One Year Already!!

The following week in January, things slowed down a bit.  I stayed in and the Golden Globes helped me get through Sunday.  I knew I had a one year old birthday party coming up the following weekend.  Not to mention, I was near the finish line to knock off my huge debt.  I wanted to stay on track with my budget.   I quickly finished up a short book I bought off ebay called "A Technique for Producing Ideas".  I like reading self-help and entrepreneurial books.  Sometimes you need an author to psyche you up!  Plus, I always feel the end results get your brain juices flowing with creativity.  If there's one thing I would take away from this book, is to "not make the mistake of holding your ideas" close to you. " Submit it to the criticism of the judicious."  Even if it's your passion, you NEED to express your ideals to other people and see what they think of them.  Don't take it as someone having the opportunity to be judgmental.  With a new set of eyes, they may see something you could have overlooked.  And if they do find something wrong, go back and fix it!  Trial and error are crucial in making ideas come to life. 
On the 15th my friend held her daughter's 1st birthday at Wonder Works Children's Museum in Oak Park.  I can't believe she had her little daughter one year ago this day!  It's unbelievable how time flies.  She is absolutely precious!!  It sometimes got a little chaotic with all the kids running around, so it helped that my friend rented out the whole place for her little girl.  I also got a chance to catch up with my other friends who became moms last year.  It's getting harder and harder for all of us to get together.  I told myself I will try my best to attend any celebrations I could so I could see how everyone's doing.  My social situation is changing now that they have all settled down.  Whether they know it or not, I still need them in my life but I am understanding how their lifestyles have changed. 
I was invited later on to catch a dj at Paris nightclub afterwards.  Me and my friend who lives downtown (and who is also about to have a baby herself) made our way towards the city.  We both stopped by the Hampton Social to catch up with another friend who was having dinner and drinks there.  We figured it will probably be the last time she could be out in general before she has her baby.  She only stayed out for 15 minutes, but at least she got her chance mingle.  I finished up there and made my way to Paris nightclub.  Luckily we didn't stay out that long.  I was exhausted since I did work that Friday.  It was pretty low key the rest of the weekend.  I thanked the frigid temperatures for that!  It helps make the decision to stay in worth it, plus be on top of your financial goals.

Wonder Work Children's Museum!

Check out that dessert table!

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This little one's birthday will be in May

The birthday girl herself!  She loves pizza!

She made a mess but she's happy!!

  

Cup Chasing!!

As you know, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup again this year.  For any Chicagoan, we go CRAZY whenever one of our teams wins a championship.  One of the winning traditions the Hawks do for their fans is taking the Cup to various places in the city and show up unannounced.  With the help of social media, such as twitter, people get to follow the cup and see where it shows up next.  I love how excited the fans get by just word of mouth.
One Wednesday evening my friend texted me to say that a tweet was sent out on where Old Stanley might be.  It listed various places such as The Scout and Underground as well as Paris nightclub.  We decided to go cup chasing and head downtown.  I had to get up in the morning but decided not to drink at all.  It was the safest way to get up in time for work.  lol. 
I got by the Hubbard neighborhood and quickly texted my friend.  There was a huge line outside of Paris nightclub, along with cops blocking off the streets.  I was guessing they were in there already and quickly ran to Underground.  My initial plan was to get inside a venue before they showed up, but since they were at Paris already, Underground was the place to be.  My friend joined up soon after and we walked around and found some more friends to hangout with.  Well it turned out to be a pretty late night!  It was 1am and STILL NO CUP.  We all kept checking Instagram as well as Twitter constantly for any updates.  Looks like they ended up at Paris around midnight and were still partying it up with the fans.  I did not expect to be out so late, but at this point we were so close to seeing the players, I knew I couldn't leave.  The anticipation was growing and Underground was getting packed.  It was hard not to drink and join in the celebration.  It was finally around 2am when the players walked in.  I was so exhausted by then, but with all of the excitement the crowd was giving them, I got my second wind!  Unfortunately, they DID NOT have the cup with them because apparently the cup has a curfew (go figure).  But it was still a blast we got a chance to party with the players.  I got home by 4am.  Just in time for a nap before I got up for work at 6am.  It was a rough morning but totally worth it!  I would do it all over again... 

Not the actual Stanley Cup.  There were various imitations on the night of the Championship.

Waiting around at Underground...

Still waiting...

STILL WAITING!  lol

They're finally here!!!  The Chicago Blackhawks!!

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