Chicago

Last week = Chicago.

Favorite highlights:

14. The Art Institute of Chicago's Impressionism and fashion exhibit. 

We couldn't take pictures in the actual exhibit, so here are some of my favorites from the museum. 

13.  Pizzeria UNO. THE actual original deep dish. If you didn't have this- you didn't have the best.

12.  The parks! Chicago is beautiful! There are flowers and trees and beauty all around. 

11.  The art all over the city. 

10. The architecture. We even took the architecture tour on the Chicago River through the city and then out to Lake Michigan.

9. These places. Top: The historic Marshallfield and Company department store. My mom remembers shopping there when she was young.

Bottom: The Chicago theater and a poster fit for our trip that I found at a Potbellys Sandwich Works. 

8. Recognizing sites where movies took place.

Top: My Best Friends Wedding / While you We're Sleeping

Bottom: Blues Brothers (my second favorite movie of all time)/  Ferris Buellers Day Off

7. The Cardons apartment and its luxuries. Including the choice view for fireworks on the Fourth. 

6. The Willis Tower. Formally known as the Sears Tower. 

5.  Navy Pier

4. A visit to the Chicago Illinois Temple.  (My tired morning face)

3. My big, fat, Italian family. (a whole post about this party later) 

2.  The beach. Really really really, I loved this experience. The beach was a three minute walk from the Cardon's apartment. We ate at this lovely little café right on the stand. And then swimming in Lake Michigan was so cool and refreshing on this hot summer day. And, you're swimming at the foot of the city. So cool

1. Our hosts. 

For real. Kaci and Aaron made this trip possible for us. But they also made it 110% enjoyable and comfortable. They are THE best hosts. Always putting our ideas first and making sure we were comfortable and happy. I cannot say enough about their true hospitality AND allllllll of the fun times we had.  They are the best friends any travelers could have. 

 Photos: Cheese and root beer party the last night we were there. Hunter and Aaron at the Garfield Park conservatory. The Cardons in their Fourth of July gear. 

Hot summer day

Hunter and I got back from Chicago yesterday. What an awesome vacation!  A post about all that will be coming soon.

I always love coming home after vacations. I actually enjoy laundry. Going to the grocery store. And it always gets me in an organizing mood.

As I've been going through the office closet for the hundredth time I found some fun reads. 

Two old journals from college:

And a financial planner pamphlet from church:

The two journals meant a lot to me during college. 

In the turquoise one I recorded lots of daily Deep stuff and scripture notes and spiritual experiences. 

Here's a great quote I recorded from James E Faust in the October 2005 Gen. conference:

"We cannot be different and just live without opening our mouths, doing extra inspired act, testifying of Christ. We cannot be a waste to here on earth. There's so much to do and time is running out!  Smile, serve, study."

And Jeffery R Holland:

"Be proud you are a woman. If you could catch the vision of the woman God intends for you to be you would rise up and never be the same again. Be a woman of Christ."

Wow. And countless other quotations and feelings etc. As I have been reading some just now too special to share, tears filled my eyes. Journals are important.

The cute white one with the Big apple on it became a journal of lists.

-Bands and musicians I like

-Life goals/bucket list

-Concerts I've been to

-Names I like for children

-Places I've traveled

-Temples I've visited

-Famous people I saw and met in the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City 2004 (Yes, Jenny.)

-Rooms I want in my dream house

-Peoples names mentioned in Beatles songs

-Concerts I want to see

-Things that make me happy (This list is 10 pages long)

-Details I want at my future wedding

I love this. I'm totally inspired to journal more and better. Blogging is a great way to record, but I really need to be writing on a daily basis. I am so sad I don't have any detailed writings from our first years of marriage, or my years of teaching.

As for the financial planning pamphlet, I am also very motivated to do what it says. Things like make a budget, live within your means, be healthy, plant a garden and get out of debt. These are things I want to do!  

Anyways. These are just some thoughts I've had today as I've been doing some digging through old stuff in the closet.