Good Friday

Friday has finally come and the sun decided to grace Chicago with its presence.

 

In other news my fly just broke while I am sitting at my desk and eating a eating a peanut butter chocolate egg. My self-esteem just nosed dive.

 

I leave you with one of my favorite Scrub moments

 

Live it up people!

Love, love, love
Bridge

Travel Bug

Ever since coming back from NYC I seem to have been bitten by the travel bug. In fact, I booked a spontaneous trip to Cleveland for my big brothers birthday. I realize how the travel bug has not inspired some of the most exotic trips but its all about the baby steps. 

Lucky for me, my family trip to Ireland is right around the corner and I could not be more excited about it. Not only do I get to visit a place I have never been before but I also get to do it with my favorite people in the world. Plus we do have some Irish in our blood so it is only fitting that we should all go to the motherland together. Currently I am trying to convince 3 of my siblings to partake in making a music video while there but I haven't gotten very far on that. I haven't given up.

See if you can see me in this music video. 

Love, love, love
Bridge

NYC Recap

Another amazing weekend in NYC has come and gone. Every NYC trip planned always turns out better than expected and this was no different.

The weekend was filled with so many good times and here are just a few highlights...

These two love doves took me The High Line which is a park built on elevated subway tracks. Even though though it was a little chilly (apparently in NYC they just can't handle the 40's.) it was really cool to see! There were little chargers on some of the benches so you could charge your cell phones and fancy wooden sunbathing chairs for the summer. Just the typical park experience.

After The High Line we started Saturday morning with a a boozy brunch which was especially fun because it was a mini high school reunion. One of the things that I loved about going to my high school is that every time some of us get together it is filled with hilarious but comfortable conversation no matter how much time has passed. Also, in case you were wondering you can have to many blinis at an unlimited two hour brunch. Sick.

Some NYC hipsters. :)

We checked out The Standard Beer Garden later in the afternoon which was amazing and probably the biggest beer garden I have ever seen. Something to go back to for the summer visit.


I know it appears that all I did was drink during this weekend trip however I did get one bucket list item crossed off. I finally got to go to the Empire State building!

In case you ever wonder how big NYC really is go to the Empire State Building. The view really shows you how overwhelming large the city is. Even though Meggy and I might or might not have been tricked into buying fancy tickets off the street that included an intense roller coaster video narrator by Kevin Bacon I definitely think it was worth it.

The city just goes on and on and on.

The best part of the whole weekend was catching up with two of my closest, Meggy and Christina. With so many of my close friends not living in Chicago it is always amazing to just spend time taking and laughing with them.

All in all it was another ridiculous/fantastic weekend in New York City.

Love, love, love

Bridge

Tuesday Song

I know this is a day late but I got really into the Hanson station on iheartradio last night while I was working in the dark and I wanted to share and oldie but goodie. My company tends to turn off the lights come 7:00pm so if you have to stay late to work it is really creepy/depressing.

This week has been so much chaos at work and there seems to be no end in sight. Luckily, I found out yesterday that I got promoted so it was a big morale/self-esteem boost!! I felt so good I convinced myself to go running even though I didn't get home till 9pm. (Don't worry Dad, I went to the gym didn't have headphones in while walking late at night.) Now I only need the temperature to rise past 30 degrees and I really will be living the dream.

 

Love, love, love

Bridge

Weekend Snaps

This past weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year...St. Patrick Day! It is sort of a big deal in my family and the past couple years I have been celebrating all the downtown festivities with them. This year we decided to keep it real authentic by having a dinner the night before at an Italian restaurant. How appropriate. 

Brenny and I, Michale and Karen, Pattie and Mom, Brenny and Mk

Even though the weather was terrible is Chicago we still spent the day showing our Irish pride with lots of beer, parties and food. Plus it was the first year my little brother was able to celebrate ChiIrish and from the looks of it I think he had fun. ;)

Michael Pattie Brenny, Karen Michael Pattie, Brother, Matt Kirk

And just in case you don't really get the whole Irish thing I will share with you an email that my Dad forwarded today. It really sums up being Irish. I hope everyone had a fun and safe St. Patrick Day. 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN AN IRISH FAMILY
1) You will never play professional basketball.

2) You swear very well.

3) At least one of your cousins is a fireman, cop, bar owner, funeral home owner or holds political office and you have at least one aunt who is a nun or uncle who's a priest.

4) You think you sing very well.

5) You have no idea how to make a long story short!

6) There isn't a big difference between you losing your temper or killing someone.

7) Many of your childhood meals were boiled. Instant potatoes were a mortal sin.

8) You have never hit your head on a ceiling.

9) You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer.

10) You're strangely poetic after a few beers.

11) Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.

12) Many of your sisters and/or cousins are named Mary, Catherine or Eileen and there is at least one member of your family with the full name of Mary Catherine Eileen.

13) Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.

14) You may not know the words, but that doesn't stop you from singing.

15) You can't wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking.

16) You're not nearly as funny as you think you are but what you lack in talent, you make up for in frequency.

17) There wasn't a huge difference between your last wake and your last keg party.

18) You are, or know someone, named Murph.

19) If you don't know Murph then you know Mac. If you don't know Murph or Mac, then you know Sully. Then you probably know Sully McMurphy.

20) You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.

21) You have Irish Alzheimer's, you forget everything but the grudges!

22) 'Irish Stew' is a euphemism for 'boiled leftovers.'

23) Your skin's ability to tan not so much. (Only in spots!)

24) Childhood remedies for the common cold often included some form of whiskey.

25) There's no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45 minutes.

26) At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other. Not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other.

Love, love, love

Bridge

Winter in the Spring and Bathroom Tears

Did you know that today in Chicago it is currently 26 degrees out? And we are suppose to get snow tonight? And its March 14th? And Chicago had a record this winter for so many consecutive days without snow? So this totally makes sense. Grrr. The cold is really cramping my style. I decided to wear a bright neon shirt to work today which is my way of giving the weather the bird. Work has been unusually stressful and I ended up crying in the bathroom yesterday. I had one of those day where I kept tearing up and finally around 4:45 I just went into a stall and broke down. Crying is sort of my way stress relief.

 

So today I am starting over. Instead of tossing in the towel and to giving up on the week I am going to start over. Today will be fresh and better. (Fingers crossed). I am going to not focus on how bad the beginning of the week was but try let go and make the end of the week better. After all St. Pattys day is this weekend and I need to be in high spirits for one of the best days of the year.

 

Here is to dreaming of warming days.

Love, love, love

Bridge

Antique Tacos

One of my besties also lives in Chicago and unfortunately we don't spend enough time together. She is busy being an adult who owns property, is madly in love and teaches the youth of America while I am busy contemplating my life choices, eating pizza and getting into Downton Abbey. We are basically the same person. We were able to get together last night and spend some much needed time together stuffing our faces with Mexican food.

 

One of the things I love about the Chi is that we have some of the best restaurants. Depending on your mood there is a number of different places to try. Personally I am always in the mood for Tacos! Plus I have this belief that I would win an eating contest when it comes to tacos. A little secret...one time I ate two Chipotle burritos. It was a bet but I legit had no problem doing it. I am not overly proud of that accomplishment.  

 

Last night Lisa and I decided to check out Antique Taco in Wicker Park. Not only was it a 10 minute walk from my house, meaning it will be frequently visited, but it's delicious! One of the tacos actually had bacon on it...bacon people. We also tried the chili with cheese curds on top. I know...how authentic. Plus we got a pint of the Rosemary margaritas. Let's just say it was a very successful meal. If you ever happen to be in the Wicker Park hood you definitely need to check it out and invite me.

 

Love, love, love

Bridge

March + Snow + Tuesday Song

Living in Chicago my whole life you think I would get use to the snow in March but I still haven't. I am not someone who hates snow but I just appreciate when it comes at appropriate times of the year. When March rolls around I am always ready for some warm weather. Unfortunately we are in the middle of snow storm. WTF. 

The miserable weather is really starting to test people. Not only are people smiling less and less but everyone general attitude is a big F you.  Commuters have less patience, work seems to drag, and bringing your giant down coat to a bar is harder and harder. Plus at this point you have most likely binge watched most TV series you have been wanting to see. 

Luckily, the warm weather is just around the corner and soon enough there will be plenty of days spent bumming around the city, day drinking, and having to worry about losing less items at a bar. 

I discovered this song on another blog I follow and it became an instant fav. Enjoy!

Love, love, love

Bridge