Winter Break Reminiscing

Dear winter break, at times you had a way of making me feel really lazy and spoiled and useless. But now that I am back at school and already submerged in reading reading reading, I kinda want you back. At least the part about getting to sleep in.

{sunset outside my bedroom window}

Ice Skating at Wrigley (but I'm still a Sox fan. South Siiiiide)

Ann, me, Lauren

makes me laugh every time. surprisingly, Lauren doesn't fall

awwww. hi mikey!

Art Institute of Chicago (my favorite place ever)

contemporary art in the Modern Wing

I want to be that cabin on the river's edge.

Harald Sohlberg - Fisherman's Cottage

Van Gogh, our love blossomed in the summer of 2003 when I read three books on you.

Still going strong.

Vincent Van Gogh - Bedroom in Arles

The Shedd Aquarium

yay Shauna came to visit!!! and I nearly got us lost. woops.

flubbery

imagine waking up to that every morning. yikes.

Turning 21 !!!

On MLK Day, January 18th, I turned 21 !!! It was a blast. Thank you to all my friends and family for celebrating with me and for all the birthday wishes.

My parents, my brother Matt, and his girlfriend Lindsey went to Benihanas on the 14th to celebrate early since I was leaving for school on Saturday. I was so pumped for the night because I was really craving Japanese food, and I love watching them do all their tricks. Well then I got super super pumped when I walked into the restaurant and was surprised by my cousins and aunts and uncles!!!! My mom invited them without my knowing. It was the best! I couldn't stop smiling.

Aunt Maureen, me, Aunt Sharon

Lindsey, Matt, Colleen, me, Sean, Brendan, Kelly

Our chef Jay cutting up some zucchini

My mom listening intently to Lindsey's ordering advice since my mom was overwhelmed by the menu and Lindsey actually knew what was going on.

My Uncle Skip and Uncle Jim looking on as the food preparations come out.

Benihana Punch

And then on Sunday we had people at our place until Midnight. And then we headed to the bars because, ya know, I'm a cool 21 year old and I'm now able to to actually able to get in. We had a short mishap when I lost my wallet at like 11:50 pm right when we were ready to head out. My roommate Lauren was yelling at people to help, "Why are you just standing THERE??? Kathleen is turning 21 in 10 minutes and she can't find her ID!!!!" Turns out the wallet was on my bed. I'm pathetic. Anyway we get to the bar the Nitty Gritty which gives out free beer to anyone celebrating their birthday. So my roommate Annie and I go up to the bar and they say "What kind do you want?" and I answer "Bud". I have no idea why I said that, especially considering I could have gotten like nice, real quality beer like Spotted Cow or something. And my friend Luke goes, "Kathleen, you just ordered a Budweiser. Did you mean Bud Lite?" Well, I did mean Bud Lite but I was just being too stupid to know the difference, so Luke had to run after the bartender to let her know what I actually wanted. Rough Kathleen, rough.

My friend (and future roomie) Shauna singing happy birthday to me. You go girl!

By the time I got to the bar, the only two balloons they had left were orange and yellow. And I definitely was not too happy about it. But I went with orange because it's my dad's favorite color.

Oh well. Cheers to being 21 !!!!

Snookie

Paying respect where respect is due.

"Now there goes a hair-do any guidette would be lucky to snag a nail on. Oh my god."

All is Quiet on New Year's Day

Per usual, I'm late. NYE/day was quite some time ago, but I thought I'd still document them. Because they were just THAT good. I'm kidding. Well no I'm not kidding. They were good, but they weren't like OMG good. You know what I mean. Or maybe not. Whatever.

We always see a movie as a family on NYE. This year we saw "Up in the Air" and it was awesome. Probably the best movie I've seen in awhile. George Clooney was perfectly cast. And the soundtrack is good too. Definitely see this movie if you haven't already.

Later I went over to my friend Lauren's house where a small group of us gathered. We ate chips with homemade guacamole, drank some good ole beer, and played different games including one called Telestrations. Lauren almost peed her pants with excitement (not really though). But she just really likes the game. And then we ended the night by all getting into our pajamas and watching The Lion King. Nature can be such a B*tch. Why does Mufasa have to die? It still makes me tear up.

And Lenny and I took a New Year's Day walk in our quaint town. The most hoppin one in Illinois (sarcasm). But I sure do love my town. Even if it's not all that hoppin. And Lenny likes it too.

Oh and here is just some U2 for ya. Alright then. Cheers.

"A world in white gets underway"

Things I like part 1

1. PS22 JUST DANCE. I know it's been around for awhile. But it's still good.

2. Matt's legit angry face because he thinks I take too many pictures. Whatever.

3. Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory = Food coma with a dash of heaven.

4. Black and white checkered floors. When I grow up (shit, I already kinda have) I'm gonna have them in my kitchen. They remind me of the board game Clue. Ya know whatta mean? You don't? Well that's ok.

5. My living room that looks so pretty during the day.

6. Stealing my mom's camera.

7. The beautiful city of chicago.

8. Colorful hot air balloons.

9. Those jackets. I want them now. Aren't the Obama girls like 8? Why do they get to dress so nicely? That was rhetorical.

Happy 21st Birthday Anne Katherine !!!

Anne on the left in the blue and me in the middle in that ridiculous green/white dress.

Good pick mom.

Today, January 10, is one of my bestest and long time friend's 21st birthday. Last night a few of us went over to her house before going to the nearby restaurant Palmer's so she could buy her first legal drink. Anne, Katie, Moira, myself, and Anne's mom got really excited when she ordered a margarita at 12:05 am, giving little claps and smiles. And then the waitress asked to see her ID which was also all exciting and whatnot. Until the waitress said she might not be able to serve her because her birthday wasn't until the next day. WHICH JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE! So we were like "Uhhh, but it is her birthday." And the waitress was all, "Well we have rules here. I'll have to check with the manager." Awkward. Didn't she see that Anne's mom was sitting with us? What kind of shenanigans did she think we were trying to pull? Well she came back and said, "This might sound silly, but I have to check the expiration date."

FOR GOD'S SAKE GIVE HER THE FREAKING MARGARITA !!!!

Well long story short, she got her drink. But the waitress didn't even wish Anne a Happy Birthday. What a grinch.

Ok despite all that stupidness, there was some cuteness. Anne's boyfriend Connor is studying abroad in Spain, so he wasn't able to join us. However, along with a gift, he left her a card that she wasn't allowed to open until we went out. Before leaving for Palmer's she opened the card and there was 10 bucks with a note that said even though he couldn't be there he wanted to buy Anne her first drink. Awwww.

So I know Christmas isn't about presents...

But I really like giving them. And getting them isn't too shabby either. Here are a few of the gifts I was so fortunate to receive. Jesus, don't be mad.

Where the Wild Things Are coasters from Annie.

She knows me too well.

Seeing the movie with her and Mal in the fall is a happy memory.

Bracelet from Mal.

Adorable.

Each circle has a picture of a UW Terrace chair.

American Girl UW Madison Cheerleading outfits from Lauren!!!

Best thing ever. Tears of happiness.

Addy is looking fiiiiiine.

Bridget got me in the Cousin grab bag. Lucky me!

I absolutely LOVE these French plates.

Bridge darling, you did good. Real good.

So excited to hang these in my apartment!

(ps i dont know why everything is now underlined. but i can't get rid of it. grrrrr.)

Makes Me Wish I Was Good At Sports

Too bad I peaked at swimming and basketball and basically everything else I use to be somewhat decent at back when I was like 13.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK.

haha just kidding

But seriously.

This song makes me want to do that thing that involves moving your legs at a rapid pace.

What's it called?

Oh yeah, running.

Ok you should watch this video. Because it's awesome.

Doug Flutie, MJ, Jack Nicklaus, Larry Bird - you my boys.

We're ROYALTY !!!

Except actually we're not. But give me a night out on the town - seeing Jersey Boys with my mom, eating dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant, & having dessert at The Palmer House Hotel - and I basically feel like Prince Harry's fiancee.

I don't know that he has one. But if he did.

And hey, anyone else think Prince Harry is way hotter than William?

Them redheads. Wowza!

{The Palmer House Hotel}

{Seeing Jersey Boys with my mom the day after Christmas}

{Glittery State Street}

{Bank of America Theater}

{Dad checkin out the dessert menu while wearing his sharp lookin sweater}

{We ordered 3 of these guys, 1 creme brulee, and 1 apple crisp. We did major damage}

{And we saw this lovely couple doing some last minute practicing for their first dance before entering the reception party. It was darling}

{And I snuck into their reception room before it started to snap a photo. I mean, come on, it was in the freaking Empire Room. Frankie Sinatra sang there back in the day. I had to trespass}

Eyes and Ears part 2

Ok so this song has been stuck in my head allll week. And if you give it a little listen you may see why. Word on the street says it's about bad things. Which isn't all that surprising because it's from The Libertines, ya know the English band that Kate Moss's boyfriend Pete Doherty was in. Well re guard less of all that business, I really like the song. Shoop shoop!

"You've Got Mail" was on TV today and I decided it was necessary to sit myself right down on the sofa and watch it. That movie definitely puts me in a better mood. Period. I get so excited when that scene comes on where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are walking to their respective bookstores, and the Cranberries song "Dreams" starts playing, and the two characters keep just missing each other. When I saw the movie on New Years Eve with my fam back when it first came out, I decided it was cinema at it's best. I feel slightly different now, but the movie still holds a special place in my heart. Plus, Meg Ryan's character's name is Kathleen; and there are like no movies that have my name in it. So that made me happy too. Did this movie make anyone else want to live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, particularly in Meg Ryan's brownstone? Anyone? Well I wanted to. And I still kinda want to.

Finals VS Holiday... I'll take the latter

One day you're waking up at 3 am to finish studying for a final you're soooo not prepared for, and the next thing you know you're at home on the couch stuffing your face with chocolate chip cookies and listening to the freaking Black Eyed Peas on repeat (I don't know why). Life works in mysterious ways.

Madison finals week

Madison. 4:45 am. Final in 3 hours.

I'm surprised I'm still alive.

Singing Happy Birthday to Annie on her actual 21st.

A much needed break from studying.

One of the two towers of books I had to read this semester.

Yo English major, tone it down.

Home for zi Holiday

Mother dearest opening a present.

Later in the day at my aunt and uncle's.

Family gathered in the living room.

Poor Kelly was sick :(

More family gathered in the family room.

I spy CC's cute striped outfit.

I spy Benny sleeping on Mark.

I spy dad's bald head.

Finnigan is a troublemaker.

And he decided it would be a good idea to run away on Christmas.

Not once. But 5 times.

It was quite comical.

The 5th time he ran away, my brothers Matt and Kevin, my cousins Sean and Brendan, and my Uncle Skip ALL had to chase him.

Yes, I definitely take being home with the fam over studying for stupid finals. Even if it does mean putting up with my mom asking me to do a bajillion chores. I know she was tired and stressed after a long day of work, but seriously within 2 minutes she said, "Kathleen, load the dishwasher.... Kathleen, sweep the bathroom... Kathleen, set the table for dinner... Kathleen, go get paper towels from the basement... Kathleen, feed Lenny... Kathleen, fold the dish towels and put em away..."

O meee god.

I love you momma.