Chicago Day 1, Part 2

After settling into the Hotel we stepped out for a walk and quick bite. We headed over to Water Tower Place because a good brisk walk there is lovely and yummy food is sure to be found.

Chicago is always a beautiful city but especially at night and with the brisk Fall air.

Magic.

I love how the city businesses come together to decorate Michigan Avenue for each season! You never know how they'll execute each them but you know it will be lovely.

This autumn the planters were filled with the ephemera of all things fall. So pretty!

The Water Tower always looks special by day or night, but I love how majestic the city looks all awash in glowing lights.

So... In these photos I was trying to look properly "winded" along with this dapper giant Leggo fella outside the Lego store...

Not so much, huh?

What I do look is hillarious, so enjoy. ;)

Our next stop was the American Girl store.

My sisters and I were fortunate enough to be recipients of the transporting historical books and wonderful dolls. We each collected a different doll, her stories, and belongings.

Mine was Molly, a young 1940's American girl helping to hold down the home front while her Dad was away fighting WWII.

My sister Stacy's was Kirsten, a Swedish immigrant/ pioneer living in the great Minnesota prairie during the mid 1800's.

And my sister Maura's doll was Samantha, a young Victorian girl during the early 1900's.

Sadly, all of our dolls were retired last year and they are no longer making them or their paraphernalia. I had always hoped to have a little girl and carry on collecting Molly and her things with her...

They did bring back a new version of the Samantha doll for now though as a part of a series called "Be Forever."

Not sure about all this retiring/ forever stuff... Either way, deposited the expense, it's a great company empowering girls to learn and play with confident twist. And it's a treasured part of our childhood and I love to stop in and reminisce... Even at 31, lol.

The messages of the dolls and all around is empowerment, encouragement, and understanding. All with reading and play. Pretty great.

As a Westie owner I felt the need to document this doll Westie.

This is the Samantha doll and some of her new "Be Forever" things.

"American Girl celebrates a girl's inner star - that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high, and dream big."

And of course I picked up a little surprise for someone very special (more on that another time.)

Moving on.

Before we left Water Tower Place we stopped by the Bao Wow kiosk to get dinner. Sticky, gooey, bun goodness at its best? My favorite one was the Chicken Teriyaki but they are all good! If you're ever there get a house made ginger-ale! Yummm!

The city frequently has various art set up all around to help raise funds for various causes. Right now they have horse sculptures painted by different local groups and all supporting the Chicago PD.

This Van Gogh-esque Starry Night was by far my favorite.

Then it was back to the hotel and good nights rest.

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson. Please ask permission prior to use. All rights to various places visited owned by their respective companies.)

Posted with love, please credit when re-posting.

Chicago Day One, Hotel Sweet Hotel

The Husband and I spent last week in Chicago. He had his last board exam to take and I tagged along because I love the city and our family and friends who live there.

(Waiting for take off, poor guy looks so nervous in all our pre-exam pics!)

We stayed at the Kinzie Hotel and would definitely do so again.

It's was in a great location downtown within walking distance to most things people want to do when in town: museums, food, shopping, etc.

The wifi was phenomenal! Cannot be understated on this! We both had multiple devices open and in use for work and study purposes when in our room and the hotel was full with a business conference (you know how business peeps use the internet constantly) with nary a slow down. Best. Ever.

The staff was lovely (only one cranky butt exception but who knows what she was going through personally, always give the bee feint of the doubt.) The room was cozy and well appointed. Decor was artsy, modern Chicago. And they offered an included Continental Breakfast on every floor each morning that was great as well as free appertivo (like a free bar appetizer happy hour) with free drink coins tradable for... Free drinks every evening.

All in all, nicely done!

The lobby and check in desks.

Nifty art and comfy seating.

The view walking into our room.

The view from our room, lol. Right out onto Chicago icon Harry Caray and his bar/ restaurant.

The color scheme was my favorite colors: blues, grays, and silver. Naturally, I loved it!

(Note: this photo was actually taken post exam, and T looks soo much happier! Rightfully so!)

I loved the wallpaper used on the wall behind the bed, a massive Chicago map.

So fantastic.

I also loved how they used a variety of fabrics in a similar color scheme, especially this pop of turquoise leopard.

Best do not disturb ever!

And the bathroom decor was the best, not a phrase I've said before...

But...

Cool details, cool art, and dark colors done right are just awesome.

I mean, how epic is this silver and navy wallpaper?

Definitely future home inspiration.

Also, the Kinzie is pet friendly so if you need to bring your furry friend along you can. I even saw them arrange dog walkers for guests while I was waiting in the lobby, nice, huh!

And on the pet note, I have super bad allergies but everything was so clean and in such tip top shape that even I was surprised that I had no problems!

Definitely recommend it!

More Chicago to come.

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson. Please ask permission prior to use.)

Posted with love, please credit when re-posting.

Disney Day: Dinner at Sana

The Husband and I have been trying to make time to "date" each other more and the other. Ought he surprised me with dinner at Sana, the Indian/ African restaurant on the Vacation Club Kidani Village side of Animal Kingdom's lodge.

Since it was date night I made and effort and trotted out the heels and a cute new clutch I love.

We were both pretty tired looking cause we were both pretty tired but it was still fun. I loved this wall of lanterns at the entrance.

The whole resort has these wonderful quotes painted on the walls throughout. I really loved this touch! This one is in the main entrance.

The lobby was beautiful.

And of course I went straight to the windows to look for animals on the "Savannah." Do you see the giraffe?

Pic heavy animal sightings and food goodness after the jump!

Disney Day: A Very Disney Sunset Stroll

Not long ago the Husband and I decided to pop over to Disney's Coronado Springs for a quick bite and stroll.

The setting there is very romantic so it's one of our favorite spots to go.

As we left the house we saw this awesome sliver of a rainbow in the sky amidst all the sun rays. It was a lovely surprise.

Once there we grabbed some yummy empanadas to go and found a spot outside under the sunny sky.

We then saw the next scene in the sky's beautiful playof spectacular evening displays.

These whispy fluffy clouds were amazing. They spanned more than half the sky.

I really enjoyed all the blooming flora and fauna too. Birds of paradise are one of my favorite flowers.

Not sure what these yellow bloomed trees are but they were so lovely.

Then as the sun started to set we strolled around the the lake.

Every turn brought a gorgeous new vista.

The sun was really outdoing herself splashing the best colors from her palette across the sky...

So pretty.

Of course I had to sneak in a picture of the awesome resort pool we passed.

But it was the sky that really made the evening lovely.

One of the prettiest sunsets I've enjoyed in a while.

It really reminded me that I should take more time to stop and enjoy all the bounty surrounding me.

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson.)

Posted with love, please credit when re-posting.