Riding On The Little Engine That Could, Among Other Things...

Chicago was amazing!
(I had to get through the last couple of days of school before I could post about it, though-)

Although getting to Chicago was a few hours longer than anticipated-we joked that we were riding on the "Little Engine That Could"-Our train needed a new engine to get us around the lake-yes, seriously-  we were stranded in the middle of nowhere for an extra hour or two until a new engine arrived and carried us the rest of the way....

While we waited, we ate from our picnic basket of goodies:

But once we arrived, train troubles were far, far removed from our thoughts...

{The roof-top pool was beautiful at sunset}

{From the pool, we could see the Sears Tower-}

Then we were off to find  good Italian food:

{...and that is NOT hard to find in Chicago!}

We then met up with some more friends at

Howl At The Moon:

Howl At The Moon is a Piano Bar:

It was  fun to sing along to some great songs!

We started Saturday with our dear friend singing  to her I-pod, and continuing to write out her

Bucket List.

I think by the end of the weekend, she was almost to 150!

This is not my usual breakfast, but California rolls hit the spot before we did some power shopping on the Miracle Mile.

I mean the A-Mazing Mile.

Oops.

I mean the Magnificent Mile...

{Whatever you want to call it-it was wonderful!}

My friend in front of her favorite store:

{Okay. Time for you to tune out for a few pictures. These pictures were taken  for my boys:}

{Because I am NOT-I repeat, NOT a Star Wars or LEGO fan-but live with many who are!}

{May the force be with me as I shop...}

Along the way, I had to send some cell phone pictures home to my boys-I knew they would be jealous to see me playing at the Lego store:

{That was just mean, I know-}

{But they knew if I went there, I would possibly bring them a little something from there, which I did-}

 I even sent Tin Man with a picture of me and hot sauce from Seventh On Heaven:

{Don't worry, I brought the hot sauce home for my chef! I know it wouldn't be nice just to tease him, either!}

Seventh on Heaven was a very funky Creole restaurant where we stopped for afternoon crab cakes:

We stopped at a really funky boutique {"Kooky"} that had the cutest sayings:

I liked this one for my boys:

Favorite saying ever {!!!}:

Oh, how I LOVE Chicago!

...and after a day of shopping-I loved sitting by the roof-top pool with my dear friend:

Saturday night had us getting ready for our dinner and a movie.

Like Cinderella said, The right shoes can change your life"....

The theater we went to had a restaurant and bar-

We ordered dinner (Look at those cute little burgers!),

and laughed, cried, and cheered  along with the Girls from Sex and the City:

{We all LOVED the movie, by the way-}

Cosmos overlooking the city at night after the movie topped off our night:

Before we knew it, it was time to head on home:

Our snacks, and magazines were ready for the Little Engine That Could train ride home...

(...Who enjoyed a great weekend away with girlfriends, but it is always good to come home, as well-)