Chicago, New Year's and NYD paint project

Whoa!  I just looked at the date of my last blog....December 28.  It's been a long time since I last blogged.  And, of course, a lot has happened and I've been pretty busy (and also a little under the weather).

[CONFESSION:  I've always had this dreamy little idea that even on the days that I wasn't feeling well, I would be witty and wise and post a few updates.  Maybe some cute pictures that I found on Pinterest. Share some of my deep thoughts.  Nope.  Didn't have it in me. Why is that a confession, you ask?  I'm not sure.  Really.  I'm not.]

Ok, moving on.

We went to Chicago.  It was a wonderful little get away.  The timing was perfect.  A perfect time to get away, what with some heavy work stress leading up to the holidays.  And the perfect time to be in the city.  Michigan Avenue was lightly traveled.  The bars/restaurants had little to no wait times.  It was nice.  And cold.  Windy.  Yes, it was windy.  A few highlights.....

• Strolling up and down Michigan, braving the cold and just feeling like "city people".  Walking to breakfast.  Strolling around.  Checking out a park.  Stopping in the middle of the day to catch a drink at a trendy bar.  You know, stuff non-city people imagine real city people do on the weekend.   [NOW HERE'S A REAL CONFESSION!!!!!!.....As much as Sweet Sarah and I like to think that we are city people, the truth is...We.Are.Not.City.People.  Not even a little bit.  Well, maybe me a little bit more than Sweet Sarah.  One morning we walked about 10 blocks to breakfast.  It was worth the walk as the meal was fabulous!  But Sweet Sarah didn't like the cold walk one bit and there proclaimed she is not a city girl.]  Nevertheless, we had a great time!

Fun carolers in Millennium Park

The infamous self portrait in the Millennium Park Bean

• Top meal highlight: VOLARE.  Hands down.  OHMYLANTA!!!!!!  We are trying to figure out how to get it shipped to Ohio.  WOW.WOW.WOW.  Italian food perfection.  And I must say, I don't even like Italian all that much.  It's just ok to me.  But this place.  Well, no words.  If you go to Chicago, you MUST go there!

• We also got to spend a really fun evening with our good friends.  Went to a great tapas place and then a fun little blues place in Lincoln Park.  Great laughs.  Good times.  

What else since December 28?  Oh, well of course New Year's Eve.  WILD, I tell ya!  Just WILD!!!  By choice, Sweet Sarah and I settled in to a quiet evening at home.  It was nice and relaxing.  Sweet Sarah did insist we stay up until midnight.  Crazy women that we are!

And as is my New Year's Day tradition (I counted this the other day....9 of the last 10 years I have painted something on New Year's Day.  Most often it's a room, but sometimes it's furniture).  So this year I painted an armoire that is in my office.  This is actually the second time I've painted this armoire. And I'm totally pleased with how it turned out.  Check out these pictures.

I bought this in 2001 for $75.  It used to be in a Hilton hotel room.  Pretty sure it weights 6,000 pounds!

This is what it looked like last Tuesday.

Here's Jack helping me prep the cabinet

Here's the finished product for 2013.  

So, here's to more frequent blogging!  And a GREAT 2013!!!

First Night in Chicago

Sweet Sarah and I decided our Christmas gifts to each other would be a short getaway to Chicago.

We got in late afternoon yesterday. After some awesome recommendations from Facebook friends (I love love love that people, literally around the world, willingly and quickly respond to an ask for recommendations!) we plotted our course and hit the town.

First, we headed to the John Hancock Tower for a drink. The line to the elevator was snaked around the hallway, so we both thought we'd have to wait awhile to get up there. And then it was anyone's guess whether we'd get a table at the lounge on the 95th floor lounge.

Surprisingly enough...we waited less than 5 minutes. And walked right in to an awesome seat. (Actually our first table was ok. But after about 10 minutes the couple seated next to us RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDOW got up to leave. I, of course, without missing a beat insisted we switch tables. Sweet Sarah thought better of it. I insisted. We moved. Turns out Sarah was content not being any closer to the window...she's not a fan of heights!)

Here's some pics from up there!


After that we headed to Pizano's for a deep dish pizza. And it didn't disappoint!!!! (They also have killer margaritas! HOLY.MOLY!!!!! KILL-ER!!!!)

Today's agenda??? First some coffee, some time at the spa (yes please!), then hitting the Mile for some people watching, window shopping and the art museum!