365: 1/31/2011

DAY 31: How I wrap

I kind of go all-out when I wrap presents. I'm a sucker for cute bags and bows, especially. I think I might like wrapping more than I like shopping for the gifts!

Chicago

I am downright obsessed with Chicago. If I could stomach moving away from my family at some point in my life, I would pack up my stuff and spend my days roaming around the city. Any time Andy wants to get away, I suggest Chicago. Every summer we make the 6 hour drive from Mid-Michigan for a glorious 5 day extended weekend. When we got married, Andy was excited to plan an Alaskan cruise or visit somewhere tropical... Maybe go to Ireland. But alas, his main downfall is his inherent desire to make his wife happy so... Where did we go? CHICAGO. I thought I'd make a little ~memories~ post about my most favorite place on Earth.

  

{ Our Last Three Years }
  

  

Like I said, it's about a six hour drive from where we live in Bay City... We take the long way, though, to avoid the 90 toll booths we'd have to go through otherwise. It takes us through a prettier route, I think.
  

We've stayed at a different hotel each year, but so far my favorite has been the Allerton. It is art-deco in all its glory.  It's right across from Tiffany's (heeey, bonus!) on Michigan Avenue so it's literally just a few minute walk to whatever store my heart desires! We leave our car in the parking garage and take public transport EVERYWHERE in Chi-town. I'm sooo not ashamed to say we buy the 7 day bus pass for like, $20.00 and hop on and off their buses as we please. 

  

I think what I like most about the Allerton is that it has a story. It's not like a Hyatt or a Hilton that gets slapped up in a few months and looks like every other Hyatt or Hilton in the rest of the world. No, the Allerton was built in the 20's over a few years. It was a social hotspot for stars like Ginger Rogers and Jimmy Stewart waaay back in the heyday. Radio shows were even broadcast from the lounges here because people thought it was such a cool place to relax. THAT is what I like about a hotel. Not the flat screen in the bathroom mirror, not the remote control window shades... The story.
  

Shedd Aquarium is one of Andy's all-time favorite places on Earth. He is biiig into salt-water aquariums and this place is just one big fish tank for him to run around in. The first time we came here, we literally spent at least six hours... And that was before they added their newest exhibit with whales, sea lions and etc! This was also my first experience with the "relish" that Shedd uses on their hot dogs. It's, at least, a dill pickle relish but it is LIME GREEN. It was too far out of my comfort zone to get any.

Look at all of that detail! There were a ton of these chandeliers in the aquarium's main lobby. I just love all of the sea life featured on them. Note the turtles, star fish and shells on the plaster ceiling too. Incredible. For all of the time Andy spent looking at all the fish, I spent just as much fawning over the attention to detail in the architecture.

This is the view on the steps outside of Shedd. It really doesn't get much better than summertime in Chicago.

If you only have time to stop and eat at one place, I strongly urge you to try Pizzeria Uno or Due. You have not had deep dish pizza until you've tasted what they're cooking at one of these places. (I like Due since it's based out of an old mansion, but take your pick!) I make it a point to have at least one meal from Due while in Chicago. We've sat on the patio, sat inside and even trekked down to pick some up and bring it back to our hotel for a late night snack. But can you blame me? Look how good it is:

{ Cheese bread + deep dish pizza = party in my tummy }

{ Our friend that joined us for lunch }

Next on our "always do" list is a stop at Navy Pier. We always take a boat taxi over (and, actually, that picture of Andy and I from 2009 up top is while we were on a boat taxi waiting to depart to the Pier!) since it only costs a few bucks and it's a great way to see the city.

 { Walking up to the Pier }

The Ferris Wheel is one of my favorite things in Chicago. The views are priceless, the breeze from the top is a nice relief for the heat of June and, come on, it's romantic!

{ The view from the top }

{ View of the other side }

For the first time, last year, we stopped at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo is free. It's huge. They have "Jammin' at the Zoo" in the summer. Lifehouse was playing in the middle of the zoo as we walked about. And I got to take some great pictures of the animals... Like these:

{ American Alligator }

{ A chubby little meerkat }

{ A thirsty giraffe! I love this picture! }

{ Water Tower as seen from the zoo }

  

Something else to be said for Lincoln Park Zoo is the nature that you find throughout the park. It's not just buildings with animals. There's fields, streams, ponds and huge trees... Like these:

{ In the middle of the zoo }

{ In the middle of the zoo, too }

I really, really love how eclectic the buildings in Chicago are. I love that a huge, modern all glass skyscraper can stand next to a 160 year old building and not look out of place.  I love that right behind the gorgeous Allerton Hotel is the new Water Tower. And in between those? The old Water Tower. One day of each trip is spent walking aimlessly, taking everything in. I am obsessed with detail. I scour everything and I love every minute of it.

{ The start of my walk, 2010 }

{ Walking across the bridge }

{ Old & new across from Millenium Park }

The lions outside of the Art Institute remind me of home. Growing up, there was a lion exactly like this in front of the fire station just a few blocks from my house. I have no idea why it was there, just that whenever we would go on walks, my brother and I HAD to sit on it. We would bake cookies or brownies for the fire department and as a thank you, they'd try to show us the trucks. But, no. We wanted the sit on the lion. They took the lion down a few years ago and I always smile when I think of these. Who doesn't love a reminder of their happy childhood?

I have to throw this picture in for good measure. Last year Andy and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry. In its basement sits this huge submarine... So big that in order to get it in, they had to pour the floor and walls of the basement, lower the sub in and then put the ceiling in. Amazing. Really, though, I just like the picture.

I've mentioned my love of water taxis, but I feel like I just need to say it again. I LOVE WATER TAXIS. Chicago is beautiful close up, its beautiful from up high but I truly believe it's even more beautiful when viewed from the water. The picture above and the picture below were take from a water taxi. The picture below, I think, is probably my all-time favorite picture I've ever taken of anything in Chicago.

{ Clear skys, clear water and a gorgeous cityskape. }

I love the long drive to and from it, I love the hustle and bustle of the crowd, I love the endless row of stores on Michigan Avenue. I love the art deco buildings mixed with modern glass skyscrapers. I love the ferris wheel. I love Capi's at the Pier and I love Due in the heart of the city. I love the aquarium, the museums, Millenium Park. I love feeling like I'm home when I'm actually 300 miles away from it. I love Chicago... Each and every bit of it:

365: 1/30/2011

DAY 30: Autumn & the onion ring

Today, the fam all got together for a fish fry at my dad's house. There was perch, walleye and catfish (all caught by my outdoor-loving dad). We also had fried chicken, fries and homemade onion rings. Little Miss Autumn chewed on this onion ring to her heart's content. Normally toddlers love to share their mushed up food with you, but this girl? She turns away and says "NO!" (Thank God, LOL.)

365: 1/29/2011

DAY 29: Berries in my backyard

Today was an extremely lazy day (and still is, really)! I managed to get off my couch for a few minutes to go outside and take a few pictures... I just liked these.

365: 1/28/2011

DAY 28: My dog chews ANYTHING...

Even brand new bottles of Excedrin. Day 30 of my 2010 365 Project has a picture very similar to this one (that was a bottle of Mucinex, though). My husband KNOWS that Mabel will chew anything that is bottle shaped with a top on it and yet he leaves pill bottles on the coffee table. He has NOT learned his lesson, obvs! GRR!

365: 1/27/2011

DAY 27: My chubby pup-pup

This dog sits in the weirdest positions... Here she's cuddling me while we watch TV. :) Photo was taken by the hubby.

365: 1/26/2011

DAY 26: Happy birthday to my papa!

Today is my daddio's birthday! There'll be a big fish fry on Sunday to celebrate (can you tell we live in the mid-West?) but I wanted to spend time with him on his actual birthday so I spent the evening with the fam. :)

You can thank me later

RECOMMENDATION:

For some reason or another, I can not pick out my favorite TV shows without the help of my brother. Two of my absolute favorites came to be that way because of his recommendations. Obviously one of those shows is How I Met Your Mother. I feel like whenever I make an actual blog post, I’m mentioning it somehow! Anywho, this post is NOT about HIMYM. This is about the IT Crowd.

Let me state for the record that I’m talking about the British version of the show, NOT the US version with Joel McHale (whom I can’t stand) that didn’t even make it past production. Airing since 2006, a sixth season has been ordered and it just keeps bringing the laughs!

I have no problem admitting that I always root for the underdog, so it’s a no-brainer that Moss is my favorite. Aside from the fact that Richard Ayoade is hilarious in everything he does, he can play the role of a nerdy computer tech with an aversion to social situations like no other. Obviously producers thought this same thing when trying to make the US version come to life – they asked him to play Moss for that series too! It’s hard for me to pick a favorite Moss moment, but one of them is from episode three of season three (“Tramps Like Us”). Moss gets a concussion and stays at work. Jen (the relationship manager) is talking to him and he’s just facing the wall, laughing. His head is wrapped but his parted ‘fro is still making its appearance known. His concussion is reversed when he is electrocuted while being forced to remove the “electric sex pants” his boss was ordered to wear to prevent sexual harassment.

Roy, an Irishman that works with (and is a friend of) Moss, is also hilarious. He tries so hard to be cool that it just doesn’t quite work. He sports a different witty t-shirt every episode and tries to do as little work as possible. My favorite Roy moment is from episode one of season two (“The Work Outing”). He and Moss tag along with Jen on one of her dates because they believe the man that asked her out is gay, a suspicion they think is confirmed when he tells her that they’ll be seeing “Gay! – A Gay Musical!” Roy really has to use the bathroom but finds out the regular stalls are out of order, so he pretends to be disabled to use the handicap restroom. He accidentally pulls the “assistance” handle instead of flushing the toilet and a group of workers bust in, ready to help. Watching him try to pretend he is “leg disabled” is probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

The thing I love most about Jen involves how she interacts with people… I love how Moss & Roy use her lack of IT knowledge to their advantage. Jen is somehow put in charge of IT as a “relationship manager,” much to the chagrin of Moss & Roy and so they constantly come up with ways to make her look silly. In episode four of season three (“The Speech”), they convince Jen that the “whole internet” is held in a tiny little lock box… She begs them to let her use it at her speech in front of the shareholders. They tell her that they double checked with the elders of the internet and Stephen Hawking himself gave her his blessing. They convince her that if the lockbox falls or is damaged in any way, the world would basically go into panic mode and nothing would ever be the same. She takes the box to the meeting, shows the shareholders and tells them the importance of maintaining the integrity of the box. Moss & Roy are absolutely HORRIFIED to find out that all of them believe her… Until it accidentally gets knocked over and the shareholders go ape-shit. They start beating each other up, making out and running amuck through the building.

(I LOVE these Moss inspired Keep Calm posters!)

I thought I'd end this post with a few of my favorite clips:

Jen, for being the IT department's relationship manager, knows absolutely nothing about computers.


Moss and Roy decide to play hooky from work and end up in the middle of a crime scene. Probably one of my all-time favorite moments in this show!


As part of Douglas' settlement, he has to wear electric underwear that give him a shock whenever he gets "excited." Love this!

365: 1/25/2011

DAY 25: Goodies on my doorstep

I've been slowly acquiring a wide array of lenses because I'm starting to get a lot of requests from family, friends and sometimes people I don't even really know to take photographs for them. I'm technically booked for a few portrait sessions, some engagement sessions AND a wedding! I've really, really wanted a 35mm for a while and finally bit the bullet and picked one up when I found a GREAT deal on one that included the lens hood and a case for it! It's already on my camera body and I can't wait to start playing!

NY Rangers' Avery

I just could not resist posting this. My husband LIED and said the Wings were playing tonight. Uh, no dear, try Wednesday. However, the Caps are playing the Rangers and I'm an Avery fan. Have been since he played shortly with the Wings. I know some people think he's a douche and has a big mouth. I, however, think he's a stylish guy (come on, what other hockey player do we know that interned for Vogue on the off season?) with the balls to say what he thinks. And he's scrappy! That's the best kind of hockey player.

Anywho. Whenever I see him on the ice, I immediately think of his almost-fight with Max Talbot. I say almost because it was broken up quickly... And Talbot didn't really fight so much as he smacked. Avery makes fun of him the entire way to the penalty box and I laugh EVERY time I think of it!

365: 1/24/2011

DAY 24: When husbands steal cameras

I can't help but smile when I turn on my camera and find pictures of squirrels that my husband snapped while I wasn't around. They're a little blurry, but sweet. :)

365: 1/23/2011

DAY 23: Burgers at Red Robin

Today we met up with Ronnie in Flint. He goes to college there (believe me, we are SO glad he is in his last year so he can get the frick out of there!) and since he didn't get the chance to come home this weekend, we decided to go down and visit! We went out to eat at Red Robin and our step-dad got the biggest burger I've ever seen. And he ate it all. Whoaaaa, baby.

365: 1/22/2011

DAY 22: The parrot my mom befriended

My mom is a huge animal lover, and that's where my love of animals comes from. She befriended the parrot at Soldan's months ago when she figured out that he loved the buttons on her coat and her hair. He was nibbling from his perch and then decided he needed to climb up her arm, sit on her shoulder and nibble from there. LOL.

(I was really trying not to use my cell phone's camera since I carry my Nikon with me everywhere, but I already had my phone out and didn't want to miss this!)

Friday Favorites

ADVENTURE TIME!

SO, SO GOOD. MMM!

2 PANTS + 2 CARDIGANS + 2 TANKS = $35.00 (SCORE!)

WHEN MY DOGS ARE AS LAZY AS ME.

365: 1/21/2011

DAY 21: My OCD strikes again!

Okay, so I don't really have OCD (well, sometimes I'm not so sure about that statement but that's another story) but I do have a slight obsession with lists and planning. 2011 is shaping up to be a year that I'll have to remember a lot of important dates, so I couldn't resist this planner. It's tan with a band of gold sequins... Super cute!

365: 1/20/2011

DAY 20: Coordination

I'm kind of obsessed with coordinating gift bags, bows and tissue paper. I may have a problem. (PS - I promise a real post is coming soon. The icky winter weather here has made me unbelievably lazy this week!)