We Moved... Again!

 Sorry for the break from blogging. How is June almost over already?!?! Summer camp has been so much fun, but I am exhausted at the end of every day! I'm seriously looking forward to the weekend and a few days off next week. Can't believe it's already July. Also can not believe we've lived here now almost a full year! Wow.

So Z and I moved again at the beginning of June... I say again because we have moved quite a bit since we got married. Actually I have moved quite a bit since I started college! (Katie and I lived in 3 different apartments in 3 years... And Z and I have lived in 5 different places since we got married! Can you say crazy?!) It is so much work every.single.time. But it always feels worth it once the actual move is over! When Z and I first moved to Chicago, we needed a place big enough to house his office. I also was determined to have the safest apartment out there... you know, a doorman in a big building, since I was a bit unsure of Chicago in general, ha! But we quickly realized that we could live for a good bit less and with less room, especially after Z's office moved to the Board of Trade. We also quickly found little areas that were so adorable and felt more neighborhoodish than where we were originally. So when our short term lease was about to end, we knew we wanted to move. We just couldn't find the right space for us at the time. January isn't the most popular time to move in Chicago (no thanks to moving in snow EVER again!), so there wasn't as much on the market, etc. Our sweet friends asked us if we wanted to move in with them for a few months until we found something else. It seemed a little unusual for two married couples to live together, but we are all really close and it was a great opportunity for us all to save some $$! It was such a huge blessing, and we really had fun living all together for a while. But once summer rolled around, Z and I started looking for a new place so we could all have a little more room ;) We finally found an apartment that was the right price and in the perfect location. We moved in the first weekend in June, and we are loving it! Funny enough, it is by far the tiniest apartment we have ever lived in. But we have quickly learned how to use the space we have efficiently as well as how little space we actually need. It has everything we need, it is nicely updated, and it even has a washer and dryer in unit {as well as a mini dish washer ;)}!!! Plus, we are close to the train, bus stops, THE BEACH and LOTS of shops and restaurants. Love! It's less than 600 square feet, ha! But I absolutely love our new little place ;) So of course I have a new wish list of things that would be perfect in our little space. I'm scouring Craigslist, hoping for another find like our Crate and Barrel table (that we sadly had to sell :( But I did make quite a profit!!). We did find a cute little kitchen cart/island on Craigslist that adds extra storage and drawers. (Our little kitchen didn't have any drawers! Where do you put flatware????)  But honestly, we are really thankful to be right where we are. I'll be sure to post some pictures soon of our new place!! {Confession... I want everything just right before I photograph and post pics... even though I love seeing other people's photos of progress. I'm working on it ;)}

Happy Father's Day!

When it comes to dads, I'm pretty sure I have the best! ;) My dad has always worked so hard for our family, making sure we had all we needed and more. He has always shown us what true love looks like by the way he loves us and my mom. I'm so, so thankful for my dad!! I wish I was there to celebrate you dad, but I hope you have the best father's day. You deserve it! I love you!

I am also blessed with a wonderful father-in-law that taught Z to be a patient, loving husband. Happy father's day to Z's dad too! We love you!

Summer Break

Today I am enjoying my one day of summer break, ha! {since we're a year round school and all, today is literally my one day off until the fourth of July} ... Yesterday was the last day of the regular school year. I was so.SO.sad to say goodbye to my little pumpkins! I didn't expect to feel SO attached after only a few months, but they definitely stole my heart! I feel so blessed to have such an amazing job... I'm crazy about the people I work with, the amazing teachers, families, and children! The parents showered us with so many amazing gifts to say thank you... I was shocked and feeling so extremely blessed since I have only been with their children since February. So thankful! We had a school-wide end of the year picnic in Lincoln Park to celebrate a great year, and then cleaned the entire classroom top to bottom. I was EXHAUSTED last night! But it was a great day. Monday is the first day of summer camp with our new little sweeties. I'm excited about teaching this summer, but feeling a little sad that I don't have an actual summer break! Although, summer camp consists of weekly trips to the beach and the zoo, and picnics twice a week in Lincoln Park... so at least we will be outside enjoying our beautiful city!

On another note... we had an amazing trip home a few weekends ago. I have no pictures to share and feel sad that I haven't blogged about it before now... We got to see our families and celebrate with Z's brother for his high school graduation. Wish we could have stayed longer, but we enjoyed every second while we were there! I'm REALLY hoping we can drive {or fly?!} back down soon and make a little trip to the beach! ;)

Last weekend, Memorial Day weekend, was a bit bleh around here. It was in the 50s and 60s and rainy most of the weekend :/ Not exactly great bbq-ing weather... but we did enjoy a movie date and tried a few new restaurants... It wasn't laying out on the beach, but it was a good weekend!

Well, I'm off to enjoy my summer break day off... it's only one day so I better make the most of it! ;) Have a great weekend!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to our wonderful moms!!! We love you both SO much! Can't wait to see you next week :) 

Also, happy Mother's Day to our amazing grandmas.. Nana, Mimi, Grandma Suzie, Mawmaw, and Grammy!! {not sure why Mawmaw didn't make this picture :/} Love you all so much!

At school on Friday, we had a mom tell us {her child's three teachers} happy mother's day. She said we were her child's school moms! We do get called "mom" quite a bit ;) and we do love them all as if they were our own! So happy mother's day to all of the wonderful teachers I know as well!

Love,

Z and B

Catching Up

So happy it's the weekend around here! Seems like it was such a busy week. Last weekend was SO much fun with Katie being in town!!!! I even took Monday off to hang out with her. But then the rest of the week seemed to draaag by... glad we finally made it to Friday ;)

Only one more week until we will be in Ttown to celebrate Z's little younger brother's graduation! So crazy. He was only in fourth grade when Z and I started dating... now he's graduating high school! Can't wait to get there and see all of our family! 

I'm feeling a little sad that we won't be with our wonderful mom's on Mother's Day this year... we will have to celebrate that too next weekend!

Yesterday, my class went to the zoo to see the reptile exhibit. It was such a different experience than a typical field trip to the zoo like I used to plan when we lived in Alabama... no need for buses or a bazillion parents to drive, we walked! It was just our 19 littles and the 3 teachers... no parents. The kiddos held on to their rope loops just like they do everyday when we walk to the park.. so different! It was a quick trip. So crowded and so cold. But it was a fun day!

Here are a few pics of our weekend with Kate.. such a blast! We ate SO much yummy food, shopped some, went to Navy Pier, checked out the John Hancock building, saw the bean, went to a Cubs game, and just caught up! Miss you already Katie!!

waiting for a water taxi to Navy Pier

Signature Lounge in the John Hancock building

the bean

Navy Pier {and Starbucks, of course!}

love you friend!

Cubs game

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Current Obsessions

First of all... we had two glorious days of sunny, hot warm weather this week. I wore a dress without tights and boots!  It was so nice. Felt like spring! And then... cold. rain. meh. But, here's hoping the weekend weather is nicer than the last two days! Moving on...

Right now, I just can't get enough of...
-La Croix- delicious, slightly flavored soda waters. I drink one {okay sometimes more} every.single.day. And with no calories, artificial sweeteners, or sodium, I don't even feel bad about it ;) Love!
-Tates Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ever tried one? They are ridiculously expensive. {And full of calories and such, but so worth it!} I found them at World Market {after a friend from work let me try one of hers!}. They're crispy, but so so good!
-Ann Sather's Cinnamon Rolls. Oh my. A few Saturdays ago, I asked Z what he wanted for breakfast, and he said cinnamon rolls. I can always go for a sweet treat! So I googled yummiest cinnamon rolls in Chicago, and came up with a restaurant in Lincoln Park called Ann Sathers. We were NOT disappointed! They were  huge, gooey, and sooo good!
-Walks through Old Town and Lincoln Park. Um, by far my favorite areas in Chicago! When the weather is nice, this is my favorite thing to do with Z! I really hope we can move to one of these lovely neighborhoods soon!!
-My striped Keds. Yep, I ordered some black and white striped Keds sneakers. Kinda took me back to when I was 5ish... I always wore white keds! They're pretty cute ;)
-Lululemon athletic apparel. This is an unfortunate obsession because it is so expensive. I got a few pieces for my birthday, and I seriously wear, wash, and wear again every week! It makes me happy to work out in cute work out clothes! I'll have to keep watching the sale racks to get more though ;)
-Downton Abbey. Not sure how I'm so late jumping on this bandwagon, but I love this show! I'm feeling pretty sad that season 3 seems to be unavailable to watch for free :/ I guess I might have to break down and purchase through Amazon prime... maybe. Love it though!

Enough of this randomness... Can't wait until Kate gets here tomorrow to spend the weekend with us!! Love, love having visitors! :) AHave a great weekend!

It's About Time ;)

Well I have seriously neglected this blog. April has been a loooong month in Chicago... lots of rain, lots more rain, and a lot of cold too :( Nothing worse than a cold, wet day when it should be SPRING! We even had record flooding a few weeks ago. So.much.rain. On top of the less than desirable weather, we had "Month of the Young Child" at school. Which meant that every.single.day had something special planned... which was so much fun, but pretty exhausting too! So anyways, I am more than ready to see May, and warm weather, and sunshine!!! 

April hasn't been all bad though... Spring Break {at the end of March} was such a blast. I enjoyed every single second with my family. We spent a lot of time relaxing, went to the beach, made a trip to Fairhope {love!}, went shopping, ate lots of yummy food, and celebrated my birthday at a delicious restaurant on the bayou and with a yummy homemade cake! So much fun!! I was extra excited to see Z when I returned though. Next time I plan a week long trip back home, he has to come too! ;) My actual birthday was in April. It was such a great day! Everyone {even friends and family from so far away} made me feel extra special! My sweet co-workers made a huge sign for the kids to decorate for me and had them sing {a few times, ha!} too! And then Z took me out for a super yummy dinner at Gibson's followed by my favorite Sprinkles cupcakes!! Great day for sure! I'm sad I don't have ANY pictures to share... I promise more pictures to come in May!

So that about covers April... We're super excited that one of my besties is coming to stay with us next weekend!! We're also heading home towards the end of May for Z's little younger brother's graduation! Can't wait! There are also Cubs games, beach walks, and sandals in my near future, ha! ;) This weekend is supposed to be beautiful, with temperatures near 70!!! And I even saw one day next week is supposed to be 78... {followed two days later by 48 :/ -but let's focus on the positive here!} So things are looking up ;) I'm feeling antsy to get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather {finally}! So have a great weekend friends!