** This post about my first Athleta purchases contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made after clicking these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise! For my birthday, I wanted to buy my first Athleta pieces. The more I read about the quality of Athleta, the more I wanted to try its clothing. As part of my gift Graham took me to the store to ... Read more
Our Visit to Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago
Graham and I went on a day date over the weekend for Valentine's Day and my birthday. I have wanted to check out the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago on Michigan Avenue since it opened in 2019, and it finally seemed like the perfect opportunity. We parked in the Interpark garage at 50 E. Ohio Street, for which Starbucks will validate your parking. The rate is $12 for up to four hours of parking. ... Read more
My First Class at Barry’s Bootcamp in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Last weekend I had a chance to participate in a workout fundraiser at Barry's Bootcamp in Lincoln Park. Nimbe, a blogger I follow on Instagram (@fitfooddreams) who is running the Chicago Marathon as a part of a charity team, was raising funds for Latinos Progresando. I have been enjoying trying new fitness classes lately, so trying Barry's Bootcamp was exciting, and helping a great cause was a ... Read more
Brilliance: The Orchid Show 2020 at Chicago Botanic Garden
* Chicago Botanic Garden hosted our visit to Brilliance: The Orchid Show. All images and opinions are my own. When Chicago Botanic Garden invited us to the preview for Brilliance: The Orchid Show, Graham and I were thrilled because we love plants. We decided to make a date night out of it. It may be cold outside in Chicago, but you can stay warm while viewing spectacular installations of 10,000 ... Read more
Best and Worst Financial Decisions of My 20s
I've been interested in budgeting, investing and saving content recently, and it's inspired me to take a look at our family's finances and try to improve them. I've also thought about the best and worst financial decisions I made in my 20s. While I am not dwelling on them as I am about to be 34, I think I have learned from reflecting on what I have done right and wrong, and my financial health is ... Read more
Closing a Chapter: Selling Our Phoenix Condo
We said goodbye to our home in Phoenix on Friday. It was bittersweet, but selling our Phoenix condo was a decision we've thought about for years. Buying a condo is one of my proudest accomplishments because I did it all on my own in 2012. I had no idea what I was doing when I submitted an offer on the townhome I had been renting when it went into foreclosure in 2011. I didn't think I could afford ... Read more
My First Workout Class at Lateral Fitness Chicago
In November I was invited to the Hacking Your Health Live Pop-up in Chicago at Lateral Fitness. It was hosted by GF Mom Certified and brought together wellness influencers and brands. Part of the event featured a tough workout by Lateral Fitness' owner. He included a free class as part of our goodie bags, and I finally used my class this month. As I mentioned in the previous post, the gym has ... Read more
Daily Habits for a Better Life
Small habits are what lead to big changes in our lives. In the last couple of years I realized I needed to start taking better care of myself. I needed to make self-care a priority instead of being last on my daily to-do list. In the past year I've changed some of my daily habits regarding my personal care and mental health, especially as I have struggled with anxiety. I'm sharing eight things I ... Read more
Lessons From “The Minimalist Way” by Erica Layne
The start of the new year always inspires me to declutter. I like to make sure I reassess the things in my home so that it never becomes unmanageable. That's what drew me to the title "The Minimalist Way: Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy" by Erica Layne. She promises to help readers stop living a life of hustle and overwhelm by decluttering their lives, not just ... Read more
My 34th Birthday Wish List | Minimalistic Gifts
It's hard to believe I'll be 34 in just a few weeks. As I get older I find that my wants are fewer and fewer. In reality all I'd like is to see family and friends, though now that we live far away from most of them that doesn't happen often. A text or call from loved ones will make my day on my birthday. It's still fun to think about what I'd like to get, though. Each year I like to share my ... Read more