who needs a title!

So...it's been awhile.

I'm sorry, that was the most I could come up with for my intro. A lot has gone on, while at the same time it feels as if nothing has gone on. I'm back at my parents house which is an adjustment. Which is odd, because I was only away from living within this establishment for almost two years time, which is not that significant. It's also weird to think of yourself as needing to adjust into a house in which you grew up in, but the things you grow accustomed to doing outside of your parents roof is hard to adjust out of once you get back living there. Nothing bad, per say, but just small habits you found yourself doing that may not have gone over so hot while rooming with your rents.

Although, I have to say that 2012 is going rather well. I seem to have melted into a stable environment and I can't say anything bad about that. I find myself riding along rather complacently down the old streets and it almost feels like I never left. So this whole jumble of "re-adjustment" and "feeling right at home" are merging, but the end result isn't so bad.

I've created my room to my hearts content and find myself happily in one of the largest bedrooms of the household. My counterpart has come over and "hooked" up my room with all the proper electronics I require (I know, I hate myself for it too) and now I feel pretty good in my own little space. I now find my time spent much differently. I've been a crocheting fool as well as spending time delving into my old tunes on my iPod I found while packing up the other house. My little nook is rather eclectic and I wouldn't have it any other way.

My friend mentioned that this whole 'Parents for roommates' situation is kind of like a re-set button on me figuring out my life. Mostly because I sort of feel like I'm in high school again without all the silly rules. My parents are doing what they can to make the adjustment easy...or something. It's the biggest drag in the world trying to conjure up a plan for yourself. Okay, I guess it's not "the biggest drag" but sometimes it seems pretty damn awful. There are a billion things I want to do. Settling on a few routes seems horrid. I want to perform or promote the hell out of something I believe it. Most importantly, I need to C R E A T E. It is vital to my existence. I need to keep getting inspired to the bone. Needless to say, I am enjoying being 10 minutes away from friends and a glorious 15 minute drive away from work. That gives me adequate time to sing about four Florence songs, or maybe just the same one four times over?

Here are some pictures to sum up my life that has occurred over the past few weeks:

Yep. I look like a Brooks Brothers wife.

I have dyed my hair red. It was time for a change.

If I'm making adjustments, it's likely my hair is going to have to do the same thing.

I actually really like it, yet was terrified because red is the only colour I have not done myself.

I am no stranger to box dye and typically have fabulous luck with it, but I wasn't sure how this would go.

Needless to say, I hope I will stay red for awhile, the best part is that I still feel like myself.

When I've had black/brunette hair in the past... I just feel odd.

I also feel like this hair colour requires a whole different look. Everything needs a collar.

I got a custom order to do a voodoo doll on a cookie.

I was so amped because I love doing weird shit like this on cookies!

Recent cookies I did, cupcake cookies. Gets me every time.

I took a sushi class at Sur La Table with one of my best friends, Meredith.

Her mom had gotten her the class for Christmas and had paid for a friend to take the class.

We ended up eating a making a ton more than I anticipated.

The rolls we made were: California, Spicy Tuna, Rainbow (shown above), and a handroll using Eel which is featured below. Everything was absolutely delicious.

 

I just made this hat the other day.

Crocheting has been a big part of my life lately, especially because I found a goldmine of my old yarn within my parents house. It's rather exhilarating.

In the past few weeks I've gone ahead and decided to open up a little Etsy shoppe

www.etsy.com/shop/tessacrocheted

Seriously. A crocheting fool is who I be!!

 

Let's just say I was way into this outfit in recent days.

I literally think everything in this outfit is thirfted minus the boots and socks.

I love the sweater, but the skirt is the real gem. I thrifted it brand new for $12 and it was $150.00 initially.

I scored this Pendleton coat in the Portland Goodwill.

When I tried it on, about 5 people came up to me and told me I must purchase it.

So I paid $50 for the originally marked $300 brand new coat and walked out revved.

This was when I initially got it and couldn't even wait to be pictured downtown wearing it...

I know. whataloser.

Sometimes I feel like my pictures sum it up best versus me trying to come up with words to describe the past month. Hopefully I can keep up with this sucker. I hope you guys have been keeping it as real!

black birds on a grey sky.

[gloom is here - Thursday]

As a thick layer of gloom hovers over the city of Chicago today, I couldn't seem to find myself in a better mode of complacency. It is exactly what I needed after sunshine fest took over the past week, although getting out and soaking up the last 'without a coat' temperatures of the year were quite satisfying. Waking up to grey skies is automatically waking up to less obligation, or at least it feels that way. Sometimes it makes me down right hyper and I clean the house as if Mr. Clean were coming by for personal inspection, but actually, I would only let him in if he had his all natural counterpart, Mrs. Meyers with him. Let's face it, this is one cute cleaning couple;

A lot of people cannot comprehend why I sometimes possess the serious desire to move to London and forget the sun ever existed. I think grey skies give me some sort of reassurance, like I'm not the only one going through a little instability. I just like variation. Sunny skies all the time would kill me. I'm just not cut out for a bright sky every day, especially if the last thing I'm feeling is sunny and bright, and those days where those feelings cannot even be found the mood chart, that sun better make its way behind some clouds. However, the rain that made itself permanent for a week's time before the week of sun had set in also had a way of messing with my head. Heavy opposites you're playing Chicago. I wish I could ask for a little more consistency in high pressure & low pressure systems. Here's the thing, Thunderstorms tend to balance out my brain perfectly, especially gnarly ones that require tons of warnings to be sent out. It gives me something to track and follow, quite the weather enthusiast. I will admit, sometimes there is nothing like a bright blue sky with the perfect temperature to accompany it, but I could not have it every day.

My counterpart and I have been tampering with the idea of moving to Portland, OR at some point in our lives together. Portland is an absolutely an amazing place for more reasons than one. Whenever I tell people about this the first words out of their mouth generally has to do with things like "It's so rainy" and "Such a high suicide rate" and while this is correct, somehow gloom didn't hit the same in Portland. When we were there last September, it rained two days and was perfectly sunny for two and they have the dreary that does not keep you inside. It more so gives off that "lets get in our galoshes and gallop around town" vibe, which we did, minus galoshes. Plus, this gives you a reason to by one awesome umbrella. CHECK THIS OUT.

seriously: sing a little tune.

My name appears on the work schedule today, and I'm thankful that it did not during the last few sunny days of our Indian Summer. I can go into my windowless work environment and be rest assured that the gloom will still be lingering over us.

OH, YEAH!

Here's some 'Bloom' for Gloom;

Keeping the dream alive [well...]

This past Labor Day weekend isn't exactly what I would have called the most ideal way to brush our summer freckles away, but I'll take it because it is unlikely that I could have spent it with a better companion. We learned, once again, when it rains, it pours. After a car towed, a flooded house, a counterpart's broken hand, a serious longing for candy, and four full trash bags later-here I am. None really need explaining except perhaps the heap of garbage bags that now sit complacently in my car. I guess this perfect Chicago Autumn weather this past Monday gave me the Spring cleaning kick and I tackled my closet. As mentioned previously in some other post [obviously you're an avid reader and nearly have my posts memorized...] Fall is the one season that I actually shop for or get inspired just by the weather. I love going to Goodwill to pick out a few sweaters. In anticipation for that, I thought it would likely be reasonable for me to take a few things there because my closet always has a few unnecessary items. Needless to say, I didn't really expect to be getting rid of SO MANY clothes. The worst part about it is that I just went through my clothes just over a year ago, but I find that sometimes it takes a few closet clean-outs before you let yourself throw away certain items. So here is the final result;

I share a closet with my counterpart. This is my half.

We kind of converted his old bedroom/closet/spare room into one massive walk way so it's all connected.

This organizer pretty much runs the length of the room. It's terribly convenient. Ikea ;)

The motivation to write has been scarce. My motivation to do much is scarce...but rest assured! I am indeed getting things done, i.e. lots of paper & yarn flowers. In case you haven't heard [you probably haven't] I'm barely working these days. Which can be great for things like crafts, long walks, and quality time with my cat. It can be bad for things like; bills, food, and my general well being. However, my house is constantly clean, laundry never piles up, and I have my Saturdays back. Don't worry, this whole paragraph will be just chocked full of comparative measure, but my intentions are good. It just feels nice to have so much time to do all the things that I've been wanting to do but haven't had the time to do because I was working at the prime "get things done" hours.

One of the primary reasons that I find it so hard to snag another part time gig is because of the huge amount of talk going on in this household revolving around a move to Portland, OR. I fear finding a part time job that I end up falling in love with and progressing rather quickly into something more stable and finding it that much harder to detach myself from when it comes time to move. There's a lot more that goes into the reasons why I do not even want to tamper with deplorable search to find a job; I sort of like my soul and it's such a shame when it gets sucked out of me and if you possess a job it's bound to happen.

...but after watching this video, it seems like it would be pretty easy to detach yourself from anything to keep the dreams alive!

{We are pretty into Portlandia in this house and we wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm so glad it's renewed. Back on IFC in January. YAY! It only adds to the excitement/motivation.}

I feel like I can't be picky when it comes to choosing a job, but I am. There are some things that I just cannot see myself doing, and the whole process is just damn depressing. Everything I want to do I'm extremely unqualified for, but dudes! Doesn't On-The-Job experience count for anything these days? Oh you bet it does. Especially with the decline of available/qualified workers for highly technical positions in this country; a few examples here [1], [2]. Ha! I cannot help but laugh when I see that the latter was written in 1989, proving that this has been a pressing problem from 20+ years, yet the education just continues to dwindle down as the funding gets taken away. Companies are starting to take people and train them as they go along because that is the best place for them to learn; schools aren't teaching it. To me, books can never give you anything near a real life experience anyway. It is like my meteorology teacher always said: "You're reading a book on how to ride a bike. It's useless." which is not the most motivating thing one can hear, but he was absolutely right. Anywho; here's how jobs are looking.


With Fall brings; good shows, spooktacular weather, trying to out-carve my pumpkin from last year, amazing seasonal eats, and it of course starts the countdown for me dressing up as Rachel Maddow for Halloween this year. The only problem I may encounter is something with that wig, which would ultimately be the end of that idea. Hopefully the search won't be as irritating as I'm expecting it to be. Overall, this season always has good things in store. It makes me realize how much I find other seasons to be completely useless.

So yeah, I wasn't yanking your chains when I told you I was getting downright crafty. Here's one of my favourite things I made from the weekend;

The Crayon Meltdown

In music news, I am so happy that PJ Harvey took home her second Mercury Prize-the first artist ever to do so. Her album 'Let England Shake' came out earlier this year and I fell in love with it right away. I'm glad to see it got the recognition it deserved. I also have to admit I am SO glad that she outdid Adele for the prize. I love Adele, but DAMN I'm worn out. While I also think that Adele is plenty talented, I feel that PJ Harvey is more of an artist.

[read more here]

It seems as if I've been writing this post for days...

730 day adventure!

A counterpart post. It seems necessary even though I'm not a huge advocate for plastering a relationship online. It's been a wonderful 730 days...or two years, and I feel really lucky. I've learned so much and we have grown so well together. It's always an adventure getting to know someone and getting to live with my counterpart has taught me so much about sharing space and about myself. Continually syncing with another person is such a delight. But most importantly, if you haven't learned to say "I'm sorry", "You're right", and "I was wrong" then you might as well not even be in a relationship. I mean, am I right? **

So enough said, here are a few of my favourite pictures over the course of the two years we've spent together;

In one of our favourite places-Portland, OR. Sporting his French Press from Public Domain.

I love this picture of him. Well...I guess I love all pictures of him.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin seeing Spoon for New Years Eve. Ringing in 2010.

This was a crazy night, but the concert was a blast.

Picture got kind of messed up, but I adore it anyway.

Oh fabulous Hilton Head, one of our many awesome vacations taken in the summer of 2010.

Taken at Dolphin Head

At one of my best friend's houses for her birthday bash. I love this picture of us together hangin out in the city.

In Savannah in the summer of 2010 on our 18th story balcony to the hotel.

More from the Hilton Head trip. Eric came here continually throughout his life and it was important that we saw it and spent time here.

His birthday after dinner celebration that we had in Hilton Head.

We never mind taking time to break for pool.

I cannot forget to mention that he got me one fabulous gift! or two...

I knew that these were coming and I could not wait to open these bad boys this morning, let alone wear them out on our date this evening. Don't worry, I 'Daria'-ed them up with a mini skirt and flattering top. Needless to say, the reaction was very good. I'm very thankful! ::endless stream of smiley faces/exclamation points::

(that's much more convenient to read out...yeah?)

**So that string of sentences together with me ending it "am I right?" reminded me of an episode of 'The Simpson's' that Eric and I watched earlier. I thought it was funny because I only noticed it after I re-read it after it was posted and then remembered laughing about it earlier. TWO-FER! Here's the clip;

ENJOY!

My Golden Age: Being 22

ALAS! This post is finally getting written. Settle in, suckers! It's going to be a longggg one! It has been building up in my mind and fingers for just over a month now. Now that it is here I'm a tad anxious (BIG TIME ANXIOUS).

As I review the post from this time last year, I can't help but think that it was an extremely weak lead up into turning 22. Maybe that's because I was being extremely naive about what the year would actually hold for me. I cannot even believe it it actually unfolded how it did. I want to always remember this year, so I'm here to summarize the hell out of it.

Of course, I turn to Lin Brehmer to really pull this whole thing off. When I first heard this

'"Lin's Bin" about what it meant to be 22

air a few months ago, I thought it was just by sheer luck. I was closing up in my shoppe, and perhaps I was there a little later than I should have been, and then it was time and I heard this ode to being 22. And I listened. And I cried. How was I going to part with this fabulous age full of the most amazing experiences? How was 23 going to be better than 22? I don't know what it is about this new age of 23, but I'm extremely finicky about it. Is it the number? Maybe I'm getting that irritating flashback of Blink-182 where they declare "Nobody likes you when you're 23!" It could be likely this feeling is provoked by people saying "being 23 sucks." It does kind of sound like a drag. I'm really trying to find a bright side to this. So here's to the year! Everything below stands out extremely vividly in my mind over the course of being 22. Of course it's in order! ;)

The New Living Situation (3/21)

I moved in with Eric a few days before my birthday, but I think officially the day before. It's the first time living away from my parents and it's been a really great experience. We've really made this space our own, even though it was a total bachelor pad. I have not "chick-ed" out his place and have kept it preeettttyyy neutral. But I have learned so much this year through living with Eric. I feel like a completely different person through all the things I've encountered & picked up from him. He got me hooked on a countless number of shows, politics, and technology. I couldn't be more thankful that I live with such an amazing person & I get to share my space with him each day. How fantastic!

The first show in order after turning 22 was Spoon on (4/1)

no pictures unfortunately (on an old phone). It was at the Aragon and we had a good spot. A great show, very similar to the New Years Eve show, except they included more songs because their new album was actually out by the time April came around. I love seeing Spoon with Eric just because he loves them and I love them and we just enjoy seeing them together a lot. He just has so much excitement when he sees them live and I like seeing that come through :)

Thom Yorke with Atoms For Peace was next show at the Aragon on (4/11)

I really wanted to be front row for this, but I knew it would be a tough feat. We ended up having pretty good spots, but we were back at the Aragon (It kind of felt like home last year). It was amazing, but that feels like an obvious statement because it's Thom Yorke we're talking about here. One of my favourite artists of all time, I couldn't believe I was seeing him live. I couldn't contain myself when he busted out some Radiohead. This was one of my birthday presents from Eric.

The next night was Florence + The Machine on (4/12) at the House of Blues

(review for both of these shows here)

Holy hell. I can't even believe this experience happened. LOOK HOW CLOSE I WAS! I went to this show with one of my best friends, Cady. You don't even understand the disappointment I feel when I know I will be missing her second show here in Chicago, but I know that this first show was the true primo experience. Two of my all time favourite artists back to back?! Something like that only happens if you're golden. Or if you're my mom and see Melissa Etheridge onenight and Madonna the next. That's pretty close too. Oh & I snagged the setlist ;)

On (4/22) we saw Passion Pit at Congress Theatre!

This show was righteous because it was on the 22nd of a month, so that was ideal.

The amount of kids on drugs at this show was almost overwhelming.

There were kids throwing up and passing out in all corners and in bathrooms.

It was just extremely odd. We were all the way in the back, but could see because we were on a platform. I'm just so glad they closed out with "Sleepyhead" because that song ruled my life for a solid month. I have to make a not here because the lead singer, Micheal Angelakos had a sinus infection and seriously sounded amazing. I was skeptical about seeing them live, but they're great.

on (5/20) we saw Metric at the Vic

Woohoo! I love Metric. I remember the first time Cady & I saw them a few months before at Cubby Bear we were going to start our own Metric Religion. I went with Eric to this show and he wasn't feeling the whole meshed in the crowd show thing so we headed up to the balcony. We parked it in front row all the way to the left. As soon as the music started I was up and dancing. Opps-I'm a crowd person, I need to dance exuberantly at shows. I continued to be the only one even standing, let alone dancing, which allowed Emily Haines and I to have a moment at the end where we pointed at each other from stage to balcony. It happened and it was beautiful. Emily Haines always makes me want to be a rock star.

A few days after on (5/29) we packed up

& flew down to Savannah, GA for a week to spend here & in Hilton Head

I had never been here before, but Eric had been many times as a kid & it's one if his favorite places. We rented a convertible and cruised all over Savannah and Hilton Head. I was so excited to get to see that place and he was happy to have shared those memories with me. We went during his birthday, so we were there until June 6th or so. Such a great vacation! I did a huge wrap up in this entry.

A few days after we returned we saw Phish at Toyota Park (6/11).

It was Eric's first Phish show if that says anything. I had seen them twice before. Both times with my brother and sister-in-law and this time Eric joined us. I love seeing Phish just because you can let loose and enjoy yourself, but it depends heavily on who is seated around you. Especially at this sort of venue. I remember camping out and going to see them a few summers ago. Ha, that was a wild experience. However, Phish played my DREAM SET on this particular night. Wolfman's Brother, David Bowie, Divided Sky, Golgi Apparatus, & Prince Caspian! Seeing them on this date was significant. I had seen them on 8/11/09. The day after I started dating Eric. But on this particular night we learned Eric doesn't dig live Phish in the most hilarious way ever. He totally fell asleep :( ha ha ha.

I saw Modest Mouse at Pitchfork on Friday (7/16)

They played a lot of good songs, I'm not really a huge fan of outdoor venues, depends heavily on the artist/crowd. It was similar to the show Eric and I saw awhile back of them at the Aragon. This show was one of the three tickets Eric got me for my birthday :)

Then one of the best nights ever happened; Natalie Merchant on (7/22)

I treated my mom to this one because she had initially turned me on to her music when I was a child. I wrote a huge review on the ticketmaster website. It will be the last one featured if you're interested in reading more about it. During "Kind & Generous" she called down from the stage to ask if my mom and I were "Mother and Daughter?" because we were dancing all over the place together. I snagged a setlist from this show as well. I just never ever thought I would see this artist live. I couldn't even fathom the idea, but when I got those tickets in the mail, it was almost surreal, and then seeing the marquee made it so official and wonderful!

A couple weeks after this was our one year :) (8/12)

and no, we don't like Starbucks coffee-we actually hate it, but that's just where it started :)

I didn't just make him the cookie. Eric got me this Arrested Development memorabilia.

Gob is my favourite character in the show and he uses this scarves in the episode "Missing Kitty". I couldn't even believe it when I opened it!

We spent a day in Chicago on (8/14)

We ate an amazing breakfast at Orange where I got this amazing Chai Tea French toast;

We also caught a Sox game, my first one with my die-hard sox fan of a companion.

He was at the World Series game where they won and enjoys the games immensely.

This is where I guess I was inducted into fan-ship on this day.

He even got me a shirt. I guess that makes it official.

In mid August, a furry friend arrived at our house!

His name is Toby! We took him in after a friend of mine needed a place for her cat to live.

We love him and are so glad we didn't pass up the opportunity! He is a great cat :)

On (9/22) I took a night flight out to Portland, OR to meet Eric

We had wanted to go to Portland together sometime soon, and then the opportunity arose for him to go on business. He did for the first half of the week and I flew out there on Wednesday night. It was an amazing trip. We went to a bunch of scenic spots, went out to the coast, drove up to Washington, stood in a Lahar, and just enjoyed the hell out of each other's company for 5 days. Wow, what an amazing trip to an amazing place. You just get this vibe there. It's a weird place and I hope it stays that way

.

pictures: Mount St. Helens/Lahar, Yale Park (just a park we stopped at on the drive to Washington), I believe this was a sound we went to, Our hotel room at The Nines (I love this hotel), and Eric and I around in Portland. He's holding coffee from our favourite place out there, Public Doman.

In September I made a huge hair change when I took quite a few inches off.

I did it in my bathroom by myself. I cut it to above my shoulders and I am glad I did it.

I mean, I wish I still had long hair, but it was full of impossible layers. It needed to go one length.

The picture above is halfway. It happened in two stages. You'll see that below.

On (10/5) my Nephew was born.

Jack is the first baby I've ever held.

I couldn't have been more terrified.

October brought a lot of excitement!

I carved a pumpkin that was worthy of putting a candle in!

Eric and I made our third trip of the year by road-trippin out to DC for the Rally To Restore Sanity on (10/30) on the National Mall. He told me we were going as soon as it was announced and there was no objection. We are totally the couple that can be couped up for 10 hours in a car and not go nuts too. That helps. It was a really unique experience. I'm really glad we went.

On the way back home on (10/31) we went to both air and space museums.

I've been to the one at the Smithsonian, but not to the one in Virginia, where they have the good planes. So since it was only thirty minutes away and on the way home anyways, we made a pitstop. I got to see CONCHORDE up close and personal. I love that plane. We watched a documentary on it early in the year and it brought me to tears, I wish it was still in flight. I also got to see the SR-71 Blackbird. I believe it can get from L.A. to New York in 90 minutes. It could be less. It's no longer in flight, but it is such a beauty.

On (11/6) I spontaneously went on a trip with my father to Japan.

You can read more about how that happened HERE. I spent a 9 days there with family and it was such an exquisite experience! I got to see my niece for the first time and see that wonderful country! You can find an onslaught of pictures/summary HERE.

So after I came back from my adventure, it was smooth cruisin' in cookie world as I incorporated some Japanese & Chinese in one bouquet;

Thanksgiving and Christmas were both wonderful. We split them evenly between our families. It was a really good holiday season.

We ended the year on (12/31) with staying in the city.

We saw the Black Keys and stayed two nights at The Hotel Monaco in our favourite suite.

You can read about that whole weekend HERE.

That pretty much sums up everything big that we've done. When people ask me why it is I'm so sad to be 23, I tell them what I did when I was 22 and they join in with my mindset. I saw so many amazing artists, met some great people, learned so much about such a wide variety of things, and just have gained this sense of security that even though I don't know exactly what I'll do for the rest of my life, that I'll make my way. I feel so lucky to have experienced so many trips to different places all over this country and even internationally. I have grown in ways of what it is like to have to be responsible for keeping up a house.

I have learned three things while being 22 and will only continue to grow with this practice-

Ladies; Intelligence, Confidence, & Femininity are your three sharpest tools. Use them.

I have learned the perfect instance in which to just walk away.

I have learned to keep my mouth shut at the right time, but I have learned to speak up when I feel it's necessary or want to learn more on the subject.

I have learned a long walk can fix a lot.

I have learned that there is nothing quite like waking up next to your best friend everyday, but still longing to see them at the end of each work day.

There are many things that I have learned, but as long as I'm alive, that's going to keep happening. As Lin said, "expect suggestions...". I always will expect something from people, but if I get suggestions, let's just hope for good ones. I accept advice with open arms, but I'm careful on which bits to follow.

I'm not afraid of getting older, I just like the numerical appearance of 22. It was also, of course my Golden Year. The best year I've encountered. I can only hope 23 will go smoothly. I'm sure if I still have the momentum of everything that happened last year pushing me, then I will be just fine :)

-Tessa