1. Peet’s Coffee in Downer’s Grove

This has to be one of my favorite shops because it’s similar to a drive-thru but more so just walking through. The outdoor seating was everything I needed, especially because I was able to just sit, talk, and look around at people walking and hear the birds chirping. What a beautiful day!

2. Dollop Coffee Co in Chicago

I had been wanting to come here for so long! Even though it was a quick pit stop, it was very Pinterest-worthy. The coffee was very much needed and delicious!

3. Cafe Umbria in Chicago

This coffee shop was recommended by my supervisor and it did not disappoint! I had taken the train (pre-covid) by myself for the first time to Chicago from the suburbs, and the workers were so welcoming! I loved that it is connected to a hotel, so there are tables in the shop and adjacent to it. I had an interview right after, so the environment was easy to just take notes and look around.

4. Sweetwaters in Naperville

This coffee and tea shop opened in March of 2021 and it does not disappoint. I went with a few friends to study and just chat. I loved the environment as a whole, mostly because of the natural light shining through the front door. I love a good open area to sit by. I also finally tried the matcha flavored coffee and it was actually pretty tasty!

5. Sparrow Coffee in Naperville

The vibe was so cute. I want to go study there all the time, but then I’d definitely go broke because the coffee was too good to be true. It was a very sustainable, plant mom scenerio. There were cute plants around the desk areas and enough plugs in the tables to sit wherever. I LOVED everything about it— AND it’s a walk from campus!

6. Endiro Coffee in Aurora

Visited this coffee shop for the Sticky Bun Iced Latte and avocado toast. The bacon was AMAZING! It’s my newfound obsession if you can’t already tell. The coffee shop was by the river in Downtown Aurora, so the sites were worth it too! The shop itself was very vibrant, which I absolutely loved.

7. Tredwell Coffee in Aurora

If you want another coffee shop by the river in Downtown, Aurora, this is it! They have an indoor and outdoor area to sit and sip. I had the white mocha iced coffee and it definitely satisfied my tummy!

8. Caffe Di Moda in Lisle

This vibe reminded me of the coffee shops back home. It was a very classy, but trendy shop. They had cute plants in the window sill and the shadows just hit the foodie in the right spots. I had the new iced oreo latte and a ham and cheese croissant. It definitely filled me up!

9. Phil’s Coffee in Chicago

One of the cutest shops in Chicago! I went with the girls after yoga and it was definitely a much needed time. We tried the mojito coffee… MUST TRY!

10. Grounds Coffee Bar in Crystal Lake

It was more of a spontaneous spot. My boyfriend and I happened to come across the local coffee shop and it was very sustainable friendly.

11. Cupitol Coffee in Evanston

Around the corner of my job is this cute coffee shop. I love the fact that there’s local businesses owners around this area to truly explore and make your dining reservations the best yet. We have absolutely taken advantage of the fact that it’s right nearby too.

12. Coffeessions in Wheeling

Snuck in some time in between my day to work a little at a coffee shop. It was a snowy day, so it was nice to have a warm meal and coffee. It reminded me of either a hustle and bustle kind of restaurant or just a grab and go for your dish. The avocado toast was a little odd. It was literally toast with avocado and minimal toppings.

13. The Original Long Grove Coffee Co in Long Grove

In this area, they have a cute town with different local businesses. One of them is the coffee shop! I came with a friend to just chat about all things planning and sat by the sun, hoping for some heat.

14. Pepper Park Coffee in Barrington

Went to grab breakfast after the gym and I was so excited to come here. I love the breakfast options and the cold brew to top it all off!

15. Pâtisserie Coralie in Evanston

THE BEST COFFEE EVER! Maybe it was the oat milk, but it wasn’t too sweet and it wasn’t too bitter. I absolutely loved my iced caramel cold brew from here. As a French bakery, the macarons really made the cut too!

16. Newport Coffee House in Evanston

Walked to grab coffee around the corner from my building. The place was truly aesthetically pleasing and had lots of seating, I wish I could have stayed longer, but I had to get back to work! There was even a little shop prior to heading to the baristas, who were ready to make some delicious coffee. I also got a Nutella filled chocolate chip cookie…SO YUM!

17. Colectivo Coffee in Evanston

I walked to this place from work and it probably took a few minutes to arrive. It was the perfect afternoon to grab a good cup of joe because besides needing a change of scenery for a little, it was such a beautiful day out. It also hit the spot because I needed to wake up. The extra shots of espresso made all the difference.

18. New Wave Coffee in Chicago

The fact that they have a house-made flavor is all I need to know. You have to try their vanilla!!! I added it to my iced coffee and it was impeccable. The flavor was so smooth and great. They also have lots of sitting space in case you needed to work or study. And side note: they sell local art to support artists in the area.

19. La Boulangerie & Co Logan in Chicago

This spot has an indoor and an outdoor space, both very pinterest-y. There’s lots that makes the shop different; bakery-like when you enter, but also reminds you of the European culture once you’re inside. I’ll be back! Especially for the macarons!!!

20. Bagel Art Cafe in Evanston

I went to pick up bagels for an event and left with a great homemade cold brew. It was honestly amazing to say the least. I love when the baristas get creative with their choice of coffee making, so it’s always a pleasure trying new recipes, in a sense. I will definitely be back!

21. Buttermilk cafe in Vernon Hills

A complete staple in Illinois and SO good. I love a good breakfast spot, especially if the aesthetic gives me Pinterest vibes. The staff was short-staffed but honestly made it work. I love the seasonal coffee beverages and the honey biscuit!!!!! MUST HAVE! 

22. Pancake Cafe in Lincolnshire, Illinois

Stopped by a fun cafe to actually eat breakfast because Tyler was a bit parched. It felt very cozy and like if we were on vacation exploring new spots. The service was good too! I think I also just really liked the ambiance.

I have to say, coffee shops just hit the spot every time! The vibe can be different in all senses, but they all serve as a very homey purpose. I loved exploring and studying in coffee shops throughout Illinois. It truly brings the community together every time!

The post Top 22 Coffee Shops In The Greater Chicagoland Area appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

There’s nothing to wine about at 1913 Restaurant and Bar.

I’ve actually been exploring friends in a non-conventional way, but it is in the ‘norm’ throughout our generation. So I met a friend on Bumble BFF and we’ve been keeping up with each other since! I talk about my experience in another post.

But let’s talk about this wine bar. We split a bottle of wine, a charcuterie board and a plate of pasta. The quality of it all was incredible. I also love that the restaurant was made of brick, so it reminded me of a cozy feel. I loved it!

We took date night to a whole other level, but this is the treat we both needed. I also didn’t even know this was a wine bar!!!

Classy and Elegant, Fleming’s did not disappoint!

This restaurant was very classy and a great time! We had the onion soup before the poke appetizer. I had the prime New York strip and he had a ribeye with asparagus. SO good!!!

I also think the atmosphere of how open the restaurant was really made a difference. Fewer people and more space was everything I needed- especially during this time. It was a little pricey, but worth every penny!

You know everything happens for a Riesling when you’re at Sixty-Four Wine Bar.

I absolutely LOVE this Downtown Naperville staple. I had never seen anything like it because it felt like Cocoa-Cola World but with wine. There are multiple dispensers for different kinds of wine bottles around the restaurant. With covid, you have to reserve it quick! Overall, it’s a great place for girls night, a family lunch, and just a friendly spot for all ages over 21 years old. This is one of my favorite spots to come to celebrate close to my school in Illinois.

Rescued some wine because it was trapped in a bottle at R Urban Wine Bar.

A girls night at this cute Wine Bar in Lisle was exactly what we needed. We had a few wine flights from their selection, recommended by the waiter, because they all looked so good! We also ordered a charcuterie board, which has been the most in snack since quarantine. A few cheeses, meats, and all the good stuff in one plate. #MuchNeeded. Cheers!!

Took Girls Night Out to Another Level at Cooper’s Hawk Winery.

The girls met up at the Winery to hang out and just get together. We love wine and good food, so this worked out! It was also a spot that we could all drive halfway. Cooper’s Hawk is known nationwide, so that also helps with the credibility of the restaurant. AND they have a monthly membership for wine bottle!! One day……. I’ll join!

Didn’t want an impasta of our experience with Abrusci’s Fire and Vine.

Funny enough, they had this restaurant when I went to Colorado. It’s such a cute, family-oriented spot. Very covid friendly too! They had so many drink choices and foodie options. I think we definitely just tried a little bit of everything to get some flavor. I loved coming here for sure!

No time to wine because I’ve got some more recommendations for you:

• Tannins Wine Bar and Boutique
• Lynfred Winery
• Cork Wine Bar and Kitchen
• Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery

Wine bars are honestly so much fun to experience in Illinois! I’ve been so excited to explore new places and probably gain a few calories here and there. But we all need some yummy goodness!!!

The post No Time to Wine in a Bar, Especially in Illinois appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

What’s your name and what’s your story?

My name is Linh and I’m born and raised in Wheaton, Illinois. I’m a first generation Chinese-Vietnamese-Asian-American after my parents came to the USA following the Vietnam War. I met Mel through my job at North Central College and I’m happy to be a part of this blog post!

What are your top three Boba Tea locations in Illinois?

Outside of Chicago, Illinois didn’t have many boba locations. Recently, there have been more stores to expand my options and introduce boba to other people. In no particular order: Kung Fu Tea, Vivi’s Bubble Tea, and Bearology. Honorable mention to Joy Yee’s, because it was my family’s go-to place since it was the closest to us. I would love to go to HelloJasmine, since many people have said it’s the best boba place in Illinois. Naturally, I have to go!

What makes you happy about drinking Boba Tea?

Boba is a great pick me up! If I need a caffeine fix, having a bad day, boba never fails to make my day better. It’s happiness in a cup. I personally think it’s also a great staple in the Asian culture.

If you had to name a Boba Tea, what would you call it? What would it have inside?

My first instinct would be a bakery item, since one of my favorite hobbies is baking. I’m basic when it comes to boba so I would definitely have the original boba in it. I’d love to have an ombré effect when the drink is made because I like to think those taste and look more fun. In terms of a name, I feel like there are puns that could be made with my first name Linh or my last name Phu. But to make one a boba tea drink? I don’t think I’d make a creative enough one. I believe in you, Linh!

What’s your secret to Boba Tea?

I stole this idea from an ice cream store owner because he mentioned that when he orders ice cream, he would always get vanilla ice cream. He believes that a place that has a good vanilla ice cream base is needed to create other flavors and share a great taste all around. I use this same process for ordering boba. Having a regular milk tea boba in a new place allows you to start with a foundation, and then you move on to flavors.

Fun facts about Boba Tea:

• Besides that it’s tea-lightful? Had to insert a pun in here for you, Mel!
• It’s definitely evolved since I first tried it. Now there’s different flavors and types of boba, different toppings you can put in your drinks, etc. Getting boba is an experience that should be savored and enjoyed!
• Boba originated from Taiwan but has made its mark on other Asian cultures.

Want to try making Boba yourself?

Grab three ingredients! Tapioca starch, muscovado sugar, and water. It’s quite simple but you can make it or break it with how you choose the consistency necessary. Boba requires a great “QQ” texture and taste to help the boba tea.

Here’s some Boba locations Linh explored in Illinois:

• Chains: Kung Fu Tea, Vivi Bubble Tea, Bearology USA
• Local spots: Joy Yee, Pisces Cafe, Vannie’s, 45 Degrees, Spades Tealife, Ma Tea House, HelloJasmine

I didn’t realize how many Boba Tea shops Illinois had. Linh wanted to help name a few chains and local shops to explore your Boba palette. I even created a video of her experience! ANNNND Happy National Boba Tea Day!!!

The post Let’s Talk Boba Tea in the Chicagoland Area appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

First date

We all get nervous in our first day or the day we give off our first impression… well, at least I do! I like to dress according to what we’re doing and be on my best behavior, aka an extrovert and an introvert depending on the vibe.

I love meeting new people but this date situation felt a little weird at first. What am I supposed to say? How do I react? How do I know if I made a good first impression? Are we going to hang out after this? My mind probably runs through a whole bunch of questions before the date that I always overthink.

Day of, you’re probably either nervous, excited, or both. I’m always both because you don’t know what to expect. Are they a catfish? Are they going to like me? Will we hang out after this if we do hit it off?

A few dates later

I’ve met a few girls since end of 2020, and we’ve hit it off! Here are some date ideas you can do:

• Making tie blankets
• Axe Throwing
• Going to wine bars
• Happy hours
• Wine Night Thursdays
• Ice cream date

Some RANDOM tips I’ve learned:

• Tea is your best friend- every night!
• Game changer: If you’re lazy when washing the blender, add soap and water, blend and rinse out.
• A she-shed is actually a babe cave.
• Never give up on planning to hang out with the girls. There will always be someone ready to adventure with you!

I feel that with all the girls I’ve met, I’ve made some long lasting friendships. It’s so nice to be able to brainstorm on some blog posts with them while I’m at it and that they support my crazy adventures!

Honestly, Bumble really does work, in all aspects. It offers BFF, dating and networking. So you can get the best of all worlds!

Need some more fun in Illinois?

• Top 10 Coffee Shops In The Greater Chicagoland Area
• No Time to Wine in a Bar, Especially in Illinois
• Illinois is a Little Egg-Obsessed, Here’s Why
• A Friend’s Affair in Chicago Before the Pandemic

The post How to go on a First Friend-Date with Bumble BFF appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

18 weeks before 26.2 miles

Before turning a quarter of a century old, I decided to make a list of goals; which I’ll get into later in the year. One of them, was running a half (13.1 miles) and full (26.2 miles) marathon. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, my half marathon was cancelled, then postponed, then made virtual… by then, I gave up on writing about the journey. So here’s my journey towards my full marathon. 

I was (or will be) running the Chicago Marathon with Autism Speaks. 

Some resources that helped me prior to doing something completely out of anything I ever thought I would do, would probably help you too! I decided to make this year my year of adventure. 

And boy have I done it. Thanks to the pandemic, I’ve learned some new talents I never knew could be as interesting and fun, like cooking. It’s made my eating habits better and I eat everything I want; in moderation of course. Diets don’t work for me. The most I’ve done is my modified diet and even then, it was only a few days of real detox because I feel guilty. I just have the biggest sweet tooth ever.

I started writing and contacting people in my social media asking who had run a marathon. If they had any tips, goals, guides… I was at an information overload but I needed it to calm myself a little. No one in my immediate family had ever done anything like this, so I was going in blind. I’m grateful for all the meetings, calls, texts, resources and everything everyone provided me.

I decided to run with a charity. Mostly because I didn’t know all of my options. I chose to even make the marathon a goal because one of my friends at North Central College wanted to run a full marathon before she turned 30. So of course, I jumped on the band wagon and aimed for it too, but before 25 years old. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Thanks Linh!

There are multiple outlets in which you can run a marathon, but I chose to run with a charity and support Autism Speaks. With it comes perks. You meet people in the same running journey, maybe even in your same pace. You feel more motivated to run for the cause rather than for yourself. I joined the facebook group and it has been a life savor because if you know me at all, I like to ask a bagillion questions to be well prepared. 

A side note though: you have to fundraise a certain amount for whichever charity you choose to run for. Because I signed myself up nearly a year in advance, I started to focus on fundraising before my training. I like to give my all to one aspect before the next goal. I want to educate myself as much as possible and really dedicate the time it deserves. 

“It’s been a wild ride and all worth it!” said no one ever.

The start of training

We were sent an email each week for what training that week should look like. It looked something like: 

• Monday: REST
• Tuesday: # miles
• Wednesday: # miles
• Thursday: # miles
• Friday: REST
• Saturday: long run
• Sunday: cross training

Disclaimer: I’m not going to give you a run down of every day because you probably won’t read it. So I’ll just write about the days that provided more impact on me. 

My FIRST DAY of training was June 8, 2020. Ask me if I ate any type of healthy food? Absolutely not. Just to give you an idea of what I ate: 

• Breakfast: oatmeal
• Lunch: lettuce, tomato, chicken, cheese, black beans with apricots as “dessert”
• Snack: carrots, brie cheese with that good orange-y sauce, a chocolate cookie, handful of white cheeto puffs, two m&m cookies
• Dinner: rice, meatballs, avocado, sweet plantain chips

But at least I drank water for half my body weight. Which is what you’re supposed to drink daily. 

The fact that I knew the next day I had to start my real training, gave me good riddance… if that makes sense?

DAY 2: June 9 @ 4:29PM

• Distance: 2.64 miles
• Time: 29.53 min
• Avg pace: 11’19”
• Weather: 91 degrees
• Location: Miami, FL

It was SO HOT! Major regrets. My biggest goal was to keep a solid pace but also not get into the red zone. I DID IT! It wasn’t easy because I felt like I was dying but it opened my eyes to the type of motivation I want to provide myself. 

I feel very intimated about Saturday’s 8 miles. Where am I going to run? I’m not going to do 3.5 laps around my neighborhood. I’m going to feel dizzy. Where’s the new scenery?!

At least I have some fun socks to keep me going.

DAY 3: June 10 @ 7:13PM

• Distance: 5.01 miles
• Time: 01:02:13 min
• Avg pace: 12’24”
• Weather: 86 degrees
• Location: Miami, FL

I KEPT IT YELLOW THE WHOLE TIME! It felt like I’ve really been practicing, even though the pandemic took two months of unmotivated running from me. It was ROUGH. But I truly feel accomplished that I was able to stay strong the whole way through.

I feel a little excited about Saturday’s run because it’s all a MENTAL thing. My mind plays tricks on me and I have to keep myself motivated the whole time. 

ALSO, I need a running playlist. ASAP.

DAY 7: June 13 @ 6:13AM

• Distance: 8.01 miles
• Time: 1:36:18 min
• Avg pace: 12’01”
• Weather: 82 degrees
• Location: Miami, FL

Coming into this run, I felt SO intimidated. The last time I ran a long run was mid-Feb. But it’s all a mental thing, remember that! 

BUT I DID A RECORD FOR MYSELF!!

I ran with a friend I hadn’t seen IN YEARS! I think we were both nervous but didn’t really talk about it. It just felt natural, I guess? I’m also a huge advocate for running buddies- which is hard to find. Grateful for you, Ashley!

New scenery was also nice. We ran around the 4-mile golf course twice, completing my 8-mile run. She definitely helped keep a solid pace range, which I never thought I could do. I’m not going to lie, my left leg cramped for almost two miles but I stuck with it. Did you know that wearing thick socks for long runs help tremendously. It offers more support for your feet.

My biggest goal in both marathons? Do not walk. 

So a random little fact that also helps me- since I have long, thick hair, I have to use tight ponytails. Which in turn, I usually get headaches from wearing ponytails for too long because my hair weighs a lot. I bet you some relate. I know I’m not alone on this one! So I bought new ponytails to use on my runs. You can also run with braids, but my lil dumb excuse is that ponytails look better in pictures. In a sense, I’m still practicing with my day-of-run look!

Overall, thank you Ashley, for pushing me and my pace range. I iced my left calf when I got home. Had my mom massage my legs and really just relax all day. The pool helps with aerobics too!

I beat my 8-mile goal by like 15-20 minutes. Mission Accomplished!

DAY 27: July 4th

• Distance: 11.00 miles
• Time: 2:29:19 min
• Avg pace: 13’34”
• Weather: MUGGY degrees
• Location: Miami, FL

I have to run 11 miles and have been less motivated to do anything. I’m running on 3 hours on/off sleep and I sike myself out. Which brings in how much I haven’t eaten properly. Sounds like excuses right?

Oh and I would be running by myself. 

I also signed myself up for the 5k for Autism Speaks today. I definitely went a little above and beyond for it, if you know what I mean! Gatorade should sponsor me from all the bottles I drank.

Update: I ran it in the PM! I’m so proud of myself and how I turned my mood upside down. 

And I came up with a running playlist. It’s still a work in progress, but check me out!!

DAY 36: Monday, July 13, 2020 at 2:35PM

We were informed that the Chicago Marathon is going to be cancelled. I’m still waiting on more news and statements from Autism Speaks. I have too many questions, but I’ll remain patient.

I’m still aiming to run the half marathon this Saturday, July 18th. It would have been a double whammy with my marathon training, so I don’t want the run to go to waste.

DAY 41: July 18th

You don’t understand how long I’ve been waiting to finally run my half marathon. It was originally supposed to be in April, but covid-19 got a little more intense than we expected. I was a little intimidated as the date got closer but I knew I really wanted to run this.

It started pouring the night before since 10pm and pouring rain all weekend.

My condition

On Sunday, July 19th, I went to the Emergency Room. Now I definitely couldn’t run the half marathon, because my health comes first. If you’re interested in that story, I spoke a little about it. But if you’re interested in the whole story, feel free to reach out.

Covid-19 hasn’t made this journey easier but I definitely do not regret signing up for the marathons. My 25 goals before 25 years old may be a little ruined, but I’m still looking forward to everything else that lies ahead.

Who’s with me?!

The post Training Before the Chicago Marathon; but first, Covid-19 appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

Giordano’s is known to be more saucey and larger in portion sizes. It’s what everyone first looks at when they think of “deep dish pizza in Chicago”. So it’s the touristy kind!

Lou Malnati’s is from, what I’ve noticed, “the local’s favorite”. It’s cheesier and can be split within squares, like regular pizza businesses do, but also served as a deep dish pizza cut. If you know me at all, you know I would choose cheese over anything every time. 

Some side note recommendations: deep dish pizza takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to make and present at the table. I would recommend ordering in advance, like you were taking it to go, and go to the restaurant in about half the time, to only wait less than what you normally would. That way you expect to be sat at a table, but also have an option to go back home if you didn’t get a table. Some restaurants take reservations but most are walk-in’s, from my experience so far. 

Deep dish pizza is a MUST! At least once in your life because it is definitely worth the trip and all the calories!! 

If it were up to you, which would you choose? 

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