Birthday Celebrations for Ryan

Last week we celebrated my little brother's 21st birthday.  It's absolutely crazy to me that my baby brother is all grown up, as it seems like yesterday that I was peering into his hospitable incubator in my pink puff paint, "I'm a big sister" shirt.  He'll probably never be a "real" grown-up in my eyes, but given that it was his 21st, we definitely had to celebrate.  And since he is living in Chicago this summer, it only felt right to spend the day patio hopping, enjoying the beautiful weather, and sipping some yummy grown-up beverages.

1. Rocking his chambray and looking like a little grownup.  Where did time go?
2. Our first stop of the afternoon was Big Star.  Big Star has been a Chicago favorite for a long time, but I've never had the patience to face the wait.  But on a Monday afternoon, we gave it a go, and I am so glad we did.  Patio perfection!

3. Happy birthday, little Ryan!

4. For dinner, we continued the patio trend at Parson's Chicken and Fish, a new spot in Logan Square by the team behind Chicago's popular Longman & Eagle.
5. I heard about this spot from a coworker, and I'm so grateful.  Their chicken is out of this world delicious, along with their oysters and hush puppies.  And don't even get me started on their Texas Toast!

6. Like any good Chicago patio, Parson's has an extensive cocktail list.  The shining star?  Definitely their Negroni slushies!
7. Ryan topped off the night with a whiskey + pickle shot, on the house.  Cheers to the birthday boy! 

Having Ryan in Chicago this summer has been so fun, and being able to share his big day with him was such a treat.  And for all my Chicago readers, if you haven't been to Parson's, definitely give it a try.  Between the chicken and slushies, you won't be disappointed!

Oklahoma Weekend

A few weeks ago, we were so blessed to be able to take a long weekend to head to Norman for OU Dad's Day.  It's no secret that Norman is an incredibly magical and special place for me, and I love any opportunity to go back and visit.  But when it's combined with football season and getting to see my family, it's an extra special treat.  I also love getting to see my sweet brother live life as a OU student, sharing some of the same Sooner connections as me, yet making his own path at the same time.  But let's be honest, in the eyes of this obsessive big sister, he does no wrong!

Saturday started off with a trip to the Sig Ep house, which oddly enough is right across the street from my old KKG digs.  We stayed and hung out for a bit and then headed to the Union to support my brother as he chaired a big campus event.  He is making his overinvolved sister so very proud :)

I am convinced that OU is the most beautiful campus on the planet.  And during the fall, well, it simply takes the cake.

I love that Matt has become an honorary Sooner, embracing the traditions and spending time in Norman.  He tries to argue that he hasn't drank the Koolaid, but I can tell he's loving the Sooner spirit :)

Yep, this happened, for the second year in a row.  Absolutely no shame at all.  Kappa love.

Another highlight of the trip was getting to see and hug this pretty lady.  We don't get to see each nearly enough, so it was really great to see her.

Sunday morning we headed to brunch to support Ryan in another campus event.  It was also a great chance to relax after a crazy game day, before hugging my parents goodbye, as they drove back to Houston.

And of course, it wouldn't be a long weekend without Instagram...

*Did I mention we drove from Chicago to Oklahoma?  Someone (ok, ok, I'll confess; it was me) majorly misjudged the trip.  I thought it was a 10 hour drive.  Turns out it was just around 13 hours.  Oopsie.
*Ulta's Smoke Screen + OPI's Rainbow Connection mani.

*We left a cold and dreary Chicago for a sunny and 75 Oklahoma; the weather was perfect on gameday!
*Two of my most favorite people in the whole wide world :) 

*It's gameday in Norman ya'll!
*Going back to OU is always so special; it was such a growthful and happy time in my life.  I feel so grateful and full of joy when I get to visit. 

*It's always a joy to see this awesome guy when I go back.  Quy and I were both overachiever, overinvolved, OU nerds together, and he never fails to make me laugh :)
*700 College...rah rah for KKG!

*It's so fun to not only be an OU alum, but also to be a Sooner sister.  I really wanted Ryan to go where he wanted to go, and I can't lie, I'm glad he chose OU, because it's such a fun bond to share! 

*Sibling besties.
*Matt really wanted to visit the museum, so we popped over Sunday afternoon for a leisurely visit. 

*After we said goodbye to my family in Norman, we headed north for dinner and a slumber party with Kelsey and her husband Chris.  Kelsey is one of my most favorite people, and I always feel full of joy when I am with her!
*What's a roadtrip without weird, random candy superstores in the middle of Missouri?

All in all, the weekend was incredible and just what my soul needed.  When I went back to work on Tuesday, several coworkers asked about my trip, and I replied, "I didn't know how badly my soul needed nourishing until I was in Norman with my family."  The weekend was just what I needed, and it was the perfect hold me over until Christmas!  So cheers to football season, long weekends, and time with incredible friends and family!

 

Thanksgiving Snaps

It's been a week and a half since Thanksgiving, and I'm just now getting around to posting pictures.  So I'm not the best blogger, ehh, I'm okay with that.  Matt and I traveled to Phoenix to spend a few days with his family, and we had a really lovely time.  Our trip started off with a bit of a snafu, but in the end, we made it, safe and sound.  Of course, Matt and I packed our fancy camera, and the whole time I kept thinking, "I should really break out the real camera," but then I remembered my new motto, and I decided to leave the camera be and focus on spending time together.  In the end, definitely worth it :)

*Since we were going straight from work to the airport, I tried to think of something that would be appropriate for work, yet still comfy for a late night flight.  I decided on leggings, an oversized flannel, a black blazer, a leopard scarf, cowboy boots, and big gold jewelry.
*O'Hare is really beautiful around the holidays.  Real world Home Alone :) 

*Shortly after we arrived, we found out our flight was delayed until 1:30 am.  Not quite what we were hoping for, but we made it work with a little Mickey D's.
*As we wandered around the airport, we noticed they were beginning to set up cots for stranded travelers.  We said a quick, "Oh no, that sucks for people."  Little did we know... 

*As our flight was delayed later and later, we started to get restless, so we wandered for a bit, adding several books to our "must read" lists.
*Remember those cots?  Once we got word that our flight wouldn't leave Chicago until close to 3:00 am, we ended up setting up shop on the cots.  But even as we were stranded in the airport, I couldn't help but be grateful for the awesome guy next to me, the family we were going to see, and the jobs that afforded us time off.  It wasn't the most pleasant experience, but we made it.

*We arrived in Arizona just before 6:00 am on Thanksgiving.  Tired and groggy, but really thrilled to be there!
*Anthony, Matt's brother's husband, did the whole Thanksgiving meal, and oh my goodness, it was incredible!  Thank you Anthony for an amazing meal! 

*Oh how I wish I could have this meal as we speak.  So so yummy.
*Matt and Jack were able to get in lots of snuggle time on this trip.  Aren't they cute? 

*We also got to meet this little cutie.  Sadie is a new addition to Matt's family, and she and I had some lovely bonding time!
*True to the Davis family, we did some fierce Black Friday shopping.  Matt's mom was so kind to treat me to some awesome lovelies.

*Thanksgiving was pretty much a three day food affair, and these ice cream Oreo sandwiches were just one of the many yummies from the week.
*The weekend had the most perfect ending when my Sooners had a crazy awesome Bedlam win.  The game was insane, Boomer!

We headed back to Chicago super early on Sunday morning, and then started the super exciting process of househunting!  Matt and I have been working really hard the past few months, getting serious about saving for a house.  And now our hard work is paying off; we're looking for our very first home!  A very awesome ending to a very awesome Thanksgiving trip.  I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that you're enjoying a lovely start to the holiday season!

Graduation

Graduation day has come and gone, and I have to be honest, it was every bit as awesome as I dreamed.  Since I started my Ph.D program six years ago, graduation day has been a warm and welcome thought, a day much anticpated.  But for the past three years, as graduate school got signiciantly harder, graduation day has been the thing getting me through the tough moments.  When things got rough, I thought of graduation.  When I doubted whether I could get through this degree, I closed my eyes tight and imagined graduation.  During the emotional and self-doubting moments, I imagined myself surrounded by friends and family, walking across the stage, breathing a huge sigh of relief.  So to have the moment I've dreamed about for so long become a reality...well, it was amazing.

If you follow me on Facebook, you've already seen a sneak peak of the big day, but if not, here are more pictures than you could probably ever want to see :)

Fancy gown, check.  Much coveted hood, check.  Piece of paper proving I really did it, check!

It's pretty impossible to locate me in this picture, but I'm in the second row, near the top.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep it together on graduation day; I was certain I'd be a big bawling mess.  So when we walked out into the arena, with Pomp and Circumstance playing, I let myself get swept up in the moment, waving wildly to my family and friends, and of course, shedding a few tears.  It was that magical moment I've been dreaming of for so long!

Matt snapped this picture from crazy far away, so its a bit hard to see, but this is me being hooded by my chair, Dr. Castillo.  I have been so blessed to have such an amazing advisor.  She embraces "girlpower" in every sense of the word, empowering her students to go out there and kick some major ass!

Blurry but oh so thrilled.  In my best Elle Woods voice, "I did it!"

I finally earned those three little initials I've been working so hard for!

Hooray...I'm DONE!

The only thing better than achieving a life long dream is having your family there to celebrate the moment with you.  I'm so grateful for my incredible support system; I never could have done this alone.

My amazing aunt and uncle flew in from Atlanta for the weekend.  They're crazy fun and always up for a celebration!

My little brother, a constant source of encouragement and inspiration.

Four of my favorite Ph.Ds!  I would not have survived graduate school without these people.  (PS: You can see pictures from Matt and Miguel's graduation last year here.)

Despite crazy busy calendars, my brother and sister drove down from Dallas to watch me cross the stage.  They had to head right back after the ceremony, but it meant so much to share this special day with them.

My best friend Steven and his boyfriend, Jesse, also drove in for the big day.  Steven and I have been friends since high school, and he never fails to recognize the little things in life.  He has definitely been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this crazy journey!

Matt's parents also flew in from Arizona to celebrate, reminding me how lucky I am to have such thoughtful in-laws.

My dear friend, Norma, one of the best sounding boards and voices of reason I know.  But not too reasonable that she can't grab a glass of wine and complain about ridiculous graduate school woes :)

My lifetime cheerleaders.  Without these three people, I would never have survived or even dreamed this journey.  They are unfailingly supportive, and I am beyond blessed to have such an amazing family.

My man, my rock.  It is crazy to think that when we started graduate school six years ago, we didn't know each other, and now, as I finish graduate school, I can't imagine my life without him.  He is without a doubt, my greatest graduate school discovery :)

I dont' think words can ever express how much these people mean to me.  I think I said it best in my dissertation dedication, which you can read here.  They are the reason I got this far!

And for a little Instagram action, a quick snap right before the ceremony!

So there you have it, more graduation pictures than you could ever care to see!  After graduation, we headed back to Houston where my parents threw me a rockin' graduation party.  (Read: personalized napkins/cups/plates, yard signs, a full Tex-Mex spread, and a margarita machine!)  One of my parents' neighbors asked me at the party if I felt different.  I think at the time I said "not really," but as I've thought about that question the past few days, I think I do feel a little different.  And its not just the extra initials after my name(though those are pretty cool), but its the realization that I did it.  I pushed through all the obstacles and self-doubt and did something I've dreamed of for a long time.  I put my mind to something crazy hard and did it.  And for that, I'm really proud of myself.  So this week, I'm walking a bit taller, knowing that with the support of friends and family, I endured six tough years to reach my dream.  And that, is pretty cool.

*A special thanks to all my readers who have encouraged me along the way.  From comps, to dissertation drama, to internship stress, yall were cheerleaders each and every step.  Your comments, emails, and Facebook posts mean more than you know.  You rock beyond belief!

Insta-Birthday

As promised earlier in the week, here are a few more birthday weekend snaps...

1. I started my birthday off right with a trip to the gym.  (Are you impressed I'm semi-sticking to my refocus?  Me too lol!)  When I checked in at the desk, it must have alerted the guy that it was my birthday.  After he said "Happy birthday," he asked, "How old are you?"  When I answered, he looked horrified, saying "No offense, but I don't think you look that old!"  I chose to take that as a compliment :)
2. Birthday manicure: pink on pink!
3. Birthday cake Oreos (aka the best invention on the planet!)
4. Oreo birthday cake, made by my sweet husband.  That cake was the epitome of so good, yet so bad.  I could literally feel my bloodstream freaking out from all the sugar lol. 

5. Navy Pier Ferris wheel.  (See the rest of the trip here.)
6. An unexpected drop in temperatures had me cringing at the thought of pulling my coat back out.  Naturally, I reached for my favorite vest instead :)
7. Mr. Cool himself.
8. Now or never, here we go... 

9. It was worth it; we got a fabulous view of Chicago.
10. Cute parents + sunnies.
11. I totally thought I lost these sunglasses, but my sweet dad found them in the trunk of my car.  Birthday karma!
12. Lunch in Chinatown.  PS: I highly recommend Lao Sze Chuan!  Though if you're not one for spicy foods, beware of what you order :)  

13. Birthday cheers at one of my favorite tapas restaurants, Meson Sabika.
14. Sibling love.
15. Birthdays always make me smile, as Matt and I's dating sparks started over a birthday :)
16. This year my wish felt extra special, though my lips are definitely sealed! 

17. Sunday was nice and sunny, making the Chicago springtime tulips look their very best.
18. With the sun, came a lot of patio time.  It was so peaceful to float between the patio and the living room just laughing and chatting with my family.
19. My dad is literally obsessed with popcorn, especially the Chicago mix (carmel+cheese).  Every time he comes to Chicago or I go to Texas, it's expected that Chicago mix popcorn will be exchanged :)
20. Though I was sad to see my family leave, the celebrations continued into the next week with my intern friends.  My friend Christa cooked up a fabulous meal, complete with a longtime nickname shout out!  I answer to "Neebs," a childhood-college nickname, almost as easily as I answer to "Allison."

So there you have it...my celebrations welcoming year 28.  And if this birthday was any indication, it's going to be a really fabulous year!  Thanks to all of you who sent birthday wishes my way; I really appreciate it!  Happy weekend!

Navy Pier

My birthday month has almost come and gone, and I'm still loving all the goodness I got to soak up.  Having my family in Chicago for my birthday was such a treat, and I'm so thankful that I was able to celebrate my special day with the most special people in my life.  We enjoyed a long weekend, with next to nothing on our agenda.  My parents were here two Christmases ago (see pictures from that trip here), and my brother has been to Chicago several times, so it was nice not to feel pressured to sightsee and go go go all weekend.  However, we did manage to enjoy a few touristy things, including Navy Pier and a trip to Chinatown.  Surprisingly Matt and I haven't done either in the almost two years that we've lived in Chicago, and since the weather was pretty nice on Friday (translation: above 50 and sunny), we headed out to explore...

One of my favorite things about Chicago is the blend of city and serene.  You can see skyscrapers and an endless body of water in a single glance.

Pink pants + my favorite fur vest = the only way to do Navy Pier!

Love love love my family.  Matt had Cameron for most of the day, so he isn't in very many of these pictures, but I love love love him too :)

Big, scary, tall Ferris wheel...bring it.

My little brother isn't so little anymore lol.  He is growing up so fast, and I continue to be the proudest big sister on the planet!

Though more than one person in my family is a little leery of heights, we couldn't not ride the Ferris wheel.  And besides, the Navy Pier Ferris wheel isn't nearly as scary as the famous Ferris wheel at the Texas State Fair, confirming that yes, everything is bigger in Texas :)

In and ready to go, eeek!

About halfway up with a beautiful view of the pier and Lake Michigan.

My sweet parents :)

I don't think there is a better city to live in than Chicago.  We still pinch ourselves that we get to call this place home.

There Matt is lol!  PS: I realize its only April, but I think this picture might be a contender for our Christmas card :)

Since we did so well on the Ferris wheel, we thought we'd give the swings a try.  And I won't lie, I haven't laughed that hard in so long.  Hearing my dad, Matt, and Ryan scream louder than me completely made my day :)

Buckled in and ready to go!

Such a fun day and a wonderful start to my birthday weekend.  Another big thanks to my fabulous family for coming such a long way to see me on my birthday.  It was one of my favorite birthdays yet!

PS: If you're visiting Chicago and wondering if Navy Pier is a "must see," I'd say probably not.  We went with the intention to wander, enjoy the weather, and spend the morning working up an appetite for Chinatown.  There is so much to see and do in Chicago, that I'd put Navy Pier toward the bottom of the list.  But if you live here, visit often, or just want a place to soak up some springtime sun, then it's definitely worth hopping over.  I'll be back later in the week to post more pictures from my birthday weekend, but until then, have a fabulous week!