Eating Mochi Donuts in Another Dimension
When I first heard about the 2d café phenomenon in tourist cities around the globe, I imagined stepping through a swirling portal to another dimension, trillions of cells in my body morphing and twisting, compressing into a flat paper doll. Is there anything thinner than paper? In this new 2d realm, I would sidestep to…
Read MorePineapple – Summer Wreath
Nothing says summer like fresh fruit and this colorful wreath from Target does a great job of showing off all the best natural flavors, especially pineapple!
Read More11 Reasons to Love Winter in Chicagoland and Beyond
It’s bundle season! Shout out to our good friend José for hooking us up with these parkas from The North Face. They easily keep us toasty in zero degrees. The biggest difference between living in California and Chicagoland is obviously the cold weather, which starts around November and can last until early May. That’s a…
Read MoreFilled with Wonder at the WNDR Museum
Are you ready for a sensory expedition through color, sound and light? This journey transports you from the grey sidewalks of Chicago’s West Loop district into a Willy Wonka-like world of wonder, complete with interactive selfie moments. Here at the WNDR Museum, touching the art is encouraged and silly dances are celebrated. Visitors young and…
Read MorePineapple – Acrylic Bicycle Painting
I made this! Painting is therapeutic for me, meaning I don’t mind if the end result looks bad or isn’t worth hanging (most aren’t). It’s the activity of painting that brings me joy and relaxation. But I’ve gotta say, it is pretty nice when the final result is cute enough to post on the blog.
Read More8 Ways to Enjoy Winter in Chilly Chicago
“It’s funny how you find you enjoy your life / When you’re happy to be alive.” Do you recognize this song lyric? I don’t even want to mention the band because it’s an embarrassing throwback to my younger years. But it’s completely true. After the Big Panini stole two years of our lives, we dreamed…
Read MorePineapple – Tamalitoz Chili Lime Candy
I love these Tamalitoz hard candies, not only for their outstanding flavors with zippy Mexican spices, but for the satisfying rainbow their packaging creates when placed together. If you enjoy Tajin seasoning, your mouth will tingle for this pineapple chili lime treat.
Read MoreTaking it SLO at the Garden Street Inn
When people think of exciting places to visit in California, they’re minds often jump straight to San Francisco and Los Angeles, two major metros know around the world. But I would contest that the towns sprinkled along California’s Central Coast, like Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo, offer an even richer vacation…
Read MorePineapple – Good Vibes Notebook
You’ve heard of partying like a pineapple and welcoming like a pineapple. That’s because pineapples demand good vibes only, a solid philosophy in life.
Read MoreA Dusk Light Show at Sensorio
Maybe you’ve heard of Napa Valley, where vino-lovers and elites travel for a romantic (and boozy) getaway. That northern hotspot is but one of California’s blossoming wine destinations, followed closely by Paso Robles, its up-and-coming little sister on the Central Coast, 26 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Straddling the distance between Napa and Los Angeles,…
Read MorePineapple – Enriched Sugar Crystals
The mouthwatering taste of pineapple in a sugar form! Perfect for rimming cocktails and adding an extra touch of sweetness to fruit salad and coleslaw. My sweet friend Hallie gave me this sugar for my birthday, purchased from The Spice and Tea Exchange in Valparaiso, IN.
Read MoreForbidden Journey to Hogsmeade, Harry Potter World
Did you grow up reading the Harry Potter books? I was never allowed to as kid, so when the pandemic shutdown first began in early 2020, I ordered all seven HP books and took advantage of the quiet evenings by catching up on the childhood cultural phenomenon I’d missed. If figured all the craziness would…
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