We all took our time easing into the day since we didn’t have any concrete plans on our relaxing weekend agenda, with the exception of a nail appointment in the afternoon. Since my stomach starts grumbling the second I wake up, I ended up snacking on Cheez-Its and an orange before we got our act together enough to head out for a legit breakfast.
Our plan for the day was to begin with brunch at 3 Arts Club Café located in the ridiculously gorgeous atrium of Restoration Hardware.
We left the Sheraton Grand and within minutes found ourselves walking along the Magnificent Mile. I must quickly give our hotel a shout out for its awesome location. I love the ability to walk from a hotel to a bunch of different hot spots and there was plenty to do within walking distance of the Sheraton. I guess that’s a benefit of staying in the heart of the city!
We picked up pumpkin spice lattes for our walk (‘tis the season!) and meandered our way through the city, stopping into places that caught our interest. Since Michaela, Leah, Carrie and I have all been friends since elementary school, it only made sense that we would stop into The American Girl store for nostalgia’s sake!
The dolls were incredibly popular when we were young girls and it was fun to see some of my old favorites on display, as well as the “Julie” doll that wasn’t available when I was a little girl. (I’m pretty sure I would’ve loved her!)
Once we arrived at the 3 Arts Club Café, I was seriously blown away by the beautiful space. Unfortunately we were all quite bummed to learn that there was a two-hour wait for a table. We decided to come back later in the day for a sweet treat and drinks at the bar and made our way back into the city to grab a low-key diner breakfast at Hashbrowns.
Once we were done with our eggs, sweet potato hash browns and coffee, we walked a block or two to Polish & Pour for manicures and Prosecco!
I cannot remember the last time I had a manicure (it’s easily been since before Chase was born), so I decided to splurge on a gel manicure for longevity’s sake.
I selected Honk If You Love OPI which perfectly fit the deep-purple-almost-black color I was looking for now that fall is in full swing. Oh! And I always get a kick out of asking the people at the salon what the “it” color of the season is and I was told it’s all about gray this year. Now ya know!
With our nails done and our drinks finished, we walked back to the Restoration Hardware café to grab an afternoon pick-me-up and hang out on the comfy couches to chat for a bit before walking around the store.
The salted chocolate chip cookies and chocolate doughnut were amazing!
(FYI the above pic is of a staged “teen’s room.” Isn’t that exactly what your room looked like as a teenager!? Ha!)
Once we were done at RH, we headed back out into the city for more exploring. We decided to play tourists and walked around Millennium Park, stopping to snap pictures at The Bean and other hot spots.
We swung by Walgreens to pick up drinks for happy hour in our room before we made it back to our hotel. On our way up to our room, we grabbed some appetizers from the Sheraton Grand Club Level to enjoy while we got ready for dinner, including cheese, fried zucchini sticks, crackers and more. I wasn’t sure what we’d find at the club level when the woman at the front desk of the hotel told us to check it out during our stay, but I wish we would’ve paid a visit to the club level sooner during our trip because it offered expansive views of Chicago and complimentary snacks and drinks. (We made sure to stop by the following morning for breakfast and coffee and it made grabbing a quick bite to eat before an early flight a breeze!)
We took our time getting ready (truthfully I just brushed my hair and relaxed for an hour!) and then we caught a cab to Cantina Laredo for dinner. Our group was craving Mexican food, so Cantina Laredo hit the spot and we chatted over chips, margaritas and tacos!
The food was great and our table had a wonderful view of a big-screen TV where the Cubs’ game was playing. Despite growing up just outside of Chicago, I’m not exactly a die-hard Cubs fan but it was impossible not to get wrapped up in the energy of the game and root for them to make it to the World Series during my stay!
We spent the rest of the evening back at our hotel room in our pajamas (heaven!) and chatted away until we could no longer keep our eyes open. Sunday passed by in a flash since Michaela and I had early flights out of O’Hare and as I was sitting on the plane headed back to Charlotte, I left feeling grateful for quality time with three of my very best friends but also a little sad that we don’t get to see each other nearly as often as we’d like… And next time I see Leah she’ll be the mom of two little ones! Congratulations again, Leah!!!
And thanks so much to my friends for taking time out of their busy lives to make this much-needed trip happen. I had a wonderful time and can’t wait for the next one!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Can I have that room as an adult!?
Right!?! I said the same thing! Looks more like a master bedroom to me!
Woah you slept til almost 9…wild woman!! haha thats so great you got to hang out with friends. Also, I’m very sure that is NOT a “teen” bedroom haha!
looks like a fantastic weekend, girlfriend time is so good for the soul 🙂 ! I adore your top!
That “teen’s room is nicer than my adult bedroom. 🙂 What a fun girls weekend!! I am so grateful for my girlfriends from childhood. Always a treat when I get to see them.
Same here!!
My empathies on being a long distance from your best friends.. quality time with girlfriends is the happiest and most therapeutic time ever! 🙂
Love the space at Restoration. I had no clue they used the roofs and open areas for dinning until I was in LA two years ago. So stunning! Looks like the perfect girls day!
I’ve done trips like this with my two best childhood friends a few times, and they are so memorable, refreshing, and always just what the doctor ordered! So glad you had a fun trip!
What I would give to have my house look like everything in Restoration Hardware! And looks like you girls had a great time! I’ve never been to Chicago, now I’m really itching to go.
Seriously! That store is so gorgeous!
Love re-living my old haunts from my old life in Chicago. I lived down the street from Cantina Laredo and LOVED going to Polish & Pours before some of my “bigger” nights out with the girls.
What a great catch up! Sounds like you guys had a blast re-connecting.
And I can’t help but show my Cubs pride on my sleeve even here in Denver right about now, too. (I even wrote about it in my post today, ha!)
Thanks for sharing!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
Polish & Pour was a blast! It sounds like they do a lot of bachelorette parties, bridal showers and special events which would be so fun!
Looks like you had so much fun! Even though we live super close to Chicago, it seems like there are always new places to explore! Thanks for sharing, we will have to go and check these places out 🙂
My teenage room definitely didn’t look like that! I love having girls weekends and yours looks like it was amazing. I’m totally craving a manicure and Mexican food now!
Julie, I love your top!! Where did you get it? 🙂
Thanks!! I ordered it on Zulily but the brand is Vision. It was only $12!
Haha so close the whole time! Glad you had a great time!
I love your over the knee boots! Where do you get those?! Sounds like a wonderful weekend and makes me miss my best girls in Oregon!
Thank you!! I honestly cannot remember! I think I was living in a newborn daze last fall when I ordered them but if I had to guess, I feel like I may have ordered them off Zulily. I’ll check the brand and report back!
You’re ALWAYS so stylish. I love your off the shoulder top!!
Thank you!! Best part: It was only $12!
Girls’ trips are so restorative and much needed 🙂 Looks like you had a great weekend! Chicago is one of my favorite cities!
How nice do your nails feel right now? Even though it’s an expense, I get regular gel manis, because normal polish just doesn’t stay very long on my nails, and I love for them to be colored. So cool you had a nice time with your friends doing girl stuff like shopping, treats and PSLs. 🙂 I’m long overdue for a trip with my long-time friends. You’re inspiring me to try to plan one!
I love the nail color you picked for your mani. I’m all about the dark colors right now.
Isn’t it great getting together with friends that you haven’t seen in awhile? I have a friend who moved a couple hours north a few years ago, but we always get together when she’s in town and I’ve been up to see her too. Whenever we’re together it’s like we pick up right where we left off the last time we saw each other.
I didn’t know you grew up outside of Chicago – I did too, I’m from Arlington Heights. We’re headed back for Thanksgiving and hoping for World Series Cubbies! Polish and Pour looks so fun.
Squad goals! Or should I say #squadgoals
Love these recaps – travel, friendship, food, touring….all good stuff! Glad you were able to get some much needed sleep (oh how much better we function with it!) That atrium is GORGEOUS!! I’m in deep love!
So glad you were able to fit this trip into your lives, it’s so important to keep in touch with old friends! 🙂
Love this post! You were RIGHT across the street from my condo! My boyfriend took me to a Cubs game followed by 3 Arts Club cafe of my birthday, and then I went to Polish and Pour when I got engaged. Should we be friends or what? Seriously cute photos for a cute mama…you deserve this girl vacation!
no way!! love it!!
What a fun weekend! I grew up right outside of Chicago in Evanston. It’s always so fun to walk down Michigan Ave and I had (still have) so much American Girl stuff. That is great that you have stayed in touch with friends since elementary.
I wish my room looked like that now!
ahh so much fun! Chicago is such a great time!!!
love Cantina Laredo! and you should feel the energy for the cubs THIS weekend…WILD!!
I’m sure it’s amazing!!
My favorite part about this recap was that Polish & Pour had an episode of Sex & the City playing in the background of your group shot there– right up my alley! I hate when they play crappy movies or tv at nail places.
So glad you enjoyed your stay at the Sheraton Grand! I work for Starwood/Marriott and I’m currently on a project working at the Sheraton Grand until the end of the year. Love reading your blog!
Where are your boots from? SO cute!