkward looking woman walks across the stage and the judges and audience laugh and scoff at her. Then she opens her mouth and lets out the most beautiful music imaginable and all are put to shame. It's incredible.

Watch it. It's life changing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

P.S. I think I like Britian's Got Talent a lot beter then American Idol. Especially this season. Just saying.

i have a love/hate relationship with coats

i am so sick of bundling up everytime i step outside and i refuse to do it anymore. i officially hereby announce that i am boycotting coats for the rest of the season. i know because of this, i must suffer the consequences. thus i think i will probably have a perptual drippy nose for the next two months. whatever. i'm a big fan of the tissues with lotion in them. perhaps, maybe this way spring may take a hint and come faster. but how grateful i am for coats that do keep me warm when the cold chicago winds blow. i remember walking to class in idaho and loving that my dad had just sent me a big, giant downfeather columbia coat. how grateful i am to never have to wear that thing again. will spring ever come this year?

Don't even try to convince me

Today was rough. I won't get into it. But, what I do want to discuss is how I have been craving a cookie for like probably a week. This evening it got to be too much. It was a rough commute home from work and I HAD to have a cookie. There was no choice. I was passing a Subway, so I decided to get A cookie. When I say A cookie, I mean A cookie. One, uno. No mas. I just wanted a large, chewy, delicious chocolate chip cookie. I see a Subway, so I stop and walk in. Pass a few people eating. Get to the back of the line. The worker asks, "What can I get for you?" I say, "I would like just a cookie." She says, "Okay, honey (p.s. pet peeve, I hate being called honey by anyone, especially and particularly people serving my food. it's so condescending) just go to the front of the line. I'll be right with you." I pass everyone in line waiting for sandwiches. The honey lady comes to help me. "Can I have a chocolate chip cookie, please?" I say. I should have emphasized A cookie. She says, "Oh. Just one? Just one is 61 cents. But, if you get three, it's only $1.59." I say, "No thanks. I just want one." She says, "Really. Just one? You can save some for breakfast tomorrow morning." I repeat, "No thanks." She keeps trying, "So, you just want one?" And gives me this look like I'm crazy. How dare I just want one cookie. By this point another employer is looking over and people in line are beginning to notice. I cave. "Sure, you convinced me. I'll take three." I pull out a five dollar bill. Take my change. And the honey lady looks at me and says, "You look a little disappointed. Did you just want two?"

Are you KIDDING me?

10 reasons why today feels like new year's day

1. today is april 6th

2. i've been home from the mission for a year (april 2). i'm officially no longer a freshly awkward rm. i'm experienced. been there. done that

3. today was opening day (mlb)

4. the cubs played the houston astros (i served in houston)

5. chicago beat houston 3-1

6. yesterday and the day before was general conference. it was sooo good. lot's of peace, guidance, inspiration and counsel came from listening to the words of prophets of God. i feel like a brand new person

7. we renewed our lease for a year. i will be a chicago girl, in an apartment i love, with my best friend from college and my best friend from high school for another year. yippee.

8. it snowed today 

9. north carolina won the ncaa national championship (i'm a fan of theirs because that's where michael jordan went)

10. i feel free because of brand new dating insights