** Thank you, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, for hosting my family for a visit to Brick or Treat. I've wanted to take the girls to LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg, near Chicago, for quite some time, and the Brick or Treat event, happening now until Nov. 3 this year, was the perfect opportunity to get festive this Halloween while doing something new as a family. For Brick or ... Read more
Halloween Family-Friendly Events in the Chicago Area
I've been adding fall family-friendly events to my calendar for this month in hopes that we will get out more and get festive! I know I can't get to all of these, but it would be fun to attend at least a couple of them in October. These events are all family-friendly and some are free to attend! These are events I've found so far in the Chicago area: Pumpkin Pier Lights: After dusk in October ... Read more
Fall Chicago Half Marathon 2019 Recap
I said this time would be different. I would actually train for the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept. 29 consistently and feel prepared heading into it. I was on track for the most part until about two weeks ago when I got a cold. Then I had a headache almost every day that week. I didn't work out at all that week, and I missed my longest scheduled training run of 14 miles. The next week was ... Read more
Our 2019 Family Photo Session in Chicago
** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made after clicking these links at no additional cost to you. Every year we take family photos to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It began the first summer Graham and I moved to Chicago, in 2015, when we contacted Abigail Joyce Photography to take photos of us with the Chicago skyline in the background. Since then we ... Read more
Chicago Area Fall Bucket List & Cozy PinkBlush Top
** This post features a top gifted to me by PinkBlush and contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I want to continue my summer goal of getting out and about this fall. Without a plan, it won't happen, so I'm sharing this year's fall bucket list for the Chicago area, with lots of family-friendly things to go, along with the ... Read more
Chicago Half-Marathon Training, Week 1
It's been so long (maybe two years?) since I've shared my half-marathon training, but I've missed it! Sharing how I train for a race helps keep me accountable and gives me the opportunity to offer any insight into what I learn along the way. I plan to share each week of the remaining eight or so weeks of training for the Chicago Half in September. I hope these inspire you to start training for a ... Read more
Exploring Skokie Lagoons, Illinois
I made a vow recently that I would spend more time outdoors this summer after not fully taking advantage of the season last year because of all my postpartum emotions. We explore more of our area over the weekend by visiting Skokie Lagoons. I had never heard of the park until Graham mentioned it one day. The Skokie Lagoons are located between the Chicago suburbs of Winnetka, Northfield and ... Read more
Date Night with Johnnyswim at the Riviera Theatre, Chicago
We had our first date night in months (I think?) on Saturday night at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. We saw Johnnyswim, our favorite duo, for the fifth time, and it was one of the best shows we've see them perform. We were nervous about getting to the Riviera Theatre because Graham had to work Saturday and his end time was uncertain. (It depends on when a game ends.) Also, I was ... Read more
Christmas at the Flora House
This has been a special Christmas for us: It was the first in our new house, and it was Addi's first! V had some new traditions, too. Our Christmas recap: I love our tree this year despite never finding a tree topper after ours broke. I plan to also purchase a new tree skirt next year. We chose to stay in Chicago for Christmas this year vs. traveling to Arizona or Kentucky. We wanted to ... Read more
Riding the 2018 CTA Holiday Train in Chicago
We continued our tradition of riding the CTA Holiday Train in the Chicago area this year. If you're not from Chicago and have never heard of it, it's a holiday-themed train that only runs on certain L Train lines at scheduled times. In 2016 and 2017 we caught the train on the Red Line, which runs north-south through the city. This year, we picked the Purple Line in Evanston because we live in the ... Read more