Chicago is my Favorite City in the World

Cloudgate aka The Bean

Yes, Chicago is my favorite city in the world.  I have lived in Brooklyn, NY, Cambridge, England, Vancouver, Canada and now we are in Toronto.  I grew up and lived in Chicago for 40 years of my life.

Beautiful Skyline

No matter where we live, we must visit Chicago at least once a year.  That is the deal I made with my husband.  He gets to live outside of Chicago and I get to go home during the summer for several weeks to visit.

Yes, when I'm in Chicago, I feel energized and relaxed at the same time.  We spent Easter weekend there this year. 

The Agora Sculptures in Grant Park

We stayed at the Palmer House Hotel.  The Palmer House has been in downtown Chicago for decades.  As a native Chicagoan, I have always wanted to stay there.  The Palmer House has a beautiful lobby and dining area, but the room we stayed in definitely needed renovation.  But I can now cross it off my bucket list.

The Elevators in the lower level of the Palmer House

Ceiling in the dining area

Near the Wabash entrance of the Palmer House

We had a a couple of must-sees while in Chicago. The first was The Greeks exhibit at The Field Museum.  We've been trying to see this exhibition for a while in other cities, but just couldn't make it.  We decided that we couldn't miss this chance and finally got to see it in Chicago.

The Field Museum

The Brachiosaurus Outside The Field Museum.

The Greeks

The Greeks

We learned quite a lot about ancient Greece and got to see some beautiful artifacts. So glad we had the opportunity to see it!

Then we met up with my parents. We ate lunch at Macy's and then attended the flower show.

The next day we went to the Van Gogh's Bedrooms exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago.  The exhibit was fantastic and gave us a look into the one of the most famous bedrooms of all-time and why it was so special to Van Gogh. The Van Gogh's Bedrooms exhibit runs through May 10, 2016.

This was a short trip and we didn't get to some of my favorite restaurants this time.  We didn't even get any deep dish pizza! *gasp* But, we'll be back in August and I have plans to visit all of my favorites then.  Until then here are some of my previous blog posts about my favorite restaurants in Chicago!

The Promontory-Chicago
Batter & Berries 
Batter & Berries Part Deux 
Protein Bar 
Honey Butter Fried Chicken 
Brown Sugar Bakery 

Also please be sure to check out my Summer In Chicago post I wrote last year. We know how to do Summer in Chicago! 

Have you been to Chicago?!  What are your favorite things to do?! Please tell me in the comments section!

All of The Amazing Sights & Flavors of New York

 

Entrance to the Empire State Building. We didn't go up because it was a cloudy, rainy day.

Our trip to New York was fun!  My husband and I lived Brooklyn for two years 2000-2002.  We had not been back there to visit since 2005 when our son was one years old. 

@travelsetgo spent most of the day in #Brooklyn. #twitter #travelsetgo #prospectpark #travel #sightseeing #NYC

A photo posted by Kelly (@kellym7609) on Mar 13, 2016 at 3:54pm PDT

Times Square

We were there for 4 days and got to see a lot. I wish we had a little more time there because I didn't get to see everything I wanted.  But we took in many of the sights and flavors of New York City!

We stayed at the Doubletree in Manhattan.  It's in a great location.  The room was clean and the service great, but the room was incredibly small for 4 people.  We were tripping all over each other.  Luckily we weren't in the room much.

 

30 Rock

 The Sights

Some highlights of our trip were walking down Fifth Avenue and stopping at 30 Rockefeller Center, visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the American Museum of History. And of course we went to Central Park!

@travelsetgo Spending our morning at the #americannaturalhistorymuseum! #travelsetgo #twitter #traveltuesday #dinosaurs #instatravel #history #familyjaunts

A photo posted by Kelly (@kellym7609) on Mar 15, 2016 at 8:47am PDT

@travelsetgo It was very crowded at #MOMA today, but I was able to see one of my favorite #VanGogh paintings, #TheStarryNight. #twitter #travelsetgo #instaart #instatravel #NYC #art

A photo posted by Kelly (@kellym7609) on Mar 14, 2016 at 12:58pm PDT

Central Park

 The Flavors

In Brooklyn and visited with relatives and my best friend, Faith.  Faith and I had a wonderful meal at Shane's Brooklyn and we shopped local at Brooklyn Flavors. Brooklyn Flavors has soaps, candles, skin care, etc. with the scents of the different neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  I bought a soap with the essence of Prospect Park.

Soap from Brooklyn Flavors- Prospect Park Scent

Shane's Shrimp and Grits

We also enjoyed our first taste of Shake Shack!  Like I said earlier, there was so much to see and do.  I wish I read this blog post from World of Wanderlust before our trip.   This post is a weekend guide to New York City.  She's a lot better at seeing a lot for a short period of time than we are.  You can read her post here.  

Shake Shack

If you're thinking about a trip to NYC or anywhere else and want to save on your hotel, check out Travel Set Go.  There are at least 400,000 hotels to choose from. You can find out more information in my review here.
 

How to Travel the World and Save Money

Traveling nowadays has become very expensive.  You have to really think about how much you are willing to spend and if it's worth it.  Searching for a bargain can be a full-time job.  During our recent travels in the US were able to save some money on our hotel in Boston with Travel Set Go.

 

With Travel Set Go you can get wholesale prices on over 400,000 hotels all around the world.  It's very easy to start saving.  There's a free membership and a VIP membership for only $8.25 a month.  

With the VIP membership, you not only save on hotels, but you also get:

• Car Rentals
• Cruises
• Vacation Condominiums
• Activities and Excursions
• Complimentary Travel Concierge (live travel agent) to book your trip

Boston

I am a Travel Set Go Ambassador.  As an Ambassador I take photos from my travels and get compensated with Travel Set Go Savings Dollars for each photo I post on Instagram.  They start you off with $100 and for every two pictures you take you get $100.  When we booked the hotel in Boston, we saved $257.00. I had $300 in my savings and it went towards the $257.00 in savings, not the balance of  $358.04.

You don't have to be an Ambassador to get the savings.  It has basically helped me to get some exposure for my Instagram account and I've gained more followers. 

@travelsetgo Good Morning from #Boston! This is our last day here. Ready to get back to #Toronto. #twitter #travelsetgo #statehouse #traveling #travelingram

A photo posted by Kelly (@kellym7609) on Mar 18, 2016 at 4:10am PDT

 

Midtown Hotel in Boston

 

Midtown Hotel in Boston

 There are no blackout dates and all of the prices include taxes.  

For a 3 Day/2 Night Stay at the Midtown Hotel

Take a look at my balance after our trips to New York, Boston and Chicago!



I took a lot of photos.  It's fun being an Ambassador and sharing my photos.  Also, I want to work as a social media marketer/consultant in the travel industry.  So, I thought this would be a good start.

Remember, you don't have to be an Ambassador to get the deep discounts. To find out more about Travel Set Go, go here! 

You can also connect with them on Twitter,  Facebook,  and Instagram.

Disclaimer:  I am a Travel Set Go Ambassador.  If you sign up for a membership or to become an Ambassador, I will receive compensation.  I am under no obligation to post a positive review.  The opinions are my own and results may vary.

The Endless Ways to Use Coconut Oil-And How to Get a FREE Jar!

 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

There’s a reason why everyone—and we mean everyone—is talking about coconut oil these days. From raw foodies, to vegan chefs, to Paleo eaters, the internet is ablaze with rave reviews about this trending ingredient. Even if you’re not a fan of the flavor, we know at least nine other ways to use it. The beauty benefits alone will earn it a new spot in your medicine cabinet.

Because coconut oil is ultra-moisturizing, it’s perfect for everything from DIY body scrubs to hair masks. Rub a dollop of it on your skin to see what we mean. It’ll leave you feeling baby-soft, and it’s all-natural, unlike a lot of lotions out there. If loving coconut oil is wrong, we don’t want to be right. Check out a few of the ways we’ve incorporated it into our daily routines. We guarantee you’ll be crushing on it, too.

• In a stir fry or quick sauté
• As a butter substitute in baking
• To make raw chocolate bars
• In a supercharged smoothie
• In bulletproof coffee
• Spread on toast
• In oil pulling
• As a moisturizer
• As a leave-in conditioner
• As lip balm
• To soothe itchy skin or bug bites
• As a natural treatment for lice
• To relieve the pain of a sore throat
• In a DIY body butter
• As a makeup remover

Before you run out to the store to grab a jar, make sure you’re getting only the good stuff. Specifically, you want to make sure coconut oil is organic, ethically sourced, and virgin—like Nutiva’s. The online shopping is offering a FREE jar of high-quality organic virgin coconut oil. Claim your FREE gift today before they’re gone!

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Hamilton Beach 5 Qt. Slow Cooker Review

 
For Christmas 2013 I received something I've been wanting for years, a slow cooker.  No more putting pots of food in the oven for hours to cook on a low heat.  Now I can have a pot on my counter cooking for hours and not worry about it.  I was so excited to receive it.  The first thing I made was a slow cooker rice and beans.

I've had this slow cooker for a few years now.  I still use it on a regular basis.  It doesn't matter the season, I use it a several times a month. 

Hamilton Beach 5 Qt. Slow Cooker

The Hamilton Beach 5 Quart Slow Cooker is very easy to use.  Super easy clean up and it's dishwasher safe.  The slow cooker also came with a 3 year warranty.

My favorite recipe to make with the slow cooker is fudge.  The recipe is from Skinny Ms and you can find it here.

Slow Cooker Fudge

You can get the Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker at Amazon for an amazing price! This is an excellent  first slow cooker or if you're just looking for something very basic. Go to Hamiltonbeach.com to find out more about their products.

Do you use a slow cooker? What are some of your favorite slow cooker recipes? Tell me in the comments section below. 
  

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this review.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.  The opinions are my own and results may vary. This post does contain affiliate links.If you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I'll receive a commission.

Culinary Delights Giveaway! You Could Win $176 in Culinary Products!

Culinary Delights Giveaway!1 Lucky Winner Will Win $176 in Culinary Products! Enter Today & Good Luck!

Deliciously Savvy is Hosting a Giveaway for all Things Culinary! 1 Lucky Winner will receive $176 worth of Items to assist you in your Culinary Adventures! Culinary Corner is providing a Silicone Baking Mat, a 3 Piece Silicone Spatula set and a 2 Piece Silicone Round Ice Mold Set. Then... Two Rivers Coffee is offering a 40 count box of Keurig KCups from Java Factory. Then.... Lori's Salted Caramel Syrup is providing 2 eight ounce bottles of her delicious Salted Caramel Syrup made in Oregon...PLUS Dish Dish is providing a Digital Recipe Service valued at $50 for 50 recipes PLUS a Bamboo Cutting board! Enter Today and Good Luck!

Sponsored By:

Dish Dish

Culinary Corner

Lori's Salted Caramel Syrup

Two Rivers Coffee

Hosted By: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Mom Junky // My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life // My Silly Little Gang // Heartfully Heather // Capri's Coupons // IMHO Views, Reviews and Giveaways // Heartbeats~ Soul Stains // Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // Oh My Heartsie Girl // The Minister's Wife // Box Roundup // Michigan Savings & More

Plus Big Thank You To All of the Blogs Participating To Make This Giveaway a Success! Thank You So Much!

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive all of the Items Listed Below! $176 RV!

Digital Recipe Album (50 recipes Digitized for $50 RV)

Dish Dish Bamboo Cutting Board ($15 RV)

Culinary Corners Non-Stick Baking Mat (16 5/8 by 11) ($30 RV)

Read My Review HERE

Culinary Corner Easy Flex Silicone Spatulas 3pc set ($17 RV)

Read My Review HERE

Culinary Corner Ice Ball/ Sphere Mold Set 2 pack ($17 RV)

Read My Review HERE

Lori's Salted Caramel Syrup (2 Bottles) $24 RV

Java Factory Variety Pack Single Cup Coffee for Keurig Brewers, 40 Count ($23 RV)

Read My Review HERE

*******************************************************************************

And Now The Giveaway!!!

Giveaway Dates ~ 03/08 9PM EST until 03/30 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only.

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 03/30/2016.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

By Supporting Our Blogs Via Social Media You Are Helping Us To Provide Fabulous Prizes For Amazing Future Giveaways! Good Luck & Thank You!

Share Your Instagram Photos on Pinterest With Tailwind

Did you know you can pin your Instagram pictures to Pinterest?!  Are you using Buffer right now to pin to Pinterest?!  Have you heard of Tailwind?! Now you can share your Instagram pictures on Pinterest quickly and easily?!

 

 

 

I've been trying to figure out a new way to increase traffic to my blogs and social media platforms.  I've been told by other Social Media Managers that Pinterest is the way to go.  But with Pinterest you have to pin a lot, at least 10 or more pins a day. 

I have been neglecting Pinterest because of my new obsession with Instagram.  I thought maybe I would try to get more followers to my Instagram account from Pinterest.  So, I decided to look for a system that could post a lot of pins for me.  The best times to post on Pinterest is late at night and I can't focus on anything after 10pm. Then I found Tailwind. 

During the first week of Tailwind my Pinterest followers increased by 64. 

With Tailwind you can create pins to post to Pinterest.  You can also sync it to Instagram and it can post IG pictures too.  Tailwind automatically schedules when it will post your pin for you.  You can also schedule the pins to post when you want.  I really like Tailwind.  I haven't had any issues with it.  It posts everything I have asked it to.  It's so nice not worrying about posting pins.  Tailwind has a free trial and easy to use. 

Tailwind analytics shows my followers increased by 64 the first week.

The Tailwind Scheduler

With the free trial you get 100 pins. 

I used Tailwind and I pinned things manually too.  I found that I did get more followers on Pinterest, but can't really say if the new followers I have on Instagram are from Pinterest.  Below is a screenshot of my last week on Tailwind with the free trial.  During the end I started pinning less and still got new followers, but not as many as before.

Pinterest followers increased by only 9.

Tailwind is very easy to use and  I recommend it for anyone who wants to pin pictures quickly from Instagram or any other site.  I think if you are consistent with pinning you can increase your Pinterest followers with Tailwind. 

To start your free trial just go to the Tailwind website here. 

Are you using Tailwind?! How do you like it? Let me know in the comments section below.  And please follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!