3. Get A Passport -- 21 Before 21

So today, I stood in line for an hour at the post office so I could apply for my passport. Have you ever been to a post office in the middle of a city at noon? Yeah. Don't do it. It's not fun. It's crowded and no one will help you for the first 20 minutes that you're there. But. In the end. It was worth it. In 4-6 weeks, I will have a passport. What am I going to do with said passport? Lots of things. More to come on that later. 

Louisville -- Day 2

So much to do in L-ville! Check it out!

Day 2 of Louisville! Naomi and I went to the Frazier History Museum and then strolled around downtown for a bit. There were tons of things to take pictures of! So great. Here are some pictures from our adventure. 

What I Wore :: July 10, 2012

I went to go see my friend Naomi of What Naomi Loves in Louisville last week! We spent part of the day at the Frazier History Museum and found perfect spots to take outfit photos downtown! That huge thing behind me? That's the HUGE bat in front of the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. So fun. 

Dress :: Forever 21

Belt :: Came with another dress

Shoes :: TOMS 

Sunglasses :: Ray Bans

Pin :: Thrifted

Hair Scarf :: Thrifted

Watch :: Urban Outfitters

Around Town :: Delicious Cafe

I think it's a shame not many people who live in Chicago (or visit Chicago) go up to North Center. I guess because its off the Brown Line Irving Park stop and it may be out of the way for some people. It's super family friendly, though, with plenty of "young people" things to do. One part of North Center that I love is Delicious Cafe. If you walk by it, you already get a sense of how cute it is on the inside. Bright walls, mismatched chairs and vintage tables fill a decent sized cafe area. Local print work, which you can buy, is tastily put up on the walls. A large variety of drinks and a good selection of food (all vegan, by the way) makes it a nice place to stop in for a muffin, or hunker down while you're waiting for a play date to end.

This particular Friday morning is quiet, Bright Eyes plays softly in the background and several people are on their laptops. I settle down at a beautiful vintage table with coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The cheese is vegan yet somehow oh so creamy. The coffee is strong and bold and Counter Culture (a favorite of mine). It's a perfect addition to this already cute neighborhood.  I want to stay here for hours, sipping coffee and people watching from the window seat. The cupcakes from the pastry case look longingly at me and it's taking me everything to not go up and buy one, which I might just do anyways.

Delicious Cafe is located at 3827 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613


Enjoy!! =]

How To Get Around :: Charleston, SC

Walking
Walking around Charleston is probably the best way to get to know the city. It has this wonderful small town feel to it, despite being a largely populated city. Bring a good pair of walking shoes, because that's pretty much the only way I got around. I brought up in my previous posts about Charleston that most of the things I discovered (Monza, the French cafe, etc) were discovered just by walking around. Most of the locals walk, as well, so sometimes the streets can be a little crowded. They haven't redone them since the 17th century, but that's one of the quirky things about Charleston that you just kind of have to love. If you walk, you can go Geocaching, stop in little shops and take in the scenery, all without having to find a place to park. Most of my pictures that I took were from when I was just walking around, as well. It's great. Good exercise, too.

Pedi-Cabs

There are two major pedi-cab companies in Charleston, but both are all over the downtown area. These young men work day and night to lug people around. There are hardly any regular taxi's in Charleston; it's just so small that it's kind of hard to have so many. But pedi-cabs are great. The drivers are the ones who will charge you, so it just kind of depends on how much it is going to be. They're all really friendly, so don't be afraid to talk to them!

What To See :: Charleston, SC

Charleston is quite historic. Being a history nerd, I loved it. The city itself has a great preservation society, so they can't just tear down a building and put up a new one, they have to go though all these codes and everything in order to keep everything looking so historic. I kind of love that. Charleston has a very small town feel to it. Here are some places you can go,


Fort Sumter
The first shots of the Civil War took place here. It's built on a man made island, and it is a lot smaller than one might think. You're only allowed to spend an hour on the island, and you have to take a little ferry to get out there, but it's still nice. Try and get their earlier, the sun won't be as hot and the crowd is usually a little lighter. All around, it was a very nice visit.

The orange traffic cone makes it super authentic.

The fort from the ferry.

Remains of the powder magazine.

Where To Eat :: Charleston, SC

While visiting Charleston, there was really no wrong place to eat. Southern comfort food is fantastic. But it's also everywhere in the city. Yes, it's tasty and wonderful, but sometimes, shrimp and grits gets a bit boring the 3rd time you've had it during your visit. Mixing it up a bit can be fun and exciting! I mean, how often are you really going to be in Charleston? Might as well try all sorts of things while you're there. This is just a sample of the food that I had while traveling in the Low Country.

Monza
It's this little pizza place off of King. My mom and I stumbled upon it while walking around our first night there. Cute and charming with a beautiful outdoor patio. PLEASE try the Campari pizza. Goat cheese and red peppers with capers and eggplant. Eggplant on pizza? Crazy right? No. Wrong. It was fantastic. My mom got the asparagus salad, which she said was amazing. A group of girls sitting near us saw her get it and decided to get it for themselves. It's that good. Most of their food is local, which is very common in Charleston. Their specials are to die for as well. The pizza special of the day had corn on it! This place is not afraid to take risks. Take a risk and try it out.


Gaulart & Maliclet French Café Fast and French Inc.
My mom and I went here for dessert one afternoon. Very small and cramped, but so worth it. Their apple tart was perfect with ice cream. Especially on a hot day, like it was almost every day in Charleston, iced coffee is a must. They brew each cup in a French Press and the iced coffee is served with a little nutmeg. So perfect. While I didn't try any of the actual food there, it all looked very French and very good. The gentleman sitting next to me had a cheese and fruit plate that looked so good. There wasn't a time where the waiters and waitresses weren't running around, so snag a spot if you can. And be patient. It's worth it.

Slightly North of Broad (SNOB)
It's kind of fancy pants, but good. Very Low Country style cooking. Usually pretty crowded for dinner (you'll need to call ahead for a reservation if you want to eat before 9), but perfect for lunch. Asparagus is in season now, so if you're heading there anytime soon, get a cup of the asparagus soup. Creamy, but not too overpowering. One thing I've noticed while in Charleston is the lack of veggie options. But SNOB has a great veggie wrap. Lots of hummus and yellow squash. The atmosphere was really nice, despite the fact I felt super awkward in there wearing jeans. But, it was really tasty. Lots of seafood options because the harbor and the Atlantic is right there. Anywhere you go in Charleston there is an abundance of seafood. Get that. It'll be fresh and wonderful.


Kudu
One of the first things I asked when I got into the city was where I could get a good cup of coffee that wasn't Starbucks. This is where I was told to go. Nothing against Starbucks, I worked there for almost 2 years. But I've been spoiled rotten by my local coffee places in Chicago. I only stopped here for a moment; grabbed a cup of coffee and bought a pound of beans before taking a walk around the city. It was great, though. The staff was super nice and helpful. The outdoor patio was lit up with Christmas lights (always very charming). Their menu was full of local items: beer, coffee, tasty treats. I wish I had had more time to spend in it. Next time.

Go Forth

Lately, I've been looking at the world though the eyes of a college student. I'm 80% sure that I'm going to go to Columbia College Chicago, but that's beside the point. I'm getting really sick of staying in one place for too long. Traveling is really high up on my list. So is quitting my job, but in order to travel, money has to come from somewhere.

I want to get into a car and drive away and not have to think about school or work or anything. I don't want to get hurt by a guy again. I want to leave this life I have behind and just go out there and see the world that I want to write about. I want to get my tatoo. I want to live. Is that too much to ask?