Peacefullness

Yesterday was my first Saturday off of work in oh so long. Since I now have a new job that has a normal Monday-Friday schedule, I will be a free bird on Saturdays now! Yay! Yesterday was such a pretty day. I just can't wait until Spring and Summer. Brent and I decided to go to Radnor Lake. I think that area is so peaceful and relaxing. We both hadn't been to Radnor in so long and actually had never been together! I use to go with my parents in middle and high school on Saturdays. Brent use to go running there in college with his friends. We decided to do the Lake Trail. It was about 2 1/2 miles. This  trail is the most scenic because it wraps around the lake most of the walk and you can usually spot an animal or two.

There were quite a few people there but since there are so many trails, you really don't run into many people. We did spot some turtles sun bathing and saw the wrath of beavers on a couple trees. 

There was a lot of water flowing through the creek. I'm assuming it was from the storms last week. I could have just laid down by the creek and taken a nap! haha. There is a reason why that noise is on a sound machine...relaxing! We decided that this might become a Saturday ritual! :)

     

C-H-I-C-A-G-O!!

The best city ever never disappoints! This past weekend we had so much fun! I love Chicago and would love to live there. The weather was great this past weekend. It was in the mid thirties so when I said great, it was cold but not 10 degrees like it was last week. With the appropriate winter wear, it's actually not bad. We arrived Saturday morning around 9:30am and after we checked into our hotel, we hit the streets! First stop = The North Face store on Michigan Ave...Brent had a birthday present from me waiting there! I got him a jacket that would be perfect for the Chicago weather! I think he liked it b/c he wore it the whole weekend :)

                               The North Face Redpoint jacket

After we picked up Brent's jacket we headed to grab lunch at Big Bowl. They have this delicious dumpling noodle soup and the best lettuce wraps ever! We actually re-created the soup when we got back from our last Chicago trip and we fix it all the time. 

                    We got the  beef and chicken lettuce wraps...Yum!

This is a picture that we took while at lunch looking out onto the street. They had mounds of snow higher than cars along the side of the road from the storm 2 weeks ago.


Then we walked around the city. We went to the river and to Millennium Park to check out the ice skating and the "bean". I love how Chicago always has different things in the planters on Michigan Ave. In the summer they usually have tulips and then various artists display their work among the flowers. Well for the month of February( and I'm sure for the next few months) they have all these different HEARTS up and down Michigan Ave! Different businesses and even some families sponsored and decorated their own hearts...Here are a few:

                 Each heart had a heart health fact to go along with it.


      Those are just a few! There were probably 50 different hearts on each side of Michigan Ave.!

                      This is a video of the North bridge and the River


Saturday night we went to Tavern on Rush for dinner. I don't think that restaurant will ever get old to me! AND I get the same thing to eat everytime( chipotle mac&cheese and a wedge salad ) haha! 
We went to Millennium Park on Sunday to get some pics and we walked around the city and did some shopping as well. 

         This was a HUGE pile of snow in Millennium Park...it wasn't like this 
                                                 everywhere!

We went ice skating Sunday night. There is an outdoor skating rink in Millennium park and it was really fun. The views of the city where really pretty especially since all the building were lit up and they still had white lights on trees down Michigan Ave.

                            Here is a video of the ice skating fun!

    This video is of us shooting the first time we went over to check out the rink


                         and this is a video of us skating skating!

                                                   
We went to dinner Sunday night at the absolute best Italian restaurant EVER! This Italian food at Quartino's is real real real Italian food!! -Delicious!!!- They make their own pasta and sauces fresh everyday. We wish Nashville had this restaurant and hate that it's so far away! haha I know Brent would want to eat there once a week if we had it here! 

I had: the olive assortment(  3 different Italian olives..about 6 of each ), a beet & walnut salad, and then the fettuccini( organic tomatoes, sweet basil, and EVOO). This whole meal was one of the best meals at a restaurant that I have ever had!
Brent had: the chicken soup( fresh vegetables, chicken, and carnaroli risotto ), and then he had a half & half order of 2 different pasta dishes. The ravioli and the cavatelli. He loved them and said they were both amazing. To top the meal off, our waiter brought us complimentary chocolate covered strawberries :)


                        Here are a few more pictures to finish up...

                   We can't wait for a next trip to the Windy City!!!

        

Little of this...Little of that!

I know that EVERYONE had the problem of getting home last night. I fortunately was already home before it started. My personal training clients cancelled earlier in the day b/c they didn't want to get stuck in the elements that were on the way! I'm glad that they did! I actually had to zig zag my way home in the very first snow storm that we had back in the first part of December. I was out in Cool Springs at my friends bridal luncheon and the snow piled up in a matter of minutes. It took me an hour and a half to get home when it would normally take me 25 minutes! So, since I was home and Brent was still at work( little did he know that it would take him over an hour to get home from downtown!! ) I decided to make the BEST snowy weather dinner :) My homemade chicken-n-dumplins! Cracker Barrel has nothing on me..haha! Out of all honesty, mine are really really good!

I boil chicken, take it out and shred it with a fork, and then put it back in the boiling chicken water. I then add chicken broth, a can of cream of chicken, 10-12 cubed biscuits, a little bit more water, and a sprinkling of pepper. It takes about 40-45 minutes to cook and get thick. 

       This is definitely one of our most favorite winter meals...EVER!!


As I have said before, I love having fresh flowers in our condo! I love the look of big vases filled with lovely, fresh flowers. What girl doesn't like flowers?! So instead of heading to Kroger to pick up some flowers the other day, I headed to Michael's to attempt to get real looking flowers and make my own arrangements! I found great flowers and greenery...and it was all on sale! I get very fortunate when I go to Michael's I feel like. Whenever I head over there, the items that I was going for always seem to be on sale! Here are the arrangements that I made:

                               This one is in the dining room

                   These are in our bedroom on our nightstands

Now these will last a lot longer than fresh flowers but I think look just as good!


Finally, I am just itching to get out of here and go to Chicago! We fly out of here around 8 Saturday morning and will get in to Chicago around 9:30..I love the short flight. One of the many reasons that I am anxious to get there is that I have a birthday present waiting on Michigan Ave for Brent!! I can't tell you what it is BUT I can tell you where it is...it's in the North Face store!

 I let Brent know that little hint earlier and he is really excited as I would be too! haha. You will soon see pictures of what it is. We hope everyone is staying safe and warm in this crazy weather!

          

A week till LOVEDAY

This blog will be filled with all things having to do with Love! Hopefully it will cause you to have warm fuzzy's and think about the one you love <3 Brent and I will be in Chicago Valentine's weekend and on Valentines Day this year and I am looking so forward to spending that day in the fab city of Chicago with  the one I love...

Love is the emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.^[1] In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. In some religious contexts, love is not just a virtue, but the basis for all being, as in the Roman Catholic phrase, "God is love"^[2]. Love may also be described as actions towards others (or oneself) based on compassion.^[3] Or as actions towards others based on affection.^[4]

                                                                    ( Chicago )

Passion, Love, Respect, Courage, Congratulations

Red roses are classic and a popular choice since their message is an unmistakable expression of love. The color red symbolizes enduring romantic love and passion. In addition to their message of love, red roses can be given in recognition of courage and to show respect or to say "Well done!" and "Congratulations"

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Lo. sifted through the winds that blow, Down comes the soft and silent snow, White petals from the flowers that grow In the cold atmosphere. 
George W. Bungay

Valentine- a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day

                                                     Be assured tis you or none that I love and love alone

                                                   ** I love vintage Valentine's cards...here are a few more!

I can't wait to take a fun "heart" picture in Chicago. I'll keep you wondering but the BEAN and  Navy Pier will be involved!