Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ikea Day!

I took Saturday off to hang with my friend, D and my brother J. The plan was to hit IKEA and  then to one of my favorite Chicago restaurants, La Scarola. The best Italian restaurant I have ever been to, it is crazy awesome!
Lunch with D at Portillos!


I totally had the best time and of course I ate way too much! This was a Weight Watchers free day. D, took me to a funky-60s' hot dog restaurant, Portillo's. This was a first for me, although a huge foodie, I am not a hot dog person. I was planning on getting a salad or grilled chicken sandwich, minus bun... but the hot dogs called my name. 2 hot dogs and part of a garden salad later I was a happy camper! Of course, I counted WW points as much as possible, but I am sure it wasn't  exactly correct. Meanwhile, I am craving Portillo's now. 
D at IKEAThan D and I went shopping. It has been so many (5) years since I have been to IKEA, I was prepared to go crazy. Good thing that D can shop with me. I am crazy! I run around, wander from section to section and of course the excitement limit was triple when we arrived on the cooking/kitchen floor! We went crazy and took so many pictures, I loved so many things, however my budget was written in stone. I only went over by $59.02 Many hours later, D and I walked out of IKEA, tired,  with a full cart and ready for dinner.
I love this "paper" lamp
my brother J, making faces at me for trying to take pictures of his food
We got to dinner on time and hungry. I love La Scarola the food is  so amazing! We got an order brushetta for the table and J and I shared grilled calamari appetizer. Then dinner arrived! D ate lasagna, J had delicious pasta with seafood and I got my favorite chicken Marsala. Perfectly cooked chicken in a buttery, sweet wine sauce and amazing roasted mushrooms. I wanted to eat it all, but I only ate half. I had to save some room for dessert.
my favorite Chicken Marsala
world's best tiramisu-too bad I had to share it
What can you say about Tiramisu, I tried to order 3, one for each of us when my brother stopped me. Oh boy was I disappointed, I wasn't planning on sharing, I was planning on eating one by my self and liking the plate! Yes I was, planning on  proudly licking the plate in the middle of La Scarola!
View on the road home
I had to work the next morning, so I got up early and hit the road. I had a beautiful, foggy, white drive home. As I came up to the wind farms, I had too pull over to get some pictures. I am always drawn to the beauty of the wind farms. 


Happy snow day(s) everyone!

9 comments:

  1. Great food + Great friends = Great times and memories. Glad you had such a wonderful day. Pictures of the food made me hungry!

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  2. Ikea's pretty cool. We went there a few years ago when I was first moving into my apartment. I had looked at a catalog and had my eye on a specific bed frame but when I got into the store and realized it wouldn't work, my mom talked me into getting a day bed. But what I loved most was all the organizing stuff, like the shelves - so cool!

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  3. I just found your blog and can't wait to read more. Always looking for kitchen inspiration. :)

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  4. Found you on Thirsty Thursday and am now a follower:)

    Laura
    www.agoddessoffrugality.blogspot.com

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  5. I love Ikea, jealous of your fun day :)
    http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com/

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  6. I heart great food. It just makes the day easier! Following you from the HOP, and I also have a cooking site myself. Stop on by if you would care to, and link up with your Random Making on Fridays!

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  7. I love Ikea and Portillos!

    We live in St. Louis and those are two of our must-do's when we visit Chicago...that and Jamba Juice since we don't have those here either and they are all over California where I grew up :)

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  8. Love IKEA and good food! Looks like an awesome day!
    You from Chicago? I live in the suburbs...didn't know!
    Hugs xxx

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  9. Greetings from Southern California :-)

    I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You, ~Ron

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