Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020

Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020


Each year, A Safe Place invites the community to join Wine, Women & Shoes to benefit the survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. This year, A Safe Place has experienced a surge in a need for their services including a more than a 635% increase in emergency hotline calls during the pandemic. Additionally, A Safe Place has had to expand capacity by double through housing survivors in hotels in order to maintain CDC social distance guidelines. Furthermore, A Safe Place is the sole provider of services focusing on domestic violence and sex trafficking in all of Lake County. With the increase in need of these vital services, A Safe Place's benefit comes at a great time to support this cause.  Being able to host this benefit is crucial in terms of continuing vital services and furthering awareness.

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Traversing Through Nature's Wonders at McDonald Woods in Lindenhurst, IL

Traversing Through Nature's Wonders at McDonald Woods in Lindenhurst, IL

On our trip to Hastings Lake, we happened to spy McDonald Woods Forest Preserve in Lindenhurst. So, a visit was inevitable! During one of the cooler days this week, we hiked along McDonald Woods gently winding 3.8 mile trail traversing through grasslands and woodlands. McDonald Woods surprised us with its range and beauty. We paused a number of times on our hike to absorb the charms of nature at McDonald Woods.

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Let Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Guide Your Body to Healing with Kate Wargin, L.Ac.

Let Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Guide Your Body to Healing with Kate Wargin, L.Ac.

Amidst a time of change, many of us are finding that we are coming home to who we are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We are becoming more in tune with ourselves. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine provide natural modalities for guiding our body to heal itself. With a new awareness of ourselves, I thought it would be a good time to explore the world of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and the healing properties within ourselves. A mutual friend introduced me to local acupuncturist Kate Wargin, L. Ac. who practices in Chicago. Take a little time to meet Kate and learn about her mission and the world of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine:

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Hiking Through Splendor at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Wisconsin

Hiking Through Splendor at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Wisconsin

Kettle Moraine State Forest enchanted us with a dense forest and miles of hiking trails perfect for escaping the every day. Located in Wisconsin, the extensive Kettle Moraine State Forest is divided into two units -- the Northern and Southern Units. For our adventure, we embarked on one of the plethora of trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit near Eagle, Wisconsin.

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Sharing Tasty Plates at Meze Mediterraneo in Schaumburg, Illinois

Sharing Tasty Meals and Small Plates at Mezé Mediterráneo in Schaumburg, Illinois

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Last fall, we had an urge to eat somewhere a little different than our normal repertoire of restaurants for a dinner. We LOVE the concept of small plates and LOVE hummus plates. So, Mezé Mediterráneo immediately appealed. However, we did not expect the large selection Mezé's Greek-influenced Mediterranean menu offered.

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10 Places to Hike Near Chicago Other Than Starved Rock

10 Places to Hike Near Chicago Other Than Starved Rock

Starved Rock certainly maintains a spot as one of the natural jewels of Illinois. We love the stunning rock formations and waterfalls. Always spectacular! However, Starved Rock can be quite busy and seems even more so as additional people are exploring in the time of COVID. At least twice a week, I can be found out on the trails. So, I thought that I would share my favorite spots in the Chicago area that are not Starved Rock (or her sister park Matthiessen) for some other ideas. Please always remember to check conditions before going out. Many preserves are still likely to be busy, so I recommend visiting earlier in the morning or during the week. Additionally, check to see if fees or stickers are required. Enjoy!

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Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit in St. Paul, Minnesota Delights Taste Buds with Pure Food Magic

Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit in St. Paul, Minnesota Delights Taste Buds with Pure Food Magic

Biscuits. Pie. What could be better on a road trip than a stop to treat oneself with a meal of biscuits and pie. Cue Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit, a true must-visit destination in St. Paul, Minnesota. We visited not once but twice during a two day visit. Our treats delighted us so much that we almost made a third trip. Entirely true.

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Dolomite Cliffs, Woodlands, Prairies and Wetlands Entice Explorers at Severson Dells in Rockford, Illinois

Dolomite Cliffs, Woodlands, Prairies and Wetlands Entice Explorers at Severson Dells in Rockford, Illinois

Greeting explorers with a range of nature experiences including dolomite cliffs, wetlands, prairies and woodlands, Severson Dells Nature Center in Rockford, Illinois provides unique and enticing adventures. Severson Dells once was a farm until nture lovers Harry and Fannie Severson donated their 369-acre family farm to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District in 1975. This donation paved the way for the public to appreciate the Severson's nature haven.

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Cuban Brothers Coffee Roasters and the Art of Slowing Down Savoring Coffee and Being in the Moment

Cuban Brothers Coffee Roasters and the Art of Slowing Down Savoring Coffee and Being in the Moment

**Disclosure: I did receive two complimentary roasts from CBC Roasters to sample and bring you this review and interview. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

A good cup of coffee has me sipping slowly, exploring and enjoying the notes. I am always comforted and able to just enjoy the moment with a warm mug of good coffee. I have gradually been exploring all of the amazing local coffee roasters here in the Chicago suburbs. Locally roasted coffee provides a bit of an escape from the every day without having to go far. My most recent coffee adventure led me to Cuban Brothers Coffee Roasters roasting coffee locally in Skokie. In addition to sampling and treasuring two different roasts from Cuban Brothers Coffee Roasters, I interviewed co-owner Dave Vergel to learn more about the heart behind this local roastery.

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Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Illinois Eases the Mind with Fantastic Lake Views

Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Illinois Eases the Mind with Fantastic Lake Views

On a recent summer day, we savored sweeping lake views and a calm yet sunny day ambiance at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve in Hanover Park, Illinois. The spectacular views ignited us with the nature uplift that we needed. The lake easily captivated and charmed us with beauty.

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Connecting With Others Through Creativity Over Distances: Concepts to Bring Forward from Rae Luskin

Connecting With Others Through Creativity Over Distances: Concepts to Bring Forward from Rae Luskin

Rae Luskin Local Artist, Creative Activist, Speaker and Author of Art From My Heart and The Creative Activist reveled in a creative journey during our collective COVID journey. Rae is a leader in using creative expression to heal and nurture self-worth. I spoke to her last week about her discoveries and learned many creative concepts that we can all use while social distancing and even going forward.

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Basking in Nature at Hastings Lake Forest Preserve in Lake Villa, Illinois

Basking in Nature at Hastings Lake Forest Preserve in Lake Villa, Illinois

Hastings Lake Forest Preserve in Lake Villa offers spectacular lake views which really uplifted us on a recent sunny day. The views truly enchanted us as we embarked on a hike around the lake.

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Forest Bathing and Chasing Waterfalls at Willow River State Park in Wisconsin

Forest Bathing and Chasing Waterfalls at Willow River State Park in Wisconsin

Willow River State Park in Hudson, Wisconsin easily entices visitors with the rush of Willow Falls and the spectacular landscape of the Willow River Gorge. Several drops add to the splendor of the falls. However, 12 miles trails fanning out into the forest are not to be missed.

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