Ellie Perfume

01.07.2013

A warm weather getaway in pictures

Since the temperature has dipped in Chicago, I've been thinking about warm weather getaways. Although we don't have a family vacation planned until March, just flipping through pictures from our last trip to Los Angeles this past summer, gives me the fix I need. After our time in Disneyland and some quality time with my aunt and uncle, some of the hightlights were visits with several friends from home...two that I have known since 5th and 6th grade, and reuniting with dear friends and their three children, who recently moved from Chicago to LA.  We all picked up where we left off, and had a hard time saying goodbye. In our down time, we wandered around the Santa Monica farmers market, the Santa Monica Pier, and took in views of the sunset over the water. 

CATEGORIES:   Places

10.19.2012

Jayson Home and Garden Flea Market

Jayson Home and Garden is one of my favorite spots in Chicago for unique items for the home - whether it's furniture, gifts, pillows, textiles, plants, or books. I always try to make it to their annual Flea Market as early as possible to get a peek at the antique and vintage finds sourced from around the globe. This year I had a sick two-year old with me, so I wasn't able to stop and admire every detail. I went back again solo to take it all in. Beauty at every turn. If you don't live in Chicago, the flea market launched online this week!

 

CATEGORIES:   Places, Beautiful things

09.14.2012

Santa Monica Oasis

I recently spent several days at Disneyland with my two children, and was struck by a few magical memories of the place...Space Mountain, It's a Small World, and the teacups ride.  Following our time at Disney, we decamped to Santa Monica, and spent a long, relaxing evening at my Aunt Susan and Uncle Jim's home. We all explored their garden, caught up, and had an delicous home-made dinner.  Our visit brought back memories from a trip I made the summer before I entered 5th grade. I, too, had traveled West with my family, and had spent some time at Disney before visiting my Aunt and Uncle's home. I found that my childhood memories of Susan and Jim's home and the experiences I had there, far surpassed the memories I have of our time at Disney, and I think my kids felt the same way. 

My aunt, a gifted landscape architect, has created a garden that has always felt like an urban oasis, completely removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  It contains succulents, orchids, lemon trees, winding stone paths, cascading moss, and a lovely fountain that lends an even more peaceful air to the space.  When you wind your way down the path, you are completely transported. I have vivid memories of meals on the terrace overlooking the garden, my Uncle's homemade bread and Dutch apple pancakes, my Aunt's homemade apricot jam, and delicious dinners. When we visited last week, as we were walking through the garden with the kids in tow, my Aunt reached down and picked arugula, and it ended up in our salad later in the evening. The lemons my children picked came home to our hotel, and made delicious lemonade the next day. It was an amazing feeling to see my children experiencing the same magic that I experienced as a child. 

 

 

CATEGORIES:   Places