Scenes from Chicago

Oh, you guys, I had SO much fun in Chicago! Yes, I did come home slightly exhausted + sick with a summer cold (I think I picked it up from Ben before I left...urgh), but the trip was *totally* worth it and much, much-needed.

I spent the first two days of the trip visiting with my BFF-since-5th-grade, Kelly (pictured above), during which we ate tons of delicious food (of course), got pedicures, took long walks around Chicago, and just relaxed.

Then on Friday morning, Kelly and two more of my best friends (Laura and Jessica, pictured below) surprised me with an intimate little baby shower. And when I say it was a surprise, I mean it! I was totally caught off guard and of course started crying right away. 

We played some sweet games, ate a delicious breakfast, decorated onesies, opened presents, and of course, chatted all things baby, and it made me feel SO loved and grateful for my thoughtful (+ tricky!) friends. 

The rest of the trip was dedicated to my friend Amanda's bachelorette party, which was a total blast despite the fact that I was the only sober pregnant gal in the bunch ;) While 10:30 was the latest I stayed out either night, I gave it my best and loved being a part of the festivities. We packed in a show at Second City (loved it!), two amazing dinners, a bridal shower, and of course, lots of downtime chatting in our hotel room and exploring Chicago. 

As usual, this girls' trip came at just the right time; I got to take a few days off of work, which was a nice rest for my brain and body, and I got the chance to reconnect with some of my closest friends before our baby girl comes this summer (and changes my life forever). It was the best. 

You can view a few more pics from the trip below...

Thanks to my amazing friends for the incredible weekend and to Chicago for being SO beautiful while we were there.

​Hope you all had a great weekend, too!