100 Days of Summer, 100 Days of Hope Red Cross Blood Drive Comes to Brookfield Zoo August 5th

The American Red Cross and Suburban Propane are teaming up this summer to help prevent and a blood and platelet shortage during this busy season. They are setting up community blood drives throughout the country and will be in our area next Wednesday, August 5th. With summer being so busy and many donors on vacation, it can be a tough time to maintain adequate levels of donations. The American Red Cross' 100 Days of Summer, 100 Days of Hope campaign will be encouraging communities to be involved in blood donation and awareness throughout this summer.

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A Visit to Citizens Park in Barrington

Recently, we had a free afternoon so we decided to stretch our legs a bit at Citizens Park in Barrington. We have been there a couple of times to take our daughter to the lovely playground. This time, though, we decided to take a little hike. We knew that there was a bit of a trail in the preserve but we didn't realize how long it was. What a nice walk! It turns out, the path goes into Cuba Marsh so you can make quite a hike out of it!

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Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks by Sean Kenney Arrives to The Morton Arboretum {& Giveaway 8/2/15}

**Disclosure: Thank you to The Morton Arboretum for providing us with this wonderful giveaway to bring you! No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

You don't have to be a LEGO fan to appreciate The Morton Arboretum's new interactive exhibit mixing 464,770 bold and festive blocks with nature's bounty. LEGO Artist Sean Kenney has created 13 larger than life LEGO creations representing nature's gifts. Most of the sculptures are positioned against picturesque backdrops throughout the arboretum. In some instances, the combinations appeared so natural that the sculpture fit right into the setting. Breathtaking!

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Louisville Eats and Other Finds

We always eat well when we are in Louisville and there never is a shortage of wonderful establishments to try. On this trip, we visited two of our favorites and tried a sampling of other restaurants which I must say are now new favorites. We also discovered some great areas for shopping for local products near some of these eateries as well.

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Exploring Under Louisville at Louisville Mega Cavern

**Disclosure: Thank you to Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for providing us with museum and attractions visits so that we can bring these reviews to you. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Ropes course. Underground. Sign me up! That is what I felt when I learned about Louisville Mega Cavern! When we travel, we are always on the hunt for the unusual and unique attractions and Louisville Mega Cavern is certainly one of them!

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Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs for Families

**Disclosure: Thank you to Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for providing us with museum and attractions visits so that we can bring these reviews to you. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

For five weeks of the year, 3-year-old thoroughbreds take center stage during the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The races are quick but they do generate magnificent fanfare. The Kentucky Derby is an important part of the pulse of Louisville, so a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs was on our agenda for our Louisville vacation.

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A Family Visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum is a Home Run!

**Disclosure: Thank you to Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for providing us with museum and attractions visits so that we can bring these reviews to you. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

You don't get any more American than baseball! While in Louisville, families can experience firsthand an American creation that has helped many a legend in their journeys towards greatness--the Louisville Slugger!

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Step Into History at the Frazier History Museum {Louisville}

The Frazier History Museum has a partnership with the Royal Armouries Museum

**Disclosure: We did receive complimentary admission to the Frazier History Museum in order to bring you this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

When traveling, we love to visit historic museums that establish a foundation of the history and culture of the region. Throughout the course of my adventures, I have found that you can often miss quite a bit about an area without some understanding of how the region evolved.

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Old Time Charm at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville

Sometimes, the hotel is part of the adventure. During our Louisville vacation, we seized the opportunity to stay at the Seelbach Hilton which quickly brought us back to 1900's splendor. Brothers and German immigrants Otto and Louis Seelbach envisioned a hotel transporting the grandeur of European hotels to America. They were able to capture this magnificence by importing the finest marbles, bronzes, textiles and hardwoods from Europe and the West Indies. The hotel opened with a 5-hour public inspection in 1905 that drew an incredible crowd of 25,000 people.

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A Weekend Exploring Louisville, Kentucky

During the Fourth of July weekend, our family headed to Louisville for a little adventure. Louisville is about a 5-5.5 hour drive from the Chicagoland area making the city a great option for a long weekend. The charming city, friendly residents, great food, inspiring cultural treasures and precious views of the Ohio River keep us coming back again and again! We have visited Louisville a few times during longer vacations to explore other places as well. So, it was wonderful to spend an entire three days exploring the city.

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Waterford Balloonfest July 17-19 {Wisconsin}

Photo by Bradford Paulsen courtesy of Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce

**No compensation has been received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Next weekend, balloons will provide vibrant colors to the skies over Waterford, Wisconsin during Waterford Balloonfest! Waterford is in nearby Racine County, WI so perfect for a day trip! The festival will run the evening of July 17th and all day July 18 and the morning of July 19. The festival is located on the Evergreen Elementary School grounds.

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Summer at Weber Grill: Fresh Grilled Favorites, Sweet Cocktails and a Cooking Class for Kids

**Disclosure: We did receive a complimentary meal at Weber Grill to bring this review to you. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Summer is the time for grilling so the perfect time to enjoy grilled favorites at Weber Grill! The new season also brings some new fruity cocktails and dessert selections. Plus, a new cooking class for kids at the Weber Grill in Schaumburg adds some extra fun for the kids this summer!

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Warm Blueberry Granola Crisp and siggi's {Giveaway 7/11/15}

**Disclosure: We received complimentary siggi's yogurt to help us bring this recipe and giveaway to you. All opinions are 100% our own. No other compensation was received.

We have had our share of rainy weather here is Chicago this summer. So, a nice pick-me-up from the oven is very much appreciated! This morning, I made my own warm blueberry granola crisp and it was the treat I need on this cloudy morning! Topping it of with siggi's made it quite the snack!

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Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts provide easy entertainment! Here is a quick list you can use to make a scavenger hunt for Fourth of July! You can easily alter it to fit your day's plans! Alternately, have kids create scavenger hunts for each other!  Have a great Fourth of July!

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