Looking for a unique experience in Chicago?! Then head to Beadniks for your own custom jewelry making experience!!
-If you’re coming in just by yourself or with a friend… no appointment is needed!! But if you’re coming in with a large party, you want to host a party… you will need to call the store ahead of time!!
-You have the full capacity to create whatever you want, and there’s so much material to do it with!!
-Price completely depends on what materials you use… but there is no “cover” cost at all. You just pay for what your piece of jewelry is made out of!! My bracelet cost less than $30…
-While each experience is different, I would plan out about an hour for being here.
This is a fun thing to do, and there’s a lot of other fun stuff in the area, as well!!
GRINCH DATE NIGHT!!!
This last weekend, I set up a fun Grinch date for Dan and I!! Keep reading for the details…
I got all these supplies from Little Dreamers Sleepovers, located in Hastings. You can pick up the supplies yourself, or they can drop off and set up for you… at an additional charge.
We got some yummy cookies from Cakabakery, and then popped in The Grinch to watch from our tents!!
This company has a TON of different themes to choose from… and I’ve done a Harry Potter sleepover with them too!!
But for any fun and festive occasion… check out this small business as they’re great to work with, and will for sure provide you with a unique and fabulous time!!
THE GRINCH ALMOST RUINED MY PEDICURE!!!
THERE IS AN ELF THEMED CHRISTMAS BAR IN CHICAGO!!!
-No cover charge!!
-No reservations accepted… so, I would try and get there earlier, rather than later!!
-There have super fun and festive drinks… non-alcoholic options too!!
-There’s food you can order too… and you can even order Buddy’s famous spaghetti concoction!!
This is my favorite Christmas pop-up bar in Chicago by far!! Stayed tuned for more photos from this place!!
CALLING ALL LINDT CHOCOLATE LOVERS!!
CHECK OUT THIS PROPERTY FOR A MICHIGAN ESCAPE!!
This past month, I had the privilege of visiting a new property in southwest Michigan!! I love finding new and unique places to visit… and this place was no exception!! Come with me as I show you Goldberry Woods…
Goldberry Woods is located in Union Pier, Michigan and is a modern organic farm resort. It’s the perfect Midwest destination for all types of travelers!!
There are multiple ways to stay at Goldberry Woods and I chose to stay in one of the vintage campers and one of the suites in the Inn. It’s honestly the best of both worlds… cozy glamping and a luxury bed and breakfast.
This property offers so much!! From complimentary bike rentals to its prime location of only a few minutes from Lake Michigan. From a farm to table breakfast to a four seasons pool and hot tub. From farm quails to complimentary canoe rentals to use on their river. Goldberry Woods honestly has it all for the perfect getaway to relax and unwind!!
Have you ever heard of this spot before?! What’s your favorite aspect of the 2 different places of lodging I showed off?!
THE BEST HOTEL TO STAY AT IN NASHVILLE!
When it comes to Nashville… there are so many fun things to do!! But did you know there is an EPIC hotel to stay at in Nashville? That hotel would be Gaylord Opryland Resort and here’s why it’s so epic…
-It’s legit inside this beautiful conservatory!! Any time of the day, you can walk around and enjoy all the plants and flowers!! At night… it comes alive with an abundance of twinkle lights!! Don’t want to walk around?? Take a boat ride instead!!
-There are so many restaurants, bars, and snack places to choose from… and they’re all located within the resort!! They even have the only Jack Daniel’s restaurant here!!
-There are so many fun activities to be had at this resort… including a free nightly water fountain show!! Other activities include… shopping, a large indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, live music at night, and more!!
-They have an amazing water park on-site, called “Soundwaves Nashville”!! I would honestly consider this an upscale water park… the nicest one I’ve ever been to!!
The next time you find yourself in Nashville… I would highly encourage you to stay here!! You won’t regret it!!
THIS IS THE CUTEST AIRLINE EVER!!!
Did you know there is a Hello Kitty themed airline?! Both times I have flown to Taiwan from Chicago, I have flown with Eva Airways and the flights have been Hello Kitty themed!!
Watch my entire reel to see all the Hello Kitty details!! And NO… you don’t have to pay more for this flight!!
A MUST VISIT PLACE IN THE MIDWEST!
Did you know in the Indianapolis area there is magic waiting to be found? Whimsical fairy dust, twinkling lights, and sparkly cupcakes… where could such a place be?! THE CAKE BAKE SHOP.
This is Gwendolyn Roger’s masterpiece… and if you don’t know anything about her, I would highly recommend reading her story! They share about it on her website!
There are 2 locations for The Cake Bake Shop!! There is one in Broad Ripple (the original location) and one in Carmel. I went to both, and like the Broad Ripple location better. It is just cozier and more intimate. And there is about to be a third location… in The Boardwalk at Walt Disney World!
You can eat a meal here, and drink some lovely beverages. But obviously the main attraction is dessert… SO MUCH DESSERT.
Reservations are highly recommended and can fill up months in advance. I always make my reservations at least 2 months in advance.
While both places are beautiful all year round… during certain times of the year, it gets even more beautiful! My favorite time of the year to go is Christmas!
For anyone who loves delicious desserts and beyond aesthetically pleasing places… visiting The Cake Bake Shop is an absolute must!
VISIT THIS UMBRELLA SKY IN CHICAGO!
Have you seen these beautiful umbrella skies all over the world?! Well… it’s now made an appearance in Chicago!! Here’s all you need to know about visiting…
-Technically, these umbrellas are located in Elmhurst, IL… about 20 minutes outside of the city.
-There are 3 different umbrella installations… and all their locations are mentioned in this reel.
-It is free to come visit, and there are no reservations required.
Elmhurst, and the surrounding area, has quite a few delightful things to visit!! So, make a day out of it… and visit some other fun places after you’re done with the umbrellas!!
Have you seen an umbrella sky before?! If so… WHERE?!
MY THOUGHTS ON PHUKET, THAILAND…
For as long as I can remember… I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand. It has constantly been on my top 5 must see places for years and years. And finally, I was able to visit about a month ago!! And here are my honest thoughts, specifically on Phuket, Thailand…
I thought it was beautiful!! When you take the time to get away from mainland Phuket… there was so much beauty!! A few of my favorite places… Hong Island, Phi Phi Islands, and Similan Islands. Similan Islands was my favorite because the water was spectacular, the reefs were healthy, and we saw the most underwater sea life there!!
Traveling throughout Phuket is a bitch. It’s congested, time consuming, and motion sickness prone. BE PREPARED to travel quite a bit… even if where you’re going isn’t many miles away. The roads are small and packed… so, just suck it up and deal with it. And bring along Dramamine and nausea pills!!
Phuket was overly sexualized for me… especially Patong. I mean… I’m talking Vegas on steroids. HA. There were lady boys, prostitutes, rent-a-girlfriends… THE LIST GOES ON. This can be highly avoided though by not going out at night.
I will never get over how cheap the hotel rooms are!! Every hotel we stayed in was so awesome… and we never paid more than $100 per night!! I’m talking… jacuzzi tubs, ocean views, California king beds, private pools… it was the best!!
I am still crying at the fact that I could get an hour massage for literally $9. I’m going to talk all about massages in Thailand in a separate post… but I cannot (in good conscience) ever pay full price for a massage in the USA again!!
Finally… seeing the elephants was probably my ultimate favorite experience of visiting Thailand. It’s bittersweet… because the only reason I got to see them was because they were severely abused in their past. But it’s my prayer now that they are finally in a peaceful place where they can fully enjoy life.
VISIT THE INDIANA PEONY FESTIVAL!
Did you know every year in Noblesville, Indiana there is a beautiful peony festival?! I went for the first time last weekend, and I truly enjoyed it!!
Make sure to watch my entire reel to know all the important information… so, you can plan appropriately for next year!!
HOW TO CHOOSE AN ETHICAL ELEPHANT SANCTUARY!
When visiting Thailand… there was one thing I wanted to do… VISIT ELEPHANTS.
Now, let’s just cut to the chase. It is REALLY hard to know what an “ethical” elephant sanctuary really is. And it wasn’t until I actually visited Thailand that I was able to fully understand this.
One thing that I think is super important when talking about ethical animal experiences… DO NOT SHAME ANYONE. There are very few people I know that would knowingly engage in unethical animal experiences. Most people continue to engage in certain activities because they do not know better. However, if you make people feel bad or stupid for things they choose to do… then they’re most likely not going to want to continue educating themselves about the RIGHT thing to do.
Main take away points…
-It is never okay to ride an elephant or watch them perform in any type of show.
-While bathing, petting, and getting super up close to elephants doesn’t hurt them physically… it isn’t the best practice for mimicking natural elephant behavior.
-There have been some people who have stated you shouldn’t feed the elephants either… I am uncertain about this.
The main point… always be willing to learn more!! Another point… be gracious to yourself. It’s really hard to do really in-depth research over the internet and in a different country.
If you’re in the Phuket area… look into visiting Phuket Elephant Sanctuary as I believed it to be the most ethical one I visited!!
THE BEST SPA TO VISIT IN MICHIGAN!
Welcome to Ethos Day Spa… my favorite spa in all of Michigan! This day spa is located in West Michigan, and is the first eco-luxury spa in the area! Here are some aspects about Ethos Day Spa that make it my favorite spa in Michigan…
Sustainability practices: Being environmentally friendly is a top priority at Ethos Day Spa! They utilize clean and natural products, and engage in eco-friendly sanitation practices. Their core mission is to recycle 99% of their waste.
Relaxing amenities: When you participate in a spa treatment, you get access to all of the spa’s amenities: sauna, steam room, cold plunge, hot tub, fire place, relaxation areas, showers, drinks and snacks.
Michigan inspired services: Ethos Day Spa offers spa treatments called, “Signature Ethos Escapes”. These treatments will transport you to on of Michigan’s iconic areas for wellness. You can choose from: Lakeside Getaway, A Walk in the Manistee Forest, Pictured Rocks Journey, and Waterfall Wonderment.
Do you want to try out this magnificent day spa? Now is the perfect time! For all new guests, use the following code for $20 off: WELCOMETOETHOS.
If you’re a frequent Meijer shopper… you may see this robot zooming around!
This is Tally, and she checks stock inventory… hahahaha!
Sharing a little bit about my mental health journey…
I got so much help from a place in East Grand Rapids called, “About Face”. The owner has worked with quite a few clients who struggle with Trichotillomania. She is so empathetic and helpful throughout the entire process of “treatment”.
If anyone is looking for a brow gal in Grand Rapids… please check out ”About Face”!
Are you headed up to Michigan’s upper peninsula this summer?!
Make sure to visit Marquette so you can cliff jump off of Black Rocks into Lake Superior!!
BE WARNED… the water is freezing!! But it was exhilarating jumping in!!
Have you cliff jumped here before?!
I just found out about this super cool iPhone trick!!!
It’s perfect for if you’re out somewhere and you see a plant you want to have at your own home!!!
Did you know this feature existed?! Share with all your plant friends!!!
