Neighborhood Snapshots

Just a few snapshots from my neighborhood. Proof that simply walking around your daily surroundings can still inspire you to see the beauty in everything.

-Lauren

Weekstagram // June 24

This past week, I was on vacation in Hawaii! 

• After twelve hours of traveling, I finally arrived in Maui, Hawaii
• A typical Hawaii rainbow (it is known as the "rainbow state")
• Getting ready to go surfing
• Catching some waves out by the resort
• Standing by the Banyan Tree. Pretty sure I have this same picture from when I was 8.
• Zipling over the Maui Plantation
• I found an anchor near the Whaler's Village so naturally I had to represent Delta Gamma! 
• Not wanting to leave the ocean.

Follow me on instagram @thelaurenrachel

Help a girl out?

So, I am not really one to ask much for favors. I believe most of this stems from me being an only child and unfortunately there wasn't necessarily always someone there to lend you a hand with things, so I learned to do things for myself. But alas, I digress.

The guy who is standing next to me in the pictures above is one of my closest friends, Kevin. Kevin and I have known each other since our college years and have remained very close ever since. There have been so many "Dolla Burger Wednesdays" at McGee's, awkward and sometimes scary raves, and of course the countless times we spent just enjoying craft beer and watching movies. Today, Kevin's father is having open heart surgery. I am so grateful that Kevin's father was able to notice that something was not right and went to the doctor before he had a heart attack or anything else more serious occurred. But, its still open heart surgery and I'm pretty nervous for my friend. So I am asking you kind people out in the cyber world, if you could please spare a few minutes, seconds, or even just a fleeting moment to think positive thoughts for Kevin's father, it would mean the world to me. Thanks so much and keep thinking positive!

-Lauren

Holiday Doughnuts

As of the past week, my office has pretty much been a ghost town. Everyone is hightailing it out of here to travel back home to their families and start their holiday fun a bit early. But for those of us who are not travelling this holiday season and are still in the office, weird things will happen.
One of my coworkers was generous enough to bring in a box of "fancy" doughnuts from "Glazed and Infused". This place is one of the trendy doughnut stores in Chicago and their claim to fame is the Maple Bacon Bar, which consists of a doughnut covered in maple syrup frosting topped with a strip of grilled to perfection Canadian bacon. Its a little bit sweet and a little bit salty. Not really my cup of tea, but my coworker REALLY enjoyed it as you can see. Hope this gets everyone in the holiday mood!

-Lauren

Cookie Exchange!

Yesterday at work we decided to get into the holiday spirit and have a cookie exchange! None of us expected that almost everyone would bring someone and we were even more surprised by the delicious surprises that arrived yesterday at work. It seemed like each dessert was more extravagant and delicious than the next. It made for a really great time yesterday.
Because we had so many cookies they are still lingering around the kitchen today, which is not good because I find myself grabbing one each and every time I get up to get a glass of water. Oh well, all in the spirit of the holidays! Is your office doing anything festive and fun to celebrate the season?

-Lauren

Photo Credit: Lyndsay McCully

Saturday Adventure

Last Saturday Angus and I went out for brunch at Vines on Clark for the amazing $5 brunch menu they have. After bloody marys and mimosas, we stopped by Sluggers for some skee-ball and Ms. Pac Man. Finding a classic-type arcade in the city is quite the find as most of these places have long since disappeared and have been replaced by hi-tech "barcades". Playing skee-ball brought back such great childhood memories so I was in heaven. The machines even gave you tickets, so before Angus and I left we cashed in what we had won. I chose a giraffe statue and Angus picked a harmonica that sounded awful. On our way back to Angus' place, we found a park and since it was such a nice day out we decided to go for a swing.

After the the park, we began our long day of returns or should I say Angus' returns. I tagged along as we went from place to place down the Mag Mile trying our best not to get swallowed up by the holiday tourist crowd. After hours of roaming and walking we ended our adventure with some delicious noodles at the Slurping Turtle. All in all, it was a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday in Chicago.

-Lauren

Snapshots from Arizona

This past week I fortunate enough to take a break from my hectic work schedule and jet off to the lovely Phoenix, Arizona. Almost everyone I have talked to begs the questions, "what's in arizona?" To be honest, not much. The area I stay in, Scottsdale, has its fill of malls, movie theaters, and restaurants, not really anything to attract tourists. To me though, the attraction is that it feels like home.

I've been going to Arizona for the past 20 years. My parents eventually want to retire there, and since they haven't reached that point in their life yet, they've always made an effort to visit their "future" home. With that being said, as I drive around I don't get that "touristy" feeling I get when I visit other places. I feel as if I belong here, which is odd because Arizona is nothing at all like Chicago.

All in all in, I had a wonderful time. I got to relax at the spa, saw some dino skeletons, and took a well needed break.

-Lauren