my last night {boo}, for awhile, with the wonderful miss olivia.  it was a last minute gathering that turned out so perfect {yay!}.  we discussed, at our last dinner, about going to the tasting room, a favorite of mine and caitlin’s.  o has never been there, so we thought it would be fun to go there this past week.  we left it in the air on whether or not we would go and everything fell into place for us to have dinner together!

the weather was great and the parking was easy.  we got there and soon after, caitlin, claire, and kelly joined us.

we started with a few bottles of wine…um, it was half price night {score!}.  we ordered the spanish platter, a baked brie plate, and the madeira mushrooms to start.  it was all so delicious!  i loved all the flavors.  the nibbling.  the tasting.  the trying of new flavors.

we conversed, drank, ate, and giggled.  it was a really fun time.  after experimenting and devouring our ordered samplings, we decided we wanted more!  we then ordered the truffle bruschetta {oh em gee!}, and more samples of cheeses.  the bruschetta was soooooo delicious!  it was like eating little bites of heaven!

[cabs + shirah’s // me + o // the menu // the amaze bruschetta]

after several hours there, we finally parted ways.  it was sooo bittersweet.  this truly was the last time i would see miss olivia for at least a few months.  we said our goodbyes to the girls and we hopped into her car.  she drove me home, as per our mantra…we sat in the car and talked for another good, solid hour!  it was a good and sad conversation.  a colloquy that had to be had.

 i will miss you immensely, i will miss our hours long lunches/dinner, i will miss your animated stories, i will miss your presence, i will miss your hugs, and i hope that you return home soon.

xoxo

ahhhh, staycations.  you just need them once in awhile, right?!!  get some relaxation time in.  get some stuff done.  catch up on some sleep.  i love going places {who doesn’t?!} but time at home is always nice {although a nice tan would be a bonus right about now}.

i was excited to meet up with dana the other day.  we both had that day where errands ruled over us like an iron fist.  getting stuff done was priority but our end goal was to meet up for dinner.  success!

after i drove all over chicago {it was one of those days where i put off getting the little stuff done + that little stuff ended up like a treasure hunt around the city!}.  i finally headed home to get some more stuff done, like crafty fun stuff!  yay!

dana was finally on her way to my part of town. we decided to meet at a new taco place called takito.  i was stoked to try this place, it just opened near the end of march.  very cool interior, cozy and warm.  it was interesting to have the bar completely open…no table or slab separating the patrons and bartenders.

[perusing some future deliciousness]

we were seated and started to peruse the menu.  the waiter told us how they served their food, everything is to share, all their items are made from scratch…seasonal, fresh local ingredients.  we started with the avocado pine nut puree with the house made corn flatbread.  it was delicious and different.  a very smooth texture that mixed well with the hearty, sweet flatbread.

[bar]

we then ordered the beef barbacoa {queso fresco, tamarind, chayote, + chile pequin} and grilled brunkow cheese {morita salsa, chayote, kale, peanuts, + date chutney} tacos with a side of roasted cauliflower {pickle squash pepian, fresh mozzarella, + pumpkin seeds}.  all so delish!  the only thing i cannot consume is cilantro…yes, cilantro.  i have the most open palate, really i do, i will eat anything buuuutttt no cilantro!!!!!  we contemplated ordering more {bigger tastebuds than tummy space!} but kaboshed that idea quickly after eating because we were soooooo stuffed!

[beef barbacoa]

after dinner, we strolled back to my place and had a girly movie night all snuggled up on the couch!  romantic wedding movie, after romantic wedding movie we watched!  pepper in some ice cream eating and i’d call that a good night!

[movie-a-thon]

xoxo