So, I haven’t really been around too much lately, and I don’t really have to struggle to find the words to explain why. I mentioned at the beginning of the year that 2017 was shitty, and — while I was hoping 2018 would be better — we’re almost halfway through the year and it’s pretty much just as shitty as last year. Welp.
I’m still trying to take things day-by-day, dealing with the fallout from my recent breakup, parents’ divorce, work transitions, etc., and so far that’s meant refocusing my attention away from things like social media and blogging and toward things like reading, yoga, traveling and happy hour with my girlfriends.
Ironically, it seems like the more time I spend doing the things I love, the less time I have to blog about them.
Anyway, I wanted to give a little “Life Lately” update. I used to do these every other month or so, but haven’t posted one since last year. Where has the time gone?
・・・LIFE・・・
Like I mentioned, I’ve really made it a point to focus on myself following my recent breakup. I haven’t had to work to fit a significant other into my schedule for the last six months, and honestly? It’s been really refreshing. I’ve been able to get kinda selfish with my time, and I can’t even explain how nice it’s been to know every second of every day is mine and mine alone, and I don’t have to factor a boyfriend into my schedule. And, since I’m not obligated to spend my time on anybody but myself, here’s what I’ve been doing with it all.
To start? I enrolled in Spanish classes! I took Spanish all through middle school, high school and college. (Because I opted for a BA degree rather than a BS, I was required to demonstrate “working proficiency” in a foreign language.) Sadly, it’s been more than six years (WHAT?!) since I finished undergrad, and my Spanish proficiency has… declined, to put it mildly. I enrolled in a weekly class at Spanish LC and so far, I really love it.
Also, I joined a fitness cult! (Haha.) One of my coworkers finished yoga teacher training at CorePower Yoga, and I was looking for a new studio since my old one was (awkwardly) right next to my ex’s apartment. She encouraged me to drop in for a free class and that was that. I signed up for a Black Tag membership and I was immediately hooked. I’ve been in my neighborhood’s studio on average four times a week, unless it’s a weekend I’m traveling. Which, speaking of…
・・・TRAVEL ・・・
…Here’s the whirlwind section for ya. It seems like lately I’ve been trying to run away from my problems. Since my last Life Lately update in early November, I’ve gone on two international trips. The first was to Montreal, Canada, (if that counts, hah!) and the second was a whirlwind mini-Euro tour of Istanbul, Turkey; Prague, Czechia; Barcelona, Spain and Milan, Italy.
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I’ve also taken weekend trips to both Houston and Boston so far this year.
Next up? New Orleans next week!
・・・FRIENDS + FAMILY ・・・
My college roommate Amanda got married this month! I Amtraked it out to Michigan for her wedding, where I got to celebrate with the rest of the “1018 Bad Girls Club,” AKA my college roommates.
Congrats, Struggs!
・・・WORK ・・・
I think I might have mentioned it, but work has been absolutely insane as of late.
First, WE UNIONIZED! So excited to say that Chicago Tribune management voluntarily recognized our newsroom’s unionization, so we didn’t even have to vote.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhcZmTogbld/?taken-by=randimshaffer
Second… we restructured! This happened while I was in Europe and it was chaos and pandemonium and everyone on my team was panicking but it ended up OK, because we got a new boss, and she (!!! YES for women leaders!) is really cool. I have a new job title (It’s officially “content editor”) but my main duties on the web team haven’t changed that much. Although…
Third… we are getting a new website! We’re launching a new website powered by a new CMS in two weeks, so my team has been putting in overtime due to training. We’re all really excited about the new site design, and hope our readers are too.
Fourth… we are moving! The Tribune hasn’t actually owned Tribune Tower in years, so we’ve been working in leased space. The building’s owners recently sold it, so we’re being evicted and moving across the river in two weeks. We’ve been busy packing and saying our goodbyes. I recently had a chance to tour some tucked-away gems in the building, including the old printing presses, the Colonel’s offices, the Crown and the archives, and hope to share some photos in a separate post soon!
Fifth… so many projects! Reporter Alison Bowen graciously let me produce an audio segment (embedded below) using her narration and her unscripted subject audio recordings to supplement one of her features with. I’m actually working on two projects similar to this right now… and one should be launching next week! Keep an eye out.
I told you, work has been absolutely insane lately! Of course, I love my job to pieces and all this chaos is more than welcomed.
・・・SHOPPING ・・・(AFFILIATE LINK ALERT!)
Thanks to that whole aforementioned fitness cult thing, most of my $$$ has been going to clothes I can wear in the studio. A few recent purchases: some new Alo crops, a new much-needed work-to-gym bag and all the Lululemon energy bras in all the colors. (Side note: I’m a size 28E, so finding bras of any kind is always a nightmare. I wear a Panache sports bra with underwire when I run, but it’s way too constricting for yoga. The energy bras in a size 4 have a tight enough band and aren’t too constricting, low-cut or revealing.)
So, for the clothes I don’t drench in sweat on a weekly basis? I’ve been living in this navy blazer coupled with these tank tops, which I own in probably too many colors. Those, plus these skinny jeans, this lariat necklace and a pair cute flats have been my go-to work uniform this spring. I’ve also had this shirtdress, this cute peplum top and these easy-to-wear dressy tees on repeat this spring.
A few quick things I’ve been lusting over. All the cute flats (one, two, three), this summer-perfect sundress, this small wallet (always looking to downsize), and this classic and simple necklace.
Shop:
・・・DINING ・・・
Because I haven’t given a Chicago dining update in about half a year, I’ve been to way too many eateries to mention cohesively in a well-organized list. Here are just a few of the new-to-me bars and restaurants I’ve tried since my last update.
- Uptown’s The Reservoir for brunch
- Calumet Fisheries (bucket list item!) for a lunch picnic
- Uptown’s Driftwood for dive vibes and cheap PBR
- River North’s ZED451 for rooftop happy hour
- Gold Coast’s Maple & Ash for an amazing wine dinner
- Southport’s Tied House for patio drinks
- River North’s Joy District for spontaneous cocktails-turned-complimentary-bottle-service-and-clubbing
(I’ve been using social media less and less as of late, so sorry! No photos this time around.)
・・・ETC. ・・・
Whew. I think that about covers it! Yoga cult, Spanish classes, work, eating my way through Chicago, book club and tutoring at 826CHI. Typical week for me!
Remind me not to go half a year without a general “this is a blog so I will blog” kinda post again. 🙂
See ya in two months — I mean it this time!
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