Running through Chicago!!!

Lost in the Train

2011-08-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend was CRAZY again.

On Friday I was supposed to take the train to Elgin to go with my cousin to a picnic her school organized. So I wake up birght and early to get to Union Station and board the 9:30 train on time. Well, I took the train on time, but the WRONG train!!! I was supposed to take the train number 11 and I took train number 9, because they leave from the same gate. Feeling stupid, I got to my destination and had to take another train to Elgin. I finally got there at noon. I missed the picnic, of course!

in the right train, finally!

I tried to make it up to her and we went to the mall. The mall is HUGE. I've never seen a mall that big! I don't even think we finished exploring it in it's entirity. I bought a belt, sunglasses and stockings at Charlotte Russe and drooled over all the pretty underwear at Gilly Hicks.

We ate at Subway (I still have plenty of coupons, so we'll be eating a lot os subs this days) and I had the veggie patty for the first time. I liked it! I also had the broccoli cheese soup. I love it, it's so good!

We didn't do much that day, we slept all afternoon. My legs hurted from an ellyptical session the day before and I haven't been getting enough sleep, so the nap was much needed!

On Saturday we went for a walk around Elgin. They have a beautiful lake with ducks and a lot of forest where you can actually see deer playing around. I also saw a buffalo. It was impressive! We fed the baby deer (&hearts;) and went back home for lunch.

cute ducks

bambi! &hearts;

feeding the deer :)

We left home at about 6:30 to attend the Lifehouse show at the Ravinia Festival! it was amazing! We acted sooo lady-like and drank white wine all afternoon! I loved it. We had such a great time, and the show was awesome.

On Sunday we came back to Chicago and drove a couple of hours to Indiana to go to an outlet mall. I was needing jackets, boots, scarfs, everything! I came to Chicago without any winter clothes, and rumor has it that the cold weather will start soon! I didn't buy much at the end, though, because the stores close at 6 p.m. and we got there at 5. I bought a jacket and a hat.

We also went to Simone's bar again. I love it there, but there wasn't much people and the crowd was kind of old. I might return but on Friday or Saturday!

By the way, I finally found a Trader Joe's! Yay!!!! I bought a TON of stuff, including an amazing tray of sushi I devoured last night:

How was your weekend lovepies? :)

Gunfire in Mexico

2011-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Moments of panic and anxiety were lived by thousands of people last Saturday, during the Santos – Monarcas soccer match in Torreon, Coahuila. Players ran to the dressing rooms, leaving the ball unattended in the middle of the field and people ducked under their chairs for cover when gunshots pierced the air inside the Territorio Santos Modelo Stadium.

According to the authority’s version, the gunshots occurred in a Police Station nearby, but people who attended are convinced that it all happened inside. The event promptly became a Trending Topic on Twitter, and witnesses confirmed that it all happened inside, and had videos to prove it.

And what does the president have to say to all of this? Felipe Calderon tweeted that the situation was “under control” and that he “condemned the unfortunate events”.

This city in the state of Coahuila, in Northern Mexico, has seen a high level of drug-cartel related violence during the last two years, and authorities fail to give a solution.

It makes me so sad even if I don't live there anymore :(

Running for a cure!!

2011-08-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hey girls!!

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I updated! Life has been pretty hectic, as usual!

First, my mom called me and told me I won a laptop from my old school in Mexico because of my good grades. How awesome is that? I guess being a book worm and a nerd is worth it ;)

Then, my cousins came over to visit for the weekend. One of them lives in Elgin (about an hour away), and the other one lives in Pilsen. We went to the beach on Saturday. It was pretty windy but we had a great time!

I can't to wait to go to the Aquarium and to Adler's Planetarium soon!

Lake Michigan

Guess which are my feet.

We also went to see this mexican band called Belanova at Douglas park. Their style it's like sweet electro-pop: think Uffie meets Katy Perry. It's really not my style but I'm all in to support mexican bands! It was a little lonely due to the rain.

We also went to Chinatown and to try Pho for the first time!

I love Chinatown!

The bowl was the size of my head, but I loved it! The aromatic bowl of noodles with mint leaves, lime juice and sriracha sauca, wow, blew my socks off!

A bowl of Pho bigger than my head

Noodles.

I also loved that the menu had so many types of boba tea: a lot of exotic fruits like lychees, papaya, passion fruit, dureven some "weird" flavors like red bean and avocado!

Boba tea!

And also, I joined the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, to run for the Cure of Breast Cancer on September 16th! Please click HERE if you wish to help me!

I'm thinking of doing a bake sale to raise money, or to sell a cook book, what would you prefer? Please help me by linking to this post! And give me ideas of how I can raise the money!

Thanks girls, love you all :)

Hanging out in Pilsen and a quick lesson about the thyroid

2011-08-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

The other day I went out with my cousin Irene and wandered all through Pilsen. I've been to Pilsen before, the day we went to Simone's, but this was my first time actually exploring the neighbourhood.

We walked through 18th and 19th street and she showed me where she used to go to school, the church were she made her first communion and she was baptised, etc. I really love Pilsen, not only because I can actually talk to people in Spanish, but also because it's such an artistic community. You can really breath art in there! All the beautiful murals, art galleries, tattoo studios... I also found a little grocery store where they keep old vinyl records in the back and you can buy them for two dollars a piece, how cool is that? I wish I owned a vinyl-record player.

..guitar played by Carlos Santana ♪ ♫

beautiful murals in Pilsen

just here hanging with Frida Kahlo ;)

street vendor selling mexican candies

What you can also breathe is all the delicious Mexican food filling the air. I particularly like the Nuevo Leon, not only because my grandmother used to work in there in the 60's but because the food and service are outstanding! You should totally try it out if you are ever in the area. (and if you are not, get there, fast! the chips and salsa alone are worth it)

Now, I want to talk about my last post a little bit, because I've received a couple of concerned e-mails. Don't freak out and think I'm about to develop an eating disorder! It's not that.

For a year I've been battling a thyroid condition that it's actually a relapse (I've had a thyroid condition before, 4 years ago), but this time I managed my eating differently and consequently gained weight. You see, when you have Graves disease, you lose a lot of weight due to over active thyroid function. So when the condition is corrected, the thyroid function is diminished and as a result you put on weight. It is advised for thyroid patients to follow a low-glycemic, high protein, low fat diet to manage their weight.

that motherfucker thyroid that keeps giving me trouble

As a vegetarian, I've not been following that recommended diet, at all. I'm not saying you can't get adequate protein levels as a vegetarian, but you DO need to be more careful and mindful about it. I've been eating a lot of "good" carbs: veggies, whole grains and a ton of fruit. That is all good and healthy because I get my vitamins and my fyber, but fruit has also a lot of simple sugars. As a person with a thyroid condition, I can't manage carbs as good as other people, and most of my carb consumption turns to fat if I don't burn them right away. So, I'm going to switch to a higher protein diet, and also stop my increased consumption of junk and alcohol (as a result of my moving to Chicago) ;). I know that I am not FAT, but I am about 10 pounds higher than the weight I consider NORMAL for me. (which is about a 20 BMI).

So I'm not going to eat LESS, just better ;)

examples of low glycemic fruits and vegetables

I've gained a ton of weight.

2011-08-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

I won't get into numbers but yes, in just 3 weeks I've gained 10 pounds :/ I've been having the time of my life but it's time to get serious or I'll go back to Mexico in balloon shape.

So, today I had:

Papaya, and blueberries with 1 tbs of peanut butter for breakfast.
Coffee with soy milk

Lollapalooza, deep dish pizza and karaoke nights.

2011-08-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend was absolutely nuts! And that's just how I likeIT!

Just before I left I had two bowls of cereal with soy milk, banana and peanut butter. (hearty breakfast to endure the long day of festivities!)

I ended up going to pick my aunt from work so we could go to Lollapalooza at about 12 p.m, so we got there at one. We saw Ceci Bastida, Los Bunkers, Anita Tijoux, Le Butcherettes, Young the Giant, The Kills, Mountain Goats, Bright Eyes, AfroJack, a little bit of Muse and Coldplay.

it was so fucking EPIC!!! I loved it!!!! I would have like to go also on Saturday and Sunday but I can't complain!!!

Le Butcherettes (crazy ass girl, Teri Gender Bender)

Ceci Bastida

waiting in line outside the Adidas lounge

writing my name in the big ass sneaker

found some awesome glasses someone dropped while dancing to Afrojack

excited to see Muse

Coldplay!!!!

I couldn't do a lot of exercise on Friday, just 20 minutes of yoga, but I walked a LOT and run from stage to stage to get in as much music as we could!

At lunch time I had a Falafel pita with tzatziki sauce and hummus. I loved them. They were so fried and I never eat fried things but it was so worth it.

We also had a cup of frozen kefir with blueberries and a ton of water!

falafel pita wih hummus, shredded cabbage and tzatziki sauce

When we went out we were walking to the train and it was so much fun because a bunch of people coming from Lollapalooza as well got like so excited every time they saw a train or something and started cheering (¿?) it was like if people still had the adrenaline from the show and couldn't hold back! I clapped and cheered too:P I had an iced coffee with skim milk from Dunkin Donuts on the train because I was SUPER tired!

We washed our faces and then went out to Chinatown for dinner! The restaurant was very nice and I ordered braised bean curd with assorted vegetables. The bean curd was like tofu, but the sauce was pretty sweet and I didn't like it. I wouldn't order it again! But I was SO hungry and demolish it, as well as a crab appetizer and a cup of tea while we were waiting for our food.

We came home and crashed!

looked like beef, eww!

braised bean curd (tofu)

On Saturday I ate a bowl of oatmeal with skim milk and strawberries for breakfast and then we went to my cousin Dani's bday party (it was a carne asada) at my uncle's house. There was beef, but there was also fish. I don't eat a lot of fish but I'm trying to eat more protein so I made a plate which consisted of fish, some rice and beans, salsa and a tortilla. His cake was chocolate cake with coconut frosting. I didn't eat the cake but I ate a LOT of frosting. Now, I must confess I hate cake but I ADORE frosting! I could eat frosting every.single.day.

Then we went to a bar until very late (like 2 a.m. and I was so hungry so I bought a granola bar in the bathroom (?) and ate that. Then when we left the bar, we went to get some pizza! I had a deep dish spinach, and, you guessed right, it was the first time I had deep dish pizza. The veredict? I'm in love. Best fucking pizza I've had in my life. It had all the flavors I adore in one: the crust was perfectly crunchy, the cheese and spinach and a ton of tomato sauce, just how I like it!!!

Deep dish spinach pizza. Love.&hearts;

On Sunday we woke up and ate scrambled eggs and a small salad (lettuce, cherry tomatoes, brown mustard) and then we went to the gym to burn off all those pizza calories!!! I did 30 min on the elliptical and then ran for 35 minutes.

For dinner I had another salad (trying to compensate for all the weekend debaucheries) with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, soy sausage, some whole wheat noodles, apple and brown mustard. I had baked sweet potato rounds on the side with ketchup and it was just the perfect meal.

Then we went to IKEA to get some furniture for my bedroom. I don't have ANY furniture but we bought a dresser for my clothes. I loved IKEA, some stuff is very cheap and practical!

Then we went to a bar called "Simone's", where there was a Karaoke night!!! We were kind of tired and really not in the mood to go out, but one of my cousins called us to invite us there, so we went. I ordered a drink called "Brazilian hangar" with vodka, lime and cachaca ( brazilian liquor that it's sorta like rum), but it was pretty strong and I couldn't drink it. I had a Blue ribbon beer instead and then I stuck with diet coke. After I was a bit more liquored up, we went on stage and sang a couple of songs and got boo-ed pretty badly but I had a lot of fun!!! I loved that bar, definitely I'm going back!!! I also checked out the menu and the food seemed pretty good, they have hummus, salads, soups, vegan burgers, etc.

the beers on tap

the inside of Simone's

Simone's graffiti wall

Then a guy came and asked for my phone number, and something didn't really click and I handed him my cell phone, and he was like "whatafuck?", and then I tried to apologize but I couldn't get the words out and just muttered, sorry I don't speak english very well. So he called himself from my phone and later that night he texted me! I was a bit embarrassed, but the guy was pretty cute hehe.

Today I had a plantain with sugar-free maple syrup and coffee with soy milk for breakfast, and then worked for a bit in the computer and did 20 minutes of yoga, 30 minutes of dance cardio and a Tracy Anderson video. I took a shower and I ate wild rice with whipped cheese cream for lunch, and then I went out for a walk and got caught in the rain :/ so I went to Starbucks to get out of the rain for a bit, and I had a cup of coffee with skim milk and a mini peanut butter cupcake. For dinner I had some whole wheat pasta with asparagus and a sugar free jell-o.

Guys I'm having a ton of fun in Chicago, but to be honest I feel like all those "OMG I've never tried this before" are getting to me and I'm getting fat , so I'm going to try to eat healthier and keep you updated ;)

Hope you have a kick ass week!! :D

Lollapalooza hellz yeah!!!

2011-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

The other day I did ended up going out with my aunt and her friends. My aunt is very young, about 30, so we get along really well! We went to the Crocodile Lounge, where apparently you can get fat in a night because every time you order a beer you get a pizza for free. I had two beers on tap, and a pizza. The beer was very good. I'm usually not a beer drinker, I prefer vodka, but I was tired and I knew if i had vodka I would get shit faced and I didn't want that to happen!

Yesterday I woke up SO LATE because I ended up going to bed at 4 a.m. or something like that. I woke up at 11:30 =S and my aunt was taking my grandmother to the hospital for a check up. She's doing okay now, thanks god, so when the consultation was over they picked me up to go for lunch at the Nuevo Leon, which is a mexican restaurant in Pilsen where my grandmother used to work back in the 60's. The food is AUTHENTIC and delicious, unfortunately, I wasn't very hungry because I just had eaten a huge breakfast of a serving of special K, a serving of fiber one, a cup of soy milk, one banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter. So at the restaurant I just ate a couple of chips with salsa, a corn tortilla with guacamole and two diet cokes.

We came home and spend all the afternoon pretty low key just surfing the web and reading, and then decided on doing 40 min. of yoga and 30 min. of a Tracy Anderson vid. I want to do yoga daily because I joined the Eat live Run challenge. So if you want to join, tell me on the comments section and we'll give each other moral support :)

Today I woke up at 8 a.m., had a cup of coffee (with sugar free hazel nut creamer and 2 splendas) and read in bed for a while. I'm reading a very good book my sister gave to me, called "After dark" by a japanese author called Murakami something.

So, today I'm so excited because my aunt got tickets for LollapalooZa!! Apparently, she got some credit wiTh Stub Hub and got us two tickets for today. I'm BEYOND excited! So right now i need to get my workout on so I can shower and head straight to Grant Park! Hell yeah!!! :D:D

My plan is to see this concerts:

Ceci Bastida at 1:00 pm in the BMI
Either Ana Tijoux o Los Bunkers at 1:45 (at Perry's or Play Station)
Le Butcherette's at 3:30
The Kills at 4:30
The Mountain Goats at 5:30
Then I am so torn between Two Door Cinema Club or Bright Eyes :/
Crystal Castles
and finalley I'm going to divide my time between Coldplay and Muse ...

See you at Lollapalooza!!! :D I might borrow a Bloggie camera at the Sony Lounge to take pics and upload them right away!

Millennium Park

2011-08-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I worked out (only 30 minutes of muscle work) and I didn't do any cardio because all I wanted was to go out and explore the city!!! I set out with the Lake on my mind, but at the end I didn't get there though!

Now, let me tell you something funny. Of every single item of clothing I own, NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING (not even little skirts, or tiny shorts or dresses, or anything) EVER has gotten me as much attention as this shirt:

boy magnet, right there

First, when I was walking down Adams street, a doorman of one of the hotels in there smiled to me and said "nice shirt". Then, I came across a tiny Farmer's market in the corner of Deaborn and Adams and there was a very handsome guy with dreads in one of the stands that started humming the Batman theme song when he saw me and said "heey batgirl"!!

By the way the farmer's market was so nice, there was so much fresh fruit and veggies. I bought a peach for a dollar, which was a little expensive but OH SO WORTH IT. I also saw some little pumpkins I've never seen before and some yummy portobello mushrooms.

$1 dollar peach, whatafuck

never seen those pumpkins before

yummy portobello mushrooms

beautiful blueberries

I kept walking and I came across a bunch of teenage guys in basketball uniforms who started humming the Batman theme song again and smiled at me too. I then went to the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. OMG, I loved it!!!! I even took off my shoes and enjoyed the water :) The kids there where so cute! :) I took some beautiful pics, I loved them! I'm falling in love with photography, I might invest in a better camera soon!

kids in the fountain :)

getting my tootsies wet ;)

I also walked through Michigan Av. and I went to the Chicago Architecture Foundation. I'm so passionate about architecture since I dated an architect once... really, I love architecture so much now!!! I had a lot of fun there and I almost spent my precious money in books and building Lego models, but thought better of it and just walked off with some tour brochures.

I walked home through Adams street and when I walked by the farmers market they were already taking every stand away but the guy with the dreads waved at me and said BATGIRL! bye!! hehe I think he was so cute!!

In my way home, at least 3 other guys smiled, called me batgirl or hummed the batman theme song to me, I sware!

When I got home I had a rather random lunch of an apple and two mozzarella sticks. Weird I know. Then my aunt came home and she made a delicious dinner: stir fried veggies with chicken-style soy and wild rice. So yummy!!! then I went with her to collect the rent and to my grandma's house and came home and had an ice-cream sandwich. It said it only had 140 cals. so okay. Before sleep I had an orange because my appetite seriously is out of control, I think I need to increase my protein after I read SnackFace's post about it.

Today I woke up WITHOUT energy at all. It was so hard for me to get out of bed and everything so I had a HUGE bowl of cereal, with one banana and soy milk and a microwaved egg white.
I worked out (30 minutes of tracy anderson vid) and then walked out. I walked to Millennium Park to see the famous "Bean" and I loved it!!! I took many pics! Then I met with my cousin and we went to see the Marilyn Monroe statue. I thought it was pretty funny. Her face looks like she's having an orgasm hahahaha.
We also went to where Lollapalooza is going to be held. I already had my custom schedule and I didn't found tickets :( too sad.

We took the train to Pilsen (my first train ride!!) where we cashed finally my subway coupon!!! I had a sub and a bowl of broccoli cheese soup with three packets of saltines.

boys looking up Marilyn's skirt xD

orgasm face

Then she taught me how to take the bus to my place and I came home and had a cup of coffee with a rice cake. Seriously, my appetite is out of hand. I need to increase my protein ASAP. but I always forget about it!!!

my first train ride in Chicago!

Right now I'm waiting for my aunt maybe we'll go to a bar or something but I'm too tired.

Please say hi in the comment sections!!

Sweet Potato Fries and Brown Mustard

2011-08-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was pretty low key, I spent all day cleaning my new room because my aunt's roomate moved out :) so now I've got a room of my own! No more staying in the living room hehe! I'm pretty excited about decorating it and making it as comfortable as possible. Right now I've only have a futon, a lamp and a rug.

I also did my laundry. For lunch I had an amazing salad with soy sausage, spinach, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots and brown mustard. I also had some roasted veggies: onions, jalapeños and sweet potatoes. I love sweet potatoes I think i could eat sweet potatoes every day of my life and not get tired of them. Later I snacked on a rice cake with sugar free jelly and a diet Arizona green tea.

For dinner I had some baby carrots with fat free ranch and a bowl of Special K and Fiber One with strawberries and soy milk.

Today I had two cups of coffee (with hazelnut creamer and splenda), and a granola bar and a half. My appetite here is ON STEROIDS. I don't know what it is, maybe it's because I walk a lot in addition to my regular work out routine. I love food and I eat pretty healthy so I'm not complaining ;)

Any of you Chicago peeps, where do you buy your groceries? I've only been to the 7 elevens, please help me out!
Have a nice tuesday :)

Baby Shower

2011-08-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up SO late, it was very embarrassing because we had to be at my cousin's baby shower at 12 and I woke up at 10:47. I had to really hurry up and just had a bowl of Special k with Silk for breakfast. I love silk because it only has 60 calories per cup!! The soy milk I drank back in Mexico had 100 cals. percup. Definitely an upgrade.

So, we went to the baby shower in a subdivission in Romeoville, it is so nice over there, the houses are so pretty and the Clubhouse had a nice pool and a little lake! One day I'm going to live in one of those places. When I'm 60 or something like that haha (it's a little slowed-pace for me right now).

The food was delicious, although not very dietetic. I think the girl's family must be italian or something because there was a mix of mexican-italian food: rice, beans, asado (pork in red chili sauce), beef, chicken, rolls of bread, spaghetti, stuffed shells, and something they called mostacholi which looked like regular pasta with tomato sauce to me.

They also had a magnificent fruit spread!

I made the best with what was there and had a plate with rice and beans (a complete protein right there!), and some pasta (just a tiny bit, portion control people!!) and half a roll of bread. Then I had a huge plate of fruit with 2 slices of watermelon, a slice of cantaloupe, some berries, and 3 chocolate covered strawberries.

They also had a beautiful cake, but I really don't like cake, I just like frosting, so I ate the frosting out of my slice and had about half a cup of rainbow sherbet. I figured it was better than strawberry ice-cream since sherbet has no milk, right??

mommy and daddy to be and the beautiful cake

Oh, and I won a game of guessing what some babies name meant and I won a Starbucks gift card!!! Hell yeah!!!! Definitely cashing that baby ;)

I got 6 out of a ton

My price: Starbucks giftcard. Yeah!

Then we went to my other cousin's house and played games. Her babies are so cute!, the little boy, Tristan, is four and he loved me!! we blew bubbles in the backyard and he kept giving me toys and candy. So cute!

We played some Sequence and we snacked on raw veggies with dip and cherries. I had an apple before sleep.

I didn't work out. Over all I think it was a rather indulgent day but it was a family day and a Sunday so I don't feel so bad about it. I practiced portion control and everything!!

Right now I'm writing this from my breakfast table outside it's so nice! I had a whole wheat pancake with half a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter and two cups of coffee with soy milk and splenda. So delicious! and couldn't really ask for a better setting! The weather is so nice today also, not so hot and a little cloudy :)

I already did 20 minutes of yoga and in a while I'll go workout!!! I also have laundry to do and some work realted stuff so it will be a busy day! :)

Today is Monday and August 1st, so I wish a lovely week and month for everybody, keep up with your goals and don't forget to be present and enjoy life!!! To my first new follower, welcome!! Please say hi in the comments section! :)

Ravenous appetite and first times

2011-07-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up STARVING, maybe because I walked A LOT yesterday or maybe because Aunt Flo made a surprise visit. Whatever the reason, I made myself an scrumptious breakfast of two bread slices with organic PB and sugar free maple syrup and a cup of coffee with milk. Then, I had a mediocre workout: 10 minutes of Muscle structure work and 20 minutes of Dance Cardio.

After I took a shower, I went out with the goal of buying a gift for one of my cousin's girlfriend's baby shower. I don't know where there are any baby or gift stores so I set out with the Willis tower in mind as a reference, but since I went through Jackson street the last time, I wanted to try out the next street, so I went through Adams.

(Note to myself: I really need to buy a map/learn to use a GPS because I can't keep walking 2 streets only!)
By the time I got there I was really thirsty so I walked into the Walgreens across the street and bought some water. I also took some pics in the bathroom just to show you that vegetarians can have muscles too :P

Tracy arms

I took a photograph from the bottom of the tower. It's MASSIVE and I'm in love with it!
I kept walking and finally found a gift shop. I bought a photo frame and a little toy and a gift bag. It was so expensive but it was the only thing I found!

I walked back home STARVING again!! I knew there wasn't anything to eat in the house so I stopped by a 7 eleven and bought a Tabouleh salad. It was my FIRST time ever eating tabouleh. I've seen them in some of your blogs but I've never tried it. I LOVED IT!!! I would totally buy it again, or even better, learn how to do it.

Tabouleh salad and diet tea

However, my appetite was RAVENOUS and I also had a cup of cereal with milk. Later that day, I learned that I've been mistaken THE WHOLE TIME and I've been eating my aunt's roomate food. I am so embarrassed and mortified! I ate his bread, pb, cereal, etc... gosh.

When my aunt got home a while later we went to pick my grandmother up and drop by a Subway to buy dinner. There's a Subway on my city in Mexico, of course, but there isn't a flat bread option so of course that's what I got (my first flat bread!), along with BBQ baked chips. (first time too :P) It was delicious!!!

Subway's veggie flat bread

I ate a banana before bed, so, as you can see, my appetite was OUT OF CONTROL yesterday.

Today I woke up and my aunt was making whole wheat banana pancakes. How cool is that!! We also ate some soy sausages and bacon, HOLY YUM :) of course, all accompanied by coffee with sugar-free hazel nut creamer ;)

Then some cousins from my mom's side of the family said they would meet me at the train station so we could go up to the Willis tower and the beach. I walked over there and then up we go!

The view from the top is INSANE. I loved it. I love architecture, and I'm a fan of Ludwig Van Der Rohe, so it was a pretty amazing tour.

the view is breathtaking

from the Skydeck! :D

just a little quick fact that stuff in Mexico is called "Jamoncillo"

We snacked on soy nuts and kept walking, then we tried to go to Subway because we had some coupons but there was n't anything open (¿?), so we ended up at Jimmy John's. I had a vegetarian sandwich (on whole wheat, easy on the cheese, no mayo). I loved it but I checked up the nutritional facts and was pretty dissapointed that there was so many calories in just some veggies, cheese, and avocado.

After that, we went to Grant park and walked some more. Now I'm having dinner (baked sweet potato fries) and I am SOOO TIRED.

So far, I'm loving this city!! :D

Please say hi on the comments section, I'd love to hear from you!

Exploring Chicago!! First days!

2011-07-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Day 1:

I got here on tuesday from El paso in a Southwest Airlines flight. I was a bit nervous because I'm not very good with my English. I mean I can write and blog and tweet, but speaking? No way!! My accent sucks, Sofia Vergara got nothing on me! hehe but I sucked it up and went for it.

I got to Chicago at about 3:30 on Tuesday and my Aunt Judy went to pick me up. She's my dad's little sister and she's really cool. We get along pretty well!

my first sight of Chicago from the plane!

She took me to my grandmother's house right away and they fed me because I was STARVING. Then she asked me if I wanted to really explore american's culture and I said of course! So she took me to the White Sox game!

my aunt Judy in the game :)

Now, don't laugh at me but I've never EVER been to a baseball game. In Mexico is all about Futbol (soccer). And I've got to say, I didn't love it! It was sooooo boring :/ but what I loved was everything else: the stadium, the food, the people! I had a delicious pretzel! I've never eaten a pretzel so big! I thought they were tiny.

pretzel on stereoids

After that, we went home and crashed. I was so tired because I got up at 4 a.m! and the flight was super long because I got a connection to Dallas, then St. Louis and finally Chicago.

Day 2:

I tried to get up early to go with my grandmother to the hospital (she got a routine check up) but I couldn't get up!! I set the alarm at 7 and ended up getting up at 9 :/ My other aunt, Lulu, came home and brought me a huge 16 oz. coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Oh man, did I loved that coffee! It was the best coffee of my life! I've tried Starbucks but it has nothing on Dunkin Donuts coffee!. We made scrambled eggs (you guys have eggs in a carton? are you kidding me? I almost poured eggs in my coffee thinking it was milk!) and blueberry muffins. Very nice breakfast over all!

what?!?!

Then we waited for my aunt Judy to go out of work and we went to Chipotle!!! OMG I've read about Chipotle in you guys blog and I always droooooooled about it and finally I had some! I ordered a veggie burrito bowl and it was so yummy :)

Chipotle's Vegetarian Burrito bowl

We also went to Worth Waterfalls (something like that?) and it was so lovely :)

I really love being outdoors so this was amazing :)

Finally, we went to have dinner to Gertie's. I loved the vintage-feel ! My aunt ordered the Sweet Sixteen Sundae (was huge!!) and I sticked to a chocolate covered frozen banana :)

I missed the sprinkles on this one

huge sundae

Weird dinner I know, but it was very good :P

Day 3:

Yesterday I woke up early and got my workout on!!! I did a Tracy Anderson video and danced for an hour, and then I went walking to explore the city.

I set out with the Sears Tower in mind (surprisingly, it's not the Sears tower anymore, is the Willis tower!) and I thought it was closer, and ended up walking A LOT. I didn't go up cuz I was SOO tired so I just bought a bottle ofwater in the Walgreens across the street and took a photograph :) it's so impressive when you see it up close!

holly ..!

Then, one of my cousins who lives in Pilsen called me to meet up and I walked over to Ashlan street to meet up with her. I took some pretty pics on the way over there !

We walked home and I had to get ready to go to Malcom X College to get some information. I ended up taking a test and went out at 6:30

We went to the lake! Now, don't laugh at me but I always thought the lake was waaaaaay smaller (more like a pond) so I was SHOCKED by it's size. That shit is like a fucking ocean!!! I loved it!! I was smiling goofily all the way because I love the sea sooo much and I though I would miss it when I got to Chicago but I don't think I will because the lake looks like the sea :)

yogis

amazed at the size of the lake

We also took a drive through Michigan Avenue which reminded me so much of New York. Finally, we went to the Fiesta del Sol Festival in Pilsen, where I could eat REAL mexican food to my heart's content!!!

I had a REAL burrito and a scoop of coconut ice-cream (if you've never eaten mexican ice cream you haven't lived it's all I'm saying) I was so tired by that time so I came home and crashed.

Today I'm going out to buy some sneakers to keep walking the city :)