4th of July Fireworks

Here are my favorite shots from the 4th of July fireworks this year.  I think they might just be my best ones yet!  I kept my shutter open for a longer period of time (8-12 seconds) and this enabled me to catch a couple bursts.  Did you take any firework photos this year?  How did it go?  My top three firework photo tips would be to use a tripod, experiment with different shutter speeds, and turn your flash off!

Valentine's Day Date

Amazing Cheese Flight at Eno.

Great wine to go with...

Wine, cheese, and chocolate?  I'm in heaven.

MJ's Steakhouse

Cheers!

YUM!

Beautiful wines...

Really cool lighting

Sweet rug

Goofball!

Hallmark Holiday?

I've got a Hallmark store in my work building.  This is what it looked like over the lunch hour on Valentine's Day.  Who says Valentine's Day is a holiday created by Hallmark?

Valentine's Day Flowers

A little late on my postings, I know.  I am trying to catch up!  Thanks hubby.

Valentine's Day Prep

Chocolate store in Old Town three days before Valentine's Day...

MLK Day in Chicago

I love this city.  I love that a building would go to all this work to create such a beautiful tribute to MLK.

Day 14: Heart

Valentine's Day marketing sure worked on this girl...

Butch McGuire's

I realize it is no longer the holidays, but Eric and I didn't make it to this gem of a restaurant until the first week of January, and I have never been so excited to have stumbled upon such a happy place.  Butch McGuire's is an "irish saloon" located in the Gold Coast area who decorate their bar like this every November - January.  There is a huge train that circle the bar, 50,000+ Christmas lights, and spinning decorations hang from the ceiling.  As long as I am in Chicago, a holiday season will not pass without a visit to Butch McGuire's.

Shot of the train -

Ignore this little guy -

Great Chicago sign -

Bella

World, meet Bella!  Perhaps the most spoiled cat in the world, ha.  This is in-law's cat on Christmas morning.

Christmas Tree Treats

Yes, it is January 19th and I am still uploading Christmas photos... slowly but surely, I will get caught up!

These are two Christmas tree treats that I created over the holidays.  Thank you, Pinterest!

Holiday Train Attempt #2

After 3 years of living in the city, I finally caught the Holiday Train.  It took two attempts, but was well worth it!

Kind of crammed inside so it makes it a tad bit difficult to get photos, but here are a few:

How do you groom a holiday tree?  With a pine cone.

What kind of luggage does Santa bring down the chimneys?  Soot-cases.

Actually got a few shots of Santa Claus himself!  I was pretty proud that I got him and he was looking right at me. :)

Until next year, Holiday Train!  This is definitely going to become an annual tradition.