Chicago RV and Camping Show 2013

This weekend is the 45th annual Chicago RV & Camping Show.  I love to go and inspect all the RV's and dream about a life on the road.  When our kids were small, we owned several different sized travel trailers and we loved each one.  We had a great time camping and the kids loved the bunk beds we always had in them.  It was fun to camp next to the lake and wake up to the sun rising with a cup of coffee in my hand.  We liked to have roaring campfires where we roasted hot dogs and ate gooey s'mores.  At  night we'd lay on the big bed and look up at the dark sky through the opened vents and if it rained, the patter of raindrops on the roof would lull us to sleep.  But most of all I loved the sense of adventure, the open road and the closeness that being in a camper afforded us. 

Really, is there anything better than hitting the road and watching the horizon stretch out in front of your windshield?  If I had my choice (and the money) I'd buy a Class C motor home, pack it up and travel the country.  I want to visit every state and what a great way to do it.

Here are some of the campers we checked out this year....

I saw several that I fell in love with.  The interiors are beautiful.  I thought the campers we used to own were pretty nice, but they have made vast improvements in the past 15 years.

I really liked these with the slide out side...

Look at how roomy the front seats are - and comfortable too!  I can see Louie and I cruising down the road in one of these beauties....

Chablis and I had a great time at the show.  We walked around for four and a half hours.  We talked to a lot of salesmen, picked up a ton of brochures, sat in on a travel seminar about Rt. 66 and got a couple of cute shopping bags for free.....

This one was a regular travel trailer that you pull behind your car.  These are more affordable, and the nice thing about this option is that you can park it at your campsite and still have your vehicle to travel around with.  Definitely an option to consider.

 

 

So, have you ever owned a camper?  Which kind and what did you like best about it?  Would anyone like to give me a camper so I can travel around the country and write about my adventures?  That would be the perfect job for me!  I can just hear Willie Nelson's song "On the road again" playing in the background.

Flashback Friday 02-15-2013

If it's Friday, then it must be time for Flashback Friday over at Seaside Simplicity.

My flashback photo this week is of my great, great grandparents - Joachim and Augusta Rohwedder.

They bought their home in Joliet, Illinois in 1892 and it stayed in the family continuously until 1961.   Their house is now on the Historic Register...

If you'd like to read more about this historic house and see some more pictures, please read my post about it here.

And don't forget to go join the fun at Seaside Simplicity.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to all my wonderful blogger friends.  Each day is made special because of you!

Meet Crazy Cris

Today I want to introduce you to my blogger friend Cris from over at Here, There and Everywhere.  Some of you are already familiar with her blog, but if you're not, go over and say hi.  She is one of the most interesting people and just as sweet as can be.

Cris currently lives in Spain, but she has lived in a multitude of countries.  She speaks several languages fluently.  I am lucky that I can master English.  LOL!  Cris is an avid hiker, scuba diver and world traveler.  She hops from country to country like I move between states.... and I am so jealous!

She takes wonderful photographs of her many hiking adventures. 

This is one of her favorite mountain top poses and probably why she's called Crazy Cris!    Check out that view behind her.

Last summer she went on a multi country sailing cruise with her family and is still blogging all about those adventures.  She has a wonderfully close knit family.........

Last Christmas I sent Cris a hat and cowl set that I made for her to wear on her hiking excursions. 

The other day she posted some photos of her on top of a mountain, in Spain, wearing the set.  How cool is that??  Something I made is on top of a freaking mountain in Spain!!

I really hope to some day be able to travel there.  Spain looks awesome and I'd love to see it.   I think Cris and I would have a great time exploring, hiking and of course, geocaching.  I've been telling her all about geocaching and a little bird told me that she may have recently found her first cache....

 

Since so many of you are outdoors minded, you really should go over and check out her blog.  You'll find a lot of really interesting reading over there.  Tell her Kim sent you!

Flashback Friday 2-8-13

It's time for Flashback Friday with Martha over at Seaside Simplicity.  It's quickly turning into a favorite weekly post.

My photos this week are of me when I went sky diving - this was one of the most awesome experiences of my life.  I had to take a day long training class in preparation and then they made us wait a week to do our first jump.  I think they did that because they figured you'd come back only if you really wanted to make the jump.   I really wanted to do it.  The guy friend who took the class with me did not go back.  :-)

That plane behind me is the plane they took us up in - it held the pilot, the instructor and 3 of us who wanted to jump.  Since I was the smallest person, they crammed me in the back of the plane.  It was so cramped in there.  I remember how cold and windy it was as we gained altitude and since I was the furthest back, I was the last to jump.  When I stood in the doorway and looked down, it was a long way down.  But when the instructor hit my leg and shouted "jump" I didn't think twice - out I went.  And for a few brief seconds I was a bird - arms and legs spread out and I could feel the wind rushing against my chest and then "poof" the parachute opened and I was floating on air.  I pulled the strings to maneuver around and just took in the view - you can see for miles from up there.

All too soon I hit the ground, surprisingly close to the landing circle.  Hit the ground, roll and grab the parachute.  Except the wind caught the chute and since I barely weighed 100 pounds, it dragged me down the landing strip on my back until I could flip over and get control of the parachute.  Wow - what an experience!

 

I've only done it once, but I will never forget it.  AWESOMENESS!!  Neither will my mom - she was a little pissed off at me for doing it.  Sorry mom!


Don't forget to go over to Seaside Simplicity and join in on the fun!

Fabulous eSalon Discount Deal

The other day I did a product review for eSalon and they were so pleased with the response from my readers that they are extending a fantastic discount to all of you who are eSalon first time buyers.
 

First of all, if you missed the product review, go back and read about it here.  It's complete with photos of how bad my hair color was before and how wonderful it looks now after using the eSalon, specially formulated product.  I say specially formulated because each eSalon order is mixed specifically for each client.  Go on, go read the post because the great discount offer will still be here when you get back.....

Great hair color, don't you agree?  I really couldn't be more pleased with the results.  If you'd like to give them a try, then click on this link because "Right now, eSalon has a special 50% off deal for first time customers, where you can get a complete hair profile and custom color kit delivered to your door for just $9.95 (plus $4.95 s&h) with a full money back guarantee."

I hope you give eSalon a try.  If you do, be sure to come back and tell me what you think.

I'd like to thank eSalon for the review opportunity.  I was given free product in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Product Review - eSalon

I was recently asked to test and review a new hair color system by eSalon.  Have you heard of them?  Well, if you haven't yet, believe me, you will.

I've been dyeing my hair for close to 37 years- gulp!  Shush, don't repeat that!  My natural color is a sort of dirty, mousy brown, so I usually dye it blonder in the summer months and go a little darker during the winter months.  I've been hankering to go a little darker, and when I heard about eSalon and their review offer, I was ready.

The unique thing about eSalon is that they offer the salon experience at home.  Now I admit, I am a box blonde, meaning I'm a do-it-myself girl.  I haven't stepped foot in a salon for a professional dye job in probably 30 years.  The prices around Chicago are just too high for me, and besides, I prefer to do it at home, at my own convenience.

Convenience is the accurate word when it comes to eSalon.  They offer professional grade dyes like those used in the high end salons and you can choose from demi-permanent or permanent haircolor.  The dye is $ 19.95 per application plus shipping and handling, but get this - each application is specifically formulated for you, based on information that you input onto your order form.  Here's how it works.....

First, go to their very user friendly website at eSalon  Once there you're going to input some basic information, such as your natural haircolor, what percentage of your hair is grey, if you currently color your hair, how often you color your hair, current length and style, and then you choose your new desired color results from an extensive color chart.  Once you do all that you have the option of up loading a current photo of yourself.  Then you submit your order.  It's all pretty quick and very easy to do, let me tell you.

After their colorists reviewed my profile, color choice and photo, I received an email back from them suggesting that I go with a slightly lighter color.  They felt my desired color was too much of a jump and asked me what I'd like to do.  I went with their recommendation and chose a new color, darker than what I was currently using, but not as dark as I wanted to go.  4 days later I received my order through the mail, complete with tracking number.

Check out my personally created hair color and instruction booklet with my name on it.....

The entire kit comes complete with hair dye, application brush, gloves, conditioner, stain guard, stain remover and cotton pads.  First I'll show you a really unattractive photo of the top of my head - yes, I was due for a dye job....

I enlisted Chablis to help with the application process.  I usually use an applicator tip for the dye bottle, and since they supplied a brush, I needed help.  She quickly applied the color and in 15 minutes we were finished.  One thing I noticed right away was the relatively light scent.  My usual store purchased dye has that strong ammonia smell that I hate and this dye was more subtle - a definite improvement.  I let it set on my hair for the recommended 20 minutes and hopped in the shower to wash and rinse. 

Look at the finished product....

I love the color - it doesn't have any of the brassy undertones I often get.  My hair felt lighter, didn't have that "after you dye it" smell and Chablis summed it up perfectly when she said the color was vibrant! 

Pros -  I have to say that the whole eSalon experience was top notch from the moment I signed into their website until I dried my hair after I colored it.  I was very happy with their customer service and their product.  Adding my name to the bottle and instruction sheet really gives it a personal touch.  I would recommend this product and I will certainly use it again.

Cons - I have 2 suggestions and these are merely a matter of personal preference and have nothing to do with the coloring product itself. 

1) I prefer to use an applicator tip on my coloring bottle, similar to this one below.  It would be nice if they could include that as an option.

2)  I think they could supply a little more of the conditioning product.  It's only a small sample and for me, it didn't have any detangle properties.  Again, this is a personal preference on my part.  I added a little of my own detangle product and my hair combed out just fine.  But if you have more hair than I do, then I don't think it would be enough conditioner. 

I think eSalon earned high marks for a really nice product.  Visit their website for more information, how to video's and their easy to use ordering guide. 

*** NEWS FLASH - THIS JUST IN:       "Right now, eSalon has a special 50% off deal for first time customers, where you can get a complete hair profile and custom color kit delivered to your door for just $9.95 (plus $4.95 s&h) with a satisfaction guarantee or your money back  . Go here to give it a try."

I'd like to thank eSalon for the review opportunity.  I was given free product in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.