Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Another weekend, another trip

Last weekend we went on vacation.

Again.

But only for 36 hours.

But yes I am spoiled with my fun travels.

Maternity leave did me no good in that I had time to sit and putz online looking for cheap fares here, there, anywhere, all while a snoozing Fred slept in my lap. I had found flights to Chicago for $75! How could we NOT? Plus my husband’s dearly beloved Cubs were set to play the last game of the regular season. Did not take much convincing from him.



We arrived late on Friday and went straight to Portillo’s. Italian beef sandwiches + Chicago dogs.




Saturday morning we headed over to Wicker Park to meet my college friend for breakfast at The Bongo Room. This place did not suck. Ha. My order of banana butterscotch budino pancakes was amazing.

I sampled a taste of her berry cheesecake pancakes. Also not sucky. And my husband’s BLT benedict? Really not sucky.



Then we walked 152 miles to burn off this awesome meal. Not really. Took the train to Wrigleyville to catch the game.






Afterwards we met up with Marcus’s cousin and her husband for a drink. It was a beautiful afternoon for a rooftop beer.

Headed back to downtown to get ready for dinner at…wait for it…RPM Italian!



OK so I love Giuliana and Bill and used to watch their show allllllll the time. RPM is a restaurant they co-founded and it legit has great reviews (yes, I am an obsessive Yelp-er).



Sidenote- I win so hard at thrifting it's not even fair. I got this $400 dress at Goodwill for five bucks this past summer. Since we were getting all fancy-dressed-up for dinner, I stopped at Nordstrom to have my makeup done. Cheap of me? Absolutely. Genius? I think so.

He used spray paint foundation on me. I don’t know if I should be offended, or amazed.

Our meal did not disappoint. For starters we ordered prime beef meatballs and a lobster Caprese.


Our entrees were a pappardelle Bolognese, and another pasta dish that contained pork cheeks. It had other stuff too, but when the waiter’s describing it, all that stuck was PORK CHEEKS.



Dessert was “Bomboloni” which is Italian for “pre diabetes.” It was fried brioche donuts with vanilla sugar and a Nutella + vanilla cream sauce to dip. They were warm pillows of sugary goodness. Do not regret.



Then we walked 379 miles to burn off that awesome meal. Not really.




Headed back home early in the a.m.  I love flying through O'Hare- reminds me of "Home Alone." My husband did not want to dash to our gate while I played "Run run Rudolph" on my phone. No fun.








A great weekend with great friends and family- now it's back to work, and back to salads for dinner.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

OH IT'S ON!

There has GOT to be some sort of airborne virus that strikes females in September as soon as the temps dip below 70.

You know, the virus that makes us gravitate towards all things fall.

Scarves.

Boots.

AND MY GOSH- THE PUUUUUUMPKIIIIIIIIN!


I made these pumpkin spice donuts on Friday night in anticipation of heading to the farm in the morning.

As long as I'm basic-girling-out, might as well get a Chai latte for the road.















Our big Saturday night plans included a walk to the liquor store (or "Icky Beer Store" as we call it for Mac). Keep it klassy.


 This morning I made the Pioneer Woman's apple cinnamon cream cheese panini recipe


 It did not suck.



Weekend...laundry.


Another weekly harvest.


Made a beer can chicken on the grill along with some rosemary roasted carrots and beets, plus bagged kale salad. 

Excellent weekend, and a solid start with the autumn-ing. 

Monday, September 5, 2016

A lobs-terrific time in Boston

For our 5th wedding anniversary we booked a 5-day trip to Boston/Cape Cod/Nantucket. It was  faaaaantastic. My obsessiveTrip Advisor and Yelp studying paid off. 

Ever since I was a kid and used to watch this gem of a tv show...

...I've wanted to visit Nantucket. Flying into Boston and spending a few days on the Cape beforehand was a no-brainer. How about I type this entire post in a BAH-ston accent? No? Ok- here's the most image-iest post ever.

We stayed at the posh Revere Common hotel, very close to Chinatown. Gene's Chinese Flabread Cafe had amazing hand-pulled noodle dishes. 
 

We then hopped on the subway out to Cambridge to check out Hahh-vahhd. I mean, Harvard. SO MANY MEMORIES...we would have had...had we gone there.


The sign behind me states "Class of 1880." Yikes.


We toured "The Old House" which is where the English governor of the original colonies lived. Also where the Boston Massacre took place. Also where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Also, this place is kind of a big deal.





Back to Chinatown for dinner- hot pot time!


Beard Papa's had awesome cream puffs- my husband's fave dessert.



Disappointly, went here...and no one knew my name.


Mike & Patty's is a few blocks from our hotel and had amazing breakfast sandwiches and fresh squeezed juice.




Hopped in a rental car and headed over to the Cape.


A coworker gave me this tip- Market Basket is a grocery chain on the Cape. You can buy a live lobster and they'll steam it up for you and you get take it to go. A whole fresh cooked lobster for $10! We bought a lemon and a baguette and called it a meal.



We made it to Hyannis and checked out the main street- Little Miss Cupcake is really stinkin' cute. Their cookie dough cupcake didn't suck either.





Got dressed up and headed over to Del Mar restaurant in Chatham for lobster tostada and the seafood charcuterie for two.






The next morning we drove up to Provincetown to rent bikes. We rode to Race Point Beach, where there were shark warning signs. I did not know there was such thing. Eek.




Biked back into town for lunch at Canteen- a super quirky restaurant in a house right on the harbor. Lobster roll + fish tacos + frose (frozen rose wine). When on vacation...





On the way back home we stopped at Nauset Light Beach where I was so excited to see lots of seals swimming around. I was obsessed- they'd pop their heads up and be all like "Hey guys! Come swim!" Yeeeeeah, except for the sharkiness of the water, I would've been all over it.




The next morning we checked out of our Hyannis hotel and hopped on the HyLine ferry to Nantucket. Turns out I discovered the secret to voluminous hair with defined waves. All I need is...ocean.







A sperm whale door knocker!


Planning our bus trip to Sconset- a neighborhood on the far side of the island.




Oh heyyyy, they used to eat here on Wings!




We visited the "Old House" on the island- built in 1693. My husband wants me to point out that he was carrying my bag. Ha.





Most of the homes on Nantucket have names- this one, "High on Ack" refers to the airport code (ACK).



This building was where the whalers of the 1800's would bring their sperm oil to be processed into candles.










Our hotel- The Beachside- was super cute and island-y.







One last seafood meal- Millie's- swordfish po'boy and more fish tacos.



I cannot recommend this destination enough. Boston has so much cool history, and the Cape has fantastic beaches, and Nantucket is beyond charming. Too bad now I'm probably going to go through seafood withdrawal...

...maybe an excuse to return someday!