Here's to 2015!

There have been so many things that have happened this year. At the beginning of the year, I made some promises to myself. The ones that I have fulfilled this year include going to see the Royals at a playoff game, going to New York City, and practicing my Italian regularly.

I also checked another item off my bucket list when I got to go sit on the Friends couch on the set in Los Angeles! 

I saw the Royals win the World Series!!! And went home for the celebration. Another bucket list item.

Some other things that have happened that have also made my year great: 

-Going to Colorado and New Mexico again. Something about being there always makes me feel so at peace.

-Seeing Royals fans invade Chicago for Royals to Wrigley

-winning a league championship with my volleyball team

-celebrating my birthday with some wonderful friends

And here are some things that come to mind when I think about this year and moving forward:

Tell people how you feel

Spend time with those you love

Make plans to achieve your dreams

Have something to look forward to

Be kind to everyone

Everyone has something going on you know nothing about

Everyone has some sort of soft spot. You just have to find it.

Anything could happen at any time so do not put off the things you really want to do

Self-care!!! yoga, massages, sleeping in, kitties, pj days, naps, candles, 

Believe truly something wonderful is going to happen soon

Don't be miserable just because something you want isn't here yet

Believe in divine timing.

Here's to 2015 and an amazing 2016.

Do more of what makes you happy

Been doing some introspecting lately, and here are some of those thoughts.

I went to my first ever Friends Thanksgiving, or as Liz dubbed it, Lambsgiving, this weekend. It was a blast. I know I go on and on about how grateful I am for the friends that I have made here, but I honestly think it can't be said enough. I don't think we always tell the people who mean a lot to us that they do mean so much. I really am trying to be more honest about my feelings lately.

Which brings me to another thing I was thinking about. When I think about my relationships with people, I realized that the most important thing to me in any relationship is having a sense of trust. It can take me a while to open myself up to people but once I do, you have my full trust and I will work to maintain that relationship and make it a priority. I sometimes worry when meeting new people that they will judge me for certain things that make me me, which is why I think I am more slow to open up. So if I tell you I am comfortable with you or if I tell you something about myself that not everyone knows, please know that you are incredibly important to me.

So rambling thought number three. Life is too short to not tell people how you feel. Life is too short to not ask for what you really want. And life is too short to not attempt to make your biggest dreams a reality.

For me the worst thing would be to live my life and have regrets. Life should never be boring or mundane. I've been re-watching Parks and Recreation this weekend. So I'll end with a quote from the wise Andy Dwyer:
 "Seriously, life is short. So I think you should just do what makes you happy."

World Series Champions

They did it. The Royals won the freaking World Series. It's finally sunk in.
This month was such a blur. Last year was the worst ending to a ridiculously magical season. And this year the Royals had the most amazing season. And then the playoffs started.

I thought it was over in Houston in game four. I was convinced that this was it and we weren't going to make it any further. And then they came back. And then I just kind of felt like it had to happen this year. I was able to make it back to KC for ALDS game two. It was my very first playoff game that I have ever been to. This was something I had been dreaming about since I became a fan way back in 2000. And it was every bit as awesome as I imagined it would be. I watched the rest of the playoff games at home alone, at  bars with friends, and with other Royals fans here. The last game I watched alone because I wanted to be able to be as crazy as I needed to be and so I could chat with my sisters. That night I honestly started to cry as the national anthem was being sung because I just felt like it would end that night. I started to cry again in the 12th when we went ahead. And then we won and I just couldn't stop smiling.

I went home for the celebration. It was so amazing to see the city so united to celebrate what the Royals did. They never quit. They said they were going to do it and they did. They erased the hurt of last year and turned it into an even more amazing story. I have never been so proud to be a Royals fan and of my city. We took the Crown.

Let me tell you about my night...

Tonight the Royals won the pennant. They are going to the World Series for the second year in the row.

Unbelievable.

I watched from a David Cook concert. I took a spot up right in front of the tv next to two other girls who were watching the game. I found out through conversation and bits and pieces that one was David Cook's sister. We ended up watching the game together which was a freaking roller coaster ride. Also, this really nice Cubs fan bought us shots. Earned some good karma right there. And we did it. We f'ing did it. Let's take it all this time.

Another night I'll never forget.

Best times of our lives

Sometimes I have a hard time not wanting to rush ahead to the next stage in my life. I think we all do this a little bit. When we're kids, we want to be grown up so we can do whatever we want. I was thinking about this last night and had a realization that I need to learn to appreciate where I am because these are some of the best and most free days of my life. I'm on my own, I don't have a family of my own yet, and my decisions are based only on what is best for me. It's liberating. This weekend was a perfect example of being able to do what I want when I want.

Friday I wanted to keep it low-key so I did my yoga class and then stayed in and did some painting and watched baseball. Saturday we played in a grass tournament and won the whole thing! Finally! I went out Saturday night even though I was super tired because this time in my life won't be around forever and I have to make the most of it. I had a great time with friends dancing and celebrating.

And today I had brunch with Rachel and planned a tentative itinerary for our Europe trip before biking down to the Lakeview Art Fair.

So enjoy every moment because time passes too fast.
"Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up. These are the best days of our lives."
-The Ataris

Cheers to 4 years

It's my 4 year Chicago anniversary. In honor of that, I want to post a little bit on how my life changed after I joined S3 sports leagues.

I moved to Chicago this date in 2011. I didn't know a soul. I only knew that I felt drawn to the city and like I was meant to live there. I fell in love with the city that first year. I went and explored the lakefront by running, I went to museums on free days by myself, I found the nature museum and flower garden in Lincoln Park, went to classical concerts in the park, and found a little cafe that I studied at every week. I learned how to be independent, to be happy while being alone, and to find my way around somewhere totally new. Something was missing though. There wasn't anyone to look to and say, "Man, this is freaking awesome."

My life post joining S3:

For anyone who may not know, S3 is a sports league here in Chicago that matches you up with other people your age. It's very social because there is a sponsor bar that all teams go to afterward. I joined my first team at the end of October in 2012. It was a volleyball team. I met Rene through that team and Carlos. I had a blast going out and meeting new people and stepping out of my comfort zone. For the few here that knew me back then I was little quieter then but that quickly changed. I joined team after team after that and ever since then every single person I am friends with here I have met through the leagues or friends of friends in the leagues. 

Now I have people to play volleyball with all of the time, which is a huge part of my life. I have people to text and go out for dinner and drinks with. I have friends to go to concerts in the park with and nights out at the museum. I have friends who have become some of my absolute best friends in the world. These people are why this is now somewhere I will always consider home no matter where I may end up. So thank you to my awesome friends. I will never stop being grateful to have you in my life. When you don't have something for so long, you understand even better how important it is to your life.

What is Home?

What is home?

I've been thinking about this a lot tonight. I've been away from Chicago for the last week and a half. I wrote a little about this in my last post. I went home first for my grandmother's funeral. Seeing all of my family there remembering and celebrating my grandma's life made me so thankful to have the family that I do. It also makes me feel sad that I can't live in more than one place at a time.

I also traveled out to Colorado and New Mexico. The mountains will always feel like home to me. From the first moment I saw them, something changed in me. I knew there were bigger things out there that I had to see and explore. The openness of the land, the stars in the sky, the colors of the mountains and the valleys, and the smell and feel of the fresh mountain air are indescribable. That is also home.

Also, coming back to KC before going to Chicago again, I got to spend more time with my family and got to go to another Royals game. I am so so lucky to have such an amazing family. We have so much fun together. And the energy at the Royals games this year is incredible. I hope to be back shortly for a playoff game and at some point a World Series victory parade. Home.

And finally Chicago. Chicago made me who I am. I have been able to grow personally and professionally and become the fullest expression of myself. I have been lucky to make wonderful friends who have helped to make the city home for me.

I love this quote from Sarah Dessen: “Home wasn't a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.”

You can come home again

Every time I come home and appreciate it a little more. I went home this time because of something sad. My grandma, who had been sick for quite a while, died, and I came home for the funeral. I had been going home anyway a few days later, but headed home a little early because of this. I have some of the best memories because of, and with, my grandmother. When we were little, we saw her all of the time because Mom helped her with a lot of things. We also saw her at our huge family gatherings for birthdays and holidays. She passed down her recipes and love of baking to Mom, who has passed them down to me.  Our family will still be close, but it won't be the same without grandma at the middle connecting us all. I know she's with Aunt Annie and Grandpa now somewhere beautiful.  I only hope that I can raise such a wonderful loving family of my own one day.

Coming home I also have the opportunity to spend time with friends who I don't normally get to see a lot. Had a really fantastic day today with my friend, Ciara, We did yoga at Loose Park, one of my favorite spots in the city. It was so peaceful and awesome. I love yoga and I love being outdoors. We then had brunch at a really cool, delicious place called Urban Table. I had a waffle with a sausage patty and eggs overeasy on top, with maple pecan syrup. Um, why doesn't every place have this?? The guy gave me coffee to go to, so this place will be one of my favorite places forever. Then we went to a pet store and I got my kitties some new things, and we got to pet a puppy!!! Dear God, there is almost nothing that could make me happier than snuggling a puppy. Finally, we went to check out a cool natural grocery store that has some pretty sweet stuff.

Last night, I also had such a fun time at the Royals game with Sara, Catherine, and Bethany. A win at the most beautiful stadium with fireworks after?

KC, you're actually pretty cool.

Life is in the Moments

My yoga teacher said something that really stuck with me today. Today my intention was mindfulness. She said, "Breathe in the new. Breathe out having to know what's coming next." So often we live our lives thinking about what is coming up next or dwelling on what happened in the past. I'm definitely guilty of this a lot. I always want to have everything figured out. Even though so many times in my life things have come to me, just at a different time than I expected. I like to think of the change I need more as living in the moment, rather than being patient. The idea of learning patience seems like such a tough task. But learning to live in the moment is such a beautiful idea. Life is a series of moments. And if you take the time to stop and live in the moment and just be, you will notice so much more of what is going on around you.

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I decided to just do whatever I wanted yesterday, which I have the freedom to do a lot of the time in the summer. That's kind of a form of mindfulness--just doing what feels right at the time. I slept in. Then I decided to explore the 606 trail again. This time I biked it. I stopped a few times to rest and think. Sometimes in order to quiet our minds we have to let thoughts in and then let them drift away.

After the trail, I bought some things at LUSH, this really great environment-friendly cosmetics shop. Then I got coffee at this cool place I'd seen before and wanted to check out. I spent over an hour reading there which I don't take enough time to do on a day to day basis.

Then I met up with Justin and we did a little biking tour of Wicker Park/Bucktown hitting some murals, a few shops, grabbing dinner and drinks, and hanging with another friend. Great day full of great moments.

Great days

You know those days in your life that are so amazing you just know you'll remember them forever? I have three from my recent memory to talk about.

1.) The Fourth of July in Summer of 2013: This day was so freaking awesome. I remember I got up early in the morning to go for a run along the lakefront. I then went to a house party at a friend's place where I knew only a few people but had the best time meeting a ton of new people, including Joey, who is one of my good friends now. That night I got to kayak the Chicago River and watch the fireworks.

2.) Royals clinch a spot in the playoffs--September 2014: I went to the Royals vs. Sox game alone that night because I couldn't find anyone to go with. I watched most of the game from behind home plate before meeting some other Royals fans who asked me to watch the last two innings behind the Royals dugout with them. It was freaking awesome watching the final outs. (See my previous blog post for more). I met some other Royals fans on the way out and went and celebrated with one after the game. I then had people to watch some of the playoffs with too!

3.) July 3rd, 2015: Unexpectedly awesome day. I went to yoga in the morning, which is always wonderful. Then I met up with Liz and we got to play some pickup beach volleyball. We then had some biking adventures, went to Revolution brewery, and then had dinner on a rooftop.

Not a bad life I'm living.

New Things and Coming Home

The other day I was about to go for a run, but then decided to go explore the new 606 trail instead. The 606 trail is a new trail on elevated train tracks that were going to be destroyed until they decided to create a park and trail along them instead. I divvy biked down to the east-most end of the trail and then walked and ran half of the trail. It's awesome and I can already tell I'm going to be spending a lot of time there even though it's not exactly close to me.

After exploring half the trail I went and got frozen yogurt and walked around a little of Wicker Park/Bucktown. These are two really cool neighborhoods southwest of where I live. One of the things I love most about Chicago is how there is always something new to explore and discover.

These last few days I have been home in KC. When I got here this time I think I was happier than I have ever been to be home. There's something so great about coming home after being away for so long. I have changed so much since moving to Chicago--all in good ways I think. So it can be weird at times to see Kansas City from the perspective of someone who was raised here but who has also grown and changed significantly. I love getting to catch up with friends and family (only wish I had more time!). I also had a blast going to two Royals games. The energy is insane there now. Everything's different since the postseason run last year. I love it. I've now seen them in four different ballparks--nothing compares with Kauffman.

Summer's been awesome so far and it's only just starting!