Lately...

Happy Friday! I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by. Fall and football is about to be in full swing and I've been able to see Derek's coaching skills in action - Go wildcats! Although I don't know much about the game of football (yes, I'll to admit that), I thoroughly enjoy the company of friends and family and the beautiful fall colors that accompany football season! Bring on the boots, sweaters, & hot beverages :)

 A few things as of late... I made a trip to Michigan with Derek & his family Labor Day Weekend. Next I made a much needed Cedar Point trip with friends & co-workers. Then adding to my travels and fun, I have a friend's wedding this weekend. Yay! I will certainly enjoy celebrating an adorable pair of newlyweds with my friends! There will be lots of wonderful people I haven't seen in awhile.

Birthday Booze Cruise

This past weekend was a lovely little reunion with my college gals :) We celebrated Catie's 24th birthday by purchasing booze cruise tickets for a little trip up & down the Chicago River. It was a chilly evening, but super fun! We had a great view of Navy Pier, and ended the evening with fireworks, before heading out to a Chicago bar to karaoke the night away!

Some pictures from our reunion & birthday celebration weekend:

{Jeni's vending machine is the only compensation I want for a delayed flight}

{stolen from Sam's instagram}

{a gorgeous chicago sunset}

{stolen from Alyssa's instragram}

{beautiful chi-town skyline}

{stolen from Catie's instagram}

{stolen from Margaret's instagram}

I love that my friends make such a point to try to get together each year on separate occasions for everyone's birthday. I know it means a lot to me, and I wish I could see them twice as much!

I have to add a note to myself (& anyone willing to listen) don't fly American Eagle. So many absurd delays and there was zero communication about it! I had to reference the departures board for 3 different delays and 2 gate changes... with both my flight there and back!! Sheesh.

Happy Independence Day!

Craftin, cookin, and drinkin! It's finally time to cook-out and enjoy the afternoon with some friends! 

Hope you all enjoy your festivities!

The move & life after...

Upon moving into my new house, I immediately started work on my closet. My closet, by the way, is ginormous! It's like an additional bedroom. Oh, did I mention I have the attic room? It's a good size compared to my last bedroom, so the extra space is much appreciated! The closet work, pictured below, shows the transformation from blue to antique white. It is much more comfortable and homey! That handsome helper is my boyfriend Derek. He was eager to help out and it's always more fun to tackle a project like this with someone!

Anywho, it has been a few weeks now and the three of us are almost completely moved in! Last night, Erin, Courtney, and I had our first roommate dinner. Courtney fired up the grill and we drank wine and had a fantastic little meal on the back deck! I'm excited to finally be in-town this weekend to really break in the new house!

The Great Bday

This past weekend, a co-worker had a Great Gatsby themed birthday party. Have I mentioned that I LOVE themed parties!? Oh yeah; I do. It was so much fun! So well decorated too. Yep, that's Catie in the blonde wig, she visited for the occasion!

Oh, and surprise, surprise! I got a new tattoo on Saturday :) A lotus flower. Symbolizing compassion, beauty, purity, and wisdom. And, I just really love lotus flowers!

Ever wonder where my blog banner came from? My first tattoo! I got it a year after studying abroad in Italy (so 2 years ago now). "Il mio viaggio" is Italian for my journey. It reminds me to be selfish occasionally and do some things for myself, to travel, to take-in the world (as much as I can), and define myself in this crazy life!

Updates

Jackie, why have you been so terrible about blogging lately? 

(( long pause )) I suppose I've just been busy. 

Too busy? Too busy for a 5 minute post now and again?!

 True. At least once a week I've got 5 minutes to spare and work hasn't been busy...

 So post something!

Just a small monologue that went on in my head today when I thought about blogging. 

I think I hit that bridge that I thought "Why blog? My writing is average, at best, and my photos are awesome only half the time. I'm not a fashion blogger, posting about my outfits and inspiring others and creating trends. So, why?" I can only assume most bloggers come across these thoughts at some point, right? Then, I looked at one of my very favorite blogs for some inspiration, Bleubird, and was thinking how beautiful her kids and how I feel like I'm watching the youngest one, Sailor, grow up! What fun to look back on those posts when he is a grown man, maybe showing a girlfriend or fiancé funny and adorable pictures of himself. It dawned on me, that some bloggers just enjoy the documentation of it. Duh, Jackie. Isn't that the reason you started this little blog? I wanted to document my adventures, things that inspire me, and things that get me down. I wanted to share stories, things I love, etc. A little bit of anything and everything that I came across.

So... some things I would like to document...

1 & 2. I visited my lovely friend, Getzy, in STL for Mardi Gras weekend. Along with other fun activities, we saw the penguin parade. It was just about the cutest thing ever. Of course, they got too close and pecked at my leg, so it freaked me out! But overall, a fantastic weekend!

In other news: Getz is head to Costa Rica for 2 years in the Peace Core :) CONGRATS!

I think she'll need me to visit her at some point... YAY!

3 & 4. I spent my St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland with some great friends.

5. I always love visiting my little brothaa. 

Exactly ONE MONTH before my Spain trip to visit him for his Bday!!!!

6. Erin & I went to the Delta Rae & ZZ Ward concert. FANTASTIC!

We got to meet Liz Hopkins of Delta Rae & we hung out with ZZ Ward's band after the show...

Super cool! They're awesome people.

7 & 8. Spent Easter with my family in Cleveland. And yes, I do still hunt for my Easter basket.

I will never be too old for these things. Love you Ma for your love of all Holidays :)

9. Ryan Bingham concert. Country-Alt. Very good music!

He brought his dog out on stage and had him sit for a while. It was adorable.

10. I made an easter basket for this fella because he poked fun at me for still hunting for one.

And guess what... He loved it!

11. That same fella; He took me to an 80's themed Murder Mystery Party. It was super fun!

Meet Derek. I suppose I should mention he's my boyfriend. Yeaaaah. It's the truth. He's pretty rad.

I'm gonna go ahead and repeat one thing... ONE MONTH 'TIL SPAIN!!!!!!!!

Fashion Show Viewing Party

Another successful VS Fashion Show Viewing party ya'll! This year we held the viewing party at Sway, which is a new swanky little place – just a hop, skip, & a jump away from your typical Park St. scene. It was extra special though, because I got to help plan! Ohhhh how I love fancy events, fancy drinks, fancy dresses, fancy foods, and fancy dance moves (duh). Oh and my fancy friend Adam was our photographer {member him...} YEP! It was a good show and a great time!

This weekend I will be Chicago bound for some December festivities with my college roommates. Tis the season for T-BoX; See you soon Chi-town :)

Happy Friday!! 

Thanksgiving Instagrams

{wednesday night out with friends}

{christmas ale}

{happy turkey-day! photo cred. to michael kenneth}

{family fun on a friday night}

{check this beautiful sky out - holy moly!}

I am so very thankful for my friends and family and the ability to travel home to see both over the Holidays. Many are unable to make it home, and one day that may be me - but for now I cherish each Holiday I am fortunate enough to make it back to Cleveland to spend time with people I love!

Hope you all had as deliciously filling of a Thanksgiving meal as I did :)

 I am also thankful for some little things that make me smile! As pictured above; a good light-up sign that brings some festive element to the bar atmosphere, Great Lakes Christmas Ale (the best seasonal beer EVER), selfie-photos, and amazing sunsets on a road-trip!

Windy City Love

I just adore Chicago and all of its charm! This past weekend, Sarah and I visited our college roommate who recently moved to the city, for Sarah's birthday weekend - mine was the weekend before and every year since sophomore year we have celebrated them together. Now, being in different cities (for now - she is soon moving back to Columbus- YAY), it is hard to round up all 7 of my roommates to get together for each birthday celebration. This weekend Margaret, Alyssa, and Sara Lyn were around to celebrate - but we are soon venturing back  to Chicago for T-Box and Sam will join us then!

Twelve bars of X-mas.... a bar crawl with Christmas costumes. 

YUP. You guessed it; totally my kinda thing!

Birthday Celebrations

Last Thursday was my twenty-fourth birthday; Almost a quarter of a century old. ALMOST people, that means one bore year ((yikes)); I celebrated it all weekend long! Starting with thursday evening, my roommate surprised with wine, dinner, and a game night with friends! Simple but perfect, considering I love most games ((i.e. catch-phrase))!! So much fun!

Then friday, we planned a Brazilian birthday party with dips and cairpirinhas ((the national drink))! So many of my co-workers showed up and I was surprised by so many different friends, not from Columbus! Two of my college roommates made the truck down from Cleveland, a friend from Dayton came up and showed up a few minutes after my roommates. Then my two best friends from high school showed up!! Also- two of my guy friends surprised us all with an amazing piñata filled with little tequilas, candy, and mustaches!!! Ohhhh how I love surprises :) I genuinely had no idea that any of them were coming! I used to think I was not easily surprised, nor caught of guard; but props to Erin for successfully doing both from thursday through saturday!! 

And I can't forget to mention my Dayton visit! My brother is a junior at UD and I visited him for part of my birthday weekend! He and his girlfriend made me a delicious cake that was devoured within minutes! I always have so much fun visiting.

{desk @ work – thanks Melyssa!}

{flowers, favorite snack, and a stash? ha}

{college roomies}

{dayton friends}

{co-workers}

{yuppp. note the faces}

{high school friends}

{dayton love} 

{brotherrrr}

Thanks to all who really made this birthday super memorable and absolutely amazing! I love my friends dearly and cherish the importance of having good ones in life :)

Ps. Erin: you rock at surprises ((I don't... ha))