Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.  Praying for all those who have to sacrifice these holidays with working. From service men and women, to doctors and nurses, to police and firemen.  Thank you for standing the watch.

Good Cheer, Family, and Friends

I can't believe Thanksgiving just passed, and here we are, last day of November!

This week was busy seeing family, eating...but not overdoing it!  I made two incredible pies for Thanksgiving..I love pumpkin and apple pies.  Something about them just scream comfort food!  My recipes are on my pinterest page if you are interested.  I have made the apple pie before.  I will never use another recipe.  This one is just too good!

Preggo Mego.  I can't wait to have this baby girl!

I spent Black Friday downtown with my girls at Berghoff and the Christkindlemarket in Daley Plaza.  If you live in Chicago, are visiting Chicago, etc-YOU MUST go to the market.  I got a little hot coco and some non alcoholic spiced wine.  So good!

BFFs for life:)  

Now I am just trying to finalize holiday shopping, gift wrapping/mailing, decorating, and getting our cards out.  All while trying to bake this baby.  She is 33 weeks, and I swear every day she gets more and more cramped.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Falling for Chicago!

Well for one, I am just like 90% of the other girls in the world that just love fall.  I love the colors, and smell..everything.

Sights: Every City Park.  Omg.  I just drive down Devon Ave between Milwaukee and Caldwell and feel like I am in the country.  The Forest Preserve provides some amazing color!

Smells: Leaves burning.  Illegally, but burning.  Pumpkin everything, or just whatever I am making in my kitchen.  Usually involving apples.  Lots and Lots of apples.  I get more motivated to bake in the fall.  I bake 1 time a week, at least, and have DH bring in stuff to work.  We keep one of each for us.  The rest goes to the guys and gals!

Eats: Trying out new recipes/restaurants.  I have made stuffed acorn squash, chili, and about to make some great barley soup.  It is an excuse to cook more of the "comfort foods".  I try to slim em down with some skinny taste recipes.  I also grab 1 good coffee a week.  Just 1.  I can't afford that Starbucks PSL habit.  But I can have 1 carmel apple spice, PSL, or Toasted Graham Cracker latte. Yesss.
Some of the new restaurants are Smoque, Smak Tak, and XOCO.  BBQ, Polish, and of course, Rick Bayless' own restaurant.

Churros and Chocolate at XOCO

Things to do: Apple Picking!  We just did this, and I thought my husband was going to hate it.  He loved it.  Maybe because we went to a nearby brewery afterwards?  Eh, either way, it was fun!
Pumpkin patch/hayride (usually with apple picking)
College football!  We traveled to Champaign, IL to see my beloved ILLINI play!
Oktoberfests.  Many at local parishes.  St. Alphonsus throws a big festival.

ILL-INI!

What do you love about fall in your city?

Weekend in Da City..

This weekend was a whirl wind in ever best way possible.

Friday I spent doing stuff at our house which is being remodeled.  I cleaned, organized, and painted the front porch.  Then my in laws made some of the best hamburgers ever, and we relaxed and ate dinner together.

Painted this beast of a porch.  Flowers are growing.  New doors this week!!

Saturday I had brunch with one of my besties.  Such a great brunch.  We went to Zia's Lago Vista in Chicago.  Highly recommend it.
After brunch we went to the NFL draft.  I scored some VIP tent tix, and we went and looked at Draft Town USA.

Love her.  

Draft Town USA baby.

Da Bears!

Check out my Instagram and my Pins from the Draft!

Sunday I had to work, which was good, because I met my new boss, and got acquainted with what I will be doing in the Reserves.  I got home and relaxed, which I needed after such a great weekend.

How was your weekend?

Great Cause

I found this site the other day, and couldn't think of a better cause to donate to.  Ok. Ok.  There are about a million charities I would love to donate to.  I am fairly critical of donating money, as I worked with non profit for a while, and have seen first hand how many charities take as overhead, that never get to the intended audience.

If you are a Chicagoan like me, and love your local cops, take a look at this site.

http://www.getbehindthevest.org/

This site helps raise money to offset and replace the bulletproof vests that CPD wear each day.  Do you know that a good vest costs around $1000?  

Just another incredible site, and cause that can help your city.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I had a great weekend out and about in the city I love.

I had a date night Friday with the husband.  Our fav sushi place, and a movie.  Couldn't be better.

Saturday I went downtown with my friends, met up with family, and spent most of the day downtown.  I ended up in my own neighborhood, and just relaxed!

Sunday, I stayed in my neighborhood with family and neighbors and had a great time.  I normally go to the South Side Irish parade, but decided on a change of pace this year..

Makes me so incredibly happy to be home!

Daley Plaza

Obligatory Selfie

What are your St. Patrick's Day Traditions?

Christmas Recap!

The holidays were a bit of a breeze for me.  I didn't exactly get a lot of time off, because I am saving my days off for "terminal" leave.

In just a few words, it was good friends, good family, good food, and good booze.  Let's face it.  No one wants to read a whole lotta blah, blah, husband got me this, yadda yadda.  You want to see pictures.  Yes.  Pictures!

Puppies!

Tiramisu

Moonshine.

Ladies lunch.  And Moonshine.

Best thing ever.  $5 Starbucks gift cards to the CPD.  From: A grateful citizen

Waiting to give Olaf to my niece.  We renamed him.  Enzo. And he loves Irish pubs!

First Christmas as husband and wife.  Love him!

Wedding Wednesday: Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

We had a fantastic Rehearsal at Assumption Church, and an amazing dinner at Maggianos.  I swear, there is always so. much. food!

It was such a blast to hang out with my family and friends, get caught up and prepare for such an amazing step in our lives!

Liz and Me.  Love this gal!

So there was a cardiac convention in town.  Had to pose with these guys!

Bridesmaids and I at Maggianos!

Me and my love

Great Menu courtesy of my awesome in laws!

I Got Married!!

Yes folks, it is true.  The count down is off the blog, and I am a married woman.  I'll share 1 picture with you, as I have to go through loads of laundry, and get caught up on sleep from partying!

Love this man!

Wedding Wednesday

So ladies and gents..I had my wedding shower a few weeks ago.  It was a whirlwind trip to Chicago, and I almost don't remember anything from the day. 

As my wedding planner stated, "The reason you hire a photographer and videographer is because the day is such a blur.  You get to relive that day with those great memories." 

She is right.  I literally had to lean on Mike for the whole day, because it was overwhelming.  I am normally not overwhelmed by groups of people.  But that day I met a lot of Mike's family, and saw a lot of my family.  The amount of people, amazing food, and generosity of family and friends was what really made me overwhelmed.  I guess it was because I was nervous about not talking to people enough, not saying thank you enough..etc.  I am so lucky to have a great future Mother In Law and bridesmaids who made the day incredible.

I don't have any pics of the day other than this one.  I didn't take any myself.

Until next time..

Quick Trip to Chicago

I had my last trip before the wedding a few weeks ago.  Yes.  I am crazy.  Planning a wedding from Florida/the ocean.  But..it has to be done. :)

I got to Chicago on Friday night, and Mike and I had our standard date night.  Our fav sushi place.  We caught up, and just relaxed. 

The next morning, his mom took me to get my dress altered.  Yep.  The lady there freaked when she found out my next/last fitting is going to be just days before the wedding.  Woosah.

Mike and I then went to a family party, as a cousin of mine is headed off to start college this week.  He met that side (mom's side) of the family for the first time. 

The next day was the wedding shower...stay tuned for a Wedding Wednesday post about the details!

And finally..the day I left.  We met with a general contractor for the home remodel we are planning.  I can't wait to get it done:) 

Short, quick, and sweet update.  Stay tuned for more:)

Such a great family party!

Wedding Wednesday-Bachelorette!

So my ladies came to the big city to help me celebrate my bachelorette.  I had such a great party put on my bridesmaids.  I couldn't ask for a better night.  Fun, but still pretty low key.  We had dinner at Quartino, and sang some karaoke at Blue Frog.  Classic Chicago night. 

Festivities are about to begin!

My matron of honor could not fly in, and she made the most amazing bags!  Such necessities! 

Two of my Navy gals couldn't fly in.  Toasts for all!

How cute is this?!  My MOH can plan a party.  And we can taste test a menu.  And drink.

My older sister and me!

What a motley crew!

Birthdays and Ballgames!

So my Chicago trip continues onto Birthdays and Ballgames!  You can read about part 2 here!

I took my guy to Hot Dougs for his birthday.  Lame?  Of course not?!  Who doesn't want some encased meats for their big day.  I had two hot dogs..yes, cheated on my diet.  But then again, I was in Chicago.  The 4 pounds gained was worth it.  I had a pear, wine, and fresh herb pork sausage hot dog with fig peach mayonnaise and jalapeno Havarti cheese.  Soo good.  Sooo sooo good.  We had to go again because this place shuts its doors for good in October.  Mike and I went a few years ago, so we had to go again!



Cheesing.  Waiting in line. 



Yum. 

For dinner I took him to Gather.  The food was incredible.  The service even better.  I had some great halibut..and really want to go back!  We had some time to kill before we met up with some friends for drinks, so I convinced him to go to a bistro for dessert.  We had some profiteroles with some Bordeaux.  So good.  Seriously, the night was a real treat.  After missing his birthday for a few years, it was the least I could do!  We then met some girl friends of mine at a bar.  Great end to a great night! 



Love these girls!

 

 

The next day, we met up with a group of friends from near and far to go to the Cubs game.  Cubs vs the Marlins.  Such a fun time sharing the game with my friends from high school and college.  The college girls flew in from VA to spend the weekend with me.  The high school gals came in from a far as well.  So blessed to have these girls in my life!

 

Go Cubs!



 

Sweet Home Chicago Part 2..

Well folks, I just got back from 1 trip so far this summer.  Sweet home Chicago!   You can read all about part 1 here!

After all the fun, we started out Monday strong.  We went to our food tasting!  Oh my, that definitely put a dent in the diet plan.  No need to worry.  Hopped back on that train tonight.  Then the guy and I watched a movie.  A great Monday..for sure!

Tuesday was also jammed packed with planning.  We met our photographer, and designed our invitations!  Then we met our priest for dinner, and started the process for the ceremony.  Turns out, not only did I know the priest, my guy did too!  He was the parish priest for his first communion.  Small world. 

Wednesday we picked out the cake.  Cake tasting.  Oh my goodness.  Amazing.  Then, we met with the florist.  I dropped the guy back at home, and did a makeup trial.  Love the makeup artist.  She was absolutely amazing. 

Stay tuned for some more of my time in Chicago..more pictures too!

Emanuel on weekend violence: "Enough"

Emanuel on weekend violence: "Enough": Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel discusses shootings over the holiday weekend that left nine dead.

I love my city.  I think it is one of the greatest in the world, but holy smokes, this is only April, and we have 9 people killed over Easter weekend?!?  It is true; it is all about values.  It is about right and wrong.  I fear for the littles in the city, for the workers, for everyone..because of senseless acts like these that plague our city. 

Pray that it will get better.  Pray that the nonsense will cease.  We can blame this, that, or the other-but all in all; it takes a lot to get through to those who feel like this is the only option.  I really hope that they hire more cops, put more money into helping develop the youth.  I was in one of those programs-and it helped employ me over the summer each year.  I loved my job and the program-known as Gallery 37. 

Praying for Chicago..

Chicago St. Patrick's Day Traditions

St. Patrick's day is always a big deal in my family, and there are many traditions in Chicago!

When I was a kid, we would always march in the annual South Side Irish Parade.  I have to say, I have never been to the parade down town:(  Mostly because I had a parade in my own backyard! 

We would go to the early Mass, then we would go home, so we could prep all of the food for the parade. My mom would stay at home to cook, and I would go to the parade with my dad.  He would march with the Knights of Columbus, and then we would drive home, and try to beat our guests to the house.  We would have about 100+ people over-beer, corned beef and roast beef sandwiches, music, and laughter all around.  I love those memories.

I can't wait to move back to Chicago, so I can continue to make new memories with my friends and family!

Here are some pics from more recent St. Patrick's day celebrations...new and old!

My cousin via www.chicagotribune.com

Megan and Ellen 2009 North Side

Megan, Tara, Ellen, Kim  Forever Green 2010

Megan and Meghan Forever Green 2011



Meghan, Ellen, Megan Forever Green 2011

Megan and Katie Newport 2012

Me.  Newport 2012

Colleen and Megan. DropKick Murphys, 2010 Washington DC St. Pattys Day

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Party

I went home a few weeks ago to look at venues, and have a party to celebrate with family and friends.  Since I am a "geobachelor" in Military speak, I don't live in Chicago with my fiance.  Living in Florida has its perks, but I'd rather be at home!

I had so much fun at home.  It was a whirlwind weekend.  I flew home on Valentine's Day, and to celebrate, we had take out, wine, and I was hoping one of his gifts would arrive on time.  The chocolate covered strawberries arrived the next day:(  Mother nature had other ideas for on time delivery, but you can't cry over spilled milk!

Saturday we got up early, and met with our wedding planner.  We looked at a lot of amazing venues, and we picked one this past week!  After a long day planning, we met up with family and friends at Curragh, in Chicago.  I think the party was a taste of how the wedding will be.  Quick, fun, and end the night exhausted and hungry!

Sunday we had brunch with one of my besties, and then I took off to Florida.  Unfortunately, my flight was cancelled.  Some may say fortunately...but I really needed to get back to work!  We had a lot going on, and I missed being with my Sailors fixing some very important gear.

Enjoy some pics from the party and the weekend!

High School ladies.  MHS for life!

2 out of 4 bridesmaids.  Love all my ladies!

4 of 5 kids.  Love my family!  

Me n my guy!

Better late than never!