Disclosure: These are all personal, quick-snap photos from my cell phone! It's been a gloomy week in Chicago and I'm so ready for spring & sunshine. I spent the weekend photographing some birthday parties & Valentine mini sessions. The theme for one of the birthday parties was Frozen! The ironic thing is that it was 50 degrees that day - hah!

I spent the week searching for apartments and walking for endless miles. Parking is such a nightmare around here that I just walk from place to place. Get my exercise in AND save on gas & sanity! This is one of the cutest apartments I saw and I'm in LOVE with all of the sun rooms in Chicago. I hope my future apartment has one...

When I wasn't searching north of the city, high & low for a home, I was snuggling on the couch or hanging out with Miss Nora. We went on adventure walks, made fresh-squeezed juice & read lots of books!

I found this on a bus stop yesterday and it stopped me & pulled me back to the present. I was all up in my head, worrying about apartment searching, that I almost missed this. I love the quote & the sun flare. (The sun did shine for at least one day!) Plus, Big Magic is on my list of books to read next. I just love Elizabeth Gilbert & her message about living a creative life, authentically, even in the face of fear.

I was in Lincoln Square, waiting to look at an apartment nearby, when I found this adorable little book/coffee shop. I found this body butter and I'm hooked. Thinking of starting a Product of the Week segment with the unique goods I find here in the city. This is by Bicycle Soap Co and the Lavender & Grapefruit scent is springy, refreshing & invigorating. I'm in love! I highly recommend The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square.

Great coffee & a blue sunset topped the week off as I headed down to the city for a Happy Hour Meetup Group. It's so much fun meeting new people and going to places I've never been. Plus, riding the train is an adventure in itself. I can't wait until my nieces visit so we can ride the train & go exploring.

I've got a full weekend of photo shoots ahead but tonight I'm meeting my mom, sister & niece in Milwaukee for a Disney on Ice night! I can't wait to see Avianna's face and give her big hugs. On Sunday, I'm heading back to Wisconsin for a photo shoot and to regroup for a few days. I'm missing my pooch like crazy - it's been two weeks since we've snuggled! Actually, I miss everyone like crazy & the transition is taking a lot of getting used to. Hopefully once this apartment stuff is taken care of, and I'm settled in, life will have some balance and a sense of normalcy again.

Much love to everyone!