In recent times... (photo journey)

A lot has happened lately. Way too much to "catch up" in a traditional style blog post, but needless to say, things are going well. Very well. Sometimes you learn that you have to let things go, even if you don't want to, and that was something I recently learned. It actually slapped me across the face when the lesson presented itself, but I'd like to think I prevailed. I have captured a handful of things that can patch things up pretty nicely here, pictures are definitely the best way to go. These shots started in the middle of May and go through how I ended my night last night. Enjoy!

This day was pure hell. This was pictured on the Friday before Mother's Day weekend. There was country music blaring, there was horrible energy floating throughout, and I would have rather been on that drill box. Needless to say, I finally quit that soul-sucker of a job. I did it. And it was about time.

and of course I made a bit of a scene and walked out. Chya'know.

This was before I went over to Yara's, one of my really good friends who lives in the city. I drove in to celebrate her birthday. The last time I had worn that shirt was in Harajuku and knew that I had to wear it to a fun occasion. Mission Accomplished.  It was a Tuesday night party and I think that's pretty awesome. It was also the same day that I quit my job, so I got to go out, drink, and mingle with some pretty rad folks on a night where I would have otherwise been slaving over cookies. I'll take it.

These little delicious gems came from The Doughnut Vault. This is a place that my buddy and I had been talking about for a long, long time and the opportunity is hard to snag if you're not a city dweller. Luckily, these were some smart ladies I was with and they knew that DV was the only way to go for an after birthday -party breakfast.

Especially a few hours before...

 Vertical Velocity

[watch here]

Superman

[watch here]

you can't really tell from the video, but you are flipped on your stomach on this ride to give you that flying effect. This is the only roller-coaster that really screws with me because I literally feel like I'm going to die

...the whole time.

SIX FLAGS!

I haven't been here in years, but I have walked this park top to bottom in my past years so I'm real familiar with the environment and the rides. I'm a HUGE fan of coasters, especially Raging Bull and Vertical Velocity, but all of them all require front row. Not only was it a gorgeous day outside, but it was the first week day that it as open and the lines were extremely short. A new coaster also opened that day as well, X Flight, and the steel monster waited so kindly until after we got off to break down. I went with a group of three which is either awesome or whack.; this group was golden. The day was an amazing way to kick off my work freedom.

Heard some ice creep tunes comin' around the block.

Obviously I had to go for it! First time in years and my girl Kaitlin snagged this photo!

Yeah, you can just get right in the fountains in Downtown Naperville.

Well, we did.

our group + awkward girl in front of the buffalo with tennis balls for eyes.

This was in the front yard at the party.

This night turned out to be pretty rad.

It was nice to go sit around a bonfire, drink a few beers, and chat with some new people as well as your good friends.

Zed the Zebra, and my coffee/cigarette love affair.

Caribou of course.

been trying to get out and walk around as much as I can in the preserves, prairies, and neighborhood sidewalks. This was in the forest the other week.

Went to a Memorial Day party that turned out to be pretty damn tops!

Gettin' funky with some finger tentacles in a shoppe Downtown Naperville.

Paper Source has a whole bunch of super cute things for wrapping/cards/accessories & it's always worth a bop-in.

Walking through a prairie I frequent up the street from my house.

me on the path

Oh, this day. How marvelous!

Walking along the beach/lake shore in Chicago before a fine, fine dinner at Spiaggia.

This was the only picture I was able to snag whilst in there because, well, let's be honest, I don't even remember taking this picture and it's definitely the kind of place that you don't just pull out your phone-to do anything. This was the drink paired with our dessert. Dan and I chose to do the tasting menu (DEGUSTAZIONE DEL FINALE) because we wanted everything paired with the right wine and liked the food on the menu itself. It was such a great experience, and although I've been here before, I'm glad we took the opportunity to break it down dish by dish, especially because we were SO excited for everything. What an amazing weekend.

swing swagger.

I've been going to way too many parks and enjoying the same past times as a six year old.

NO REGRETS.

Meredith snapped this photo at lunch.

The same fountain I was dipping into a few pictures above.

Unfortunately, Downtown Naperville becomes a repeat location, making it a challenge to go down there and make it still seem exciting.

Local candy shoppe.

some first cold treats of the season featured with tights, because, well, of course.

Slurpees and Red Mango!

A lil' skeleton face I cut into the back of one of my cover ups.

when it hits summertime, you can never get me away from the swings.

One of my favourite pairs of tights.

I rock tights hard with a pair of shorts.

Hangin' with one of my girls in a rockin' preserve that I had never been to before.

Candice snagged this shot!

went to a Sox game and it was rather awesome considering how well they played.

colouring with my mom when we were out to eat and waiting for our food.
She wanted the activity booklet. I settled for the silverware paper roll...

After trekkin' around downtown Naperville for some dinner and great company!

Who is your favorite person?

FLORENCE WELCH.

I wrote it four times.

GREAT QUESTION, CARIBOU!

spectrum nails with my rad dress skirt.

me and one of my best friends, Brooke at a wedding we attended a couple weeks ago.

some photobooth action with Steve! This was a cool feature they had at the wedding, allowing everyone to take a little something fun home.

I ended up swiping these from the wedding because the DJ had a random 'bag of crap' of stuff to to hand out to us while we got down on the dance floor. Like I could really give these puppies back?

On the way to my first time seeing Radiohead.

I decided to sport my silly bandz necklace, because..um, obviously!

It was at the Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park.

I was extremely skeptical because the sound there is not ideal and we were in the lawn.

However, my mind walked away from this show completely fucked and they played my dream set.

I literally felt so lucky to have been part of the group I was in;

Brookie, Eric, Dan, Steve, Sarah, and Mike & luckily I ran into one of my girls when I was there.

AMAZING SHOW; check the setlist.

This was our view, but my view wasn't what I was concerned with. It was the amazing sound blasting through the speakers and hitting my body. This show allocated me to dance freely to the tunes as well as be found on the ground sobbing my face off. It was a fantastic contrast and I just was so enamored.

I made my way back down to the city and enjoyed some free time walking around before my morning train went out. It was so nice to be boppin' about in the city on a beautiful day when everyone else is at work.

Obviously I parked it in Millennium Park in front of The Bean.

Adam snagged this shot after we did a little stop and stroll in the forest.

Dan and I went to Graham Elliot Bistro this past Sunday for Brunch. I was so stoked to not only see that they had Chicken and Waffles, but to have the menu laid out on a vinyl. Cute idea. I loved my meal, my company, and of course, the mimosas!

Dan and I chillin' proper in the city after a long day of walking around.

Ah, how my afternoon was spent yesterday.

I'm going to be working at a new bakery that's opening up in town.

MISS JOAN'S CUPCAKES!

I wanted to make each flavor card a little different, but this is the main menu.

It was time consuming, but I am happy with the final result. 

Ah. How the night concluded. Draggin' a fag to the beat of a rockin' cup of chamomile.

The ring is one that Dan got me at the Randolph Street Fair. And I'm in love with it.

One of my best friends, Erin, came over last night after 10pm for a catch up/smoke session.

We had a really nice conversation late into the summer night, I am thankful for these times and the more I will have this summer with these rad, rad folks I've got in my life right now.

Ah. Through all of this, I have been unemployed, which has been terrifying for me. I've had a job since I was 15, and being 24 and not working for just over a month is something that has been quite stressful and rather amazing. I got to do a lot of things I wouldn't have been able to do if I were still employed at that hell hole. I am so glad that I decided to walk out when I did, even if I have been major strapped for cash lately, and enjoy the kick-off to summer. There was more I could have done, sure, but fund$ were a constant issue. I feel VERY grateful for the people in my life who understand my situation and took me out any way. Alas, I start my new job this week as a baker/decorator. Here's to the new adventure and here's to your summer journey!

-Tessa

Twenty Four, Florence, Cocktails, and all the in-betweens.

So last post, I decided to skip over the twenty four talk and instead dove head first into my love for Lana Del Rey. Here I am, making up for just that. Here's the lowdown cats;

So I turned twenty four on March 22. This was a fabulous day; not only was I turning even numerically, but it was 80º in Chicago...IN MARCH. Not only was it warm as hell, it was SUNNY. I spent the whole day with people I loved and everything had gone exactly how I had imagined in my head, BUT BETTER. The shopping during the day and the fantastic cocktails we polished off at Sepia, strolling through the city with that buzz given to us by Josh Pearson. I knew this was a fabulous sign and something I could bank on. I knew this year was going to be amazing. I really just started this year off with a different mindset. Don't get me wrong, my Golden year, 22, was a year to remember, but there is something different about this. Of course, the lingering obviousness is that I am older and in a whole new place in my life. I have taken a step back from a lot of things, I have realized A LOT, and I am ready to start making shit happen for myself. You know that feeling? When you just start like...owning it? I'm still working on it, but damn. Here are some pictures from the evening.

Those drinks were absolutely scrumptious. I have had the Sepia Mule a handful of times, but was dying to come back and try the French 75 or the Boston Martha. So glad that I was able to guzzle down the former this time.  The potroast fries? YES PLEASE! I have been here a handful of times and have never seen these or ordered these before. That makes me think I was having huge lapses of brain function every other time I've pranced into the place and ordered. We were sat in my favourite room at Grand Lux. It was an amazing night in the city.

Things have just been going really well this year. My attitude towards life is just different. There are things that dragged me down so hard when I was 23, that I've let go of in the beautiful age of 24. Florence made 23 worth getting through, but this just seems to present more opportunity. My living situation is much more stable and that has contributed to a good deal of my feelings of contentment.

A delicious highlight of this age is that I saw Florence + The Machine last weekend for the fourth time. Of course, it was mind-blowing, there are no other words to describe it. Unreal. There is no doubt that it is like a religious experience, I give my mind, my body, and my soul to Florence + The Machine and it's a beautiful thing. I was close, but not close enough. I am just so relieved they got my cookies this time as well. This time, I actually had more time to conjure up ideas because I've been thinking about it ever since I did them last time and what I could do the next time the opportunity arose. Originally I was going to keep it a Chicago thing, but I couldn't even fathom going to this show without sending them cookies. We waited in line for 9+ hours in the cold Milwaukee rain, of course, intervals of time were spent in a car, the McDonalds bathroom, and various shops to accommodate our needs. Knowing that Florence and her machines were buzzing around that venue/area pulled my emotions 5 different ways. It is forever unfortunate knowing that we could have had the chance to meet them if we would have just chosen to be that much more creepy (in a good way, I suppose). A slew of people met them before and after the show. It's actually gut wrenching knowing that I didn't have a chance to tell them how awesome they are in person versus in writing. I'm just thankful they saw my cards/packages and that the show was so beyond. When it comes down to it, nothing will ever be like that December 4th show. That was just tops. No other show I will ever go to will top that night. 99.4% of the things that happen in my life won't be as rad as Dec. 4, but you get the idea. So I will be off to see Florence + The Machine as the name appears on the bill for Lollapalooza.

The amazing Florence + The Machine in Milwaukee.The Rave/Eagles Ballroom 4.29.12

I thrifted my dress a few weeks before the show and knew I had to wear it to one of her shows at some point. I L O V E D her cape. I also got raised up for 'Rabbit Heart' and that was a huge highlight, not for the people behind me, I'm sure. I was a phenomenal show.

 

these are cookies that I did for the band this time around. I did Isa playing the piano in her pterodactyl costume. It was a joke tweet she sent to Florence when they were going to perform on X Factor, which is where I originally got the idea. The Flag of England is obviously the backdrop. A friend of mine had gone to London and actually taken a picture of his suit, so I had a picture of what he looked like. She's born on Halloween, so I always add a pumpkin in hers. Tom's has his new moth tattoo on his with a DJ Shadow song, one of my favourites and it's an artist he admires. Of course I had to add the mini harp. Florence got two cookies; a 'Breath of Life' Cookie which I believe came out the night before I decorated them and then of course another 'Spectrum' cookie.  Then there are some preliminary sketches I did the night before.

Overall things are solid. Big changes, but  g o o d  changes. But seriously before I do anymore brainstorming, this must be watched/listened to. Marc Alghini, a DJ over at WXRT told me about this band and I am so fucking revved about their music. The video to this song is also super solid. Hopefully you dig it too;

But again, I'm okay with things. That's saying a lot. Sometimes I feel like I'm accomplishing a lot, but then I realize that it's all things I accomplish within my head and not things that are laid out. So I'm problem solving and thinking through, I just don't have a lot to show for it...yet. YET. I'm on the brink of change and it feels extremely sexy. I don't even feel that's an odd word to describe the situation. It IS sexy. Damn. I'm makin' changes and feeling pretty good about it. Pretty, pretty pretty good!

::INSERT UNICORN HORN HERE::

  

best yumz ever / cookie I decorated.

 

Hoping for a good week which may or may not be easily achieved based on work. Mother's Day is on Sunday, making this upcoming week absolutely bonkers when we are understaffed in the first place. Oh well, at least it is a good week to rack up some hours. A lot to look forward to in the upcoming months, anxious to see how it all rolls out.

Currently there is a seriously sexy thunderstorm rolling through and I'm so revved that it's been a noisy and bright day in the sky on and off. It was so dashing to wake up to. I hope it continues to roll through the night. xx

Lana Del Rey // Born To Die

It is time to get this out there.

I was introduced to Lana Del Rey through Twitter. The name anyway, the songs and the visuals would have to wait until her appearance on Saturday Night Live. I was tempted to give it a listen, I keep up with music, see a lot of names thrown around various music magazines I lay my eyes upon now and then, so when I saw that name appear following Daniel Radcliffe in the week ahead, my first though was "YES! Finally. I get to hear this! And I want to hear it live." I had asked a friend/fellow employee if she had heard anything by her and she had responded with "Yes, I've heard 'Video Games' and I wasn't that impressed." ::world crashes:: I was b u m m e d. I had heard so much about this girl on twitter touting her amazing-ness and here was someone with a similar taste in music saying it fell flat. So I was even more anxious to see where I would fall in this line of mixed opinion.

So then it happened. She appeared on stage. My first reaction was "HOLY JESUS! She is beautiful." Then the beat happened and then her mouth opened and I was unsure of how to feel. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But I loved what was happening, just watching her, but then my thoughts of her needing to sit down or have a mic stand got in the way of me adoring that fantastic face and that glorious dress. Her vocal style seems hard to do live, let alone the lack of her In Ear Monitor. Um, that makes that performance that much more difficult. But seriously, should she have been sitting? Needless to say, I kept thinking about her long after her presence had faded from my television. The reactions were bad, but what the hell people, does anyone remember, um, oh, I don't know, ASHLEE SIMPSON?...or any of the other whack ass artists that took the music stage on Saturday Night Live? When I go back and watch the performance now, it's something I can't say I love. It's said best in this music show breakdown of it;

But the emerging pop star, whose debut album for Interscope,

Born To Die, hit stores Tuesday (January 31),

thinks she did a perfectly fine job on the legendary sketch show,

telling Rolling Stone, "I actually felt good about it.

I thought I looked beautiful and sang fine

...I know some people didn't like it, but that's just the way I perform,

and my fans know that."

Unfortunately this is from an MTV article, but it's a decent sum up of her reaction to it.

Then I watched this performance with about four other people who all gave me different opinions. However, I wanted to delve deeper into Del Rey and hear this album and see some videos. So I watched 'Born To Die' and thought "My God, someone has FINALLY done a video that I would have done." It may be even more fabulous due to the fact she conjured up the main idea of it. I love it. Tigers? Churches? Flower Crowns? Ugh. We WERE Born to die.

This is where I blatantly became hooked. I found going through her album that I liked it all initially but would find myself gravitating to different songs during different weeks. 'Off To The Races' is the perfect example of that because I never really dug it. It took awhile, and now it might be one of my favourite songs of hers. I'm funny like that. I just completely phase with certain songs and I feel it coincides with what's going on in life. I can deal with that.

I feel the reason there is such a huge outpouring of adoration over Lana (and defense), besides her flooring looks, is because her music takes you somewhere, it has a level of escapism to it. It literally transports your mind to this image of tattooed lovers, fast living, red dresses, glamour, and taking your body downtown all with the faint smell of weed in the background. I feel there is a similar vibe with Gossip Girl. People like something that makes them feel like they are part of a different world, something yours will never be. Born To Die is chocked full of that kind of imagery. I love sharing this album with people who then seem to become instant Lana fans. This makes me ever so happy.

I have never been so intrigued by a musical artist, besides that of Florence Welch, WHO IS ALWAYS MY NUMBER ONE, YOU HEAR ME? (I think you probably know this by now?) But there is something different about Lana, as we all know that mysterious element is written all over her, but it's her whole vibe that almost makes you feel sexier just by watching her or listening to her music. You can tell she is so comfortable within her sexuality/femininity and that's something you can take to the bank. Maybe this is just what I needed. Something confident. Something that took me through something familiar. Something that seemed sure. I drown in these lyrics and I'm sure try to emulate them at least 35% of the time. Sometimes certain songs hit me ('Video Games' & 'Dark Paradise') me and I feel this overwhelming personal understanding to them. A lot of good elements within this album. It's the same kind of sound throughout, but I feel each possesses a different vibe. I think this is the perfect album to bump while you're getting ready or driving for a night out, although I will admit, her album makes me feel like I'm not living enough...

This gem came out the other week and it is exquisite. I am so glad that her videos are so close to what you'd imagine the video being like. I almost get annoyed if it is something not relevant in any way to the song. How gloriously entrancing.

Please, indulge me with your Lana thoughts. Seriously.

No longer odd!..numerically speaking anyway.

Alas, I will no longer be odd, numerically speaking, as of Thursday around 3:20 pm. I will be Twenty Four. This is terrifying, yet mostly exhilarating because this past year of being 23 only got tolerable in December when Florence decided to amplify my life x 1000. Things got increasingly better then and I'd say they are only on their way to getting better. I feel that I'm on the brink of something good here. I feel pretty good about creating this rad little space I come home to each night. AH! Behold! My beloved space! And although it's back with my parents, it's something that is closer to everything I know and love. While it's good to be distanced from that for awhile, sometimes it's good to be reunited with it as well.

[there's a lot of Florence and Lana Del Rey going on here-more to come of that! Some drawings, some set lists...the bed is a huge upgrade and it's amazingly comfortable. My acoustic guitar that I pretend to play well and GREY WALLS! YES! This was a great room to move back into]

There are things about my living environment that need to scream my personality and my interests and without them I just feel rather odd. This has always been the case and I can't help but decking out my walls with people I find so extremely rad. I remember when I first moved back in my dad kept coming in and saying "Okay, that's enough" and that was only with the setlists and a few other pictures. There's going to be a whole 'lot more glossy pictures popping up on that wall with all the great magazines that have come out lately! and back to it...

Everyone around me has been super positive lately. I've been catchin' up with so many friends lately, which has been quite easy due to the fact that I'm so much closer to them then were I was living the past two years. Rachael made a comment the other day that went along the lines of  "I can tell, you look like you're going to burst at the seams, in a good way!" in response to "I want to do something, I feel really good about this year..." Anywho, liked that terminology she used and it kind of put it more into perspective for me. That's exactly how I feel. I saw Brooke today and I told her how I want to turn over a new leaf, do something good and what's good for me. She said "Dude, it's turned. Or it's like ::half-flipping palm:: right there. That is awesome. I have really rad people in my life right now!

Work has become a little bit interesting but presents different opportunities. I feel confident, mostly. If we're being honest that is. Like..perhaps I'm starting to come into place with who I am as a person? I feel good about what I have to offer in terms of personality. I am the most relieved that I've come to good terms with my body and how I feel perceive it and I sort of like it. I. Can. Dig. It. I think I've learned what works for me right now. Food and my intake of it always fluctuates with what's going on in my life, however, I find there to be an up slope when there is a fine combination of fruits and veggies and Portillo's. There was a lot of that when I was twenty-three and there will be more to come in the next. I have struck a nice balance in knowing how to eat that's just right for me. I am grateful for this.

[]
behold the Portillo's Chili dog with all the fix-ins!

There's more where this came from! I have to eat here once a week!

Plus, being the girl with body issues is kind of a drag, and that's practically every girl in existence...awesome! I feel like I have moments in my life though where I've felt like I've had it pretty together, but they seem like fleeting moments that really last longer than just moments, long enough to stick around and give me this false sense of accomplishment and hope. NOT TODAY! [see reference] I plan on having things go well this year. I feel more stable as well, which is a big part of it. Ah, stability, what a fine word. I'm finally coming around to being cool with being happy. I hate when numerous months go on where those days when you feel sad, you feel like you're never going to be happy again, and vice versa. It just blows, so it's nice to be moving a bit more past that. I hope my plans for my birthday pan out well. I try to always keep things pretty simple when it comes to these kind of things just so it makes it harder for things to fall through. I just want fantastic company and good food-both should be able to happen!

I finally got back to skating regularly again. I hated how I was letting that skill go down the drain and I have gone back and am in the process of fine tuning and regaining certain elements. It is SO GOOD to be back. I have this solid little skate crew that I used to pal around with a few years ago. It is great to see them again and it's always nice to have people you know sharing the ice with you. It makes it more fun and I always prefer someone is there, it tends to be much more motivating. Hopefully I can get over there consistently and more often. Amazing weather has hit Chicago extremely early which is making it super easy to snag walks or do some rollerbladin' before I start work midday. This has been so good for me. I love doing something outside and active before work. It just puts me in such a better mood and energized for the day, but let's be honest, this is no secret. When I say "amazing weather" I am not shitting you, this weather has been without a doubt some of the most insane I've seen. I know, I'm only 23 (FOR NOW!) but 85º+ before the end of March is downright bonkers in this neck of the woods. I find myself dwindling down on sunblock before Spring even starts. I will take it, but I have to assume we will pay for this somehow...

Just over a month until I see the fabulous Florence + The Machine take the stage in Milwaukee. I can hardly contain myself and my friend who I'm going with told me the plan of arriving bloody early and queue-ing asap. I'm semi-on board with this plan. I love Florence. I will wait all day. Is it 100% necessary..proobbbabbblly not, but is it VITAL to get FRONT ROW AT A G.A. SHOW?! YES. Therefore it all balances out and I will be waiting in that line for a good 10 hours. This seems rather insane, but yes, yes, yes, go with me. I am also rather revved about snagging my Radiohead ticket. This will be the first time I've seen this band and I've loved them so hard for years. I am especially excited for the group of people I am seeing with them. I can feel it in my bones that it will be one fantastic evening.

And without a doubt XRT has gotten me along this year with music and I've learned a lot through listening. Almost all of my favourite artists get picked up on the station, or I hear about them from XRT. I am so glad I get to see Florence again in April. This is something I am so over the moon excited for even if I have to travel to Milwaukee to do it. Good things lay ahead this year in terms of music and I'm just really excited!

Needless to say, the song of the year without a doubt is this gem:

recents:

I've been doing a lot of thrifting, quite a bit of rollerblading, some skating, and dabbling in some floral crown wearin'. All of these are reflective of that. It's almost like a matching game. almost.

Even though it's supposed to rain tomorrow, I want to get on a bike, grab a balloon bouquet and listen to 'I Might' by Wilco! That would be absolutely fantastic. Enjoy!

 

 +

 

+

 

= OH YEAH!

here's a sum-up of the best age/year- 22

I hope you all have a rad day and do something awesome! HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

x x x x