Yes I still exist!
….I’m just approximately 10x cooler now that I have my own apartment downtown.
Just kidding I’m approximately 10x poorer but it is so, so worth it.
The move went as smoothly as possible — minus the hiccup of forgetting all my electronics at home — I guess I was just so excited to make the move that I left my laptop, charger, iPod and phone charger on the kitchen table. Talk about scatterbrained.
But nevertheless I am officially a resident of Chicago. Living that 60657 life, yo.
This is the before pic of my new habitat. It has so much potential and I love it 🙂 I’ve already made it my own with race medals, travel posters. candles and a variety of French paraphernalia. The best part? The light. I know very few things in life but one thing I do know: I can’t live anywhere with limited natural light. I’m a “who needs curtains let’s let the sunshine in at 5am just because it’s magical” kinda gal and this place does just that. Have I mentioned how happy I am and how lucky I feel?
Even better than having a nice space to rest my head at night is that I’m living with two wonderful people. Megan, who you’ve seen around these parts a lot, is my best friend from high school. We’ve been friends since we were 14 and always said we’d live together — who knew it would actually happen. And Colleen – Megan’s friend from college – is a hoot and a half. The three of us have only lived together for 72 hours and we already had a night of ugly Christmas sweaters. champagne and decorating.
I’m on cloud nine.
Trust the timing of your life
When I moved home six months ago, I couldn’t see past the pain. It was like a wall that I couldn’t get past – I just kept hitting it, clawing at it, trying to jump over it or run around it. But it’s once I finally sat down and rested against the wall for a little that it finally disappeared and I was able to see the light on the other side.
There is nothing worse than being in the midst of a storm and someone telling you “everything gets better with time.” It makes you uncontrollably, inexplicably angry. But it’s true. And unfortunately all you can do is weather the storm for as long as it takes.
Now that I’m on my own, all set up in my new place that I am paying for on my own, going to a job I love every single day, and thriving in a community of like-minded fitness junkies, I couldn’t be more full of joy.
Now I just need to figure out how I’m going to fit my high-maintenance grocery demands into my budget. Woof.
i had a big lunch 
I am so happy about the successful move to your new place and your message rings true and speaks to me. I feel like right now in my life I’m in a constant state of waiting. Wating to find out when myself and my boyfriend can finally live together (depending on when/where we both move…), waiting for someone to give me a chance and give me my first “big girl” career (I have the worst luck with finding jobs…). And it sucks! But I stay positive by trusting that all that is meant to be will be. Fingers crossed my waiting state will be relieved sooner rather than later. Also, I STILL have yet to find an ugly Christmas sweater or have any sort of Christmas sweater party/pictures partaking. Need to do this in my life.
Thank you so much Kaylin! The waiting is the hardest part – you want to jump the gun and control every aspect of your life because you think it’s the right time. But things will fall into place for you, I know it! And don’t worry – it’s only December 3rd – you still have time to get into the full swing of Christmas 😉
Dude this is awesomesauce- SO stoked that things are indeed working out and you did trust the process- I mean, hello those sweaters and wine. Stay AWAY from whole foods.
Just kidding, go in.
hahah that Whole Foods that was the scene of the crime is a ten minute walk from me — I wonder if I go back in they’ll have a photo of me on the wall saying “Do not sell to this woman – she throws fresh fish into freezers”
Yay! So happy you got settled in ok, and your tree is so pretty! Oh and awesome Christmas jumper!!
It’s so true, when everyone tells you things will get better in time you just want to scream, you can’t see an escape. But through these tough times comes incredible joy that you never thought was possible 🙂 big smiles!!!
Thanks lady! you’re the sweetest 🙂 can’t wait to catch up on your blog today! it’s been too much of a whirlwind lately and I’ve gotten so behind!
Congrats on the move Lauren! So excited to have you in the city
Thanks Sara! It feels so great now that my work commute is 40 minutes door-to-work instead of close to two hours 😉
I am so glad to hear that everything has fallen into place! I can’t wait to see more of your super cool downtown apartment. Can I just live vicariously through you now that you officially live in Chicago?
You have my permission to live vicariously through me, yes, haha. Although living in Georgia sounds like a dream to me too 🙂
SO excited for you! And now you are that much closer to me for stalking purposes 😀
So much stalking is now possible!!!!
High demand groceries=actual problem. Congrats on the move–so glad to hear you’re loving it and the natural lighting is a total plus. Yay!
My grocery needs are made for a forty year old businessman’s salary — NOT a 23 year old entry level lady haha. But I’ll make it work somehow 😉
Congratulations on your (awesome, well-lit) new home! You are SO SO right about trusting timing in life. If only it was easy to remember that advice when things seem so, so awful. As I re-read this post, I feel like I am reading something I could have written myself in 2010 when I’d just moved back from an adventure-turned-tragedy that was a solo move to New York City with Teach for America. When I was too broken to put the pieces back together alone, I moved home, too. It felt like a step (or a few million miles) backwards. As it turns out, no matter how far from your intended path you manage to find yourself, there is some secret detour to happiness hiding on the other side of all your fears. I’m so very happy to see you’re living in that happy. And livin’ in it well!
The one thing I’ve gotten out of all this is that everyone has gone through something similar at some point in their lives — usually in their early 20s. So if you all survived, so can I 🙂 Sometimes that “step backwards” is the best thing you can do for yourself. I know it was exactly what I needed
Yay! Congrats on the move. Sometimes you realize that things are just falling into place the way they’re supposed to and it sounds like you’re definitely having that now.
It’s a cool feeling when you sit back and think “wow this couldn’t have fallen into place more perfectly!” I love it!
Glad you got our zip code really, really wrong so an internet stranger won’t come murder us!!!!!
I try!
Congrats on your new digs!
Thanks! I’m loving it so far!
Congrats on the new place! I’m glad things seem to be falling into place for you 🙂 I know earlier this year was pretty tough on you, but it sounds like it’s made you a lot stronger and led to some really wonderful things.
Thanks B (can I call you B? haha feel free to say HELL NO). It is all falling in to place 🙂
HAHAHA funnily enough, my post for tomorrow is that Mustache You A Question survey you tagged me in, and one of the nicknames I put down on it *spoiler alert!* is B, so yes, you may absolutely call me that 🙂
Oh, I love this! And it’s so true, that when you’re in the middle of it you can’t see through to the other side!
I’m loving your windows and your tree is telling me that I need to get my tree up NOW! 🙂
I love the windows too!! They brighten my whole day!
Congrats on the move! Next time you fly out of Chicago, you’ll have to check out the yoga room there! 🙂
Thanks! And yeah I’ll have to! 🙂
Those farmer’s markets will definitely help with the budget. So jealous of your new zip code and fun times ahead!!!
Good idea! Gotta stock up on that produce 🙂
High Maintanence grocery demands = ME – LOL! I skimp on clothing so I can eat my delicious salmon and sushi! 😉
Hahaha you just get me 😘
I was told today that I am the ONLY ONE who can rock yoga clothes with a blazer and heels – ha ha ha ha!!! Yep, the only clothing I buy = yoga clothes!
How adorable are your Christmas photos? Love love love your outfits! Congrats on the move!
Thanks! Yeah it was an all-around adorable night hahaha
It sounds like you are really happy. I would love to live in Chicago, it’s such an awesome city.
I love your Christmas outfit too.
Haha thanks Target men’s section really has a great selection 😉
SOOO happy that your move went well! Your jumper is amazing!
theglowwithin.com
Thanks love! It went so smoothly and the christmas sweater is so cozy, goofy and festive i love it 🙂
Ahh I am so happy for you! I can’t wait for it to be my time haha, I feel like we are living the same life I am just a couple steps behind ya! But congrats on the move and the new roommates sound awesome! Enjoy it!
Thanks girl! Good to hear from you! If you are just a few steps behind me get ready cuz youre about to be SO HAPPY! Haha
Congrats on such an exciting move! It is so true, you always want to knock people down when they tell you that things will change or get better with time. But it always works out for the best! Be very careful at Whole Foods. 🙂
Haha gotta be careful at whole foods it’s too dangerous!!
YAY for the move!!!! That’s sooo exciting!!! Gotta get moving on decorations, thanks for the motivation! The toughest thing for me with eating healthy with roommates wasn’t the budget…it was the FRIDGE SPACE!!! Such a pain haha! Good luck!
Hahaha luckily the other two girls dont care about food at all so i have tonssss of space 🙂
I want your life! Your new place looks and sounds amazing. Congrats on the move!
Thanks so much! I absolutely love it!
Your place looks absolutely adorable! Love the Christmas stuff 🙂 And I coudn’t agree more with what you said about trusting that everything is going to be okay… aaand the high maintenance grocery demands 😉
Moving into your new place just in time for Christmas. Your place looks great!
Thanks! and you’re so right — it was the perfect Christmas gift — to myself 😉
YAYY this post makes me so happy for you! Sorry, I was probably one of those people that told you that things would get better in time haha but see, it’s always the truth when you’re having a rough time! This post also made me miss my days of living with my girlfriends. Enjoy it!
PS – Your sweater is kind of awesome!!
Hahah no I would tell people that now, being on the other end of it all. It’s all you can say! But it’s hard to hear in the moment. Living with friends is a dream! And thanks – the men’s section at Target always has the best sweaters 😉
This actually made me cry. I am not ashamed. I love you SOOOOO much ❤
I love you too! 😘
Congrats on your new place!! That is amazing! I hope you enjoy living there. I totally hear you on the difficulty of dealing with the “everything gets better with time” mantra. It so doesn’t help in the moment. I’m so happy you have been able to move to a positive place!
So happy, positive and bright 🙂 Just in time for Christmas haha