2021-04-12 00:01
IT’S HERE!! Holy cow. You guys, can I just say I definitely did not see this day coming as soon as now? A year ago we were living in our 900 square foot apartment with furniture and de… Read More
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I’m the umpteenth Chicago lifestyle blogger. But I’m worse, because my “fashion†sense includes Target t-shirts and my makeup skills involve being as bare-faced as possible.
What I am is a twenty-something that is trying to learn all the tips and tricks to living life to the fullest. This blog is a chronicle of the adventures and lessons life throws at me.
I grew up in Italy and Spain and moved to Chicago five years ago. I learned how to ride the bus this month and am looking for the perfect falafel. Give me your recommendations and I will let you pet my cat, Tyrion Lannister.
My pictures aren’t perfectly edited but neither is this story. This is how it feels to be young and confused in Chicago.
2021-01-12 05:04
Hi guys!!So this is a bit of a different blogpost than usual, but as I’ve been trying out new things and products that have sincerely been changing my life for the better I’ve be… Read More
2020-12-01 09:05
On a very hot day on August 25th in Moab, UT, David and I got married during sunset at the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint in Arches National Park. Here’s allllll the deets! I’m so ex… Read More
2020-04-27 21:45
“I sat with my anger long enough, until she told me her real name was Grief.”
Let’s chat about grief. Because we have all felt some form of grief in our lives, and we ar… Read More
2020-04-13 05:44
My head is actually kind of all over the place and stumped right now as I’m trying to figure out how to start this blog post.
I did not realize how hard Easter was going to be for… Read More
2020-03-31 05:29
Really didn’t think I’d have a 2 year old that’d be half my size already but here we are. Although it’s really not shocking.
Sunday’s have been so… w… Read More
2020-03-30 05:21
“How many of us, at times, try to resolve life’s challenges ourselves, without seeking the intervention of the Lord in our lives? We try to carry the burden alone.As some are fac… Read More
2020-03-18 05:09
Throwback to yesterday when it was St.Patty’s Day and 61 degrees and we were blissfully unaware of the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that would hit us the next morning.
That was craz… Read More
2020-03-11 04:47
The two phrases I’ve been holding onto so tightly lately are:
“The best is yet to come”+“Just do the next right thing”
Just do the next right thing, and… Read More
2020-03-09 04:43
Okay.
I know I said that Arches and Zion were stunning.
But BRYCE. YA PULLIN THRUUUUU.
Bryce Canyon was a dream to see. Holy cow. I love the visuals that this National Park produces… Read More
2020-02-27 00:00
Dear Leo,
Everyday I am in constant awe of you. Your strength, resilience, happiness, silliness, love, and persistence make up your beautiful heart. I learn from you every day.
You&rs&hell…Read More
2020-02-25 23:50
We’ve been incredibly blessed since our move to Utah 7.5 months ago (how has it been that long already!?). The friends we’ve met along the way, the new “family” we&rs&hell…Read More
2020-02-09 22:47
“You’re almost home now. Please don’t quit now.”
Those were the words that got me through starting my life over by packing up my things in Oregon and driving to Ut… Read More
2020-02-02 22:45
When I became a mom I learned what it truly means to get up and show up anyway, even on the days when it feels like my world is turning upside down.
When I became a single mom I learned w… Read More
2020-02-02 03:48
(Scroll through to see more pics! ^)
Holy cow, Utah is STUNNING!
I’ve been to Arches National Park and now Zion. I continue to just be blown away by Utah’s beauty. I’… Read More
2017-01-24 02:26
When people think about great artists, Van Gogh’s name comes up alongside Picasso and Michelangelo. But, understanding the artist can only make us understand his art so much greater. T… Read More
2017-01-23 18:13
Is there anything harder than returning to real life after a fabulous vacation? After a three day cruise in the Bahamas, I wasn’t quite ready to go back to wintery Chicago. So why not… Read More
2017-01-18 15:01
I feel like a special snowflake being seemingly the only sunburned person in Chicago. Yesterday I returned from a three-day Bahamas Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. It was the perfect week… Read More
2017-01-12 02:53
From now until April 30, an amazing Tattoo-centered exhibit is featured at the Field Museum. And you should go. Whether you’re an aficionado or you’re just going because your chi… Read More
2016-11-11 04:40
Kurt Pio is an amazing artist out of Cape Town that I’m currently obsessed with. I found his work on The Jealous Curator, and I was immediately obsessed with his champagne paintings… Read More
2016-10-25 00:48
The internet is always searching for the new “it” girl. There’s always some lady in the spotlight, from Kate Moss to Kimmy K, but the most recent it girl, Gigi Hadid, is ol… Read More
2016-10-24 12:00
I’ve had a couple hairstyles in my day: different cuts, different colors, different styles. Just today, I cut off about five inches over my bathroom sink. I love changing my hair; I lo… Read More
2016-10-17 12:00
It’s been awhile since I did a music update with what your ears need to hear right now. But, to be honest, I was in a slump. Nothing was really making me get up a dance. Also, my… Read More
2016-10-15 18:21
I’ve never been a big protein shake drinker. Sure, I could use more protein in my diet. I could a lot more general nutrients that I’m sure I’m missing. But, in my busy life… Read More
2016-10-12 15:15
If you live in Chicago or are around baseball fans, you may have noticed that the Chicago Cubs have made it to the postseason. But, if you’re like me, you don’t even know what p… Read More
2016-10-10 16:38
Halloween 2016 is just around the corner, and so is your fear that you’ll end up sitting on the couch, dressed as Batman, all night long. Sure, you could always hand out candy to the k… Read More
2016-09-21 13:50
Do people still do bucket lists? If they don’t, they should– it’s a great way to decide what to do when you have no plans on the weekend. The satisfaction when checking som… Read More
2016-09-19 12:50
White Iverson- Jackson Breit Cover
I already was a fan of the original White Iverson, but because I feel lik I’ve been drowning in electronic music recently, this indie cover really f… Read More
2016-09-18 18:45
London is one of the best cities in the world, along with NYC and Paris (and Chicago!) If I can ever move to England, I’m jumping at the chance. The country is a mix of the familiar mo… Read More
2016-09-18 13:45
You know this is going to be a good chocolate chip cookie recipe because there are milk and white chocolate chips in it. If you love white chocolate as much as I do, then it’s obvious… Read More
2016-09-14 23:03
I’ve put lemon juice, toothpaste, and advil on my face. I’ve tried salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid and lactic acid. I’ve tried drugstore and high end face… Read More
2016-09-11 23:33
This was a very calm week. Nothing crazy happened, and everything felt generally peaceful. The most exciting thing to happen was the drop in temperature this weekend. I’ve been bundlin… Read More
2016-09-11 22:55
It’s really starting to feel like Fall, with these awesome 70s quite a bit colder than last weeks 80-90s. But nothing really screams Autumn quite like OKTOBERFEST! Everything German is… Read More
2016-09-07 02:16
Labor day was amazing this year because it was the birthday of my favorite person! His birthday seemed to stretch on all four days, with NorthCoast on Friday, two Cubs games on the weekend… Read More
2016-09-05 23:55
This was a musical weekend, if it’s not too cheesy for me to say so. With NorthCoast kicking it off on Friday and my sweetheart’s birthday this Monday, the whole weekend was full… Read More
2016-09-03 20:32
Two years ago in 2014 I went to Northcoast for the first time. I walked in with a three day pass and walked out exhausted, sweaty, and satisfied. I can’t event remember who I saw then… Read More
2016-09-03 16:13
Hungarian chicken paprikash is the type of warm, filling meal my mom used to make me on cold winter days. The spice of the paprika would warm me up from the inside and be one of the few rem… Read More
2016-09-01 01:29
I’ve been celebrating the return of Criminal Minds, the 12th season (premieres September 28), by rewatching all 11 seaons for the two months. I do not recommend this if you live alone… Read More
2016-08-29 13:29
If you haven’t seen Stranger Things on Netflix, what are you doing. As long as you’re fine with being a little thrilled and sitting on the edge of your seat, I can promise y… Read More
2016-08-29 00:55
See my first week’s playlist here to read about my general music taste and not miss any amazing songs.
Smells Like Summer- Early Hours
I am obsessed with the 2007 sounding growl o… Read More
2016-08-28 15:22
Another weekend, another streetfest. I’ve walked through greekfest the last two years, but this year I stopped to snack. I love how this little neighborhood comes to life.
I had my hea… Read More
2016-08-23 02:17
September is an odd month; it’s kind of summer and kind of fall. Who knows if these blue skies and 80 degrees will follow us into the next month, or if the leaves will be turning befor… Read More
2016-08-22 16:22
I’m pretty sure that the definition of paradise is sitting on a beach with your loved one, talking about big dreams. I feel so lucky that I am able to that, despite this beach being in… Read More
2016-08-22 03:30
I recently left my part-time server gig for personal reasons, and now I am between jobs and between choices. I am very lucky and have the opportunity to decide whether or not to work. Due to… Read More
2016-08-22 00:58
I grew up in a music obsessed family. Born and raised by hipsters, my parents would constantly try to “discover” the newest artist to show off to one another. Every week I carefu… Read More
2016-08-21 22:27
In the last six months I moved in with the love of my life, and everything’s amazing. But to be honest- everything was awful at first. We fought a lot. I worried that we had moved… Read More
2016-08-21 20:56
Tomorrow classes start back up and I’m dreading it. I know it’s common for students to get excited to get back in the swing of things, but I’ve never been that kid. I would… Read More
2016-08-20 15:48
I’m guilty of under-enjoying the city’s array of street fests this summer. Street fests are my favorite way to spend summer nights, and my favorite part of the fests is the endle… Read More
2016-08-14 18:50
Things are still crazy around here. Aside from my own bubble of internal hecticity (I’m pretending that’s a word), everyone in my orbit of relationships seems to be dealing… Read More
2016-08-14 18:31
If you haven’t heard of Diner en Blanc, don’t be embarassed, neither had I. Diner en Blanc is an international pop-up white party that originated in Paris. Individuals purchase t… Read More
2016-08-14 05:54
The last two days have been too much and I have nothing to say. It’s just too much Read More
2016-08-12 05:07
I’m getting really tired of wearing my too tight work pants, those which I’m pretty sure are going to rip down the crotch any day now. But, today wasn’t so bad. Any day whe… Read More
2016-08-11 05:21
Fun night at work, but running up and down stairs for seven hours is a little rough after my first pilates class. Today was otherwise quiet, aside from the screaming karaoke of the guests at… Read More
2016-08-10 01:55
Today was an amazing day. The weather was lovely and I took an amazing walk while thinking about what the next year will hold. I don’t want to say anything yet, because my ideas would… Read More
2016-08-08 23:53
I come across “Blogging Tip” posts so often, from bloggers I currently follow and when searching for new blogs. These posts always seem to contain the same tips, many of which, I… Read More
2016-08-08 23:13
After a stressful weekend I tried to just relax with this guy today. I honestly did nothing but sleep and eat (and a bit of laundry). Sometimes I think it’s important to just take a da… Read More
2016-08-08 16:16
It was another crazy day yesterday. I felt like I was running all over the city, from bus to train, and then all over the suburbs, from train to car. I snappsd a picture a city street… Read More
2016-08-07 15:43
A late photo of the day taken with my iPhone bc the last 24 hours have been full of work. I’m running on low sleep but helping people have the happiest day of theie life in a beautiful… Read More
2016-08-05 22:10
I had a great day at the beach with Max, talking about our future, reminiscing about our childhoods, and getting insane sunburns. It was the sort of beautiful day which guilt trips you for n… Read More
2016-08-05 16:44
This recipe is adapted from a kids cookbook I had when I was a little girl. I have no idea what the name of it was or where it went, but I remember how easy it was to make. I would make it a… Read More
2016-08-05 01:06
Me and this little buddy basically spent all day finishing up my summer classwork. It’s finally summer– for two weeks. I’m not complaining; I hope to live it to it&rsq&hell…Read More
2016-08-04 00:47
I really hurt my adductor muscles (or as I called them before I googled the muscle group, the vagina crease muscles) and tried to take today easier. I always tell myself I’m going to g… Read More
2016-08-04 00:47
I really hurt my adductor muscles (or as I called them before I googled the muscle group, the vagina crease muscles) and tried to take today easier. I always tell myself I’m going to g… Read More
2016-08-04 00:47
I really hurt my adductor muscles (or as I called them before I googled the muscle group, the vagina crease muscles) and tried to take today easier. I always tell myself I’m going to g… Read More
2016-08-04 00:47
I really hurt my adductor muscles (or as I called them before I googled the muscle group, the vagina crease muscles) and tried to take today easier. I always tell myself I’m going to g… Read More
2016-08-04 00:38
When I have too much free time, I bake. It’s like therapy, just stirring ingredients in a a bowl. But it’s also an addiction. I can’t keep myself away from the batter; I&r&helli…Read More
2016-08-03 01:24
I’ve decided to do Photo of the Day- the one photo every day for 365 days challenge. In the past year too many of my photos have been low quality snapshots taken on my phone, while my… Read More
2016-08-01 02:51
I have a confession; I’ve lived in Chicago for four years and I’ve never been to Lollapalooza. It’s the twenty fifth anniversary of the music festival this year and the fo… Read More
2016-07-31 22:01
Before Boystown, there was West Loop.
The booming nightlife in Boystown is divine, but sometimes I miss the quiet of West Loop. I remember walking through the wide, empty streets of Fulton M… Read More
2016-07-27 14:41
The best trip I’ve ever taken was to the South of Africa. Starting every day at dawn with a four hour safari and ending every day with a two hour sunday safari was amazing. I still rem… Read More
2016-07-25 21:25
I woke up to the sun shining on Friday and wanted to scream in a crowd of drunken Cubs fans. However, as you know if you’re a Cubs fan in Chicago, ticket prices have skyrocketed w… Read More
2016-07-22 17:11
I gew up on an island in the middle of an island. The chained link fences of military bases separated me from the rest of Sicily, from truly being a part of Sicily, the island I spend my chi… Read More
2016-07-19 21:58
The first time I had paella was the first time I got drunk. In Valence, the city the dish was named after, moving to the country by way of a roadtrip from Sicily, we walked by a restaurant w… Read More
2016-07-15 20:35
My parents are in the military, meaning they have been deployed to naval bases all over the world: Italy, California, Spain, and now- Guam.
Guam, if you haven’t heard of it, is a Paci… Read More
2016-07-15 19:41
I want to go back to France. I’m sitting here with a bottle of red looking back at my trip to France last summer and I wish I was sitting back at a bistro in Burgundy along the Dordogn… Read More
2016-07-14 22:49
The first of the Chicago Neighborhood Guides- Pilsen! A colorful Latino neighborhood with lots to offer, from street art to enchiladas, this lower east side neighborhood has a blooming art… Read More
2016-07-14 00:21
I’ve never played Pokemon Go or any Pokemon game, but I’m going to download it and try it for the sake of science.
Okay, some guy named Professor Willow is welcoming me. I f… Read More
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