The Windy City in January (told by a true Floridian)

As you can surly tell from the title of this post, we went to Chicago in the middle of January and lived to tell the tale. Okay so I'm well aware that the question going through your mind is "Why the heck would any sane individual CHOOSE to go to Chicago in the middle of winter?" well, long story short, some of our fellow travelers found some incredibly cheap plane tickets that they couldn't pass up so we joined along.

Sky Deck on the Sears Building

Honestly, it wasn't that bad. It's amazing how hard it is to find REAL winter gear in FL, even in winter!! We have like two cold days a year and that's about it. Luckily, a friend of mine suggested the Columbia store and we went! Apparently Columbia doesn't believe that Floridians only wear shorts and tank tops and had a fully stocked wintery selection of everything warm and cozy for our near-Canada journey.

When we got to Chi Town we were of course greeted by an Uber driver that literally had ice hanging off his car... this is something I have never seen or knew happened so I was already thoroughly amused. When we got to our hotel on the riverwalk area, we were then greeted by the most intensely cold wind I had yet to experience. My husband was in thin PJ's from the plane ride and claims to have lost all abilities for having future children due to the frigid cold, so we know who was going to be the complainer of the trip (haha).

During our time in the city, we actually felt very safe. I felt like everyone I told where we were going gave a quick squirm and awkward smirk when we said Chicago, followed by some long boring story of how dangerous it is.

Listen... It was damnnnn cold. No one other than us and a few other broke tourists were out and about. We didn't have many lines to wait in at the Signature room bar or at the Sears Tower. The only line that made us cringe and turn around from was the ice skating at Millineum Park.

Amazed by the ice on Lake Michigan

On our last day in the city we took a walk to Lake Michigan and braved the last day of the freezing cold. We saw some snow and lots and lots and LOTS of ice! Seriously, we were mesmerized by a partially frozen lake front. We've never seen so much ice in our LIFE! It was so beautiful and the sound of it slowly melting and cracking was amazing.

If I had to choose a moment in my life that really made me stop and think and realize that through all the struggles we go through on a daily basis just to create a life we can be proud of... staring into the horizon of Lake Michigan made me feel completely overwhelmed with a since of success. They always says success isn't measured by your wealth, but more of your happiness. Going to all these new places leaves my bank account continually at near-critical levels after all our bills are paid, but it leaves our heart so full and our minds so stimulated and it's done more good for us than a full bank account with few experiences ever could.

Take a look for yourself though, Chicago in the winter was awesome!!

We had to get a pose in.

At the Signature Lounge on the 95th floor (stunning views)

Terrified after looking down.