Lollapalooza!! 2013

Many people might have heard what a great music festival Lollapalooza really is, but you have to go to experience just how much energy the crowds reciprocate to the artist. This three day music festival was held August 2-4. Downtown Chicago is blocked off around Grant park. You are free to walk to various stages just to hear your favorite artist. I was so happy to see The neighborhood, Deep Vally, Jessie Ware, Theophilus London, Disclosure, Frightened Rabbit, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, Kendrik Lamar, MS MR, Wavves, DIIV, and 2 chains who showed out. They were simi-strict about bringing liquor inside the fenced park. They made sure to empty pockets and bags containing water that was not sealed, snacks, and liquor. This is such a great experience for anyone who is a native to Chicago or new. I will be looking forward  to going next year, but hope that all of my favorite artist will be playing on the same day. Going all three days in a row was very exhausting, but incredibly fun!

Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago 2013

While being in Chicago one of the best opportunities I have experienced has been going to the music festivals. Chicago does have plenty of festivals to offer ranging from free local artist to some of the biggest artist known to man. I was super excited to attend Chicago's 2013 Pitchfork Music festival. While this was a three day long festival I found buying a one day pass would be more than worth it to me. The festival was held July 19-July 21. Sunday I was able to see Yo la Tengo, Toro Y Moi, MIA, and R.Kelly!! Here is some footage of my day!!

Keep Your Faith!!

While I wouldn't mind writing about making boys into your boyfriend, the best jeans for your fit, and make up that's best for your skin tone I'm writing about my faith. I have had my faith tested so many times. This time is much like the others, only I believe I have a little more faith. I went to church on Sunday and I heard the most uplifting word of my life. It was simple and yet very relevant to my life, my moment, my insecurities, as well as my securities. The message was simple,
never loose faith even when it seems like God is there and then you feel like he has left you. The truth is that God will never leave you. The evangelist chose a scripture from Mark 5:20-5:43 to preach on . The story was about a young girl who was very sickly. Her father went to Jesus for him to lay his hands on her and Jesus told him that he would, but on his way someone else needed his help. He went to help them. The father knew that Jesus coming as a great thing and soon felt as if Jesus were no longer coming. Just as things had turned around for the good he had begun to loose faith. The man came back to Jesus and he begged for him to come again. Jesus replied for him to believe. It didn't matter that everyone was telling him that his daughter was dead. Jesus said she is sleeping. Believe. Jesus came and he made everyone leave. He told her to arise and she did. While things happen and we don't have understanding of what to do it is always important to talk to God. I am going through the most trying time of my life at the moment. I have already had a period of depression for my life and refuse to see it again. I cannot change what I have done, but I can change what I will do in the future. I want God to live through me. I want to make the difference that I was born to make. I will turn my life around. While I can be afraid, worried, or unproductive, I have chosen another path. This word has taught me that no matter what, Jesus will come through. I don't know what will happen, but I do know that he knows me and he loves me. I did do wrong, but I know that God will see me through. He has something great in store for me. I will never give up.

Where the heck am I going??

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

I'm 23 years old and I honestly used to think that the sky was the limit. I mean it is, but is it for everyone? Sometimes you really have to sit down and think to yourself where do I see myself in 10 years… Well I want to be in charge. I want to be a teacher, then a principal is very fitting. I want to be married. I want to have a great husband that knows me and understands me. I don't want to worry about him I just want to love him. I want kids and a dog. That's pretty fitting. I'm not sure however that I'm doing what I need to do right now to make sure I get those things. I'm teaching, but I don't have my own classroom. I need to get certified. I could have stayed in Michigan and tied that down for myself, but of course I decided to make things a little harder. Now I'm on the struggle for certification. Come along on the journey to see just how hard or easy I have truly made things. If you're a recent grad or even someone who wants to change what ever it is that your doing… A word of advice. When that thought comes to mind, start working on it. Start looking into it. There are deadlines people and believe it or not no one is waiting on you.

Decisions Decsions

Choices, choices, and more choices; I mean I like it. The rush! This enticing feeling of excitement that can’t let go! I’m on the ride of a life time. I can go anywhere I want and I can do whatever I want. Or can I? I have an internship in one direction and I have Chicago in another hand. All along I thought I was ready for my internship, but I would have never thought things would make the turned out the way they have. My older sister has been avoiding me; my sister that I planned on staying with during my internship. I mean I was kind of excited. I was excited to be completing my certification process and was excited about the raging, growing city of Birmingham, but all of those feelings slowly faded. I couldn’t believe that my sister kept changing the subject and stopped returning my calls. I’m glad I had a backup plan. I always liked my plan B better than my plan A. I would be in Chicago, teaching! I went to school for teaching and I knew this would be a wonderful experience. Of course I would still have to get certified, but at least I was almost there. I can’t help looking for apartment’s everyday and can’t wait for the call that my best friend got the job too!! All of us… in Chicago together… like it were meant to be. Everything about Chicago just feels so right. It feels so right that I can’t even be mad about the internship situation not working. I mean yes it the better choice, but I can always make it work. My brother and his fiancé are there and my best friend E. I mean everyone is welcoming me with open arms... What now? I guess I better make this call to cancel my internship… It’s just so hard. I can’t make the call. I feel like I ‘m letting my mentor teacher down, or myself down, or my dad down. He only wants me to move with my sister, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen any time soon. I should probably call her and tell her the good news.

The beautiful Miami!!

Miami

I've always heard about the wild and crazy parties that go on in Miami, so of course naturally I had to make arrangements to find my way there. Unfortunately we decided to go during the most ratchet weekend ever. We decided to go for Black Beach Week, also known as Urban week. Wrong week to go… We had a great time before the weekend started. During the week everything was very accessible. The beach was clean, and the promoters came through, but when the  weekend started, so did the ratchetness. Streets were blocked off causing our trip to be difficult. We went to a few great clubs while we were in Miami. Bamboo was amazing. It was more of a lounge club, but on it's biggest nights you know it's amazing. The Dj booth flipped down and allowed the dancers to dance on it while it moved up and down. We went to Mansion one night which is very exciting. A girl in a pedal bathtub was there to greet us before we got into the fog lighting and necessary club atmosphere. One of my favorites was Mokai! It had so much to offer. At least for me it did. The pole dancers made it worth while and exciting. They passed out sunglasses and glow lights too, while there were many favors, this was a club that represented a lot of class. From the stone patio white linen seating before I entered, to the glass of champagne I was offered at entry this was a must go club! One of my welcoming favorites was dream. Yes it was a little ratchet, but I did like it. You can basically do what ever in there. Nice club, but very small. Some where that I won't be attending for a second time would have to be Rush! Rush was very large, but tired! I really didn't like the over using black smokers club that left the club smokey and nauseating. I won't be back!

Miami was wonderful. If you ever need tshirts and trinkets for you loves back home you have to check out Surf Style. I found so many cute outfits and gifts!!
A list of clubs might be helpful, but remember to be free and go with the flow, the promoters will take care of you, I know mine did:) Also be smart and save money. I rented an apartment for my stay and I loved it! We had our own kitchen that we were able to fill with groceries from a store within walking distance.

Fat Tuesday's and Wet Willies are a must!! Shopping is also one of a kind. You can find some amazing dresses and swimsuits anywhere along Washington, Ocean, and Collins! These three streets will have everything you need.

Here is a list of places to check out. I didn't make it to every spot, but I know I will eventually!
1. King of Diamonds- Strip club
2. Mansion
3. Cameo
4. Dream
5. Clevlander (Sandals)
6. Fat Tuesday
7. Liv- fountain blue hotel
8. Space. Has multiple floors, different music
9. Mokai

Oh and don't listen to those people who tell you to come to their restaurants, bragging that they will give you free shots and drink deals because apparently the drink deals change. We went to this restaurant that was right on the beach. They were selling these extremely large drinks for 45 a piece! They told us buy 2 get one free.. Lies. Just be careful.

Graduation

 

Graduation Surreal right? I mean I couldn't wait. I anticipated grabbing my cap and gown, finishing off classes for the semester, and receiving my teaching placement, but it's something about that uncertainty that crawls my spine. I mean Graduation was great, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing like really, really being finished. I have two classes to finish before I get to hold my degree in my hand.. No biggie, but I mean come on who wants to take classes over the summer?? At this point one has an understanding that you have to do what you have to do, and you will get your awe feeling when your done. The best part about Graduation was that My best friend Tasha and I graduated together. I have to say that this was my highlight. One thing that really but a twist on my Graduation were my parents. You would think that adults would act better than kids, but not at all. My dad is crazy!!. I invited my step mom and he went nuts!! I mean he wouldn't even give me a hug after Graduation. I mean between me and… well you as a reader. I have to get this money, and if that means inviting people who were in half of my life…Well of course I'm going to do it. Of course everything was fine after my step mom left, but I really couldn't believe how crazy things had gotten. My family and Tasha's family ate together at Houlihan's after Graduation. If your going for a nice meal think again their food is officially gross, at least it was this day. Oh and the service sucked. I mean you try waiting a table of 20 by yourself. Not going to happen. While I was excited I couldn't help but notice the twist my sister put on the excitement of my future. I asked her if she was ready for me to move in and she huffed and said No… No? I couldn't believe her response. Usually I would let that just roll of without thinking too hard, but for some reason I couldn't let it go.

New York, New York

New York is always amazing. Since my dad lives there I am always trying to make it to the city every chance I get. I was thrilled to spend as much time with my sister, niece and nephew while we were in the city.

I also can’t get enough of one my best friends Zoe!!! I absolutely love that girl. While going to visit my dad I couldn’t wait to enjoy my time with this girl.

I was so excited to try the amazing tasteful food that SoHo had to offer. We went to this amazing Bistro called the Manhattan Bistro to fill our stomachs so we could get our shopping in for the night.

One thing about New York that will always keep me interested is the shopping. I love that there are so many stores that have so many looks for great prices. There is something for everyone there. A store that I know I will have to visit every time I’m in new york would have to be the Necessary clothing store also located in SoHo.

The thing that sets this city apart from other cities would have to be the drive of the city. The city has a type of air that makes you want to join in.You know that in order to survive you have to do something. People are always working on their craft. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be in New York. I thought a lot about moving to New York after graduation, with Zoe… But I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet.. What could I do? What am I good at? I am seriously considering a life in the wonderful city of New York:)