Fall Favorites

I've been a busy girl with grad school but I wanted to catch you all up with what I've been doing during my *favorite* season of the year!

Chicago in White
I'm sure you probably saw these pics on my facebook page but just wanted to get them on the blog, too! Chicago in White was at the end of September. It's a pop-up dining experience. You buy tickets and get a white outfit but then meet a secret harmonization point. Once you get there, they give you directions on public transit to the secret location. It was super fun! I went with Liz, Anita, and Diana.

So the cool thing about it was that everyone was all in white and lots of people made these super extravagant centerpieces, but what was not cool about it was that it was in a parking lot surrounded by buildings. The whole idea is that you meet up in a secret awesome place - like down by the river on Michigan Avenue or something. So, I wasn't pleased with the location but it was a fun night with the girls. Note to self: Dress warmer next time!

College Football
I wrote about how I love college football now that I live in Chicago. Saturdays are so fun - all the alumni of all the universities are out in their school colors and having fun. I've made some great friends with the ASU alumni group, and I'm excited that we still have all of November and some games in December, too.

The UP
For those of you city folk who don't know, the UP or Yoop, is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. You need to take a drive - leave Chicago, head north, go all the way through Wisconsin, pass Green Bay, head just over the Wisconsin-Michigan state line, and then you'll be there.

Head down the street just a little longer and you'll arrive here:

So my dad hates the Cubs, if that's any indication of the mailbox sign. But you know you'll be in the right place if you find his mailbox!

Over the weekend, we got to do lots of fun stuff: see the fall colors, go to a Cranberry Festival, and eat lots of great dinners together. (Thanks for cooking, Dad and Annie!) You know you're a single person when your family makes you dinner and you think, "Wow, I haven't eaten this good in months!"

Annie's cousins Christine and Doug were there too, so I was happy to hang out with them, and we got to go see all the beautiful fall colors. Check them out:

See how all the leaves are covering the path in this pic above? Thank you, government shutdown:

Anyways, the Yoop in the fall is gorgeous...here's a few more:

Dad: Why do girls always put their hand on their hip?
I explained the logic, ladies! : )

Here are some pictures from the Cranberry Festival:

Annie and I got matching hats! Love them!

We also stopped by the place Annie works at: Winks Woods. How do I describe Winks? It's like knick-knacks (is that how you spell that?) on crack. Take a look:

Here's the outside...

And the inside...

The goal I think is to cover every inch of every wall. Now, some of it is like, okay....no. But then I did find this gem I wanted to buy for my classroom:

hhahahaaa. It's just Winks - I love to go every time I'm there, even though I don't really buy anything!

Here's a few more pics from dinner. Christine and Doug - I hope we can do this again!

And Dad, thanks for being a great chef!

Great weekend. Love you guys!

Pumpkin Patch
The best fall thing to do is go to a pumpkin patch, but not just any pumpkin patch - this one...Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm. It was awesome...like the best ever!

So there was lots to do - See baby animals, watch some pig races, take a hay ride, pick a pumpkin, take lots of pics...I went with Kristy, Laurie, and Liz:

Here's some of my best pics...

Super fun day! We had some chili in a bread bowl and hot apple cider. I opted for the non-carving pumpkins and now they decorate my apartment and will last a few months! I think this trip to the suburbs will be an annual one!

And just a couple of other random great things from the last few months. A text from a former student...

Made my first rainbow cake for my mentee:

Happy Birthday Kerry!

And went to country night at Houndstooth with my BFF...super fun night!

So that's about all for now. I'm excited for Halloween with elementary school kids and my cousins this year and my birthday on Friday...should be an awesome week!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!