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1.17.2017

sister weekend in chicago.


cloudy day, windy city.
jackie at the art institute.

too many palomas.

short rib hash at sable.

eataly souvenir.

Last Thursday my sister and I headed to the Windy City--she had some things to do for work, so I decided to tag along and make a long weekend out of it. We used to go to Chicago annually but we haven't been since 2014--it was a long overdue sister trip.

When we landed Thursday night we checked into The James (a favorite hotel in a great location) and walked over to the Slurping Turtle for ramen. Every time we visit we always squeeze in a meal there, and it never disappoints (especially during cold weather).

On Friday my sister had to work all day so when I finally pulled myself together I went to the Art Institute. It was my first time there and they had so many amazing pieces, from MirĂ³ to Pollock--I especially loved seeing A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and channeling my inner Cameron Frye. After a few hours walking around I stopped at Remington's for a burger and read Pretty Girls (which is such a good thriller). When my sister was done we had a drink at the hotel bar, then headed out for dinner at GT Fish & Oyster and it was absolutely delicious--super fresh and good for sharing.

After my sister's meeting on Saturday morning, we went to Sable for brunch--they had a different chef from the previous times we ate there (no more Heather Terhune from Top Chef), but it was still very good (although I missed the small plates). We then trekked over to the Willis Tower to visit the Skydeck but by the time we got there the wait was over 45 minutes and I didn't feel up to it. We headed back towards the hotel and went to Eataly--this was my first time there and it totally lived up to the hype. We had wine and cheese at one of the restaurant bars and then did a little shopping--I'll definitely need to visit the one in Boston but I'm glad I don't live too close because it could be dangerous. I would be there every day. Saturday night we went to the original Morton's for steaks and chocolate mousse and then called it a night because our flight on Sunday was pretty early (and I was honestly so tired from all of the walking).

It was the perfect short getaway--I seriously love Chicago and I love sharing it with my sister...we're already planning the next trip.

Now comes the battle of working my first full week in 2017. Womp womp.


1.04.2017

2017.



I know I'm part of the large majority of people who were not sad to see 2016 go, but I've also been stuck wondering what that means for 2017.

I was looking back through some of my previous resolutions and they covered the ever so popular aspirations like drinking more water and less alcohol, consistently working out and blah blah blah. While those goals were certainly respectable a) I never ended up achieving them and b) I ultimately didn't really care to.

I think at the dawn of each new year my unspoken, more overarching goal has been to strive to be a better version of myself, and while I'm sure I've made little improvements here and there, I have a tendency to fall into the same pattern of complacency. Despite making my fair share of major, life-changing decisions in the past 5 years, once I've made them I fall into the same old routines and the same old routines slowly morph into ruts. It's hard to grow in a rut.

And that's not to say that I'm knocking routines or stability in one's life: I think those are absolutely necessary and comforting things, but there's a time and a place for them. I know that for me, in this very moment, I need to branch out and get outside my comfort zone and have a little bit of healthy instability.

So I suppose this year I'm resolving to rock the boat a little bit.

We'll see how it goes.