Tag: family

Wonder Woods Mini Golf – Lisle, IL

June 29, 2024

Last week, we had the distinct pleasure of experiencing the new interactive Wonder Woods Mini Golf at the Morton Arboretum. This charming, unique 9-hole golfing adventure is accessible for all visitors and the perfect outing for players age 4 and up. Wonder Woods Mini Golf is an unexpected summer treat.

—Jenn

When: Now to September 2, 2024

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., last tee time 5:00 p.m.

**Please note that Wonder Woods Mini Golf will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2. The last available tee time will be 3:00 p.m.

Tickets

Members
Child (ages 4 through 17): $6
Adult (age 18 and older): $8

Guests
Child (ages 4 through 17): $8
Adult (age 18 and older): $10

For those who are not members, Wonder Woods Mini Golf tickets must be purchased in addition to Arboretum general admission. Children aged 2 and older require a general admission ticket to enter the Arboretum; infants under the age of 2 are admitted for free.

Location

4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532

Wonder Woods Mini Golf – Morton Arboretum

0

Cabanas Ice Cream, Michigan

After a day of sunshine and waves, make certain to stop by Cabanas Ice Cream and indulge your sweet tooth. Cabanas serves up the ultimate ice cream; pastries; pies; cakes; milkshakes & smoothies; coffees and candies. Warm temperatures are no match for the family friendly seating and service.

Hours: Monday thru Friday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Location: 512 Broad St, St Joseph, Michigan 49085

Instagram Link
0

Arbor Day – 2024

Tuesday, April 26, 2024

Save the Date: Friday, April 26 ARBOR DAY

Dearest Tree Hugging Readers,

It is with TREE-mendous excitement that I am sharing Arbor Day literature and resources.

My love affair of trees dates back to my earliest childhood memories. Our family planted and cared for a variety of fruit trees. Apple, peach, pear, cherry, and plum trees provided shade on sunny days; fresh juicy snacks; and sweet confections that were canned or baked. As we grew, so did the trees.

When my daughter was younger, we became members of the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Our summers were spent under the shade trees beside Meadow Lake. It was there that we played cards; drew pictures; ate picnic lunches, and escaped the noise of the world.

May this Arbor Day bring your family back to the forest.

—-Jenn 🌳

Literature for Young Sapling 🌱

Literature for Mature Trees 🌳

Resources

Arbor Day Foundation
Chicago Botanic Garden – Chicago, Illinois
Morton Arboretum – Lisle, Illinois 🌳
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center – Forest Preserve of Cook County, Illinois
History of Arbor Day
Virtual Tours in the Redwoods: Redwood National & State Parks
Exploring Giant Sequoia Groves
0

Rare Unicorn Sighting

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – National Unicorn Day

Breaking News…there was a rare unicorn sighting early this morning. If you were driving to work and witnessed this magical event, rest assured you were not alone. Thelma the Unicorn once again joined me in the carpool lane. We journeyed to the magical Land of Wonder & Academia. Truly the absolute best part of teaching is the unique holidays that make us giggle and take pause. Today, we explored these mystical creatures. How could I not share my Scottish heritage with my scholars?

Fun Fact: Scotland’s National Animal is the Unicorn.

Literature

May this curated list bring you joy, wonder and dreams of glittering unicorns.

  1. Thelma the Unicorn By Aaron Blabey
  2. The Return of Thelma the Unicorn By Aaron Blabey
  3. How to Catch a Unicorn By Adam Wallace, Andy Elkerton (Illustrator) 
  4. Fancy Nancy and the Quest for the Unicorn By Jane O’Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)
  5. Unicorn Day By Diane Murray
  6. Legend of the First Unicorn: Traditional Scottish Tale By Lari Don
  7. An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales By Theresa Breslin & Kate Leiper (Illustrator)
  8. Facts about Scotland for Kids: Discover Scotland Culture, Sports, History, Cuisine, Landmarks, People, Traditions and many more for Kids By Gina Holden
  9. Scottish Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Scotland’s Kids (A Kids’ Year) By Tania McCartney
  10. Good Night Scotland By Adam Gamble, Mark Jasper, Suwin Chan (Illustrator)
  11. The Scottish Kitchen By Gary Maclean – This one is for the grownups. I had the distinct pleasure of attending a cooking demonstration last summer. Bravo Chef!

**Please note: At this time, I am not affiliated with the bookshop links above (wink, wink I would love the opportunity). Direct links are included for your convenience.

The 38th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games

WHEN
June 14-15, 2024
Friday: 1:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-10:00pm

WHERE (New location this year.)
DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 Manchester Road
Wheaton, IL 60187

The 38th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games
0

Open Books – West Loop, Chicago

Sunday, February 18, 2024

On the way to the theatre, we took a detour and stumbled across a charming independent bookshop. Opening the door was a magical experience. It was as though we fell down a rabbit hole with Alice. The aisles were narrow and the shelves were never ending. As I scanned the titles, there was a sense of familiarity. There were new and gently beloved copies of every genre imaginable. While strolling up and down the aisles, you could hear the rattling of the L. It was then that I realized I was home.

Open Books also had an amazing children’s literature section. There were nooks and crannies with comfortable seating and a reading stage. Sadly, our visit would be cut short. We had theatre tickets and needed to scurry. I look forward to returning to Open Books in the near future.

A heartfelt thank you to Open Books for providing a respite from technology and a peaceful safe haven from the noise of the world.

—Jenn

Open Books

651 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60661

Hours:

10:30am-6pm Monday through Thursday
11:30am-7pm Friday through Sunday

Open Books – West Loop, Chicago
0

Time Travel

February 27, 2024

A chilly fog covered the highway as we traveled to our next adventure. Stopping at Starbucks in Springfield, we picked up coffee, pastries and the new Dragon Lunar New Year tumbler. We returned to the interstate and counted down the minutes to the Saint Louis Science Museum. Shoutout to Google for answering our call to The Doctor. The Saint Louis Science Museum has a free Doctor Who display.

It was drizzling rain as we walked from our car to the science museum. Parking was $15.00 and well worth the cost. Admission to the museum was free. There is a plethora of family friendly exhibits for children of all ages and a food court. After taking the elevator to the upper floor, we walked a short distance to an indoor walkway over the highway. Fun fact…there are cut outs in the flooring where you can watch the cars pass under your feet. As we approached the planetarium side for the museum, at the end of the walkway, there it stood.

TARDIS.

Safely tucked behind a clear barrier. Yes. It was then that I began to let my inner nerd out.

Eeeeeeek!

Now for those of you just joining, I am a massive David Tennant fan. It borders on embarrassing. Doctor Who fans are able to view the exhibit through March 2024. Pack the family, snacks, road trip tunes and set your GPS to the Saint Louis Science Museum.

Next up on our time travel tour, we drove to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis. The rangers were extremely knowledgeable and super friendly. The museum exhibits are informative and offer something for the entire family. When you are finished exploring the museum, make time for the free short video and guided tour of the grounds and buildings. I highly recommend the taking the guided tour. At the end of your visit, remember to take a moment at the museum shop and browse their souvenirs and book selection. Oh yes. There are books.

As we said farewell to St. Louis, we traveled past the Saint Louis Arch. Due to the dense fog, we decided that the Arch would have to wait for another day.

—Jenn

Saint Louis Science Museum
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
The Gateway Arch

0

CLOSED – Classic Coffee House ☕️

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Dearest Coffee House Connoisseur,

It is with great sadness that I must update this post. Graham’s 318 coffee shop has permanently shuttered its doors and brewed its final cup of coffee on April 28, 2024. Their sister shop Graham’s Chocolate remains open.

Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream
302 S. 3rd St., Geneva, IL 60134

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Winter weather advisory has lifted and the roads are cleared. Is there a better way than to spend a balmy 10 degree afternoon than at a local coffee shop?

Graham’s 318 is located in the stunning historic town of Geneva, Illinois. It’s bustling this afternoon with families drinking hot chocolate and friends catching up. There are conversations of upcoming schedules; crying toddlers; card games; and a blogger attempting to write her latest masterpiece. Giggle. Seating is cozy and abundant. Hardwood floors and the fragrance of fresh brewed coffee and delectable treats permeate throughout. Graham’s is sheer perfection.

Cheers! ☕️

  —Jenn

Graham’s 318 Coffee House
0

Top 11 Indie Bookstores of 2023📚🥂

December 29, 2023

Armed with coffee, road trip snacks and an eclectic Spotify playlist we began 2023 traveling the midwest in search of Indie Bookshops. Most of our destinations were day trips excluding The Drama Book Shop in New York. Each bookshop was welcoming and offered a carefully curated selection of literature, author events, and sometimes coffee. For your next Indie Bookshop adventure, please consider visiting the following bookshops. They will graciously welcome and assist in securing your next read and/or addition to your TBR.

  —-Jenn

Top 11 Indie Bookshops of 2023 📚🥂

  1. Anderson’s Bookshop, Downers Grove & Naperville, Illinois (2 locations)
  2. Harvey’s Tales, Geneva, Illinois
  3. Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  4. Forever Books, St. Joseph’s, Michigan
  5. The Book Nook of Saugatuck, Saugatuck, Michigan
  6. The Drama Book Shop, New York, New York
  7. Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
  8. Schuler Books, Ann Arbor Michigan (4 locations)
  9. Hello Books, South Haven Michigan
  10. Bookends and Beginnings, Evanston, Illinois
  11. This is a Bookstore & Bookbug, Kalamazoo, Michigan

**Please note: At this time, I am not affiliated with the bookshops linked above (wink, wink I would love the opportunity). Direct links are included for your convenience.

Indie Suggestions for    2024

*Please include Bookshop Name & Location.

Go back

Your message has been sent

0

A Cozy Christmas

December 11, 2023

Merry Christmas Dearest Readers.

Christmas lights sparkle and shine. Strangers exchange smiles and warm greetings. Music rings out with hope and joy. Snow blankets our town. Well, maybe not yet, but I can smell it. It’s coming. Our small village celebrates with festive lights; a skating rink; and jolly festivities on the weekend. Next to the village hall, Santa greets visitors with a sparkle in his eyes. When you see him, remember to make a Christmas wish. Do you still believe in Christmas magic? I do.

Cozy up with some cocoa and a relaxing read. I compiled a morsel of my favorite Christmas reads. Jan Brett, Matt Tavares and Charles Dickens are near to my heart and hold fond memories of Christmas past.

  1. Gingerbread Baby, by Jan Brett
  2. Gingerbread Christmas, by Jan Brett
  3. Home for Christmas, by Jan Brett
  4. The Night Before Christmas, by Jan Brett
  5. The Nutcracker, by Jan Brett
  6. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!, by Lucille Colandro
  7. Shall I Knit You a Hat? By Kate Klise
  8. The Wish Tree, by Kyo Maclear
  9. Magic Tree House: Christmas in Camelot, by Mary Pope Osborne
  10. Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, by Apryl Stott
  11. The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree, by David Rubel
  12. Olive the Other Reindeer, by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold
  13. Dasher, by Matt Tavares
  14. Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, by Matt Tavares
  15. Red and Lulu, by Matt Tavares
  16. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, by Robert Barry
  17. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings, by Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas and Warmest Wishes for the New Year.

—-Jenn 🎅🏼

**Please note: At this time, I am not affiliated with the bookshop linked above (wink, wink I would love the opportunity). Direct links are included for your convenience.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑