Traveling alone for the 1st time!

I'm in Chicago. Freezing. Sitting in a hotel room. By myself.

I don't travel much. I can count on both hands how many times I've flown in my 44 years of life. This weekend, I have an incredible opportunity to attend the Gigi's Playhouse National Conference. I'm on the board and part of the marketing team for Gigi's Playhouse Tampa and am so excited to learn all I can so we have a successful opening this spring!

The last time I flew without my husband our daughter was 2 (she's now 23). He not only took us to the airport but he carried our daughter onto the plane to our seats, made sure we were settled and told us goodbye. ON THE PLANE! Oh how things have changed!

I had my best friend and fellow blogger, Necessary Indulgences, help me make my arrangements (and by help I mean she did pretty much everything). The fun started when I had to fit 4 days of clothes and necessities into a 9x10x17 in bag. Made it! Then it continued with me walking up to the gate people and being told I needed a boarding pass (I know, DUH!). So downstairs we went. Hubs stood nearby in case I needed help but thanks to a friendly United guy, I got my pass. I made it through TSA with no issues and found my gate. I got on the plane and a man was in my seat. Not wanting to be rude, I didn't ask him to move- although now (and while I grumbled to myself during most of the flight) I wish I had. The last time I flew anywhere, I found out the next day I was pregnant with my son...that was 14 years ago. I deserved that window seat!

I kept asking him to move back so I could take pictures. He was very nice, however.

We arrived early, stood on the plane for 15 minutes while half the people didn't bother to get their bags down until no one was in front of them. I walked off the plane, down the ramp, to the gate and......hmmmmm......where do I go??? No, I didn't know how to get out of the airport. I sent my NI navigator. "Follow the baggage claim" she responded. Feeling like a complete idiot, I followed the signs and sure enough, found the outside again. People probably thought I was weird (if they only knew me) as I walked outside, back in, out, and in. I was trying to find some type of marker to tell our board president who was picking me up. Ahhhh, under the giant blue "United" sign.

It's been quite the adventure so far. We'll see how things go on Sunday when I have to fly back....and his flight leaves way before mine so I'm on my own to get to the airport.... this should be fun!!

And it's really weird to be in a hotel room all by myself! But I didn't have to share my free cookie, have a king bed all to myself, the remote is all mine and I don't have to take a puppy outside 4 times during the night. #heaven