Valentine's Gift Idea

{Rifle Paper Co.}

I really shouldn't buy presents so early, because then I gift them well before the occasion. I can't help it, I can't keep it to myself. This year I made Jon a Snapfish book of our engagement trip to Chicago. Take a peek if ya want. 

There's just a sampling for you to get the idea. It is kind of hard to impress Jon with this sort of stuff but he really really loved it!

Cubbies were lucky

I know you are probably sick of hearing about Chicago, but I have just a little 

more I want to share. Bear with me. 

Ice cold.....Old Style. Say what? We had to catch a game at 

Wrigley since our beloved Giants were in town.

Hot and muggy and gorgeous. In the most simple stadium I've ever been in.

Don't judge. I touched down in Chicago about 2 hours before this picture was taken.

Is anything better than overpriced beer and dogs with the one you love? 

The coolest part! Hip lil condos were built all around the stadium with roof 

top bleachers. If you are a single 20something, you were here.

After the Cubs barely beat our poor Giants (don't worry, the next night we slammed them 13-1) we went across the street to a bar. In our Giants jerseys. Um, this wouldn't be a smart move in LA after a Dodger game, but everyone in Chi wanted to talk to us, find out where we were from, secretly root for the Giants, hell, even a guy bought me a drink. In front of Jon. No wonder someone slipped a ring on my finger the following night.

Eats in Chi-town

We ate well in Chicago, to say the least. I think I was most excited about checking 

out all the joints that all of my lovely readers recommended to me.

On my first full day I hit the streets with a little hunger pang. I passed lots of places I had at home and started to get lost, really lost. When I randomly stumbled upon The Goddess and the Grocer (on "my list") I almost cried out of happiness. And again, when I bit into my croissant with eggs, oven dried tomatoes, mozzarella and prosciutto. 

 We had to try the deep dish pizza from Giordanos.

Chicago style dogs from Portillos. We went at lunch time. 

To sum up that ordering experience: flustered.

Raspberry Lemon and Salted Caramel cupcakes from More Cupcakes. 

The inside of this shop was so so cute, I wish I whipped out my camera there.

Hot cakes from Frontera. We really wanted to go to the street food 

sister restaurant, but even at 3pm the wait was over an hour. Good thing, 

because these hot cakes and bacon were amazeballs.

 

Chinese and Thai goodness from Big Bowl. Was almost scared off when I 

found out this was a mini chain, but it was easily one of our best meals.  

And that little takeout box as part of the presentation sealed the deal.

Cookies and champagne. Sent from California from Jon's brother and his girlfriend. 

Classy move. We went gaga for like an hour when we came back to our hotel to find these treats.

A Proposal in Chicago

 {Our view}

On the first day of fall Jon and I were walking to grab some deep dish pizza in the city of Chicago when Jon suggests we walk by Lake Michigan first. Only a few blocks from our hotel and with the weather being warm and not fall-like at all, I was game. We walk, and walk, and walk out on a pier, until Jon thinks we have hit the right spot. (Later I find out, he was just trying to find the most private spot away from people.) I know everyone loves a good surprise, but I knew he was going to pop the question in Chicago. I thought when we were on that pier he might do it, but after sitting, looking at the skyline and talking for awhile, Jon mentions we go to dinner. I agree, stand up, get my things and when I turn around, he is on one knee.

{Where Jon kneeled and asked me to marry him}

The next lil bit I'd like to keep between just him and I. But it was special and sweet and perfect. And the ring. Oh, ladies, the ring. I may or may not have uttered a profanity when I saw it. (Sorry to say)

{Engaged!}

Then we sat right back down on the pier and talked for another half an hour. Tears were involved. And then we continued on to dinner, as planned. We didn't call anyone (or tweet) until after dinner, so it was nice just knowing that for a couple hours, we were the only people that knew. I will say that one of my favorite parts of the night was infact calling all our family and best friends. It's not everyday that you converse with every single one (minus R&E!!) of your loved ones in a happy giddy fit!

 

 {He did good}

 {Not even our waitress knew}

Even though it was highly anticipated and at times I wasn't the most patient, after 4 years, 3 months and 17 days of calling Jon my boyfriend, the timing was perfect.

 {Jon calling family, me having a crazed photoshoot}

I'm Engaged!

 {Millennium Park}

I am so excited to tell you that while Jon and I were in Chicago this past week, he popped the question!!! 

I can't wait to post a full recap of our trip to Chicago and the actual engagement, but for now, this gal needs some rest.

Chicago (Help!)

I never thought I would jump at a chance to go to Chicago, but it looks like it is the only "vacation" in the cards for us for the rest of the year. Jon is going for business, and I'm going to play. This is where you come in! You gals hooked me up with awesome rec's when I headed to NYC and I was hoping you'd do the same for Chi-town. The only thing I know about Chicago is that it was the setting to one of my fave films, The Fugitive and Oprah (duh). I am interested in eating, shopping and having fun. I am not interested in sports, history or museums.

P.S. We are going in five short weeks!