Tuesday 3 December 2013

Twenty One Days - Photos and a Few Links to Share


Hello December.  Only three weeks until Christmas - twenty one days.  So much to do, so little time.  We spent the weekend in Chicago, traveling from one hockey arena to the next, admiring Christmas lights and watching cars drive by with Christmas trees on their roofs.  I need to make a list.  Many lists.  But first I need to finish unpacking, do some laundry, and sort through a few hundred photos from our weekend away.


I found a couple of new recipes I want to try this holiday season.  A beautiful Stollen at Magnolia Days.  My Mom buys Stollen every Christmas at her local European delicatessen and I'm going to try making one this year.  Also, this Bananas Foster Breakfast Strata at Prevention RD.  It's sort of like my Oven Baked French Toast , but with boozy bananas :)




I came across some words that struck a chord with me.  

"....find the reason to be happy for the ordinary. Let tedious be extraordinary"


Pinterest is overflowing with ideas for the most beautiful, delicious, and crafty Christmas ever.  Realistically, I'd like to make time to get one craft done with the kids and these Sock Snowmen are on my list.  





And I am now officially in love with The Cheesecake Factory.  I may or may not have pinched a menu while lunching there.  And I may or may not be planning to copy half of their menu items.  So good.


Twenty one days.  Better get cracking.

31 comments:

  1. Love post that have pictures. hope you're doing good. Happy Tuesday. have a great week. come check me out. pinkowl07.blogspot.com

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  2. Totally can't believe Christmas is only in 21 days now! Seriously, it will be hear before we know and so right better get cracking now! And thanks again for linking up with over at the Mommy Blog Hoppers today!!:)

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  3. That Bananas Foster Breakfast Strata DOES sound good -- ya gotta love any breakfast recipe that calls for dark rum!

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  4. I was born and raised in Chicago until I traded the north for the south. Some things I miss are the snow, Christmas down town is magnificent, and having everything at my finger tips. However, I love the south, will visit, but never move back. Thanks for showing me some of my beautiful home.

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  5. Thanks for sharing your photos of Chicago. Have a wonderful week :)

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  6. Yeah, the 21 day thing is kind of scaring me too. I really don't have much done in the way of buying presents (bad mom!). It looks like you had a lot of fun in Chicago - what a great city, eh?

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  7. Never have been to Chicago...thanks for sharing photos.
    Over from My Happy List.

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  8. Stollen rocks! Best of luck with yours. :D

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  9. Hi Jenn! Looks like you guys had fun!...great photos! But it's always good to be back home! I absolutely LOVE "The Cheesecake Factory". A new one is opening not far from where I live...sooo excited!! Have a wonderful week!!

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  10. Wonderful shots Jenn. I am glad you had an enjoyable time. Some years ago an aunt from abroad visited and showed us how to make a stollen. We enjoyed it. Have a good day.

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  11. Wow, I seriously love that quote.....I need to paint it on our family room wall!

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  12. Living in Wisconsin, I have spent many wonderful week-ends in Chicago~ I also have always wanted to make a Stollen, maybe this year I'll give it a try~ Thanks for taking a ride on The Great Blog Train~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  13. Fantastic pictures! I live about 30-60 minutes from Chicago (depending on traffic) and I rarely get to enjoy it's beauty!

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  14. Looks like it was a great trip - love your photos! Thank you for networking with us on the CLIMB!
    Angie
    godsgrowinggarden.com

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  15. I'm a bit partial to a bit of Stollen too, I've never thought to make it before though. I bet it is amazing freshly baked!

    Beautiful photos too by the way!

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  16. What gorgeous pictures! I'd never really thought about visiting Chicago, but it does look lovely.

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  17. Great pictures of your weekend! I haven't been to Chicago in years! Good luck with getting everything done!

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  18. Let tedious be extraordinary... I love that! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    Your photos are gorgeous!

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  19. Chicago looks like an incredible place, loving the pictures! Words to the wise....never ever order a dessert at The Cheesecake Factory for just one person - the portions are absolutely massive!!

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  20. Christmas is getting here faster than I'm ready to be moving toward it. Love all of your pictures! Thanks for sharing at Tales of a Pee Dee Mama.

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  21. God that Banana Foster Breakfast Strata looks good! Oh to eat desserts again! :( Love the city architecture pics especially... You have an eye for the gothic! #PoCoLo

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  22. You've got a lot of great pictures here! I love Chicago. :) I'm visiting today from Fun Friday. :)

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  23. Hi Jenn,

    Greetings from down-under Australia!

    I'm a Singaporean mum living in Australia. Unlike Chicago, we are having a summery Christmas and love to enjoy the views of Chicago at your blog. I like the oven baked French toast that you made... Exactly what we need after any Christmas celebrations :D

    Nice to know you via blogging. Happy to follow your blog and hope to hear you too :D

    Zoe

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  24. I love Chicago! Looks like you had a good time!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  25. What a great post :) I LOVE your photos - Chicago looks stunning. I hope I manage to get there one day. Thank you so much for linking to PoCoLo this week :) x

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  26. What incredible pictures. I hope to get to Chicago one of these days, thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party!

    Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.

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  27. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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  28. Awesome photos! I'm a little late but I wanted to thank you for linking up to Click Chicks as often as you do! :) Today is winter, next week is RED, and the 26th is GREEN! I hope you can join me again!

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  29. How did I miss this post? Got you firmly locked in Bloglovin now and won't miss a thing. Spaghetti squash is pretty amazing!! I never liked squash until adulthood and I'm so glad I do. Your trip looks awesome! I've been to Chicago twice and both times so memorable, they really stay with me.
    Our tree leaned too and it's 17 feet! Luckily my husband straightened it because it really scared me.

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  30. Thank you so much for sharing this through our lets have an adventure link up. Its perfect. x

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  31. Thank you so much for linking up with us! It looks like a wonderful time :) xxx

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