As a Chicago-based blogger + photographer, I have A LOT of places to go and adventures to have on my Chicago Bucket List. While I do love this amazing city, I know that my time here may be fleeting as I resent the cold more and more each year *sigh*. That being said, I wanted to create a fun bucket list of everything you could possibly want to see, do, & taste in the Windy City. There are so many things to do in Chicago that creating this list became quite difficult because I didn't want to leave any "must do" out! 

I would love to hear your thoughts on your own Chicago bucket list and places/experiences you wish to try! Feel free to share this list and add to it!

⬜️Lowcountry
⬜️Funkenhausen
​⬜️Summer House Santa Monica
⬜️Smoque BBQ
⬜️Shore Club
⬜️Honey Butter Fried Chicken
⬜️Fat Rice
⬜️Mindy's Hot Chocolate
⬜️Au Cheval
⬜️Girl & The Goat
⬜️Alinea
⬜️Spiaggia
⬜️Pacific Standard Time
⬜️Summer House Santa Monica
⬜️Cindy's 
​⬜️Carnivale
​⬜️Happy Camper
⬜️Chicago Diner
⬜️Handlebar
⬜️The Purple Pig
⬜️Big Star
⬜️The Publican
​⬜️The Berghoff
⬜️Parson's Chicken
⬜️Lonesome Rose
⬜️Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
⬜️Mott Street
⬜️90 Miles Cuban Cafe
⬜️The Radler
⬜️Furious Spoon
​⬜️Geja's Cafe
⬜️Longman & Eagle
⬜️Lost Lake
​⬜️Giordano's
⬜️Lou Malnati's
⬜️Gino's East
⬜️Portillo's
⬜️Sunda
⬜️Three Dots & A Dash
​⬜️Goose Island 
​⬜️Maple & Ash
⬜️Fig & Olive
⬜️Velvet Taco
⬜️Homeslice
⬜️Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
​⬜️XOCO
⬜️Pequod's
⬜️Sushi Para II
​⬜️The Walnut Room
​⬜️Harry Caray's
⬜️Gibson's
⬜️Chicago Q BBQ
⬜️Ditka's
⬜️The Nutella Cafe
⬜️RPM Steak
​⬜️Tanta
⬜️Le Colonial
⬜️The Dearborn
⬜️Athena Greek Restaurant
⬜️The Signature Room @ The 95th
⬜️RL Restaurant
⬜️Rosebud on Rush
⬜️Lockwood
⬜️Carmine's
⬜️Wrigley BBQ
⬜️Greek Islands
​⬜️Hopleaf
⬜️Safehouse
⬜️Roanoake
⬜️Catch 35
⬜️Blackbird
⬜️Nico Osteria
⬜️Connie's Pizza
​⬜️Lillie's Q BBQ
⬜️Boka
⬜️Giant
⬜️Devil Dawgs
⬜️Green Street Smoked Meats
⬜️Frontera Grill
⬜️Kuma's Corner
⬜️Paco's Tacos
⬜️Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co.
⬜️Pizano's
⬜️Del Seoul
⬜️Duck Duck Goat
⬜️Smoke Daddy
​⬜️Cheesie's
⬜️Dryhop Brewery
⬜️Mousetrap Brewery
⬜️Wilde Bar
⬜️Mortar & Pestle
⬜️Kanela Breakfast Club
⬜️Hutch
⬜️Taco Joint
⬜️Barcocina
​⬜️Prost!
⬜️Broken English
⬜️Beermiscuous
⬜️Nookies Too
⬜️Molly's Cupcakes
⬜️Gemini
⬜️The Violet Hour
⬜️Sultan's Market
⬜️Oiistar
⬜️3 Arts Club Cafe
​⬜️The Vig
​⬜️ZED451
⬜️Pops For Champagne
⬜️Hannah's Bretzel
⬜️Stocks & Blondes
⬜️Italian Village
⬜️Flaco's Tacos
⬜️The Chicago Firehouse
​⬜️Velvet Lounge
​⬜️Lagunitas Brewery
​⬜️Del Toro
⬜️DeColores
⬜️Dark Matter Coffee
⬜️The California Clipper
​⬜️Nana's
⬜️Maria's Packaged Goods
⬜️Moody Tongue Brewery
⬜️Half Acre Brewery
​⬜️Carnitas Uruapan
⬜️Rainbo Club
⬜️Old Town Ale House
⬜️Drumbar
⬜️The J. Parker
​⬜️Don Churro
⬜️Crisp
⬜️Ann Sather
⬜️Delilah's
⬜️The Drifter
⬜️Milk Room
​⬜️The Map Room

Despite being an only child growing up, I never thought that I was very special or that the ways I spent my time were consumed by special things. I was one of those kids who flew under the radar in school - quiet enough to not be recognized by any of my accomplishments, social enough to not get bullied, and well-behaved enough to stay out of trouble (or the spotlight whatsoever). 

I spent majority of my summers and childhood at my grandparent's house watching Old Hollywood movies and seeing Grace Kelly waltz around their big screen television in ostrich feathers and lacy evening gowns. I was mesmerized by Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, and Barbara Stanwyck - all poised, intelligent, and beautiful women who could dress well and speak well. I may not have felt special or glamorous at the time but I remember thinking one day I would be. 

I distinctly remember NYE 2004 at my grandparent's house. I watched the ball drop from Times Square in their living room as me and my cousins ate White Fudge Oreos and drank Dr. Pepper out of plastic wine glasses. While it was by no means a "boring" way to spend an evening, it sure wasn't NYC and it most definitely wasn't exciting. From that moment on I promised myself that once I became of age I would never have a boring NYE again. & as time went on and I grew older, I decided that it wasn't just an exciting NYE that I wanted but an exciting life. 

So over the years I have created and journaled a list of all the special places I want to visit, adventures I want to embark on, lessons I hope to learn, and people I wish to experience life with. As I've aged into my mid-twenties, I've already crossed off many items and added to it as my views and desires have changed with each passing year. 

Sharing my dreams & a list of items/places that I hope to experience is quite personal and something I didn't think I would ever post about. However, I think inspiring others to create new goals is always a good idea. I wanted to think outside the box for my bucket list. Sure, the list includes a number of "normal" goals but I made sure to sprinkle in some extra unique ones. I think the point of a bucket list should be to instill a desire to break out of your comfort zone and experience a side of life that one doesn't get to do on a daily basis. I wanted my list to be extraordinary and to become something worth yearning for.

⬜️Flamingo Beach
✓Pig Beach
✓Paris
​⬜️Berlin
✓Disney
✓Myrtle Beach
​⬜️Geneva
⬜️Milan
⬜️Dubai
⬜️Abu Dhabi
​⬜️Australia
⬜️Banff
⬜️Maine
​✓Iceland
​⬜️Monte Carlo
​​⬜️Nice, France
​⬜️Vienna
​​✓Area 51
⬜️Grand Canyon
​⬜️Vermont
⬜️Singapore
⬜️Machu Pichu
⬜️Galapagos
⬜️Aspen
⬜️Munich
⬜️Copenhagen
⬜️Switzerland
​⬜️Lake Como
✓Ireland
⬜️Montreal
✓Niagara Falls
​⬜️Amalfi Coast
⬜️Bermuda
⬜️Stockholm
⬜️Azores Islands
​⬜️Finland
⬜️Lisbon
​⬜️Brussels
⬜️Joshua Tree National Park
​⬜️Glass Beach in California
⬜️Morocco
⬜️Faroe Islands
⬜️Hawaii
⬜️Mount Rushmore
⬜️The Poconos
⬜️Fiji
⬜️The Maldives
✓Edinburgh
✓Portland
✓Seattle
⬜️Neushwanstein Castle
⬜️Elz Castle
​⬜️Rio de Janeiro
⬜️Colmar, France
⬜️Manchester
⬜️New Zealand
⬜️Eureka Springs, Arkansas
⬜️Mackinac Island
⬜️Zurich, Switzerland
⬜️Budapest
⬜️Glasgow
⬜️Israel
​⬜️India
✓Bali
​⬜️Santa Fe
⬜️Memphis
✓Nashville
✓New Orleans
✓Miami
​⬜️Vancouver
✓Raleigh, NC
✓Savannah, GA
✓Atlanta
✓Washington, D.C.
⬜️Capri, Italy
⬜️Tokyo
​⬜️Shanghai
⬜️Cannes, France
​⬜️Detroit
⬜️Bodega Bay, California
⬜️Sleepy Hollow, NY
⬜️French Alps
​⬜️Chile
​⬜️Guatemala
​⬜️Easter Island
​⬜️Mauritius Island
​⬜️Ecuador
​⬜️Malta
​⬜️Cabo
​⬜️China
​⬜️Cabo San Lucas
​​⬜️St. Barth
⬜️Cape Cod
⬜️Nantucket
⬜️Montana
⬜️Positano, Italy
​⬜️Ukraine

✓Win a costume contest
​⬜️Octoberfest in Germany
​⬜️Get a piercing in Amsterdam
​⬜️Create my dream closet
⬜️Reindeer sledding in Norway
​⬜️See the Norway Fjords
✓Celebrate Halloween in Salem, MA
​⬜️Celebrate NYE in Las Vegas
⬜️Collect Old Cameras
⬜️Visiting the Mackenzie-Child's farm
​⬜️Stay at the Lizzie Borden House
⬜️Visit the Dr. Pepper Museum
✓Seeing the Prada store in Marfa, Texas
​⬜️See Lady Gaga live
✓See Britney Spears Live
​✓See the Backstreet Boys live
​⬜️Swim in the Hamilton Pool in Texas
​⬜️Celebrate Halloween at Dracula's Castle in Romania
⬜️Swimming with a Beluga Whale
⬜️A Lantern Fest
⬜️Celebrate Halloween @ The Stanley Hotel
⬜️Stay at the Waldorf Versaille 
​⬜️4th of July at The Hamptons
✓Attend the Kentucky Derby
⬜️Attend the VC Polo Classic
⬜️Wine Train in Napa
⬜️Stay at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
​⬜️An Alaskan Cruise
⬜️Be a bridesmaid for a stranger's wedding in Las Vegas
⬜️Stay at the Giraffe Hotel
⬜️Attend a Hot Air Balloon Festival
⬜️Go to Mardi Gras
⬜️Attend a Super Bowl
✓St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
⬜️Shopping at a European Christmas Market
​⬜️Stay at the Madonna Inn
⬜️See the California Redwoods
⬜️Go to Bath, UK
⬜️See the White Cliffs of Dover
⬜️Ride the Venice Simplon-Orient Express train
⬜️See the Scotland Fairy Pools
​✓Stay at the Plaza Hotel in NYC
✓Attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parada
✓Attend NYFW
⬜️Celebrate NYE in Paris
⬜️Swim at the Barton Springs pool in Austin, TX
✓Stay at the Atlantis Bahamas 
⬜️See the Romeo & Juliet wall in Italy
⬜️See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
✓Live in a loft
⬜️See the Dead Sea
​⬜️Eat at the original Chick-Fil-A
⬜️See the Stone Henge
⬜️Visit the Taj Mahal
⬜️Go to the Neon Museum in Las Vegas
✓Hold a baby Tiger
⬜️Attend the Golden Retriever Festival
⬜️Dog Sled
⬜️Swim with otters
⬜️Wear a snake as my outfit accessory
​⬜️Throw an amazing Halloween party
⬜️Visit Nocton Hall (The Woman in Black House)
​⬜️Tour the Winchester Mystery House
⬜️Go to Cadillac Ranch
✓Ride an Elephant
⬜️Hold a koala
​✓Take a falconry class
⬜️Sing (& nail it!) "We Didn't Start The Fire" for karaoke night 
​⬜️Attend a gala in honor of a charity I love
⬜️Dinner + Show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris
⬜️Wimbledon
​⬜️Try a Salt Float Bath
⬜️Make pasta from scratch
⬜️A dining without senses event
✓Try Absinthe 
✓Eat at a Michelin Star Restaurant 
​✓Do a Polar Bear Plunge
⬜️Go to Blueberry Farm in Tennessee 
⬜️Stay at the Ashford Castle
✓Have a country star sign my cowgirl boots 
⬜️Visit the Ben & Jerry's factory
⬜️See the Bonneville Salt Flats
⬜️Celebrate Halloween in New Orleans
⬜️Stay at a Versace hotel
⬜️Do a riverboat cruise
​⬜️Swim at Jellyfish Lake
⬜️Boat the Rhine River
⬜️Go to House of Yes in NYC
⬜️Attend the Texas Sand Festival
⬜️Attend an Olympics
​✓See the ball drop in Times Square
⬜️Watch all the famous movies + TV shows
✓Make a gallery wall of memes 
✓Stay at the Oakley Court Hotel
​⬜️Visit Oak Alley Plantation
⬜️Visit the Pet Sematary house in Hancock, Maine
⬜️Stay at the Biltmore 
⬜️Start a signed book collection
⬜️Have a fashion designer sign a pair of heels
​⬜️Start a newspaper collection
⬜️Throw a golden birthday party 
⬜️Become a SOHO house member
​⬜️Go to 7 Mountains in Nevada
​⬜️Visit Jacob's Well in Texas
​⬜️Tour Buckingham Palace
⬜️Go to Yellowstone National Park
⬜️Attend the Holland Tulip Fest
⬜️Visiting all 50 states
⬜️Own a cool neon sign
⬜️Stay at a floating cabin resort
✓Stay at the Baker House in Wisconsin 
⬜️Write down a list of memories I have with special people in my life
⬜️Stay at the Ross Lake Cabins
⬜️Paddle Boarding
⬜️Visit the Pumpkin House in West Virginia
✓Go to the Mall of America
⬜️See Lake Lochness
⬜️See the Gates of Hell sculpture 
⬜️Visit the Tunnel of Love in Ukraine
⬜️Celebrate Day Of The Dead in Mexico
✓Celebrate Halloween in NYC
⬜️Attend SNL 
⬜️Swim in the World's largest swimming pool 
⬜️Swim with Manatees 
⬜️Play a round of golf at St. Andrew's 
⬜️Visit a pink sand beach

I have this terrible habit of comparing myself to others and usually feeling like I always come up short. Maybe it's because I actually AM short - and have been comparing myself to taller, more noticeable people since the day I learned how to walk. I have always struggled with self-confidence issues and how I view my part in this world, especially as a wedding photographer and growing a business that is already overly saturated by anyone with a Nikon.

Two years ago I was at a bridal industry event night and I met this man who is also a wedding photographer in Chicago. Cool right? Except he charges about double what I charge and at the time seemed to be about double as impressive..... he also was about double my age, but that's not important. I started to look up to him as he was a sought-after, successful Chicago photographer.  

We continued to communicate after our first meeting and he was someone I went to for advice regarding photography and crafting a business plan. I went to him for other things too - however, like his age - that's not important. I remember even after we lost contact wishing I could someday be as successful as he was in the wedding industry. I wished I could be someone that people would want to book with no matter how high my pricing. 

As time has gone on, I have incorporated some of the ideas we discussed and his views on the best way to become a successful wedding photographer into my business routine. Yet I still have always thought he was out of my league-professionally speaking. I spent many months comparing myself to him and others in the industry who I believed to be more successful, more creative,  and more powerful.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago when a wedding photo of his popped up on my business Instagram explore page that I realized maybe the ones we look up to aren't exactly who we make them out to be. It was an image of a couple he photographed at Montesino Ranch. MONTESINO RANCH. 

Now, if you're asking yourself "WTF is Montesino Ranch?" then it's probably because you don't live in the very small town of Wimberly, Texas on the outskirts of Austin. 

Even I, Macey Lynn, who has low self-confidence and questions her artistic ability every day has shot a wedding at Montesino Ranch. While it's a beautiful place, it's not expensive and it's not somewhere a bride with a large budget would book a top photographer. One of my first clients EVER tied the knot back in 2013 at Montesino Ranch, giving me the opportunity to really grow my portfolio. 

It's so easy to compare ourselves to "role models" we create in our minds. Celebrities, older relatives, co-workers, Instagram influencers, you name it. We see people and get this idea that they are SO much better than us in a particular area. & maybe they are. There are a lot of people who are super smart and that have worked very hard to get to where they are today. However, that shouldn't diminish our own worth. 

Sometimes the people we look up to are just a few steps ahead. Or they built a ladder to get a bit further along. Or, in many cases, paid a helicopter to escort them straight to the top. 

What I'm trying to say with all of this is that it's AMAZING to have role models and people to look up to in order to stay inspired, creative, and think outside the box. It's also AMAZING to believe in your own success as much as anyone else's. Some of the challenges we face aren't as challenging as we make them out to be. So don't compare yourself to photos and posts on social media of people screaming their successes.

I think instead of having role models, we should have goal models. A goal model is someone that inspires us to reach new goals without feeling the need to compare our journey to theirs. We all have our own paths. I promise you'll have your own Montesino Ranch moment someday and I hope when you do you realize that you're actually super talented and worthy of great things ✨ 

A few weeks ago, on a road trip to Minneapolis, my fiancé and I came to the conclusion that we love being alive in this day and age. We came to the conclusion that 2019 has truly offered some incredible moments and if given the choice to live in any other time period we would have to decline the offer. 

This realization is certainly not something many people feel like screaming at the tops of their lungs. It's hard to think of all the good during a time period that is filled with mass shootings, climate change, hatred, the pressures of social media, economic uncertainty, cancer, the rise of other diseases, the list continues...

Throughout history there has always been tragedy and terrible moments. Yet nostalgia has a way of making us think the past was better than it in all likelihood was. For me it's the Roaring 20s. I imagine how incredible that time period would have been. The glamorous attire, the jazz music blaring, the adrenaline that would have pulsed through my veins sneaking into a speakeasy and illegally consuming wine alongside my flapper girlfriends. Such a dazzling, magical time to be alive. Or so it seems. 

Of course, this time period would have actually been far from easy. Few rights for women, the banning of alcohol, the verge of the Great Depression, the unrest -or should I say the uneasy peace- that came with the conclusion of WWI. The struggle of living (particularly thriving) in the 20s would have been real. As would any past decade or century. & for all the amazing moments in history, I think we all can agree that we would have only enjoyed living in [Insert Years] time period if we were filthy rich. Not to say that money buys happiness but it certainly contributed to much better living conditions pre-AC and electricity. 

However, in this day & age you don't have to be filthy rich to experience what would have been a lap of luxury lifestyle just a handful of decades ago. Air-conditioning. The power to have food delivered to your home, find a mate, connect with someone across the globe, and Google the answer to any question in a matter of seconds through a handheld device. Electricity. Hot, running water. All simple things we take for granted on a daily basis. 

My fiancé and I discussed it and truly think there really is nothing that compares to the present. We love the ease of being able to go on a road trip with the help of our handy navigator Siri while Spotify plays our favorite songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and today. We love that we can Skype each other when we're each away on business. We love that with a touch of a button our apartment can be warm and cozy despite the cold winter weather of Chicago raging outside our windows. We love that we can travel for a mere few hundred dollars to London, NYC, Texas, Paris, Singapore, Costa Rica, & many other destinations anytime our heart desires. We love that we have options (many times too many) for food, movies, music, clothing, and activities. We love that we can stay out late at a local bar, drink our favorite adult beverages, and safely Uber home at the end of the night. We love that we can go to the doctor or hospital for any ailment or injury and get treatment that will put us back on our feet in a matter of days. 
​
I love that I can voice my opinion to my blog from the comfort of my bedroom and share my ideas with the world. I love that I can go on Pinterest and find new recipes to cook for dinner. I love that despite not living close to home I can Snapchat and keep up with friends & family.  I love that I can keep my home clean with an automatic trashcan & litter box. I love that I can wash my clothes while I binge watch videos of cats doing silly things on Youtube or watch a classic film on Hulu. I love that I can hear new musicians on Soundcloud and support local artists through Etsy. I love it all.

& sure, there is A LOT of bad in the world. & it's easy to fall into the thinking that this is a hard time to be alive. I know I do it more times than not. However, I think that any time can be a hard time to be alive. I also think that any time can be a great time to be alive. I think a lot of it is our perspective.

​& while the past might have had some amazing moments, there's a reason we have progressed to where we are now. & maybe we didn't all individually contribute to that but our ancestors and fellow mankind did. We (as a human race) have always been innovative and creative, constantly progressing towards something - who knows what exactly. & to think that we have suddenly lost that mentality is simply not supported based off of a thousand+ years of modernization. 

Think about it long and hard. Would you have preferred to grow up or live in another time? And if so, why? 

Because I wouldn't. I choose the here and now. & I think if we all adopted the mentality that this is truly a great time to be alive, maybe we could overcome these fears, anxieties, and struggles that have seemed to captivate the minds of Millennials everywhere. 

I had fake Chanel sunglasses on and an Abercrombie bikini. I had bought the book with some chore money after glancing through the self-help section of Barnes & Noble. High school is hard for everyone, no matter how cool or athletic or smart you are. I think we can all agree on that. For me, it was a lot harder than I had expected. I went to a private Baptist high school. We had to wear uniforms and attend a daily Bible class- which wasn't so bad in itself. However, it was really difficult to fit in unless your parent's had at least a half a million dollar home and/or you already had a ridiculously good education and brain to back it up. I had neither but thankfully I seemed "normal" enough to fly under the radar from constant bullying.

I came from a divorced family, was raised by a single mom with the help of my grandparents. My ex stepdad came into my life in elementary school and was around to co-parent with my mom for roughly 10 years. It was normal enough yet far from the "stable" upbringing majority of my friends had. My stepdad was a very negative person and growing up surrounded by him definitely has affected my adult outlook on life. He didn't believe in being silly, childish, or anything "fun" for that matter. I was an only child so I stuck to myself most of the time. I grew up surrounded by his mindset that life is hard, having fun means being immature, and there's no reason to lighten up because adulthood is a dark place. ​

Anyways, back to my first self-help book experience. I remember scanning over the pages and thinking "Yes, these things would make me happy". Sushi, sunsets, perfume from Paris - the book listed everything you could imagine and more. Plenty of things to be happy about... even if I couldn't experience them all the time. It's not that I felt sad- necessarily. I had good friends in and outside of school. I was good enough at cross country and track to hang with the older crowd and make the school morning announcements on occasion for hitting a new PR. Despite wearing a uniform, my love for shoes started young so I was always getting complimented on them by the "popular" girls. It wasn't a rough upbringing by any means. Yet, I did still struggle to feel "happy" on a daily basis. Most days just felt "eh". Not good, not bad, but definitely not happy. It wasn't something I wanted to verbalize because everyone else around me seemed to feel "happy".

Fast forward 10+ years, and here I am. Still not always beaming with happiness, but definitely stable. I have my own wedding photography business. I blog. I'm finally in a healthy, trusting adult relationship - something I've never experienced previously. I've had a lot of ups and downs. Moved from Austin to NYC to San Antonio to Chicago. Lived in a different apartment every year for the past 7 years. My best friend committed suicide almost 3 years ago and I've since lost a few other friends to suicide or sketchy lifestyles. Despite the hard events in my life, I think that as I've reached my mid-twenties I've come to learn that happiness is a choice and choosing to live a fulfilling life is what will bring us the most joy.

It's been a whirlwind of events and even though I'm only 26, I often feel like I've already lived several different lives. I've made traveling a priority, often as a way to escape sadness or stresses that affect me on a daily basis. I've started a Meetup group, which has taught me that I am, in fact, a pretty social person and something about me seems to bring people together. I'm not sure if that's always a good thing but it is what it is. I've learned a lot about myself, people, and human nature in general.

There have been ups and downs, positives and negatives. I still struggle with my mental outlook and what I'm not sure is depression or just a normal reaction to dealing with deaths, divorces, and frequent life changes within a short amount of time. I think it's so great that our society is starting to be more open about mental health and the stigma of having to act like everything is ok is beginning to fade away. People are embracing being honest about their feelings and struggles in a healthy way.

​However, I don't think this vulnerable stance has translated into our work environments and I feel like not enough people talk about it. My best friend was fresh out of college when she committed suicide. She was looking for a job or career path. She went to interviews all the time and was constantly expressing her wants and desires to find a job and feel self-reliant. Unfortunately, she didn't end up waiting long enough to gain either one. I think it's a core desire to want to succeed and be independent. I know many of us feel that being honest about depression or anxiety in a professional setting could result in a halt moving up the ladder. None of us want to be judged by a colleague, boss, manager, competitor, or client for being incompetent due to our frame of mind. 
​
Having my own wedding photography business has been amazing and each year I have built up more clients and a larger portfolio than the previous. It's not always easy though- i'm sure anyone with depression and trust issues can probably relate. It's hard enough somedays to even get out of bed let alone market, e-mail, call, network, and book myself from 8am-6pm. Somedays I work for 18+ hours at a time, going on an editing spree and trying to book new clients. Other days I don't accomplish anything. It's these days that make me feel unproductive and worry that I'm going to lose everything I've built. It makes me look at my friends who work for someone else or corporate America and wish that maybe I had considered a similar path. Not because it's easier or less stressful, but because it means having a support system and a more structured lifestyle in many cases. 
​
Recently, I almost threw the towel in. With some of the major life changes I've faced in previous years, it's been hard to feel motivated. For awhile there I lost all sense of direction for my life. I started getting a few bad reviews. I always justified my behavior because it wasn't entirely my fault. One client didn't receive their package on time because their address was a PO box, another client threw a fit over not receiving 5 posed photos we took despite my contract clearly stating all photos received are up to my discretion. None of these things were "my fault", that is true. Yet I can now admit that I didn't handle these situations properly. My mental state sometimes makes me lack self confidence and I feel like people are taking advantage of me. This has, of course, made being the face of my own business very difficult. 

I made excuses, it made me feel better. Deep down I felt terrible. One bad review in this day and age can make or break a business permanently. & here I was getting multiple ones at once. I felt like I had messed up- yet again! I felt like people were taking advantage of my lower priced packages or my "too nice" personality. I stopped marketing myself for future clients. I decided to rebrand - which I'm still working on. It's hard to be the backbone for a business when you feel like your own backbone is collapsing from stress and the downfalls of life.

I almost called it quits last winter. I was crying in my bathtub. I felt like I was losing everything I had been working towards the past few years. I thought that if I just started over and had a "normal" job that maybe I would feel more stable. I told myself that someone with my mental health state shouldn't and couldn't run their own business. It would be better for me to take directions and have a clear schedule. The stresses and instability of my job was making me feel more unstable. I told myself it was time to move on and leave the dream of capturing the world on film to a more secure occupation.

That's when I realized that I'm not that person. Somedays I might feel weak, but it doesn't mean I'm weak. If anything, I'm stronger than most. Just because I don't always feel secure in myself doesn't mean I can't be secure in my own business. Maybe I can be a voice for those who are overwhelmed by their mental health struggles. Maybe it will take more effort than it would for someone in a "happy" frame of mind but that doesn't mean it's impossible. I've let people down, but I've also been let down by others. & even if it means that through all of my recent decisions I've let myself down, it also means I can lift myself back up. 

In the last two weeks I've booked 6 weddings and have done better than I have in a LONG time. Feeling productive & successful in my work life also makes me feel better about other areas of my life. It can be so hard to get out of a funk once you're in it, but it also can be hard to get out of accomplishments once you're in it - which is a good thing! It can be so easy to focus on the negatives in our lives. I think if we can try to focus on what we want to achieve and the steps we need to take to do so then we can feel productive and experience a happier version of ourselves. 

I've found that trying to set a daily routine/schedule helps so much! Also using tools to post on all of my social media accounts at once is such a time saver and makes me feel productive in itself. The first day of every month I go on Facebook and schedule the entire month's daily posts so it's one less thing to have to think about! There are so many tools and resources for us in this day and age. Templates, email scheduling, etc, etc! I think learning to balance our mental health with our daily necessities is so important to feeling productive and not letting our minds create havoc that feels too hard to climb out of.

So I just want to say to all you business owners, freelancers, programmers, bosses, managers, and anyone who works from home that is struggling with mental health issues - you can do it. It might take more effort somedays but go easier on yourself. Take a break if you need to. Make a to-do list that you can tackle at once. Be honest even if you're worried it might impact how others view you- I think honesty and vulnerability are traits few have but many admire. Schedule an appointment to vent with your therapist. Talk to a friend. Sleep in on your day off. Make time to work out, read, cook, or do something calming. Whatever you do, don't give up. If you really feel like you've found your purpose then don't let your mental state mess up your future state. It's hard, but it's worth it and you deserve it- trust me. 

I know that getting engaged is not like the biggest accomplishment ever but for me getting engaged kinda was! I always thought when I grew up I wanted to be a wife & mom. Sure, wedding photography definitely has its perks. However, it's not the dream. Call me old fashioned but I think getting to take care of my home, shoot the occasional wedding/photo session, cook dinner, & spend time with my children + husband is the ultimate #lifegoals. So meeting & falling in love with this amazing man I get to now call my fiancé is something I'm incredibly excited about!

I decided to shoot my own engagement photos because I've always been into self portraits. Pictures & self portraits are how I've expressed myself over the years. I remember being an artsy, somewhat anti-social teenager and thinking capturing myself sitting in a window would express the emotions I felt 🤷🏼‍♀️Ever since high school I've captured almost every vacation, milestone, and adventure through the lens of my camera. I figured what better way to capture my love story & engagement then shooting it myself?! 

So here are all of my favorite photos from our engagement session. Shout out to my fiancé, Ryan, on adventuring around the city of Chicago with (& dodging the rain all day, I might add!) for hours on a Sunday so I can get "the perfect shot". 

*P.S. If I can take all of these amazing shots ON MY OWN then imagine what I can do for you ;) For wedding + portrait photography sessions visit my website shoot312.com & let me capture your big moment!

26 years on this Earth is far from a world record and for many of us our lives are just beginning. The truth is that I don't have much advice to give. I've made plenty of mistakes and errors in recent years that have made me feel like I have NO idea what I'm doing in life. However, I think it's the mistakes in life that provide us with insight worth sharing with others. If there's anything I hate it's perfection. I don't think anyone has grown from a perfect life that has no bruises, scars, or blemishes. In my last six years I've gone through two of my mom's divorces, two close friend suicides, two of my own long term relationship breakups, moving from Austin to NYC to San Antonio to Chicago, 8+ apartments, multiple jobs/internships, starting my own photography business, and visiting multiple cities/states/countries. It's been a journey. Through that journey I've learned & witnessed a lot. Here are just a few of many great tips, lessons, & words of wisdom I'm accumulated:

Raise your hand if fast fashion is the worst... 🙋🏼🙄

I love shopping as much as anybody & have always heeded Kate Sander's advice after acknowledging that Lizzie Mcguire was an outfit repeater. That being said, i'm kinda sick of fast fashion! & honestly, I blame all of the "influencers" everywhere. Constantly trotting around in new fashions, never repeating as much as a pair of shoes, spouting off about the newest and trendiest clothing + accessories that we "need". It's true that I too have a LikeToKnowIt account & that I also market my own wardrobe - BUT I'M PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN.

I don't think this concept even has to do with liking to shop or wearing a new outfit on a new outing. Many of us girls have been shopping 24/7 since the day we were born! I think it's more the idea of constantly buying bulk clothing at cheap prices, wearing said item one time for a cute photo, and then stashing more junk in your closet for the next 5 years until it finally gets sold on eBay for $3 or gets donated to your local Goodwill shop. It's a waste of time, money, and space. 

​What happened to buying nice articles of clothing? What happened to being excited to wear a new outfit instead of purchasing for the sake of a photo or caption? I'm just as guilty as anyone but I think it's time I change my ways. Let's make an effort to buy because we love something - not because our favorite Instagram influencer recommends it, not because it's a bargain (unless it truly is... then girl get it!), and not because we feel the need to share it with the world of social media.

Over the course of this month I'm going to purge through the endless amount of clothing, shoes, & accessories I've collected. Less truly is more. Maybe I can get some extra cash by selling my higher end items & I can definitely help out others with my bags and bags of donations. Not only is fast fashion bad for the environment but I think it's bad for our mental wellbeing. I mean, here we are, thinking that items we spend money on have no purpose to our lives besides giving us a few likes & comments. Is that truly how low we think of ourselves? Everything we choose to have in our lives should bring us confidence & happiness. We have become so shallow to allow ourselves to drown in our collection of fast fashion fabric. 

A wise person once said:  "Everything in moderation". Including Fashion Nova, Forever 21, & Amazon Prime. I will update y'all on my fashion status at the end of the month - wish me luck!

So it's already July & summer is basically already over and it's barely even started. 

Ok, I'm being dramatic... but still! If you live in Chicago then you know that summer is not only the best time of year but also incredibly fleeting. It's already July and I've yet to sunbathe on a yacht off Navy Pier or close down Trader Todd's Monday night karaoke or blackout at Beauty Bar. Like who am I?!

All jokes aside, any Chicagoan (or tourist!) should take full advantage of the warm weather & try to explore all that Chicago has to offer. After surviving the -50 degree winter storm we had this last January, I am determined to check off a few Chicago bucket list items while the sun is out and my winter boots are collecting dust under my bed. I've read through every Do 312 summer item, perused Instagram, & researched more blogs then I would like to admit in order to curate this expansive, fun, & unique list of 2019's "must-do" adventures in and around Chicago. So grab a pen, take a Malort shot, get your Groupme (& wallet!) ready because we're about to make this summer one to remember!

❏ MORNING YOGA AT GALLAGHER WAY
❏ SING WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE AT TRADER TODD'S KARAOKE NIGHT
​❏ CIRQUE DU SOLEI: VOLTA - UNTIL JULY 6TH
❏ SPONGE BOB POP UP BAR - REPLAY LINCOLN PARK - UNTIL JULY 14TH
❏ SEE THE STRUMBELLAS + LOVELYTHEBAND @ THE TASTE OF CHICAGO
❏ THROW IT BACK! WATCH TO CATCH A THIEF @ LOGAN THEATER  8/13/19
​❏ CHECK OUT THE COOKIE DO POP UP @ NAVY PIER + WATCH THE FIREWORKS
​❏ ATTEND A COMEDY SHOW AT SECOND CITY
❏ TAKE A CALLIGRAPHY COURSE AT A PAPER SOURCE LOCATION
​❏ TACOS Y TAMALES FESTIVAL IN PILSEN JULY 19TH-21ST
❏ FLEETWOOD MAC POP UP AT THE ROOKERY
❏ PICNIC + LIVE MUSIC AT RAVINIA
❏ SEE EARTH, WIND, & FIRE @ THE CHICAGO THEATER JULY 14TH
❏ A COMEDY SHOW @ THE LAUGH FACTORY
❏ ENJOY SOME BBQ & COUNTRY AT WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT JULY 12TH-14TH
❏ CREATE YOUR OWN WINE AT CITYWINERY
❏ WILLIS TOWER WINE TASTING WITH CITY WINERY - MULTIPLE DATES
​❏ LEARN TO SEW - TAKE A SEWING CLASS WITH ANASTASIA CHATZKA
​❏ IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE AT iO 
​❏ MUSIC BOX DRINK-A-LONG (FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH)
❏ TAKE A CHICAGO ARCHITECT TOUR 
​❏ ATTEND A CUBS OR SOX GAME
❏ DONATE TOYS + PET THE PUPPIES/CATS AT PAWS CHICAGO
❏ VISIT THE CATCADE FOR GAMES + COFFEE
​❏ CHECK OUT 29ROOMS
❏ TAKE A COOKING CLASS AT EATALY
​❏ WATCH THE AIR & WATER SHOW
❏ GO TO A MAGIC PARLOUR SHOW
❏ BIKE THE 606
​❏ STROLL THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO
❏ FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR + 50% OFF FLATBREADS AT THE RESERVOIR
❏ PICNIC AT MONTROSE BEACH
​❏ ADVENTURE OUT TO SIX FLAGS
❏ GAME OF THRONES MAY BE OVER SO VISIT MEDIEVAL TIMES INSTEAD
❏ TAKE IN THE BEAUTY OF THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER (IT'S FREE!)
❏ MAKE PRETTY BOUQUETS AT AN ALICE'S TABLE CLASS
​❏ DRINK + EAT ON THE RIVERWALK
❏ GO TO A SOFAR SHOW
❏ LAGUNITAS BEER CIRCUS - AUGUST 24TH
❏ EAT SWEET TREATS AT THE I CRAVE FESTIVAL - SUNDAY JULY 21ST
❏ SANGRIA FEST - AUGUST 17TH
❏ TANGO LESSONS + DINNER AT ARTANGO STEAKHOUSE
❏ TAKE A RELAXING SPA DAY AT AIRE
❏ SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS / SHOPS AT MADE IN CHICAGO MARKET

If I'm being honest, the thought of committing to a 34 hour trek to fly from Chicago to Bali, Indonesia wasn't something I was super psyched about. I mean, yes, it looks beautiful in photos but I've been to a lot of beautiful places that are MUCH closer. However, when my well-traveled friend invited me to join her on a trip to Bali this last October I decided the long journey would be worth it. 

Bali is definitely THE place to visit right now. If you've been on Instagram, Pinterest, or any social media then you know anyone who is anyone is vacationing to this tropical spot. & now that I've been to this amazing destination I totally understand the hype! It's serene, peaceful, and (a HUGE bonus!) super affordable. If you're considering a trip to Bali then I hope my vacation guide can be useful to you during the planning process. 

We booked our Bali trip through Groupon. This was my first time to book a Groupon trip and I was a bit nervous about doing it. $899 roundtrip airfare from LA to Bali + 6 hotel nights + transportation? Seemed a bit too good to be true. Or so I thought. Thankfully Groupon proved me wrong! Not only were our hotel rooms AMAZING but it was so nice having transportation and planned out itinerary for a few of the days. It's important to note that the reason many of the Groupon trips are so affordable is because your tour guide tries to sell you additional products + excursions throughout your trip. This didn't bother us very much but I could see how some people might not enjoy being bombarded with offers & products on their vacation. We did have to sit through a handful of rather boring shop owners at stops along the way on our daily trips (coffee, jewelry, etc). However, for $899 I still thought it was a steal of a deal! 

Everything is SO cheap in Bali - it's crazy! The food, drinks, clothes, souvenirs, even excursions- you're bali'n in Bali. One night our group went out to a swanky restaurant that in the states would have been $$$$. Up to that point everything we had consumed was pretty cheap but this was the first "fancy" restaurant we had gone to. TBH I was a bit worried about the bill as we tallied up drink after drink followed by a 5 star cuisine. When we finally got the bill, I was SHOCKED to find that the total came out to about $12 USD a person. TWELVE DOLLARS! For 6+ drinks each, fish, shrimp, gourmet main dishes, and appetizers... If you're on a budget but wanting to see your money go far (and still feel like you're in a relatively safe spot!), Bali is a great vacation destination. I can't think of a more rewarding feeling then knowing you can take a lavish vacation somewhere gorgeous and not have to spend an arm and a leg to experience the finer things in life.

While you can go to plenty of beautiful lush, tropical places around the world, you can't ride an elephant in all of them! I highly recommend riding and feeding the elephants at Mason Elephant Park & Lodge. This park offers elephant rides, spots where you can feed the elephants, shops, a restaurant, and even a hotel- in case you want to sleep with the elephants too! It's a beautiful property and the elephants are taken well care of, which was something that was important to me and my friend before we booked our excursion. Our elephant ride lasted about 30 minutes and included pictures of us on our elephant- he happened to be the biggest elephant at the park and had these huge tusks! 10/10 would recommend this spot!

Seriously, the resorts are GORGEOUS. No matter what part of Bali you decide to stay in, you won't be disappointed. We hotel hopped in Seminyak and Ubud- both of which I highly recommend when researching hotels. No matter where you stay, your options for amazing resorts and hotels will be ample. Our hotel in Ubud had an amazing pool and we got lucky to book a first floor balcony room so we were able to walk right out into it every day. Talk about a dreamy spot to relax! In Seminyak, our hotel was a bit more modern but we loved the pool, lounging areas, and being close to the beach. I love AirBNB but I'm also the type to enjoy the amenities hotels have to offer. I personally think Bali might be one of those places where booking at a hotel is the way to go. I think it's important to remember that it's still not safe to drink the water and to be cautious when consuming local food. The hotels are usually good at providing meals that will not make tourists ill & having resources available if you do come down with something. 

Raise your hand if you're ALWAYS behind a screen of some sort and the last time you were surrounded by nature was when you blacked out at brunch and woke up on the patch of grass outside your apartment door 🙋🏼The best part about vacations (in my opinion) is being able to explore and get back to nature. Bali is the PERFECT places to adventure and get lost in the beauty in this world. There's beaches, forests, volcanoes - everything and anything you would want to experience on a tropical getaway. 

- Sacred Monkey Forest
- Mount Batur
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
- GitGit Waterfall
- Kuta Beach
- Lake Bratan
- Pura Luhur Batukaru
​- Tanah Lot
- Miura Pinxtos Bar & Grill
​- Mason Elephant Park
- Ku De Ta Club + Bar
- Anumana Ubud Hotel

Despite the long journey, I totally recommend a trip to Bali! I think it's a must add destination to any travel bucket list. Using Groupon or similar websites is a great way to find a good deal on this amazing destination. The food is great (TONS of vegan + vegetarian options I might add). The scenery is beautiful. It's warm, affordable, & a relatively safe spot for tourists. What's not to love?!