Tables, Chairs, Sofas.. OH MY!

We’re moving! As previously mentioned, come May 1^st we will say goodbye to our little apartment in North Center that I’ve named, “shoebox”, and say hello to our beautiful, spacious 2 bedroom apartment in Ravenswood.  It’s an understatement to say we are excited. Elated is more like it. 

And, lately I find myself surfing the web for rugs, couches, bed frames, dining room furniture, ect.. I can’t wait to decorate! I am obsessed! And, wayyyyyy to eager. We don’t have a ton of money to spend straight away. And, scouring craigslist is just a tease. It’s way too soon. It’s a great resource and we do hope to find some pieces through it, but not until we are in our new place. 

However, since we will be at my parents on Easter Sunday with the IGO car and they live right by an IKEA store we plan to stop in on the way home to browse.  We might even bring this gem home with us...

Or, this one..

Ideally, we'd love to build a dinning room table,  but being urban dwellers how can we? We'd need space, a truck to transport materials, power tools, ect. Oh, well, IKEA to the rescue.

Ah, I'm so anxious to shop and move and settle in... Anyone else get like that?

 

 

Another one for the memory book!

I love going to concerts. Anyone who knows me knows that fact about me. Live music (music in general) is a cure for my soul and rejuvenates me. Maybe, much like those who go to church every Sunday to feel cleansed and restored.  Some concerts are GREAT, OK.. meh.. downright disappointing (err, Matt Skiba and the Sekrets kick off tour). I will note, Mr. Skiba did make it up by playing a free show at the Double Door a few months later and it was FANTASTIC! I digress ...

So, when thinking about what to do for St. Patrick's Day I was on the hunt! It was Bryan's first outside of Ireland and I wanted to ensure it was nothing less than stellar. However, I knew whatever I planned wouldn't magically replace the celebration he'd have back home with his  his mates.  I think one of the hardest aspects about relocating is missing your friends and family. Maybe you miss the area or something related to where you are from, but nothing compares to the people you love. You may meet and make new friends - gain in-laws, but they don't replace the original crew.  Though, I was determined to at least make sure it was a good one for him. I scoured all the corners of the Internet and voila, I saw that the band Ash, an alternative rock/punk from Ireland (Downpatrick, Northern Ireland - to be exact) was going to be playing Lincoln Hall (awesome venue in the city) on Paddy's Day and tickets were still available! Oh, and Bryan LOVES them. So, I got tickets.

 To be honest, the day of the show I wasn't really in the mood for going. I heard a few tracks and yeah some were good and some didn't really strike my fancy. Not to mention I was DRAGGING from the day/night before which was filled with chores, an intense new workout, charity event and then closed out with heavy pre-Paddy Day celebrations.  Though, I rallied. AND...

HELLO -  IT WAS AN AMAZING, FANTASTIC, DANCED -LIKE -CRAZY, SUPER AWESOME SHOW.

... WHOA... mind blown!

The Lincoln Hall is a small -ish venue and is attached to a separate bar area. We  hung around after the show and ended up meeting the band. Bryan was off chatting with them for awhile. I did snap a photo.. sadly it turned out blurry. Boys don't want photoshoots.. and I wasn't about to be THAT person. It's not so bad... errr, right?

 

Welp, that's that... St. Patrick's Day 2013 Chicago, one for the memory book!  

oh, PS my painting auctioned for 60 bucks.. The bid started at 20 and had 6 bids (2 of the same, person who won it)... not bad for my first. ;-)

 

 

 

Music + Paint + Erie

Last weekend we went to see Allister, a Chicago pop punk band at a venue called Reggis. It was nothing short of AWESOME.

 
Allister haven't been actively on the scene as a band in quiet a few years. We talked to the bassist and expressed that we hope it's not another while until they play again.He explained some things... yada -yada Ah, life... it moves and then it becomes the past.
 
Anyhooo...
 
I finished this...

 I did it for a silent auction charity event that my friend's organization is hosting. It's much larger than appears 
 
And, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. My husband is Irish and it's his first  Paddy's Day away from Ireland. Things that annoy him -
 

• The Miller Lite ''Chi-rish" ads.

 

• "Car bomb" shots - People are still dying that way in Ireland!! Not, cool. I can't help but laugh.. because I get it, but I ALSO get way the shot is so popular in The States.
• Corned beef - "In North America corned beef dishes are associated with traditional Irish cuisine. However there is considerable debate about the association of corned beef with Ireland." It's origins are English... and well, if you want to know more wikipedia will tell you the rest, but it's not a dish Irish people are known to consume in Ireland.. but, very popular among Irish- Americans.

I can't wait to take him out in the maddness tonight! muahahahha. I have a gagle of friends who are armed and ready to show him how Chicago celebrates the Irish. GREEN BEER!
 
Tomorrow, we are going to see a band he loves called, Ash at Lincoln Hall. They are from Ireland. A rock- alternitve-y band. Watch/Listen

I hope everyone has a great weekend. xoxo

It does come together..

This morning as I sit here with my coffee, laptop and poppypunk rock tunes - I have been thinking of the rollercoaster ride it has been getting Bryan and I settled into the same place. Transatlantic relationships are not for the faint of heart.  However, since Bryan’s arrival in July, all the pieces have been falling into place with sheer smoothness.  I love him to the moon and back and I know he feels the same.  Wow… we’ve come a long way since meeting January 2006 in a pub in Dublin. We’re married. We made it through all the immigration mumbo jumbo. He has his green card and social security card. I have a new last name. He has a fancy droid and we share a phone plan. He has his computer (arrived from Ireland about a week ago). He’s a software developer and needs his computer. It’s a lifeline of sorts.  Now he’s fearlessly job hunting and fingers crossed he find something soon. He’s completely starting his career in Chicago. He graduated college about a year and half ago and then focused his energy on figuring us out. I really admire him for the courage he has.  I have the upmost faith he will find something he loves and enjoys. And, to add to the list we now have a joint lease! A place all of our own that we picked out together.

For the past week or so we apartment hunted like CRAZY! And, after looking at a gazillion hours of research, 11 places and encountering some characters… we found a beautiful - BIG - perfect place that we’ll move into come May 1. It’s a 2 bedroom located in the Chicago neighborhood of Ravenswood. There is a lovely park just step away from our front door and the Damen brown line stop is a short walk. It’s an open airy space and we both fell in love instantly. I can’t wait to move in and start decorating.  The little shoebox sized apartment that we currently call home has been good to us, but it won’t be hard to say good bye. Ha.

It’s amazing how life carries on in a fashion that is completely unpredictable. It’s full of ups and downs – twist and turns. We find strength and happiness in places we maybe never thought of and prevail.  As my good friend Kate ALWAYS says.. Never underestimate what a year can do. It’s a phrase I have grown to hold so dear to my heart and truly believe in.

Happy Saturday. Enjoy the day!