What's Up, Wednesday!

Wednesday! We have a short week at work this week so today is my last day #bliss. We're actually celebrating Christmas tonight with my Dad and I'm really looking forward to it. We had to push it back this year for scheduling reasons but we're all getting together tonight for some chinese food and some present opening.

I'm not sure this linkup is happening this week but I still wanted to do it since it's the last Wednesday of the month!

What I'm eating this week: A lot of leftovers! I'm also trying to start easing back into the portion control side of things after what feels like weeks of eating a shit ton of food. As much as I hate to admit it I'll be on the look out for some new salad ideas I can bring to work for lunch. I'm kind of picky about what kind of lettuce I like {I'm just now starting to get into salads because I've hated lettuce all my life} so the prepackaged mixes don't always work for me but I'd love to find one that does. Any favorites from Trader Joe's? I have to make a huge trip there soon!

{these both sound good}

What I'm reminiscing about: With the holidays here I've been doing a lot of reminiscing about past Christmases and my childhood. I'm a very nostalgic person by nature so it's easy for me to get caught up thinking about the past. 

What I'm loving: I'm currently loving being on break still. That will all come to an end next week but I'm trying to soak up all the free time I have left. 

What I've been up to: This week it's been a lot of relaxing, binge watching, and starting to get back into a schedule after the holidays so I don't reach total shock once school starts up again. I always have to start organizing myself a little earlier than I'd like in order to avoid being completely overwhelmed later.

{I have this exact printable in my new planner}

What I'm dreading: I'm not totally dreading anything but kind-of-half-way dreading going back to school {although trying to remain positive about it as I've said in the past because I know I'll miss it so much once it's over} and some other changes that are quickly approaching.

{how I feel every time I go to class}

What I'm working on: At work, I'm working on a few projects for our editors. Personally, I'm working on a bunch of organizational projects to get myself together after being lazy for the last few weeks haha. 

What I'm excited about: Our NYE plans and later this month when Sammy and I take my cousin's littlest to see Disney on Ice! I can't wait!

What I'm watching/reading: I'm currently on Season 8 of The Office. This is my second time watching the entire series and I feel like it's even better the second time. It's just so good. 

I've started about 97 books but the ones that I've most recently started are Brooklyn {because I wanted to read it before I see the movie but I may cave and just see the movie first 'cause it looks so beautiful}, Anne of Green Gables {because I started reading immediately after getting the collection for Christmas}, and Harry Potter {because my coworkers asked me to read it and as a long time Harry Potter avoider I'm still feeling it out haha}. 

{the prettiest of quotes are found between the pages of this book}

What I'm listening to: I go through a weird music ban after Christmas because I'm sad it's no longer conventionally appropriate to listen to Christmas music anymore *sobbing emjoi* but I guess now I'm over it because I'm listening to James Bay on repeat. Like the same song over and over. It's that good. 

What I'm wearing: Up until very recently it has been unseasonably warm in Chicago so I've been wearing slightly lighter jackets {meaning anything that isn't a parka} and a lot of sweaters to work. But at home it's a whole different ballgame and that ballgame has included a lot of thermal leggings, pajamas, and Christmas sweaters. 

What I'm doing this weekend: This weekend we're bringing in the new year downtown! We bought tickets to a club that will only be opened to those who purchased tickets {until 1:30am} which cuts down on the crowds to an extent. We also purchased a few hotel rooms at a hotel near the club with a few of our friends, so the evening should be a lot of fun!

The event page says "cocktail attire" but I'm not interested in wearing a dress or skirt after all the peanut butter blossoms I've eaten lately so the above is my outfit inspiration. I actually snagged a lace, off the shoulder top yesterday that I'm going to pair with my palazzo pants that look like the ones above. #godblessamazonprime I'll definitely be the warmest of the ladies on our walk back to our hotel ;)

What I'm looking forward to next month: Definitely, definitely Disney on Ice! 

What else is new: I had mentioned in an earlier recap post that Sammy had received some good news and that news is definitely what is new with us. He has recently been offered a candidate spot in the Wisconsin State Troopers' Academy! This is excellent for him because it means he can start his career in law enforcement while experiencing a higher level of training {state trooper academies are more militaristic than regular PO training}. He's still in communication with Chicago's department and will continue their process when he's home on weekends from the academy, so the future is still slightly up in the air, but for now Wisconsin is where he will be. 

After completing the academy in July he'll be located in a specific town and we're hoping for somewhere near the border of Wisconsin and Illinois so we can still see each other as often as possible. I'm trying not to worry about the future right now because it's all unwritten and something neither of us have control over {and it's really easy for me to get sucked down the rabbit hole of worry and get totally overwhelmed}. At the end of his "probationary" period, which will be January 2018, he can start applying to transfer back to Illinois. I'm trying to stay as positive as possible and always remind myself how much this means to him. 

He's been so wonderful about everything and always trying to prove how hard he'll work to make this work out which has made me feel so much better {even though he has nothing to prove because I know we'll both work hard to keep things strong}. It's going to be an adjustment but they require all candidates to go home for the weekends so I'll see him every weekend which will definitely help with the adjustment for both of us. I know so many people have partners overseas in far more dangerous situations than this, so I know overall I'm extremely blessed. It's definitely going to be a learning experience for both of us but I'm sure we'll come out of it much stronger together. 

*

That's all for now! I'm spending the rest of this week trying to do little organizational projects in order to get my life back on track haha. On the list is organizing areas of my room, creating a new budget, making a reading schedule, organizing school stuff {just bought all my books for what felt like a million dollars}, setting some seasonal winter goals, and setting up some meal/exercise plans. All with my new arc planner my cousin told me about from staples haha. I'm soooo nerdily into this planner. I love that I can find printables on pinterest and just add them in using my new hole punch ;) 

ANYWAY,

xo

Downtown Chicago Weekending!

Ah, I'm so late with this recap, but I couldn't not document this past weekend! Sammy and I had so much fun downtown Chicago on our little staycation. We packed Saturday full of events and food and really enjoyed each other's company. I've been thinking about how lovely the weekend was every day since. 

So, here's a photo dump of everything we did (and ate)!

This cute face driving us into the city. 

We made it to Lou Mitchell's and it did NOT disappoint. I'm obsessed with this place now. 

      

They brought us an orange slice and a prune they soak in honey, which was surprisingly delicious, while we waited for our food. And the hostess left me a mini box of Milk Duds on my menu when she sat us which I thought was such a cute little touch.

      

We got to sit at the counter which I've always wanted to do at a diner so I was loving it. Our waitress was so kind and efficient. I got the salmon benedict which was crazy good and Sammy got a turkey sausage omelet (which comes in a skillet) with gravy that was amazing. I kept sneaking forkfuls of gravy from his plate.

We made it to the restaurant around 9:30 or so and beat the rush by like one minute. Literally. When we left there was a line out the door. That's how you know it's good people. People were willing to wait in 20 degree weather for a table. Also, they give you a little cup of ice cream after your meal. That's also how you know it's good. ;)

      

After breakfast we went right over to Christkindlmarket and walked around. We got there right as it opened and it was still totally packed. I didn't get to try any food not only because the lines were getting long, but also because I was stuffed from breakfast. I did get my little boot mug though! The cider was delicious and was nice to hold on to as we walked through the market. 

Waiting in line to go into one of the ornament "houses". I ended up getting a pretty wine colored ornament that has "Fröhliche Weihnachten" (which means Merry Christmas in German) written on it in really pretty script and a embroidered doily made in Germany. ZERO clue what I will use a single doily for, but I loved that it had a Christmas print on it and it was made in Germany. It's my very first Christmas decoration I have for myself! ;) 

      

After the market we uber-d to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the "Christmas Around the World" exhibit which was fun! 

      

The Italy tree!

He insisted on a selfie by our homeland tree ;)

      

I just really loved the Native American tree they had so I had to snap a picture. & obviously loving hard on the Paris tree. 

My other homeland tree ;) I thought this Germany tree was the prettiest of the bunch. 

      

The Belgium tree had belgium waffle ornaments which I thought was hilarious haha. & the American Eagle tree topper, although a bit over the top, was pretty badass on our tree. 

      

We walked through my favorite exhibit of the museum which is the "Main Street" exhibit where they show artifacts from the 1800's in different store fronts. So, they have pieces from clothing stores, general store, a doctor's and dentist office, post office, etc. I just love that nostalgic stuff so I'm a sucker for it every time. 

We also stopped to see the chicks which I always have mixed feelings about. Part of me wants to see them so badly because they're so frickin cute! but the other part of me feels bad they spend their days in an incubator (which I'm sure they do need for development but still). I've emailed the museum to ask what happens to the chicks once they need more space in that incubator for newly hatched chicks because I am a chick crusader, obviously ;) I'm anxiously waiting their response. 

It felt so festive walking around the main floor of the museum because there were trees everywhere! It did my Christmas loving heart good. 

After the museum we uber-d over to Millennium Park to walk around there, see the tree, and try to go ice skating. 

We took an obligatory photo at the bean!

We waited in line for a while since we had some time to kill before picking up the keys to our airbnb but it we didn't make it on to the ice before we had to leave. Apparently the ice was really slippery that day and people were falling left and right, so I was happy to avoid that ;)

      

We took pictures by the tree a little too early and it was still kind of sunny out so the lights weren't as visible. I wasn't a huge fan of the way the tree looked anyway which was disappointing. I'm a loyalist so I think it would have looked better back at the Daley Center anyway ;)

We came back after standing in the ice skating line and took another once it was a little darker and liked how this one turned out! Also, random side note, we saw two proposals happen right here at this spot. It was amazing and so sweet! & then we heard later that two more happened that night on the ice rink!

We stopped at Walgreen's to get some snacks for the evening and breakfast stuff for the next morning before picking up our keys to our place. We loved staying here Saturday night and wished we could have stayed longer. This would be my absolute dream.

This was our view and I wanted to stare out the window all night. I actually found myself just sitting and staring at points throughout the night. 

We ended up not being able to get into Club Lucky for dinner like I was hoping because I didn't count on it being so busy (which in hindsight was really stupid of me) so Sammy spent a good half hour calling different restaurants around the city and we ended up at... 

Michael Jordan's Steak House! Meaning we were in heaven all night haha. Sammy and I both love the Bulls, but Sammy like loves the Chicago Bulls. He recently asked me if instead of a "watch or something like that" for a wedding gift (pump the brakes, man) I would get him court side seats to a Bulls game haha. Anyway, we both love the Bulls, but we have an especially special place in our hearts for Michael Jordan. He's such a badass. Seriously. 

Sammy got steak frites and I got salmon with Mediterranean olives, cannelini beans, and an aged lemon sauce. It was so delicious.  

      

Ignore how dorky I look, thanks. 

And then we ended with the 23 layered chocolate cake because you honor Jordan with a 23 damn layered cake. We took half of it home. 

We are seriously such dorks! But we just love him. 

Annoyingly enough though, this is where I've been planning to take Sammy when he graduates the academy. I've been planning this for like a year and then he picks it Saturday night haha. We're still going because there's a special table (#23 of course) that Michael Jordan sits at when he comes to town but when he's not here you can reserve it and eat there from a specially curated menu. I was planning that as well so I thought I would still have that surprise under my belt until he read about it on the website and told me about it! Ugh! haha I'm still hoping to take him though. 

We got back to the condo and celebrated some news Sammy got this past week. More on that later as more details come in! We also almost put a dent in this man's wall with the cork sooooooooo you're welcome for that Sal from airbnb!

      

We made popcorn, finally got around to watching Christmas Vacation (not bad actually), stared some more out the window, and then I finished the entire bottle of champagne by myself ;)

This was my lovely view from bed ;) as he got up to cook me breakfast like a god damned champ.

And then this happened. I kept seeing the Denny's commercials for the reindeer pancakes they have for children right now, and I kept asking Sammy if we could go because I wanted them so badly, so he surprised me and made me them himself. And then I cried. Legitimately, cried of happiness. 

We had pancakes and turkey bacon (I normally don't eat meat but when I do it's usually only turkey products so I caved and had some then felt guilty afterwards haha the life of a neurotic) while watching a Mickey Christmas special on Netflix. Sammy clearly puts up with a lot of childish shit haha. 

After lounging around for a few hours in morning we packed up to go home. We tried to see the windows on State Street before leaving but the crowds were absolutely crazy since it had warmed back up to 45 degrees and everyone wanted to be out, so we headed home instead. 

I spent the rest of the evening making DIY holiday gifts for coworkers, baking cookies for our white elephant party at work, wrapping presents, and doing some more Christmas shopping with my momma and grandma. It was a productive end to a wonderful, wonderful weekend. 

I love our Christmas trips so much and even though the idea is to travel to a new city each year to experience Christmas in a new town I think this has to be my favorite trip we've done so far. Not surprising though since I reserve right to believe we live in the greatest city on earth. ;)

xo

linking up with Biana!