'Tis the season to be thankful

Only 5 Saturdays until Christmas! Can you believe it? I am already in the Christmas spirit and have spent the last few days listening to Michael Buble's Christmas station on Pandora. I would love to already put up my Christmas Tree, but Colt put his foot down when it came to that. Now before you say it's too early for Christmas trees to be up, let me say that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! I love celebrating Thanksgiving, visiting with family, eating so many carbs until your buttons pop, napping and shopping, however, I also feel that the Christmas season passes by way too fast and I feel like the earlier we can start celebrating, the better! Marriage is all about compromise, and I agreed to wait until Thanksgiving Day is finished before putting up our tree. The things wives do for our husbands. ;) 

This past week we celebrated Veteran's Day at my school. We had a beautiful Veteran's Day ceremony and we had quite a few veterans attend. My grandfather, uncle and several of other family members and friends are veterans and Veteran's Day is something I hold dear to my heart. This week I taught my students that not all superheros wear capes. We learned all about who veteran's are, why they are important and what they have done for our country. My students were so excited to come to school each day to learn more about our veterans and one of my student's even told me, "Mrs. Miranda, someday I want to be a veteran when I grow up!" I explained to my students how we were going to write "Thank You" letters to veterans and one of my teacher friends will have them delivered to North Texas Stockings for Soldiers Campaign. My littles were so excited to decorate and write letters for our soldiers. These kiddos bring so much joy to my heart. I am so proud of them.

We are thankful for our troops!

This week I was finally able to get to my hairstylist for a new fall do. If you're a woman, then you know just how good a fresh color & cut makes you feel. It's so rejuvenating! I feel like a brand new woman! I am so thankful for my talented hairstylist and her amazing hair skills.

Adios bayalage!

Fresh new do! Darker, richer color.

After my hair appointment, I drove out to our book club night and met up with the other TCU MBA wives & girlfriends. Angela hosted us at her place and she had quite the spread! We drank lots of wine, snacked, talked a little about the book, but mostly chatted the night away like girls do. We stayed for several hours and didn't leave her house until almost midnight! Midnight on a weeknight! This is so unlike me, especially when I have to teach early the next morning... but we were having so much fun. It was totally worth it. Angela, you were a fabulous hostess! I am so thankful for getting the opportunity to meet and get to know all these wonderful ladies. It's nice to have people who can support you and understand what you're going through since they too have husbands & boyfriends in the MBA program.

The remnants of the spread

Wine Squad

Saturday was spent lounging. The weather was cool, overcast and dreary. We had nowhere to be so we slept in.  Colt made a delicious brunch and we napped on the couch for a few hours afterwards. We caught up on a few hours of DVR before we finally decided to be productive. Colt and I cleaned, mopped and vacuumed the entire downstairs. I swear it amazes me how quickly this house can get in such a disarray with only 2 people living in it!!! I am thankful for our cozy house that we have made a home. In Colt's words, "Team work makes the dream work!"

A little Thanksgiving cheer in our kitchen

Kitchen Chalkboard

Around 7:45 Saturday night, we decided to head out to Michael's for one of their Christmas sales. Colt and I shopped for some new trimmings for our tree and picked up a few other odds and ends. I think being there got Colt into the Christmas spirit as well. He even tried buying a gingerbread house kit! 

After a little shopping, we stopped at Braum's and headed onward to Chili's for dinner. Saturday was such an incredible day. I am thankful for days when Colt and I can relax together and laugh, talk and just enjoy each other's company. We definitely do not get enough days like those. 

Sunday mornings are my favorite. Colt was still sleeping early this morning. I love having quiet time to myself to pray, read His word and spend time with God. On our wedding day, my parents gave Colt and I this monogrammed bible as a wedding gift. It has both our names and wedding date monogrammed on the front cover. This is still my most favorite and most beautiful gift I have ever received. I am thankful for being on the receiving end of such a wonderful gift. 

Later on, we went over to my parents house for lunch and the Cowboys game. That game was heartbreaking!!! Colt wears his Cowboys jersey every Sunday. He is a true patriot for his team. After lunch, we spent time chatting and visiting with my family. I am so thankful for all the time that we get to spend with my parents and my sisters. Afterwards, Colt headed back to our house for homework and my mom and I headed off to Target. My mom and I were walking up and down the aisles when we stumbled across this:

How awesome does this thing look! You're able to bake your own Girl Scout cookies right in your own home?!?! Who wouldn't want this?! Oh to be a kid again! I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my mom. She's my best friend and I am thankful for the quality time we spend together. We talk on the phone on the drive to work every single morning without fail. It's such a great way to start my day. I am thankful for our daily talks. 

This week is going to be busy at school. The week before a break is always chaotic and hectic. I know my students will be excited for our Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast as well as learning about the 1st Thanksgiving. By Friday, we are all going to be ready for a much needed week long break! I am thankful for my wonderful school that I am blessed to teach at. I am thankful for my 22 sweet, loving students. I am thankful for Colt's school and thankful for the opportunity that we have been blessed with at TCU. 

And I am thankful for this guy. He makes me laugh each and every day. I am excited to see him every day after work. I am blessed to get to come home to him and do life with him. He brings joy and happiness to my life and to my heart. I look forward to celebrating our 3rd Thanksgiving as a married couple. I am one blessed gal!

We are thankful for each and every one of you. 

'Tis the season to be thankful!

We love you all!

Just another manic Monday

It was so nice this morning to be able to sleep in an extra hour. I didn't have to be at our Professional Development training until 8:30 so I was able to wake up, make our bed, and leisurely get dressed for the day. I even had time this morning to pack some healthy snacks to munch on mid morning! Monday was off to a great start! 

Instead of the usual 30 minute teacher lunch we usually get during the weekday, we got an hour to go to lunch! So many things that can be done in a hour! Teachers are great at working quickly and efficiently to make the most of our time! :) I debated on going out to lunch or getting a manicure. I was in desperate need of a polish change. 

Look how horrid these nails are. I can't believe I went so long like this. Ugh.

I quickly googled "nail salons near me" and found one less than 5 minutes away! I bolted out the doors of the school and ran to my car as quickly as I could. Priorities, you know! 

So much better! 

Why is it that any time I get my nails done, I feel like my life is complete and I can conquer the world? I felt 1000x better! After the nail salon, I had about 10 minutes left to grab lunch and get back to the school for more professional development. The afternoon training seemed to drag on a little more than the morning part. I was able to make a to-do list and grocery list though so that was great. 

Our training let out at 3:20 which meant that I was going to arrive home by 4PM!! That never happens! It was cloudy and chilly when I left the school and I was battling in my head whether I wanted to work out today or go take a nap instead. I realllyyyyy wanted the nap. I pushed on through though. I got home, quickly changed and headed back out to my 4:30 workout. 100 squats and 100 toe touches plus running up and down the bleachers... not my idea of a perfect Monday. 

Mondays are for muscles and manicures. 

After workout, I had to drive in the 5:30 traffic. Everyone's getting out of work at this time and all I needed to do was get to the grocery store!!!  I only had to grab a few items, but ended up coming out with more than I needed...

Shhh.. You don't see those Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes! ;) 

After a hectic day, I finally made it home for good! I cooked dinner and we were eating by 7pm! I was so proud! Nothing was stopping me today!

Turkey chili coming right up! 

After dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen while Colt got started on homework. I packed my lunch for tomorrow and headed upstairs to shower. That's when I ran into this madness. Please don't judge me for what you're about to see...

This is so depressing and embarrassing but it's real life.

I actually don't mind doing laundry... it's the putting away of clothes afterwards that I can't stand!!! Since I was sick all last week, I would run a load of laundry then throw it on the bed once I grabbed it out of the dryer. Only problem was, instead of putting it away, I would throw it off my bed and then go to sleep. (Please tell me this happens to everyone now & then!) This went on for days. Such a vicious cycle. BTW my clean clothes are not thrown on the floor. There is actually a suitcase under there that I've been meaning to put away...

If you're looking at this picture, you're not judging...you're supposed to be thinking, "It's okay, Liz. These things happen to everyone! Life happens. Don't fret! You're still awesome!" I don't do well with clutter, mess or disorganization so this has really been bothering me. I prefer things tidy, clean and in their place. I finally felt well enough tonight to put ALL of this mess away. Whew! It was quite a chore but it's done and I feel so accomplished! I can finally breathe.

I must say today was super productive. If today was this awesome and it's only Monday, bring on the rest of the week! 

Happy Monday, folks! 

Love you all! 

We're Baaaack!

Hello friends! It's been awhile since I last blogged. Mostly because our schedules have been pretty insane, Colt was in the middle of finals and I have been sick. I am finally feeling healthier and we are back to our normal routines. 

The last week in October was exhausting. Not only was it Halloween week, but it was Red Ribbon Week at my school. This means not only did I have 22 excited little people in my classroom counting down the days to go trick or treating, but since it was RRW, that meant each and every day was a themed dress up day. If you work in a school, you already know that anything out of the "normal routine" causes craziness in little kiddies! I can't blame them though. They are just so enthusiastic and excited and so full of life. I love seeing their little faces each and every day with a thirst for knowledge and they are so happy to tell me all about their experiences. Being 5 & 6 years old is awesome. I sure am blessed to teach and hang out with these little babies of mine each and every day! Here are a few pics from RRW:

Some of my team members and I decided to dress up as The 3 Blind Mice. This day's theme was: "Show good character by being drug free" (Storybook Character Day)

"We Arrrrre Drug Free" (dress like a pirate day)

That week we also had a small, birthday celebration for one of my cousins, Ashlyn. She just turned 6! Some of my family met up at the bowling alley for bowling, food and cake! I came straight from work and the dress up day was "Follow Your Dreams and Stay Drug Free", which meant I got to wear pajamas to work that day. I didn't bring normal clothes to change into after work, so plus side was, I got to bowl in my pj's! Comfiest day ever! Any time my family gets together, you can be sure we are going to be loud, crazy, and there will be lots of laughter. We love any reason to celebrate and we definitely love any reason to get together! 

This is Ashlyn while we were singing "Happy Birthday" to her! I told you 6 year olds are awesome!

My littlest cousins. From L to R: Carson, Ashlyn, Sammie & Myles. 

Later in the week, Colt flew out of town to San Antonio and Houston for a few days for a conference. I love that he gets to have these experiences, but I have to admit, I don't sleep as well when he is gone. When he tells me that he will be out of town, I try to get as much sleep as possible, because I know that the nights he is gone, I will toss and turn all night and not get a restful sleep. Sounds mushy but it's so true! What can I say, I kinda like having him around! ;) 

Halloween Morning, I went shopping to run a few errands. I don't know about you, but I have this terrible habit of carrying my phone in my hand everywhere I go. I was in the process of getting out of my car when my phone slipped out of my hand. I gave a valiant effort to save it, but in the end I heard it smack to the ground and heard the dreadful "crack" sound. I was scared to pick it up because I already knew. Sure enough, the screen was cracked to smithereens. I could hardly read anyone's texts and I had to pick the slim shards of glass out of my finger any time I responded to a text or phone call. I know in the grand scheme of life, this is a small problem, but still. It was awful. 

When I got home, I immediately tried to book an appointment at the Apple Store, but everything was booked until Monday evening!!! I posted about my first world problem on Facebook and in the end I was so glad I did. A friend of mine messaged me saying that she had a Saturday appointment at Apple that she wasn't going to be able to attend. Needless to say, I quickly responded to her, thanked her and drove as quickly as I could to Southlake. Shoutout to my friend, Nisha!!! Thanks for helping a girl out! 

Thank goodness for Apple Care. Honestly, you would think I would've learned my lesson by now. I have had quite a few iPhones in my day, and I have cracked the screen on every.single.one. Long story short, I ended up having to leave my phone at the store overnight. Luckily, I had my iPad to keep me connected to society and social media. (I know, I know, I have a problem.) In the end, they couldn't fix my cracked screen and I had to get a new phone all together. This was a complete bummer because I lost all my pictures and quite a few contacts. The phone wouldn't back up for some reason so I had to start all over. The worst. 

Halloween night we were invited to a Halloween Party that our friends, Rusty and Cheryl were hosting. Unfortunately, we missed it due to Colt coming back into town and me coming down sick. We were able to make a quick stop at my parents house for a late dinner and some festivities. My mom is one of the most festive people I know. She makes everything so fun! Growing up she always made a huge deal about holidays and we loved decorating and celebrating and going above and beyond. Now as an adult, I still love doing all those things. 

How adorable is this cake my mom baked?! Disregard the back of the cake that has no icing...my sister doesn't eat cake with icing so my mom makes accommodations. ;) 

This past week was draining. I came down sick over Halloween weekend and I only got worse from there. Sneezing, itchy throat, water eyes, congestion, cough, hoarse voice, feeling lethargic and weak. I didn't miss any work but I'm thinking I probably should've taken a day to rest. I visited our school nurse's office a couple of times but I never ran a fever. My self diagnosis was it was just seasonal allergies. Today, I am finally feeling 95%, thanks to Allegra-D and Mucinex. I look forward to getting a restful sleep this week as well. Most of last week, I tossed and turned and rolled around at night because I couldn't breathe or would have a coughing attack. I know Colt is glad to get some peaceful sleep this week as well. :)  

Yesterday, Colt and I went over to my parents house for breakfast tacos and brunch. Mom and I took off from there and we spent the entire day at the mall. I needed a new pair of jeans which of course meant, that I came home with more than just a pair of jeans... We also did some Christmas shopping. I was glad to already be marking a few names off our Christmas list! Today, we met up with my sister, Angel, for lunch at one of our fave mexican places, Los Molcajetes. It was a fun time as always. The rest of the day, Colt worked on homework, I took a 3 hour nap and then worked on laundry, tiding up a bit around the house and tried a new recipe I found on Pinterest. 

"Southwest Chicken Bake". Pinterest for the win, once again.

This week, I ordered a book off Amazon, called "Wife After God". I stumbled upon this book on the internet and it definitely looked like something that was right up my alley. I have actually been looking for a devotional to work on and to prayer journal about. I am excited to get started on it. I will keep you updated as to how well it is going. 

Well folks, dishes call and the washing machine beeped. Time to finish up around here so I can get to bed. We don't have students tomorrow, just professional development. I always use this as an excuse to stay up a little later! Hee hee. I live life on the wild side. ;) 

With me being sick, Colt has been picking up my slack around the house. I snapped this pic the other day while he was vacuuming and cleaning up the living room. I will leave you with this little gem. Enjoy! 

Isn't he the coolest. I love this guy! 

Have a happy week! We love you all! 

Sometimes Bad Things Happen To Good People

This week begins the last week of October. Where has this month gone? I cannot believe 25 days have passed and this coming weekend is November. It always seems that the fall and winter months are the busiest. With our school/work schedule it's like the days are long but the year is short! Our schedules hardly ever slow down so it was nice to have a weekend to relax and spend a little time together. This weekend was a perfect time to rest and recharge. Here is what we have been up to lately in the Miranda Household...

Last weekend, "Christmas in Cowtown" came to Fort Worth. Anyone who knows us, knows that one of our favorite hobbies is shopping. So the fact that we had a reason to go shopping was exciting! You didn't have to tell us twice! ;) My mom, my sister and I drove out to check out Christmas in Cowtown and we spent the Saturday doing a little early Christmas shopping. Our friend Shannon met us out there and we leisurely strolled the aisles, sampled the frozen wine, tried on furs and took a look at all the fancy items that were set up in the booths. What a fun day! 

Shannon and Angel are so gorgeous! 

Trying out a bow and arrow that shoots marshmallows.What fun! 

How fancy is this fur??? I don't know if I'd ever buy a real fur but it was fun playing dress up! 

Us with our mama

Later that night my parents and sisters came over to watch the Notre Dame football game. Food, fun and football. Bonus... I got to wear comfy sweatpants. I would call that a perfect end to the night! 

My sweet sisters. <3

Last Sunday, I made brunch while Colt studied. When we were first married, making breakfast and brunch on weekend mornings was a tradition we started together in our new home. We still look forward to doing this every weekend. Now that Colt spends most weekends studying and working on projects, I try out new Pinterest recipes in the kitchen. We haven't had a fail yet! 

The rest of last week was full of work, work, work! I stayed at school last Monday night until 9PM to attend our PTA Meeting and I was also the emcee at our school's talent show. I love going above beyond and helping out at my school, but late weeknights make for exhausting weeks! Tuesday after work, I went to workout where I met up with my sister. It was a normal evening. We chatted after our workout was finished and we finally decided to go home half an hour later. I was on my way to pick up dinner for Colt when my mom called me. Once I answered the call, I immediately sensed that something was wrong in my mom's voice. She told me that my sister had been in a pretty terrible car accident on the way home from workout and that she would meet me at the scene. Needless to say my mind was racing and my hands were shaking. I made a U-turn in the middle of the road and headed to the accident site. All I could do was pray. I prayed my sister was alright and that everyone involved would be okay. I was nervous as to what I would see once I got there. 

My sister's car

The other guy's car

My sister was driving home when she came upon an intersection with lots of backed up traffic, construction and red lights. My sister's light turned green and the other guy driving the suv ran the red light. I guess he thought he could make the turn. By the grace of God, everyone walked away from this accident without a scratch. I have never been so relieved and so grateful to see my sweet sister sitting on the curb. She was understandably shaken up but no broken bones, no bleeding, nothing. Looking at her car, I couldn't help but realize, had the other driver turned just a second later, he would've T-boned her and the accident could've had a much worse outcome. I just thank God for watching over her.

 If you have ever met my sister, or if you are lucky enough to know her, you already know that she is one of the most incredible people you will ever meet. She gives selflessly of herself and is constantly helping others without wanting anything in return. She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She is without a doubt, the kindest, most loving, helpful person in the world. She has the most beautiful soul. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. I don't know why. It's not fair, but as we know, life is not fair. I'd like to think that when bad things happen, it teaches us how to really appreciate the good and to grow closer to Him. 

The rest of the week was hectic. Thursday, we took 100+ kindergartners on a field trip to Mainstay Farm. It's this pretty little pumpkin patch in Cleburne, Texas. The rain held out and we got to ride on a hayride, roast marshmallows (100 5 year olds with marshmallows on fire is a little terrifying so much fun & no one burned anyone's hair off!) pick out pumpkins and we got to see the Christmas Tree farm! I was so excited about this. I would definitely like to go back in December to check out the Christmas Trees! 

School bus probs :)

With all the rain and an insane week, Colt and I couldn't wait to stay in yesterday. We took that day to do nothing but rest, relax and recharge. 

So blessed to be able to stay in on this gloomy, Fall day!

Shredding chicken for my crockpot recipe! 

Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup. Made my house smell amazing!

Yum! 

We spent the rest of last night just hanging out on the couch and watching scary movies! 

We made Muddy Buddies for Movie Night In

Hard at work while waiting

Today, I baked a homemade apple pie. I thought it would be a yummy treat for my honey to come home to! 

Colt left early this morning to go to TCU to meet up with his study group to study for finals. My sister and mom came over to watch the Cowboys game. We had a fun time eating dinner, talking about our week and cheering on the Cowboys even though today was another Cowboys loss. :( 

The weekends fly by so fast. We are so grateful for the time we got to spend together. We really needed these two days to catch up on sleep, unwind and just be lazy... it's definitely healthy for the soul. 

This coming week is going to be another hectic week. Colt has finals and it's Red Ribbon Week at my school. Not to mention, my students are going to be hyped up all week in anticipation for Halloween! I can't wait to see everyone's costumes and kiddo's costumes on social media. I've already seen some adorable costumes! I love celebrating all holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites! 

We hope everyone has a successful and productive week! We love you all! 

Trick or Treat!

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend was spent in one of our most favorite cities, Chicago! Quite honestly, I don't really believe in visiting cities more than once, but Chicago is different. That city is so full of adventure, life, shopping, beauty and culture. It's definitely on our top 10 list! 

Colt was in Orlando, Florida just a few weeks ago for a conference. Unfortunately, due to the timing and my school schedule, I was unable to join him. When we found out that he would be attending another conference this past weekend in Chicago, I knew I had to go with! Lucky for me, Colt agreed to take me with him and we made a getaway out of it. :) We had a late flight on Thursday night and of course I waited until Thursday after work to pack.(Sidenote: I am a huge procrastinator when it comes to packing because it overwhelms me. I always pack way too much.) I had a crazy, busy week at work last week and a meeting after work on Thursday. I didn't get home until 5PM. I raced home, started packing (which took at least an hour and a half) and my sister, Angel, came over to keep me company and catch up while I packed. Finally, we got an Uber, packed up our luggage and headed off to DFW airport. We met up with several of Colt's friends who go to business school with him and who were also attending the conference. One of the girlfriends and one of the wives also accompanied their significant others which I was super happy to find out. While waiting for our flight, we sat and had dinner and drinks in the Amex Centurion Lounge. It was quite relaxing. It was nice to sit and chat with friends and relax after a long day. 

From left to right: Shane, Chris, Colt, Me and Alyssa (Shane's sweet girlfriend)

This is what a long day at work looks like. Look at those tired eyes. 

Before we knew it. It was time to board our 10PM flight! We took the Skylink to our gate and the guys decided to represent on the way to our gate. Such cuties! 

We flew out around 10PM and didn't land in Chicago until after midnight. We had to wait for all our luggage to be taken off the plane and of course catch a cab to the place we were staying. 

My sweet husband. He really is the best.

This trip we rented a Penthouse from AirBnB. This wasn't our first time to rent a place from airbnb. We have rented several times from them and it's always been a positive experience. We highly recommend it. :) Our cab driver on the other hand was a different story. He spoke broken English, and didn't seem to know quite exactly how to get to the place we were staying. We finally decided to take the situation into our own hands and we all got on our GPS systems on our phones to find the quickest route to get to our place. We were all so exhausted that we just wanted to get there already!!! 30 minutes and $80 later, we arrived to our destination. It was around 1:30 in the morning when we got to our apartment. 

I have to admit, I was so excited to see what the inside of our apartment was going to look like. Sure enough, it did not disappoint. It was super adorable!!! The owners did such an amazing job setting up and welcoming us into their home. Their place was so warm and inviting and of course, I just had to take pics! 

Master Bedroom and also the most comfiest bed and softest sheets I have ever felt in my life! 

Guest Bedroom

Master Bath

Look at this incredible lighting and the view! (These next pics were taken the next morning)

Just look at this breathtaking view from the patio. Wow.

I wouldn't mind waking up to this each morning! 

Once we arrived, it was time to shower and hop into bed. We all had an early morning the next day! I was so tired but at the same time I was almost too excited to sleep! 

Shane and Alyssa stayed in the guest bedroom of the penthouse. They were always the first to wake up and be dressed each morning! Friday morning, the guys were up and out pretty early for their conference. This meant us girls got to hang out and spend the day together. First thing's first, breakfast! Alyssa and I met up with our friend Kate (her husband, Peter, is also in the MBA program at TCU) and we all headed off to breakfast at this restaurant that came highly recommended. It was called, The Bongo Room. The food there was seriously incredible. We each ordered a different plate so we could all taste test and share. It was a taste of heaven in every bite. No lie. 

The blueberry and lemon pancakes were whimsical! 

After breakfast, we decided to walk off those calories and head to the Art Institute of Chicago. On the way we walked by Grant Park which was so full of nature and beauty. The park was so serene and peaceful. 

Onward we went to The Art Institute. We got to spend the rest of the morning with our friends, Seurat, Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir. ;) 

 

I couldn't believe I got to see the infamous "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte"! 

Such a huge fan of Monet! 

American Gothic! Eeeek! 

Kate, Alyssa and I

We finished up at The Art Institute and headed off to Millennium Park. You can't go to Chi-Town without taking a picture at the Giant Bean! 

Selfie sticks have definitely come in handy. 

After The Bean, we were starving. Our feet had already become quite tired and we jumped in an Uber. We had a late lunch/early dinner at Lou Malnati's. The food was delicious and us girls shared calamari and a deep dish pizza. After our "Linner" or "Lupper" we decided to do a little shopping on State Street since the boys were still at their conference. 

Once the guys finally gave us a call that they were done we all headed back to our hotel/apartment for a night of relaxation. We picked up some wine and snacks (popcorn and pretzel M&M's LOL) and met Colt, Chris and Shane at the apartment. We all lounged on the comfiest couch, drank wine, talked and hung out. It was lovely. We originally had grandiose plans of going out on the town but by 9PM we were all so exhausted that showers and sleep sounded even better! I know. We're SO fun. ;)

Saturday morning was another early morning. I went out on the patio and snapped this pic. The weather puts me in the best mood! It's literally so refreshing! 

 Alyssa went out for a day of exploring on her own so Kate and I decided to meet up for breakfast at a place down the street from where we were staying. It was called "Waffles" and the waffles really were amazing. Kate and I sat outside and the weather & atmosphere couldn't be more perfect! How cute is this outdoor table we sat at! 

After breakfast, Kate and I knew exactly what to do next. We headed to the Magnificent Mile for a full day of shopping. We seriously walked 6 miles of shopping!!! Once we were done shopping, Kate and I decided our feet needed a break and we sat at Chick-Fil-A where Peter, her husband, met up with us. We stayed for quite a while, resting, talking and waiting for Colt to be done with his conference. Once Colt was finished onward we went to The John Hancock Center! 

We waited in the long, 45 minute wait line to go to the 96th floor of the Hancock Center. It has a reputation for having the best view of Chicago. Actually, the women's bathroom on the 96th floor has the best scenic view! Kate and I tested that out! The view was so beautiful and incredible!!!! 

Just look at this!!! 

Sweet Kate and I

After checking out this unbelievable view, Kate and Peter met up with some old friends of theirs for dinner and Colt and I headed back to our place for a quick nap. I swear we walked so much! Once we woke up from our naps, Colt and I headed to Giordano's for dinner and more pizza. (Shh...don't judge me! LOL) Their garlic fries are so tasty!!!

The deep dish stuffed pizza, if you've never had it, you must try it. It's the best! 

Sunday morning we were up early to pack up, clean up and get ready to head out to brunch and then the airport. 

One last picture on the patio. 

The Chicago Marathon was also taking place this weekend. We had such a great view from our patio. I have to say, I got a little emotional watching the runners go by. It fascinates me how the human body can do such amazing things. I was also in awe of how so many people train all year for this marathon. It's insane! These runners are so inspiring. 26.5 miles is such a long way to run!!!! We cheered and rooted them on as the first runners ran by! 

After walking by the marathon, we rolled our luggage to a spot where Uber could pick us up. (Many of the streets were closed down due to the marathon). Colt, Shane, Alyssa and I crammed into the car with our luggage to head off to brunch. I was cracking up at how far back our Uber driver had his seat. Even with Colt being squished by the luggage, the driver insisted on having his seat that far back. Crazy! 

We went to brunch at one of our favorite Chicago places called, Flo. They have some delicious New Mexican dishes. Colt fancies anything with New Mexican green chile. We met up with my sister's friend, Ethan. Ethan graduated from TCU with his MBA last year and is now living and working in Chicago. He was so sweet to meet up with us and give some insight on the program. 

Bacon & Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Enough said.

Colt, me, Ethan, Alyssa & Shane

We all said our goodbyes after brunch. Alyssa and Shane are staying in Chicago until Wednesday so we said we'd see them back in Texas. Colt and I hopped in another Uber and headed off to the airport where we waited in a long line because computers were down. We had a blast but couldn't wait to get back home. 

We arrived at Love Field late Sunday evening. We picked up some Mexican food for dinner and headed back to our cozy home. It was nice to relax and unwind after a fun and busy weekend. As always, Colt and I had such a wonderful time in The Chi. We loved seeing the seasons begin to change and enjoy the cooler, fall weather. I, especially, enjoyed having "girl time" and getting to hang out and bond with the other gals while the guys were hard at work. Alyssa and Kate were always so sweet to wait on me to get ready every morning. Believe it or not, it takes some effort to look like this! ;) 

Colt and I were so blessed to be able to take a little getaway from our every day life. Tomorrow it's back to the routine!

Until next time, Chicago! XO!