July 30, 2012

Meeting Mary

What a fun day! I got up at 6:00 this morning to shower and get ready to spend the afternoon in Chicago with Mary. The plan was for Jerry and I to take the Metra train into Union Station where we would meet up with Mary. My sister lives about 45 minutes from the Metra station, so Jerry and I drove there first and boarded the train.
The train took about an hour and 20 minutes to get to Union Station. I was excited to meet Mary (and a little nervous). I've been reading Mary's blog for about a year, and we've been getting to know each other on our Ragnar team's private Facebook page, so I felt like we were already friends.

I recognized her right away and gave her a hug. She's as adorable in person as she is in her photos ;)  We walked to a bus to go to a brewery that Jerry wanted to check out.
We had a beer at Goose Island Brewery (Jerry was totally thrilled); then we walked to a restaurant called The Chicago Diner:
This is an all-vegetarian/vegan restaurant--we have nothing like this around us in Michigan, so I was really excited to try it. I ordered a reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries. The "meat" in the reuben was seitan, which I'd never tried before. The sandwich was great! I used to love reubens when I was overweight, and I hadn't had one in a long time.
After lunch, Jerry really wanted to get a picture of himself in front of Wrigley Field, so we walked there. On the way, I saw a frozen yogurt shop, and just HAD to stop for dessert. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like EVERY food blogger has self-serve frozen yogurt at least five times a week... and I've never had it! I am always so jealous when I see the pictures.

I definitely did not skimp when I made my dish... I put in three flavors of fro-yo: red velvet, french vanilla, and pistachio. Then I topped it with cheesecake bits, cookie dough, Reese's Pieces, Reese's Cup bits, and marshmallow topping. Do I even have to describe how good it was?!



The afternoon has flown by, so we took Jerry's picture at Wrigley Field and then got on the bus to head back to the train station. Mary and I said good-bye; it was SO great to get to meet her in person! She is exactly how I pictured, and just as genuine as she is on her blog. (I think I may have scared her with my love for desserts, however...)

Jerry and I took the train back to Elgin, then drove back to Rockford and got to my sister's at 6:45. I got a text message from my friend Sarah, and everything went well with her c-section today. I am SO excited! This is probably the closest I'll ever get to being an aunt ;)  I'm going to give her a call tomorrow for some more details.

I didn't end up running today like I was supposed to. I was thinking I'd run when I got back from Chicago, but it was 92 degrees--much too hot for me! So I decided I'll get up early tomorrow morning and run instead. I did, however, do my scheduled workout for the Wii Active 30-Day Challenge. That is some serious dedication, I swear. My sister and the kids were making s'mores while I was sweating it out in the basement with the Wii. But I felt good about burning off a smidge of the ice cream I ate today ;)

17 comments:

  1. I was actually looking through the Entertainment book today and saw a place called A Vegan Cafe. It's in Canton, MI ... so it's probably too far. But I just thought I'd let you know ;)

    Sounds like a fun time with Mary and Jerry today! Love the FroYo!

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  2. AnonymousJuly 30, 2012

    I love the Chicago diner! During st pattys day, they make a knock off shamrock shake that is ahhh mazing! Yum!!

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  3. What a fun day!! Katie, I've been off the blog radar for a couple of weeks due to work but am excited to get caught up with all of your fun goings-on! So, you had a scheduled run today AND a work-out video?? Wow, girl! I wouldn't feel bad about missing your run at all! :) When is your marathon? Mine is early October.

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  4. Check out Seva in Ann Arbor. Their food is amazing.

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    1. Agreed, if you're lamenting vegetarian/vegan options in Michigan, drive to A2. Seva is heavenly. Just don't confuse it with Sava, a block away. It is equally tasty, but mostly because every dish comes covered in bacon...not so tasty if you are eating vegan. ;)

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  5. I can not wait to meet everybody! Oh, and we have a Red Mango here which I have yet to try, but seeing how we never eat out I won't be surprised if they go out of business before we get there!

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    1. Linda, we have a Red Mango (well, several!) here in Chicago - it's great! I like it because a lot of fro yo places are more ice cream like, but Red Mango is tart like a good yogurt should be!

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  6. That's awsome you got to meet Mary. I read her blog and she seems like a great girl! Looks like you had fun :)

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  7. Sounds like a good time in Chi-town yesterday! By the way, love your blouse! So cute! The food looks delicious, I love Ruben sandwiches too, but not the corned beef so much. I'm not vegetarian, so I substitute roast beef from the deli. DELICIOUS!

    I was waiting for the picture of Jerry in front of Wrigley Stadium! Maybe tomorrow??? We were there in 1988. On the way out of the stadium, we got separated from my two older boys (they were 16 and 11 at the time) and couldn't find them anywhere. So hubby took off looking for them, while I waited outside the stadium with my youngest, who was only 2. Hubby didn't come back for the longest time, but he had the boys with him when he finally showed up. Years later I found out he had found the boys out where we had parked the car (miles away--they had dropped me off since even then I was too fat to walk very far), then he stopped at a bar in a bowling alley for a beer on the way back. WHILE I WAS WORRIED SICK BACK AT THE STADIUM!!! And that's my Wrigley Field story.

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  8. Anna RosenbaumJuly 31, 2012

    I hope you got my email the other day, looking forward to hearing from you!

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  9. I actually live in Chicago and just had my first experience with self-serve frozen yogurt last week! TCBY and it was amazing.
    I just signed up for my first 5k as well, and start training today. I'm totally keeping up on your blog for tips and inspiration!
    Looks like you girls had a great time in Chicago :)

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  10. Great pictures! A really fun day for you girls...and Jerry too:)

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  11. What a fun day! I LOVE self serve fro yo! There's a great place in Seattle called Menchie's and I always go when I'm in town! And you're awesome for exercising on vacation. I do sometimes, but not as much as I should! ;)

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  12. Yay! Meeting bloggers is always so much fun - and I love the self serve yogurt. Good thing the self serve place is 20 miles from my house or I would be there all the time. I'll have to stick with the one that portions it out for you closer to home :D

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  13. AnonymousJuly 31, 2012

    Sounds like a great day! I love meeting new people.

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  14. Aaah I'm so jealous - I wish I could have hung out with you guys! So cool that two of my favorite bloggers got to meet up :)

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  15. Sounds like a perfect day!!

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