Chicago Christmas Tree 2025
Category: everyday life
Breakfast Sandwiches
I love making breakfast, and most people who stay with me love my quiche and breakfast casserole. But when it comes to Nadia and Kira, the only two parts of breakfast they love unconditionally are fruits and chocolate. For the longest time, Nadia loved my savory toasts (grenki), but the problem of Kira not eating anything except for fruits reamined. She would get hungry an hour after breakfast, just when we would be on the way to activities.
Last couple of times when the girls stayed with me, we went to Common Cup for breakfast (we also went to Charmers, but they didn’t like anything there except for the swings :). I thought that since they bioh love breakfast sandwiches, we should try to make them at home. I used to have a breakfast sandwich maker, but I didn’t take it from Palatine to Rogers Park in an attempt to reduce the clutter.
I browsed several models online, and the most simple (and cheap) one seemed to work the best.
The girst decided to make sandwiched just with eggs, with no extra ingedients. That was an easy recipe: beat an egg in the sandwich maker, microwave for one minute:
Warm up a brioche bun for 30 sec
Assemble and enojoy!
First time they tried it, both of them ate two sandwiches for breakfast, and one more for dinner (in addition to actual dinner:)). On the third day, they decided to go to the Common Cup “to compare,” and later made one more at home 🙂
Christmas Break
So, I have Nadia and Kira here with me for the first part of Christmas break, which means I do not have time for anything else :), so I will make a post tomorrow, when everyone leaves.
So far, we have done Santa Train, Christmas crafts, the Joffrey Nutcracker, the Art Institute, and cookie decorating. Next on our list is Christkindle Market and a holiday manicure :). And then early Christmas presents giving and the Merry Merry Chicago concert on Tuesday.
Skating
The skating season this year is going to be very short, due to the rink closing in early February, and my two trips in between, and I am using any opportunity to go skating, including skating with a big crowd 🙂
Packing And Shipping
I need to count how many total packages I have already mailed; I think it’s more than twenty. Even when I have more than half the addresses in the USPS address book, it still takes time to weigh the parcel, click “does not contain,” enter the dimensions, print the label, cut it out, and attach it. To be honest, when I did it at the kiosk during the after-hours in Palatine, it seemed faster! Or maybe I am getting older and becoming slower 😂.
The last batch was shipped yesterday:
And if you look closer, you will see one more small cookie tin in the background: I received a parcel from Kentucky!
Shipping update:
- Most of my US parcels have reached their destination
- The total mailed is twenty-seven.
- Also, there are(will be) five that I am passing, not mailing, because I will see people in person.
- And so far, six more I gifted, plus I brought cookies to work twice.
- Which makes it forty 🙂
Christmas Countdown
I didn’t post about our corporate party yet, although the post was almost finished, because it is still difficult to operate in a holiday mood after the tragedy that happened practically at home, but nevertheless, life continues.
Aside from the party, I spent the weekend decorating the cookies and baking additional batches. Saturday started with a trip to Jewel-Osco, the only store that still carries inexpensive plastic cookie boxes, which are not only affordable but also super light, which makes them perfect for shipping.
Also, I baked two kinds of gluten-free cookies, mostly to mail to our exiting team manager, whose wife has a severe gluten intolerance, but then I also had leftovers for others. I loved the GF flour I got this year, and will make sure to stick to it.
This weekend was record cold, down to negative in the mornings, and here is how my balcony door looked from inside – I thought it’s increadibly pretty:
To my surprise, the lake was not frozen!
Also, I received one more international package, this time from Ireland:
Cookies From All Over The World
I don’t know why New Zealand is the closest place to Chicago in the whole world, but my New Zealand Christmas present always arrives first, without fail!
Can We Put Them To Work?
WBEZ reported earlier this week that the hazardous situation with snow removal in Chicago is not only due to the record early snow, but also because 60% of the landscapers are not leaving their houses, afraid of being deported.
When I shared this news with Boris, he said: Let ICE agents do this! I said: It would be great, but on what grounds? Boris replied: Well, ICE is detaining people whom they call illegal because they believe they are taking jobs from Americans. Since apparently, nobody wants these jobs, ICE agents should be summoned to snow removal!
While this is unlikely to happen, I still think it’s funny enough to share:)
Christmas At Jarvis Square
Love walking home from the Red Line!
Looking More Like Holidays
Aside from the Monday disaster and aside from the never-ending work crisis, things were looking pretty festive.
As I said, I didn’t go to the Knox party on Monday, which I now regret, but Igor and I decorated the tree. There was the Night Ministry Christmas Party on Tuesday (I volunteered there), but as usual – no pics until they post on their website.
At work, we had a bagel sandwich chief’s table (everyone could order their version of bagel sandwich with smoked salmon; this picture is very close to what I ordered).
On Wednesday, we had our building (not our firm) holiday party on the Landing:
After the party, I went to the Fannie May store and purchased chocolate to give to Anna’s family and to Mom (for her, I picked a custom selection with no nuts and no small particles, just cream filling). Also, I walked a little bit along Michigan Avenue and saw some holiday lights.
I also packed two more parcels, and baked holiday biscotti with cherries, almonds and peppermint chips.
Today, we had the Conscious Cup in our cafeteria from 7-30 AM to 10 AM, and we could get any drinks from them (same as bagel sandwiches, it is always free for us). First, I got a cappuccino with peppermint, and later – a latte with vanilla.
After work, I went to get my nails done to be ready for the corporate holiday party on Saturday, and then I did some almost-last-minute shopping in Target (and regretted the time wasted).
I hope to go skating tomorrow, and I know I won’t have time to go listen to the Caroling at the Cloud Gate, because I also need to visit my mom. Maybe next year 🙂
Hettie's Reflections 