My birthday month has almost come and gone, and I'm still loving all the goodness I got to soak up. Having my family in Chicago for my birthday was such a treat, and I'm so thankful that I was able to celebrate my special day with the most special people in my life. We enjoyed a long weekend, with next to nothing on our agenda. My parents were here two Christmases ago (see pictures from that trip here), and my brother has been to Chicago several times, so it was nice not to feel pressured to sightsee and go go go all weekend. However, we did manage to enjoy a few touristy things, including Navy Pier and a trip to Chinatown. Surprisingly Matt and I haven't done either in the almost two years that we've lived in Chicago, and since the weather was pretty nice on Friday (translation: above 50 and sunny), we headed out to explore...
One of my favorite things about Chicago is the blend of city and serene. You can see skyscrapers and an endless body of water in a single glance.
Pink pants + my favorite fur vest = the only way to do Navy Pier!
Love love love my family. Matt had Cameron for most of the day, so he isn't in very many of these pictures, but I love love love him too :)
Big, scary, tall Ferris wheel...bring it.
My little brother isn't so little anymore lol. He is growing up so fast, and I continue to be the proudest big sister on the planet!
Though more than one person in my family is a little leery of heights, we couldn't not ride the Ferris wheel. And besides, the Navy Pier Ferris wheel isn't nearly as scary as the famous Ferris wheel at the Texas State Fair, confirming that yes, everything is bigger in Texas :)
In and ready to go, eeek!
About halfway up with a beautiful view of the pier and Lake Michigan.
My sweet parents :)
I don't think there is a better city to live in than Chicago. We still pinch ourselves that we get to call this place home.
There Matt is lol! PS: I realize its only April, but I think this picture might be a contender for our Christmas card :)
Since we did so well on the Ferris wheel, we thought we'd give the swings a try. And I won't lie, I haven't laughed that hard in so long. Hearing my dad, Matt, and Ryan scream louder than me completely made my day :)
Buckled in and ready to go!
Such a fun day and a wonderful start to my birthday weekend. Another big thanks to my fabulous family for coming such a long way to see me on my birthday. It was one of my favorite birthdays yet!
PS: If you're visiting Chicago and wondering if Navy Pier is a "must see," I'd say probably not. We went with the intention to wander, enjoy the weather, and spend the morning working up an appetite for Chinatown. There is so much to see and do in Chicago, that I'd put Navy Pier toward the bottom of the list. But if you live here, visit often, or just want a place to soak up some springtime sun, then it's definitely worth hopping over. I'll be back later in the week to post more pictures from my birthday weekend, but until then, have a fabulous week!
Keep in mind, our patio has just been through a Chicago winter, also known as the kiss of death for anything green, living, or healthy :) And now for a few after pictures...
Much better, right? We weren't working with a big budget, so we tried to be strategic, adding pops of color with new seat cushions, fresh flowers from Home Depot, a few fun accessories throughout.
Though we've been known to get in a little over our heads at Home Depot, this year we kept it simple with single plant pots in bright and cheery colors. This orange and blue combo might be one of my favorites!
This cheapie plant stand houses our tiny, but efficient herb garden and our small supply of firewood. Usually the wood has emptied out by now, but given our pretty mild winter, we've still got a bit of our stash left over. And though the larger purple plant on the bottom left was our biggest Home Depot splurge ($15), I really love how full it is. A little different from the small blue bud, just below it. It still has some growing to do :)
If you're someone who enjoys cooking with fresh herbs, I strongly encourage you to grow your own, even if you have a tiny space like us. A small bunch of basil or rosemary can cost you several dollars at the store, and for the same price, you can plant your own that will keep you stocked all spring and summer long. I mentioned these signs 
And for another before picture, check out this little chicken I snagged for $2 at a garage sale. (Ok, in truth, it was priced at $3, but I haggled the lady down to $2. I know, I am such a bargain hunter!) When I saw it, I thought it would be an adorable planter, with a few changes of course.
A few coats of spray paint and some fresh flowers later, this chickadee was loving his life as a new planter!
The wall art was one of the hardest things for us to find, and after looking at several predictable wrought iron pieces and not really liking them, we stumbled upon these textured metal pieces and fell in love. We actually found them in the table bowls and baskets section of Garden Ridge, but after a few screws and hooks, they were on the wall, adding just the right amount of affordable oomph to the space.
We added three hanging baskets to the space, creating interest by hanging them a bit unbalanced with two on one side, one on the other.
And given how much we love our new space, we couldn't bare the thought of only using it during the day light. So we added a string of globe lights that give off just the right amount of twinkle! And because I enjoy a good before and after, here's another before picture...
And of course, here's another after...
A definite improvement, don't you think? And for us, definite proof that you don't have to own a home to create and warm and cozy outdoor space. Sometimes, I think as renters, we have a tendency to constantly say, "One day, when we have a house..." blah blah blah. But sometimes, it's nice to just say, let's make the most of what we have, right here, right now. And last weekend, that's just what we did with our tiny but lovely little patio.