Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

I am beyond excited to be home for the next four days to spend with family and friends.  As mentioned before in my previous post, the boy and I created a December bucket list.  During the past couple weeks we were able to cross off even more from the list: Christkindlmarket and putting up the tree/decorating for christmas. 

* Put up the tree/Christmas decorations

* Christmas Shopping

* Ice skating/ look at the Zoo lights

* Christkindlmarket - mulled wine and pretzels

A couple weeks ago we picked up the christmas tree for his apartment.  No need for a real tree for my apartment.  :) My 3-foot artificial tree from when I was little, is the perfect Christmas tree for the amount of space that I have.  So for the boy's tree we decorated it on a budget.  One string of lights and some dollar store ornaments complete with candy canes and tinsel were all we needed.  

The boy's apt before

The boy's tree after

My Apartment

One night after work, the boy and I went to the Daley Plaza to check out the mulled wine at the Christkindlmarket.  He was excited to take a picture with the Christkindle Queen.

The mulled wine was delicious!!!!!  

Christkindlemarket

Now, I am home from Chicago for the holidays! I'm excited to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day relaxing with the family.  SO excited to see the boy on Christmas day... as he opens gifts with my family. 

Happy holidays everyone!

For now, 

Blair...

The Weekend Update: Vintage Christmas

Yesterday my church celebrated Christmas with our Christmas program, but instead of doing a traditional Mary & Joseph Christmas program, we decided to switch things up City Church Style and host a Vintage Christmas.  The stage was decorated with antique furniture, an exposed vintage piano, and each one of the band members/vocalists wore vintage inspired clothing.  Needless to say there were lots of suspenders and plaid shirts. 

For now, 

Blair

The Holiday Train

So in Chicago, every year during the Christmas season, the Chicago Transit Authority organizes a holiday train.  The schedule is online or you can catch it by surprise like I did.  Basically it's a train car that is decorated with holiday themed-everything.  The cars are completely decked out with Christmas lights, Santa and his reindeer, and elves to greet you as you board the train.

The other day, I was so lucky and was leaving work and overheard the CTA attendant tell a mother that the holiday train was the next train into the station. I was SO EXCITED!!!!

Santa!!!

The Weekend Update: Ugly Sweater Style

This past Friday, my friends hosted an ugly sweater party!!! It has become a trend amongst my friends to have an ugly sweater party each year at Christmas.  Every year I go through the same dilemma of trying to find an ugly sweater.  However this year, I decided to just take the initiative to purchase a sweater so that in the years to come I won't have to deal with this ordeal on an annual basis.  :)

I found my sweater on Amazon and only had to pay $30 for it.  I was so excited because I could not only wear it this year to the ugly sweater christmas party, but I could wear it in the years to come.  

The night was perfect with tacky sweaters and white elephant christmas gifts.  I ended up with an H&M gift card which I thought, was not too shabby. 

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Season's Greetings...

Blair

'Tis the Season

Happy Holidays, readers! 

The past couple weeks have been so fun! I have absolutely LOVED living in Chicago over the holiday season with activities such as: the Zoo Lights in Lincoln Park, the Chriskindlmarket in Daley Plaza, riding the Holiday Train, the Mag Mile Tree Lights, and the hustle and bustle on Michigan Avenue.  

For the month of December, the boy and I created our own little bucket list to experience all that Chicago offered.  

* Fireplace bars

* Watch White Christmas

* Put up the tree/Christmas decorations

* Christmas Shopping

* Ice skating/ look at the Zoo lights

* Christkindlmarket - mulled wine and pretzels

Friday evening the boy surprised me with the perfect spot for date night: Scofflaw.  A gin/whiskey fireplace bar located in Logan Square, Scofflaw, has by far, moved to the top of my list of top bars in Chicago.  When we arrived, there was a small line outside and it was a freezing night, while waiting in line, we were given cups of hot chocolate.  Upon entering the bar, we sat down by one of the two fireplaces, on an antique couch and because the clock had just struck midnight we were given fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  Also, in addition to being great in every other area, everything on the menu is $8.  It was the PERFECT date spot.  

Take Care, 

Love, Blair

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!! 

After two friendsgivings it is finally time to go home for the actual holiday! This year I will be bringing the boy with me to meet the parents.  We are all super excited as this is one of the first (hopefully only) ones that I have had them meet.  We will drive to IN on Wednesday night for a steak dinner with my parents and then he will drive to his parents house for the remainder of the holiday.  It has been a couple of months since I had the pleasure of seeing my parents and close to 6 months since I have seen my brother, so needless to say I am ready for some quality time with the family.   

Happy Holidays!

For now...take care, 

love Blair

Date night

This week, for date night, I chose to wear my black and white leather dress.  I purchased the dress at Forever 21 last year and thought I might get one or two wears out of it.  Little did I know that this dress would become one of my staples for the black and white/leather trend that has emerged this fall.  Paired with a leather jacket I accessorized the dress with black tights, black heeled booties, and black and pink earrings.

My lipstick and makeup choices for this outfit were a smokey eye combined with a magenta pink lipstick.  Straightend-teased hair was the final addition.

The boy and I chose to go to Au Chauval in the West Loop.  Sooo good.  If you ever have the chance to stop by, be sure to get the burger or the duck hash gravy. 

Following dinner we went to a bar in Humbolt Park for an after dinner nightcap.

Needless to say it was a GREAT date.  

For now, 

Blair