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.

I recently discovered the unexpected joy of being lost. Last month, I traveled to London to meet my husband, who was in Europe on work, for a short but very sweet mini-vacation. With little time to plan or book anything, this trip was more about experience than activity. And I discovered that when in doubt about what to do or where to go when traveling, sometimes it's best to just wander.

Imagine if Jesus had a zero tolerance policy. We would all be screwed. Yet he never turns his back on us. He always welcomes us, with open arms. And in return, Jesus does not call us to judge, he calls us to love. To love your neighbor as yourself.

Thank you, dads.

I don’t write as much as I would like to these days. A lot has changed in my life over the past year and a half, and while it’s full in the best of ways, it is also very busy.

I’ve also stepped back from writing because of the change in our country over the past year and half. You may have noticed that public discourse on social platforms has not been the most courteous as of late. To be honest, it’s just plain discouraging and I haven’t really wanted to be a part of it. After the election last year, I was depressed. I was in shock. I was angry. I don’t think I could have expressed myself well, most certainly not civilly or kindly. So I was quiet. Silent.

But silence doesn't change anything. And in some cases, I think it can actually hurt.

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” - Abraham Lincoln

January. Is it just me, or does it sometimes feel like it will last foreverrrr?! Coming down from the holiday high, with the end of winter still too far for comfort, and sunlight a distant memory, who can blame us for wanting to stay in bed all day? My solution - beat the winter blues with blueberry pancakes. 

Thanksgiving as​ defined by​ the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:​ 1) the act of giving thanks 2) a prayer expressing gratitude 3) a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness.

​Thanksgiving as defined by American consumerism: the holiday lost somewhere in between the one with all of the candy and the one with all of the toys. ​As my mailbox fills with catalogs and store aisles fill with decorations, I can't help but wonder why it seems so easy to focus on the things we don't yet have but want, than what we already have and should be thankful for?

This week's Isn't That Something post is brought to you by my wandering mind. I don't know about you, but sometimes my creative tank just feels drained and I need something to kindle my imagination. I believe that anything can inspire - a song, story, image, even a beautiful new handbag - so here is a compilation of random, yet interesting tidbits that I hope inspire or maybe just intrigue you...

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