You don’t look a day over 30.

It’s no secret that I am in love with you and it doesn’t look like my love affair is waning anytime soon. You always are coming up with something new to do, see, taste, smell (the whiffs of the chocolate factory I catch while strategically walking down Wabash? Heaven.) and the city is so darn liveable. I love that within a few miles I can go from the hustle of downtown to a wide open park, wave hi to zoo animals, cheer on the Cubbies, run along one of the most beautiful lake fronts in the world and be home again. Christmas is the best, you really roll out the festive red carpet for the holidays- it does not go unnoticed, I promise. And your summers?! I know they’re short but for that time, we all forget about the 9 months of winter and dive head first into enjoying this town as if it was practically beach front resort!

You have been so good to me in my time here and I plan on making this my home for a long, long time to come. Someday, I hope to have little Chi Town kiddos who share my love for our home sweet home and have el riding, museum hopping, Wrigley Field loving, awesome urban childhoods. In the meantime, keep doing what you do and know that I’ll be cheering you on.

Way to go, Chicago- you’re my kind of town.

Love and birthday cake,
Nina