I HEART UNIQUE MONEYBOX FRAME

Is it just me or when you get older it becomes increasingly harder to buy presents for friends and family? Everyone seems to have what they need or want so its difficult to find the perfect present. When I was browsing the tinterweb I came across I Heart Unique. They sell a selection of novelty gifts such as works of art in frames, hanging decorations and money boxes, the best part is everything can be personalised! When I saw the money box I thought it was super cute and instantly knew it would be the perfect gift for my friends house warming. She'd finally got a mortgage and moved into her 1st forever home. 

I was nervous my parcel wouldn't arrive on time so I messaged I Heart Unique on their Facebook Page, they informed me that my order was dispatched. When my order didn’t arrive shorty after, I contacted the company through FB messenger. It turns out they confused me with another Kim and my order wasn’t on its way! I started to panic as this was a gift. Since there was a mix up they posted my order next day delivery so I would receive it on time which was very generous of them.

The frame arrived on time, I was extremely pleased with the product and was excited to give it to my friend. When I looked closer I realised that one of the letters wasn’t as smoothly applied as the others and had a rough edge, I contacted I Heart Unique and they were nothing but apologetic and helpful. They provided me with two options, to await a new acrylic sheet with the letters reapplied or accept a partial refund. 

The customer service I’ve received from I Heart Unique has gone above and beyond, everything was managed promptly and in a friendly manner. I have already recommended this amazing company to so many others due to the excellent customer service they’ve provided. 

Why not head over to I Heart Unique to have a cheeky look at what they have to offer, perhaps purchase a gift for someone special or even a little something for yourself. I'm really tempted to purchase a money box for myself <3

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

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HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN CHICAGO

Chicago is an amazing city to visit and I'm so grateful I was given this opportunity to jet off for work with a colleague. I had time to get lost in the city, explore and take plenty of photos. To say I only had one weekend and a few evenings I made the most of my time and managed to fit so much in. If you're heading over to Chicago and need some inspiration for your todo list, look no further! I've listed the highlights of my trip including activities and food, all of which can be packed into 48 hours if you plan it right! 

Michigan Park - The Bean

If you go to Chicago you have to visit Michigan Park to see the Bean. We were lucky and had a day with clear blue skies and managed to get some awesome shots of the skyline reflecting in the sculpture. The city looks incredible from the park also and is a lovely little walk. Unfortunately this area is always busy so it's difficult to get any photos without people.

James Hancock Building

Originally we were going to visit the Willis tower (Sears tower to Americans) although our minds were changed as a colleague at the office recommended the James Hancock building. We were told it's an amazing view and wasn't disappointed when we reached the top. There are a few ways you can experience this view. Option one is pay $25 to go up to the top, option two you can go for lunch or drinks at the bar and not pay $25 just to go in a lift. We were going to have lunch although when we arrived they informed us the only option was bunch for $50 per person. I like bunch but not this much, we headed one floor up to the bar and had a few snacks and drinks. We got the best view seated next to the window, the skyline was incredible.

Navy Pier
Out of everything I did I would say that Navy Pier was the highlight of my trip. It's such a beautiful place and for someone who loves photography it was perfect. I don't know what it is about ferris wheels but I think they look great in photos and the fact its on a pier is even better! It was quite chilly and there was still ice along the pier, combined with the clear blue sky and crisp air it was an awesome day.

Bulls Basketball Game

If you go to America and don't see a sports game whether that be basketball, baseball or ice hockey then you're missing out. Due to the time of year we could only see indoor sports. Some of my colleagues in our Chicago office decided to go to a basketball game and George and I were happy to tag along. What an amazing experience to see a real American basketball game! During halftime we were still very entertained with the cheerleaders, dancers and the mascot shooting t-shirts out of a canon. Luckily either the Basketball or Ice Hockey will be on every other night so plenty of chances to catch a game while in town.

Lincoln Park & Zoo

I've been told that Lincoln Park is a great place to visit while in Chicago, although in the Winter months its not as pretty as it would be in the summer. To be honest the park was very grey and gloomy, so I wouldn't say this is a necessary trip to make, especially if you've only got a few days in Chicago. Just off Lincoln Park is the Zoo that is free to enter, there is plenty to cover so leave yourself with a good few hours to look around all the animals. We made a little friend while walking around, a squirrel felt the need to follow us as he thought we had food. You could tell he does this on a regular basis as he was on the chubby side!

It's time to talk about the important things, the truly amazing parts of my trip. All the food ... and Snapple, how could I forget about the Snapple!

Wildberry Pancakes

You can't go to America and not have pancakes! George and I decided to go to Wildberry Pancakes as we had heard good things. I ordered chocolate chip pancakes with a side of strawberries and bacon, it was an unusual combination but it works!

Mindy's Hot Chocolate

Omg, if you're a chocolate lover then you need to go for a hot chocolate at Mindy's. There is a range of about 8 different variants to choose from and a variety of food and snacks. I had the Medium hot chocolate and it was sweet and so creamy, a little sickly after a while even for a chocoholic like me. George had the Chia one and it was just amazing. Food wise, I would definitely recommend anything with Avocado because Avo makes everything better! 

The French markets

We went to the French Markets a few times for lunch during the week when we were working as it was so close to the office. It's quite awesome, there are so many different type of foods from various countries. From Sushi, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese and so many more. It gets very busy because there are lots of options but definitely worth looking at.

Pearl
After work one day we went to Pearl for food, it was so busy. I decided to try and be healthy and had a cob salad with grilled chicken and oh it was so good! One of my colleagues ordered a chicken parminagno which was huge, it came on a sub and also had chips! That was enough food for 3 meals in my opinion! 

Sushi

I don't know about you but I love Sushi. George and I were told about Sunda and it was so good. Everything was cooked to perfection and I wanted to eat more but I was super full. The one thing I would recommend is the Tiger Shrimp Tempura in creamy honey aioli, now they are the best prawns I've ever had.

Lou Malnati's Pizza

You can't go to Chicago and not have a deep dish pizza, we were told that the best place to go is Lou Malnati's. I thought it would be like any pizza you get in the UK but oh was I wrong. The best way to describe it would be its more like a pizza within a pie crust. You either love or hate it!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

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MY STAY AT THE VIRGIN HOTEL IN CHICAGO

I was given the most amazing opportunity to jet off to Chicago with work and help our office over there. Naturally, I took my company up on this offer and boarded my flight to this incredible city. I was advised I would be staying at the Virgin Hotel and couldn't resist having a cheeky look on the website beforehand and wasn't disappointed on arrival. Wow! The hotel is unbelievable. The reception area was shades of red and gold, it was a great first impression of the hotel.

The staff were so welcoming and checked us in without any issues. I must warn you if you stay at the Virgin and use a debit card to secure your room (incase you have any room service etc) they will ask for $100 a night reserve. This means you cannot spend the money from your account as it suspends it. Fortunately, I explained that I hadn't got that kind of money in my account, they were very understanding and only reserved $300 for my entire stay instead of $1300 (for 2 weeks, although I was only required for 1 week in the end). Since I was only in Chicago for a week I knew I wouldn't be using room service a lot and rarely have snacks from hotel rooms as its normally expensive. When you've got a 7 Eleven on each corner of the street who needs a $5 packet of M&Ms right? Later, I discovered that the prices in the room actually weren't that bad only $1.75 for M&Ms just FYI!

When walking into the room I was amazed, my company booked a suite for me! The room had a living room, bathroom, powder room, a little table and chair and bedroom. I had so much room to myself and I loved it! I can honestly say that I've never stayed in a nicer hotel. The room was very open and had loads of natural light which is always a plus for me. There was a mixture of modern and retro trends, the Smeg fridge and car seat chair added something quirky to the room. There were a lot of controllers and things on the walls which took me a few moments to understand what they were for. One of the highlights of my room is that I had automatic blinds, its such a luxury and I wish I had them at home.

I was on the 15th floor, the view was great from one window in my bedroom although the other was blocked by a huge building, in a city of skyscrapers what can you expect. My colleague who was 2 floors up had a better view but this sometimes comes at a cost as she had to wake up to see the Trump Tower each morning. If you're on a lower floor and are interested in seeing the city from above, head upto the rooftop terrace. This hotel has an amazing one, unfortunately it was very cloudy and foggy while I was there so I didn't get the full impact but I've heard its a wonderful view. While on the rooftop in the evening we did manage to see the protestors after Donald Trumps Inauguration, people were outraged and marching through the streets. Police were blocking roads off and it caused delays throughout the city but was interesting to watch from a distance.

If you're like me and enjoy a good gym session you won't miss out staying here, there is access to a full gym upstairs. Normally, hotel gyms aren't equip with everything you need but the Virgin hotel won't let you down. There is an assortment of machines, free weights and an area to stretch or do yoga. I had such good intensions to get up and start my day with a workout... unfortunately I didn't make it to the gym in the end as my trip was cut short so I spent the majority of my time sightseeing when I wasn't working.

There are plenty of options to dine, during my stay I ordered room service and had breakfast in the restaurant. The food on both occasions came quickly and the staff were so polite and happy to help. Even though I was in Chicago for a week I didn't quite get the hang of ordering correctly, American portion sizes are huge! I ordered eggs Benedict with turkey, this also came with a side of potatoes for breakfast! At least you'll never go hungry while visiting the states.

My stay at the Virgin Hotel was exceptional, I couldn't think of anything to complain about. The staff were so friendly and helpful, would offer advise of places to visit and eat. The hotel was clean and it was a home away from home for my weeks stay. I would definitely recommend it if you're heading to Chicago.

Since I was so busy with working and sightseeing I didn't leave much time to get photos of the room during the daytime. I would leave when its slightly dark and get back at nighttime. I only had a chance to snap a few quick shots before we headed out for a full day of activities. I think the photos still demonstrate how nice the Virgin Hotel is.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

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