My Favorite Things

So, Oprah has her favorite things show.  Well guess what?  I have my favorite things blog post.  It just so happens that some of my 3 favorite things are from some of my 3 favorite people.  They really hit the nail on the head with their Christmas presents this last go around.  

First up, this divine, shimmery, warm (but not too warm for those 40, 50ish days) cutest of cute puffy vest.  From my Katy who did not need to do anything so extravagant, but can I tell you I LIVED IN THIS!  It was so lacking from my wardrobe and it became my best friend over the winter.  

Next up, a battery operated pepper mill, you just turn it upside down and all your meals taste gourmet.  Flavored chunks of pepper instead of tiny, powdery nothing.  You oughta try it.  It's yummy.  Thank you my dear Kristi Worthington.  Love it on my Subway sandwich every day.  

And last, but not least, sticking out of the world's cutest "hugger" is a can of TAB.  I still drink it, the original diet soda.  But how cute is that polka dot holder?  I could pretend it was a hot, summer day during the blah winter.  Thank you Laura, who lives where it is summer all the time, lucky girl.  

As I've been packing away my winter clothes the thought came to me that these 3 things have been with me daily since Christmas.  As excited as I am about spring, I think, come October, I'll be a little more excited to welcome in the cold with my cute, cute jacket waiting for me.

Junior Ring Day

A big day in a Junior's life at St. Joseph's Academy is when you get your junior ring.  It's made me melancholy for mine - I lost it about 15 years ago on a trip.  It was a fun day for Madeline and all of her friends.  

 

          Showing off the ring!                                            Best friend Katy                                    

Rings (& manicures)

DANCE NIGHT

Her number one date!                                           Jack - taller than her without her 3 inch heels

The group - minus one date.  They left here and went for more pix and dinner for 70 at someone's home then on to the dance until 11:30.  St. Joe makes you stay at the dance until its over and this group likes to dance and have fun so it was a great night -  no after party and Madeline was home a little after midnight.  No wondering where she is late at night, no texts asking if she can stay out later - home early and happy.  

Chicago, Chicago!!!

My dear hubby has been making to trek for a year and a half now to "The Windy City" (which is not named the Windy City because of the wind, but I digress - you'll have to go on a tour of the Hancock Building to find out why).  I thought it was about time I see where he's been spending his days and nights without his family and meet some of the people he works with.  I headed up with Madeline and Andrew for a few days.   

We had a few highlights, such as:

A visit from our beloved Worthington family -

As mentioned before, the top of the Hancock Building - Not sure I enjoy being 94 stories high, despite the view.  And I know I really wouldn't enjoy this job:

Although Madeline & Andrew had a go at window washing (wink,wink) -

Poor Andrew was a trooper with the amount of SHOPPING we did.  The hotel was on top of a Nordstrom twice the size of our St. Louis store.  Madeline loooved all the "retail therapy" of Michigan Avenue and Andrew usually scoped out the closest chair with his PSP.

And sending us off in style - a limo on the way to the airport.  Andrew dug that!!