In Search of Spring: Chicago Style

As you all know I began blogging my life this week and as inspiration I went to my good friend Ashley Forrette to find a great subject to blog for all my adoring fans! :) One of my favorites is a post about her hunt for the perfect springy photo.


Unfortunately, Chicago weather did not allow for such a happy-go-springy day for us, but we still had an adventure that I think may rival these fun and fuzzy Gopher-ettes (get it! gopher-ettes/ Go-Forretes ha!)

It all started with a 39 degree day complete with fog and haze and rain and grey...












Josh and I needed a break from big city life so we headed on a foolhardy road trip to anywhere, sans map, to see what we could find along the way!
The plan: no clue!

First we trailed along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago to see the lake, however the visibility was so poor we missed out on any scenic views and ended up on the bad side of town viewing the glory and beauty of a dank and mucky dump.













Just like Chris and Ashley, we too stumbled on a charming roadside eatery.
We drove along the tollway, and got on going back toward Chicago! Yea, we were totally lost! Somehow, after a frustrating wait in traffic and some tricky driving maneuvers by my man, we enjoyed a Shamrock Shake and looked for ANY sign of spring. So far to no avail.

Bright billboards directed us to a wine country in Michigan, but we also couldn't help but see the signs for a "Chocolate Garden just off exit 39" and "Deer Forest- Family Theme Park, More fun than a ZOO!" Uh, I'll tell you what, we found our route for the rest of the adventure. (Even if it does sound like it came directly out of a game of Candyland!)

Lake Paw Paw seemed like a promising site for spring, although, the biting wind did seem to leave icicles hanging from my nostrils instead of fill the air with the scent of lavender..









Next we found this so-called playland that Michiganites call Deer Forest. The pictures say it all:






The rest of the day was filled with chocolate truffles, exquisite wine tasting, and craps! On the way home we also stopped in at a fabulous casino for some prime rib and a little gambling. All in all, spring was not sprung but the adventure was totally worth it.










Sometimes its not the destination that counts, its the journey!

Oh, and I did come out without a perfect Chicago Spring photo to compete with Ashley's...