Hey all! Happy Memorial Day weekend. It’s the end of my first week in Chicago and honestly, I have never, ever, ever been happier. Here’s a weekly wrap-up/ kickstart for you.

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Links:

How to save money decorating via the Everygirl. (90 percent of what I’ve looked at online this week is home decor, sorry!)

Stop feeling lucky to have him when he’s fucking lucky to have you via Elite Daily. SO. MANY. PRAISING EMOJI HANDS. HERE. This one really hit home with me due to recent life events, so if you’re dating a jerk or know a girl who’s dating a jerk: read and share.

Popsugar has tips for washing dry clean only clothing at home.

The definition of hell for each Myers-Briggs personality type, brought to you by Thought Catalog. Apparently my version of hell is giving terrible advice to my friends. I can see it.

Corporette has your rundown of Memorial Day sales, so if you’re not at a beach I would recommend checking out the list.

Leighton Meester is pregnant! Flashback to this story and laugh. “Hear that, van der Woodsen?”

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And me this week? A whole lot of unpacking! Highlights include…

• Starting my new job! If you missed the memo, I recently (ie: last week) moved to Chicago to start a new job working in social media at the Chicago Tribune. This past week was my first week and I love it so, so much more than I thought would be possible! Everyone I’m working with is completely awesome and I’m really loving the work I’m doing. Plus, check out that view in the Instagram collection below. Tribune Tower itself is incredible, and I’ve been sharing snippets of it on my Snapchat (@RandiMShaffer) if you’d like to check it out.
• Unpacking and furnishing my apartment. I posted a bit of my design inspo earlier this week on my blog, and started making plans to get my new home set up. This neighborhoods poster is one of my favorite finds so far. I know there’s been some interest in a new apartment tour once it’s finished, and I can’t wait to share! But unfortunately, it’ll probably be another few weeks before I’m ready to make that post. Keeping you on your toes, duh.
• A visit from my little sister! Her visit included two brunches – at Kanela Breakfast Club in Lakeview and Broadway Cellars in Edgewater, a trip to the Chicago outlet malls, a trip down Mag Mile, a visit to Ikea, my first ever Chipotle experience, Giordano’s and some much-needed grocery shopping. (Outlet mall purchases include this dress in black and this top, among other things.)
• Dinner at Vapiano in the Loop with my high school friend Megan and her dad, who was in town to run a marathon with her this weekend.
• An actual bath. My old apartment — and the apartment before that, and the apartment before that, and the house before that — all had standing shower stalls. But, ironically, this apartment has a full bathtub, even though it’s the smallest space I’ve ever lived in. I took full advantage of that midway through an intense week of work and moving, thanks to Gossip Girl and some Lush goodies I got from my brother’s girlfriend. Thanks Kayleah!

You can keep up with this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram or add me on Snapchat: @RandiMShaffer.

And this coming week? More work! I always joke about how I wouldn’t have to work again in my life if I had a dollar every time I said the phrase “news doesn’t stop for holidays!” I’ll be working this Memorial Day (Because, yunno, news doesn’t stop for holidays) and spending the rest of the week hopefully finishing up my apartment. I have a few more things I need to pick up to add to it and then finally finish unpacking and putting together furniture. I’m working four 10-hour days this week so I can start a shift to my new Sunday through Thursday schedule next week!

What about you? What’s going on in your life lately? Do you live in Chicago and want to meet up? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

 

Hello from my new Chicago apartment! I’m really sorry I’ve been so absent lately but moving has been a complete pain. Thank goodness this adventure is almost finished!

 

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Links:

New Taylor Swift video.

I love this site that lets you figure out what your name would be based on popularity in another year.

Refinery29 has an interesting article about trying the ancient Egyptian skin care routine.

The Kitchn has cupcake baking tips.

Racked has a quick piece about the most returned items at Sephora.

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And me this week? I had the whole last week off work. And short of packing, I really didn’t do too much at all. I…

• Watched the 90’s version of Total Recall with my parents.
• Unpacked my Mount Pleasant apartment.
• Repacked for my Chicago apartment.
• Bought a new chair off of a Facebook yard sale group.
• Drove four hours to Chicago on Friday just to pick up my apartment key and measure the dimensions of my new apartment, and then drove four hours back.
• Had dinner at Red Lobster with my parents and grandmother.
• Packed up a UHaul, drove four hours to Chicago, and unloaded the UHaul.
• Took my brother and his three fraternity brothers (Shout out Phi Delta Theta!) to Giordano’s for post-moving dinner.
• Spent more time unpacking.

Obviously, my week was totally not eventful at all. But still so busy! I’m looking forward to starting my new job tomorrow, getting Internet installed in my apartment and unpacking/ decorating my small little space. I can’t wait to share it with you!

What’s on your radar lately?

 

Happy Mother’s Day from my parents’ house! I hope you had a chance to spend time with your momma today. Mine is currently lecturing me on laundry, so it’s good to be home. 🙂

Links:

I love this line of brutally honest empathy cards, designed by a former cancer patient.

Refinery29 did a collab with Old Navy and Liz Adams of Sequins & Stripes featuring spring fashion for chilly areas. As a lifelong Midwest resident, I give a hearty amen. Nothing more frustrating than seeing crop tops and midi skirts roll out in mid-April while I’m still watching the snow fall in my La Canadiennes.

The New York Times wrote an expose on the real cost of low cost manicures in NYC.

I’ve been drooling over the Chicago apartment tours on The Everygirl lately since I’m moving into a new space in Chicago in a week.

I love this xoVain post on finding a true red lipstick.

Five ways to eat chia seeds for breakfast.

In case you forgot how awesome Jennifer Lawrence is, Popsugar rounded up a list of her best quotes.

The Everygirl also has some summer reading list suggestions.

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And me this week? It was so productive! I…

• Signed a lease on an apartment in Chicago! It’s a one-bedroom with a closet near the red line. I had been stressing out about finding a place for weeks so this is such a huge relief.
• Completed faculty orientation for my new position as AN INSTRUCTOR AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY! I’m so thrilled! I was approved to teach two social media-focused journalism courses through Global Campus, so it will be online and distance learning. This means I’ll be able to fit it in with my new job working social media at the Chicago Tribune. For those of you who don’t know, CMU is my (two-time) alma mater.
• Entirely moved out of my apartment in Mount Pleasant. Huge thanks to my brother and his Phi Delta Theta brothers for serving as my moving crew! They spent all of Saturday hauling my belongings (ie: clothes) across the state… and they get to do it again in a week once I move it all down to Chicago. (Love you guys.)
• Had my going away party at the Bird. I’ll miss that bar more than I can even comprehend.
• Worked my final three days at the Morning Sun. My amazingly wonderful coworkers gifted me with several Starbucks gift cards and a card!
• Finished up my #mpfarewellfoodtour. One of the biggest comments I get on my roundup posts is “that food looks so good!” I’ll spare you the foodstagrams for today and recap my fave Mount Pleasant eats later this week.
• Spent Mother’s Day weekend with my parents. We watched 90’s action movies, ate pizza and I gifted my mom chocolate and flowers.

You can keep up with this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram or add me on Snapchat: @RandiMShaffer.

And me this coming week? Needless to say, life has been a little hectic and crazy in the best possible way lately. Between packing, finishing up my last few days at work, driving to Chicago multiple times to apartment hunt, saying goodbye to so many friends and completing faculty orientation at CMU, I’m super excited to have this entire week off of work. I’m planning on going through my belongings (hello Craigslist and Goodwill) and re-packing for the Chicago move. I’ll also be giving myself some much needed time for yoga and running, baking with my mom and sleep!

How was your Mother’s Day? What’s on your radar? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Sunday from Chicago! I’m back here again working on apartment searching, and I’m cautiously optimistic that I might have finally found something! Let’s hope so.

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Links:

I really need to go to this summer camp for grown ups.

I love that this blogger spoofed off of the baby posts – 18 months! – and highlighted her likes, dislikes and accomplishments at her current age.

This amazing save by Petr Mrazek during Monday night’s game six of the Red Wings/ Lightning series.

Tricks for a good night’s sleep.

Stylecaster has a list of stylish gifts for Mom. (Mother’s Day is next Sunday, btw!)

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And me this week? I have been so incredibly busy not only finding somewhere to move and packing up to move there, but also trying to cram all of my favorite mid-Michigan places and activities into the two short weeks I have left! I started the #farewellfoodtour to say goodbye to all my nostalgic restaurants and eateries. I…

• Spent last Sunday night at O’Kelly’s, playing Cards Against Humanity and drinking Bud Light with coworkers. O’Kel’s has an expansive burger menu named after all of the Chippewa sports legends. I had my first (veggie) burger, a patty topped with mozzarella cheese sticks (!!!) and ranch.
• Caught game six of the Red Wings/ Lightning series at the Bird Monday night. This is my favorite bar in the whole entire world and I will miss it so. much. when I leave here! I had a (veggie) Bird burger. Why did it take me eight whole years to try it?
• Went to a retirement party for one of my undergrad J-School profs… at the Bird, of course. Caught the last Red Wings game of this season (such a bummer) and hung out with several former classmates and instructors.
• Had lunch at Shin’s Korean Restaurant, another favorite I’m going to miss, with my coworker Paul.
• Had dinner at Killer Hibachi – Mount Pleasant’s only Japanese fusion restaurant – with my coworker Nate.
• Started packing. Tried to figure out if you could pack with one hand and eat Cabin pizza (another Mount Pleasant favorite) with the other. No, no you cannot.
• Drove to Chicago. My elementary school friend Megan is lending me her apartment for the short time I’m here. (THANK YOU MEGAN!) I stopped in Elkhart to pick up my friend Emily and then we went apartment hunting Saturday. And guess what. I…
• Found an apartment! I haven’t been approved for the lease yet, but I filled out an application and forms for a credit and background check, so fingers crossed guys!
• Had bean burgers and spicy bloodies at Fat Cat in Uptown.
• Had dinner at Giordano’s in East Rogers Park.
• Had brunch at Kanela Breakfast Club. I had challah bread french toast with apricot sauce and a sweet lemon creme fraiche. And a mimosa (pitcher).
• Hit up the Magnificent Mile for some shopping today. Purchases include this lipstick (Girl About Town), this dress in navy with white polka dots (on sale for less than $10!) and some of my favorite basic t-shirts. I’m also thinking about getting a new crossbody, since I have a feeling I’m going to need one once I move here for good. I’m kind of torn between this Kate Spade piece and the (oh so typical) Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac, both of which I looked at in Nordstrom. Opinions? (Leave them in the comments!)
• WORKED 40 HOURS. In case you were wondering, no. I did not sleep at all this week and likely won’t for another three weeks.

(You can keep up with this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram.)

And this upcoming week? Big plans! I have tomorrow and Tuesday off to finalize some leasing stuff here in Chicago, drive to my parents’ house to pick up some packing boxes and pack up the rest of my apartment. I have a late night work meeting on Thursday and my last day of work, followed by my going away party, on Friday, and then I’ll be packing to move all of my belongings from Mount Pleasant to my parents’ house to prepare to move to Chicago. So, so busy!

What’s on your radar lately? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

Happy Sunday! I am so excited to say I just finished up my last ever weekend shift at the paper! I only have two weeks left at the paper and it’s just going to fly by, I imagine.

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Links:

Obama is back at it again with the funny videos. This one features Key from Key and Peele.

Think Progressive had an interview with the founders of Negative Underwear, a lingerie brand that attempted to make better bras for women. Unfortunately, the brand only offers sizes in 32A to 36D, meaning it offers the same poorly fitting incorrect size range as Victoria’s Secret. Fail.

Refinery29 has some office email etiquette tips. I’ve slipped into the habit of casual emails after being at my current job for so many years, so this was a nice refresher.

Abercrombie and Fitch is getting rid of its hot shirtless models.

How to wear miniskirts as an adult. This is everything, because I tried wearing a mini skirt with a crop top on Friday night and no. Not happening. I took it off after five minutes. I am too old to look like a 19-year-old with a fake ID.

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And me this week? I haven’t done much at all. It seems as though my nonstop job application grind has been replaced with a nonstop apartment hunting grind. This is surprisingly stressful! Regardless, I…

• Accepted a new job working in social media at the Chicago Tribune! That’s about the highlight of my week, in all honesty. You can stop reading now. It’s not going to get any better. But, because of that, I also…
• Spent Monday and Tuesday in Chicago. I went apartment hunting and turned in hiring paperwork for my new job, and spent some time with my friends Robbie and Megan.
• Stopped in Lansing on Tuesday night to watch the Red Wings game with some friends.
• Played trivia at the Brass. Totally didn’t win, but learned a lot of random facts about Thomas Jefferson.
• Ate my weight in Dog Central. I’ve already started bingeing my way through all my favorite restaurants in Mount Pleasant. Saying goodbye is hard. And delicious.
• Had my final night out with my roommate Elise! She’s on a plane to Europe as I type, and I’ll already be in Chicago when she gets back, so we celebrated our final night as roommates with a visit to both Hunter’s Ale House and The Bird.
• Covered Threads for the paper. Threads is the Central Michigan University student fashion show, and it’s by far one of my favorite events to check out. The talent of CMU’s student designers completely blows me away.
• Received my Sephora sales picks! I now have a year’s worth of mascara and gel liner to last me until the next BI sale.

This coming week is going to be so incredibly busy! I have to start packing to move out of my Mount Pleasant apartment and back to my parents’ house downstate, and then from my parents’ house to a new apartment in Chicago. This coming Saturday, I’ll be leaving for Chicago (again) to start on round two of apartment hunting, and hopefully I have better luck this time. If you have any apartment hunting or packing advice for me, leave it in the comments!

What’s on your radar lately?