always an upside!

traveling for work can be a downer. i love being home and doing everyday things - going to my gym, making my own dinners, SLEEPING IN MY BED. however, there are quiet a few perks to traveling for your job. i get an extra penny or two, bonus. i also get to travel to really fun places that i would never think to go. here's a few pics from my most recent travels.

chicago.

well, if you haven't ever been, you're totally missing out. it's the big city feel without being completely overwhelming. the museums are amazing. we stayed in the heart of downtown - the loop. we also had the amazing experience of seeing a game at wrigley field.  

another place i've never been, but thoroughly enjoyed, was sedona, arizona. the pictures really don't do it justice. it's remarkable how gorgeous these mountains can be, and you find yourself in awe.

but with this beauty, comes disaster. the above picture was taken from the plane. this is an overhead view of the wild fires stretching over miles over arizona.

last but not least, the nation's capital...of canada.

ottawa, ontario is the capital of canada. the city is unbelievably gorgeous. the people are very diverse and have a crazy perspective on weather. rain, shine, ice or -40 below, they are outside doing something. gotta love it!

there will be more to come! my next trip is in sunny san diego!

gumption.

i did it! about six months ago, i decided to start training for a half marathon. i've been inspired by numerous friends and i finally got the ammunition to sign up for a race. boy, did i sign up for a race. i registered for the hospital hill half marathon. the course definitely lives up to the name. the training was the best and the worst part of the weeks leading up to the race. come race day, i was ready. i stayed with my pace group and i finished with a good time, true to my goal.

i couldn't have done it without the support of my amazing boyfriend. he pushed me every step of the way...and the popsicle and beer i got at the finish line.

Summer agenda

despite the insanely hot and humid climate of the midwest summers, there are numerous finds and fun activites to help keep cool and forget about the weather. the farmers market tops my list of saturday morning activities - the fresh produce, spices, homemade food, and flowers are all really great treats! it's also a great way to save some money. buying your produce at the farmers market not only helps the local farmers, but saves a few bucks from purchasing at the store.