Vida

Do you ever think of somewhere and just the thought makes you smile? As we drove to Chicago over the weekend for a memorial, I had quite a bit of time to think.  Because, friends, I didn't sleep.  I almost always take a little nap while Mike drives me on a road trip.  Whistler I've actually only been to Whistler twice.  And both times were just so good. #1 Mike & I had just decided it probably made more sense to look to buy a house in St. Louis and we were going on our first house hunting visit that weekend.  We ended up at the Whistler patio.  As we discussed (read: googled) if it's necessary to have a realtor (answer: yes, very much so.  oh the things we learned...) to look at houses, we made friends with the outdoor bartender.  We watched his supplies as he set-up, he gave us shots as a thank you.  Good people, good times.  The night ended arriving at Dante's as they closed and Mike getting a free slice from one of the wor...

In honor of our 1 month-i-versary, we're married!  Today Mike wore the shirt he wore on our first date, which I oddly remember and he doesn't wear often.  I said, "You're wearing our first date outfit and it's our month-i-versary!" :) It has been quite the month.  We celebrated my sister's birthday (always quite the affair), packed, moved, took a little trip to Nashville, went to LouFest!  (Mike drove back and forth from Chicago-St. Louis 4 times.  (3 times in one week.) I'd love to share some of our wedding photos, if you're interested, with a couple big call outs first.  We loved our photographer, both in personality and photo quality (Jenn Shaffer) and our flowers (Stems).  We also got a great cake from Weber's Bakery. Enjoy! our first look

A Couple Weekends Ago: Cashier: Would you like a bag today? Me: No, thank you.  I'll use my backpack. Cashier:  Save the 7 cents. Me:  And the environment. Cashier: People seem to care more about the 7 cents. Me:  Not me. February 1st Chicago put a 7 cent tax in place for plastic bags and somehow it seems to be working!  Last year I was excited about a plastic bag ban and then a loophole slid in for stores to have even thicker bags that "people would reuse."  Spoiler: no one reused them.  And it was terrible. So as February 1st approached I refused to get my hopes up. Then I started to notice people bringing in bags  or just saying they'd carry their stuff and skip the bag.   I don't think I will come to understand how in other people's minds 7 cents is terrible and the thicker bags weren't.  Regardless I'm glad it's working. P.S. Would you like to know more about terrible plastics?   Read here .

Let me set the scene.  Monday was President's Day, both Mike & I had the day off work and it was 60 degrees in February.  Once Mike peeled himself out of bed from his recovery from the Auto Show.  (He was there for 12 hours and a little sore on Monday...)  I suggested a bike ride.  There's a sign by us that says Chicago River North Branch 1 1/4 miles.  Neither of us were familiar with it so we thought we go check it out. First we started with empanadas from Cafe Tola.  Yum! As we sat there we realized the 1 1/4 miles note didn't make any sense.  There is a Chicago River North Branch that is mostly in the suburbs and the furthest south it goes is Lawrence... was that it? That's definitely more than 1 1/4 miles north of us.   We still don't know what that sign is referring to, but we ended up on the Chicago River North Branch and it was lovely.  A nice relaxing bike ride.   We made it up to Skokie and decided to tu...

Guys, things have been insane.  I'm at the typical point in my summer where I just feel exhausted.  And then I think, 'Good job, Lisa, you've done good with summer.'  Here in Chicago, where we have 4 months of lovely weather (in my opinion) a year, you have to make the most of it.  And every summer around this time, I start to feel the exhaustion set in. Also, I noticed during my wake-up call Wednesday, the days are getting shorter, friends.  Boo. So let's see, what have I been up to? Lots of time outside.  This whole central A/C thing in our new place is really throwing me off.  It's the first time I've had central A/C since I lived with my parents 11 years ago and I am not used to waking up and not immediately knowing what the weather is like.  So patios are all the sweeter. We moved!  We successfully moved.  Moving weekend was not fun at all.  Not at all.  But we saved so much money and I was s...

Of course I'm following the story of the bicyclist who was hit by a flat bed truck and killed Tuesday morning on Milwaukee Avenue.  It made me cry when I first read about it (although I think I'm starting to become more of a crier).  Milwaukee is one of the few Chicago streets I actually feel felt like I could let my guard down just a little bit. I read a comment that stated: " The city absolutely needs to be held accountable for their negligence in failing to protect both cyclists and motorists. The array of construction projects on Milwaukee have eaten away at the bike lane and often there is no adequate signage or markings provided to indicate where cyclists are entitled to ride. I ride this stretch every day and it's terribly unsafe during commuting hours. This was entirely preventable, and a tragedy for both the dead cyclist and the driver of the vehicle who has to bear the guilt of this accident." I get the outrage from bikers.  (Today one smashed the ...

As we flipped the calendar from May to June, Mike & I knew it was time to start searching the internet for some apartments to look at. We immediately found one we were super excited about.  It seemed to be a house with a garage!  We happened to be in the area Thursday night (Congrats, Justin & Jason!  Their episode of House Hunters premiered!) and Mike suggested driving over and taking a look.  It looked fine from the outside (in the dark) and the inside photos were amazing...but...it was so far from activity. We actually didn't even go to the showing Sunday.  Because then you fall in love with the inside and justify the distance.  (And other things kind-of came up too...)  This is probably our last year in Chicago.  Mike can start grad school and I'll do the same (but much less urgently) and I've pretty much had my fill of Chicago.  When I'm still saying it on June 7 as the summer begins, you know I'm serious.  I'm...

Last summer, Karen & I started craving more 1-on-1 sister time.  We started trying to set one evening aside once a week to get together.  As time evolved and we became committed, we started calling them Sister Dates.  (Note: Mike may have technically come up with the name.)  Usually the date consists of grabbing dinner somewhere together (usually somewhere new every week).  And I love it. We take turns choosing the restaurant every week.  I usually pick super last minute (hours before) and Karen usually picks days in advance, sometimes a full week.  This is typical of our personalities.  Karen will sigh the night before and ask, "Have you decided where we're going tomorrow?" We've gone all over the city.  I think the only place we've gone more than once for a Sister Date is Brendan's (our favorite dive bar that's always willing to turn on the Cardinals game).   We've had Mexican: Bullhead Cantina, El Jardin, Su Casa Burge...

How was your Memorial Day? We had pretty much perfect weather in Chicago.  (Do any of you think in emojis sometimes?  As I wrote that sentence, I thought, 'thumbs up emoji, blowing a kiss emoji...etc.) My parents came to visit and we had quite a packed weekend from Beauty & the Beast to Bike the Drive, hanging out in Wicker Park/Bucktown, Beyonce, and brunch at Flo and Ann Sathers (always a gem).   They headed home Sunday afternoon and we kept right on going with Crap Beer Day (amazing...seriously so fun), park walking with my friend who's a new mom, 8 mile running (I told you we're trying to get going with half-marathon training), and hot dogs.  We can be influenced by ads too.  #merica  Oh and Dry Hop too! It was a busy weekend.  As Mike & I sat at Dry Hop wrapping up the weekend playing checkers (this is something we often do at breweries...on Mike's phone) he said, "No one can say we squander away our time in the big city." ;) ...

Twas the day before Christmas Eve The Chicago neighborhoods were silent except for the clatter of thunder  and rain pitter pattering outside the window twas a strange christmas season for all no complaints coming from here

Another December weekend.  Another weekend full of festivities.  5 notes from the weekend. 1 - Anyone guilty of purchasing a gift for someone and adding something in for yourself?  Especially with the current discounts!  Yes, I am! Somebody got some brand new wheels! After some somewhat in depth bike shopping, we fell in love with Oscar Wastyn .  The laid back sales, in depth knowledge and perks.   2 - Let the shopping ensue.  I finished most of my shopping before Christmas since we exchanged most of my immediate family gifts Thanksgiving Weekend.  (Excluding my dad, mom, and sister who I got to procrastinate on like everyone else.)  Mike though...not so much.  We hit up Kohls in the morning and kept searching/fighting the crowds for the final touch on his sister's gift.  Once I reached my shopping limit and I was so hungry...we stopped. 3 - Hello Zoolights !  It's just for fun. 4 - Molly's Cupcakes an...