Reviews and Recommendations

Visiting Chicago with kids? Then you need some free and fun activities to do with them! Here is our list of the BEST parks and playgrounds in Chicago.

Lincoln Park in Chicago offers numerous free activities ideal for families, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Conservatory with its tropical plants, and the scenic Nature Boardwalk. Spanning over 1,200 acres, …

South Bend, Indiana, offers a charming family-friendly destination with a scenic university campus, affordable dining, and the impressive Howard Park playground. While not thrilling, it provides a relaxing day trip showcasing Midwest …

The authors shared insights from their six-week European journey, focusing on valuable lessons learned. Key takeaways include embracing flexibility in planning, the widespread use of English, the need for comfortable walking shoes, …

Reviewing 7 nights on the Celebrity Solstice Cruise to Alaska (Sept 2017)

After a month of sickness in the Schwannema household (pneumonia and HFM), several extra crazy weeks at work, and too many late nights and early mornings with the Mooch, the Husband and …

Exploring Music City’s Literary Gems: Nashville’s Best Bookstores As a Nashville resident and an avid bookworm, I’ve had the pleasure of discovering some delightful bookstores tucked away in our vibrant city. Whether …

After a year of not being able to GO anywhere or DO much outside of the house, we were all itching to go and do and not be at home. I needed …

We have become quite the fan of the long weekend. Instead of using all of your PTO on one or two long vacations per year, why not spread it out so you …

I like to document things, so Justin helped make a list of every single bar or restaurant where we ate or drank during the period between May 25 – June 15. Have …

Travel is education. I’m a firm believer in travel as education. By visiting unfamiliar locales, we expand our worldview, we gain different perspectives, and we expose ourselves to different cuisines and cultures.  …

The best family weekend trip from Nashville: Chattanooga!  The best weekend getaway from Nashville is less than three hours away: Chattanooga! A weekend in the Scenic City is the perfect way to …

We arrived on Wednesday, Aug 10. It’s been a fun, but not over-taxing, four days. We’ve seen some and still have some of the big sites to see (up next: la Sagrada …

“No amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.” — David Sedaris Being married to a cocktail enthusiast has its benefits. For one, it means that going out …

I just finished filling out the paperwork for Skyler’s college savings account. Who knows if this kid will go to college or what the college world will even look like in 15 …

I usually try to read a 50/50 mix of fiction and non, though I think non-fiction may have taken a lead this year. Below are my favorite reads from 2017. These are …

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss One of my all time favorite genres of …

This post will be updated throughout the year with a review of every book that I read. Stats to Date: Dec 31, 2021 Number of Books: 46Number of Pages: 14,793Female Authors: 28Male …

Ever year, I set an ambitious reading goal and set out to read a varied mix of fiction and non-fiction books. I post these reviews on my personal Instagram but will be …

From 1999-2003, I attended the International Baccalaureate program at St. Petersburg High (Go Green Devils!) so for four years, I had a 20-30 minute commute to and from school. My friends did …