Do the current health concerns all over the world make anyone else want to wipe down every surface of their home? Just me? Spring has been on my mind lately, but so has cleaning given the nonstop coronavirus news I am hearing. I look forward to taking care of some seasonal deep cleaning to welcome the new season (and hopefully warmer weather!). I'm sharing what I have on my spring cleaning to-do ... Read more
Thoughts on “The Joy of Less”
** This post contains an affiliate link. I make a small commission on purchases made through this link at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise! My most recent Audible listen was "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify" by Francine Jay. It coincided with the beginning of my pre-baby nesting/spring cleaning urge, which began in February. ... Read more
Dinos & Dragons at Brookfield Zoo
This little gem turns 3 today and I can't believe it. To celebrate, I am sharing our weekend visit to Brookfield Zoo. Sunday was supposed to be my long run, but then the electricity in our building went out after a fire in the service room. (A post on how half-marathon is going will be up soon. Spoiler: Not well.) We needed to spend as much time away from our apartment as possible. My friend ... Read more
Let’s Dabble: Intro to Climbing Class
** I received a class credit for being a Dabble ambassador. All opinions have always been my own. As a Dabble ambassador, aka Super Dabbler, I am regularly trying new hobbies via the countless classes on the Dabble.co website. I've tried SUP yoga, sushi rolling and photography, among many other activities. While each class challenges me in some way, my most recent class helped me take on one ... Read more
Fun Family Night at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Chicago
** We received complimentary tickets to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own. One of my April goals was to visit a new place in Chicago as a family. Graham had suggested Medieval Times for months because neither Victoria nor I had been there. I wondered if it was appropriate for a toddler, though, so I did a bit of research via online review sites. We decided to give it a go ... Read more
Shedd Aquarium With a Toddler
Our family Sunday Funday tradition continued with a day at Shedd Aquarium on Sunday. It was a wet and foggy day that called for yet another indoor activity, so we booked last-minute tickets to the Shedd for a lively day. One of my goals as a parent is to teach Victoria to love and respect animals and nature, so while I have mixed feelings about aquatic shows, I wanted her to see the ... 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
March Goals
I am ready for March -- for change and for warmth. This month my routine will be adjusted once again after returning to work in February. My husband's work will also ramp up and V just started pre-ballet and speech therapy. Our lives will be busier but also happier and healthier, I hope. Today I'm sharing my March goals for accountability reasons, but first, let's check in on my February ... Read more
Chicago Spring Half Marathon 2016
** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise. Pro tip: Don't fly across the country, move and then run a half marathon in one weekend. It's as exhausting as it sounds. While this wasn't an ideal situation, all three events were incredibly important for Graham and me. All three were ... Read more
Half-Marathon Training, Week 11
It's tapering time! I'm so excited to be done with my longest runs. The race is less than two weeks away, and my longest distance will be 6 miles. It felt amazing to finish my 12-miler on Sunday!Monday: Rest day. Tuesday: 2 miles. I did four half-mile repeats. My paces were 9:42, 9:00, 9:11 and about 11:00. I obviously wasn't feeling that last one. I also did 36 lunges, 35 pulse squats, 20 ... Read more