Macy’s couture

Always

My favorite Pug:

A calm Stanley sitting with Kristine.

Stanley occupying the only pUGG box on earth!

Stanley as a little man.

A pug or boxer?

Sir Wrinklesalot

Not a good idea…

The ever popular inflatables

The inflatable manger scene… WWJD if he saw this?

Oh, this is my favorite. Night and day this rotating carousel is on while playing Christmas tunes. Did I mention this thing is on every second? Walking Stanley at 6am or 10pm, I round the corner to be greeted by one of many Christmas carols as Mr. Snowman rides a reindeer in an enclosed puffy carousel. This family is hysterical.

Will your neighbors be adding an inflatable snow-globe? 

Thanksgiving in the CHI

Kristine, Stanley, Kristine’s Chicken plate, Vermilion, Dunkin Donuts, and Sweet Cakes

Images from this weekend are still in my phone…

I flew into Midway on a rainy, cold, and snowy Chicago winter evening to meet Kristine. Ahhh, Kristine’s apartment is super cozy in the winter thanks to several radiators and a lovable, shedding, goofy pug named Stanley -who typically greets anyboy who enters the apartment with an enthusiastic run out the door. Sadly, Stanley was a few miles away at Kristine’s parents. Ok, so it was nice to be together without Stanley just for a day.

Thanksgiving was low-key; I was outside of Chicago at my cousin’s house while Kristine was with her family. Following dinner I I joined my family for a screening of American Gangster as Kristine was beginning to begin an evening of Black Friday shopping with her sisters. The movie ended around 11:30 PM, I was greeted by Stanley around 12:00 AM.

I arrived at Kristine’s and brought Stanley out for an evening walk around an empty and cold block I missed the [constantly updated] display window at the record store located on Madison! We returned to the apartment where Stanley may have received a few extra post-walk snacks and I begin to work on my laptop. I was unable to resist Stanley! I put my computer aside and began to play with Stanley.

Exhausted from a strange flight – I left OR at 1:00 PM PST and entered a dark sky 90 min into the flight, and feeling too comfortable from the cozy temperature, I quickly began to nap for an hour or two until a eskimo bounded through the door around 2:00 AM excited and giddy with her adventures at Coach and Puma.

Friday was fun; we began the day – afternoon – at for lunch with Kristine’s parents. Super TASTY food, thanks Ankur! Following lunch Kristine’s parents left to return home and we headed to Sweet Cakes. I was growing fond of a hat Kristine let me wear for the afternoon and wanted one of my own – the hat was a “boys” hat. We stopped at H&M, Kristine left with a new hat!  An hour later, I purchased yet another hat from the Gap that made me look fab-u-lous!

Cupcakes, egg in a muffin, tea, and other tasty treats were drawing us to Sweet Cakes. Leaving downtown we exited the Elle L off the wrong stop surfacing at a bus stop with a route that includes Rotofugi!

We treated each other to Munny zip pulls which we reserved opening until we sat down at Sweet Cakes (only blocks away).

My favorite guy (Matt in the hat) at our favorite place   

Don’t jump Tigger Be@rbrick!

My mouth waters every time I view this image.

Time to Skype with Kristine, more later….

Holiday season

I love this time of year.  There’s something about being all bundled up and stepping out onto the ice rink at Millennium Park with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop.  In my case, it would be stepping carefully onto the rink and being extremely cautious of the skaters who are so much more experienced than myself.  Usually, the 10 year olds.  They can zip in and out while I constantly need to check my balance.  No falls to date yet, but lots of awkward stances on the ice.

Xmas

During the week, I’ve been monitoring the progress of the Daley Plaza Christmas tree assembly. 

Monday:

The peak of the tree is in place.  It looks so lonely.

Thursday:

With the addition of more trees, Chicago’s Christmas tree looks fuller and soon will be ready for the big lighting ceremony.