a visit from mom. {mary grace}

being sick is never fun. but, it's always a little better when mom drops in to chi-town for the weekend :) we had a fun but relaxing weekend, indulging in lots of yummy but healthy foods; it's always a plus to escape that dining hall food. thanks for stopping by, momma!

^^yes, of course i brought her to the chicago diner. i can't get enough of this place :) and, since we are both vegetarian (she being vegan), it was the perfect place to grab a yummy lunch.

^^i have become obsessed with smoothie bowls. of course, you can go out & buy them as many new places have popped up with growing popularity, but i find it fun to create them at home. i've always been a big smoothie girl, so this new way of mixing it up a bit is too fun for me. this weekend we tried it out, adding fun toppings to our normal smoothies. it sure makes for a yummy breakfast.^^

^^hellooo art institute of chicago, you are so beautiful. such a great place to spend a sunday afternoon.^^

i hope life is lovely wherever you may be.

xoxo,

mary grace.

life lately. {mary grace}

i have a mass of photos to share here on the blog, as (obviously) you can see i have been very behind in posting. but, that just means i've been wonderfully busy with life, school, friends, and family. so, i can't complain :) here is a little bit of what my march and april has looked like...

^^yes, please. keep these sunsets comin', chicago.^^

^^ a spontaneous trip downtown with a friend to escape dining hall food :) sometimes another meal from the dining halls is just not an option for your taste buds, so you hit up downtown chicago & splurge on sushi from hot woks cool sushi ;) ^^

^^finally...finally! i got to see my precious nuggets over easter break after months apart & i could not have been happier. nothing can brighten your day like the bubbly presence of a toddler...and the presence of four is even better :)^^

^^how i missed you, big brother.^^

^^how lucky i am to have been able to see so many lovely faces in such a short span of time. the weekend after my easter in st. louis, my best friend kristin took the train down to chicago! and, of course, our first pit stop was to the chicago diner (meat free since '83...score!) to grab a hearty lunch. you can't leave there without trying one of their acclaimed vegan milkshakes...trust me, you won't regret it.^^

^^wicker park, here we come...^^

^^oh myopic books, every time i visit i truly think i have found heaven on earth.^^

^^if you're looking for a funky treat while exploring wicker park, hit up glazed and infused doughnuts.^^

^^such spectacular city views from the top of navy pier's ferris wheel.^^

^^oak street beach! the beautiful & warm spring weather has got me in the best mood, but seeing everyone out & about--walking, biking, roller-blading, beach lounging, etc.--makes the atmosphere so much better. this city is bursting with activity & it's hard to not let it inspire you...^^

^^a quick stop at argo tea for some pomegranate yumminess. and! lunch at toast. seriously, yum. kristin & i stumbled upon this lovely little cafe (off of the fullerton red line stop) and loved it. veggie chili & the caprese sandwich with mixed greens really hit the spot.^^

^^a bit more oak street beach fun.^^

^^just because i got the coolest new leggings & i love them.^^

^^loyola beach day! plus, a little picnic on the pier. it's so much fun to see everyone out enjoying the beautiful weather.^^

i hope life has been filled with family, friends, and fun. bring on the warmth, spring :)

xoxo,

mary grace.

solo date night. {mary grace}

saturday night was lovely. i spontaneously made the decision to get up & get out. i dressed up casual-cute and headed out for a night with just me, myself, and i. i took the L to a part of chicago that i had never been to before, logan square (red line to blue line), where the cute old-fashioned logan theatre awaited me. i may be the only one, but sometimes i just crave a long subway ride alone, with headphones in my ears vibing to the best music. and for the people watching, of course.

once there, i bought my ticket outside at the vintage ticket booth, picked up a thick, creamy and steaming hot chocolate, and settled into the plush movie theater seat to watch selma.

sometimes a date night with yourself is all you need to clear your head & let your mind wander. it's fun, i do recommend :)

^^such a charming little theatre.^^

^^hot chocolate is always a good idea.^^

go treat yourself to a solo date night! nothing beats adventuring into new areas of town, wherever you may be.

xoxo,

mary grace.