Happy freaking Monday friends!

It’s been a hot minute since I shared a little post on what I’ve been up to lately. I used to be good about sharing a weekly or bi-weekly update, but it’s been so long I’ve forgotten what number of “Life Lately” I’m actually on. Clearly, things are going well…

But anyways, I’ve been fortunate to have  had a few action packed weeks back home in Chicago. I’ve been traveling back to visit Tom in San Francisco once a month (which has been really fun to explore a new city!), but it’s been nice to be home in Chicago for a few weekends in a row to get my life together (as much as I can…), soak in some of the last few warm days before fall officially kicks in.

A few weeks ago, my family came to visit which was so nice and needed. I’d been feeling pretty down with work being crazy and feeling a little lonely, so it was nice to have my favorite people come visit for a few days. Plus, I got to play tourist in my own city with a trip to the Art Institute and walking down the River Walk on the perfect Saturday afternoon. This fall so far has been unseasonably warm – and while I’m excited to bust out my fall clothes, it’s been nice to have a few more weeks of warmer weather before snowmaggedon hits us once again. The past few weekends, I also made paid a few visits to Lost Laron in Andersonville – my favorite bakery and cafe in Chicago. Their cinnamon roll is out of this world, and I literally dream about it  because it’s so unbelievably delicious. Tom came to visit this past weekend and we made the trek, which was well worth the trip. If you haven’t been yet, I’d highly recommend moseying over there on a Saturday or Sunday morning and walking around the cute neighborhood shops and restaurants (if by a miracle you’re still hungry!)   My friend Evalyn also came to town a few weekends ago, and we stopped by The Hoxton for brunch on a Sunday morning. She had the most epic breakfast sandwich and smashed potatoes, and I had a faro and gain bowl that was out of this world. The decor is beautiful, and it’s the perfect place to spend the afternoon grabbing a cup of coffee and working in their pretty lobby space (before it hits 5PM and then grabbing a drink is totally acceptable :))   I also had a long overdue girls night at Homeslice with Megan, Katie, Sarah, Jennie, Kit and Jess which was so much fun. We’d been meaning to get together forever, but between work and summer travel, it always felt like it was impossible to coordinate schedules. I’m so happy we finally found time to get together and catch up – especially since Jennie officially moved to San Francisco a few weeks ago (fun for her, but sad for us!). There’s nothing quite as wondering like a night out with girlfriends – it was good for the soul catching up on each others lives, especially since it was way overdo! This past weekend, Tom came to visit from San Francisco and we tied to make as little plans as possible. Every moment of my workweek is scheduled, so it was really relaxing waking up without an alarm, biking around Chicago, eating at a few of our favorite restaurants (especially Club Lucky!), and just spending some time together. On Saturday we biked to Taco Fest in Southport and found ourselves spending a few hours hanging out at Foxtrot, drinking coffee and doing crossword puzzles between reading articles from the New York Times Magazine. There’s something magical about just slowing down, having no plans, and going with the flow (something I can always get better at…), and I wished that we had a few more days together before heading back to the grind of work. But still, it was a fun weekend – even if it was too short (as usual!). Also, if you haven’t been to Foxtrot, it’s one of my favorite places to buy essentials (aka, ice cream and wine…) and pre-made meals in Chicago! You can get $5 off your next 3 orders (whether you’re a new or existing customer) using code “CSTYLED” at checkout! 

Anyways, now it’s Monday and it’s time to get back to the grind again! Did you guys do anything fun this weekend? While I know it’s a ways off, I’m already very much looking forward to next weekend (hanging in Chicago!) before planning my next weekend to visit Tom in San Francisco. Despite long distance being truly the worst, it is nice to have someplace fun to visit every few weeks <3 xx