We went to:
Amalfi Hotel
This is the hotel that we stayed in. It was alright. It didn't have a pool, though, and I REALLY like going swimming when we stay at a hotel. And the room was rather small for 5 people. We didn't spend a lot of time at the hotel, but a bit more space would have been appreciated. Because I'm quite sure that half the reason we never had a bit of relaxing hotel time is because there was no pool, and nowhere to just lounge around. We just had two queen sized beds, a chair near the window, a bedside table in between, a dresser in front of the beds with a TV on it, and a small desk with desk chair. I think the other hotels we've stayed at in Chicago have all had more spacious rooms...and pools. We're usually big on the pools. But my mom booked this one at the last minute, so whatever. We usually don't stay in downtown Chicago either, because we do a lot of shopping on Milwaukee St. But hey, downtown is nice. When I would go to Chicago for school trips we'd stay downtown. OH if I say one thing about our room it would have to be this. THERE'S A CREEPER SPOT!! It's this little nook where the curtain goes into, and I know that's why it's there, but we tested it, and a full grown man could fit in there and not be seen AT ALL but see EVERYTHING that you're doing. NOT COOL. But we didn't have any creeps peeping on us so it was fine. And we didn't find the spot until we were packing everything so it's not like we spent the whole trip fearfully checking. But still. Anyway, let's get to some nice stuff. Free breakfast every morning at this little zone by the elevators. I had a danish, some yogurt, a banana, some apple juice, and some tea the first morning. Two cups of tea, actually. And the second morning I had a donut, some yogurt, 2 bananas, some apple juice, and two cups of tea. The fluids, you see, are very helpful when you're sick. I'm not just some liquid drinking crazy. Hahahaha. Because I'm sure that's what you thought (not). But yeah. Oooh and they have a nice valet service. But what sucks was that parking was $45 a night. Not cool. Things are so expensive in Chicago. Taxes are 10-15% there and in Michigan, it's a 6% tax always. Never changes unless there's a deposit (this happens when you buy pop, energy drinks, beer, etc and you get the $ back when you return them). But enough about the hotel, now.
Piece Pizzeria and Brewing Co.
After we arrived in Chicago, Friday evening, and unloaded all of our luggage, this is where we went to eat. I did NOT have a good experience, mostly because this was the WORST day of my AWFUL cold. I had already lost my voice before we arrived. And it sounded cool. And it probably would have been great if we hadn't went on Friday Night (probably one of it's busiest nights, bet you). We were packed in there like sardines. My sister mentioned that there was no way that we all could evacuate safely if there was a fire. I agree with her. It would NOT have went well. So as I mentioned before, I am quite ill. My sister Emily has a headache, and my sister Kayla is feeling crappy - she is getting the cold that I am only just starting to get over - and we're not in a good mood. It's also FREAKISHLY loud in there, louder than 3 sick children/teens/whatever can handle. And louder than my mother can handle. And I never thought of myself as a particularly claustrophobic person, but right then I was TOTALLY FEELING IT. So, there's a wait. A long wait. Do you want to know how long we waited, sick and packed, and feeling awful? AN HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES. That is RIDICULOUS. The food was delicious but it just was NOT worth that. It wasn't! The whole time we were waiting I just wanted to leave soooo bad. Everyone in my family got pissy. My dad got mad because we were all upset and this was 'the one thing he wanted to do this whole trip'. You see, my dad had seen this on a previous trip and then afterwards saw it on the Food Network. It's owned by some guy from Cheap Trick and another dude. So my dad was all excited about going and what-not what-have-you. And the rest of us were upset for the obvious previously mentioned reasons and once we were seated it didn't magically make us all happy again. My dad had pretty much yelled at us at one point of the wait so none of us were happy with him, Emily was unhappy with all of us for not just dealing and saying that we complain etc too much (even though she complains like CRAZY and is guilty of all of the things that we did haha), and yeah pretty much. So we weren't really speaking and when the waiter gave us menus my sisters and I weren't even interested in picking out what was going to go on our pizza and so I believe my mom and Kayla? ended up choosing because my dad wasn't speaking to any of us. Once our food arrived he wouldn't even eat it. I think we were all on slice number two when he FINALLY started eating. The pizza was good. What's funny is we were eating pizza in Chicago and it's flat crust. What's great is I do NOT like deep dish pizza. Why do I not like deep dish pizza? Because I am not the biggest fan of pizza toppings. I'm just not. I also dislike condiments. Got a problem? In shock? Fight me. Except don't fight me. I wouldn't like that. But yeah, the pizza was really yummy. Kind of dry? But I think that might have just been me. I was chugging water like crazy because my throat hurt SOOOOO bad and pizza isn't exactly watery food that is soothing to the sore sore throat. So that was probably just me. But it was yummy. Worth chaos? No, not really. But good all the same. At the end of dinner my dad got a growler and two pint glasses. I'm glad that he wasn't afraid to get things during this trip, because us girls ALWAYS shop and buy things and he's always complaining about not getting anything ever. He can't do that this time, ahaha :P
Shedd Aquarium
THIS WAS AWESOME. There was so much sea animals and I LOVE SEA ANIMALS THEY'RE AWESOME. My favourite sea animal is probably an octopus, just because they're awesome. But I also like sea horses, starfish, manna rays/sting rays, penguins, dolphins, whales, narwals, and any fish that was in Finding Nemo :D. They had a show with beluga whales, hawks, and dolphins. It was awesome. I bought some postcards and a necklace with a sea horse on it. I plan on showing you guys everything that I got in a haul video. I'm not going to make it until I'm better, though, because my voice is still weird, just from my sinuses being all bleh. But yeah we saw lots of fishies and I saw an octopus and some finding nemo fish and some manna rays/sting rays and penguins and starfish and sea horses and dolphins and whales and sea lions!! It was awesome!! They didn't have narwals, which are Mark's favourite sea animal. But that's okay. They had a lot of my favourite sea animals and I WUV THEM. It is expensive to go to Shedd Aquarium, don't get me wrong. But I had a really really good time :]
Buffalo Exchange
This was one of the stores we went to. It's on Milwaukee, I believe. They buy, sell, and trade new and recycled fashion. That's a thing about the stores in Chicago. None of the ones I went to said they had used clothes, they called it recycled fashion. And that does sound a lot more appealing, eh? That's a good tip if you're opening a consignment shop or something like that. 'Recycled Fashion'. I bought three things and I'm pretty sure only one item was 'recycled fashion', though. I bought a white tank top, a pink dress (the 'recycled fashion'), and a bando (I'm pretty sure that's what they're called). What's funny about the bando, though, is that it's Free People brand. And we stepped into the Free People store shortly after we went to Buffalo Exchange and I saw THE SAME BANDOS in all sorts of colours. They were $28 and I paid $10 for mine. And I thought $10 was asking a lot, bahahahahaha. But I did like that store. They had great customer service.
A Bunch of Random Thrift Stores
My dad dragged us into a bunch of random thrift stores down Milwaukee. He had bought a blue corduroy sports coat at Buffalo Exchange, but his main objective whenever he's shopping at thrift stores etc is to find a crushed velvet sports coat. Why? I have no freaking clue. He just wants one reeeeeeally bad. He didn't find one. It's TOO random.
Ragstock
This is where I spent the most money. This store is AWESOME. They have such good deals, like you have no idea. Except you will have an idea once you read this. So for one thing, all the winter stuff was half off. And in the basement they sell 'Recycled Fashion' and a TON of it was on sale. Like clearanced once and then clearanced again kind of on sale. But I ended up buying a lot (not all of it on sale). I got a purple strapless dress (goes perfectly with those mustard yellow boots I had been tweeting about last week), 5 bandos, a yellow thermal (half off), a grey/black hoodie, a headband, and 3 somethin-somethin's - one of which will be an item in my giveaway :D. THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING! I'm leaving for Toronto on Wednesday and when I'm there I'll get the other item in my giveaway. The winner will receive BOTH items, there will not be 2 winners. Please understand that. And it will not happen until a few days after my trip, health permitting. I will not be making any more videos until my voice is back to normal. I hope that that happens soon. This isn't some crap excuse because I don't feel like making videos. I legit am hating my voice right now. It's either sounding funny because my nose is all stuffed up or because my throat is all weird and scratchy AND SOMETIMES IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH o.O!!!!! Awful awfulness, right right? RIGHT?! Yeah. It sucks. But onwards, now merry men!
Eat First II Chinese Food
So, we were all starving by the time my dad let us eat (he dragged us into A LOT of thrift stores, let me tell you!) and were craving chinese. So we went to the first place we saw. It wasn't fancy or anything, just your average small chinese restaurant. A handful of booths, no restroom, a counter, typical signs. Nothing special. I ordered chicken lo ming and crab rangoons. Their crab rangoons did not taste right. Like totally not enough cream cheese, if any. Mark and I make crab rangoons sometimes and ours tasted better than theirs. I still ate them, I freaking love crab rangoons like a lot a lot, but it was just kind of eh. And they gave me SO MUCH chicken lo ming. I ate a small portion of it, took the rest home with me (got it on Saturday, came back home from Chicago today (aka Sunday even though it's technically Monday) and I ate another small portion for dinner. Noodles = carbs/filling. Chicken = filling. And then there's veggies. And they give you A TON OF FOOD. So that'll last me awhile. Unfortunately it will probably go bad before I can finish it. I liked my food, though, overall. And my dad liked his, and Kayla was fine with her rice, and Em was fine with her food, but my mom did not like her sweet and sour shrimp. I hate sea food (except crab rangoons, they are the ONLY exception, with their deliciousness...) so I wouldn't have been interested to begin with, but her main issue was the thick thick breading or something. She didn't like the texture. And you know, texture is surprisingly important. Whoda thunk? :P (I say silly things sometimes, in case you haven't noticed).
The Water Tower Place
After stopping back quick at the hotel, we went to the Water Tower Place. We did not know that it's actually across from the surviving water tower from the Chicago Fire so we didn't look at it (though it was really dark out anyway) and that disappoints me. But we did some shopping. My dad went to Abercrombie to get his cologne. I guess it's okay nowadays for 45 year old men to smell like 17 year old boys? Eh, whatever. Mark's cologne smells way better :P (he has the green Vurt from PacSun, which they no longer make? WHY?? It's the best!!). He also got a long sleeved yellow and blue shirt, and my mom got a really comfy tank top. While they were shopping I went to Forever 21 and bought a pink dress and some black ballerina tights (saddle strap tights - the kind dancers wear). I know I know I know. I just got sent a bajillion tights. BUT NONE OF THEM ARE LIKE THAT. And I've been looking for those kind of tights FOREVER. I love them <3. Anyway, after that we went to Victoria's Secret and Emily got her free panties (my card TOTALLY didn't come. Em's and my mom's did but I got skipped which is not fair!) and my mom bought something - wasn't paying attention as to what. But I got a sample of the new perfume!! It's Limited Edition, too. It's called PINK All My Heart. I just checked and it's $40 on the website. I honestly might buy it. It smells AMAZING. The fragrance mist is only $20 but I seriously LOVE the packaging on the perfume. And a mist is a mist, and I think perfumes are better and have a more stronger scent.
Penney's Noodles (89% sure that's what it was called)
Yeah I'm pretty sure that this was the name of the place, but I may be wrong. But they have amazing thai food. I got pad thai and crab rangoons here (I told you I LOVE crab rangoons - if they sell them I'm ordering them even if I just had some. They are one of my favourites hahaha) and that was the first time I had thai food! The pad thai was SO good. And their crab rangoons were WAY better than the first chinese place. But we went here and met up with my parents friends and ate and talked and stuff. Kayla got this delicious creme brule. She was the only one who ordered desert, but she let everyone take a bite. So yummy!! And Emily got this thai iced coffee that was just delicious. I really like that place.
Navy Pier
We went here today/Sunday. We've been to Navy Pier before. Emily got a onesie for Riley, and a handmade-for-her ring that says NJN and has her birthstone in it. Kayla and I both got cute rings since it was buy 2 for 5. And then I got Riley some shamrock socks (they're so cute!) and Kayla got James some dog treats (my dog, James Lucas Marley aka Jamie or Jamie Luke, spent the weekend at a kennel). I also bought Mark this candy Bob-omb thingy that I showed him (he really likes it :D). My dad bought us A TON of candy as a late Valentines Day treat since he didn't give us any on Valentines Day and he usually does. My dad bought my mom a claddagh ring and a necklace to give her on her birthday, and she bought him a celtic cross necklace, which she gave him right away. I like that they did that since once you have kids, if you don't make a certain amount of money, the gift giving to your spouse kind of disappears a little bit. And I can totally understand that. When we were walking around we passed this funhouse. We didn't go in, but they had some mirrors on the outside and we all took pictures of ourselves in them, hahaha. Then we looked at this stained glass museum thing, which was pretty cool. I took a lot of pictures. We ate there too at the...
Billy Goat Tavern
Which is famous from Saturday Night Live :P It's the 'CHEEZBORGER CHEEZBORGER CHEEZBORGER' place hahaha. They actually do say all of that stuff. It's pretty funny. I don't eat cow, though, so I got a ham and cheese sandwich. It was good. The place was really cool.
AND THAT WAS MY TRIP. Now I am sick and tired and ready for bed. GOODNIGHT :P
