From The Papercut Art Shop on Etsy
Crushing on these super sweet images that are hand-cut from one piece of paper. I know- super cool, right? Instead of attempting it myself, this one might be on my Christmas list that I’m compiling for Ryan…
4 floors of Christmas Tree. Just the way I like it.
Yes, Indeed.
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion exist.”
No “G Family Christmas Kickoff” would be complete without heading to State Street to check out the holiday windows at Marshall Field’s, errr, Macy’s so Papa G, my step-mom, Ryan and I bundled up on Sunday morning to see what the theme was this year.
The theme this year is the famous editorial that appeared in The Sun in 1987 answering a letter titled “Is There a Santa Claus?”. I have always loved the “Yes, Virginia…” response because it speaks so beautifully to the necessity of belief in the unseen, in faith.
And after all, isn’t that what this time of year is about? Faith in love, faith in family, faith that a Savior was going to arrive in Bethlehem, just as promised?
I’m so happy I was able to share this holiday tradition with my family, people I always have faith in.
Tradition
I don’t know if I told you but this weekend is the “4th Annual G Family Christmas Kickoff”, also known as one of my favorite weekends of the entire year. My parents arrived this morning and already, lots of traditional festivities have taken place (like eating at Dao Thai, shopping on Michigan Ave), as well as some new events (like bed building- they got Ryan and I a lovely bed for Christmas!). Still on the agenda? Filene’s (my step-mom is an expert shopper- she does not take prisoners when it comes to Filene’s and finding great stuff at a great price), drinks at the Omni and dinner at somewhere Italian; anywhere Italian was the request, actually.
This time of year makes me feel so nostalgic, so aware of the importance of ritual and tradition. I love making new memories but there’s a lot to be said for the comfort of old ones. Maybe that’s why I love creating new traditions with the people who hold the old ones. Comfort and creation. I can’t think of anything better.
Mark Your Calendar- K.Amato Holiday Trunk Show
As I mentioned in Just a Chi Town Girl’s Favorite Things, I have a huge crush on K.Amato Jewelry. I went to put on my Wabash necklace today and realized I didn’t know when her holiday sale was! Her studio is in Lincoln Park but a few times a year, K.Amato takes her show on the road. Next Wednesday, December 8th at the Omni Hotel from 5-8pm will be the one I’ll be hitting up but there are a few more dates, including this Friday up on Southport and then another in Lincoln Park later next week. Seriously great jewelry dreamed up by one of Chicago’s own. I’m so excited to see what’s new.
Cold and Crisp
I bundled up and went for a little walk this morning. It is crisp and cold and absolutely December. It’s the kind of cold that flirts with the edge of snow, the below 30 degree cold that could turn into flakes at any second. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t the least bit excited for snow. The city is so beautiful and bright with a fresh layer of snow. It makes holiday’ing official. Which it totally is, and this upcoming weekend solidifies it even more…with or without snow. My parents are coming into town for the 4th Annual “G Family Christmas Kickoff” and I couldn’t be more excited.
Ellen, Snow and Sweaters
Since last April, I have been an avid Tweeter (Twitterer? Twittist?). I follow my friends, random Broadway stars and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Today, Ellen tweeted this:
@TheEllenShow Ellen DeGeneres
“It’s on Chicago! Get over to The Bean with your most creative holiday sweater and Jeannie might have a huge surprise for you!”
I love Ellen, I love Chicago, I love that Ellen was showing Chicago some love and I remembered that Ryan has an American Flag sweater shoved in a bin in our storage closet…why not go down to the Bean to see what was up? So, I grabbed the sweater and my camera and headed to The Bean to see what was to be seen:
About 100 people, decked out in their holiday, err, finest. Let’s just say that as fetching as I looked in a flag sweater that I pulled over the top of my winter coat, these people came stronger with their holiday sweaters. And battery packs that powered actual lights strung on their bodies. Ellen was taping her show in LA and came on to deliver a message to us about the contest she was holding:
Long story short, I did not win $10,000 tonight but I did see snow for the first time this year and I did get a Lite White Berry at Caribou when I could no longer feel my toes. Oh and I got to hang out with some festive Chicagoans. An entirely successful evening.
When these things go on in your backyard, you simply can’t not go see what the Ellen is going on.
This Little Green One Here Seems to Need a Home
My trip to the Home Depot garnered more than just a 6.5 foot Asher Pine. Also purchased was a real, live plastic Charlie Brown Christmas tree (Linus’ blanket included). As I was putting it together, Ryan’s comment was “It looks so pathetic and look- it’s leaning”. True statements but I think that’s the point.
And it makes me smile every time I look at it so I would say it was $9.98 well spent.
Happy Birthday: Ryan Edition
Dear Ryan,
It’s your birthday and as you enter your 27th year, I wanted to let you know how much fun I had with you as a 26 year old and how great I think 27 is going to be.
In the last year, we’ve been on 3 planes together, road tripped to 3 weddings and explored the heck out of this city we live in. We moved in together (!) which means we combined all of our “stuff”, painted walls and moved furniture around 50 times until our new apartment felt like home. Remember coming home from vacation in Florida and how we realized that this place is home simply because we’re in it together? Looks like we didn’t need to care about where the furniture was so much.
You, birthday boy, may be the funniest person I have ever met. Thanks for making me laugh until my sides hurt. Despite the fact that the Chicago Marathon filled up before you could register, you did every single long training run with me. Thanks for being my biggest cheerleader- I couldn’t have done those 26.2 miles without you!
You love Wow Bao, More Cupcakes, and Luna Bell, all things that I adore. You also love numbers, finance and leaving wet towels on the bed, all things I do not adore. But I couldn’t have a better person in my life right now and I am super grateful to have you as my partner-in-Chicago, someone who is as big of a foodie as I am and will wander around this city with me for hours, just enjoying being somewhere we love with someone we love.
So, happy birthday, baby! I hope you enjoyed your Bacon-Maple Cupcake.
Love,
Nina
Sunday’ing
The Santa Clause on the TV, Christmas Tree decorating, Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner. The wind is a-blowing outside but our apartment feels warm and snuggly.
Happy Sunday!