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Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
Our lake days are coming to a close (although I’ve decided that summer really isn’t over until September 21 and there have to be some sandy-toed days yet to come). Lately, the car navigation has been calling our house “WORK”… pretty intuitive, I must say.
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DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
When your friend shows up with her kids and a staple gun, you know it’s going to be a great DIY morning. This morning, we were attempting to recover an old storage ottoman that had been through all of the things (stains, dirt, babies using it as a pull up, kids using it as an indoor trampoline, etc).
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MUST SEE Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman. Raise your cyber hand if you’ve watched The Firm. Growing up in the 90’s, we were definitely intrigued with John Grisham, Tom Cruise, and the Cayman Islands. My husband and I visited awhile ago (almost 7 years now!) with our then 1 1/2 year old and really enjoyed 7 Mile Beach (pictured below). One thing that I love about our family is all of the travel we have been able to include in our lives. It has been rare lately that we are all home at the same time. Our sister and brother, Priya and Chris, recently visited this past June (actually at the same resort!), and they…
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Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
With music in the background, boats in the foreground, and all of the restaurants one could wish for in front of you, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with where to eat when visiting Chicago. Here are some suggestions based on what you may or may not be in mood for and the kind of weekend getaway you may be on…
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Butcher’s Union and A Summer Salad
Hello and Happy Friday! As is typical, summer has been going by much too quickly. Here’s hoping that it extends well into the fall like it did last year.
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Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
With Chicago only 3 hours away, we try to take advantage of it’s proximity and all that big cities have to offer as much as possible. When we were first married, we would go to Chicago almost every month. When the kids were younger, we visited less frequently (maybe 3-4 times per year). Now that they are older, we have been making the trip more often again (and loving it!). Here are some of our top picks:
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NYC in 48 Hours
The magical lights and electric energy is unavoidable in NYC. The infectious spirit will keep a tourist on a 48 hour trip able to see quite a few sights… unless their hotel has blackout shades… and they are parents of small children who haven’t slept in years… But still, even if that hypothetically happens, there are plenty of daylight and nightlife hours to enjoy the city. NYC can be visited repeatedly and there would still be something new to discover. (If you missed our trip three years ago, you can check it out here.) This time, there was some solo exploring due to one of us having meetings all day.…
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Top Travel Beauty Products
First and foremost, let me say that beauty products are not my area of expertise and many of these have been recommended to me by friends and family or just happened upon by chance. However, I do travel often and while the days are typically quite casual as I wander and do the tourist thing, the evenings often involve business dinners or large social gatherings. The products listed below allow for casual days and fancier nights and are easy to pack (and most of them meet the FDA requirements for carry ons but you should double check before packing). *This post contains affiliate links.
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Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
Warm Michigan summers, perfect autumn days, cozy winters and colorful springs provide the perfect place for year round visitors. With summer in full swing, visitors are flocking to Saugatuck for the miles of sandy beaches, expansive Lake Michigan views, a delectable food scene, and stays at charming inns. A year and a half in the making, Judson Heath Colonial Inn has met its goal of being “hip and historic.” Owners, Jennifer and Stephen, previously of Chicago, purchased the house after walking by it several times during a vacation in Saugatuck. Stephen, who is one of 8 children, had been coming to the area since he was about 5 years old…
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What to do in Winter Park, Florida
On our way to Disney World from Jacksonville, we stopped in Winter Park, which is located just outside of Orlando. This is such a gem of a town.