cheecago

A couple months ago I had the opportunity to go to Chicago with my work. I've never been before and thought that it would be an awesome opportunity to see the city but we were only to be there for one day in meetings. I decided to stay three extra days by myself to stay and explore the city. I booked what turned out to be a fab hotel through hotwire in the middle of the 'Magnificent Mile', walked and took cabs to every place my lil heart desired in the windy city. I had an incredible time and had no issues being there alone, I definitely kept busy. I met up with a couple friends that live out there, saw some theater, went to the art institute, saw wrigley field, was hooked up with free improv ticks, ate some 'cheecago' style pizza (sauce on top...so weird), and much much more. One day I ate lunch bartop at Pizza Due's a historic pizza place, ended up talking with the bartender who originally was from San Bernardino, small world eh?!

The city is incredible...really incredible. The river that runs through the city is so sweet and made for some awesome pictures. I loved that I could walk or take a short cab ride to so many different neighborhoods and areas of the city...pretty sure I was made to live in a big city at some point in my life. I'm hoping that wish will one day come true.

I apologize in advance as this is a huge post with all cityscapes, not the most exciting for y'all but I really enjoyed going through them :)



This was in the River North neighorhood, where I'd one day looove to live. Where else do you see a neighborhood actually decorate their mailbox with a couple of super cute planters?!


THEE BEAN. I kept seeing pictures of this when I was researching what I wanted to do and see and thought this was the dumbest thing ever, was definitely not into it. I stumbled upon it walking to the art institute and it's actually really awesome. It's so ginormous and the reflection of the city is sweet to look at. It was also a great spot for self-portraits ha.


I ate lunch at 'Potbelly's' one day. It's like a cool historic subway/quiznos. Even had a chick with a guitar singing some sweet melodies up in the rafters.


















River North neighborhood. Ridic awesome.






To the right you'll see one of the many options of my future residence. 55 W. Elm Street. I left a gift basket on their door step hoping they'd invite me over for new years...they never called. haha




This was in the theater district. Oddly enough the one with the coolest sign was home of 'video games live'.


All of these teenage guys and this one little guy who's probably no older than four played drums on their five-gallon buckets all over the city. They were daaang impressive. The lil one would do drum solos and money would come flying towards them, you really can't resist. Pretty sure they were makin bank.






Home of the best popcorn eveeeeer. I was told this place is famous among locals. it was a brisk 30 degrees when i stopped by and there was a line out the door and around the corner. I was told during christmas the line can go a couple of blocks. in line i chatted with a couple of older super classy ladies wearing their furs. They had lived in the city for some twenty or so years and raved about it. They were encouraging me to move there "You'd just looove it dear!" they said over and over...too cute.

a ring that sings of love come round

A few weeks ago I received an unexpected phone call with some very exciting news from mr. daniel himself...he was going to give candyce some very important bling and he hoped I would be there to capture their moment. An unwavering "Yes, yes of course!" hopped out of my mouth before he could finish asking if I could be there. I enjoy these two sooo much and was so glad to be part of the actual engagement.

The day came and Daniel took the unsuspecting Candyce and friends geochaching where they ended up in Redlands at the beautiful Kimberly Crest in which he had hid a box the day before with a note to Candyce in it. She found the note and realized the proposal was coming as she read...her reaction is frame-by-frame below...it couldn't be any cuter...so ridic! We ended up taking a few shots after the actual engagement and had a great time togetha'

I'm so excited for these two and can't wait to see them tie the knot this year! Congratulations again you guys!

good times // oak glen

A few weeks ago some of us went to Oak Glen for a nice little autumn Saturday. We had a nice time surrounded by the apple extravaganza and getting a first taste of the chilly weather fall should offer. I had my hopes set on some tomahawk throwing and archery but we didn't have quite enough time...we'll hopefully make it up there again before the end of oakie season.

Until then...



Lauren was a little bummed Brian wasn't there for her couple picture... ; )

an ode to m and m

Mister mark and lil miss megan got all dressed up in their wedding garb before they left to turn into Minnesotians in the land of Piper and Goldy Gopher. It's taken a while to get them all finished with the new job and a ridiculously slow computer, but alas they are finally complete. The day was quite enjoyable. We toolied here and there and everywhere... from lil old Redlands where gardener's are so inclined to kick my lil photographer booty off the property to laguna beach where we had many a'stares and finished off the day with BJ's (as my days somehow always do ; ). Anywho, it's been nice editing these lil guys since I don't get to see my dear friends much thanks to the two-THOUSAND miles separating us. They're beautiful people inside and out and have unshakeable character that I so admire.

Raise your glasses to mark and megan...

prego a la playa

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage"....yes I remember teasing many o friends with that one in elementry school...and it all started with 'k-i-s-s-i-n-g' haha. Well that little song is actually playing out as one of my bestest's is soon to have a lil bundle of baby boy joy. I'm so excited for her and her hubby, Dan 'the Man.' I was in their wedding a couple years ago, a marriage which the Lord has so evidently blessed. They went from thinking that they'd be moving to Oregon to ultimately buying a house a couple months ago in Beaumont, close to where my parents live. Lil Ryan is already loved by many...and I mean looooved, I added the extra o's to make my point clear. Bekah's baby shower was this weekend and the lil guy already has more stuff than he needs....no...seriously, you would've thought he has 25 grandmas all there to spoil him with the amount of stuff crammed into the living room and tumbling out of the zillions of baby gift bags colored with blue.

Well Bekah and I went down to San Diego a couple of weeks ago to visit another of our bestest's Melody who lives down there. Bekah, Mel, and I all went to the same church a few years ago but didn't really become friends until we all worked at Club JA in Redlands...okay it's not really a club it's an Aveda hair salon. We had many fun times there together and grew pretty close somewhere in between cutting foils, making appointments, and deflecting the drama of working in a salon ; ) We've continued to be the three amigos as life has shifted, Bekah now married and prego, Melody now married and moving to New Mexico (boo), and I now graduated and doing the working thang 24/7. Anywho, we went down to visit miss Mel and had a great time at the beach and then hangin down by her house at mission beach on the lil boardwalky. I brought my cam along to get some pics of Bekah's baby bump in action, which really couldn't be any cuter : )