Tag: Water Tower Place

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day

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I spent this Valentine’s Day with a few of my best friends.  We called it “Galentine’s Day.” (Well, we actually got that from Amy Poehler on the funniest television show ever, Parks and Recreation)

We planned on making a bunch of creative desserts inspired by Pinterest, but we ended up being too lazy to attempt any of them.  Instead, we went to one of my favorite places in Chicago to eat: FoodLife! FoodLife is the greatest part of Water Tower Place.  When you enter, you get seated and get a little card that you could swipe at any of the food stands.  (You pay when you leave)  The food places range from Chinese, southern comfort food, Mexican, Italian, soups and salads, and much more. I always get the Mexican dishes…followed by some gelato of course!

After FoodLife we exchanged gifts (We went all out this year!).  I got some magazines and a ton of candy.  I had also received care packages from my parents, aunt, and grandma, so I am pretty set on candy for the rest of the semester! After that, we watched a few chick flicks. (cliche, I know)

It was a perfect Valentines Day: good food, friends, and chick flicks. Here’s a picture of some of the things my friends got me. 🙂 

Adler After Dark and Other Adventures

Adler After Dark and Other Adventures

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Thursday night my friend, Natalie, decided to come up for the evening to go to at the Adler Planetarium for, Adler After Dark.  This is the friend, who I mentioned in an earlier blog, graduated last semester.  Living in Joliet, she is only a Metra ride away!  I’ve never been, or even heard of the Adler After Dark, but it turned out to be a 21+ event and there was a DJ.

It seems each one also has a theme, and because of its proximity to Valentine’s Day, this one was chocolate. We scored some free chocolate and roamed around where we saw live demonstrations of various experiments, one involving a flower and liquid nitrogen.  There was also plenty of interactive activities and videos.

Friday, Natalie and I woke up just in time for some McDonald’s breakfast.  I don’t know if this is a big deal to anyone else, but within my group of friends, its like one of the greatest accomplishments one can achieve.  On our walk to McDonald’s, we also realized it was a gloriously and unusually nice day, so in addition to the shopping we had planned, we decided to first hit up the Lincoln Park Zoo.

It seems as if some renovation is taking place there, as many of the exhibits were closed, including the penguins!  This did not hinder our trip, as there were many other the animals out  for the beautiful day. Including the flamingos!

Of course, one of my favorite animals to see at the zoo are the meerkats!  They are seriously so cute.  I’ve also noted that compared to the ones in the wild, the meerkats at the zoo have a little something extra in the middle, but that just makes them that much cuter!

After the zoo, we hit up Wow Bao for lunch at Water Tower Place and then got our shop on.  It was a really great day and I hope Natalie can visit again soon enough!

See Ya Later Chicago!

See Ya Later Chicago!

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I’ve always felt going home for any extended amount of  time is bittersweet.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am so incredibly excited to be finished with yet another semester and just spend time with my family.  But as a student at Loyola, you make a home, and in a sense, you develop a family with your good friends.  Today, one of my closest friends who I’ve known since freshman year graduated.  I am so excited for her, (and a little envious!), but it only reinforced my own future.  While winter break will only last about a month, it is just a preview to the reality that exists after graduation.

I haven’t started packing quite yet, but I have made note of some of the things I will miss over winter break.  Coming from a super tiny town, there isn’t much to see or do.  The very first thing I will miss is my view!  Ok– so its straight across from a brick building, but at an angle its super great!

I will also super miss Ghirardelli!  My friends and I always stop in for a free chocolate square and delicious Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate! So delicious!

I will totally miss hitting up Water Tower Place!  It’s an all-in-one shopping destination conveniently out of the cold Chicago weather!

I’ll also miss the Water Tower.  It’s such an iconic building.

Speaking of iconic, I will definitely miss seeing the John Hancock.  I think the Sears, or rather Willis Tower is completely overrated.  The simplicity and elegance of the Hancock makes it one of my favorites!

Finally, I will miss my friends!  Especially Natalie who has now officially graduated!  Congrats!