Get Out the Map: Salves for Our Travel Itches

While I caught mine later than Matt did, we share a serious itch to go and explore the world. I am a firm believer in the study that showed that money can't buy happiness, except when it comes to money spent on creating memories and life experiences. Here's a blog post on the topic: http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/08/money_and_happiness_1.php. So regular travel is a definite priority for us. Our last big trips together were in January, and we're anxious to plan the next pin in our travel map. (Not a metaphor, we got a huge framed and personalized world map as a Christmas gift a few years ago from my Mom and Dad and we pin it religiously.)

We'll probably take our next trip after Christmas and/or over Spring Break 2012. Istanbul and other Turkish sites are among the top contenders but certainly South America and much of Europe beckon. The rest of the planet would beckon too, but we will have 10 days max! So Australia, Africa and SE Asia will have to wait for now. Hopefully not for too long.

All that is to say that we both find little salves for our travel itches. These salves include:
1. Reading about destinations we want to visit online and in books
2. Watching a lot of Travel Channel
3. Making lists of places we want to go (I have close to 100 countries on my list)
4. Looking at past travel photos
5. Buying things to use during future trips

I've employed all these salves pretty recently but #5 has gotten a fair bit of action the last couple weeks. Luckily, I haven't been spending to break the bank or anything, but just a couple bucks here and there to take the edge off. I bought a new reusable carry-on toiletry bag from an awesome site called RuMe: Photo from RuMe. It's dishwasher-safe!

And I couldn't resist buying a new passport holder for Matt. He'd been using a cool but generic baby blue one that was a hand-me-down from me after my dear friend Rebecca (who knows just what I like) bought me a gorgeous paisley one a couple years back that I love using. But Matt's hand-me-down just wouldn't do after I saw this at Flight 001 last weekend: Photo from Tinymeat.
We seek out many things during our travels, but one that is always and forevermore on Matt's list is locally grown and locally prepared meat. What could possibly be more appropriate, then, to enclose the document that will allow him to create new meaty memories?

Recent Project: Card Inspired by Dressing Rooms

I have several friends who post their projects online, and I love seeing them. So when I remember to take a photo, I think I'll do the same. I forgot to take a picture of the last card I made (a wedding and travel-themed card for newlywed world travelers) but this one is a recent one I made for the designers of our Dress for Success boutique.

Here's the inspiration, the dressing rooms at the Dress for Success Boutique in Chicago:

The signature elements of the space include the gold curtains, striped walls and the beautiful motivational quotes stenciled on the walls. So here's my interpretation, in paper and ribbon:

South Side Summer Fun Weekend, Part II: The Rain-Out

As I mentioned in my last post of a couple weeks ago, we'd planned on going to what I was calling "South Side Ravinia" or Music Under the Stars, a live performance on the campus and lawn of nearby Morgan Park Academy.

Well, I must have jinxed us because it often rains when we go to the actual Ravinia (a summer-long concert series held on beautiful grounds north of Chicago), and it rained cats and dogs before Music Under the Stars got started. The kicker was that we had decided it would be lovely to walk the mile or so to the event. It didn't start raining until we got there. We were able to hide under a tree for awhile but eventually the downpour got the better of us. The weather cleared up later, but it didn't matter as we knew we'd be uncomfortable sitting in our wet clothes for a couple of hours. So we walked back home through the downpour, and this was the result.

Farmer's Market Score

Matt is, as I type, making burritos using ingredients from my haul at the Farmer's Market this morning. Monterey Jack with Tomato and Basil, yum! I still miss the Oak Park Farmer's Market but today's goodies made me think Beverly's could scratch that itch. I had to lay it all out to show Matt, so I thought I'd share with you too.


I also learned that "Donut Peach" is a trademarked and/or patented term. Who knew? I guess it's like "Kleenex" as I'd called all peaches of that shape by that name. But now I know, thanks to the ladies at the stand from my mom's hometown of Berrien Springs, Michigan. I actually got "Galaxy Peaches" which is pretty cool too. And their raspberries are extraordinary! If they last the day, I'll be surprised.

And what perfect timing, as I just bought this adorable ceramic "Farmers Market Basket" at Anthropologie on Friday afternoon. I bought it for the tomatoes we are starting to harvest from the garden, but these portobellos just look perfect. Isn't it adorable? I may have to go back and get a couple of the little ones too.

South Side Summer Fun Weekend, Part 1: 105th Street Block Party

Sometimes it seems like we don't spend a whole lot of time having fun in our own neighborhood. Especially during summer weekends when we, and everybody else, are all over the place. So it was great when this weekend turned into a serendipitous little South Side celebration, starting with Saturday's 105th Street Block Party right here in the heart of the Bungalow Belt.

While this is our fourth summer on 105th Street, this is only our second block party as we've been out of town the other two. This year Mom, Dad and Ryan came to join in the fun!

The fun included:
-Bubble party
-Hula hoop contest
-Band on a front lawn
-Egg toss
-Water balloon toss
-DJ music in the street
-Bags games, bikes and basketball hoops
-Donut on a string contest
-Whip cream and bubble gum contest

And food and drink and shenanigans. Some photo highlights, along with a great video from the water balloon toss. . .

Bubble toes (mine and Ryan's) after a stroll through the foam


Ryan running through the bubbles


Cleaning up the street. Obviously we have a firehose for the job, given that a couple of our neighbors are Chicago firemen!


Mom, Ryan, Dad and Matt, curb-surfing


Matt and Ryan take on the egg toss. I love the intensity here--Ryan's full-body follow-through and Matt's locked gaze as he catches the egg. You can see the white blur of the egg just up and to the right of Matt's hand. He caught that one. They were out a few tosses later, but luckily did not end up wearing any egg.


After the egg toss, Matt and Ryan took on the water balloon toss. You know how this story ends, and I recommend the video for that very reason.




The band tunes up on a neighbor's front lawn.


Ryan won the donut-on-a-string contest! A lot of the kids were too delicate but he got after it and won!


Today's plans include the farmer's market and "South Side Ravinia" -- Beverly's "Music Under the Stars" and I can't wait!

Weekend at Lake Mattoon

Last weekend we had the pinch-ourselves privilege of spending the weekend at Lake Mattoon with our friends Ed and Lisa and Dustin and Kelly, who rent a house there every summer. We joined them and their adorable children. Too-cute Thomas is 2 1/2 and belongs to Ed and Lisa who are expecting #2 this month, and adorable Abbey is almost 1 and belongs to Dustin and Kelly.

We soaked up a lot of sun and swim time, ate a lot of amazing food, and laughed a whole lot.

Thomas discovered Matt's usefulness as a jungle gym very quickly Friday night. As soon as we blew up the air mattress, Thomas was ready to rumpus and Matt was happy to oblige.

Abbey got in on the action, but with a little lighter touch to the rumpus-ing.


Between Saturday and Sunday, we got in several great boat rides and swims, including a lunchtime cruise.

Kelly and Abbey discussing what lies ahead. . .


Thomas, very happy between his Mama and his pal Matt.


Here Lisa and I were posing for a self-photo while Thomas was much more interested in the BBQ chips.


Saturday night we went on a sunset cruise, during which we snapped a shot of the Mattoon crew, while they're still only six! L-R: Abbey, Kelly, Dustin, Lisa, Ed, Thomas.


Me and Lisa. (I can't wait to meet munchkin or munchkinnette #2!)


After dinner, Matt was doing his "Thomas ups" much to the delight of Thomas. Don't worry, the red face isn't from exertion but rather a lack of sunscreen during the day. . .


And then Thomas needed to work in his "Matt ups" which was actually a tougher exercise for Matt than the "Thomas ups" I think. . .


And just a couple more cute ones of Abbey. Such a sweet and happy little girl, it was great to get to know her a little bit!

Oops. Guess I've Been a Bit Distracted from Blogging. . .

As I think everyone's heard by now, I changed jobs at the end of June! After seven years of sponsorship consulting with IEG, I went back inside the nonprofit world and am working with Dress for Success Worldwide in Chicago. It's been a great whirlwind of a first six weeks and I'm so thrilled to be part of an organization that helps disadvantaged women along their path to self-sufficiency.

If you'd like to see what we're up to in Chicago and throughout the Midwest, please like our Facebook page. Much appreciated!

And to get a sense, or the spirit, of what we do, here is a video shot at the Success Summit event we had in Dallas a couple weeks ago.