Chicago has come to feel like a second home to me.
Thursday night, Mandy and Steve picked me up from the airport and had deep dish pizza waiting for me. We talked WELL into the wee hours of the night, and had some really good heart-to-hearts. I'm so grateful that despite the distance, we are able to maintain a close friendship. With Mandy and Steve I feel very comfrotable being completely honest and open with them without fear of judgement or betrayal. They are the best friends I could ever ask for. :)

Friday, Mandy and I woke up really late and watched some high quality tv (Life in the Fab Lane, Dr. 90210, Shot at Love). Watching Dr. 90210 with Mandy was hilarious...she was able to watch all the gross plastic surgeries no problem, but when it came time to give this one guy botox injections to stop his armpit hyperhydrosis, she almost passed out. There wasn't even any blood, but she just couldn't bear to see this guy's armpit sweat! lol.

In the afternoon, we had reservations at the Drake Hotel for some holiday tea.
We jumped in a cab and on the way, we nearly died of asphixiation and laughter. The cab driver had dropped some seriously foul ass and had the windows rolled up. WORST.

We burst out of there and was escorted into the glam boutique hotel. The Drake was beautiful. We sat on luxurious chesterfield chairs beside a marble fountain and there was a woman was playing the harp. I felt like I was Alice in Winter Wonderland.
We started off with glasses of mimosa and picked out our choice of tea. (chocolate mint truffle for me and vanilla bean for Mandy)
The tea menu was so delicious and was served on a 3-tiered silver platter.
The top tier had finger sandwiches (egg salad, roast beef with oignon frisé, ham and asparagus and cucumber and tomato)
The middle tier had scones and banana bread.
The bottom tier had preserves and devonshire cream.
After tea we were served some french pastries.

We could totally be ladies who lunch.

Since weren't really in the mood to do any shopping on a full stomach, we went back home and decided to throw a spur of the moment dinner party.

We went to this Italian specialty store and bought ingredients to make steamed artichokes, caprese salad, sausage/rapini orichiette, and gelato. We called her neighbours over and we all had dinner together. Mandy's new friends are so nice and down to earth...it was easy to hang out with them. It felt like they were my friends too!

Saturday night, Mandy made reservations at Carnivale. We drank sangria, caprenia and mojitos, and I had the best meal of my life. I know it's a bold claim considering I've eaten a lot of good food...but seriously this was amazing. First we started of with a mixed seafood ceviche and some plantains with beef rojas. Sooooo good!! For dinner, we all ordered something different, but all 4 dishes were cooked and seasoned to perfection....beef tenderloin, new york strip steak, seared ahi tuna, and lamb chops. Then for dessert we had the tres leches cake. I WISH I knew how to make this...it was so yum.
After dinner, we got back and watched some TV and Mandy and I fell asleep.

Before I knew it, it was Sunday and I was on my way home.
It was SUCH a fun trip and I can't wait to do it again soon.

(Mandy, thanks for an amazing time!!)