November No Longer

Early morning drive into Indiana

The four-day Thanksgiving weekend is a work of genius. It’s just enough time to allow you to fully indulge and then get back on track. And, it serves as a nice and slow intro to the holiday season. Having learned a number of traffic nightmare-related lessons in years past, we held off on driving from Chicago until early Thanksgiving morning, at which point the highways were blissfully free of panicked drivers.

We got into Cincinnati with plenty of time to make festive cocktails before family arrived, and later we feasted on turkey with all of the trimmings and played a few rounds of our new favorite board game. Friday entailed a good deal of lounging around the house, and then a spontaneous trip to see the Bearcats play in the afternoon. By the time we got back into Chicago on Saturday, we had just enough energy left to unpack a few Christmas decorations and start sprucing up the condo. 

Fresh cranberries for muddling in our "Old Fashioned Thanksgivings"

Our up-close view from the Student Section 

An afternoon drive through Clifton that culminated in this view of Eden Park

The newest addition to our tinsel tree collection

Festive Fiesta

The attention-getting suede sombrero that my Dad was forced to wear during dessert

We headed back to Cincinnati this weekend for a surprise party to celebrate my Dad’s 60^th birthday. It was nice to get away and spend time with family and, as usual, the time flew by way too quickly. 

Face's Chili Flake: the perfect shade for the occasion 

The prettiest packaging, containing a divine strawberry cake from the best bakery in Cincinnati

Outfitting Flossy with her new Oscar De La Renta collar and leash

A quick shot of downtown Chicago on our way back into town

Three States

On top of the world at a friend's holiday party on a rooftop in Chicago

The holidays were hectic, which is just as it should be. Time was split between Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin, with a few days spent on the couch in between as I recovered from a bout with the flu. It’s always nice to relax and spend time with family and friends, and the end of 2012 was no exception. Here’s to an equally fulfilling New Year. 

Late dinner at Taco Diablo to welcome my sister into town

Quick trip to the mall to pick up a few remaining gifts

Our own "Christmas Story" adventure on the way to a family party

Lounging around the house on Christmas morning....

...holiday tea and cookies in-hand

Taking our chances with the snow on the way up to Northern Wisconsin

Midwestern Moments: Cincinnati, Ohio

Wandering through my parents' yard

In the last few weeks, I’ve spent time in Champaign, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Despite the frenetic pace, each of the mini trips has stood on its own, due in large part to unique experiences of each. In Cincinnati, it was all about savoring the last few days of warm summer sun.

Giving my car a much-needed wash 

Saturday Night Lights (at my cousin's soccer game)

Marveling at Downtown Hamilton
alongside the former Mayor

Fall atmosphere and the perfect backdrop to a delicious pub meal

Road Bread

I'm continuing my ongoing spree of weekend travel and heading down to Cincinnati to visit with family for a few days. I've got my bags packed, and I've even managed to smuggle a few of these hearty muffins along for the ride, which I whipped up the other night in an effort to use a few forgotten bananas before I hit the road. 

Wedding in the Woods

Walk to the wedding

We recently spent the weekend with family, celebrating the marriage of my cousin and his long-time girlfriend. They said their vows beneath fluttering trees, nestled deep inside a sculpture park that offered the perfect backdrop to a very sweet, and very unique ceremony. 

Tucked away destination

One of the many sculptures lending their name to the venue

Handmade pouches of birdseed used to shower the couple post-vows

A nod to my cousin's Peruvian heritage: Traditional cookies and plantains,
washed down with Pisco Sours