Monthly Memo: December

On December 19, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly Memo1 Comment

Hello, Hello, Hello! Happy December and Happy Holidays, everyone! This holiday season has been particularly crazy for me with all of the holiday parties at work, but I’m so excited to spend Christmas with my family. I got my gift shopping done super early this year in anticipation of my busy work schedule and I have everything wrapped and ready to go. I’m planning on heading back home on the 23rd so I can help make Christmas cookies and make a (chocolate peppermint) cheesecake to contribute to our potluck style Christmas Eve party.

On a less than upbeat note, I have some sad news to share in that Michael and I broke up. It’s been a not very fun few months and I’m reeling a little bit in trying to figure out what the next few months will look like. I’m currently looking for a new apartment, a studio, still in Chicago and hopefully still in the same neighborhood. The silver lining is that I always loved living alone. I have no doubt that I will feel worse before I feel totally OK again, but I think it’s ultimately for the best.

Unfortunately, with all that’s happening in my personal life lately, I’m feeling a little uninspired to write. With that being said, I’m going to be taking a short break from the blog to get my stuff together and get motivated again. I’ll be back at it in the beginning of 2018 with fresh, new content and plenty of new travel plans to share with you all. I already have a couple of exciting trips planned for the year, and I’m sure I’ll plan some more along the way as well. As I mentioned in my 27 in 27 recap, I’m headed to Mexico next month, which I am very much looking forward to. It will be a much needed break from reality and a solid, relaxing vacation.

Thank you for your patience and your continued readership. I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

Monthly Memo: November

On November 21, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hello Friends! I can not believe it’s almost Thanksgiving already! This November went by way quicker than I wanted it to. Work has been crazy and will only get crazier until the end of the year (gotta love all those holiday parties!), and I just finished my writing class, which I loved! The creative non-fiction class was through Gotham Writers, which is a writing school based in New York that also offers classes online. Obviously, I went the online route, which I truly enjoyed and felt like I got a lot out of it. If you’re interested in taking some extra writing classes, I would definitely recommend them.

This year for Thanksgiving, I’ll be heading back home to Johnsburg for a few days to help my mom cook and do some Black Friday Shopping. I’m planning on making a chocolate banana cream pie to contribute to Thursday’s feast, because it’s always a big hit. I always use the Betty Crocker recipe from a cookbook my mom has had for years, and it’s so simple and delicious. The trick is to let it set over night, and top it with freshly whipped cream and bananas right before serving it.

On Black Friday, my mom and I are planning on going to the mall near my hometown and getting a head start on our Christmas shopping. I usually have to work the day after Thanksgiving, so this is a special year indeed. After the shopping extravaganza, it’s tradition to meet up with the rest of the family for Friday Night Fish Fry. I can’t wait!

In other news, we have officially had our Brody pup for one whole year this month. I can’t believe how quickly the time flew by. It seems like just yesterday we were staying up with him that first night to make sure he was comfortable. We’ve had our ups and downs (like potty training and trying to cut his nails for the first time, yikes), but I wouldn’t trade him for the world. He’s such a sweet, energetic little pup; we got really lucky when we got the call that he was ours.

Now that November is almost over, I’ve started the countdown to my birthday (t-minus 13 days!) and I honestly can’t wait to put 27 behind me. More on that later, but I am so excited to start a new year with new goals and new projects! I think my friends and I will be celebrating with a little staycation at a hotel somewhere in the city (if you have any recommendations, send them my way!) Anyways, that’s all for now, folks! Happy Thanksgiving!

How’s your November going? What are you contributing to your own Thanksgiving feast?

Monthly Memo: Octoober | RebeccaWanderlusting

Monthly Memo: October

On October 24, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hello from Toronto! Actually, by the time this posts, Mike and I will be near Niagara Falls, hopefully on a boat. I can’t believe this year is almost over, it seems like each month, especially October, is just rushing by.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that my friends and I threw a fundraiser at Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits here in Chicago earlier this month. We screened short films by amazing female directors, had some really delicious food and beer available and held a raffle full of fantastic prizes, all for Planned Parenthood. I’m happy to report the event went off without a hitch and we raised a large sum that we donated all to this wonderful organization. If you live in the area, keep a look out for our next events! You can find us on all the normal social media outlets and at our website!

Monthly Memo: October | RebeccaWanderlusting

That’s one of the reasons the last month or so flew by, it definitely kept us all busy! I also started an online creative non-fiction writing class through Gotham Writers, which I’m loving. I shared one of my essays/assignments on the blog last week and will perhaps share more depending on the upcoming assignments.

I’ve been trying to read more non-fiction this year (another one of my goals) and have just finished my thirteenth of the year – “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”. It’s one of the few self-improvement books I’ve read recently and I have to say, I liked it despite it having some bro rhetoric. The main thing I took away from it though was that not everything needs to be an ordeal and our energy is so much better spent on things that are worthy. I’ll share my favorite books of that category in a separate post soon, but I have to say, I’m enjoying reading the different perspective and taking the advice I like and leaving the rest.

How is your October going? What are you working on, what are you current hobbies?

Monthly Memo: September

On September 26, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hooray, it’s finally Fall! Though you wouldn’t know it with this 80+ degree weather we’re having in Chicago this past week. We actually just had the hottest September 22 in recorded history. Lucky us! It’s been a hectic month so far, with work, family plans, weddings and other commitments. We started the month at my cousin’s wedding back in my hometown, which was so much fun. I was also just at a bachelorette party the other night for my friend whose wedding is next month; that will be four of five for this year.

I’m also working on planning a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood next month with my friends, a beautiful group of women that make up Moon Rise. I can’t wait to see all of our hard work come together (Sunday, October 8 from 6pm to 9pm at Bang Bang Pie – come hang with us if you’re in Chicago)! We’ve been planning this event for the past five or six months, so it should be a fantastic affair! This will be our third fundraiser, the first two benefited the Empowerment Plan, an organization out of Detroit that employs formerly homeless woman to create sleeping bag coats for homeless men and women.

Last week I talked about creating a travel capsule wardrobe, which then inspired me to clean out my closet and get rid of a ton of stuff I never wear (most of which I’ll be donating to Goodwill). This purge then sent me into a cleaning frenzy and now I’m on a mission to get rid of everything I don’t use or wear. I did this before we moved to Logan Square, but I’m doing another round just to clear out unnecessary clutter. I’ve shared this link before, but Caroline at Un-Fancy has been a fun inspiration for my clothing de-cluttering spree.

In terms of travel, Mike and I have been trying to plan weekend trips around the Midwest when we can. I work about every other weekend, so when I have a full weekend off, we’ve been trying to take advantage of it. Two Sundays ago, we checked out New Buffalo, Michigan and had a blast going to the beach and walking around downtown. This coming weekend we’re heading to Rockford for the weekend to tryout their breweries and explore. The next Midwest destinations I have my eye on are New Glarus, WI and Cleveland, OH.

Outside of Midwest travel, the only other trip we have planned for sure right now is Toronto next month. We’ve been chatting about Acapulco or Belize in the beginning of next year, but we’ll see what happens! In the meantime, I’m just happy to be exploring any where.

What are your plans for the fall? What was your favorite September moment?

Monthly Memo: August

On August 22, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hello friends! Happy August! Man, this month is juts flying by. With work being so busy and our hectic schedule of weddings this year, I feel like I haven’t been able to slow down and enjoy the summer at all this year. Which is fine, but I still have so much left on my Summer Bucket List that I want to accomplish! Like:

Taking a trip out to the Warren Dunes in Michigan
Going to the Logan Square Farmer’s Market
Doing one of the Architectural Boat Tours on the River & walking along the Riverwalk
Seeking out new rooftop bars to enjoy
Going to some of the street fests in the city

It might be a little too late for the street fests, but I’d like to get to the other few things before Fall begins. We have three more weddings to attend before the year is over and, while I’m having a blast dressing up and dancing with my friends and family, I’m also having a hard time scheduling trips around these special days. So much so that I was thinking about writing a post about making weekend trips out of weddings. Is this something there would be some interest in? (Let me know in the comments).

Besides, or maybe because, it’s been crazy busy this summer, I’ve also been crazy productive. I just finished reading “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero and it was life-changingly good. If you haven’t read it yet, I would 1000% recommend it for everyone. She is so inspiring and the book itself is just one big push towards your biggest goals. For me, it was another kick in the butt to put more time and effort into my writing. I think it’s paying off too, because I was just noted as one of the top 10 travel bloggers in the Midwest to read by ALIVE Magazine! So, that was a very happy surprise indeed.

Reading Ms. Sincero’s book was such a great experience, that I immediately went online and bought a few other books in the same vein to read on my commute to work (“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”, “Getting to Yes”, and “Furiously Happy”).

As I mentioned in this post, I am going to be heading to Toronto in a couple of months with Mike and we are so excited to be taking this trip! I’m having so much fun researching places to go and restaurants to try. I’m hoping to get in a few more trips before the end of the year.

What about you? What have you been up to in August? What’s on your end of Summer bucket list?

Monthly Memo: July

On July 12, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly Memo2 Comments

How in the world is it already July?! These past couple of months have made up the summer of getting shit done (so far). I told Mike that as soon as we moved, which happened at the beginning of June, I was going to get down to business (to defeat the Huns 🎶 – Mulan!!). I wanted to get back on the ball with this blog and with getting back in shape and with just taking care of myself in general. It took cutting some things out and making some tough choices, but I feel like I’m getting there. Plus I’m finally traveling and making plans to travel again, which makes my heart soar.

As you may have noticed, I was in St. Louis for a weekend at the end of June, and I had a wonderful time taking an old-fashioned Pullman Train there and exploring the city. The weekend after that, which was Fourth of July weekend, I went up North to our cabin on the lake for a few days to recharge and relax with Mike and my family. I didn’t write about it, which just so happened to be one of the items on my 27 in 27 list! It was wonderful to just chill on the boat and enjoy my family’s company.

I’m also planning a couple of trips for the next couple of months, including a quick trip to NYC to visit my beautiful cousin, Gracie (who wrote these posts about her time in Jordan). Mike and I are also planning on heading to Toronto in the Fall, once work dies down a bit. I’ve never been to Canada, so I’m very excited for that!

I also joined a gym in the neighborhood to help me train for the half marathon I’m running with my sister in September and I love it. It’s on my way to work and they have so many great classes. Working out helps clear my head which has helped immensely with my productivity. I like to listen to podcasts while I run, and have been loving the She Did It Her Way interviews. They’re each with female entrepreneurs and it’s so inspiring!

I’m learning to set limits for myself and time block my schedule and make things easier for myself. One thing I’ve been trying to save some time and energy is Stitch Fix. I just started this online stylist service and have received two boxes (of 5 pieces each) so far. I have to say… I kind of love it. They’ve nailed my style for the most part and it’s kind of a fun gamble to see what they send each month. (I’m not even getting paid to say that, I just really like it).

It feels really good to feel like I’m back in a groove, and like I have things under control. Thank you all for putting up with my inconsistent posting! I’m back on track now, which means you can expect 1-2 posts a week. I have some exciting things lined up and I can’t wait to share them!

How’s your July going? What do you do to pull yourself out of a personal funk?

Monthly Memo: May

On May 21, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hello, Hello Strangers! Long time no talk. I believe I owe some sort of an explanation for that. Things have been a little hectic lately, especially this beautiful, rainy month of May, because of a few separate factors. It seems as though things have been snowballing a bit, but we’ll be out of the woods soon I think. We’re moving in a couple weeks; not too far away but it’s still a hassle as I’m sure most of you know. We’re moving to the Logan Square Neighborhood, which is just a bit Northwest from where we are now.

On top of that, I’m making all of the desserts for my cousins wedding next weekend, which comes with its own stress. Thankfully, I’ve tested each of the recipes and they are all delicious. What am I making, you ask? Well I’d love to tell you! Here’s the menu:

Mini Cheesecakes topped with berries
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie Tartlets
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Brownie Bites with Caramel (I actually found this recipe on Pinterest and it’s awesome, try it!!)
Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Pretzels

I’m very excited to see the finished products and finally celebrate this lovely couple. They actually hosted me when I visited them in Seoul, South Korea and met Mike and I for dinner when we were in San Francisco, so it’s safe to say that I owe them one.

Travel has taken a back seat to everyday life this year so far, and that’s OK. I do miss it a lot, the thrill of discovering a new place, but other exciting things are happening instead. Exciting things like finally living in an apartment with a separate kitchen, and buying a couch that’s all ours and not a hand-me-down, and really enjoying my new job. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop writing here of course, but it may be a little slower (like 1 post a week instead of 2) for a bit, until I can save up a little to travel more again. We are planning on heading to Canada in the Fall, so I am very much looking forward to that.

In the meantime though, keep checking back here for new blogs, and you can also find me at A Strong Female Lead (a kick ass feminist blog) regularly too.

But what about you… What are your plans for the rest of May? Where are you traveling next? Tell me all about it.

Monthly Memo: March

On March 20, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Hi All! Happy March! Life has been a little hectic lately. I recently started a new job, which I love, but resulted in working longer hours. It’s been mostly fine, but I’m definitely still adjusting to the new schedule. As you may have noticed, my writing has fallen behind a bit. But, I’m positive that things will be getting back on track soon! Contributing to the chaos, I’ve started a new, additional, blog focused on female empowerment with my friend Jen. I am really excited about this project, which you can check out here.

Mike and I are starting to look for a new apartment, which is fun right now but I’m sure will get a little stressful as we get closer to our move-in date in a couple of months. Having a pup makes it a little trickier to look for an apartment in Chicago, but we’ve found a few that we like the look of in our neighborhood (West Town). Brody is getting more and more comfortable with us. He used to favor Mike a little bit more, but he’s been coming to snuggle with me more lately. He likes to sit on my lap while I write, and rest his little head in the crook of my arm. It’s the absolute best.

As far as our travel plans are concerned, we have a trip to Grand Rapids coming up to see Ms. Aretha Franklin live. I’m also trying to plan a trip in May somewhere in the United States, but I’m not sure where quite yet. My travel plans were cut a bit this year with having the new job (no vacation days) and the fact that I just had to buy a new laptop to replace my old, broken one. The big plan for this year is to go on a Canadian Road Trip in the Fall to hit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Toronto and Montreal. I’ve started the preliminary plans, and it’s enough to hold me over for now.

I’ve been chipping away at my goals for the year, like reading more non-fiction (most recently: “My Life on the Road” by Gloria Steinem) and planning the above Canada trip. I’ve also discovered an amazing yoga studio just blocks from our apartment, called Yoga For All Beings, and have been loving it! I also come out of the classes in such a good mood. Plus, now that it’s warmer here in Chicago, I can start running again. There’s still quite a few things I’d like to accomplish, as always, but I can definitely say I’m making progress.

What about you? What are you reading? What have you accomplished during the month of March?

Monthly Memo: January

On January 8, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Monthly MemoLeave a comment

Happy Sunday!

Things have finally started to slow down from the holidays, which I am so grateful for. Life has been really hectic lately, so I’m happy to have a chance to relax and catch up on some things. Today in particular is shaping up to be a treat yo self day (I know I am way behind on this, but I have been binge-ing Parks and Recreation lately and I am obsessed). I plan on:

Reorganizing my closet
Doing some travel planning
Enjoying a face mask (Origins Clear Improvements Charcoal Mask)
Painting my nails (Miss Fancy Pants by Essie)
And trying out a new hair color (full disclosure: gotta cover up those grays!)

Then, I’m going to snuggle up with Brody and have a glass of wine while we watch the Golden Globes. Our little pup has been with us for two months now, and he’s getting more and more comfortable in his new home. He’s actually sitting in my lap as I type this, and that’s some progress. This morning I took him for a nice long walk around our neighborhood, which I think we both enjoyed despite the cold. Chicago has been freezing lately, which has me dreaming of warm weather and beaches.

As far as trip planning is concerned, I’m a little limited right now, but I’m trying to work around it. I’ve been looking into some cheap weekend trips, so hopefully I can pull something together in the next couple weeks. Or if all else fails, maybe a little staycation could be arranged. I received a scratch off map for Christmas this year, which is something I’ve been wanting for a while. Though, now that I have it, it’s only making me want to travel more!

This month I’m looking forward to keeping the tradition of January spa days with my friend, Amber, starting some different projects that I’m very excited about, and finding new and creative ways to beat the cold. I am also planning on getting back into a manageable workout routine. The holidays really derailed my morning runs, but I’m hoping to get back into it now. One of my other goals for the year was to read more classic novels, so right now I’m reading “Beloved” by Toni Morrison and am really liking it. What about you? What are your goals for this year? What are you currently reading? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Have a wonderful January, everyone!