If you've never been to Chicago, you should really try to go. (And I'm not just saying this because Trump and his Apprentice are going to build some eyesore there in the upcoming years.) Chicago is a beautiful city, right on the shores of Lake Michigan - and if you've ever stood there on the shoreline, you would think you were looking out on the Pacific Ocean - that's how big the lake is. In addition to the lake, you have the Chicago river flowing through the heart of downtown. A city surrounded by water is a beautiful thing. Chicago also has great mini-neighborhoods - it's very similar to San Francisco in that way. No, you can't walk the whole city like you can here, but you can take the El anywhere you want to go. And I know someone is going to bring up the weather, but it's probably someone who's never even lived in the cold before. For your information, I have lived in Vienna, Austria during a harsh winter and I lived to tell the tale. Adrian grew up in New York and they see some tough winters. Cold, schmold.

So why all this talk about Chicago? I haven't been there recently. Adrian hasn't been there recently. Oh, oh - but we have been to their real estate listings recently, and man, do they have a story to tell! First off, real estate has begun to take over our lives as we think about the future and pick our first place to settle. We have been hitting the open houses in SF religiously - seeing tiny places for huge prices. Fun, but not so funny. It has seriously made us think about other places to live - Chicago being one of them. I just received some real estate info. from my good friend, Emilee, who lives in Chicago and I was amazed. The types of flats we could get in Chi-Town are almost 500 sq. ft. bigger for half the price compared to any we've seen in SF. Sure, it would be a huge move, but almost worth it in a way. At least you can say - "Come visit us in Chicago - it's a wonderful city" - could you feel as confident that people would actually come if you said "Come visit us in Little Rock - it's a happening place" - I think not.

There is nothing like wedding dress shopping to bond females together - no matter the ethnicity, the dress size, the event style, every woman looking for a wedding dress has one thing in common that outweighs all else...to find that perfect dress that will make one feel their most beautiful. And that is something powerful. This past weekend my mom, Katie, and I went to find my dress (or at least start the search). We headed to David's Bridal over in Milpitas and boy, did we make friends! I was talking to women about what I thought looked best on them...women were commenting on the dresses I was trying on...my mom made friends with a group of women looking at bridesmaid dresses...Katie was busy scouring the area looking for the best dress for me by looking at what other women had on. It was hectic, crowded, and oh, so much fun. The day was a success (well, at least for me) - I walked away with a wedding dress ordered and a brand-new checkmark on my list of To-Do's for the wedding. Plus, I had a fabulous day with two of my favorite females! I would do it again in a second - here's hoping I never have to!!