Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is off to a great start for you. As the year turned, I found myself determined to begin 2016 with a clear slate. In the final days of December I focused on preparation: I wrote several blog posts so I would be two weeks ahead, deep-cleaned the house, organized closets, and filled seven trash bags with items to donate. My goal was to simplify my life and create room for a productive, enjoyable year.
The holidays were busy with parties, visits with friends, and travel. It was a wonderful, social few weeks, but I’m looking forward to January and February when things are quieter and I can refocus. Over the coming weeks I plan to eat better, return to the gym, and put energy into some larger projects for the Windy City Blogger Collective.
Here’s a recap of what I’ve been up to lately.
Foodseum hosted a charming holiday party to mark the close of its Encased Meats exhibit at Block 37. My friend Kyle conceived the Foodseum, launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, secured a space, and opened a small museum—a meaningful achievement. In 2016, Foodseum will unveil its second exhibit, centered on one of my favorite things: chocolate. I’m already excited to visit.
That same evening I attended an event hosted by my friend Jocelyn at Rent the Runway. It was a festive gathering with champagne, red velvet cupcakes, and stunning dresses. Jocelyn’s cookbook, Grandbaby Cakes, is doing exceptionally well, and I’m eager to see what she does next.
One of my favorite Windy City Blogger Collective events took place when the new AMC Dine-In at Block 37 gave us two theaters for a screening. I chose The Holiday because I’m a sucker for transatlantic love stories and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. It was so much fun to fill a theater with friends and enjoy freshly made food ordered from our seats. The plush reclining leather chairs were a revelation—movie nights will never be the same.
Soon after, WCBC hosted its annual Holiday Party, our largest event of the season. More than 150 people attended at the new Hyatt Centric in the Loop. The evening included cocktails, Sprinkles cupcakes, creative giveaways, and plenty of merriment. It’s always a highlight to bring the community together like that.
Later in the week, Erin and I enjoyed a pre-Christmas lunch at Quartino where we ordered an impressive amount of food: one salad, four half-orders of pasta, and two desserts—more than enough for two people. We may run a small business, but our appetites are not small.
Charles and I spent Christmas week in Munich. It felt like a lot of Munich in 2015 because of family plans and Oktoberfest, but this trip was a different rhythm—focused on holiday markets and family time. I enjoyed wandering the Christkindlmarkt stalls and sampling seasonal treats; I’ll share more about those markets in an upcoming post.
Between Christmas and New Year’s I stayed cozy at home in my pajamas, cooking, writing, and avoiding the worst of the winter weather. I treated myself to delivered comfort food and spent slow days getting organized for the year ahead.
New Year’s Eve brought a night out with friends at Chi-Town Rising, and it was one of my best New Year’s celebrations. It was a lively, memorable way to ring in 2016. The next morning Charles and I enjoyed a boozy brunch at Bar Siena, indulging in fried cheese, short rib hash, bombolini, and plenty of mimosas and Bloody Marys. It was a delicious start to the year.
Now it’s back to the everyday routine: I’m focusing on fitness and healthier eating. Because I prepared blog posts ahead of time, I have a range of recipes queued up to share. Even if I’m repeating favorites like Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad Bowls at home, the site will continue to offer fresh content.
I hope your new year has started well. I’ll be heading to Park City soon and would love any recommendations—please leave them in the comments. Here’s to a productive, healthy, and fun 2016.