Fall travels

Without taking many flights, I was able to take quite a few trips the past few months on the road! Here's a quick snapshot of some fun Midwest cities and adventures. 

Indianapolis
A Project Mexico reunion at Jen & Lee Bailey's wedding

Louisville
Garage Bar downtown with Jen

Nashville
Honky Tonk-ing with Eleni

Louisville
Jim Beam Distillery

Milwaukee
First time at Miller Park for a Cubs-Brewers game 

DeKalb
Not quite a large city, but visiting Yiayia & Papou for the afternoo

The TSA on Instagram

Check out my new favorite Instagram account, the TSA!

It's hard to believe that a security agency can photograph items seen at individual airports' security and post them on social media, but the seriousness of the posts and hilarity of these items is always a good laugh on Instagram. Enjoy!

Birthday book

From a pantone colors birthday book I came across in an Urban Outfitters in Georgetown

Summer hits an end

Since I moved to the city last October, I kept hearing how much everyone looks forward to a "Chicago summer." Growing up in Northbrook, I didn't really understand all the hype. People look forward to summer everywhere. Why is it any more special in Chicago?

Visiting Osaka Garden in Hyde Park after seeing Promontory Point

So this summer, I took note of exactly why it was so exciting and why Chicagoans say that.

• Rooftops

Chicago has a ton of rooftop bars with amazing views

Roof at The Wit, IO Urban Roofscape at the Godfrey Hotel, the J. Parker, Citizen Bar, Packing House, Epic, Three Forks, and Vertigo at the Dana Hotel are just a few that my friends and I hit up this summer. Patios like Kirkwood, Sheffield's, Las Fuentes and The Dawson are just a few more outdoor gems that were frequent destinations.

Chris, Lexi, Gwen and I at the J. Parker

• What a big deal it is to be able to not bring a jacket

There is already coat check at most restaurants and bars in the city, and the days of going to work without a coat are long gone. Because the winter (and fall...and sometimes spring) are so rough weather-wise, people sensationalize summer because of how glorious it is to not have loads of clothing.

• Baseball games

With both Wrigley Field and US Cellular easily accessible from anywhere in the city, and many businesses carrying season tickets, baseball games provide an easy, quick nighttime activity. Because of that, I went to 12 baseball games this summer (and only paid for 3 of them!).

Some coworkers and I at a Cubs game

• Boat cruises

With Lake Michigan right here, boat cruises are quite the event. There's nothing like being on a boat with all of your friends and seeing an amazing skyline! I am thankful to have gone on three- one on the river, one on the lake and one at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin!

View of the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan

• Festivals

I wrote about these earlier in the summer, but the festivals never end. Whether it's a neighborhood festival, burger fest, art festival or the Air & Water Show, there is always something to see.

Jessica, Meredith and I at Lakeview Taco Fest on Southport

Airplane secrets

For anyone that flies American Airlines, I found out a new trick this past weekend. Under each seat, there is an outlet! Great way to charge a phone, iPad, camera, computer or other device. Keep an eye out for this on your next plane ride!

Under the bottom right of the airplane seat

Death With Dignity Act back in the news

Recently, I noticed on my Facebook NewsFeed that a story about a 29-year old choosing to die was going viral. Only seeing the headline, I had no context as to why: if it was a suicide, homicide, illness, etc.

Brittany Maynard is a 29-year old California woman diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and after understanding how the treatment would impact her, she made the decision that it wasn't worth living and she would move to Oregon, where the Death with Dignity Act is enacted, and pass by euthanasia.

The raising of this issue (and controversial law) by the news again reminded me of a phenomenal documentary I watched on Netflix, called How to Die in Oregon, which outlines the same issue. 

Regardless of your views on death, euthanasia and the legality of physician-assisted suicide, I highly recommend you read her story and watch the old documentary to hear the meaningful stories of those who make this decision. 

Facebook phone search

Online tip of the day!

Did you know that if you type in a cellphone number into the Facebook search bar, the person's profile will come up?

At first, we thought this was only possible if you had your cellphone number publicly posted on your profile, but the profile comes up regardless. It worked for all of my friends' numbers who I typed in, and when someone I am not Facebook friends with was searched, they came up along with our mutual friends. Creepy! No guarantees that it will work for everyone, but definitely something to test.

We can't prove this, but my coworker and I think that this is because of the Messenger app. Guess there IS a reason everyone needs to have the app to be able to read your messages...data collection. Looks like Facebook might become the new phone book. Give it a shot!

September quotes

Short & sweet! Click here for past months' quote lists.

“Typical Greek restaurant sitting people outside when it's about to storm. What do you plan to do with these people? You have no tables inside!” -Eleni, at a Greek diner in Nashville 

“I can get an American Girl doll when I do big girl things. *puts plate in sink* Mom, can I get one now?" -Lena

“When you and Shaina get FOMO that Kathryn, Laura and Sherman are in New York, remember that Andrew is in Knoxville.” -Dad

“We used to have those but our kids are 40 now.” -Neighbor

“I'm in my 40s too (for another 5 months).” -Dad

"And his dad played for the Buffalo Wild Wings" -Anna, meaning Denver Broncos

"And there is Uber in Indianapolis.." -Shaina, let the excitement commence! 

"So I totally understand your mindset of "Chicago is one big Disneyland" now." -Laura

"What's his name?" -Elizabeth
"George? Dean? John? We have six options guys." -Elena, on names of Greek friends 

“I said I was about to hail a cab. Which I wasn't because I hoped he’d pick me up.” -Meredith 

"Moms have serious mom strength." -Hannah

"This hot guy Spyridon..." -Harriet

"Why doesn't he go by Spiro? Or Don?" -Jackie and Hannah

“Katie, I have an apartment with a real kitchen and real things, even toilet paper.” -Maria, when I asked her about her living situation 

“Then we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.” -Eleni

“Did Mom and Dad know anyone?” -Maria

“It was kind of like the Brad Pitt day at Mizzou where everyone was around looking for him, so it’s good to know that adults don’t grow up either.” -Laura, on adults at the office searching for famous people 

“Who cares about being the center of the Greek community. I’d rather be the center of THE community.” -Anastasia

“The fact that we’re going over how to order pizza for the fifth time, really?” -Meredith, laughing at a slow, repetitive waitress

"I refuse to grow up until I'm 30." -Jordin

"What made the bat mitzvah so exciting? Did she come in on an elephant?" -Kelly

“You’re a first mover, I’m an 86^th mover. I won’t hear of this until the end of 2016.” -Katie K at work, on Ello the social network

“Bloody marys and mimosas are only $3 =O. I told my mom and she wasn’t quite as excited.” -Shaina, on a temple event

“I don’t know who to compare him to. We don’t have any friends that are that low key.” -Shaina

“I became friends with this person I don’t know on Facebook, but look how cute these cookies are.” -Mom, on wedding cookies

“My groomsman might not get to the wedding because he's in debt so there's that.” -Gwen

“I don't I go concerts so I'm like oh yeah. We have to stand.” -Meredith

"Your parents go to Milwaukee all the time. It's a big deal for my parents to go to Glenview." -Meredith, on Northbrook life

"And he got off the train at Wellington. Who gets off at Wellington?" -Katie K. 

"And he was like 'So when are you moving back to Chicago?' and I was like okay, how Greek can you get here?" -Helen