I love Wisconsin!! (Part Uno)

Ok so that line was stolen from That 70's show. Big whoop. Point is, I'm here! I moved back to Milwaukee on the 30th of June and lets just say that my first 2.5 weeks have been everything I imagined and more! I changed a lot about my life so lets do this in pieces.

Part I: New City

Ladies and gentleman, if the title didn't make it obvious, I'm in Milwaukee! My first weekend back my sister Molly was in town and it was the Fourth of July (insert Yankee Doodle music here). We had a nice little Saturday of pancake breakfast, followed by beers while lounging in the pool. Tis the life :) Sunday held a day down at the lakefront hanging out with friends and then watching the hour long fireworks. I'm not sure what is it, but I could watch fireworks for like 23 hours a day. They fascinate me! Finally Monday we went to the parade in the big OC (that's Oak Creek for all your commoners out there) and the fireworks again at night. It was a perfect first weekend. WELCOME HOME!

Mia and me at the parade :)

Weekend two, was BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! Let's get one thing straight: birthdays to me are like Christmas to me. I celebrate it every year and try to go all out! This isn't one of those, "oh, woah is me, I'm getting old, lets just order pizza in" No, F that. We're going to do it up big and I want EVERYONE we meet to know its my birthday! What other day of the year do you get preferential treatment??

So this year for the big 2-5 (yes, I"m getting OLD) I did it up big again! Friday night a group of us went to the Jason Aldean concert and then out for the night. It was fabulous :) Saturday some of my BFFs from Chicago came up and we went on a riverboat brewery tour! I highly recommend it if you've never been. There is nothing like drinking along the riverfront and more importantly, watching people fall off railings! 

Sarah and I on the booze cruise

Sarah and Christine with THE FONZ!

My favorite Chicago ladies

Saturday night we drank on a rooftop and then hit the town til bar time. We met some "AWESOME" people but unfortunately didn't' get to drink awesome shooters (Mean Girls quote anyone??) We completed Sunday with a Brewers game with an outrageous tailgate and of course, a Brewers come from behind victory!

My first "new": new city, has so far turned out to be a roaring success! Stayed tuned for parts II, III, and IV!

Goodbye Chicago

This Thursday I'm moving home, back to Milwaukee where I grew up.  It seemed like the perfect time to start blogging as I start a new life. New job, new city, new puppy and new condo seems like a lot of life changes but I'm really looking forward to all this change.

However, as I'm packing up my apartment and going through memories and things I have accumulated over the 3 years I spent in Chicago (plus a summer internship), I realize I'm really going to miss this city and the people I've met here! Some of my best friends have come out of my time in Chicago. 

Chicago has held a lot of firsts for me. I had my first real job, and became a "woman" by buying my first perfume (and a few other first things to make me a woman, thanks Melissa and Jess!). I dated my first guy and lived alone for the first time in my life. As scared as I was about living alone, I learned a lot about myself (good and bad). And another first, I bought my first designer anything (Betsey Johnson, I love you).

My roommate Danielle and I :)

So what have I done over the 3 years? Well, I've lived in 3 different apartments: the first in the heart of Boystown, the second in Lincoln Park, and my final apartment in Streeterville. Experiencing three different neighborhoods gave me a variety of culture and diversity. 

I got to go to a lot of sporting events: Brewers Cubs games, Cubs rooftops, White Sox games, a Bulls game, and several Blackhawks games (pretty amazing). I also got to attend several Packers-Bears games, including watching the Packers defeat the Bears to go to the Super Bowl!!

Thanks Oz for the tickets!

I worked at Mercer Consulting in their Health and Benefits department for the past 3 years. Honestly, I could not have asked for a better first job out of college. I learned so much from my colleagues and made a few amazing friends. How many people can say that some of their best friends are the people they work with every day? I'll miss you guys so much!

Intern class of 2007!

H&B Packer fans :)

When one door closes, another opens.  I do not hestitate to close this door because I know the people here will always be willing to reopen it if I knock. I want to thank everyone I have met here. You have made these some of the best years of my life and I will never forget you. As I continue my "quest for happily ever after", I won't forget the lessons I've learned here or the people I've met.

Goodbye Chicago! I'll miss you soooooo much, but I know this isn't the end. :)