joshua tree : take one

I finally made my way to Joshua Tree National Park and wow, is it something to see!  I am not really a fan of the desert or the desert landscape (I'm a city girl for sure) but I do enjoy venturing out to see if I can find some beauty and inspiration when possible!  I am always open to new places on this amazing planet!! We had a perfect day in California - 68° in the valley!  Took the trip out to Joshua Tree for sunset - the colors were stunning!  And holy smokes is that park huge!  We never even made it to the cholla cactus garden because it's 34 MILES into the park!  Given that we had no idea where we were going, GPS is non existent there and the sun was setting fast, we decided to stick to the Joshua Trees and a few of the rock formations.  (side note: I had to pick up a sweatshirt because it was a good 30° cooler in the higher elevation - felt like a total rookie!)

Snapped a few photos, but to do this place right, I'd need a lot more time and gear! Really enjoyed it and the warm glow of the sun setting over the desert landscape! 

photo a day : 5 of 52

Week 5 in photos - Chicago and Palm Springs fun stuff, something I bought dinner, window best invention ever, polka dot you (me)

photo a day : 4 of 52

Week 4 in photos finds us in the polar vortex here in Chicago.  It's currently gusting winds with a feels like temperature of -2° and that means a lot of time inside snuggled up with the fur kids! At least the sun is shining today - yay! breakfast, blue to do list nice, bedtime my space, taste of winter

photo a day : 3 of 52

Week three in photos - hailing from Chicago and New Jersey colorful, makes me smile 3 things, black and white sun, tiny happy place

PHOTO A DAY : 2 OF 52

Week two in photos found, happens everyday upside down, lucky number natural man made, looking down

sunday shopping

Shopping with Sloane is a hoot!  She dances through the aisles, tries on shoes that are way too big for her and kicks them off in all directions as she continues bare foot through the store.  She commands everyone's attention everywhere she goes - I mean come on, she is damn cute and almost always smiling. We wandered through Anthropologie and Sloane made herself at home, exploring every inch - window displays and all.  I spotted this little wooden ledge and had her sit down.  She cooperated for about 1 minute and then done.  Got an adorable shot of her though.  Wandered over to the Christkindlemarket (with about a zillion other people who had the same idea) and picked up a couple of adorable little Christmas decorations.  I haven't gone to the market in years, glad I did.  But... next year I will not go the Sunday before Christmas.  *wink*

holiday breakfast

Up early to catch breakfast at the Walnut Room in Macy's with the Pittmans.  We have made this a little holiday tradition and all look forward to it each year.  We had a great time despite the horrible food and the repeat of the tree decor.  We may have to look elsewhere for future years ... 

cloudy magnolia

I spent a day and a half in Charleston before heading to Columbia on business.  Each trip I make I take in a little bit of King Street and a plantation.  This trip was Magnolia Plantation! It's a huge property!  I can't imagine how this place looks in the spring and fall - amazing, I'm sure!  Despite the wintery conditions, I had a great time exploring the grounds.  The house is lovely and I just love how it's positioned within the property.   Hard to believe, but there were still a good number of flowering plants with blooms and berries!  A few statues - though not as many as you would think for such big gardens and a little gazebo. Because every plantation needs a gazebo!

We took a tour that drove us all around the property  - loved our driver, had a very dry sense of humor and would toss out a real zinger that you'd miss if you weren't really listening.  Saw lots of birds, and only one alligator ... only.  Apparently there a LOT on the property (eek!). I'm OK with just one, really OK! Did you know they build those platforms for sunning gators?

They have two lovely bridges - apparently very popular with the weddings they hold on site.  Wouldn't it be lovely to be out there feeling a little Scarlett O'Hara? 

But the MOST impressive part of the plantation are the trees.  H U G E oak trees.  With enormous branches dipping down into the ground and then back up again creating the most graceful arches and leafy canopies.  The trunks of these trees are massive!  

charleston

thankful : day 23 : let's go to the circus

Today I am thankful to have checked off a bucket list item!  It was off to the Circus today with the Pittman crew.  No idea why I've never been to the Circus, but isn't it one of those things that everyone should do?  Well, I think so and today I headed to the United Center (not exactly the "big top" from the old days) in the freezing cold to take in the 'greatest show on earth.'

It was OK... I can see why the kids like it, but overall kind of meh for forty.  I guess having seen things like Cirque du Soleil and etc. kind of raises the bar a bit.  I do have to say that watching the trained animals makes me a little bit sad - so far from their natural habitat and you hear about how some people don't treat animals well in captivity - just have to put that out of mind and hope that the animals are happy.  They are all so beautiful. I am glad I went, Sloane (2 yrs) loved every second of the show, when one act would leave, she'd turn around to mom and say where did they go?  So darn cute!