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
Thoughtful Etsy Small Gift & Stocking Stuffer Ideas
** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise! I know by now many people have an idea of what to buy their loved ones for Christmas/the holidays, but I wanted to share a quick post on four stocking stuffer ideas found on Etsy. I am a huge fan of the site for personalized gifts as ... Read more
Why the Holidays Are a Perfect Time for Decluttering
I recently decluttered yet again, but this time I did it differently. In previous declutters I would take everything out and sort through items one by one, KonMari style. I don't have that kind of time to devote to decluttering in my current phase of life, so this time I tackled my simplifying in a different way: I decluttered as I went. What this means is that when I would open a drawer to grab ... Read more
The Coziest Gift You’ll Ever Give
** This post is sponsored by Isotoner but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Hibernation season is upon us here in the Chicago area, and I'm all about being cozy and warm at all times as we approach the holidays. While I completely believe in getting dressed and ready for the day, I do like to keep my feet comfortable as I get my daily work done and care for my family. I want ... Read more