-This weekend Chicago was blessed with some warm and sunny weather. 45 degrees is pretty unheard of for February in Chicago, so we spent most of Sunday afternoon out and about.
-Yep, I'm still wearing this vest! I'm obsessed and am already brainstorming ways to wear it as a poolside coverup ;)
-I thrifted these earrings a while back, but haven't pulled them out until this weekend. Oversized, gold, and adorned with fringe...have I mentioned I'm from Texas?
-We love the grounds of the Art Institute and make it a point to wonder through often, even if we're not going into the actual exhibits.
-We tried Mi Tierra, a new-to-us Mexican restaurant in Lakeview, and were pleasantly surprised. Many of the Mexican restaurants here in Chicago don't offer endless chips and salsa, and as a girl who grew up on Tex-Mex, I just can't quite get used to this. So when servers kept swooping by for refills, we were elated. It's the little things.
-The yummy margaritas didn't hurt either :)
-Sunday night, we enjoyed date night at Theater Wit. The small theaters in Chicago can kind of be hit or miss, but Theater Wit was definitely a hit!
-Matt snagged preview performance tickets for "The Fisherman," and we both really loved the story. If you're a Chicago local, I definitely recommend going!
-I snagged these adorable polka dot socks on clearance at Target today. I can't wait to see them peeking out of my jeans this spring!
-As I mentioned on my Facebook page, I had an early morning interview today, then decided to take the rest of the day off for a mental health day. (I'm a big believer that taking the occasional mental health day can ward off having to take sick days.) And what better to enjoy for a mental health day lunch than Portillo's? Yum is always an understatement at Portillo's.
So that's what's new around here. How about you; what's new...how was your weekend?
1. Homemade spicy BLTs, the best Saturday lunch treat ever!
3. Excited to get my new 
5. My Saturday night dinner with friends outfit. I snagged this sweater from Anthropologie right before Christmas and am so in love with it. I saw it on a woman in Ann Taylor and chased her down to ask her about it. I went to the mall the next day, found it, and made it mine. It's my first "have to have it impulse buy" in a long time, and I don't regret it one bit. (That's how I know I really love it!)
7. Manicure of the week. OPI Glitzerland+Essie Haute as Hello. The Essie polish is much more peach than the picture lets on, and I can't help but get a peek into spring when I look down at my ring finger!
1. My latest read 2. Breakfast at 
5. Beatles spray painting on campus 6. Our simple yet delicious dinner with goodies from 
9. Manicure of the week (Essie Pop Art Pink with OPI Rainbow Connection from the new Muppets Collection...love!) 10. A fun surprise from a coworker following a presentation I gave last week 11. The beautiful OU Kappa house which I got see this past weekend visiting my brother at school. His fraternity house is right across the street! 12. The coffee mug that got me through my dissertation defense :)
My first Starbucks inover a month! When I first started the freeze, coffee trips and eating out were one of the first things to go. But knowing we'd be traveling to NYC, I wrote a food exception into my 
My beloved gold, wonder woman cuff from 
Goodbye Windy City, hello Big Apple!
Walking through Central Park, the prettiest "shortcut" I've ever taken.
Matt embracing his inner New Yorker, weekend paper and all :)
The girls spent Friday afternoon perusing The Met. The building alone is beautiful!
My favorite piece at The Met. I literally could have stood there for an hour looking at this picture. A woman with a perspective, committed to being heard. Past, present, or future, I love it.
A larger than life sweet tooth at Dylan's Candy Bar.
My smart and sassy niece glammed up for the rehearsal dinner. Love her pink hair extension and think it looks much better on her than when she made her uncle Matt try it on :)
Cocktails at the oh so swanky, Mandarin Oriental. A special thank to Matt's aunt for treating us to such a fun night!
Times square. No matter how many times I go to New York, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement at all the hustle and bustle here.
Grabbing a drink at 
The view from Josh and Anthony's fabulous upper west side apartment. Floor to ceiling windows with a view like this? Yes please!
The lovebirds reading through cards and guestbook comments. Spending Sunday afternoon lounging and putzing around the neighborhood with these two was one of our favorite parts of the weekend.
Saturday morning we were up bright and early for a 5K event in Grant Park. And after being in NYC a few weeks ago, I am appreciating Chicago's train system more than ever. Its SO much easier to understand!
Crossing under the bridge near the museum campus. It was the perfect day for a 5K, a little chilly but sunny as could be. PS: 
Our race tags should've probably read .25K run/4.75K walk lol. Both Matt and I were pretty exhausted from a long week, so we took it easy and ignored the fact that the 10K crowd was lapping us!
Clearly, I have the dedication and mindset of a true runner :)
After the run, we went to meet up with my sister and her friend who were visiting Chicago for the weekend. They were staying at the ever so gorgeous Palmer House hotel. Matt and I have stayed here several times (including 
Posing with my sister and Matt after a yummy brunch at Yolk. Matt and I went straight from the race to breakfast, so please excuse the random get up. Though this may be the one and only time in my sister's and I's lives where she was more dressed up than me :)
Ever wonder how the windows of all those downtown Chicago buildings get washed? Check out all those men waaaay up top. No balconies, no platforms, just a bucket, a squeegee, and some rope. CRAZY!
So even though this picture is the most boring, it's definitely the most exciting part of my weekend. Because guess what? I SUBMITTED THE FINAL VERSION OF MY DISSERTATION THIS WEEKEND! Can you believe it? All that work, all that energy, all those tears...wrapped up into a paper and emailed off to my committee for them to read before my defense. Best feeling EVER!
So of course after I hit the "send" button, Matt and I celebrated with a big old ice cream sundae. And if you're thinking, "Wow, that girl looks slightly delirious..." you would be correct. Exhausted but totally thrilled, a crazy combination!