Masked

I'll be staying in and getting cozy watching movies with husband to ring in the new year. However, a masquerade ball in Venice sounds like something to add to my bucket list. This is Glamorous gives the rundown of what to expect.

{all images via This is Glamorous}

Layover

I want to be Anthony Bourdain. The End.

I want a re-do in italy. this time slower.

Window Seat

Go read this beautiful post about traveling by train in elegance and style.

The Orient Express, from London through Paris all the way to Budapest is definitely on my wanderlust list.

But, now slightly more attainable, I have added the Royal Canadian Pacific to that list.

{all photos and links via This is Glamorous}

Accurate

Chicago from a First Timer's Perspective

Excellent article. Miss it so much.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Just finished the book this weekend. So much joy and sadness all at once. But goodness wins, it always does.

Reverence

"I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world – present and in awe”
Go read the rest of this quote:
http://katieandemily.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/bird-by-bird-by-anne-lamott/

Laughter

universality from retainer media on Vimeo.

A Year in New York

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

K-Zoo

After Chicago, we hopped on the east-bound amtrak for a 3 hour train ride to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Oh Kalamazoo, it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Our friend Bernardo moved here to live with his friend who is attending Kalamazoo College. A small, idyllic midwestern university with brick buildings, the majority of students discovered it through the book Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even If You're Not a Straight-A Student. It's a beautiful, small college town, home also to western michigan university. We spent two nights in "K-Zoo" and just relaxed and enjoyed the autumn chill. Our first morning we ventured out to Richmond, MI to a farm where we partook in a corn maze (that we totally got lost in), and apple picking, apple cider and fresh apple doughnuts. Then a scenic drive through the town followed by relaxing at the house where we made apple crisp, banana bread, and a delicious dinner from scratch.

 The house where we stayed, along with 6 boys and chester the wonderful dog.

The view from our table at breakfast.

I loved the city of Chicago, and Kalamazoo gave me that taste of a slower more peaceful pace of life that I crave so much being in LA. It was a wonderful getaway and I'm already planning our next one!

Sweet Home Chicago

A couple weeks ago the husband and I went to Chicago with one of our best friends. One of my new favorite cities and another destination checked off my list. Although one that I definitely plan to revisit many times in the future. As usual I did not take nearly enough photos, but I've come to the realization that for me this means I'm so completely in the moment and soaking everything and just being present, which is always my goal when I travel. We were only in the city for one night, and we started planning a bit late in the game. When it came down to the wire and all the hotels were booked or outrageous, we decided to throw caution to the wind. Our plane didn't arrive until 10:30 which means we didn't actually get into the city until nearly midnight, so we rented a locker at Union Station ($12 for 24 hours and it fit ALL of our luggage) and decided to spend all night conquering this foreign city. It was an adventure I will never forget.

Let me say, Chicago is probably the cleanest city I have ever seen, rivaled maybe only by London, and felt completely safe. Their public transportation is AMAZING, maybe even more convenient than the underground? This is undeniably a metropolitan city, home to what was once the tallest building in the world, yet it felt small in scale, and easy to get around and see everything.

Upon our arrival we met a friend of our friend at a great college-y bar called Mother's Too. Beer pong table and steady stream of fun music (including the ghostbusters theme song). After last call we hit up what seemed to be a popular hole in the wall eatery, no tables only a line formed at the counter where they offered burgers, dogs, greek and mexican food. We then made our way to a 24-hour diner (White Palace) where we could hang out away from the cold wind (windy city, hello!). Of course we had to order breakfast even though we had just eaten, we felt bad sitting there for 2 hours and only drinking coffee. It was unfortunate that we weren't hungry, the food was amazing.

By now it was 5 AM, time to head toward Navy Pier at Lake Michigan. Of course by the time we got there it was still about an hour before sunrise and it was even colder being by the water. So we wandered a few blocks to an open Starbucks. We sat in the warmth (and super cozy chairs!) combatting the oncoming sleepiness with coffee, we still had a full day of exploring ahead of us! Our goal was to re-create Ferris Bueller's Day Off, unfortunately the Cubs weren't playing and there was no parade. But next we made our way back to Navy Pier for the beautiful sunrise:

Next up, Milennium Park. Visited the big reflective bean sculpture thing (technical terms), 7 AM is best time to go, there were literally 3 other people there. Usually the tourist photos I see have hundreds of people around. The City is so beautiful from that view point.

After wandering around Milennium Park, catching a glimpse at soldier field, we wandered all over the city. Took the metro to Wrigley Field. Then on to Sears (Willis) Tower. As an engineer, I have a deep fascination and appreciation for skyscrapers. Going to the 103rd floor at Sears is the tallest point I've been (besides being in an airplane). Taller than the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building. (and yes Bernardo and I leaned our heads against the glass just like in Ferris Bueller). Such an amazing view:

Sears Tower has these very cool (super thick and reinforced) plexiglass boxes called the Ledge at Skydeck. You can literally step out over the streets below. I was super excited to do this, but taking that first step out made my heart race a little!

Woohoo!

After this we hit up the Art Institute of Chicago. Loved the impressionist paintings, they really are so much more impressive up close. Then we just had to partake of some deep dish pizza before making our way to Union Station toward our next destination.