Married for a Decade

I can't believe that Markus and I have been married for ten years today. Honestly, it doesn't feel like that long. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. Marriage isn't easy, but it's easier when you're married to your best friend. Markus has managed to make my life so fulfilling and giving me what I've always dreamed of as a girl, adventure.

When we first got married, Markus and I were poor twenty-somethings and never had the chance to have engagement photos taken. We both thought that this anniversary was the perfect time to finally have them done.  We found an amazing photographer, Mark Federighi. He was fantastic to work with and he couldn't have chosen a more beautiful place, the University of Chicago. We're both so pleased with our photos and are so happy to share them with you!

Movin' On Up

I thought this day would never come, but it's finally here. Markus and I are moving to the city! We spent a year in the burbs and while they've been pleasant, it just isn't for us. The past six months were very challenging and it seemed pretty dismal. I was starting to get discouraged, but then things started to fall into place. We found an awesome apartment in Logan Square, one of the best neighborhoods in the city. Also after five months of patiently searching for the right job, I found it! I'll be working for an awesome company in the Loop, the heart of downtown. It all still seems so surreal, but it's really happening and I'm so excited for this new chapter in our lives. I can't wait to share all of our new adventures with you, my dear readers!

John Hancock Center | Chicago, Illinois

The city of Chicago definitley does not lack towering buidlings. They city skyline is absolutley beautiful and when visiting it's hard to choose between Willis Tower and John Hancock Center.  Last fall, my brother Chris came to visit and he really wanted to go to Willis Tower. Since it was a holiday weekend, the place was packed and the wait was three hours. Also added to the wait was a hefty price tag of $19.00. Now I know it may seem like a low price to pay for a beautiful view, but when you're unemployed, it's a week's worth of lunches. I quickly did some research and found a better and more relaxing alternative, the John Hancock Signature Room.

The John Hancock Signature Room is a lounge/restaurant that is located on the 95th floor of the building. It has amazing views and a comfortable atmosphere. When we arrived, there wasn't a wait and even though we didn't get a window seat, it was still a great experience. For about $4 less, you can order a cocktail and hang out for as long as you want. If you're a beer drinker, they have a decent selections at around $8.50 a bottle. If you aren't keen on alcohol, they have other drinks and snacks as well. It was an amazing experience and one that I greatly enjoyed. Who wants to be stuck in a line with heaps of other tourists for hours? I would rather chill out with a cocktail and an awesome view!

Al's Cafe | Elgin, Illinois

Even though I dislike living all the way out in the burbs, there are still little pockets of awesomeness. Currently we live in Elgin, which is like an hour and a half from Chicago. It's torture, but we try to make the best of it. One thing Markus and I like to do is explore. When my brother and mommyo came to town, we were still new to the area. We found some really good places and one of those spots was Al's Cafe in downtown Elgin.

Al's is basically an institution in these parts and has been in business since the 80s. The building itself dates back to 1892. I love places like Al's that are full of history. I loved the look and feel of the place. The bottom floor had old pews for seating, which mommyo loved. The upstairs felt more intimate and homey with books lining a small portion of the wall. The food is typical Americana and quite good. Although, the real specialty are the malts and shakes. I've never had a malt before and I don't think I could ever go back to milkshakes.

Lakeshore Drive | Chicago, Illinois

For some reason, every place that I've moved to has been near a body of water. Before, I was always near the beach and ocean. This is the first time that I've been near a lake. I have to admit that lakes are a bit scary compared to oceans. Oh who am I kidding, all bodies of water terrify me but that's another story for another time. Anyway, Lake Michigan is quite beautiful. It's definitley a different feeling from the beach and I quite like it. I don't know if we'll go often, but it's nice to have access especially on those hot summer days.

Buckingham Fountain | Chicago, Illinois

Back in September, we went to the city with our dearest friends and roommates Ashley and Zack. Since I've never been to Chicago, we tried to fit in a ton of places. We pretty much walked all over the city. While we were at the Bean we decided to walk over to Buckingham Fountain. I didn't know that this was the same fountain featured in the Married with Children opening. As soon as I found that out, I couldn't stop singing "Love and Marriage".

We spent most of our time trying to take pictures of each couple. At one point an Indian lady walked right in front of the camera when Zack was taking pictures of us. She was completely oblivious and had no idea what was going on even though we were laughing hysterically. It was pretty awesome and the highlight of my day.

We spent a decent amount of time trying to get a serious picture out of Ash and Zack but they shined the most when they were being themselves. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I love these pictures of them and I think I would blow them up and hang them on my wall. That's how much I love them. We always have a great time with Ash and Zack and they're definitely an extremely amazing bonus to living a wonderful city.