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You guys, it's December! Can you believe it? Christmas is in the air (well, it's still 60 degrees in Alabama) and everything is getting merry around here. I am so excited for all of the hot chocolate, Christmas movies and gifting giving this month has in store! Speaking of gift giving, I have not bought the first Christmas gift yet! #slacker

Speaking of slacking, I have completely been neglecting my Project 1|52 here lately. In an attempt to play catch up.. here are some things I've been thankful for recently...

//// A fun weekend at home which consisted of the peanut festival. For us wiregrass natives, we know that means funnel cakes, the corndog man, boiled peanuts (that's a given), kettle corn and sketchy fair rides. It was delicious!

//// A huge highlight this past month was my trip to Chicago. It was such a fun adventure to share with my mom! you can read more about that here.

//// Some of my coworkers have wrangled me into running the Mercedes Half-Marathon in February! Training started this past week and I am excited to be running my second half. (More on this later!)

//// I spent Thanksgiving at home with family in Enterprise. It was a great few days at home full of rest, shopping, good food, the Iron Bown and Thanksgiving morning walking traditions with friends.

//// Santa visited Church 29:11 this Sunday and Emma, Jamie and myself got our picture taken with him! It was so fun to be a kid again.. even it just for a minute!

Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough. What are have you been thankful or recently?

CHICAGO

My mom and I spent last weekend in Chicago. It was the first time either of us had been to Chicago and we were so excited to experience the Windy City! I'm a southern girl so I was nervous about the weather forecast leading up to the trip. In the south we completely shut down at the site of snow flurries and freeze at temps below 60. However, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the change of weather. Who knows... maybe I can live up north one day?

We only had 2 full days in the city so our days were busy! We did a hop on-hop off trolley tour which helped us see the entire city with designated stops along the way. We went to the top of the John Hancock Building and Willis tour. It was beautiful to get a 360 view of the city below. We shopped a little too much along Michigan Ave. Took a stroll through Millenium Park, but stopping to take 200 selfies in the beanie first, of course! Stuffed our faces with Chicago style deep dish pizza. OH MY... it is amazing!! I checked something off of my bucketlist and went for a run along Lake Michigan. It was our last day not to mentioned the coldest day of our trip, but I was determined. It was a beautiful morning for a cool, brisk run and I loved it!

We could have used a few more days to fit in some other things I'd like to have done, but that just means I have to go back! It was so fun to spend time with my mom exploring a new city!


EATS:
Lou Malnati's
Giordano's
RPM Italian
VAPIANO
Harry Caray's Tavern

HOTEL:
We stayed at the Milleninum Knickerbocker Hotel right off of Michigan Ave and across from the historic Drake Hotel. The staff was exetremely welcoming and helpful. My mom and I made a new best friend named Charlie. Charlie has worked for the hotel for 16 years was the kindest person I've ever met. I definitely recommend staying there!

Have you ever visited Chicago? What should I do next time I'm in the Windy City?

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Lately I've been thankful for spotting the most adorable Mario and Luigi pair ever, fun halloween parties with friends, dog sitting the cutest pup named BeepBeep, enjoying Seeds coffee on a Sunday, milkshakes from Johnny Rockets.

What's been going on with you? Can you believe it's already November?! We're gonna blink and Christmas will be here! I have less than 2 weeks before my trip to Chicago and I am getting supa excited!

What are you thankful for as of late? Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough!