Meet a CSGer: Abby
This month, we have a delightful tell-all from our very own Abby — find out about her secret Bahamas connections and discover the best decision she made during the peak of the pandemic.
CSG, meet Cooper. Cooper, meet CSG.
Back in September of 2020, I adopted Cooper, which ended up being the best decision I’ve ever made! His name was originally “Stanton”, but I knew that immediately needed to change because it was way too hard to pronounce with my (once upon a time) Chicago accent. So he became Cooper. He’s an Australian Shepherd, Rottweiler, Border Collie mix, and the one breed he likes to think he is is human. He has the biggest, weirdest personality. If you tell him to go to bed, he takes himself to bed. If you sit absolutely anywhere, you best believe he’ll be coming to sit in your lap. Oh, and if there is one toy he has an obsession with, it’s his stuffed donut. He’s even got my dad wrapped around his finger having new stuffed donuts delivered each time he destroys his. Psst, you can follow Cooper and his adventures @the_cooper_cam.
“I Got My Toes In The Water, A** In The Sand”
Some of you might know that I just went on a vacation to the Bahamas, which is my absolute favorite place on earth for many reasons. Ever since I was little (I think I was 5 years old), my family and I have been going to Great Guana Cay in Abaco, Bahamas because it’s so beautiful, but primarily because my grandpa and grandma have a house on the island. This is where they lived most of the year, while we lived in Illinois, so visiting them in the Bahamas was our one time a year to see them. Going back to visit every year is the family time that I need, but also the reset to remember that there is so much to life and in the world that I’ve yet to see.
Maybe One Day I’ll Own A Bakery
I had (and still do) have one of those grandmas that when you walked into their house not only would it smell like freshly baked deserts, you could guarantee that she would offer you nearly everything in her pantry. While I loved eating all of the baked goodies that she made, I mainly loved baking alongside her. She had such a huge influence on me that we would regularly bake together - whether it was for birthdays or holidays or just a random day/night. I grew to love and become pretty good at baking if I don’t say so myself that I thought I would own a bakery one day. And who knows, maybe I still will. It got so excessive that my family now expects me to bake a gingerbread house from scratch for every Christmas.
Where My Midwesterners At?
I’m from a little town in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago called Batavia, and if you’ve ever asked me where I’m from I probably just said Chicago because odds are you’ve never heard of Batavia.
Growing up in Batavia there was nothing I wanted more than to get out. I was over the small town, sick of just driving past cornfields, and I wanted to see and do more. But my parents and older brother always told me that one day I would reflect on growing up Illinois, and appreciate it. And don’t tell them, but they’re right. I am so happy living in Colorado and couldn’t imagine myself living in Illinois again, but I am truly grateful for growing up in the Midwest and still being able to go back and visit family and childhood friends.
I’ve Been to 15 Countries
My family was always so big on traveling and getting out to see the world, which is how I’ve been able to go to 15 countries in just 24 years of living. Some of these trips were from family vacations, visiting my older brother on his many oversea adventures, and during my study abroad in my junior year of college. I’ve been to the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Bahamas, Israel, Monaco, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Jordan, and United Kingdom (if you count the airport).
Can’t get enough from the minds behind CSG? Check out the rest of our musings.