2011 Highlights

Ah, another over. I'm pretty happy with it. I feel like I stuck to my New Year's resolution and took charge of my life. I didn't just sit and watch it. I made things happen for myself, and I might have had a little bit of luck on my side :-)

• Surviving the Chicago Snowpocalypse
• Realizing I chose the right major
• I went to the men's and women's Big East tournaments which included a spontaneous Mary Poppin's show
• I watched our women's team go to the Sweet 16 which included real Philly Cheesesteak and visiting the liberty bell. Oh, and getting on ESPN for 3 seconds
• Planning a large scale comedy show at DePaul and bringing DJ Hood Internet for FEST's after-party
• Learning to grill
• Interning at StyleChicago.com
• Going to San Francisco
• Turning 21
• Coming on board as a RedEye blogger
• Getting my job as a web developer for Student Involvement
• I got rid of a fair amount of clutter :-)
• Being healthy and happy =)

 

Posted via email from Becoming an Adult in the City

33 out of 1000

For Christmas I received the book 1000 Places to see Before you Die. My dad had received it a few years ago for Christmas, but I hadn't looked at it. It's an interesting book and reminded me that I still have a lot to see in the world. But then I reminded myself that I'm only 21 and was pretty proud that I had been to 33 places in the book. However, I don't quite agree with the book. Some of the "places" were more like events. I've been to Munich, but the book specifically noted Oktoberfest, so I didn't count that one. I've been to Disneyland but not Disneyworld. I have been to Orlando though and went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter instead of Disney World.
I calculated that I've been to 3.3% of the book. Here they are:

• London
• Bruge, Belgium
• Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
• Paris
• the Grand Casino, Monte Carlo (ok, well I've been outside so that basically, counts right? Have a photo to prove it)
• Residenz Heinz Winkler, Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany
• Capri, Italy
• Pompeii, Compania, Italy
• Sorrento
• Rome
• Vatican City
• Forence
• Basilica of St. Francis Assisi, Umbria, Italy
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Leon
• La Sagrada Familia-Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
• Cadaques & Figures-Catalonia Spain
• Hollywood, CA
• Pacific Coast highway, CA
• San Diego Zoo
• Cable Car ride in San Francisco
• Art Institute, Chicago
• Freedom Trail, Boston, MA
• New York City
• "Philly Food"--this is not a place, but a collection of foods/restaurants in Philadelphia. I've been to Philly & have had cheesesteak so I'm counting it
• Independence National Historical Park-Philadelphia, PA
• Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City, Utah
• National Mall & its Monuments-Washington D.C.
• Smithsonian Museum-DC
• Grand Teton National Park
• Jackson Hole-Jackson, WY
• Yellowstone National Park
• Niagara Falls

Posted via email from Becoming an Adult in the City

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

Title compliment of Scott McKenzie

So last weekend, I went to San Francisco for the first time. My aunt used to live there so she decided to fly me out there along with my friend Amanda who was a flower girl in her wedding 12 years ago. I had a great time, and couldn't have asked for better weather! 70 degrees & sunny, but cool in the evening and by the water. I don't think I could handle living there witht the bi-polar weather. I never thought I'd be wearing a jacket in July!

Saturday was a jam-packed day. We took one of those bus-tours around the city & to golden gate bridge. Then we headed to Alcatraz for a tour. We did the self-guided audio tour of Alcatraz and it was very well done! I felt like I was in an interactive History Channel special.

Sunday we went to church at Grace Cathedral (it's where Courtney Cox got married) and had a delicious brunch at the top of the Mark hotel. Then, after going into a food coma, we hit up Chinatown & Cobb's Comedy club. I was really excited to go to Cobbs because Myq Kaplan was performing. I had seen him last year on Last Comic Standing and am a fan.

Monday was a marathon shopping day where I found the BEST shoes at Nordstrom--they will be making their debut on my birthday! That evening we had a fabulous dinner and were able to watch the fireworks at Fishermans Wharf. Then we hit up Ghiradeli for some ice cream goodness! I got a chocolate-strawberry sunday and it was delicious! Was it worth $8? I would not say so, because the ice cream was half melted; however it did come with a chocolate covered strawberry on top.

Now it's back to the daily grind of things. The internship is going great and so are tours. I'm trying some new recipes this weekend =)