First, I’d like to get a few things off my chest.

Number 1. As soon as I enter Chicago, it’s like entering a time warp. I swear, the 3 months I spent living there felt like one week and the 4 days that I was just there felt like 4 hours. It’s insane. And it’s for that reason that I don’t have that many pictures to share with you guys Forgive me? Since this a healthy living blog & not a work blog. But I didn’t really do much healthy living either and I’ll elaborate on that.

Number 2. I am never, ever, EVER stepping foot on an Amtrak train to Chicago again. The ride there was 2 & 1/2 hours late, so I ended up arriving at 6:30. I forgot my water bottle & my pistachios at home & I was surrounded by all my junk so I didn’t feel like getting up & going to their snack cart. But I arrived, happier than ever to be in the city.

Sunny on the way to Chicago and rainy/depressing on the way back.

But the ride home?

I swear, Amtrak Wolverine is the Spirit Airlines of the railways. It’s absolutely terrible. The train departed at noon and was supposed to arrive at 6:15. Nope. After moving at a snail’s pace for a good 3 hours, the train ended up stopping for 45 mins. GRRRRR. Needless to say, I got home at around midnight. Swell. I watched 5 movies – Mamma Mia, Clueless, Knocked Up, Austin Powers in Goldmember & a Maroon 5 concert DVD.

Trying to stay sane....

So, eats in Chicago. There wasn’t much of any. I didn’t feel deprived because I was just go, go, go all the time, but I probably did a number on my metabolism. I somehow managed to healthify a Cheesecake Factory meal though! I ordered the grilled salmon with no butter or oil, steamed broccoli with no butter & a side garden salad with vinaigrette. It was still a monster portion though.

Breakfasts consisted of either fruit, or this most-amazing-froyo-evaaaaah.

Acai Blueberry with Coconut Flakes from Yogen Fruz

I was also reunited with my love in salad form: the summer-only Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad from Panera. We need Panera Bread in Canada, amIright?! If I could marry a salad, this one would take the cake. The runner up is the Luau Salad from the Cheesecake Factory which is like, a bajillion calories.

Other than that, I consumed a fruit tray from Whole Foods over 2 days, a Berry Fulfilling Jamba Juice, a couple licorice Scottie Dogs and a couple glasses of Merlot.

My body is now crying out for veggie-lovin’. And more Merlot.

I didn’t do much shopping except for some essentials at Sephora – Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara, Living Proof Thickening Cream & a peel for my skin. I also went to the gigantic Victoria’s Secret flagship store on Michigan Avenue. Victoria, I have a bone to pick with you. After venturing upstairs to the PINK section to find a new bra, I was quite displeased at their lack of selection, or no selection at all of bras in my size. I have a weird, pretty bad bra size & the fact that they called four other stores in the area that also didn’t have it, I was miffed to say the least. I ended up buying a bra a size up(a 34 A. Lifetime member of the IBTC here), but I got it for $8 in some sweet, totally worth it sale.

Why must you mock me?

I also went on a Segway for the first time in my life.

I.want.a.segway. THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! I thought I’d be totally terrible & just fall over, but it’s virtually impossible. The segway keeps you balanced at all times & it goes up to 12.5 mph (pretty fast when you’re just standing!) I went with Bike & Roll Chicago along the North Beach area. It was a totally amazing experience. If you’re ever in Chicago, I highly recommend trying it. It’s totally worth wearing a goofy-looking helmet for  Check out this view: All in all, I absolutely love Chicago. It has lead/is currently leading to & opening up some exciting career opportunities for me. I have a couple other things to share that might have to be saved for a post later today because this is getting to be pretty long!

For now, I’m going grocery shopping & making a veggie packed chili. But I also have some exciting recipes coming up that I have all planned out, so stay tuned! It feels good to be back