I arrived in Chicago in April 2024 with my car packed to the brim, never looking back in the rearview mirror of my life in Colorado. Here we are a full year later, full of wandering, eating, concerts, and settling into a cadence of wonder and curiosity in the best city in the world! How lucky am I? I don’t question it because it has tested me in many ways, but in many instances, it has caused me to pause and embrace just what a profound change Chicago has brought to my life. Ultimately, the amount of strength, wonder, and resilience is unmatched by any other time until now. I think the biggest takeaway is not shying away from fear. Fear of the new and fear of failure: to lean into those uncertain times and trust that I have the tools, desire, and drive to live the life I want without regret; that is where the true reward lies. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

In approaching the soft relaunch of my favorite pastimes—cuisine, photography, and libations—I hope you find some joy in these adventures, and I wish to inspire you to embark on your own. I will be including a brief snippet of my experience, a music inspiration cue, and pictures of all the deliciousness. Cheers, bebes!

Music Cue: from here on out by lighthearted