If you have been keeping up with my blog, I spoke about how I was driving to Chicago to visit a friend from college. I acted like a tourist taking pictures of everything while she took me around the city. When you visit Chicago, you walk everywhere! On Friday alone I walked about 10 – 12 miles and Saturday probably at least 7 according to my iPhone.

Chicago has a lot of really good food. My friend took me to Portillo’s which is a chain featuring Chicago-style hot dogs with no ketchup and plenty of pickles. Deep dish pizza is all the rave as well and we ended up picking Giordiano’s and it was heavenly. We also went to this cute little cupcake shop on the “richer” side of town. I knew it was the richer side because the shops were all designer / name-brand clothing. My red velvet cupcake was small and sweet.

As far as this trip, my main goal was to see all the museums. Museum campus is right along Lake Michigan and it features the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Planetarium. Shedd Aquarium was breathtaking! My favorite part of the aquarium was all the otters because otters are the cutest. The Field Museum has Sue right in the middle of the first floor which is an almost complete T-Rex. Unfortunately, we did miss the planetarium as it closed early, but we also saw the MSI which was the Museum of Science and Industry. My favorite part of the exhibit was the human body portion and the portion about the storm.

Overall, it was a nice getaway from my normal routine on weekends. I am glad I got to see her and catch up. I am considering making another trip down to Chicago for C2E2.? Don’t know if that will happen, but I have always wanted to go.

Happy Friday! As I sit typing away writing up my goals for this month, snow is steadily falling onto the grass and coating the tree branches. It looks like Narnia outside my window and to be honest, I’m enjoying the snow. October has been one hell of a busy month, but one to remember. I cannot believe Thanksgiving is already in three weeks,  this year has been flying by. Let’s recap the wonderful fall month that was October:

Watch the Classic Horror Movies – NOPE 

Me and the boyfriend were planning on watching the classic films, but I ended up participating in a Call of Cthulhu D&D session on Halloween instead. Eventually, I will sit down and have a marathon of these movies.

Yoga Once Per Week – Sort of. 

I usually would plan my yoga days to be on Monday because that’s when I work my 12-hour shift, but sometimes I’m just too tired from work so I come home and crash. Yoga is important to me, so I need to make it a priority every week.

Participate in D&D Sessions – SUCCESS 

As I mentioned, I did play D&D this past month. I was super excited I was able to fit it into my schedule. It ended up being a great time and my character found an old saxophone in the asylum which I would beat people with, it worked out well.

Carve a Pumpkin – Nope 😦 

Unfortunately, this fall activity slipped by me. Maybe next year.

Plan a Trip with the Family – SUCCESS 

I think we all decided to travel to Arizona in February of 2018? It’s not confirmed, but my mom used to have a friend who lived there and she says it’s gorgeous up by the grand canyon. By February, I’m done with Minnesota’s winter which means Arizona would be much needed.

Now onto November’s goals:

Read before bed on most nights (around 5 – 10 minutes)

Reading helps me fall asleep and stay asleep at night. Plus I have piles of books to read, and I’m behind on getting through that pile.

Buy kitty/pet supplies

Me and the boyfriend are starting the process of getting a cat for the apartment. We finished saving for the down deposit required by our apartment building, and now we need pet supplies. I am hoping for sure by December we will have a cat roaming our apartment.

Yoga Once Per Week

I decided to set fewer goals this month so I could put my attention on reading more before bed, saving for a cute kitty, and making time for yoga.

October has been one of the first months where I have had plans every single weekend. Sometimes it’s nice to be busy, but I have been craving some downtime. This past weekend I went to a Harvest festival in Stillwater, MN which is a gorgeous river town. This next weekend from Thursday – Sunday I will be in Chicago visiting a friend from college. Hopefully, after Chicago, I should have a couple slow weekends until Thanksgiving. I wanted to share pictures from the Harvest Festival and talk about how excited I am to go to Chicago again.

Stillwater is right along the St. Croix River on the border of Wisconsin. It’s a bright river town away from Minneapolis & St. Paul. There were a couple activities such as the beer tent, but we didn’t participate in those. Instead, we walked around the town and explored. There was a candy shop that was filled with chocolate goodies and I ended up purchasing a dark chocolate-covered Oreo. Nearby was a small bookstore attached to a coffee shop. I did end up buying some books which I know I didn’t need, but I cannot resist a cute bookstore. It turned out to be a perfect Fall date day. The pictures below are from Teddy Bear Park which has statues of bears in the park. Me and the boyfriend wanted to check it out.

I have only been to Chicago once and that was back in July 2016 on my birthday. My former roommate from college is from Illinois and is living near the downtown area. We coordinated a weekend where I could drive to stay with her. It’s about a 6-hour drive from my apartment to Chicago which seems long, but I would rather drive that distance than pay 180 – 200 dollars to fly for a 45-minute flight. I already have my podcast episodes picked out for the drive and I’m looking forward to a smaller vacation away from my daily work routine with 2 days of paid time off. I am counting down the days till my tiny road trip.

So that sums up what I have been up to and why I haven’t been blogging as much. I try not to let myself get frustrated if I hit writer’s block or I become busy. My blog will be here when I’m done with mini vacations or I have a short 30-minute window to write about what’s on my mind.

October is probably my favorite month because Fall is my favorite season. I love the beautiful colors of Fall and being able to wear a cozy cardigan with cute ankle boots. With the end of September, I wanted to reflect on my month and the goals I set:

Planned Out Universal Studios Trip – NOPE

My second job took over my life and I was unable to do this. I wanted to go to Orlando in February, but me and my family have also talked about an Arizona trip or a quick Vegas weekend trip. So we shall see what we decide on doing.

Rent Two Books from the Library – SUCCESS! 

Unfortunately both books I rented I didn’t like reading. One was a mystery book that took place in MN which you would think would be exciting, turns out it was incredibly boring. The other was an Iron Fist trade paperback.

Participate in D&D One-Shot – NOPE 

No D&D for me this month. However, I joined an all-women-led D&D group meeting at a comic shop in the cities while also being interested in other Facebook D&D events. I’m thinking this will be a way better month to get more D&D in.

Yoga once a week – SUCCESS 

I am actually very glad I included this in my goals. I use the Yoga with Adrienne videos and I have a couple on my favorites list that I enjoy. Once my ankle is better (I sprained it pretty bad), I will get back to this.

50% of my goals were achieved! I would say that’s not too bad. Now here are my Fall / October goals:

~Watch the Classic Horror Films

I have this collection of the classic Dracula, Werewolf, and Mummy movies from the early 1900s. It was a collector’s edition I found at my house that my mom wanted to get rid of. This would be the perfect month to crack open the case and watch them.

~Yoga Once a Week

~Participate in more D&D Sessions

~Carve a Pumpkin

~Plan a Trip with the Family next February.

Why haven’t I written a blog post in almost two weeks? Great question. My free time has been used up plus I am fatigued. I don’t have the energy to read a book before bed because my eyes feel heavy as my head hits the pillow. I hadn’t seen some of my friends in a month and I went weeks without calling my grandma. Two weeks ago, I made a decision to quit my job at Steamship Coffee and Tea and today was my last shift on the schedule.

I originally applied to be a barista because I missed it! Being a barista is challenging which is what I enjoyed. I compare this to a real-life Diner Dash work environment. I can be my boisterous self and yell over the sound of the espresso machine pulling espresso shots. It balanced out my career while introducing me to a new set of regular customers.

As I mentioned, I started to notice changes in my demeanor. I would come home and crash right away or my friends would text me about plans Saturday night, but I was busy working. Me and the boyfriend didn’t have quality time together because our schedules were so chaotic. Thankfully, me and the boyfriend have Sundays off so we can have a regular date day once again. I asked for advice from friends and family who both said maybe I’m doing too much.

Plus my gaming decreased! One reason why I was excited about being a barista was that it was connected to Universe Games. I haven’t had the time to put a Magic the Gathering deck together or roll my Star Wars Destiny dice. I am looking forward to becoming a customer rather than an employee.

I always look at the positive side of any situation because that’s who I am. My co-workers know if they need a shift covered, I’m the first one they will call. So technically I’m “quitting”, but I could still work a shift in the future. Instead of crafting the perfect latte, I’ll be drinking cups of coffee while gaming as a loyal customer.

September is a weird month for me in a couple ways. I’m not going back to college for the first time in five years and I’m actually making enough money to support myself in an apartment. I used to write monthly goals on my blog but then stopped for some reason. I’m bringing this back for my blog because I love reflecting month to month on everything I have accomplished.

~Planning Out A Trip to Universal Studios

Me and my family are prepping a trip to Universal Studios in February. Why February? Living in Minnesota for the winter means I need a break from the harsh cold weather plus it’s before spring break so I’m hoping to beat the rush.

~Rent Two Books from the Library

Libraries are often beautiful buildings I forget exist which is sad. I buy many books a month and I’m trying to do less of this. Ever since moving a couple weeks ago, I got rid of a stack of books I wasn’t planning on re-reading. To save money and limit clutter, I will be borrowing books from the library.

~Participate in D&D One Shots

Thanks to Twin Cities Geek, I was added to a local D&D Facebook group. Events are always happening for one-shot D&D campaigns. I always make excuses as to why I can’t go play D&D, but I do want to dabble more in dice-rolling RPGs. Also check out my article about my one-shot campaign, Monsters & Other Childish Things

~Yoga once a week

Most of my workouts are either cardio or strength training and yoga gets forgotten. I might save my yoga for Sundays since those are lazy days anyway.

These goals are ambitious, but I like being busy. I would love to hear your goals for the month in the comments.

It’s nice to sit in my newly unpacked apartment with high-speed internet to blog with. Not having WiFi for a couple days felt odd, but it’s all a part of the moving process. There’s been a lot going on lately, so I figured I’d write one post summarizing it all.

Geeky Barista Job

I wanted a part-time job that was more laid back than my full-time job. I applied to be a barista at a coffee shop attached to a board game store. I get 30% off of board games, Magic the Gathering sets, and D&D guidebooks. Plus I get to be around coffee a couple days a week with cash tips. I am finishing training this week, but I’m looking forward to working while socializing with the regulars.

Lady Gaga Concert

On Monday the 21st, I carpooled with a coworker to the Lady Gaga concert in St. Paul, MN. Lady Gaga is the queen of pop who puts on an energetic show. She performed songs off her new album, Joanne while also combining older songs including Poker Face, Love Game, and Born This Way. I won these tickets from my job which included being in a suite with my coworkers. We were above the stage where I took numerous videos of Gaga performing. It was certainly a night to remember.

R. I. P to Ellie.

Unfortunately, I’m ending my life update with a sad announcement of the death of my last cat, Ellie. She had lost a lot of weight in the last couple of weeks, but she was eating and drinking water. However, on the 21st, my mom texted me saying she thought something was wrong with her. When I called back a couple hours later, my brother informed me she died. I’m a little distraught about it because, within a year, I lost both of my childhood cats. Animals become a big part of your family, so there’s a big sense of loss when they finally pass. I’m glad she doesn’t have to suffer anymore.

Once I get my routine down with my new job, my goal is to write posts every other day. This may not happen all the time, but I do like writing on this blog and I don’t want it to be forgotten.

My convention schedule only includes CONvergence in Bloomington, MN because frankly conventions are expensive. A new affordable convention has popped up in the St. Paul area titled Minnesota Fan Fest and I’m excited to attend this year. Minnesota Fan Fest has a similar convention in Phoenix, AZ which I have never attended. This is the first year that Fan Fest will be in Minnesota and I have high hopes that it will be a fun convention. By the way I have 50% off any day pass coupons that I can give out to anybody interested in attending. Comment on my post if you’re interested!

Guest appearances include Zander Cannon, Dave Wheeler, Dan Jurgens and Barbara Shultz plus more that I haven’t mentioned. Zander Cannon created Kaiju Max a comic about monsters in a prison. I personally haven’t read Kaiju Max yet, but I know I’m missing out on a great story. Dave Wheeler is a local comic book writer and illustrator. Barbara Shultz is especially talented having written for Dark Horse, DC and Image Comics. The comics guest list alone is worth noting.

Jason David Frank will also be attending who you may know as the Green Power Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The Power Rangers was one of the cartoons I would watch on Saturday mornings with my brother.

Like all conventions, I am prepared to spend some money on the creators and artists tabling. I’m still unsure if I’m going to meet Jason David Frank yet because usually I skip the celebrities because of the cost of getting a picture or an autograph. For all of my local readers near the MN area, I highly recommend checking out this convention. Also I do have coupons for 50% off any day pass for Minnesota Fan Fest given to me by Kristin Rowan Director of Marketing. Comment below if you’re interested and I hope to see you all there! Minnesota Fan Fest will be on August 19th – 20th at the Saint Paul River Centre.

I remember attending my first con in the summer of 2013 and feeling that I belong there. CONvergence holds a special place in my heart for introducing me to conventions. While I love attending conventions, they can also be exhausting. CONvergence is a four-day convention, but even three-day conventions are tiring. I wanted to come up with a list of tips on having a good time and taking care of yourself along the way.

Drink Water

Being dehydrated is the worst feeling. I know when I’m dehydrated because I get these horrible headaches. I find it most helpful to bring a backpack with a holder for a water bottle.

Have a Backpack

The first year I went to a con, I only brought my purse. This was a rookie mistake because I bought stuff and had nowhere to put it. I could run out to my friend’s car to drop stuff off, but that’s just a hassle. I usually bring a string backpack because it’s lightweight, but holds all my gear.

Protein Bars/Protein Snacks

Snacking is absolutely necessary to have the energy to last all day and possibly all night. I find that if I eat more protein, it keeps me more full. I always pack cashews or protein bars for every con.

Don’t Spend Your Money Right Away

My rule when spending money at a convention is to walk around and see all the booths and artists. In the back of my mind, I’ll keep track of things that I may want to purchase later. Nothing is worse than seeing something you want to buy and having no money because you spent it all already. Additionally, I’d also recommend coming up with a budget. I like to pull out cash and after it’s gone, then that’s it.

Visiting Artists Alley

I love walking through the art area of a convention. I prioritize spending my money at the artist’s table or purchase comics written by someone based in Minnesota. I find that when I spend money this way, it’s more meaningful since I had an actual conversation with that creator over their art and/or comics.

Take Lots of Pictures

I am so glad I took pictures from my prior conventions because sometimes I take a day and browse through them all. There is so much to see at a convention and pictures are saved memories. Bring your phone fully charged or a digital camera.

Conventions are one of my favorite events to attend in the geek community. I feel so at home at a convention and I’m already counting down the days till my con next week. My goal is to make it to either C2E2 or Planet City Comic Con in Kansas City.