When I moved back to Illinois in 2005, I made a promise to myself that I would live in the city. I didn’t care where I ended up working or where I had to commute to, I was going to have a city apartment in Chicago proper.

And I love it. I love the neighborhood I’m in. I love the public transit options. I love that I can walk to most anything. (I also love that I have an assigned parking space so I can drive to anything I want to as well. Don’t forget I am the Queen of Lazy.)

Tonight as I was walking home from the train after work, I was thinking to myself that I really needed to email my friends and make some plans for this upcoming weekend. Nothing extravagant, just something more than grocery shopping to force me out of the house and out of my pajamas.

As I made a mental note to send an email tomorrow, I was walking past a restaurant on Lincoln. I looked in the windows and saw my friend Melissa’s boyfriend Matt who was having dinner with Melissa. I went in to say hello and they invited me to join them. It was totally impromptu and I loved it. We had some wine, dinner, lots of laughs and it was a great time.

When I think about moving away from a big city, these are the things that I don’t think I can give up. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s so worth it.

So what about you, are you a country or a city mouse?

As I mentioned in my last post, Twitter has been my downfall when it comes to blogging. Because I share so much there, I tend not to share here because then it is old news.

But apparently Twitter is also good because it can get you free pie. FREE. PIE. The two greatest words in the English language.

I should back up. So on Friday night, I met some friends out for dinner and drinks at Lux Bar in Chicago. I got there early because I just came from work and it wasn’t worth it, nor did I have the time, to go all the way home. So I did what I always do – I went to the bar and ordered a drink.

I ordered a Goose Island 312, which is an excellent local brew, which probably isn’t so local anymore since Anheuser-Busch bought them out. I was only about 15 minutes early, so I told the bartender to close my tab. He asked if I knew about the October special. I did not.

Apparently all 312 beers were being sold for $3.12 and all proceeds from sales were going to a charity to support breast cancer research and awareness. For the whole month of October. So naturally, since I was sitting at a bar alone and drinking, I had to tell someone. And that someone was Twitter.

Once we got seated at dinner, I told everyone the special. And made them all order 312. Most of them did at some point in the evening. I personally contributed a lot to breast cancer research that night, let me tell you.

Just after we ordered, I was approached by some dude in a suit. He asked if I was Kristin. I said yes and was convinced that I was going to get kicked out. I mean, I didn’t think I had been to Lux Bar before, but maybe I had and I was no longer welcome there. No one is perfect, you know.

But no, this guy was the GM and he wanted to know if I tweeted about their 312 special. I said that yes, indeed, I did. It’s a great thing they are doing. He gave me his card, told me to call if I ever needed reservations, and thanked me for spreading the word. They had done it last year and raised over $15,000 for breast cancer awareness. That’s a lot of thirsty people and a lot of money out of their pocket. It is really a great thing they are doing! And hey! I really won’t object to getting drunk for charity.

Then he told me he ordered some desserts for me and my guests to enjoy and to thank me. And hey, I’m also never going to turn down free dessert.

Obviously this caused quite the conversation at the table. As most of the people weren’t even on Twitter and didn’t get it, they were all amped to join once they thought they could get free food out of it! And then they expected free drinks at the next bar we went to, which didn’t happen even though they sponsored my dodge ball team.

But my thing is, how did he find me in a crowded restaurant? I mean, this is me right now:

This is my Twitter photo:

This is my foursquare photo:

And this is my Facebook photo:

That’s some pretty good detective work.

So on Wednesday night, since I got in so late, I decided to make my friend Sharon let me sleep on her couch. Thankfully, she’s a good friend and let me do so. We got to catch up for like an hour before we both passed out and her little puppy wondered why the party stopped.

Isn’t he so cute??

I had to rent a car since I was flying into SFO, staying in Novato, which is just north of San Francisco, and attending a wedding in Sonoma, which is about 30 miles east of Novato. I always opt for the economy car since I’m one person, not driving that much and really don’t care.

This is what they gave me.

The Kia HAMSTER CAR! I was kind of embarrassed. And by kind of, I mean a lot.

But then I drove it. And you guys, it’s a really nice little compact car. It is roomy, higher off the ground than a sedan and a pretty fun little car. I’m kind of sad to admit that I’m seriously considering it for my next car. For reals.

Thursday was spent doing a lot of nothing. I had breakfast and coffee in the City since I wanted to wait out the traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge before heading to my hotel. Once I got to my hotel, I checked in, grabbed some water and snacks (and wine) at the nearby Safeway and changed into my bathing suit and headed down to the pool.

It was so warm out! I even went in the water! I only lasted about 30-40 minutes because I was exhausted and wanted to nap. So nap I did! Because I could! I was on VACATION!

(Also, what is up with getting older and getting jet lag? I’ve never really experienced it before, mostly because I can sleep whenever. But this trip I was wide awake every morning at 6 AM.)

Thursday night I spent in my room. I ordered food from the bistro café in the hotel and paired that with my bottle of screw-top wine and hunkered in for some good TV. (Jersey Shore, Vampire Diaries and Grey’s, OH MY!)

Friday I was lucky enough to sucker Jennster into being my designated driver for some wine tasting. She doesn’t really drink, which worked out well for me. It also worked out well for her because she had never really even been to like half of the wine country in Napa. She’s all “Silverado Trail, what the hell is that?” So I took her to Mumm and ZD, among others, and then she made me go to Sutter Home. Where the wino in me was embarrassed. And also glad their tasting was free, seeing as it was White Zin, “sweet red” and moscato.

(My palate is way too refined for sweet wine. But I’m OK with cheap.)

On Friday night I was invited by my bride friend to a gathering after the rehearsal dinner. Sadly, I did not make it to that. I decided I needed a short nap after wine tasting and…….fell asleep until 11:30 PM. Sorry Tina!

Saturday was wedding day! The wedding was in the evening so I spent the morning relaxing and getting a pedicure. I was meeting my friends Kirk and Teri at a winery prior to the wedding for a private tasting. (It’s good to know the people who know people.) It was amazing and if you ever get a chance, do the Moone-Tsai tasting at Luna Vineyards. Our tasting came with a food pairing and I even ate pate for the first time in my life! AND LIKED IT! (My mom just fainted.)

I had so much fun catching up with Kirk and Teri. Kirk was my boss at the 49ers. I still refer to him as “my old boss” even though I haven’t worked for him for almost 7 years and now we’re just friends. But I miss living near them and I’m so glad we hung out before the wedding and got to catch up and laugh and talk really, really loud, like Teri and I are wont to do.

The wedding was perfect. My friend was beautiful and just GLOWING with happiness. I’ve know Kristina since 2001, I think. And she’s one of my closest friends. We’ve been through a lot. And I cannot be happier for her. Her new hubby is great and they are just perfect for each other and GAH! My heart swells seeing her that happy! She deserves it!

Congrats Brandon and Kristina!

Then Sunday, I stupidly booked a flight at 5:45 PM, which meant I got home after midnight. But at least I got to spend some more time back in SF and have lunch with Betsey and Hoddy and their son Max. We all met in SF and they now live in Minneapolis and I miss not living near them.

After lunch, I found a bar showing the Bears game, had 2 beers, almost got tackled by a drunk dude and then headed to the airport.

It was really a great trip. It was the perfect mix of relaxing and busy. I like having things to do, especially when I travel by myself, but I also love being able to sit around and do nothing. And not have to make my bed.

Although my bank account isn’t too happy with the amount of fine wine I purchased.

I haven’t been back here in awhile. It was 2008, I think. To say it is weird being back is an understatement.

I spent six years in the Bay Area. It was really my most formative years. I became who I am today in those six years. It was post-college and I was exploring a whole new world of becoming an adult. And not only that, I was living 3,000 miles away from my family and knew not a soul in California.

I wouldn’t trade those six years for anything. Yeah, looking back, it was not always the best time, but I met some of my very best friends and strengthened the friendship with my two best friends who moved up to join me in CA a year after I did.

But I don’t miss being there. It was surreal to be driving up the 101 after I landed Wednesday night, into the City, past the football stadium where I spent a majority of my Sundays. The feeling I had wasn’t of longing. It was more of trepidation. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I went through A LOT there. Like I said, it shaped who I am.

And maybe it would be different if I was coming back to a place that was the same as I left it. It’s not. Most of my people aren’t there anymore. Yes, there are a few that are, but the rest of us are spread out all over the country.

Maybe that’s where the bit of sadness comes in. I was there alone, relaxing, and I miss people. Driving up to SF isn’t the same when you know that there are people who don’t live there anymore.

But I made the most of it and hung out with my friends who are still there and even got to see friends from Minnesota who were in SF to visit. They came as I was leaving and we had just enough time to catch up over lunch on Sunday!

More about my trip when I recover from it and the actually get some damn sleep. STUPID JET LAG!

See, 34 is almost 35. And I have had these arbitrary goals and deadlines in my head for when I turn 35. And now that is less than a year away. And holy overwhelming Batman! (Also, key word being arbitrary and that NOTHING WILL HAPPEN IF I DO NOT DO SAID THING BY THE TIME I AM 35!)

The big one is that I’ve always said, in recent years, that if I wasn’t married and a mom by the time I was 35, then 35 was the year I would start to make that happen. And again, holy overwhelming Batman. That is NEXT FUCKING YEAR! I don’t think I’m ready for that. I freaked myself out so much I had to sit down and breathe through a paper bag. Over an arbitrary deadline and AN IMAGINARY BABY!

My birthday ended up being fantastic. I was very meh about it and reminded people of it only once a day, as opposed to once an hour. My co-workers decorated my cube and gave me some lovely flowers and a nice card. And then! One of them made a cake and they all sang to me and we ate delicious pound cake!

For lunch, I met my friends Jen and Kelley for a delicious meal of a burger and fries. After a bit more work, I headed out and went to dinner with another friend in my neighborhood. There I had a lot of wine and great food and the company was even better. I used to work with my friend Jennifer and I hadn’t seen her in a long time and it was good to catch up on more than just short emails.

This last Sunday, I made everyone come out to our football bar to drink beer and watch football with me. It was perfect and everyone showed up and we all had a great time! Well, that I can remember. There were a lot of shots involved and then even more shots. But the best part of day drinking is that you’re done before 6 PM and it is easy to get a lot of rest!

Overall, it was a perfect birthday. And I’m not done celebrating because I still have my celebration with Noah and Skyler and my brother and SIL next weekend. My birthday is the party that keeps on going.

34 will be a good year. I’m sure of it. I’m finally in a job that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I have great friends and an amazing family. I’m a very, very lucky girl.

Sweetness indeed.

I was sad to leave.

It was such a perfect weekend. Well, until I was dropped off at the airport on Sunday evening, but that was no fault of the Martells and all the fault of Mother Nature. She’s been out to get me since I wrote this post.

I arrived Thursday night, met a hot customs agent and then tried to pick him up. He was not impressed because when he asked if I had brought gifts, I showed him my bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee. And he was all “coffee, really? Some friend you are!” And I tried to tell him “no, you don’t understand! This coffee is so good and you can’t get it in Canada!” And then he stamped my passport and wished me on my merry way.

After arriving at the Martell Bed & Breakfast, we chatted, the kids went to bed and then we watched Jersey Shore. People, if the first episode in Italy was any indication, this will be the best season ever.

Yeah, buddy!

Friday morning, I went downtown to the St. Lawrence Market and walked around the market and downtown Toronto by myself until lunch time, when Ali was done working. I remember 2 things about my morning – 1) there was some sort of big news conference outside the market with some person that no one in Toronto, or Canada, knew. Well, according to my Twitter. 2) I had this corn muffin at the market that was probably the best muffin I have ever eaten. I want another one, or 12.

After lunch, we picked up some food and drinks for the ensuing inaugural BBQHer event, which was dinner and wine. And in my case, even more wine. The lovely Sam joined us and it was so much fun. We stayed up until 3 AM drinking and talking. And laughing. Lots of laughing.

Saturday morning, after I slept off that giant 1.5 L of wine, was more talking and drinking (coffee, this time) and laughing. Then we made our own grilled pizzas and had lunch together outside. (FYI, the food all weekend was amazing. I even wrote about Gabe over on Food Lush.)

After lunch, we headed out to the Toronto Beer Fest which, let’s be honest, is my idea of heaven. Except for the fact that they don’t give you unlimited number of beers and you have to buy tokens. I sampled many a Canadian brew and even donned moose antlers. Which I’m pretty sure makes me 1/2 Canadian already.

Sunday was spent sleeping in and relaxing. We had a lovely brunch, played some games (ALI WINS EVERYTHING!!) with the kids and watched a Toddler and Tiaras marathon. It is Isabella’s favorite show. And well, I had never seen it before and it is impossible to look away when it is on.

I left for the airport super early because Gabe mentioned that the customs line would be insane. And since he travelled back and forth between Atlanta and Toronto every 2 weeks for a whole year, he would know. He was so right. The wait was over an hour. There were a few families there with small children and all I kept thinking was “travelling with kids is hard enough, let alone waiting in an hour-long customs line!”

Little did I know at the time, that it didn’t matter. Because my plane would not take off for another three hours. We were delayed. Then we got on the plane, only to sit on the tarmac. To then race across the airport because our runway changed. To then head back to the gate because there was a ground stop in Chicago due to weather and we were running out of gas. To then waiting for the ground stop to be lifted. To then having the ground stop lifted and then having to wait 30 minutes for the fuel truck. To then finally leaving, after sitting on the tarmac for a little bit longer.

Overall, I landed at 10:30 PM, which isn’t too bad. Thank God for the hour time difference. But then our luggage decided to not show up. Not just mine, everyone on our flight. The flight number had disappeared from all the baggage claim screens and yet, NO BAGS. Finally, at a little after 11:30, I got my bag and headed outside to catch a cab home.

NOT SO FAST, KRISTABELLA!

The line for cabs was like 100 people deep. Not surprising, since everyone was delayed coming into Chicago. Thankfully there were tons of cabs and the line moved quickly. I think I made it home a little after midnight and was in bed about 20 seconds later. (Not really, because I’m always WIRED when I get home, no matter how badly I want to sleep.) Also, the cats were very excited to see me and have me turn on the AC again.

And as tired as I was, I CANNOT WAIT for the next time I get to do it all over again!

There were a few reasons for it. One, money. I mean, San Diego is far and I’ve already spent a lot of money this year on my trip to Jamaica. Two, time off. I was hoping to have a new job some time before August 2011 (WHICH I DO, YAY!) and knew getting time off wasn’t going to be easy. Three, last year was super overwhelming and hot damn there were a lot of people. Four, a lot of my people weren’t going. And while I do have many, many friends that are going, my roomies weren’t going. And once you’ve roomed with the same people so many times, why switch it up? We had it down to a routine!

So instead, I’m going to Toronto to visit part of my home base. Because she too is not attending this year. And we have dubbed the weekend BBQHer because……well, I don’t know. I think because he BBQs?

Don’t worry, we won’t be eating people. That I know of. Canada is a whole other country.

But apparently there is a fun weekend of activities planned! Including the Toronto Beer Festival! And catching up with my favoritest people! And games with three adorable children! And grilled meat! I am so excited, I have no words!

I’ve been to Toronto once before. I never wrote about it on here. Mostly because I may have not mentioned the trip to my boss at the time, who thought I was working from home. (Actually she was on vacation, so she didn’t care at all.)

Well, if this is working, then I was doing just that.

We also went to a pumpkin patch. There was a petting zoo. And they had a hay ride and some weird ride that made me dizzy for the rest of the trip. And then, on the customs form on the way back, they asked a question about being around LIVESTOCK and FARM ANIMALS and I LIED! I said I wasn’t because was I going to be detained? I DIDN’T EVEN PET THEM! I JUST TOOK PHOTOS! HOW COULD GOATS BE HARMFUL?? WE LIKE FARM ANIMALS IN THE UNITED STATES!

(Wow, this post is just full of confessions! I really am an honest person! Swearsies!)

So now I’m going to go finish packing. And try to focus on making it through work tomorrow and not filling out any of the wrong forms for customs lest I get detained and this girl doesn’t get her American goodies!

I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Peace out, friends! Have a wonderful weekend!

I had never been to Austin before. The only thing I knew about Austin was that they like their football and burnt orange. Then Regan moved there and opened to my eyes to all the amazing food that was available to shove into my piehole in Austin. So when asked what I wanted to do while I was there, I just said “eat with reckless abandon.”

And I think I did well.

First on my list was Frank, where I had the most amazing sausage ever. It was house-made beef, pork, caramelized shallot and fresh cilantro sausage, with cheddar cheese, scallion, sour cream, guacamole, diced tomato and refried beans. It was freaking delicious. I felt right at home there.

We met Natalie for lunch and it was so lovely to meet her in person. I only wish I could have hung out with her more!

On Friday night, we continued the bloggy theme of the weekend and met out two other bloggers for dinner. I have known TUWABVB online for years and it was such a pleasure to finally meet her in person and hug her and thank her again for keeping me sane through my whole condo-buying experience.

We had dinner at Max’s Wine Dive, which pretty much describes my version of heaven.

Saturday was filled with more food, of course, including lunch at the famous Austin haunt, The Hula Hut.

Then Slynnro took me around Austin, showed me the campus of UT and the capitol building.

And then we went back to the hotel to take a nap. Because we are hard core like that. And let me tell you, it was a glorious nap.

Saturday night was dinner out with Regan and her husband and home early to put on stretchy pants and watch a movie. It sounds boring, but seeing as Regan is pregnant and I’m old, it suited me just fine. It was a perfectly restful, relaxing and enjoyable vacation.

We parted ways on Sunday, not before having one more meal. This one was an amazing fried egg sandwich on challah (HOLLA!) at Diner 24. Yes, again, tasted as good as it looks.

Was a perfect weekend away and it was definitely worth it to finally meet this handsome fellow in person (and chase him around the house and play with his Legos):

Austin, I am in love. I will be back. Next time let’s work on some better weather, shall we?

What I also knew would help? This weekend that I was spending in Minnesota with some of my very best friends. Friends that I don’t get to see enough. Friends who all lived in the same state as me (California) for five years. Friends who I still wish lived so close. Friends who get me, who I can be myself with. Friends who are good for the soul.

We’ve been through a lot together. They are now all married. They have kids. They are pregnant. But spending time with them just leads to a lot of laughing and good times.

My problem is that spending the weekend with two pregnant ladies also convinced me that I was eating for two. I was a little shocked at how tight my pants were this morning.

I also learned that pregnancy is contagious.

This did nothing to quell my baby fever, nor my desire to be pregnant. I mean, I’ll make such a cute pregnant lady, won’t I?

So apparently turning 33 has made me revert to being in my early 20s and partying on school nights and spending late nights in bars. Because I not only celebrated on Sunday, I went out again last night for my actual birthday. And stayed out until almost midnight, which is not what a 33 year old woman should be doing on a Tuesday night. Let me tell you, I may have been partying like I was 23, but I woke up feeling every single one of those 33 years in my aching body.

But it was worth it, mostly. The shots? Probably not worth it. Especially the warm shot of gin I had to do because I kept my friend waiting. Although, I’m sure she wasn’t too sad to be sitting at a bar talking to the cutie bartender.

So yes, we did go back. It was a fun night. There were a lot of shots taken and some people (*cough* my sister Alix *cough*) got a little out of control, but it was an excellent way to spend my birthday.

In hindsight, I probably should have spent my evening on my couch, watching bad TV and cuddling up with my new friend.

Internet, meet the new love of my life:

I had it shipped to work, so my friend at work wrapped it for me so I had something to open on my birthday. Isn’t that cute?

So far, I’m in love with it. And hey, if I don’t buy me a present, who will? The cats? Please, all they gave me was dirty looks and a litterbox full of crap to clean. Ungrateful assholes.

All in all, it was an excellent 33rd anniversary of me being expelled from my mom’s uterus. I had a blast with friends, flirted with a cute bartender and showered myself with gadgets!

And now I’m off to read Hunger Games on my new Kindle. (I think she needs a name.) I want to see what all the hype is about with these books.

:::

So I’m walking in the Chicago Race for the Cure next Saturday and wanted to reach out to all of you to see if you would be willing to help this awesome cause. Breast cancer is such a horrible disease and the more money we raise, the higher the odds we can kick this disease to the curb and save all the boobies!

If you would be interested in donating, I would really appreciate it. I know it is a tough economy, but every little bit helps and I know that breast cancer research would appreciate every penny we raise. You can find my donation page here.