Holiday Party 2018

Hello everyone and happy new year!  So far this 2019 has been a bit sad for me.  I went to my first funeral of the year on Saturday and it was awful.  I’m pretty sensitive already so I knew this was going to bother me a bit.  I kept it low key on Friday, went to the funeral on Saturday, and on Sunday saw my friends for Three Kings Day.  That part was nice.  Sometimes moments like this makes you want to reach out to your loved ones.  I hate the fact that this happened right after the holidays.  This family is hurting so badly…

I’m finally on December events and I want to get that going so I won’t fall back behind like I usually do.  I’m trying to work on this I promise!  Our holiday work party was being held at Buddy Guy’s Legends and we were excited!  This blues bar has been a Chicago staple for many years.  I knew we were going to have a blast when we got there.  Our usual trolley ride lead us down Jackson avenue, but then we noticed some police activity on State Street.  Someone onboard decided to look into and found out there was a shooting on the Blue Line tunnel underneath.  Me and a coworker were distraught because that’s our line to go home.  This put a damper on our evening.  We couldn’t help wonder what had happened.  When something like that occurs in the city, they shut down the transit line so the police could investigate.  Me and my coworker knew we had no choice but to enjoy our time out at the party until the city decides to open the transit line again.

The music was putting everyone in a good mood.  Me and my coworkers enjoyed our buffet and they even had prizes raffled off.  At one point my co-worker checked into the Blue Line and the line had opened up.  It was now 8pm.  Pretty early for me, but since it spooked us both, we decided to ride home together.  So much for staying longer at the holiday party…

Holidays are OVER! Part 3

One of my favorite new traditions for the holiday season is definitely an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  At first, I thought it was a hilarious idea to get people together to make fun of each other.  But as the popularity grew, I now look forward to seeing my friends--PERIOD.  It's hard to see them during the holidays when everyone has so many commitments.  This is a perfect guarantee that we could touch base and see how we are doing.
The holidays are stressful for some.  It's the end of the year.  People reflect back.  We sometimes check in on our current situations to see if we're heading towards the right direction.  And sometimes we just know what's not working for us anymore. 
I noticed my mom was growing very irritated by the holidays.  I couldn't put my finger on it at first, mostly because she was complaining about how crowded the stores are, etc.  But then she started mentioning how she's not fond of certain people in our circle, and that's when I knew something was brewing.  Despite in the past, whether or not certain people were difficult to be around, we still as a family managed to get together during the holidays.  This time my mom was voicing her opinion, but for me and my brothers, we weren't having it.  I wasn't sure if she was trying to deter us from spending the holidays with others and keeping me and my brothers to herself,  Luckily my older brother took over the communication process and my younger aunt decided to host Christmas Eve at her house.  I know it seems a bit conniving, but me and my brothers all agreed that we didn't want to separate our family because of my mom feeling uncomfortable.  Sometimes I think she's embarrassed or ashamed of being a widow(?)  I wouldn't know how to explain her feelings because they are her thoughts, but I'm beginning to learn a lot from her and my family.
This year one of our friends wanted to throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater party at her new house out in the suburbs.  It's 45 minutes away from the city, so that alone was a hike.  Not to mention, she chose to throw it on a Sunday where no Metra trains run to her town.  Being car less sometimes has it's challenges.  Luckily my friend was coming also, so we met up in downtown to head south to Oarland Park.  To make matters worse, there was a snow storm heading our way.  I was hoping it would start later, but sure enough, the snow was hitting us hard during our commute there.  My friend has a truck so she was breezing through, but this type of weather could be difficult for smaller vehicles.
Once we got there, the party was just starting.  The group turned out to be smaller than intended due to the weather conditions.  Yet my friend seemed pretty happy people showed up.  She gave us a tour of her new home and we finally met her little son!  We had a good time catching up with one another and stayed put for the rest of the day.  I was surprised we left so late in the evening but knew it would be safer for us since the roads would be plowed by then.  As for the funniest sweater; we had a winner!!    

Found this sweater at Forever 21.  Not your typical Ugly Christmas sweater, but it does have reindeers on them...

Check out that spread!

FINALLY met the baby!!  He's adorable!

My friend with the baby and her Hanukkah sweater...

Our little party in the burbs.  The snow wouldn't stop!

What a great idea!  Collecting ornaments from all over to put on the tree.  My friend's made it's way to the top!

The winner of the Ugly Christmas Sweater!

Holidays are OVER! Part 2

The thing about the holidays is that it's more than celebrating with friends and family.  There are holiday work parties to attend to!  Ours this year was featured at our firm, which is not unusual.  In the past we have been at other venues, but sometimes it's easier to bring the party to us.  Since a lot of people who work here commute from the suburbs, they go to Union Station down the street to catch their train.  To make things easier, we dressed up our firm to showcase a winter themed party and it worked out pretty well!  We had a high attendance than ever before and people seemed to enjoy themselves without any compromise to their commute.  I'm glad that our firm participates in holiday parties because I feel it's important for everyone to get along at work.  What better way to bring people together than a party?  Here are some of our memorable moments!

Someone made this prop at work!  We HAD to use it!

Check out those Christmas sneakers!

This day was particularly frigid.  I layered it up with a cardi wrap, tunic dress with fleece leggings and flat over the knee suede boots.  Believe it or not, I got hot at the party...

Our holiday cocktails!

I chose the Feliz Navidad...

He's wearing the Alien Christmas sweater.  LOVE IT!

Bulls vs Charlotte!

The pre-season of basketball began a couple of weeks ago and I got lucky scoring some tickets to watch the Bulls play.  Me along with some other co-workers were invited to the United Center at our company's suite.  I brought along a change of clothes so I could get comfortable after work.  I absolutely HATE socializing in work attire.  lol.  I only own one Chicago Bulls shirt, but since I am not into sports, I'm proud of myself for owning that!  Sports for me go in one ear out the other, but I am aware of it's presence here in the city.  Yes I'm aware that our teams sometimes do well, but it's our sports venues that really grab my attention.  The United Center is also used for the Chicago Black Hawks as well as concerts and shows that come into town.  It was fun hanging out with my co-workers after hours.  I can't believe our Holiday Party is right around the corner!  Yikes!!



During the pre-season games, not as many seats fill up...

My friend brought along his youngest son since he's allowed free entry.  He met the United Center's requirements and had a blast!  Check out the matching Jordans!

Here comes Benny the Bull!

Unfortunately, we didn't score any free t-shirts!  Oh well!

Overdue Debt PAID OFF!!

I finally did it!!  I paid off a huge debt that's been a thorn to my side today!!  I'm so relieved this day has finally arrived for me.  Once I noticed my low balance I knew I had to finish it off.  It became so customary for me to pay it every month I almost forgot it was going to end eventually.  I cannot express how important it was for me to do this on my own.  It was my responsibility after all, but I think sometimes people get the wrong idea on how to handle their debt.  It's time to own up to your mistakes and handle them head on.  If not, you'll never understand how you got there in the first place.

Back to December events!  The infamous holiday party arrived the following Friday.  Everyone at work were pretty excited.  I wore a sweater dress I won off ebay months ago.  I knew I could put it to use one day.  It's hard to dress for these things because it IS a work event after all, but it would be nice to wear something cute other than business casual.  Over the years I have worn a sweater and pencil skirt combo, as well as day dresses.  Since the holidays bring all types of social events to my calendar, I HATE shopping for myself because of the abundance amount of people in the stores.  That's why I'm an avid online shopper.  It's more practical to me because of the range of options available, not to mention, I can go by my price range.  Have to watch that budget!
This year our holiday party was being held at the Four Seasons hotel.  We usually have a trolley service take us to our events, and I love it!  Trolleys are so much fun!  Once we got there we made our way to our sectioned off area.  I enjoyed the buffet selections they prepared for us.  Sorry, but some places have to step up their game.  The menu included an Asian cuisine complete with pot stickers and eggrolls, to the usual mini sliders (they include mini hot dogs, too!), as well as healthier options such as sautéed jumbo shrimp and veggies.  Me and my co-worker friends sipped Prosecco and danced the night away to our very own dj.  We usually have a live band but this dj played a good range of music everyone enjoyed, plus he took requests!!  lol.  We had our reserved area until 9pm and as usual, wanted to take the party elsewhere.  We ended up at The Blue Frog for some karaoke.  We sang some songs and called it a night.  Luckily I went home afterwards because I noticed it was barely 11pm.  Still pretty early in my book considering it was a Friday night, but I was beat!   

LOVE ME A TROLLEY RIDE!

 

I love her navy lace shirtdress!

A bright red sweater for the holidays is always a hit!

They donned their Christmas sweaters to the party!

Our Holiday Party is right around the corner!

Ahhh.  December.  It's the month that brings us winter, shopping, and holiday parties!!  Believe it or not, the buzz around the office is strong this year.  In the past we practically had to beg for our employees to show up to our events.  This year, it's different.  I personally think it's because of the scandalous news happening in our city and around the world.  It has us wanting to get out of this rut, even if it's just for a couple of hours.  We had a staff party back in September and surprisingly, (even with the low turn out), had a great time!  It was at Three Dots in a Dash.  What didn't help was the crazy weather we were having that day.  A couple of strong storms passed through, opting for people to go home instead of joining in on the fun.  Regardless, our firm provided the transportation with a trolley ride there.  Not too shabby!  We went a little crazy with the tropical drinks, but how can you resist a banana daiquiri with a dolphin leaping out?  Everyone who attended had a blast, and hopefully our Christmas party will also be a success.  I can't wait!   

SO YUMMY!!

I can't believe we got the treasure chest!  That was intense!

I couldn't help myself from having the dolphin shaped daiquiri!

Someone ordered the DOM!  lol

Tis the Season for PARTIES!!

Time for another throwback Thursday.  Since I'm still recollecting on December, I didn't realize I attended other parties besides the Holidays.  One of my friends celebrated her birthday at Cafe Iberico for brunch.  This was a fun gathering, mostly because, WHO DOESN'T LOVE CAFE IBERICO??  It has been around since 1992 serving tapas from all over Spain.  I usually take friends that are new to Chicago since you can find something for everyone.  I especially love the mussels and garlic shrimp.  YUMMY!  The sangria is the best in the city too.  We had a great time catching up with everyone.

Birthday flan cake!

Cheese!!

 

Another memorable party was our annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!  Our friend usually throws this one every year, but this time it was bitter sweet since she has now moved to sunny California.  We definitely did not want to miss her last farewell to this fun group.  I bought my sweater from Sears, but a lot of people ordered their sweaters on-line.  There are some pretty creative ones, especially the customized versions.  Take a look!

 

My gingerbread cookie Oh Snap! Christmas sweater...

Even Darth Vadar was in the house!

His sweater has an attached teddy bear!

My pregnant friend and her wreath!

Yes these polar bears are doing the naughty!











HOLIDAY PARTY!!

The funny thing about looking back on your life 6 months ago is comparing what is happening NOW in the present.  I work for a law firm and one of the biggest perks is our parties.  We celebrate EVERYTHING!  lol.  We like to have a good time and it's one of the reasons many employees have sticked around for so long.  In this day in age it's unheard of employees celebrating 15 or 20 year anniversaries, but it's not uncommon here.  I love the fact that we've managed to strive with our company's core values.  Regardless, now in the present, we are looking forward to our summer party coming up in July.  It will be held at the Godfrey Hotel at the rooftop.  I can't wait for that one!
Our last holiday party was at the Redhead Piano Bar.  We've hosted it there before, many years ago.  We started to throw some ideas around and it popped up again, mostly because of how much fun we had the time before.  When throwing a party, you need to keep in mind the size of your party and if the venue accommodates everything.  If you book a venue that is too large, the party will look empty, no matter how many people attend.  We've always had a struggle with this because we want the right type of atmosphere so people would stick around.  Believe it or not, if the venue is too intimidating, that affects our audience as well.  Number one in planning a party is to know your demographics.  I'm a single city girl who loves to have a good time, but the majority of my colleagues come from the suburbs from a completely different environment.  They catch the train at Union Station and usually have limited access to commute.  We plan our parties right after work so people could hang around for a couple of hours before catching the last train out. 
One of the reasons I enjoy the Redhead Piano bar is because it's been around for years.  It's a Chicago staple located on Ontario street, which hosts a string of nightlife clubs and lounges.  Who doesn't love a piano bar??  I loved the fact that the party lasted until 10pm when the regular patrons were allowed to come in.  Some of us hopped in a cab and headed to another bar, this time karaoke.  It was a long day indeed, but we couldn't stop talking about it here at work! 

Our Firm's Christmas tree!

Old Hollywood glamour sets the tone for The Redhead Piano Bar

Sing along with the piano man!

 For our holiday party, we are allowed to wear jeans to work.  I wore my red jeans instead for a more festive look.

 

Girls Night Out...

Since today is Happy Hump Day Wednesday, I thought it would be fun to mention my girls night out back in November.  Don't get me wrong.  There are times where me and my friends like to get together for some drinks to catch up with one another.   But that month in particular, everyone needed to go all out for some much needed fun!  One night in particular, our friend invited us out for a sushi night at Butterfly Sushi.  She had just settled in her new apartment and has been out of the loop for a bit.  Since I hurried on home from work, I switched into jeans and wore my Halloween headpiece AGAIN to spice up my look. lol.This was a nice time to catch up since the upcoming holidays were going to be hectic for everyone.  I wasn't in the mood so much to hangout because my throat was hurting.  The winter of 2014 was definitely not my healthiest.  I was sick 3 times before I finally gave in and went to the doctor.  I tried to ride it out with lots of green tea but it was kicking my butt.  Regardless, I went along and had a good time.  We ended up down the street at The Dawson for some cocktails afterwards. 

 I LOVE my friend's fur vest from Argentina!



Once Thanksgiving was over, Black Friday was the talk of the town.  I opted NOT to join in the madness and do some online shopping instead.  I usually find pretty good deals.  Regardless, in the nightlife scene, this weekend is a difficult one because a lot of people are either out of town or spending time with family.  What did we do?  We decided to paint the town red!  lol  We figured we could hop around and get a chance to enjoy new venues.  We first started off at the rooftop at The Godfrey Hotel for some drinks and conversation.  Our group of  3 quickly escalated to about 10 in a matter of time.  I had fun running around and meeting new people.  We took a little field trip down to Parliament nightclub and danced the night away!  I also had my first drink of Dom Perignon and I must say, I was impressed!  I'm not a fan of champagne but that was good.. 

We were photo bombed by the bartenders!  Too funny!

Our group is slowly growing...

At Parliament getting silly...

 

The next day our girlfriend was going to entertain her co-workers to a night out.  I was pretty beat from the night before, so I knew I was going to take it easy.  My other friends joined in the festivities, and I was happy to see them.  It's hard to get everyone together in one place.  I told myself that this was the last night of the remaining year that I will wear my Halloween headpiece.  It was time to retire this trendy accessory and save it for another occasion.  But in the meantime, I matched it up with my gold leather pencil skirt and off I went.  We headed to Bevy nightclub for some hip hop and ended up at The Mid for some major EDM.  Cassette was djing, so the place was packed!  Overall, both nights were long and crazy, but I loved every minute of it!  Sometimes the unexpected moments are the most memorable ones...