ChicagoLand

Is anyone else having issues with downloads on blogger? These photos are in no specific order because I cannot figure out what the deal is with blogger. So please excuse the random order of pics:) Saying we had a great time would be a huge understatement! The 5 of us clicked so well, even if we haven't been together since high school(or never if you're Mya!) But Mya was like a missing link and it was perfect.

like I said, random order on these pics. That me(the shiny one) and Theresa. Theresa was a huge help for me. I was buying for 3 other people at American Girl Place and had 2 giant bags and a giant BOX. If it wasn't for us all helping each other, I would have been in big trouble. I couldn't even get through revolving doors! So thanks you guys!

Mya and Mandy at dinner...

The Christmas windows at Macy's. Amazing. Kristin was looking for ideas for her windows at work, but we didn't think she could get the same effect on a $100 budget.

We spent a little time searching for Garrett's Popcorn. You know, one of Oprah's Favorite Things. We ended up in the 'hood, but it was worth it. YUM.

One of our 5 cab rides. This one was funny because when we got in the cab, there was a trainee in front so all 5 of us went in the back seat. That's Mya's hair. She was sitting on Kristin's lap:)

The Lego store. I could have spent a lot of $$ here but since it was one of the 1st places we went, I didn't want to lug the giant packages around.

Me and Mya in a cab.

Lego girl.

We tormented all the cabbies. I should say that Mandy and Kristin tormented all the cabbies. Mandy asked each one where Oprah was that day. One told us that he saw Brad Pitt last Tues but I don't believe him. Kristin asked if it was OK for her to call him "Mr-cab-driver-sir" But he said that he actually considers himself a construction worker. And then went on to tell us that he installs hardwood floors. Another cabbie got to hear Kristin's love of certain bras. Seriously K- you could be a talk show host with the way you can get complete strangers to talk about their lives.

One of my favorite places. Everything there is Hello Kitty. Kristin,Mya and I all bought these grab bags for $30 that had $125 worth of stuff in them. Then we went out in the mall and tore them open. I think we did OK. I had one pretty Ghetto-Fabulous item that's a chain that hangs from your belt loops with lots of BLING. Look for it in my Christmas attire this season.

I will explain the story of the $$$.

So, we are all at American Girl. Kristin and Mandy are done so they go across the street to The Cheesecake Factory to get our name on the list for dinner. There are 2 choices for dinner, eating upstairs in the cafe(20 min wait) or downstairs in the restaurant(hour wait). They put our name on the list for both and gave us a buzzer for the restaurant. So the rest of us arrive and we park it on their stairs with a mountain of packages. There are at least 100 people waiting for tables in the restaurant. We wait. finally there is a spot opening in the cafe for us and we are told we can leave our stuff behind the hostess desk. While they are getting our table ready, Kristin decides that she is giving our buzzer for the restaurant table(which must be almost open) to the next people in the door. I think she's nuts and they will never allow it. So this older couple walk in and it seriously has to be a 2 hour wait for a table. Kristin goes up to the gentleman and ask if they are eating in the restaurant or the cafe. The man mistakes her as the hostess and she says"oh no, I don't work here" He is looking totally confused and she explains that we have waited an hour and finally got a table in the cafe, but the table downstairs is opening any minute and all he had to do was say he was Kristin and he could have that table. They thanked her and off they went. So we are sitting and had ordered when he comes looking for Kristin, whips out his wallet and starts throwing $$ on the table, thanking us!! He says Kristin's mom raised her right:) So he gave us $29 and even came back later to try to give us more $$.

So Kristin taught me that it pays to be a little nutty and to really go out of the way to do a good deed. And for the record, Kristin is the reason we all got 20% off at Sephora, even if we were not supposed to. That girl's got some persistence. I will not shop WITHOUT her again;)

Mandy and Kristin at dinner at the Cheesecake factory.

We spent a lot of time(and a pricey cab ride) here. Great shop.

YUM....

At dinner....


Between us, we have 15 children 10 and under(most are 5 and under!)We ALL needed this. I have not laughed so hard in a very long time, and it started at about 5am and I didn't get home until 2am. I can still feel it in my stomach. I couldn't have dreamed of a better time. NO one complained, everyone helped. Everyone paid more than they needed to. Everyone had FUN. I have learned that some of the best experiences are the ones when you develop some inside jokes. And we certainly have few. Which may or may not have something to do with tripping drunk people and retired federal agents.

Love you guys, thanks for the great time! Can't wait to do it again:)