Top 5 Thursdays - The Holiday Weekend!

Before I begin, two things!


* A special shout-out to Amber from "Brunch With Amber" for helping me brainstorm potential Top 5 lists!
* Did you enter the Stella & Dot giveaway?  You can do so here!


Ok, folks.  After much deliberation, I've decided to dedicate this week's list to the upcoming 4th of July weekend!  I, for one, cannot believe the holiday weekend is already here, as it marks the halfway point of my summer vacation (eek!).  However, I will try not to think about the fact that I have to return to work in a month and a half...so, let's get distracted by discussing fun things, shall we?

The Top 5 Ways I Plan to Spend My Holiday Weekend!


(You can also turn this into a Top 5 4th of July Traditions list, too!  Or just talk about food.  Or fireworks.  Whatevs!)

5.)  Running

(That's me, in May, after a half-marathon.  Just give me some coffee and Twitter, yo!)

My half-marathon training continues!  I have a long run scheduled for Saturday AM (8 miles) and will probably get a shorter one in on Monday AM as well.  So far, things are going well...except for the pain in my ass.  Literally.  I think I pulled a glute muscle.  Le sigh.  


4.) Baking

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Because I bake nothing but cupcakes, I thought I'd try something new for the holiday weekend.  Hopefully, my raspberry lemon bars will not make people want to vom.

3.) The Taste of Chicago

(This is a dear friend of mine, mowing down on a turkey leg.  He rocks.)

The Taste is a week-long festival of FOOD here in Chicago, where local restaurants set up booths full of delicious goodness.  From turkey legs (as seen above) to cupcakes, the Taste is pretty spectacular.  Unless you get stabbed, like some people did last year.  But don't worry.  It's totally safe and family-friendly.


2.) Parties!


We have several parties to attend, as well as host one of our own.  Here's to BBQ and copious amounts of Skinnygirl margaritas!


1.) FIREWORKS

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A quick story about this one.  My building has 60 floors with an awesome rooftop.  Our view of the city is pretty amazing and PERFECT for catching Chicago's fireworks.  However, I have totally missed them over the past two years.  Why?


2009:  My husband and I decided to have people over.  It was our first summer living in our building and we were excited to see the show.  We were hanging out on our balcony when we heard the fireworks start.  About half of our guests decided to stay put because they were too drunk engaged in great conversation.  The other half (including myself) made their way to the elevators.  Of course, everyone in our building was trying to get to the roof.  My guests decided to walk from floors 29-40, and then try and catch the elevators from 40 up to 60.  Me, being the total idiot badass that I am, decided to RUN from 29-60.  I was on the 57th floor when it happened.  PEOPLE STARTED WALKING DOWN.  I had missed the entire thing.


But my friends loved it!


2010:  My husband and I were at a family party in the suburbs.  We thought we left in time to get home and catch the fireworks.  We were three blocks away when they began.  We were still three blocks away when they ended, due to traffic.


So, the moral of the stories?  I WILL SEE FIREWORKS THIS YEAR.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

What are you up to this weekend?  How do you normally celebrate the 4th?  Feel free to link up!