This past month has been snowy, then it melted, then it snowed, then it melted and froze, then it snowed again, then it snowed again yesterday. It’s been a ridiculous cycle that just makes me wonder…when does spring start again?
I actually didn’t realize how much I loved snow until we moved back to Chicago. It’s absolutely gorgeous, especially when the sun shines down on it. I think I appreciate it so much, though, because I don’t have to commute in it. (Highly recommend that part of working remotely for a job, by the way.)
Despite the highs and lows of the weather, we’ve made it downtown to do a bit exploring—both touristy things and not. (The Bean, below, being one of the more touristy things we’ve visited.)
As much as I enjoy winter, I’m also part of the other 99% of Chicagoans ready for spring to arrive! Once it warms up, we can really do some exploring around the city. For now, though, take a look at some of the things I’ve been loving as I’ve been balancing an…imbalance of being cooped up inside while getting out of the house every once in awhile.
February Favorites
Baking Bread – After religiously following Jenna Fischer (Pam from The Office)’s bread making journey on her Instagram stories, I decided to buy Bread Baking for Beginners by Bonnie Ohara (the cookbook Jenna uses). I’ve made 3 recipes so far and am really excited to try other recipes, like baguettes, focaccia, sourdough, and more! I’ve been enjoying the book so far and her approach to explaining the process. I recommend it if you want to go on a bread making adventure like I recently embarked on!
Ring Sizers – Not sure what’s wrong with my body, but my fingers swell and shrink with changing weather like it’s nobody’s business. Moving back to Chicago in the winter caused them to shrink a lot more than normal, to a point where I was constantly afraid my rings would fall off so I didn’t want to wear them. After attempting my own ring sizer situation with overly bulky yarn, I found these ring sizers on Amazon (here) for under $10, and they are life. changing. I highly recommend them.
Second City – Love love loved our experience at The Second City a few weeks ago!! I talked a little about it in my Life Is Delicious Ambiguity post, but I didn’t dive into the show very much. It was a pretty quaint theatre that was packed. We somehow got 3rd row and thoroughly enjoyed the whole sketch comedy show. Definitely a great date night outing if you’re in a city they show at!
Gotta Get Up by Harry Nilsson – If you’ve been on Netflix in the past month, you’ve probably noticed the new show Russian Doll. First of all, we watched the whole series in a couple days and kind of loved it. It’s about a woman who keeps reliving the same night over and over, but it’s really interesting and I’m excited for the next season. As she restarts each day, though, this song is what plays. You’d think it would get old, but here I am playing it on repeat…
Frame Collage – Every time we move into a new apartment/condo/house, I create a new “gallery wall” to display frames in the new wall space in our living room area (see past ones here and here). I just created my biggest one yet, and I’m in love with how it has transformed our overly large living room/dining space. Gallery walls are SUCH a labor of love that can make a new house feel more like a home. This is the mostly finished collection.
The Good Place – I love Kristen Bell, and I love this show. It’s refreshing, funny, creative, and totally worth watching.
Video Game Controller with Headphone Jacks – Wife of a video game player here…being grateful that Playstation 4 has headphone jacks in the controllers. I’ve never minded the sound of video games, really, especially when they have good music. But when I’m trying to do yoga in the other room and there’s loud gunfire and explosions happening in the other room…ya, headphones are much appreciated.
On the Low by Tove Styrke – I have no idea how I even found this lady, but I’m loving this and a few other songs from her.
Ted Talks Daily – I mentioned my new appreciation for podcasts a few months ago, but this one has consistently been one of my favorites.
Stash of Greeting Cards – If you send greeting cards to people, do yourself a favor and start building a collection for those last-minute times when you can’t or don’t want to go to the store to get one. I’ve been trying to do this for a few years, especially with sympathy cards, and it has turned out to be so useful.
