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The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

What To Do In Winter In Chicago (A Budget Friendly Guide)

Travel | November 5, 2015

Winter in Chicago can be brutal at times, but if you're planning on visiting and wondering what there is to do, here is a budget friendly guide for you!

Visiting Chicago in winter can be totally fun with the right planning, even if you hate the cold!  Winter can be especially tough for locals and visitors alike in Chicago.  For some unknown reason, I’ve had a variety of people come to visit me in Chicago, in WINTER and for the life of me, I do not understand people’s sadistic pleasure in thinking they can somehow enjoy “experiencing true winter.”

That being said, there are plenty of lovely things to do here if you *must* come here in the dead of winter.  Chicago is a great city, even when it’s 10 degrees out, so enjoy some of my suggestions as to what to do and see if you’re on a budget in Chicago.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN CHICAGO OVER THE WINTER:

Art Institute

Located right off of Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute will be a welcome respite from the chilly winter winds you will surely experience when you *have* to go take pictures at the Bean (A.K.A. Cloud Gate) which is right across the street in Millennium Park.  It’s easy to get to from the Brown, Purple, Red or Blue lines or you can always Uber…because chances are, you won’t want to walk too long outside if that wind is blowing!

Also, as a tribute to the many locals who suffer through winter, the Art Institute offers free admission on Thursday nights from 5-8.  You’re welcome everyone, winter is tough.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Hit up the Lincoln Park Zoo before Christmas for a gorgeous display of lights at ZooLights.   It’s pretty, I assure you. There is also ice skating and skate rental is only about $5 last time I checked- not bad, right?

ZooLights is totally free and you can watch some ice carving, carolers, or be dazzled with a synchronized music and light show…no coin required.

 

glogg andersonville

{Photo credit}

Glögg!!

If you’re willing to make a trek up to Andersonville (right off the Berwyn Red Line), you will need to have some Glögg at Simon’s.  It’s a divey-delightful little spot and each little glass of this hot wine concoction is served with an adorable ginger cookie that you will try and break into 3 pieces to get a wish.  (I have yet to achieve this, my cookie breaks into four pieces, I apparently suck at luck cookies).  It’s about $6 per glass and you may need to bring cash- but you’re in a really cute Dutch neighborhood with plenty of shops to stroll around in.  You’ll have a good time strolling around Andersonville to shop, and you can keep your buzz going with a fantastic Manhattan from Lady Greggory’s or just about any sort of beer from HopLeaf.

Christkindl Market

I have to put this on here, because there are some diehard Christkindl Market fans out there who love to wait in long lines in Daley Plaza and pay for overpriced mulled wine in a ceramic boot (which I hear is no longer a boot, gasp!).  If you like German stuff and you’re downtown, be prepared to join the entire population who also shares their affections for all things Germany and all things Christmas for some long lines, but adorable glass ornaments, German food and gifts you an peruse in this little Germanish village composed of little sheds full of stuff to buy.  Go at the right time and have a good time. Go during prime tourist time and prepare to wait in lines outside the aforementioned shed-like structures just to see what you’d like to spend your money on.

Instead of Christkindl, Try Lincoln Square

Like the aforementioned Glögg, this location is a bit of a trek outside of downtown, but I assure you- you can have mulled wines and stuff to spend money on without the crowds.  Lincoln Square is a very Christmasy adorable little nook that also is home to some good German, Mexican, Greek & other things.  Enjoy the lights, stop in the Book Cellar and be sure to shop at Enjoy, an urban general store, to #shoplocal for some cute stuff to gift.

I always stop in Hüettenbar for some mulled wine and plenty of Germanish kitsch (the place looks like an adorable ski lodge, tell me you don’t love it).  They also have a Christkindl Market that’s had some mixed reviews, but that’s how I feel about Christkindl in general.

Get Fat & Happy In Logan Square

Chances are you have had deep dish before….that’s great.  What’s even better is drunken doughnuts at the Boiler Room– a delightful combination of fresh doughnuts dipped in Jameson soft serve. Yes, that’s Jameson soft serve.  You can also get a total midwesty type combo meal while you’re at The Boiler Room- a PB&J…pizza, beer & a shot of Jameson.

If that’s not enough Jameson for you, go to the ATM and get a free shot (this place, like much of Logan Square is cash only, sigh).  Then, when that’s done, you can drunkenly stumble over to Revolution Brewery right across the way.  I would recommend putting in  your name at Revolution before going to The Boiler Room (oh the waiting you’ll do!) if it’s a busy night or weekend, but honestly, you can always go back to the Boiler Room for more Jameson-infused good times.  Also the bathroom is a replica of the EL which runs over the bar.  I kid you not.  This is right off the California Blue Line stop, and you can take a cab or Uber over to the Revolution Brewery tap room which doesn’t serve food, but there is usually no annoying wait for good beer.

;lLIf you’re in Chicago, be sure to send me a tweet– maybe we could meet up for some Glögg!

A budget friendly guide for activities you can do in Winter in Chicago

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Some people just make the world a more vibrant pla Some people just make the world a more vibrant place, simply by being in it.  I can say that about these people- who make life more colorful, brighter and true just by being themselves. 

Grateful we could slow down to capture a little snippet in time for our family before we grow again. ❤️
IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelb IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelblogger #travel #familytravel #travellust
3 years since this photo was taken and my former k 3 years since this photo was taken and my former kidney became this guy's kidney. ❤️

I can say, I've grown to appreciate this moment a lot more as time has gone on.  It hasn't been an easy road for my recipient, he and his family have had a few health scares and ups and down, but I'm so grateful we are in each other's lives.

Chances are, you may know of someone in need of a kidney. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S., over 80 million people, are at risk for kidney disease.  While not every diagnosis leads to kidney failure, there are millions of people in this scary limbo hoping for good news.

I didn't know my recipient before this process started, but when I found I could live healthfully with one, I knew I had to try.  Donation is low-risk, my costs were generously covered by my recipient (both through insurance and the kindness of others) and I was back at work in 4 weeks.  Needless to say, it was easier than birthing a baby.

Candidates for kidney donation are thoroughly vetted to ensure the surgery, and life with one kidney are a good fit.  Trust me, your team will not ask you to donate if you have any risk factor of being in need of a transplant yourself down the road.  Testing took months and was incredibly thorough.  Your remaining kidney can do the job of two, and my kidney levels are normal and healthy 3 years later.

Even if you don't personally know someone who needs a kidney, please consider living kidney donation.  You can anonymously donate, be paired through a registry or find someone on social media who is in need, like I did.  There are literally thousands of people using Instagram and Facebook to try and someone who is even willing to get the basic tests.  You could be their person.  Have questions? I’m here for you! 

Being a living kidney donor absolutely enriched my life beyond imagination and has blessed my little family with a beautiful extended family to celebrate with.  Grateful for this day.
Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.

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