Star of Siam

Star of Siam

11 E. Illinois Street

Our new year's resolution is in swing.
I love that that means you'll find us in restaurants around Chicago rather than in the gym, wink.
It's been slower going that I thought, due to cold, cold temperatures combined with pregnancy cravings and aversions.
Read: stay home and order take-out or make pancakes!
But the second trimester is here, and spring is on the way (don't believe the second part for a second).

For thai, we normally would have gone to Penny's Noodles in Wicker Park without a second thought, but my friend E who now lives in Spain (thought about you the whole time, E!) has always talked about Star of Siam.

I immediately loved the interior, warm and urban with exposed brick walls.
We had mixed reviews on the food, with husband loving his and me disappointed with mine.
I'm convinced that I ordered poorly though, so someday I'll have to try it again, with E as my guide.
I just talked to someone last night to whom husband recommended Star of Siam, and she was very happy with it too, so go and order better than I did!
For visitors (or locals), this is a good one if you're shopping on Michigan Avenue, because it's just a few steps off the Mag Mile.

Baby Names and New Year's Resolutions

In the spirit of our new year's resolution, we became first time visitors this week to the breakfast restaurant Ann Sather (known for their cinnamon rolls).
There's a handful of Ann Sather locations in the city, so find the one closest to your neighborhood here.

Husband finds hobby in going out to breakfast, so even the -13 degree wind chill of the day couldn't keep my avid breakfast outer away.
Inauguration Day coverage hummed in the background on NPR while we searched for this new breakfast spot, and once we found it we settled in on a bit of conversation about baby names, which didn't go far.
I've always known we'd have a hard time naming together because we both have strong preferences and "naming values" that don't happen to be the same, but I have hope that we'll come up with something!

Here's what I can tell you about Ann Sather...
The interior is fun and colorful and cozy, with a big fireplace in the main room (at the Broadway location, that is).
They serve two huge cinnamon rolls as a side dish to all their main dishes.
How fun is that?
Recommend.

A City Lights Baby

There's a baby coming to Chicago this July, and she/he's ours!

Husband and I are so very, very happy.

A City Lights baby, how about that.

Ready for an adventure!

Number One Book Suggestion for 2013

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Today is (only) the eleventh day of January.

Anyone still looking for something new for the new year?

If you're looking but not quite sure what to pick up, I'm leaving you with my number one book suggestion for 2013.

I read this book last year, and it was really important for me.

If you've been a Christian for most of your life, read my lips: this book is a must.

One of the main points of the book is that "it's impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature."

Through my studies of the past few years, I've found that the church tends to severely underplay emotion and often has an uneducated understanding of emotion.

I can tell you that I am more emotionally immature than I knew, and I needed to know.

Emotional immaturity affects what your life is like and what your life will be like.

If you end up reading this, I'd love to know!

New Year's Day 2013

On New Year's morning, husband and I rolled out of bed and walked up the street in our neighborhood to Hash House A Go Go for breakfast.

Our new year's resolution is to visit only new restaurants, so we started things off right!

The morning was sunny and mind-numbingly cold.

Just the way I like a January 1.

We enjoyed being out in our neighborhood and doing slow things like wandering into Barnes' and Noble and sitting out at Montrose Harbor.

It was honestly the best morning I've had in so, so long, and Hash House A Go Go was so delicious that our new year's resolution felt genius.

Happy 2013!

Any new year's resolutions?

*Exceptions to the rule: birthdays or special occasions, fast food/take-out, and dining with friends or guests.

This rule is in effect for the first three months of 2013, and will be re-assessed at that time.
In the meantime, look for new Chicago restaurant suggestions here!

A Favorite

I meant to post this picture earlier when I went through my Christmas pictures (which were few and far between this year, unfortunately).

I usually have a favorite from our trips to see family, and this one is it for Christmas 2012.

My 3-year-old twin nieces on husband's side of the family.

Christmas magic!

Hope you are warm and remembering to write "13" instead of "12" at the end of all your dates.

I had a consistency crisis in 2012 of how to write "2's" so I'm glad 2012 is over.

Some new year's posts coming soon!