Chicago felt like home.

I haven't felt like home in a while. I moved to Chicago 5 years and 4 months ago to the date. In that time here I have moved a total of 8 times. Yep, 8 times. And before that, different cities, many different apartments, so many I lost track. It's not that I like moving, I am just afraid of settling and ending up somewhere with someone for just the convenience of it. I'll break down my way of thinking so it's a bit easier to understand. I don't make shopping lists, when I see what I want I'll know it, it will just jump out at me. I fall madly in love with things, like music, when I connect with it, I feel it. First on the back of my neck and then through out my entire body. I don't normally have boyfriends, never felt that "in love" feeling. When I do, I imagine it will be like that perfect song, I feel it everywhere and know, this is it. Well, finding that at home feeling is the same. When I'm there, I'll know, I'll feel it. So after 5years and 4 months, I felt a little like home this week. 

My mom, Sharyn, came to visit. Now this is a big deal for me. I had not had her visit in 4 years! I have always gone to see her. So when she said she would come, I got all kinds of excited! I couldn't wait, the count down began. I knew what the musts were, shopping and friends. We did just that, shopped, Estate Sales, ate and laughed with friends, got our hair done and watched old movies like old times! I wore her out! We stayed out late and ran around like crazy everyday. I must say Sharyn kept up just fine! I feel like this was exactly what we both needed. Mom has been through a lot and I like that she's still got that fun youthfulness still when we get together. It seems like all her worries fade a bit when we are around each other. I mean, she brought up 5 children, it's our job to remind her how wonderful of a mom we have. She taught me how to be strong and independent without even knowing it. I love all this classic  and stylish beauty because of her.  My first memories were playing dress up and doing each others make up when I was little. Watching old movies and falling in love with all the styles of Ginger, Merle and Doris! It only makes sense to show her who I am now and she's the reason why I am who I am. So needless to say I was sad to see her go, and so were my friends! They all kept asking when is she coming back! I think they will miss just as much as I will:)

Don't we look alike?! This is such a great photo of her, she looks so beautiful and happy:)

 My new favorite Giant ring! Looks great with our table setting:)

Birchwood is a Wicker Park must for lunch!

Photos by Mom

Wicker Park

50's Sweater: Estate Sale

Tshirt & Ring: H&M

Pearls & Bracelet: Thrifted

Ruffle Skirt: Anthropologie

Tights: Gap

Navy Boots: Etsy

50's Vintage Kangol Turban: Gift from Emmi Chen:)

 I had gone through a tough 3 years, not spending enough time with my friends or family. This time last year I vowed to change that and I have been following through with this pretty well. I need friends and family to keep me moving, they fuel me. Once I was told by a very negative person who shall remain nameless, "all you do is work a meaningless job and socialize, you need a F*%$#&* hobby." My response was simple, my loved ones are my hobby! If I am down or feeling uninspired, I look to them. All of my friends and family have different little things about them that help guide me to want to do and be better. I go to Kat when I need to think more rational and be real. Her logic makes me look at things in a more realistic way. James when I need to be my silly self, relax and love the little things. He makes things brighter with his intelligence and humor. Isa when I need to see beauty, its hard to not notice the beauty in Chicago when you see her. She is full of life and all dullness fades away when you're around her. I could go on for hours about my friends, and there are so many more of them I should mention but the bottom line is we all have these people in our lives that do these things for us and we can sometimes take this for granted. My family inspires me more than anything. David, Mark, Jon, Amy and Mom have so many differences and amazing qualities, I just can't help but forget any negativity I may be holding onto when I see or talk to them all. My two main passions are fashion and music, both I learned from all of them. I hope they see this and know, whatever life is doing to ya right now, it'll all be a lot better if you let those loved ones help you out, even when they don't know they're helping.