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!