My First Cubs Game

     I grew up about an hour from Chicago.  Some people find it really annoying when other people say they're from the city when they actually live in or beyond the suburbs of the city.  I am one of those annoyed people.  I now live in the city and I don't know where to say I'm from.  I lived in one city from about the time I was two until I was a sophomore in high school.  I grew up there but I don't feel like that's where I'm from; it's where I was raised?  We moved to a tiny town an hour further from the city and that's where I had my first apartment.  That's where I lived when I became an adult.  The boyfriend lives there but still, I don't feel like that's where I'm from.

Hillary, Rachie, Jen and Me

     Yesterday I went to my first Cubs game.  It was actually pretty fun, went with the sisters and a friend.  I 'm not much of a sports person but when I think about it baseball is probably my favorite of the sports.  It's the only sport that I've actually watched my entire life and it's easy to understand.  Baseball is relaxing and yes, at times a bit boring but what sport isn't?  And the Cubs won(!) 5-2 against the Brewers.

We went to celebrate Jen's birthday this weekend!

     Also, I feel like it's something I can finally check off of my Chicago list.  I don't actually have a list but a lot of times I feel like a city "poser".  I don't know my way around at all but I think that's just part of who I am; I'm perpetually lost.  Maybe someday I'll live here long enough that I can say I'm from Chicago.  Even if it's not where I'm from, I think it might be where I belong.

And in other news...

     I love Etsy.  It's a website that people use to sell handmade and vintage stuff, pretty much anything you can think of.  So, I have a nook (e-reader) but I haven't been using it lately because I bought some books at a thrift store.  Anyway, I just got it out again and I remembered that I still needed to get a case for it.  I have one of those silicon covers but it does nothing to protect the screen.  Unreasonably long story short, I found adorable e-reader, ipad (whatever thingamajig you have), cover/case things.

   They're made from old books!  Maybe this is something people have seen before but I had not and now love them.  I wish I had more gadgets and therefore a need to purchase more covers!

   This particular cover came from a store called Retrograndma.  They have tons of them and you just have to measure your device and make sure the book measurements are right.  They range from $22-$40, depending on the cover.  I think it's a good deal ($22!) for the super funness.  Shop Retrograndma

   

Coffee Peanut Butter

     I ordered an ice cream maker last week and I was super pumped when it was delivered yesterday!  I ran to the store and bought some cream and such and today I whipped up a fresh batch of ice cream.  I don't have some of the fancy ingredients we used at school so I just made a super simple recipe that came with the machine.  It only took 20 minutes in the machine and it's pretty smooth and tasty.  Why didn't I get one of these things years ago?

     I used their peanut butter ice cream base, added coffee and there are chocolate chunks in there.  I don't know if coffee and peanut butter together sounds weird to people but I love coffee and I love me some peanut butter.
     Also, I'm a fan of the show Design Star and on an episode recently they had to decorate a tiny house.  I looked them up and found a website for Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.  They make adorable little houses about a hundred square feet (plus a loft just big enough for a bed).  They also build some on a trailer!  Those range from 65-130 sq ft and are the home of my dreams!

Tumble Weed Houses - click this link and behold adorableness! 

Skydiving

skydiving |ˈskīˌdīvi ng |

noun

the sport of jumping from a perfectly functional aircraft and performing acrobatic maneuvers in the air during free fall before landing by parachute.

Mom's Skydiving Video 

Mom bought her video and you get to see me jump in it too!

Chicago Skydiving Center

The people at this place were great, I'll definitely be going back =) 

On Wednesday I woke up and Mom said, "Do you know what today is!?" and I said, "...?" 

"We're going skydiving!" 

     I really loved it.  They said once you're up in the plane things start to get real and you'll feel the nerves kick in.  Mom and I were still fine.  They said when you have to go put your legs out of the door of the plane, point your toes and arch your back that people have a hard time.  We did not.  I think that was my favorite part.  I'm hanging out the door of a plane! Awesome!

There I go!  Best feeling ever. 

Honestly I don't think there was a thought in my head... 

just WEEEE!

That's my Mama!

I got to pull the cord.

The parachute opening was a bit jarring =)

After the parachute opens it's super quiet and peaceful.  

We chitchatted and he let me steer for awhile, I loved it. 

 People may think I'm crazy for thinking skydiving was relaxing 

but it's true!  You don't know until you've done it.

We had a very smooth landing (no rolling as Derek pictured it) 

and I landed on my feet.  Mom's wasn't quite so smooth 

as you can see in the video.

Mom and I both had a blast.  I already plan on going back 

next summer and Brett said he'd go with me! 

I don't know if I can wait that long...