** This post is sponsored by Wente Vineyards but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. My intention for the summer has been to explore. Last summer I didn't have much time for the outdoors. I spent most days inside and not enjoying Chicago's best season to be outside. I also didn't explore my new neighborhood as much as I should have. I didn't garden at all, even ... Read more
Summer Stroll at the Chicago Botanic Garden
If you're ever going through a stressful time, a walk around the Chicago Botanic Garden might be in order. I was overwhelmed and emotional recently, and I finally asked for help. My mother-in-law drove to Chicago to spend a week with us helping in any way she could. And boy did she help. She worked on our yard. She took the girls to the park so I could get work done or ... Read more
Muir Woods National Monument With a Toddler
When we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the Bay Area recently, we had only two must-dos on our list besides seeing our family. One of them was visiting Muir Woods National Monument. We've been fans of redwood trees for a long time as nature lovers, so we couldn't wait to see them in person. Muir Woods recently enacted a new parking and shuttle service, which means you must make a parking ... Read more
Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters
** This post has been sponsored by Paradise Helicopters of Hawaii. All opinions and images are my own. I've crossed off something that's been on my bucket list for a long time during our Big Island vacation: seeing lava! During our honeymoon in 2014 Graham and I had hoped to see the lava but we weren't able to; at the time it wasn't flowing toward the ocean and we could only see the crater ... Read more
Chicago Spring Bucket List
Spring is finally here, though Chicago has yet to get the memo. The only way I can get through the remaining weeks (days, I wish) of this weather is to plan all the fun spring activities I want to do this season. Thus, another Spring Bucket List is born! My Spring Bucket List: Take three Dabble classes. I have my eye on a summer cocktail class, a jewelry-making class and hopefully ... Read more
Our Canada Road Trip Itinerary
** This post is sponsored by Radisson. Graham and I have been planning a trip to Canada for a while. I recently read an article about amazing places to go in Ontario and I became inspired to plan a 2017 road trip from Chicago. The destinations we want to check out in Ontario are only about 7-8 hours away, and since we are pros at road trips — we have done three 1,700-mile road trips! — the ... Read more
Taking a Stroll Through Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
One of my remaining Chicago summer bucket list items was to visit a conservatory. I know you can visit Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory during all seasons, but I wanted to say goodbye to summer by strolling through a garden. Graham and I had a day off together on Labor Day for the first time in a few weeks, so of course we made the most of it. We had breakfast together, ... Read more
Camping in Michigan | Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
Graham and I love to camp. We camped together at Fossil Creek in Arizona for the first time after just a few weeks of dating and we've been doing it ever since. When we lived in Phoenix we would often camp once a month or so, but we had yet to camp in the Midwest since moving to Chicago in March 2015. We finally got a chance to remedy that when Graham had three consecutive days off work for the ... Read more
Exploring Hilo, Hawaii
Our next stop on our Hawaii circumnavigation was Hilo. It was too early to check into our hotel, so we explored the downtown area shops, farmer's market and restaurants. We found almost any type of food in the area. We picked Lucy's Taqueria for lunch; I was thrilled to find decent Mexican cuisine in Hawaii. I also found a couple of yoga studios and bought some shorts and a top at a clothing ... Read more
Camping in Sedona
Work has been crazy, so I haven't been able to share our experience camping in Sedona last weekend. A year ago we camped in the exact spot we went to Saturday, and it was just as lovely and relaxing this year. With our dogs in tow, we set off for Forest Road 525 near Sedona. We stopped to get a Red Rocks Pass without even realizing that the America the Beautiful pass we received as a wedding gift ... Read more