Royal Princess Parties Weaving Royal Magic in the Chicago Suburbs

Royal Princess Parties Weaving Royal Magic in the Chicago Suburbs

Whenever I see a Royal Princess Parties photo, I cannot help but pause and smile while channeling a bit of fantasy and fancy from childhood. During stay-at-home, I have been pretty impressed by the innovation that Royal Princess Parties channeled to continue to bring that childhood joy to all of us. Recently, I chatted with co-owner Melissa Duncan about Royal Princess Parties to learn a little more about how creativity has helped guide them through stay-at-home and how the magic will continue.

Morning Amble Around Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis

Morning Amble Around Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis

Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes beckons visitors to enjoy nature without leaving the city affording a range of adventures with downtown only miles away. Lake Bde Maka Ska, one of the chain's five lakes, has charmed us and we look forward to ambling around the lake during our visits to the area.

Soaking in Nature's Emerald Hues at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve

Soaking in Nature's Emerald Hues at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles, IL

When we embarked on our visit to Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve, I was at first a bit hesitant because we would be exploring less than 2 miles of trails. However, our hike quickly immersed us into complete forest bathing in a sea of green. Tekakwitha Woods captivated us.

Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020

Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020


Each year, A Safe Place invites the community to join Wine, Women & Shoes to benefit the survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. This year, A Safe Place has experienced a surge in a need for their services including a more than a 635% increase in emergency hotline calls during the pandemic. Additionally, A Safe Place has had to expand capacity by double through housing survivors in hotels in order to maintain CDC social distance guidelines. Furthermore, A Safe Place is the sole provider of services focusing on domestic violence and sex trafficking in all of Lake County. With the increase in need of these vital services, A Safe Place's benefit comes at a great time to support this cause.  Being able to host this benefit is crucial in terms of continuing vital services and furthering awareness.

Traversing Through Nature's Wonders at McDonald Woods in Lindenhurst, IL

Traversing Through Nature's Wonders at McDonald Woods in Lindenhurst, IL

On our trip to Hastings Lake, we happened to spy McDonald Woods Forest Preserve in Lindenhurst. So, a visit was inevitable! During one of the cooler days this week, we hiked along McDonald Woods gently winding 3.8 mile trail traversing through grasslands and woodlands. McDonald Woods surprised us with its range and beauty. We paused a number of times on our hike to absorb the charms of nature at McDonald Woods.

Let Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Guide Your Body to Healing with Kate Wargin, L.Ac.

Let Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Guide Your Body to Healing with Kate Wargin, L.Ac.

Amidst a time of change, many of us are finding that we are coming home to who we are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We are becoming more in tune with ourselves. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine provide natural modalities for guiding our body to heal itself. With a new awareness of ourselves, I thought it would be a good time to explore the world of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and the healing properties within ourselves. A mutual friend introduced me to local acupuncturist Kate Wargin, L. Ac. who practices in Chicago. Take a little time to meet Kate and learn about her mission and the world of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine:

Hiking Through Splendor at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Wisconsin

Hiking Through Splendor at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Wisconsin

Kettle Moraine State Forest enchanted us with a dense forest and miles of hiking trails perfect for escaping the every day. Located in Wisconsin, the extensive Kettle Moraine State Forest is divided into two units -- the Northern and Southern Units. For our adventure, we embarked on one of the plethora of trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit near Eagle, Wisconsin.

Sharing Tasty Plates at Meze Mediterraneo in Schaumburg, Illinois

Sharing Tasty Meals and Small Plates at Mezé Mediterráneo in Schaumburg, Illinois

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Last fall, we had an urge to eat somewhere a little different than our normal repertoire of restaurants for a dinner. We LOVE the concept of small plates and LOVE hummus plates. So, Mezé Mediterráneo immediately appealed. However, we did not expect the large selection Mezé's Greek-influenced Mediterranean menu offered.