Filed In: life
a year in travel stories and photos
I’d like to take a moment to reflect on our travels this year. We are so unbelievably grateful for every opportunity we get to pack up and go somewhere. Here are a few of my favorite memories from 2013 –
In February we took an impromptu weekend trip to New York City. We explored different neighborhoods, got caught in the rain, browsed markets and wandered through museums. We ate New York style pizza, strolled across the Brooklyn Bridge and pretended to be locals for a few days. It was a quick trip with new friends that felt like old friends.
In the spring we celebrated our second anniversary in Lowcountry. In Charleston we ate incredible food, sipped on sweet tea and swooned over breathtaking sunsets. We rented bikes and rode around for hours exploring south of Broad and the Battery. We spent a whole day wandering around Savannah totally in awe. Returning home my heart felt full.
In July we set off to Galena with a group of friends. We ate bbq and drank wine slushies and played frisbee sticks. We taste tested hot sauces and then immediately regretted that decision. We spent hours at the pool. We stayed up into the wee hours of the night and made a pact that we would all come back next year.
We spent the last of our summer days in Diamond Lake, Michigan. We stayed with my family in a cozy little cottage. There were boat rides and night swims, walks along the water and late afternoon naps on the porch. I spent lots of time drooling over my sister’s cooking. We ended each day with a sunset cruise and a bottle of red wine.
In September, after a crazy few weeks, we headed south to Nashville. We spent a lot of time eating and drinking. We devoured the spicy fried chicken at Hot Hattie B’s and soaked up the cool vibes at the speakeasy style bar The Patterson House. We shared a hotel room with our friends and laughed a lot. I took note of things I’d like to see the next time we visit.
I’m so happy to have these photos to refer back to as reminders of such beautiful moments. Twenty thirteen was truly an amazing year. I feel so very grateful. Thank you for following along and for your constant love and support. I used to think I would grow out of my restless, adventure seeking soul, but I’m starting to think it’s here to stay. I can’t wait to see what we get ourselves into in 2014!
photo credit kate zitzer | see where we went in 2012 here
happy holidays
I wanted to end this year with a general round up of how it went and what I look forward to in the New Year. This year has been a bit of a whirlwind. It challenged me in so many unexpected ways. At times I felt behind, stretched beyond my limits. There were high moments and very low moments for me creatively. I was tested emotionally. This year taught me the importance of knowing my boundaries and how to persevere and I grew stronger for it. I needed this year. I needed to be forced out and faced with the tough situations. I gained perspective and learned to embrace the unknown. This year has brought us new struggles, new adventures and a new home. Through our travels I was reminded how magical and beautiful the world really is. I learned that my friends who I thought were special truly are. I learned that family is very important and that no matter what they will be there for you. I learned that I am very fortunate that I can wake up each day and pursue my passions and create beautiful things and that I am so grateful for all the support you have shown me this year – every comment on this blog, every like on Facebook and Instagram, each time you recommend my art to friends and family and each person who stops by to say hi at art fairs. My days are busy and long and sometimes I struggle, but I enjoy this pace and this life and wouldn’t want to change a thing. So tonight I am going to squeeze Marc a little tighter and be grateful for this life because, trials and all, this life is gold. I wish the happiest of holiday greetings and a very Happy New Year to all of you and your lovely family and friends. May this next year be wonderful and prosperous to you. Cheers 2013, see you in 2014!
image design kate zitzer
goodbye sweet home
Big changes are happening over here – we sold our condo in the city and moved to the suburbs! It happened a few weeks ago but I didn’t want to share anything about it until after we closed and the deal was done. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason and this condo was truly meant for us – In January 2010 after renting for over a year Marc and I decided it was time to buy our first place. Our realtor showed us dozens of condos all over Chicago. The whole process was a real roller coaster ride for us. We went under contract on a two bedroom condo in the River West neighborhood and were scheduled to close in 30 days. A week before our closing we found out our mortgage company would not be able to secure a mortgage for us because the building was not 50% owner occupied and we had to walk away from the deal. We were devastated. A few days later we went out with our realtor again and saw 15 new condos. This time we saw a two bedroom plus den condo also in River West with a large kitchen, a gigantic walk in master closet, in unit washer and dryer, indoor heated parking and it had recently dropped into our price range. We quickly put in an offer and within 24 hours we were under contract. We closed a few weeks later and moved in right away. There were a few quirks in the beginning – the carpet needed to be replaced, the walls needed to be painted and the fireplace had to be changed but we loved it. Over the last three and a half years we really made this place our home.
Before we said our final goodbye I wanted to celebrate some of the little things –
- the fireplace – It was our first major home project. When we moved in, it was bulky, covered in black granite and I hated it. Fortunately there was some potential and we came up with a plan. We removed the black granite and replaced it with a modern white mantle and glass surround. It turned out to be one of my favorite things in our condo and I had it on every night from October through March.
- my studio – I discovered myself as a true artist here. I needed this space to create and grow and dream bigger than I ever have before. I loved this room, and I will miss it.
- our master closet – It was the size of a small bedroom and it stored all of our stuff. I have a feeling I’ll never have a closet this size ever again.
- our dining room – The place where our friends and family gathered. We hosted dozens of parties and sat here eating and drinking for hours. It was small but it was cozy, and it holds a lot of good memories. See here, here and here.
Saying goodbye was not as hard as I thought it would be. Maybe it was because I didn’t have time to dwell on it or maybe it was knowing we wouldn’t be too far away. At first I didn’t want to sell. The timing didn’t feel right to me, but I’m not sure it ever would have. Then slowly things started to fall into place. Marc and I started talking about buying a house in the suburbs at the beginning of the summer. We went out with our realtor the last weekend in September and saw some potential to buy. Our realtor convinced us to put our condo on the market. We listed it early on a Thursday morning. We had two showings and two offers Thursday night. Then on Friday we had another showing and received another offer. We were under contract just 36 hours after listing. It was surreal. In the meantime we saw a house we were really excited about in our desired neighborhood and made an offer. It was ignored. After going under contract on our condo we revised our original offer removing the home sale contingency and raising our initial offer. It was not accepted and a few weeks later the sellers accepted a different offer. So right now we are temporarily living with my sister until we find a home. We continue to search everyday. We are familiar with how tumultuous the home buying process can be and are committed to being patient. If I learned anything from our previous experience, it’s that everything happens for a reason. We have no idea where we will end up or when but I know it will be the right place for us.
It was sad to pack up our condo and our life in the city. Knowing we only had a few weeks left in Chicago had us grasping to do everything we could – spend time with friends, visit our favorite places and eat at our favorite restaurants. I’m so grateful for the time I spent here. There’s so much opportunity, energy, creativity, and hustle in this city. There is no denying that there is a part of me that will always crave those bright lights. It’s hard to believe it has all come this quickly, but I truly feel ready for our next adventure.
photo credit kate zitzer
exploring chicago
Marc and I have lived in Chicago for five years now and have really loved it here. Lately we’ve realized that no matter how big (or small) a place may seem or how well you think you know it, there is always more to see and do and learn. So we’ve been spending a lot of time lately seeking out the new and soaking up our old favorites.
We had coffee from Big Shoulders and breakfast sandwiches from Windy City Cafe. We spent an afternoon walking around the Chicago History Museum and had drinks at Matchbox. We tried checking out the new exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center but it was closed so we went and saw Laura Berger’s mural instead. We went shopping on State Street and heard stories told at Powell’s North Bookstore. We had pies from Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, tacos at Big Star and BBQ sandwiches from Smoke Daddy – everything lived up to the hype. We strolled around Wicker Park and Bucktown and stopped in some of my favorite shops – Brooklyn Industries and Stitch. There really are so many cool parts of this city, and I recommend checking out some of these places if you’re ever in Chicago.
photo credit kate zitzer
make your own pizza party
Who doesn’t love pizza night? Especially when you’re making one for yourself with all of your favorite toppings! Making homemade pizzas has become one of our favorite meals. Over the last couple of years we’ve experimented with a bunch of different combinations and really mastered our pizza making technique and tonight we’re hosting a fun make your own pizza party for a small group of friends.
Here are some tips for hosting your own pizza party –
- Plan as much as you can in advance. This morning I set out all the bowls, plates, glassware, flatware and napkins. At our house pizza nights can be messy so I covered the table with a long sheet of kraft paper for easy clean up. I doodled some recipes on the paper but I also think it will be fun to jot down the ingredients to everyone’s pies. No need for a centerpiece, the spread of meats, cheeses and veggies in pretty little bowls will do the trick.
- Cut and prep all the pizza toppings before your guests arrive. Have everything chopped, measured or mixed together if necessary. Tonight we have roasted tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, fresh thyme, onions, italian sausage, diced chicken, basil, olive oil and fresh mozzarella. One of the best things about a pizza party is that the possibilities are endless!
- Lay everything out in separate bowls on a large table and mark each ingredient. It’s nice to let everyone know what’s available so they can build their own favorite combos.
- Plan for a few different flavors. Marc will be making a barbecue chicken pizza and I’ll be trying one with hot italian sausage and fresh thyme. If you want to do something crazy like pineapple and anchovies that you’re not sure everyone will like, I suggest sending it our first and then following up with a classic margherita or something simple.
- Cooking one pie (or two small ones) at a time is hard when you’re feeding a crowd so I recommend using a quick cooking recipe. We plan on making 6-8 personal sized pizzas (at least one per person) and popping them in the oven as soon as they are prepped. I bought the crust pre made but if you want to get fancy you can make your own dough. Small pizzas cook for 7-10 minutes. So by the time we get one pizza sliced and served the next one will almost be ready. Keep in mind that even a few extra minutes in the oven can make a big difference between soft crust and crunchy crust.
- Have something for guests to munch on while the pizzas bake. Toss together a simple salad or set out a cheese plate and some olives.
- Have a rimless sheet pan ready. We cook our pizzas right on the rack so the rimless cookie sheet makes it easy to slide the pizzas in and out of the oven. Serve pizzas on oversized wooden cutting boards right on the table so guests can dig in.
Have any other good tips for a make your own pizza party?
photo credit kate zitzer
