Knitting Craze

Ryan's Hat!

Recently, thanks to some girls on my floor, I have taken up my knitting again!  Although it is a sever addiction, it is very relaxing and definitely helped the time pass on my flight back home to SF for Thanksgiving.  So far I've successfully finished a hat for Ryan, and I'm working on a cable knit scarf for myself, a hat for my dad, and soon going to start a headband/ear warmers and fingerless gloves for the cold Chicago winter.  

My cable scarf!

Birthday Weekend

For the weekend of my 19th birthday, my boyfriend Ryan flew all the way out from Santa Clara, CA to visit me.  He arrived super early Saturday morning and our adventure started.  He got to see all of Loyola, get some breakfast, and take a quick power nap.  We then headed to downtown for his first visit to Chicago.  We visited the bean, picked up some Garrett's popcorn, shopped around on State street, had delicious pizza and attempt to visit Willis/Sears Tower (we decided we'd try when it wasn't a hour wait!)

Later that evening we headed to Evanston for dinner and to walk around.

The famous Chicago Bean!

My flowers :)

On my actual birthday we went and picked up some yummy food from Whole Foods, grabbed breakfast, and headed back to school.  Ryan got me a wonderful bouquet at Whole Foods... it looks great in the room!  We video chatted with the family as I opened my presents and met up with my roommate and her boyfriend. We headed back to Evanston from some noodles for lunch, and a beautiful walk along the Lake. 

I had a great Birthday, even though it was my first one away from the family...  I'm so glad Ryan was able to come and surprise me too :) And I can't wait to come back home in only 11 days and get to see everyone!

Happy Halloween (x13.1)

     So this Halloween morning, Claire and I got up bright and early (5:50 AM... we decided we may have set a college record!) and hopped on the L toward Grant Park.  In the cold we walked over to where the Chicago Monster Dash Half Marathon was gathering. Claire's boyfriend Nathaniel nicely came along to carry our bags, cheer us on, and take pictures.  We started up at the front and kept up a good pace, a little under an 9 minute/mile pace for the whole race. The last two miles I went a bit ahead to try and see what time I could get.  We both finished under 2 hours, my final time was 1:53:25!

     In an almost Bay to Breaker fashion, there were crazy costumes along the entire course.  Men dressed as Hooters girls, lots of superheroes, a blow-up sumo wrestler, and even two men connected by a massive structure of the Golden Gate Bridge (they were walking of course)!

     Even though it was a bit chilly at first (and after, even in fresh clothes), I am very surprised and proud to say that I was the only person that I saw all day in only shorts and a short sleeve shirt. These Chicago people must be such wimps with the cold! (I will be eating my words by Thanksgiving).

     Nathaniel then took us both out to a delicious brunch and we all ended up sharing our wonderful meal of French Toast, pancakes, omelets, toast etc... A very nice way to start off a Sunday morning and to start off a good week.

Surviving the Weather

As some people may have heard, this last week started out with a historical Midwest storm... LOTS of wind and rain and even tornados across Illinois!  I made sure the weight myself down to the ground with some heavy books in my backpack and managed not to get blown away.  I was very shocked though when I saw someone wind surfing on Lake Michigan!!  Must be insane to go out in 60 MPH winds... well guess it proves there are some crazy people outside of the Bay Area :)  Even though it was windy, it was in the mid 60s.
Then I woke up today and all the sudden it was 42 degrees out!! It never got above 45, but I managed pretty well.  I was proud when I saw several other people wearing (simultaneously) scarves, gloves, coats, and ear muffs! I managed with a long sleeve shirt and my vest.
But the best part of today was most definitely the GIANTS WIN!!!  2 more wins to go!

GO GIANTS!

I'm definitely repping the black and orange here in Chicago!

I've even converted my roommate!

Halloween in Regis

Since both Claire and I love holidays, we've decided to decorate the room for Halloween.  Everyone enjoys our room and we are all excited to see what will happen around Christmas!

Pumpkin lights and bats on the wall

Happy Halloween!

Fun spider webs over the windows!

Color changing ghost lights

Fall Break in Bloomington

For my four day weekend, I was planning on sticking around Chicago since I got the opportunity to volunteer at the finish line of the Chicago Marathon.  So Friday and Saturday I spent up in Winnetka with our friends the Baneux's, and Sunday I headed downtown to hand out gatorade to thousands of runners after they finished their 26.2 mile race. I was really a fun experience and a great chance to get to be part of something so important to the whole city of Chicago.  

Corn from the corn maze

From there, I walked to Union Station where I got on an Amtrak train to Bloomington/Normal Illinois to spend the next 2 days at my roommates house.  We had a ton of fun making carmel corn, watching movies, seeing new scenery (at least for me) on our runs and having home cooked meals. We also went to a pumpkin patch and did a corn maze, picked out some mini pumpkins for the room, had slushy apple cider, and went to the petting zoo.  Claire admits that it was the true Midwestern farm experience :)  We took the train home together Tuesday and made it back to Loyola in one piece. 

Alpacas at the petting zoo

We weren't quite ready for dining hall food yet, so we went up to Evanston that evening for dinner.  It was a wonderful 5 days, and the best is that we only have 3 days of school this week!!

PS:  We also both signed up for a half marathon on Halloween...not sure why, but we think it will be fun. Now we'll have something to train for!