guys. I'm officially a grad student.

can someone please tell me how that happened?!

It snuck up on me and now day one of class is already over!

I really don't feel like I'm 'grown-up' enough to be a grad student and I definitely am not in school mode yet...all I've been doing lately is trying to soak up free time and fun things before school consumes me. 

And good thing...because the first 15 minutes of class today were spent talking to us about how difficult this summer/year will be, how much we'll most likely cry and want to quit...and how in the first six weeks is when people drop out because it's so dang hard. 

wahoooo! 

in all seriousness, I would definitely expect a 2 year master's program crammed into 3 semesters to be really effing hard. now is the perfect time for me to focus on this and I really am excited it has begun! 

bring itttt. 

here's what I've been up too the past month! hoping I can still fit in some pet snuggles and friend time into my schedule from here on out. ;) 

happy tuesday to you!

a mother's day post

mama mama. 

oh my word, what would I do without you?

you've been my rock, my best friend, my go-to person when I need a laugh, a hug, a lunch date buddy and everything else under the sun. 

thank you for inspiring me always in every which way possible.

for giving me the inspiration and desire (and skills) to travel and see this world - for living your life to the fullest and spending money on plane tickets instead of mani/pedis, leading me to do the same. for dreaming really big dreams and then following them, even when you're not 23 anymore.

I am so proud to be such a mama's girl and I'm forever grateful for the relationship we have, even after my horrible, bitchy teenage years. You've stuck by me and supported me through it all, words can't begin to describe how thankful I am for that. We all know I would be nowhere if it wasn't for you; editing my papers all these years (almost finished with that wahooo! ;) ), answering my phone calls at 2am, driving up to see me just because, planning the best vacations in the world...you manage to do it all and then some, which will always impress me!  

thank you for being my biggest fan, supporter and teacher. my very best friend no matter what, and the world's greatest travel buddy. 

I love being your daughter more than any other title I have. If kids got to choose their moms, I'd pick you 100 times over, again and again.

looking forward to seeing you in three days for mother's day celebration round two. :) 

love you the mostest! xo 

c h i c a g o

a couple weekends ago I finally got to visit Bekah and Josh in Chicago! 

It was so so good to see them and visit, plus they planned a full weekend for me so we were busy having fun the whole time! 

Bekah and I went to happy hour the first night I flew in (she took me to a fancy bar where they put flowers in your drinks AND I ordered one where they turned a banana into a dolphin...So chicago bars for the win!) and we picked up right where we left off. Those are the best kinds of friends - we don't talk nearly as much as we'd like to, but from minute one it felt like we haven't been separated for almost a full 10 months, so that was wonderful.  

The weekend consisted of the Lincoln Park Zoo, walking all around the city and aww-ing over Lake Michigan, delicious food (Chicago style pizza, of course), stumbling upon the NFL draft and seeing the bean! That was my one request, since it's pretty much the only thing I knew about in Chicago, so I'm glad we made it over there :) 
I'm officially done traveling (for now) since school starts in one week. howwwww did that happen, I have no idea. I don't feel ready to be a graduate student whatsoever, but here goes nothing! 

A huge thanks to Bekah and Josh for taking me in and creating a wonderful weekend for me. It was so fun spending time with you two, I'm already looking forward to my next trip!