Summer left very quickly here in Chicago. I feel like God must have flipped the switch and sent us right to 50-60 degree weather and didn’t even ease us in to fall.

I don’t mind much though. Autumn is my favorite season. It’s cool but not cold and I find the brisk air refreshing. I’m not a fan of summer or winter. I like it just in the middle. And fall in Chicago is perfect. That is, when it lasts longer than two weeks before we are plummeted into the brutal winter that makes me hate my life.

But I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.

I’m ready for the changing leaves. My puppy barking at and chasing the fallen ones. I’m ready for scarves and boots. Tights and hats. A new fall coat. Fall television. Cardigans. Hot chocolate and chicken noodle soup. Not together though, duh. Cuddling under blankets. Taking long walks. Kicking leaves. That fall smell. You know the one I mean.

It’s fall.

I love it.

For the first time in forever, I’ve had plans. I had a schedule. My calendar was filled. Babysitting, working events, dinners, brainstorming sessions, parties and picnics.

I loved it.

I like being busy and running around. I could pass on the 4:30 AM wake up calls I had a few mornings in there though. But other than that, being busy was good for me. Seeing so many of my friends and meeting people was something I really needed.

When I’m home, I have too much time to think. And I’m an overthinker by nature so normally, my mind is racing. Then throw in a days of no plans besides sending out emails and reading books and I will overthink everything.

I will overanalyze my life.

I will even overanalyze YOUR life.

So yeah, distractions are a good thing.

But then Wednesday night, it all caught up with me. I was running on little sleep, taking care of sick babies and just going nonstop. And I was in the middle of a brainstorm session with some of the most amazing women here in Chicago and started losing my voice.

The next morning, I felt like I had been run over by a truck. And that truck reversed, backed up over me and then drove right on over again all weekend. Repeatedly.

I’m still feeling a little run down but I think the worst of the plague has past.

The worst part about it was one of my favorites in the entire world was here for a whole week and I couldn’t hang out with her. We had picnics and plans and pow wows! And this stupid sick threw a big wrench into these plans and I felt awful about it. Awful because I was sick and awful because I couldn’t play.

So I need to find a balance between having no life and running myself into the ground and NYC, one of you need to take Nicole on a picnic for me. You can even print out a little photo of me and take it with you so I’ll be there in spirit.

Okay or not, because that is creepy.

But hopefully, I can go visit soon and finally see New York how it should be seen!

Two years ago today, I wrote my first entry on this blog. And for some reason, people still keep reading it!

Sometimes I feel like I’ve had this site forever and then sometimes it’s like really, I swear I just made this silly thing.

But what I’m sure about it is that this little piece of the internet helped shape me in a way I never thought possible. I didn’t start out trying to find myself, career directions or best friends but here I am.

I definitely haven’t found myself yet. This year threw me in quite a bit of a tailspin and I’m working on the transition of ME from US. When you’re an US for so long, you lose yourself a little bit. I’ve been trying to find me again and it’s hard but I’m trying.

Career wise, I’m getting there. I figure I know which direction I’d like to go in now compared to shying away from conversations asking what I went to school for or where I am working. I have a practical experience in social media from my blogs to my communities and I guess now it’s time to settle down and get the background education to go with it. I figure once that happens, I can officially own the internet and everyone will bow down before me. I’ll be like the Voldy of the internetz and crucio all the Mudbloods (newbs) who post ridiculous shit in my forums.

Just kidding. Damn. Don’t get your internet panties all in a twist!

(Also, that just got crazy HP nerdy right there. I apologize.)

(HAH. No, I don’t. CRUCIO.)

ANYWAY.

I’ve met a lot of bloggers this past year especially with Vegas and BlogHer. Many of whom, I met for the first time, but felt like I’ve known them forever. It was kind of like, “Hi. Just meeting you for the first time in person but tell me how is blah blah blah”. You just fall in step because you know them and they know you. And that is probably the best part of this whole thing.

When people say, oh hey, yay blogger meet up! I’m all, yay hanging out with FRIENDS! Like the whole past week: wine party, dinner with Lacey and Nicole, Chicagonista writer meeting. Not blogger activities to me. Yeah, we may have met through our blogs but I don’t think of them as bloggers anymore. It’s just friends. And I’ve met some pretty amazing ones.

Year two of Oh! How Lovely broken down:

Heartbreak. New friends. Vegas, baby! RPattz and ASkars. It’s Britney, bitch! Puppy birthday. Wine shots. Launching a newspaper. Leaving the newspaper! Nintendo parties. Bangs. Unemployment. Almost wearing leggings in front of Tim Gunn. Meeting the love of my life. Working for crazy people. Cheeseburger parties. Reading through the Chicago Public Library. Developing an obsession with Lifetime. Cheesecake dates. Adorable little French girls. Getting my first official pedicure. The fourth anniversary of my 21st birthday. Friends or Seinfeld? Getting ready to launch the newest Chicago website.

Someone give us a birthday tiara. I still don’t do party hats.

And year three?

Bring it.

I know nothing about wine. I couldn’t tell you about the floral or fruity hints to it. Smelling or swishing it around in my mouth won’t do anything for me. Years mean nothing to me.

I just like drinking it.

So what better way to choose your wine than picking out whichever is prettiest?

I told twitter about an adorable bottle of wine I bought about a month ago and then decided all the wine I would get from now on would be based on labels. Twitter wholeheartedly agreed with me and I was all, “OMG Let’s have a pretty wine label party!” then the awesome Working Girl Two was like “I’ll host it at my place!” which was fabulous because I live on the south side and people are afraid of the south side (and I don’t mean south loop. That is not the fucking south side.) and it’s is hard to get to.

ANYWAY.

Yesterday was our party. And it was amazing!

This is only a small portion of all the wine we had.

I really wish we would have got a photo of all of the bottles lined up. We had some really great ones. But at the time, drinking totally trumped photo taking. Understandable, right?

We basically had the best group of people come and had like 423 bottles of wine and snacks. Porch hangouts led to wine shots in the kitchen with Jess and Erin. Things were getting a little crazy and Lacey was like just stay with me and Nicole tonight instead of driving home and then the party REALLY got started. We killed off all of the white wine while having the most epic dance party in the history of the world.

No, really. Madonna. Nsync. The motherfucking LION KING.

And it only got better from there because POP! There went the red wine and the iPod started burning up because we were playing dj and dancing like crazy.

It was seriously one of the best nights I have ever had in my life. Everyone got along famously and had an amazing time. I really need more time with friends like this.

Thanks so much, ladies, for coming and hanging out.

I’m SO ready for Pretty Wine Party 2.0!

When I think back over the past few years, so many of my favorite memories are linked to music in some way.

My first and only year in the dorms, Story of the Year and 50 Cent. No joke. Pop punk and rap music were the soundtrack to our Thirsty Thursday. So college, it hurts.

Inking a dove on my shoulder when I turned 18. It happens to be a band logo as well but it means so much more.

There were many trips to various venues, my favorites being the beat up bowling alley on Fullerton whose bathroom stalls never locked and the lounge underneath the Belmont red line with Philly’s Best across the street that we would stumble in exhausted and sweaty, absolutely beat (literally) from the show ready for some pizza.

Being stuffed into a teeny tiny cafe listening to some stupid local grind band with the windows fogged up and kids pouring outside. Traffic often stopped to see what the hell was going on in the little coffee shop. But the bad music and the crowded spaces didn’t matter, it was all about who I was hanging out with.

Since I had an SUV, I was often the designated roadie for local bands I actually liked. I didn’t mind because I was probably going there anyway. Big huge cabs and bass guitars were often a staple in my car on weekends. The music that flowed from it was all that mattered.

Milwaukee. Some of the best bands came from there and since Chicago was so close, there were many road trips. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve seen sincebyman or even the things I would do to their lead singer but they were the best of Milwaukee hardcore.

Seeing the last show ever by Engine Down with Bella Lea. Lying in the middle of Grant Park on a blanket, head rested on his chest listening to Death Cab for Cutie. Being completely immersed in the beauty of Blonde Redhead when the girl in front of you stiffens, eyes roll back and she hits the floor with such a thud, you were sure her skull cracked open. She only fainted but it sure scared the hell out of me. I probably never would have forgotten that show but she forever cemented it in my mind. Another year at Lollapalooza, this time lying on the outskirts of a sea of people. Blanket spread out, eyes closed and soaking up all that Radiohead had to offer. It was like magic.

Packed in a sweaty, old man bar in Boystown while friends throw out mashup after mashup at the crowd getting out of the hood. Hanging out in various clubs and lounges and just being there for support. Lying on the couch listening to the scratch of records while he brushes up his skills. Occasionally, he throws in a silly song he would never play in the club just because he knows it will make me smile.

Right now? I’m listening to music that makes me think of better days. I’m pouring through 2003. There is nothing like pop punk when you’re not feeling your best.

Have you ever been in the middle of it all for one of your favorite bands?

There is nothing like it.

The pushing, the shoving, the screaming, the dancing. It brings out passion, fear, all kinds of emotion and pumps you so full of adrenaline. It’s just an amazing high.

I need more of that feeling right now.

So fuck all this feelings nonsense.

And besides, how can I feel sad when I have the most adorable, smiley pup around to keep me busy?

We were probably watching Desperate Housewives or something equally amazing on Lifetime.

And no, I’m not being sarcastic. I freaking love Lifetime and am not ashamed.

We do laundry every now and then too.

I mean, it’s either that or just throw everything out and buy new stuff. And that’s pretty tempting but I have no money so for now, I’ll just do laundry.

But mostly we take long walks so Edie’s adoring fans can fawn all over her. And believe me, she has many.

Puppies > feelings.

True story.

I thought a one week break from this might help me clear my head. God knows I need a break from all the thoughts running around my head.

But I guess it didn’t work.

This blog is only a small part of me. I don’t share everything and put it all out there. I have a lot on my mind and I don’t think the internet needs to see it right now.  I’d rather my nervous breakdown be a little less public.

jk, I’m not having a nervous breakdown.

(Yet.)

So the words might be sparse for awhile until I get my shit together. They might not. I don’t know.

I just need to feel in control again and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get that back.

(Send wine, plz.)