On Saturday I went with one of my best friends to Chicago for our Fourth Annual Day Off to shop, eat, socialize, and in my case this year: visit a certain Coach handbag that I really want but cannot bring myself to buy due to the possibility of buyer’s remorse.

My first purchase was a pair of mittens for my daughter. She’s already lost one. Have you found it?

We ate lunch on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. At first we got on the wrong elevator, the buttons only went to 5; I wondered if I would have to do some sort of calculation to arrive at the 95th floor, like press the 5 button 19 times?

Check out our view.

I ordered a Caesar salad (my way, without the Caesar dressing) – I love romaine lettuce, parmasean cheese and croutons. How do you like my croûton?

The giant croûton must be a Chicago thing, because this was my friend’s salad at a different restaurant for dinner.

 

We did a lot of shopping, coordinated outfits at American Girl, had a cup of tea (well, I had tea), visited this handbag, and bought really expensive Ghiradelli chocolate chip cookies.

I’m guessing that these ladies didn’t know that you can check your bags and coats at American Girl for free, even if you didn’t make any American Girl purchases. I take advantage of this service every year. It keeps me from looking like I’m at O’Hare airport rather than shopping at Water Tower on my Annual Day Off.

After a day of talking and walking non-stop, I fell asleep watching Enchanted on the bus ride home. In 12 months we’ll do it all over again, it’s one of my favorite days of the year!