I love the year of 30th birthdays! This past fall my friend Jen's sweet husband Kurt planned a trip to Chicago as a surprise for her birthday. We were all so excited to go and were planning on a December Christmas time trip. The weekend of the trip all four girls who were going had their families come down with the stomach bug. One family was even out of state and had it! So crazy! Luckily, we were able to freeze our plane tickets and reschedule for this Spring. We went the last weekend in April and had a BLAST! Everyone was so laid back and easy going. It was, Jen, me, Suzanne and Jen's sister Sarah.
I had never been and LOVED it! I love New York and San Francisco, but think that Chicago may have jumped up there in the front running spot. We left before the sun came up Friday morning and drove down to Austin to fly out. We got to Chicago and dropped off our luggage at our hotel and went to the famous deep dish Chicago pizzeria, Gino's East. It. Was. Delicious. Such a fun atmosphere and people watching.
Then we walked down to get on the Wendella Boat Tour of the Chicago River. It is an architecture tour of some of the most beautiful landmarks and buildings. I love doing some of the touristy things to get to understand the cities better, so it was right up my alley.
That night we went to Vivo for dinner on the West side. It was an upscale Italian place that won best private dining room in Chicago. It was surrounded by so many famous places, I could have stayed and eaten for a week!
When we left we asked for a fun place to go hear some live music. We decided that while in Chicago the 10pm bedtime rule could be lifted;) We were told to go to a fun dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon, but all we got across to the cab driver was piano bar. He took us to a place called the Redhead. We didn't know any better, so we went on in. It actually turned out to be really fun and on the must do in Chicago list according to several pamphlets :)
The next morning we were on a mission...Shopping! We stayed right on Michigan avenue, so we just walked around and shopped all day. One of the highlights was the original American Girl store. I had told Lila I would go there for her souvenir. It made the Dallas store look like a closet! I also loved H & M, Zara, a four story GAP, Sacs, Top Shop, and countless others.
We went up to Lincoln Park for a late lunch at Cafe BaBa Reeba. It was a delicious tapas restaurant with an awesome patio and homemade sangria. This was my favorite part of the city. Reminded me of SoHo. Lots of little shops and brownstones. Beautiful.
We walked and shopped some more and then went back and got ready for a fun dinner at Japonias, a wonderful sushi restaurant. At midnight, it was Sarah's birthday, so we celebrated in style. Unlike at home, when you stay up late on vacation, you get to sleep in until 9 :) That may have been just as nice as all the rest combined!
It was so nice to spend such great quality time with these girls, actually finish a conversation, and do whatever we wanted to without thinking about a schedule! I hope to go back very soon and eat my way through the town all over again.
By the time we got back to Waco, I was dying to squeeze these two little munchkins and be Mommy and wife again. It's amazing how a little time away makes you really appreciate your "normal" life:) Josh and his parents took care of the girls and allowed me the freedom to enjoy myself. Apparently, while I was away, Daddy got on Craig's list and found some used Barbie cars for the girls. They love them and were so excited to show me their tricks when I got home. Hilarious!
Love getting the chance to miss my girls (and guy) and getting to have some much needed friend time! Happy 30th Jen!
