Sometimes things don't work out how you plan or want. This is life. And sometimes, if you get out of the way and let go of your plans, life will surprise you with the best gifts.

Originally our last vacation of the summer was supposed to be to San Diego. But due to scheduling conflicts, we had to cancel that trip. And while I was a little sad, okay maybe a lot sad, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had on our Chicago staycation. And now we have a new family tradition - a Chicago staycation before going back to school. It's not just a stay-cation, it's a Chi-cation!

As the saying goes, “In Life, It’s Not Where You Go, It’s Who You Travel With” – Charles Schulz. And let's be honest, Chicago in the summer is just the best city ever. Here are a few highlights from our family's Chicago Staycation.

So, I quit my job. I wrestled with the decision for a long time, but eventually I realized that my heart was no longer in it. I had lost my passion for work and in its place were constant feelings of guilt and anxiety. Busyness and worry ruled my life.

The climate is changing and so must we. Every spring Mother Earth generously showers us with hope, whether we deserve it or not (and you know we definitely don't deserve it). Hope in the form of gorgeous flowers and glorious sunshine to warm our skin and souls. But if there is to be any hope for our earth, we have to do our part. So, if you're like me and are looking for ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle, I've listed a bunch of easy steps we can take to help the planet:

There are few pleasures in my life that I treasure more than the opportunity to travel. I love exploring new places and learning about different cultures. Travel teaches us so much and my latest voyage abroad was no different.

I was recently in Berlin for five days with friends. One of my best friends moved there with her family and two of my other best friends were in Europe for work. So clearly, the only logical thing for me to do was to travel to Germany and join them. I will always say yes to travel adventures.

Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will move mountains - or cause her Mother to lose her mind - either way, let her sleep.

Being a mom is the greatest thing I have ever done. It is also the hardest. Much harder than I anticipated. How two little children can be, and rule, my world all at the same time astonishes me.

I don’t think we share enough about the trenches of parenthood. At least I know that I don't. I worry about what people will think. But the truth is that I find parenting extremely challenging at times. I've lost my temper much too quickly and have screamed at my children when they didn't listen. I've sat crying on the floor just trying to get two little feet into two little shoes. I’ve wanted to bang my head against the wall after my child gets out of bed for the zillonth time. Parenting is hard.

Happy New Year! Yes, we're well into January already, but hey, life. I also haven't had time to post something on here in over six months. Again, life. But New Year, new beginning, right?

"One's destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things." - Henry Miller

"How many days will you be in London?" asks the customs official.