My sister warned me that coming to visit her new house and neighborhood would make me wanna leave the city and settle down and start a family.

Today I ran around with Willa in the back yard, talked to suups nice neighbor and his beautiful pit, stared at a cute baby, smiled at kids riding bikes down the street, walked through a nature woods path and saw deer.

Yeah. Shit. I wish I could have this kind of life already. It’s gonna be hard to go back to Chicago.

What a fucking great weekend.

I got to spend 2 days doing what I love most- food photography. Learned so much from the new food stylist, bonded like crazy with the prop stylist (who wouldn’t stop raving to me about how much she has loved working with me for 3 workshops, score!), gained further respect and admiration for my teacher and got one hell of an image for my portfolio. 

I got to lay in the grass and eat onion rings with my favorite mustachioed boy. 

I got to celebrate and party with all my original forever friends.

I got to see, eat a huge brunch and hug two of the best people I know and constantly miss dearly.

I got to sit outside by the lake and drink a free iced chai with a nice new dude.

I got to spend hours eating, laughing, dancing, yoga-ing, gossiping and cuddling with my two best friends in the world.

And now, my window is open for a glorious spring breeze and I get to cuddle Mowgs and sleep in tomorrow.

Yeah, no complaints. At all. 

God I love my friends. The thought of moving out of Chicago and not being surrounded by these people devastates me. But west coast thanksgiving with Andy would make it worthwhile.

Still though. I got a solid group of amazing friends here. I’d miss a lot of people.

Too many decisions to make.
Too many drinks consumed tonight.
Too many slices of pizza.

I need to stop drinking and over eating while drunk. 10 pounds need to be shed.

For now, I’ll pass out next to Thayer on this uncomfortable pull out couch bed. I’ll worry about the rest tomorrow. Soberly.

I love you Chicago. I love you and the people you house.

I don’t know if anyone actually reads my blog or anything. Doesn’t really matter. I ramble and complain too much. But either way, if anyone does, and if anyone cares today I made a rather important decision:

I’m about 90% sure I’m gonna stay in Chicago after graduation. The possibility of going to Madison and being with my sister for awhile is still there, but Chicago is more likely right now. I was talking to my mom on the phone today and it just hit me that I don’t really wanna leave this place. My friends. My artistic community. My opportunities. I love it here. I feel at home here. 

Of course that could still change, as always, but I thought I’d throw it out there for anyone that cares :) I still wanna travel. I’d still love to go live on the west coast for awhile. But for right now, I think this is what will be best all around. So there ya have it. You heard it first here.

Gooooodnight.