Hello my Friend!  We just got back from good ol I O W A for my 20th high school reunion.  It was a truly fantastic weekend.  Before I get to that I realized that I haven’t even blogged about a couple of other previous trips.  Before I forget to, I need to tell ya about Chicago back in July (lord-what is wrong with me?) and Cabo a couple of weeks ago.

I always take soooo many pics that it takes me quite a while to compile a read-worthy, coherent synopsis.  So–I’m going to tackle my Chicago trip for you now…

Since CW didn’t join me on this one, I stayed with one of my girls Christina.  She’s one of the only ones left that hasn’t moved to the burbs.  I grabbed the train and headed to the city.

It was gorgeous out!!  First things, first…lunch.  Love Roscoe Village.

Cheers to girls weekend!

Aren’t Christina’s kids adorable?

Yep, they’re twins and sweet as can be.

Since the Cubs were in town, I trucked on over to Wrigley to see my Bec at the Dugout.  I mean, how amazing is this place??!!

There is nothing like the energy you feel on this corner.  Bec, Lisa and I used to live right there on Sheffield, on the other side of Sports Corner.  It was our very first apartment in the city–we even had a rooftop.  We knew we were lucky.  Soooo many memories made in that place.

Let’s get this party started!

Underground secret….

My friend Amy who lives in San Fran now just so happened to be in town, so she came by too.  Yes-I do realize I’m not representing very well.  No blue or red.  Bad girl in black.

They were giving away everything Old Style haha.  Funay.

Christina, Bec and I met back out later and ended up at one of my favorite places in the city.  It’s now called Cedar Hotel, but it will always be Melvin B’s to me.  Smack dab in the middle of the city, with an outside patio.  It’s the perfect place.

Sneaky Michelle and her hubs, Brian, surprised me and were there when we walked in.  Muah!!!  Happy Birthday to Brian.

So happy to see my girls.

Like no time had passed…

Not sure what num-nut we had take this photo, but at least Bec is in this one.  Yo–bright lights.

The hostess with the mostess out-did herself on the food front.  Check out the breakfasts she made me over the weekend!

There’s a fab park across the street from Christina’s house and the kids had swimming class, so we went to get some sun.  A fantastic pool that’s hidden in a neighborhood–you’d never know it was there.  Love it.

The park was packed.

I die for a tried and true street fest in Chicago.  No other city can do it like they can.  Bec and I met at Wicker Park Street Fest and I got to see some of our friends I hadn’t seen in forever.

Open air bars…meat on a stick and beers.  That makes me happy on a Saturday.

A few of my girls (Michelle, Lisa, Christina, Kathie) were coming to the city for a night out.  Are you keeping up?  When I get back there, I pretty much pack in the activities to see everyone!

On a side note: sometimes I just hate the Iphone–especially at night.  What’s with the ghost eyes??  Anyways, dinner at Mercadito (def recommend) and we laughed our butts off all night long (we were up bantering until 4am-so we had to have a sleepover).  I cannot believe this is the only pic that any of us took that whole night.  That is unheard of!

One of my friends from Tampa was flying into Chicago on Monday for work, so I decided to hang with her and show her around the city.

Bec ended up meeting us (in her scrubs, what a trooper)!  First stop–a drink at Tavern on Rush.  Very Chicago.

This city is so pretty.

Welcome to Chi-town Amy!!

Amy and I headed to RPM (Guiliana and Bill Rancic’s restaurant)…

We walked around the city….and then had dinner at Tavernita (amaze-balls) before calling it a night.

Whew–it was a whirlwind weekend with my girls.  Amy even got me to do a crazy spin class at the company she works for (Fly Wheel-check them out).  Not exactly what I had in mind at 8:30am the day I was leaving after 4 days of hoopla.  But, kinda glad she made us get up because when I got back home I signed up for a spin place here (Ryde for Life).  So sly she is.

In a nutshell, I got a Cubs game, a street fest, a rooftop bar, great food and more memories with my old friends.  Be back soon chicas!!!