Dec. 2, 2007
Big City Birthday
Well, today's the day - today I turned 40, or as I prefer to think of it, 39 part 2. To celebrate, my sister treated me to an overnight shopping trip in Chicago on Friday and Saturday. We stayed at a beautiful hotel called the Renaissance, downtown on the corner of Wacker and State Street. Ah, to live in the lap of luxury for 24 hours. We had a fabulous room with big windows and a great view:
And at night:
We checked in and dropped off our bags, and then headed out to shop on Michigan Avenue. After a bit we stopped for a nutritious lunch at Ethel's Chocolate Lounge:
After lunch and a visit with Santa, it was back to more shopping.
When we were finally shopped out for the day, we went to Emilio's Tapas Restaurant for a great dinner. (at a tapas restaurant you eat a meal of appetizers which you choose from a long list - and it all sounds so good, it's hard to choose!) We did some serious damage to the waistline there!
Saturday after lunch we headed for home, which got tricky as the light snow turned into an ice storm. It took my poor husband 3 hours to get to the meeting-up place, a trip which should only have taken 40 minutes! I have never seen so many cars in the ditch. But we all arrived home safe and sound, with some good memories to help ease the pain of turning
40. 
(do you think she was embarrassed that I made her stand here and pose for this picture?)
(crazy pigeons trying to eat the Christmas decorations)
(Macy's on State Street. Yes, I still mourn the loss of Marshall Field's.)
(gotta love it when even the buildings look like Christmas)
(maybe we'll do it again when she turns 40??)
Comments
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by woolwinder
Happy Birthday! The 40s are fun. Quite a change of pace to see the city on your blog. Do you feel more at home in the country or the city?
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by psalm127
Happy Birthday. Now that is my kinda lunch, chocolate and coffee ....the main food groups ha. Love all the pictures. Beautiful City.....love the country though.I wish I lived further out but then again I am not so found of snakes. Harmless ones are not so bad...but them rattlers scare me I know they are in my neighbor hood. Ok off subject. Gee for my 40th this year I got a day to sit and knit and not do anything resembling work. Oh and one of the hugh chocolate cakes from Costco. It looks like you had a great time What a special way to spend a birthday.
Dec. 3, 2007
awww
Posted by Anonymous
awww the two of you are so cute! you two really look like sisters!
i'm glad your birthday was a good and safe one to boot thanks tot hat horrid weather saturday!
xoxox
jen
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Happy Birthday :) Your trip sound fabulous. Such a nice thing to and now you'll have very happy memories of turning 40! or I should say 39 forever. (When I was kid I'd ask my mother how old she was and every year she'd say 39 dear - with a straight face :) )
hakucho
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Happy Birthday!
www.oiyi.blogspot.com
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Happy Birthday to you! So far my 40's have been great (I have only been in them for a little over a year) and I will bet that yours are too!
Enjoy!
Randi
Dec. 3, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Happy Birthday!!!! Sounds like you had a great birthday trip to the Windy City!! (I'm a little surprised that there was no Pad Thai involved..... I ate there twice in the last 4 days :-)!!) I thought it was great to turn 40. I'm not as excited about 50, which I am getting closer to.... Now remember, this is your birthday MONTH and you should celebrate often!!! (And use it as an excuse to sit and knit when you want!!)
Janice
Dec. 3, 2007
Happy, Happy Birthday!
Posted by Thimbleanna
And what smart commenters you have -- they're all so right -- the forties are fabulous! You have much to look forward to. You and your sister DO look alike. Great post about Chicago -- now I'm hoping we'll definitely go this weekend. My parents can't take the cold weather so if it's too cold we'll have to bail out. Since I couldn't see the Empire State Bldg in red and green, I'll be looking for that red and green building in Chicago! XOXO. (I certainly hope my goat fared well without you LOL!) Oh, and there's an APB out for the pink yarn -- here's to crossing your fingers!
Dec. 4, 2007
YAY!
Posted by springyknitting
Happy, happy, happy birthday to you! I loved all the photos.
Dec. 5, 2007
WooHoo!
Posted by lla
This looks and sounds like a smashingly good time - thank you so much for sharing it with us...
I'm so glad that you had an awesome 40th b'day - and I hope the other 365 of the year are every bit as good!
xoxoxo
Dec. 5, 2007
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Posted by Danielle
Looks like you had a wonderful birthday trip! Aside from that nasty ice storm we all got this Sat. Happy 40th to you my friend! I think it's really neat that our b-days are so close together ; )
Dec. 6, 2007
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Posted by SimpleFolk
Oh, sorry I missed it...Happy, Happy (belated) Birthday, to you! It looks like you had a fantastic day! Mine is next week and my (younger) sister is planning a party for me--gotta love sisters! :o)
Amy
Dec. 7, 2007
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Posted by Toni
What fun! Happy Birthday, and thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with us. :)
Dec. 9, 2007
hi!
Posted by Anonymous
Happy Birthday! This is Sψren from rivermade. Thanks for visiting my blog! I love sister adventures! Yay!
