FOUND A PURSE!

I went to VonMaur last night and got a purse for Paris. Really perfect. Lots of secret pockets and it will fit my umbrella too!!!
Then I met Janet by the fountain outside of VonMaur and we talked and talked. She brought books from Paris for me to borrow. Oh, I'm so excited!!! Janet and Gary were in Paris 2 years ago. We laughed and gossiped and got caught up. It was wonderful to be with her.
Hope you all are doing great and keep smiling!

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't been writing alot lately. Last weekend I went to Chicago to see Bree and John. Had a blast. Friday night we went to a new Mexican restaurant and we liked it but not as much as Lalo's. Lalo's ranks #1 for me in Mexican restaurants. (the margaritas are better at Lalo's too!!!!)

Talked Friday night until the wee hours of the morning and then up early for a busy day of shopping. Bree and I were on a quest for a purse for me to take to Paris. Looked high and low but couldn't find one I liked. John met us for lunch at the Russian Tea Room and we had a great time talking and laughing. Dinner that night was at Kinsey Chop House which was sooooo good!!! Had a great time. Sunday Bree and I went to brunch at Orange in the Belmont area and then more shopping, walking, talking. We are sooo excited about Paris. Less than 1 month away!

It was a fabulous weekend and I miss Bree already. I am reading Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. It is really good! Have a good day and THINK SUNSHINE!!

IT'S ALL HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JOHN BOOKED THE TRIP AND I AM GOING TO PARIS!!!
We leave May 13 and will be in Paris for 1 week! I am so excited!!!! I can't believe it! I keep pinching myself! It is so exciting! I have always wanted to travel and explore other countries and I am just OVER THE MOON that it is happening! I will document everything and take zillions of pictures. I am so thrilled that I am going to see Paris for the first time with Bree and John! My feet have barely touched the ground since John made the plane reservations.
I am packed in my mind and have bought a couple of new books to read on the plane.
I will keep you posted!!!
Love and hugs and bonjour and si vous plait and all that jazz!! Love, Kelli

Friendly Fox

I love Friendly Fox! It is a brand new coffee house and bistro in Fort Wayne. Very very cute and the quiche is divine! So are the baked goods and the lattes. Everything is wonderful! Mom and I met Karin and her Mom, Irma, there for lunch yesterday. We had a great visit. Here is are some pics at Friendly Fox....

APRIL 6 --- A very special day for me

27 years ago today I gave birth to a healthy, bouncing, chubby, 9 lb. 12 oz. baby boy. My life became perfect that day. I had a darling little girl who was 2-1/2 years old and now I had been given this gorgeous baby boy who we named Michael Patrick. All my dreams -- all I ever really wanted in my life -- I had that day ! I always wanted to be a Mom. I always wanted to have a little girl and a little boy and I had them. I had the cozy little house (the name of the street was Cozy Court) and I had my babies. How many people can say that their dreams have come true and I was only 26 years old? But it continues to be true for me. My life has turned out just as I wanted it to. I have the BEST KIDS in the world and a fantastic husband too!

Michael is 27 today and I got some pictures of him to share with you. He doesn't like to have his picture taken like I do so this is a real treat!

Here's to you, Michael! Have a great birthday!!!!

I HAD A DREAM....

It was the coolest dream! I loved it and didn't want it to end!
It was a dream (so real!) that I had hosted my first "Book Party". I had invited four or five friends over and told them to bring a book. I had snicky snacks, coffee, wine, pop. We sat around in my living room and talked books. It was fabulous!!! At the end of the night we set a date for the next get-together and I told each of them to bring a friend and have that friend bring a book. Isn't that cool?
I'd love to have that happen...but everyone is so busy and no one around here wants to do anything like that. Oh well....
So that leaves my blog friends. You, my dears, must give me ideas on books you have read that you love and would suggest. I am open to ALL IDEAS!!!
Have a wonderful day and THINK SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A GREAT weekend in CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!

Last weekend was awesome! I got to the Windy City about 9:00 a.m. and Bree was still in bed. It didn't take this Chicago Girl long to get ready though. After a quick stop at Dunkin' Donuts to get Bree a coffee we went to Eddie Bauer. Bree bought me a backpack almost like the one she has to take to PARIS! I am so excited!!! It is really happening! I, Kelli Anne, am going to PARIS!!!!!!!! Pinch me!!! The backpack is very roomy and I can fit tons in it. Thank you, Bree, for my gift!!!

Then we went to Loehmann's and it was "the jackpot" for Bree. She found lots of adorable Free People things and she even got Free People PANTIES! We shopped at Loehmann's and Bree bought her stuff and then we headed to State Street Bread Company for lunch. We got our usual table and had a major BOT over soup and salad. (I splurged on a chocolate brownie too)

After lunch, we headed to Macy's and each of us got Estee Lauder make up. Then we went to Old Navy and Bree got a bikini and I got 3 shirts and a pair of long shorts. It was snowing outside (so pretty!) and we said how great it felt to be buying summer/spring clothes and have it snowing out. It put some spring in our step!

Then home by 4 to meet up with John. We had dinner at Wildfire. It was so delicious! We had a long dinner and Bree and I got dessert too. I had the chocolate cream pie and Bree had a chocolate brownie sundae. We walked home and it was a beautiful evening. Bree and John are such cool, interesting people. I never get tired of talking to them.

We stayed up til 2:00 a.m. talking and laughing and then I was up at 7:30. I went over to Fox & Obel for coffee and Bree met up with me about an hour later. We visited over coffee and then headed back to the apartment where Kathryn met us for lunch. (Can you believe this eating? I'll have gained 10# by the end of the weekend!!!)

We went to D4 for lunch. It was very good. Then Kathryn left and John went back to the apartment. Bree and I hopped on the El and headed for Lincoln Park. We walked for blocks and blocks, arm in arm, just talking, laughing, going in and out of the shops, and stopping for ice cream at Cold Stone. Bree got an adorable purse at one of the boutiques. At 4:00 it was time for me to head back to Indiana and get back on a diet after all the splurging. It is always sad to say good-bye to Bree.........I love her. But I will see her again soon.

It was a great weekend. Thank you, Bree and John, for all the fun and food and happiness.

Here is a pick of me and Bree.