I’ve spent half my life married to my husband! And if you count the six years of dating before we got married, then it’s well over half my life! It’s hard to believe: not that I have been married that long, but that I am that old! 😉
Here we are in the early years (left) and recent years (above). |
We have always shared a love of food and travel, so to celebrate our special day, we headed to Chicago for the weekend. I knew we were going to the city, but I didn’t know anything more than that. I love surprises, so part of my gift was my husband planning the entire weekend and surprising me with it. He did a great job, as usual. My first surprise came when we arrived at our hotel…Trump International Hotel and Tower. More about it in a future post.
Surprise number two and three were waiting for me in the room. There was champagne, gourmet chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries painted with edible gold waiting for us to enjoy while we took in the most amazing view.
Lake Michigan, Chicago River and the Wrigley Building clock right outside our window…awesome! |
Dinner was my forth surprise. My husband had heard me tell a friend that I wanted to eat at RPM Italian, so he got us reservations with what seemed to be the best seat in the restaurant. This is the restaurant partly owned by Bill and Giuliana Rancic. I love their show on the Style Network, so I was even more excited than just the food at RPM. It was a special treat!
My last surprise came courtesy of Donald Trump. When we arrived back at the hotel, there was a comfy robe and slippers for us to kick back, enjoy the view and reflect on twenty great years of marriage! 🙂
Cheers to 20 years! |
Brittany @ DulceVie
Happy Anniversary! I am so glad that you are having a blast in Chicago!
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thanks, Brittany! It's a great city, isn't it?!
Josh Hart
Many blessings: Here is some music, if you want to listen to it. It's called Lummen Christi and the only two lines that are said are "Lumen Christi, Deo Gratis" It is anniversery song. 🙂 Peace, Sonja. : )
http://youtu.be/p4hVJXiAOww
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thanks, Josh. That was a beautiful song. I saw on YouTube that the Abbey they're singing in is located in the same town where we go to church. Isn't that crazy?!
Anonymous
congrats guys! ypu still look as happy now as then! you make it look easy! liz
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thanks, Liz. We are happier now, I would say. But we work hard at it! We laugh about things we said and did 20 years ago. 🙂
Natalie @ Free Range Human
Such a sweet post, Sonja! This makes me excited to visit Chicago in May!
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thanks, Natalie! It's a great city. I will be writing more about the hotel and restaurant in future posts. Do you guys know where you're staying yet?
Karla
Happy 20th anniversary to you and your husband!
Wow, looks like you went all in style to celebrate woohoo 🙂
Love the pic of you before and after he he You two look great and happy together.
Now my fav photo is definitely the glasses of bubbly mmm and the chocolate covered strawberries.
What a fabulous view of Chicago.
Hope to visit one day…soon 🙂
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thank you, Karla! We had a good time. And yes, we ate ALL the chocolates! I will be going into more details soon. They will all be under my Chicago Hot Topics tab. You should check that out if you ever come this way. And, of course, I am always here for questions! 🙂
Debbie
Chicago is a great city! Congrats to you both!
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thanks, Debbie! I do love Chicago. I wish I could get there more often. There are soooo many places I want to eat! 🙂
Beth Lombardi
Just came across your blog today…you and your husband are too cute! Congratulations on 20 years of marriage! You two look so happy 🙂
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
I'm so glad you found me, Beth! With kids and a puppy at home we were really happy to be having some great alone time! 😉 But seriously, I am so thankful that even after 20 years I am so happy to be married to him.
Anonymous
Looks like a great time! Can't wait to hear more about RPM Italian restaurant. I have been wanting to go there.
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
It was such a great time! I will be posting about RPM coming up real soon. Stay tuned…
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Belated Happy Anniversary to you and your husband! It looks like a wonderful way to celebrate a great milestone and at a beautiful city too. It really is a blessing to be with the man you love for that long and still be happily married 🙂 Wishing you many more years of love and happiness.
Sonja Hoyt The Happy Travel Bug
Thank you, Mary, that is such a sweet thing to say. 🙂