It’s weird, but ever since moving out to the “sticks” and since I don’t work in Chicago anymore, we only go there maybe a couple times a year. I had two goals yesterday – one was to go to Niketown to use a gift card, and the other was to go to Fox & Obel – a high end grocery store. I had a groupon – I paid $20 and my coupon is worth $40.
Before we left I had yet another egg sammie:
Hannah and I took the train downtown – no express trains on Sundays, so our trip was an hour and 10 minutes.
We met my Mom downtown at the train station. It’s about a 2 mile walk to Water Tower so we decided to take the water taxi to Michigan Avenue. When I worked downtown, it took the water taxi from April to October. So if all things went well, I would leave my house at 7:00, and after the train ride, the water taxi, then a six block walk to my office, I would get to my desk at 9:00! I do not miss that long commute – now my commute is 11 minutes!
As we were walking on Michigan avenue, there was a huge poster in front of the Nike store that had every name of every runner on it. One of my blogging friends Meghann was running the race and had traveled from Florida. Check out her race recap here! 😀
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/amarathon-018.jpg)
I finally found it!
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There were so many marathon runners walking around with their medals. In fact, when I went into the Nike store, anytime any worker saw a marathon runner they started clapping and ringing cow bells – I guess the store was doing complimentary engravings on the marathon medals.
We hit up Water tower first since we were hungry!
The food court took forever. After I ate I ended up doing my errands while Hannah and my Mom hung out at Water Tower. I thought it felt like we would have plenty of time downtown, but the afternoon was going fast! I had a delicious tomato soup with corn bread that was to die for – so moist!
And then what trip to Chicago would be complete without a Chicago style hot dog!
So after I went to Nike (I got a new sports bra :D) I started walking to Fox & Obel. Well turns out they moved their store since the last time I was downtown! There was no way I could walk there, shop and make it back to the water taxi to meet Hannah and my Mom. The coupon is only good until October 25, so if there are any Chicago readers who want a $40 coupon to Fox & Obel, just leave me a comment that you want it!
We took the water taxi back to the train station – we passed by one of our favorite steak houses:
The day went just too fast! We are going to plan it better next time.
I had ribs in the oven all day and planned on grilling them. I forgot how quickly it gets dark now, so I actually had a lantern next to the grill so I could see! I also made quick baked beans – so simple!
Biz’s Baked Beans
- 1 can chili beans with sauce (don’t drain)
- 1 can Northern white beans (drained)
- 1/2 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes. So good!
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/amarathon-052.jpg)
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/amarathon-064.jpg)
So today is weigh in day! Last week you may remember I weighed in at 173.2. Today I weighed in at . . . 171.6! -1.6 for the week!
I think the key was keeping my percentage of calories from fat mostly below 30% and getting in between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise – nice! 😀
Don’t forget voting begins on the next round of Project Food Buzz! Please vote for my foodie friends!
Head on over to FoodBuzz and vote for them if you can – you have until Thursday to vote!
Alright, time to get ready for work – have a great Monday! 😀
Congrats on the weight loss! That’s great news! Too bad you couldn’t use that coupon–hopefully someone else will want it!
Sounds like a great day in Chicago! We so need to visit (did you know my brother and his family as well as my aunt and uncle and all the cousins live there?). Yummy beans too! And thank you so much for the PFB vote!!!
I officially have a craving for corn bread…after you posted about it on my blog, and now seeing the picture…mmm! I love Hannah’s hair color! It’s perfect on her. Your day downtown looks amazing! My parents are in OP as you know and they plan dates down there every other week. When I grew up they NEVER went down and I always gave them a hard time about it 🙂
P.S. Awesome loss this week – woo!!!
I loved seeing your day in Chicago. Twenty one years ago we lived in Davenport, Iowa and it was a 3 hours drive to Chicago. I enjoyed going to the Water Tower to shop! There was a cute little French Cafe I liked to eat lunch at.
I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, thanks!
what a great time in chi-town 🙂 now i’m craving baked beans!!
If you still have the coupon, I’ll be happy to take it. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your beans recipe – looks great! What a fun visit to the city – I know what you mean, I don’t go to Atlanta nearly enough, even though it’s just 15 minutes away! I like my bubble sometimes. 🙂
Awww.. thanks for the shout out! And for the photo! I wish we could have found a way to meet up!
Looks like you had a great day!
Biz, what a fun trip… and that rub and ribs looks amazing. don’t know why I never thought of cooking them in the oven first and then putting t hem on the gril. Your food always looks amazing and I’m always surprised at the calorie count. Guess you can eat GOOD and still be under 1500.
great job.
Dang – we didn’t have ribs once this summer. I may have to rectify that next weekend. 🙂 – your hotdog looks amazing – WANT! [although it was hard to see the actual hotdog, heehee]
glad you had such a great time – looks like perfect weather. 🙂
I’ll take that coupon off your hands! :0)
Glad you guys had fun, I didn’t know that Fox & Obel moved either and my office did the remodel!! Who knew? Sorry about that Biz
Yay for 1.6 lbs lost! I can’t seem to lose anything these days and with the 3 big holidays coming up, I’m thinking of switching to survival mode (maintenance.)
What a fun day to be at Niketown – how very cool that they listed every runner’s name!
I was checking out that “Chicago Style” hot dog. Did they stop putting meat in them? And where is the neon green relish? 😉
There was a dog and relish under there – just under all the pickles and mustard! 😀
Sounds like fun. (You probably go downtown as often as I do!)
I’m seeing cornbread everywhere these days! Must make some ASAP.
I love Chicago and every time I read your posts I wish I lived back there, again! Sounds like a fun day. I’ve never heard of Fox and Obel but if I ever get back to Chicago, I’ll check it out. Your mom is so cute…I think Hannah looks like her. I am going to make your bean recipe…it looks so good and easy. Hope you have a fabulous day!
Sounds like a fun trip downtown Biz. I rarely went downtown Chicago when I lived in the burbs. That hour train ride on the weekends was horrible not to mention my commute into the city as well. That bran recipe looks great.
Your day in Chicago sounds like my days in New York. I never, ever have enough time to do everything I want to do!