thanksgiving list

So, we are heading to Hilton Head with the Shinglers for Thanksgiving weekend.  Brad and I are preparing brunch on Saturday for the whole crew.  Here are the dishes I am taking/making:

1. cheesy potato casserole
2. strawberry cream cheese coffee cake
3. fruit salad
4. curried chicken salad 

Also, fun snacks and desserts:

1. taco dip
2. ranch oyster crackers
3. sugar-crusted meltaways
4. white chocolate chex mix (AKA crack due to its addictiveness)

We are also taking:

1. bocce (we are right on the beach and though we might not be sunbathing, we will bocce!)
2. swimsuit (we do have a hot tub!)

So, it should be a great time!  We are having dinner with my family for Thanksgiving and Levi's birthday on Wednesday and heading down on Thursday morning.  On Sunday, we will leave pretty early to get back here in time for Mom and I to go to the Nutcracker.  I haven't seen it at the Imperial since I played an angel one year.  Ha!

chicago

 Ok, finally getting to the Chicago recap!!  These pictures are way out of order but it's the best I can do.

On Friday night, we went to the John Hancock Signature Lounge on the 96th floor for some drinks before dinner.  It was really cool!

 Saturday night we enjoyed some blues at Kingston Mines.  I have been to Chicago's House of Blues before but this was the real deal.

 Friday night we had dinner at Carnivale.  This place was amazing - really great atmosphere, fun menu and amaxing food.  I could eat there every weekend but my checking account couldn't handle that.  :)

This is Brad's braised short ribs with grits/polenta.  It was like butter...

 Byther Smith at the Blues bar.  He was really good I thought!

 The Chick-fil-A cow walked up while we were taking pictures and we couldn't resist.  They are finally getting some in Chicago and they are so popular!!!  As you can imagine...

 Megan's exam room!  Her chair has massage.  I might have to go up there every six months for my exams.  :)

 Drinks at the Signature Lounge.  I had a Godiva martini.  And Adi's scotch was infused with peanuts.  Weird...

Brad getting ready for his exam.  Ha.  I don't think he trusts Megan to work on his teeth.  Only because she has a lot of revenge she can exact on him.  :)

Megan's vegetable empanadas at Carnivale. 

 My flank steak.  It was fantabulous!!!  I got a cheese platter too - of course!

 Another view from the John Hancock Building.

 

 

View of the Navy Pier from John Hancock. See the ferris wheel? I have 'been there, done that' so this is as close as we got.

  Megan and Adi at the Lounge.

 Adi's pork chop at Carnivale. 

 Friday walking to dinner, on the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge.  I stayed at the Sheraton in the background a few years ago. 

 Eric 'the guitar' Smith at Kingston Mines.  He played a lot of cover songs which was actually kind of cool. 

 On Saturday, we visited the free (!) Lincoln Park Zoo in their neighborhood and then headed to Wrigleyville.  We got to see the stadium and went barhopping to catch all the football games.  We went to Goose Island (local beer that is fab), Vines on Clark, John Barleycorn's, and others.

We were right at the famous io theatre as well.  We thought about going to see an improv show but hit the Blues bar instead. 

Pizza at Pizano's was delish!  I do have to say it was more deep cheese than deep dish (crust) though.  Wow...

Thursday we went straight to this little pizza place.  I have been to Gino's before but this place was very quaint and authentic.  Yummy!

The outside of Carnivale.  It reminded me of a Brazilian steakhouse without the overabundance of food.

blog title

For all of you that read the blog regularly (ha), you will notice I have updated the title.  'Jami' was very boring so we are mixing things up.  I guess 'Shinglers' List' would have made more sense but this is my blog and Brad doesn't have many lists.  So, I will start listing items here periodically.  Whether it is good books, recipes, things I am looking forward to or errands to run, they will be posted for all to see.  Exciting huh?  J/K.  I am a huge list person so I thought this was appropriate!

Chicago teaser

Brad had to get a blue drink to start the trip off.

weekend projects

So, this weekend, Brad and I finished several projects we have been working on around the house.  The most exciting is our firepot patio!!  That is a solid cast-iron firepot and, boy, it is heavy.  Brad built this 12x12 frame and filled it with gravel and sand.  Then we laid the stack stone out and cemented in it place.  We are so excited to start using it once it gets chilly.  We still have to do a little more landscaping.  We are going to lay out the remaining stone as a walkway, build a step from the porch, lay more pinestraw and tear out those bushes and replace with (??).  Any suggestions? 

The house is really coming together.  In the last few weekends, we have (finally) moved Brad's bedroom from Westlake over to the spare bedroom.  The office furniture has been upgraded and compacted.  The dining room furniture has been in place for a while and I love it!  Of course, the new floors, grass and fence were all upgrades as well.  The last big project is to get floor in the attic so we have all that space too.  Yippee!!

Well, I am hoping for new master bedroom furniture soon as well.  We'll see...

I made this cinnamon wreath this weekend.  I was thinking for Christmas but it can be fall'y' as well.  The smell is divine!!  I will get better pictures of this up once the house is decorated.  

We will probably host an impromptu UGA/UF party this weekend and hopefully a girls Christmas party.  I want to start hosting an annual New Year's Day Brunch so we will continue working on the house!  I love to entertain and all these things will make it easier and more fun!!

Farm food

We had lots of yummy farm food this last weekend.  On Friday, we went with Levi to Farm 255.  He actually lived and worked on this farm for a while.  You may remember our visit from a previous post.

I had the local chevre with marcona almonds, honey and toasted bread along with some butternut squash soup.  Brad had the burger and LOVED it.  Levi, what did you have?  I can't remember.  The arugula salad and something else.  They also have a great patio that is perfect for dining al fresco.  I had to try the Pork Slap beer.  It was yummy and has a fabulous can!  If you can't tell, it is two pigs slapping bellies.  Ha!

On Sunday morning, we went with Beth and Ryan to Serenbe Farms in Palmetto, GA.  It it the coolest neighborhood fashioned after farm houses with some retail mixed in.  We ate at The Hil and it was marvelous.  I had smoked salmon and homemade goat cheese (do you see a pattern?) flatbread pizza.   

Eating at places like this always inspires me to use more local, fresh ingredients.  Hopefully soon!!  :)

UGA VIII

NEW UGA!!!