01.31.11

Dave Cole and I spent the last weekend of January in Chicago -- I was on a work trip for "new hires" and he was visiting our friends from school.  If you are gonna be cold in the Midwest, you might as well be in the coolest city it has to offer! 

PG loaded up all 11 of us onto a chartered bus after work on Thursday.  I had visions of junior high church ski trips dancing through my head but it was actually a pretty nice set up.  The bus had wi-fi and cable.  Thankfully, we managed to entertain ourselves face-to-face and avoid the technology with the exception of one horrific episode of "Jersey Shore".  Thank goodness I had my solitaire machine.

Andrea and Jess

Our Friday was spent with the agency learning about US Hispanic trends and media and participating in a fascinating immersion activity.  We were given $50, transported to  Pilsen, and armed with a list of food and household items for a family of 7.  In that type of situation, P&G products don't even enter the selection set.  Pretty eye-opening.  The agency consoled us with an authentic Mexican meal and then turned us loose on the city for the remainder of the weekend.

Jess and I at the Leo Burnett Building

The Dream Team

So what do a bunch of P&G people do for a weekend in Chicago?  Apparently, eat.  Our mornings were filled with extravagant brunches and our evenings with multi-course meals and good wine.

Jess and I at Moto

When dinner starts with an edible menu....

...has courses that look like this in the middle....

...and ends with dessert in a beaker...you know you are going to need a late-night snack.

Luckily, DC and friends were ready and willing to meet us at Mercadito for chips and guacamole!  

I was able to sneak away on Saturday night to stay with the Udanis.  We met up with Kristy and Nathan on Sunday morning for some yummy Dunlays brunch and then spent the afternoon shopping on Armitage. 

 

The Chicago crew at Sunday brunch

I don't think David or I realized how much we missed Chicago!  Even in January, it was great to be back with people we love at places we love.  Until next time!

01.23.11

Yesterday, we took a random day trip to a ski slope in Indiana called "Perfect North".   I think "Perfectly Midwestern" might be a bit more fitting but, regardless, a good time was had by all.  We went with my friend Ana  and her family and took Steven and Margaux who just moved to Cincy from Belgium.  I'm certain we will be sticking to the Rockies and they to the Alps but at least we got to mark it off our list!  

01.22.11

We spent MLK weekend in Beaver Creek, CO with the Cole fam to celebrate a cousin's wedding and managed to spend one day on the slopes.  It was perfect weather, a gorgeous wedding, and some of my favorite company!

Exploring the ski village

DC on breakfast duty

Pops teaching Caleb how to ski

He was a natural!

Us at the base of the mountain

The bride and groom-to-be and the wedding party.  She was cute and wore white all weekend.

The Cole Boys

Megan and David

A little pre-wedding pizza

It's official!  Her dress was to die for.

Cole kids + spouses

Making s'mores at the reception.  They had the cutest details; even made snow angels in their dress and tux.  

The Cole Clan -- we clean up well!

01.08.10

Only in the great city of Cincinnati could you grab a drink with a friend on a Monday night and end up at T.O.'s 37th birthday party.  In business casual, no less.  

01.03.11

The holidays are over and we are back in OH.  Hard to believe.  I seriously freaked out this morning when I woke up (at 10:30 am) and thought I was supposed to be at work this morning.  Thankfully, I was wrong and we had one more day to get our stuff unpacked and repacked for the work day!  

We had such a great time at home.  It's hard not to with a 10-day stretch filled with family and friends.  We landed in Texas just in time to grab dinner with Dollar at Thai Noodle & Rice and join in on an Katy and Jay's Annual Holiday Lights Tour.  It was the perfect way to start off our trip.  We toured all the fancy Dallas neighborhoods on a party bus and made a few stops at some of our favorite places -- The Belmont and Stoneleigh P to name a few. 

We spent Christmas Eve with my fam, as usual.  We attended the Fielder service, opened presents, and then had a good Italian dinner with the Cartusciellos.  It was quiet without the Rouswell clan so mom made sure to provide some entertainment by getting dad the kinect -- fun for everyone!

Me and Kristin at FRBC

Yachtclub Court

 Dad's new reel

 Mom's new book

 The first of many kinect games

We spent Christmas Day with the Coles -- awaking early to open presents with Caleb and then enjoying our traditional breakfast of monkey bread and egg casserole.  

 Our "Woody"

Sporting our blue branded tees

Pops is gonna be a wood worker!

We left early the next day for a quick trip to Odessa to celebrate the holidays with my mom's side of the family. We were also able to sneak away and visit with David's uncle Elton who lives in Midland.  

 Miss Maddie amongst the stockings

 Will and Kathy

 Grandmama and Maddie

 A good Texas meal -- ribs and tamales!

 David's poor luck in our annual 'Twelve Days of Christmas' sing-along

Oh dear.  The 'five golden rings' never sounded so good.

After four Christmases, we were able to settle down a bit, visit friends, and celebrate New Years.  

Meeting Roy Boy after a nice ladies lunch with my RMS

Celebrating NYE at Bob's with the Baylor Crew

Dave and Dave

 The Moores

 Me and Casey bringing in 2011

 Midnight festivities

 Us

 The Hecklers

 The Matamoris

 Boys

Breakfast at the Burks.  Where glow sticks are the norm.

 Playing in the fort with Sky

 Piper P and her Squinkies

Sweet family

Whew.  And there is our whirlwind trip to Tejas.  Adios.