If you ever come to Chicago, and you like shopping, and you like Ma & Pa shops, and you want to feel like you’re in a small town in New England then you should go check out Sheffield Ave right off the Brown line. AAAH MAY ZING.

Tuesday I was feeling rather sanguine. I had a couple days off work, but my sweet Hubs wasn’t coming home for another 24 hours. I was tired of just coming home and working so I decided to adventure out for some Fall decor. I new that the my neighborhood has a pretty darn tootin high tax so I decided to mosey on up to North and Clybourn. I got off right on this stop on the Red line.

As you walk out of the station you get to see the new Flagship Mac Store. It’s gorgeous.

(taken with the Iphone. Awesome right?!)

I just let me little tootsies take me from there. I had been in the neighborhood before to check out the Crate & Barrel Outlet there (which I love). So first I found a World Market, which has quickly become one of my favorite stores. I just don’t have enough money to spend there. Either way I still found a few things I could afford that were awesome gifts for other people. Christmas will be wonderful this year at the rate I’m going. Then I went over to Crate & Barrel Outlet which was swell but again, didn’t want to spend too much money.

I did have a purpose for this trip by the way. I was looking specifically for 4 plates to compliment the plain white plates that I have. We are having a few people over for Thanksgiving and I wanted to be kind of ecletic…it’s not working out so well for me.

Anyways, from there I went over to the huge Bed, Bath & BEyoooooond where i found a few things that I needed but again…many more things than I could afford. Including a huge mirror that we are wanting to get for our bedroom…that’s right…;-).

So after all these hits and misses I looked up on my handy dandy new gadget, the Iphone 4 (I know, I’m so hip right?), for some thrift stores in the area.

It was a success.

Well not for the plates…

But for me.

And not for me right now.

But for me when I loose 10 more pounds.

I found this place:

It’s called McShane’s Exchange. You can take high priced clothing there and get a good deal on it. Likewise you can purchase some ritzy clothes at a lower price. So I found some saweet skinny jeans, regular cost of over $70, for $22 after tax!

The options were endless…but alas, my bank account is not…yet…

So I bought my little jeans from the sweet owner and decided to explore the block a little more.

I found this little place that I’ve heard people talk about in this here little city of mine.

Then this cute little place that was already decorated for Christmas.

And finally this sweet little neighborhood that looks like a cross between coastal Maine and San Fran:

Yup.

I’m in love.

I could live here forever.

Mmhm.

Come visit me mmk?

Lovies