Running Into Frozen Lake Michigan

I love submerging myself into frigid water whilst dressed as a banana.

Lizzard Loves running into Lake Michigan in March!

OK, that is a lie. 

The actual act of dunking myself in the sandy, 32 degree water of Lake Michigan was relatively awful. 

Lizzard Loves being out of that frigid puddle of water

I do love the craziness of it. 

Lizzard Loves friends old & new dressed as bananas

I love the fundraising for Special Olympics Chicago. It is such a great cause. I love that 20 of our friends & family members helped us raise more than $900 for Special Olympians in our area.

I love dressing up like a banana with my husband, best friend & a bunch of new friends. 

Lizzard Loves friends old & new dressed as bananas

I love that my husband & I borrowed 2 yellow turtlenecks & old school ties from my Dad to do this Polar Plunge.

Lizzard Loves borrowed clothes

 I love that #SwimmyFallon was goaded into participating in this year's Polar Plunge by our mayor. I particularly love the expression on his face as he exited the water.

Lizzard Loves Jimmy Fallon

Long lunch on a rainy day

I love long lunches.

Lizzard Loves Homegrown Cafe

It is wonderful to luxuriate in a delicious midday meal with a great friend while the weather outside is positively frightful. I went to Homegrown Cafe * today and was sucked into their cozy atmosphere, great coffee and comfort food. My friend and I dined & chatted for over 2 hours. We shared the breakfast burrito & the short rib sandwich which were both prepared beautifully (and there was not a fried egg in sight, much to my delight!). The meal was the perfect way to warm up after a rainy walk over! It made me quite happy that the chef/owner of Homegrown waited on us and allowed us to overstay our "meal time" while continuing to provide excellent service. 

Did I mention the sugar cubes? They don't do sugar shakers or sugar packets. Brown and white sugar cubes. It's the little things, right? I don't usually put sugar in my coffee; but when offered sugar cubes- I gladly make an exception! I've said it before, but I'll say it again - make a point to visit this restaurant. You will be so happy you did.

*Note about this link; the owners of this wonderful place closed their previous venture, Chalkboard Restaurant, & opened Homegrown Cafe in the same physical space- so don't get thrown by the link's title :) You are heading to the right website!

When this is the weather situation, it is easy to want to stay inside!

Lizzard Loves Chicago. Even with this weather.

You know what I also love? My rain boots. They allowed me to walk about a mile to lunch & arrive with dry feet even though it was pouring rain. They allowed me to walk off my vague feelings of guilt after throwing back not 1, but 2 slices of King Cake 1 hour before I had lunch plans. I love that my friend sent us another King Cake this year; here is the post about it from last year.

Lizzard Loves these rain boots.

The weather today is quite insane, even though my boots are knee high, I waded through a puddle that almost flooded them. Yikes. Though it may also be insane, somehow I still love this city. I love that when I was walking up Lincoln Ave on the way to lunch - it was bustling. In a foggy, flooded, rainstorm kind of day; people were out & about, just doing their thing. Only 1 person I passed was scowling & that may have had

more to do with the shouting match she was having on her cell phone than with the weather. It makes me so pleased to live in a place where people are so grateful for a 50 degree day in the midst of multiple polar vortexes that they are walking around outside despite of the torrential downpour of rain which accompanied the "heat wave".

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day.

Lizzard Loves Valentine's Day cards

I love the excuse to make & write cards to people I love. Although, who am I kidding, I really don't need an excuse for that!

I love the reminder to tell Chris I love him all day long.

Lizzard Loves Vday dinner at home

I love that our main tradition for this day is to order Thai takeout from our favorite Thai place and eat at home. I love that Chris & I agree heartily on avoiding the crowds on this holiday. I appreciate that we were both too burnt out on Thai food to want anymore this week; so I cooked for us instead. I love mixing up our fancy china & crystal with our funky new placemats from Thailand and our everyday silverware. I love that the flower on the table was a gift from my sister in law (I'm sure it was from my brother too :)


I love receiving Valentines (I usually get them from Chris, my little monkey nephews, my sister & my parents which is just great. This year was a total bonus because we got one from our niece too! That one featured dinosaurs, which was a double bonus). I encourage you to send Valentine's Day cards. I get it, we are days past actual Valentine's Day. But, it doesn't matter! Write a belated card. The cards are probably all on sale now anyway (bonus!). Can you think of a friend or family member or loved one who could use a pick me up? I am guessing you can............and I would guess they would love to receive a Valentine from you. Its just a thought, but it is the little things, right??

Lizzard Loves heart decorated bread

I love heart shaped things, because making things into heart shapes makes them more fun. I wish I could say I baked the bread with the heart shape, but alas & alack - it is from the delicious Simple Bakery. Check it out; I promise you won't be disappointed (although don't get confused- they changed their name from Sweet House of Madness to Simple Bakery - I don't want anyone to think it is a misdirected link). 

Lizzard Loves heart shaped pancakes

The pancakes turned out really well, I got the idea from this video, compliments of Food & Wine (which is a magazine I absolutely love!) Chris liked the pancakes, as did my nephews. I really liked them, but how can you not like something with cake in the name that is served as breakfast?? Riddle me that.





I hope you & yours had a good Valentine's Day. I hope you take me up on my belated Valentine's Day card challange. Let me know in the comments if you send (or receive!) any cards! Remember what Ghandi said: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"

Elephants

I love elephants.

Lizzard Loves feeding "my" elephant a basket of bananas

After a recent visit to Thailand, this love was reignited at Patara Elephant Farm located just outside the city of Chiang Mai.

Chris getting to know "his" elephant

A few fun facts we learned while at the farm:

-Elephants only sweat in one place. Can you guess where? Their cuticles!

Lizzard Loves elephant feet and facts

-If an elephant is healthy, it will sleep laying down on one side for about 35 minutes, stand up for about 10 minutes, then shift and sleep laying down on the other side for about 35 minutes. It doesn't sound particularly restful to me...but it seems to work for them.

Lizzard Loves elephant wet nurses

-Elephant babies (calves) will nurse from their own mother, but also other mothers in their herd. Other mothers will function like wet nurses if a calf's mother is not immediately available. Talk about teamwork.

Lizzard Loves Chris riding "his" elephant!

Chris & I thought this farm was incredibly well run, it was working on conservation/increasing the elephant population, education and FUN. Well, maybe fun isn't in their mission statement- but spending an afternoon at the farm was easily one of the highlights of our trip! How could feeding, washing, and riding on elephants be considered anything short of awesome?

Lizzard Loves getting a shower from elephants

Oh, and a shower. I forgot to mention that the elephants got a chance for payback! We had spent sometime scrubbing & rinsing them off in the river, then the staff told us to line up for family photos. Which was their excuse to have the elephants spray water all over us. I couldn't stop laughing, it was such a silly thing really. To have a river water shower from the trunks of elephants?? Likely a once in a lifetime thing for me :)

Unique friends

I love the postcard I got in the mail this week.

Lizzard Loves this postcard.

It made me so glad for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is I like the couple announcing their wedding VERY much! Chris & I went a far more traditional route in our engagement/wedding announcements and I was (& am) quite happy with how we did things. When I found this postcard in my mailbox though, I was reminded yet again of how many unique ways there are to do EVERYTHING!! I love that my friends did their wedding their own way, I love their cheeky postcard, I love them together as a couple. 

In a world where so many of us spend so much time fretting about what everybody else is doing, my friends postcard was a lovely breath of fresh (frigid) January air. As much as I can, I am striving in 2014 to be me, without the fretting, comparing, and worrying that I am sometimes susceptible to. I wonder if others have similar "resolutions" in 2014? Share in the comments if the mood strikes!

Cheers to my newlywed friends; to many many years of wedded happiness.

Quiet snowy mornings

I love Chicago in the winter.

Lizzard Loves Snowy Chicago Days and Nights

I love the snow! I don't mind the cold, because I love bundling up in my warm clothes. I love the way a cold, snowy, gray day can inspire us to hunker down in our cozy apartment. But I also love going out to explore the quiet beauty Chicago has to offer while getting walloped by snow.

We had a great mix of the two during the snow storm precursor to the polar vortex's arrival which quickly turned our city into Chiberia.

We went to Gene's Sausage Shop to shop for stocking stuffers (we were somewhat belated in our Christmas celebration....) and I was struck again by how much I enjoy that store. If you haven't visited- please take the time to do so. It is a Lincoln Square institution, offers a crazy amount of delicious beer in the 2nd floor, makes & sells delicious soft pretzels, stocks a get selection of our favorite gummy candy brand Haribo, has a chocolate bar section that is literally amazing, to say nothing of the actual deli counter. The deli counter is chock full of encased meats, (it is a sausage shop after all :) plus a solid assortment of normal meat/cheese. Alas, fresh encased meat does not a stocking stuffer make, so we didn't venture there on our recent visit. Winter or not, quiet snowy morning or hot summer day; Gene's is worth a stop.

Lizzard Loves her husband,books & coffee

Next up, The Book Cellar, a local book shop. Shocking I know- but yes indeed- you can still buy honest to goodness books in real stores! I am embarrassed to admit after living approximately a mile and a half from this place (for over 5 years!) I didn't venture in until this past weekend. Major neighborhood fail on my part. I suppose better late than never applies in this case. Cozy chairs in the front window afforded us access to beautiful books and magazines along with the view of the snow swirling around outside their front windows. Hot coffee and friendly folks behind the counter rounded out a perfect neighborhood stop.

Finally home to celebrate Christmas with more coffee, a good breakfast, and an immense amount of snow.

Lizzard Loves "Christmas" breakfast at home

On a related note, has anyone else noticed (and/or appreciated) how much the snow brings out the city's friendliest side? I find that I chat much more to the waitress, bartender, & shop clerk than I do on a regular day. Many of you know that I am, by nature, quite chatty- so this is saying something! I notice it in other people too. Just walking around our neighborhood I am offered many more hellos during a snowstorm than I am on an average weather day. Maybe because the sidewalks shrink to a 12 inch wide passable stretch, or maybe we all join in the feeling of "we're all in this together", or maybe its something else entirely. Bottom line; I like being "in this together" with you Chicago. I am happy & proud to live here, even in the cold & snow, scratch that, especially in the cold & snow.

Help from my husband

I love help from my husband.

Obviously.....but particularly when I am 1 thumb down. While celebrating New Year's Eve in Wisconsin, I sprained my thumb. I **did not** drunkenly injure myself! I fell down while cross country skiing at Kettle Morraine State Forest. Side note, if you ever find yourself visiting southeastern Wisconsin; take the time to visit Kettle Morraine (or "the Kettle" as our family affectionately calls it). It is a beautiful place full of tall hills, deep forests, and lakes. 

As per usual, I digress.

Chris not only helped me up from my fall, cheered me on while I skied the 1/2 mile back to our car from where I fell, and drove me to the ER.......but hasn't made fun of my really great looking hand wear this past week! 

Lizzard Loves...wearing my cross country boots in the ER!

Lizzard Loves...Swollen fingers and Freddy Kruger mask :)

Even more helpful? He was willing to learn how to braid my hair because I couldn't (& still can't) do it myself! As you may have heard, we are rocking some incredibly cold weather in Chicago (Chiberia, home of the polar vortex!) and in order to keep my head and ears warm, I have been rocking a hat nonstop since New Years. My crazy curly hair does not take well to being crammed into a hat; so I wrangle it into a braid to keep it from looking too ridiculous. 

There are many things you need 2 working thumbs to do, it becomes quite clear once you are lacking 1 of the 2. On Friday night though, the most pressing need I had was to get out of the house to go to dinner with a friend at Sepia (delicious, delicious place- absolutely visit it when you have time. Order & enjoy one of their craft cocktails and drink in the liquid thoughtfulness they offer. Don't skimp on your food order either- you will be increasingly happy with each passing course! Do not fault the restaurant for the fact that their website plays music when you visit. At least it is in keeping with their overall old school image!) Darn it, digressed again. 

Back to the helpful husband, who was more than willing to watch this video from Real Simple to help him learn. Look at what he did! New year, new skill for Chris!

 I was out the door on time, into the cold, but appropriately bundled up in my hat with my hair staying put :) 

Lizzard Loves my husband's help!

Mission accomplished. Thanks honey!