Bring on the cold weather...

Friday managed to roll around again. Although the sight of another weekend is beyond appealing, I cannot believe how fast time slips by without notice. It seems like it was literally yesterday that I made the commitment to pack up and move; and now here I am, 4 months later, almost a completely different person. Time didn't fail to pass me like a freight train, although I feel like I was standing still the whole time. If that makes any sense.  Anyway, my Friday was great (although I can't imagine a Friday being anything less). The first thing I noticed as I started my day was that this beastly cold has not completely left my system. I knew this when I looked at my phone and saw 10:15...which is 4 more hours of sleep than I am used to getting. This immediately told me that I apparently needed the rest and my body thanked me for it. As much as I would love to say "your welcome" I could not; I still felt as though I had already wasted part of my day. But, I had to get over it and accept the fact that it was much needed. With this road-block behind me, I bundled up to face the 40 degree weather outside, putting on an extra layer to prevent this cold from getting any worse. Although I have several "fall" jackets, I've yet to purchase a "winter in Chicago" jacket. And according to everyone I've talked to, I will need a good one. That's where I headed, to find a "winter in Chicago" jacket, and I wasn't coming home until I found one. Although the locals have told me I will need a "floor length, puffy coat with a big hood", I still could not fathom the idea of me walking around in an unflattering marshmallow coat that touches the ground. So, I met them halfway and compromised with a mid-thigh length, semi-puffy Anne Klein coat with a nice big hood lined with fur. I was shooting for warmth, but managed to find both warmth AND style. Perfect. 

One thing you should know about me is that I hate shopping in stores. Surprised? Me too. Nothing about being in an overcrowded, overly loud store with bad music is appealing to me. Let alone having to dodge random items on the floor that other customers were too lazy to pick up. I guess I shouldn't say I hate it all the time. I do get in my moods where I like to just browse for hours and see what I come up with. This is assuming it's not a weekend and I have the patience to do so. However, the majority of the time I would much rather order what I need from the comfort of my own home. If everything was guaranteed to fit correctly and shipping was free, I would do it more often. Anyway, after bracing the chaos on State Street to find this new jacket of mine, I jumped back on the L and made my way back to my quiet side of town. Since I'm horrible at making decisions, coat shopping took a little longer than expected. Regardless, I arrived at my local Starbucks just in time to enjoy a warm cup of coffee before crossing the street to make my 3:00 appointment at the nail salon. Another thing you should know about me is that I have an addiction to getting my nails done. Of all the cosmetic harm I could inflict upon my body, the one thing I choose to do is get my nails filled every few weeks. So before you go assuming that I'm a tan-aholic, shop-aholic that clicks around in high heels and gets her hair highlighted monthly, please stop yourself. I am none of those things, and I'm glad I'm not. Moving on. There is something about having a freshly filled full set that has the power to completely change your view of yourself. The moment I sit in the chair at this salon that I've never been to, I feel relaxed. It's a gorgeous place, the staff is incredibly polite, and it's only a few blocks from my apartment. I feel like I've found heaven. The nail technician works her magic, without any conversation, which is what I prefer. The transformation from grown-out, chipped nails to beautifully polished ones is incredible to me. Getting rid of my summer white tip, I opted for a taupe color for fall. But before the color was applied I was surprised to receive a mini-hand massage including warm towels wrapped around each of my hands. I like this place even more. The color was perfect, the shape was perfect, it was all perfect and I didn't even have to give any direction. But it did not end here. As I sat down at their bar-style drying stations I was treated to yet another massage, this time on my neck and shoulders. I've always thought a neck massage would go well at this stage in the appointment, but never imagined it would ever be included. It was, and I loved it. And I will return in a few weeks for another session. 

Although today seemed to fly by, like most days do, I feel like it was overall a successful Friday. I am clearly well rested, but I don't see bed time being too far in the distance. I'm shooting for another successful day tomorrow and will be sure to report the outcome.