Conventioning! (Pt. 1)

Two years ago I was lucky enough for Gamma Sigma to sponsor me to AOII's International Convention in Tucson. It was amazing, and I couldn't resist heading back for another go this summer in Chicago! 

I saved up my moneys and split a room with the lovely Monique and made more friends, saw old friends, and fell even more in love with my sisterhood!

Yeah, that's right, the Foundation has edible cupcake toppers. 

Cayla (our Network Specialist in Leadership), Ansley (Collegiate Standards Chair), Monique and I on Red and White day.

Sandy, one of my favorite alumnae

PEG! Peg is a Past International President and has been to more conventions than anyone! She is AMAZING and I love seeing her at Convention!

I went to Pizzeria Uno and had some amaaaaaazing deep dish pizza. YUM! I went back later and got a frozen one that I trucked back to Jeremy who loves their pizza. 

I wish I'd had more time to walk around and take pictures-- the architecture in Chicago was very cool! 

Me and my airport friend Cathy-- she is from NC and I met her at Hartsfield when we were all a little delayed getting in to Chicago. It was a lot of fun running in to AOIIs at the airport and ride sharing and not being alone on travel day!

The Panhellenic Luncheon is always fun -- our speaker this year was Maureen Syring, a Delta Gamma from University of Idaho and she was AMAZING! 

I met up with a group of Kappa Omicron collegiate members - it's so wonderful to go from seeing nobody from my home chapter to running in to FOUR at Convention!

Crystal and I - I aaaalllmost stole her dress!

Ginger Banks, another amazing Past International President

My friend Kim and I-- Kim was my Network Specialist Recruitment and continues to be a wonderful friend and recruitment resource!

View from the platform of the El when Monique and I realized we were not on our way to the Airport... at least the view was nice! 

I have some more pictures on my computer, but I figure I can break it up-- still to come is our first night out at Navy Pier! We had so much fun!

PHEW

What. A long. Summer.

From March until August I worked 60ish hours a week, which was... ridiculous.

But even with all the work I managed to have some fun! It was a really productive summer, all our families enjoyed the activities, and I think I have a better idea of how to plan for next summer when we get to that point.

So, get ready, I'm about to start posting again! At least for a little while...

I lied...

I'm laughing at myself right now-- I apparently thought that the summer would slow down! What a joke!

I am, however, in the last week of Camp and this weekend we get to go to Savannah on a Camp Staff retreat! WOOHOO! Now, to get through the next two days...

Oh, Summer...

Summer is so tricky. You would think that my third summer as director and fourth on staff would have me expecting the amount of work on my plate buuuuuuuut no. I just had to grow the program and change things up! AAARGH! Oh, and the new state requirements... that totally helps! Right? Wrong.

Aaaaanywhoo, we are finally getting to a slower part of summer and I'm hoping to catch up with all the insane things that have happened in the last few months! We're still rockin' and rollin' through life, enjoying our friends and family, and settling in to our wonderful new house!

Stacy Turns 40! And gets engaged!

Stacy had an amazing oyster roast for her 40th birthday party! And then, partway through, Greg proposed! There are a lot of pictures of the dessert table because OHMYGOD these were hands down the most amazing desserts I've ever had. Everyone there had a little bite of everything and nothing was bad! We were also glad to see Della since two days later baby Gideon showed up!

More cuteness!

Since we don't know if/when on that baby thing, we're so happy to have friends with adorable babies! Also, friends who will let us play with their adorable babies! This is Wyatt, John and Paige's baby-- they lived next door to us on E. Lake when both of us were newlyweds and remain one of our closest couple friends to date. Can't wait to play with this little guy some more and watch him grow up!

Bye bye EB's!

On a very sad Saturday in March, I said goodbye to a restaurant I grew up in-- Everybody's Pizza. They shut down the VaHi location a while ago, and we were left with Emory Village. Well, now there's no EB's. I'll miss the delicious pizza, the memories, and the beautiful patio but I'm so grateful we got to spend one last afternoon there!

Me and my Uncle Andy, the owner and operator for over 40 years!

Iconic red cup