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Tag Archives: Chicago sightseeing

09/16/201712/14/2017

How to See Some of the Top Chicago Attractions on Your Own

by Marian Krueger, in category USA

top Chicago attractions

Whether you have a few days or only a few hours in Chicago, you’re probably going to want to see see some of the top Chicago attractions. I’m all about trying to get out there and see things on my own when I get a chance, so follow my simple tips to see my adventure… Read More

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travelshopgirl

Red hair + blue eyes + vegan
Travel (65 countries)✈️ tattoos 🎵 music
Last: Boston
Now: Las Vegas
Next: LA
Where to next? So many choices! 🌎🛫

Sometimes I sit and daydream not only about all th

Sometimes I sit and daydream not only about all the places I’ve traveled to, but also the many places I still have yet to visit. There’s so many!

Today I have a favor to ask. If you have a spare second, would you mind completing a quick travel survey for me? Click on the link in my bio and choose the “Want to travel with me?” link.

For 2025 I’m looking to host trips for very small groups of travelers to some exciting destinations. All the while sticking to how I like to travel, which is travel that makes you feel like a local, enjoying some amazing local cuisine (especially #vegan food), and finding the unexpected on that road less traveled.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, let me know and please feel free to share the survey link with those you know who love to travel. Who knows where I’m off to next but I do know it’s going to be amazing and I can’t wait to meet you all on my travels.

#journeyjunkie #adventureseeker #travel #travellove #ilovetravel #travelworld #traveldeeper #solotraveler #solofemaletraveler #worldtraveler #worldtravelpics #traveldestination #travelmemories #travelstagram #photographytravel #travelphoto #mytravelgram #travelpics #traveladdict #aroundtheworld #instatravel #travelphotography #travelblogger #templifyapp #travelwithme #vegantravel #uniquedestinations #grouptravel #hostedtrip

Well autumn has finally arrived in Las Vegas. The

Well autumn has finally arrived in Las Vegas. The temperature went from 100°+ to the 90’s and then boom! Down to 60’s during the day and high 30’s/40’s at night. 😳🥶 Brrrr! I think I’ve acclimated because I’m actually a little cold.

So to deal with the cold weather, I decided to make a pot of Vegan Chik’n and Dumplings. Super easy to make and it totally hit the spot. Super creamy soup and light and fluffy dumplings. Now if I only had a fireplace to curl up in front of.

What’s your go to food when the weather cools off? Mine is always soup or stew of some kind. Just seems right. 🍜 Stay warm everyone!

#vegan #vegansoup #veganchickenanddumplings #vegandumplings #vegandumplingsoup #whatveganseat #whatveganscook #whatveganseatforlunch #veganfood #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #soupweather #soupseason #babyitscoldoutside #travelblogger #lasvegaslocals #chillyweather #vegetariansoup #vegetarianchickenanddumplings #nosoupforyou #veganchikn #veganchiknanddumplings #sweaterweather #templify #templifyapp

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is situated about a

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is situated about an hour and a half outside of Bangkok. This might be one of those touristy activities you think you might want to skip. But I’m telling you it’s worth doing and here’s why.

If you like taking pics, people watching, shopping, and eating, then you have to go. Yes, it’s touristy and yes, it’s overpriced. But tell me the last time you went to a floating market. If the answer is you haven’t been to one, then just do it so you can see what the fuss is about.

Personally I try to skip tourist hot spots but I’m glad I did this back in my first visit to Bangkok. I wanted to see everything and do everything and yes it’s out of the way and it might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. It doesn’t take all day and if you like to shop, well you’ll just get it.

Have you been to the floating market? What’s your thoughts on whether you should visit?

#bangkok #bangkok🇹🇭 #bangkokthailand #floatingmarket #floatingmarketbangkok #damnoensaduak #damnoensaduakfloatingmarket #thailandtravel #thailandtips #travel #travellove #ilovetravel #travel_captures #travelworld #traveldeeper #solotraveler #solofemaletraveler #worldtraveler #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #travelmemories #photographytravel #travelphoto #travelpics #traveladdict #aroundtheworld #travelphotography #travelblogger #templifyapp

Decided to try something different. Never been a f

Decided to try something different. Never been a fan of eggs so going vegetarian and then vegan was easy as I didn’t like meat or eggs. Cheese and ice cream - that’s another story. 😂 But I’ve wanted to up my protein so I made a veggie quiche with @justegg and spinach, peas, and asparagus along with veggie sausage from @naturesfynd

I parbaked a pie crust, sautéed my veggies and vegan sausage with shallots and garlic. Then I threw some vegan Parmesan cheese from @violife_foods on the pie crust, then the veggies, and the @justegg mixed with milk was poured over top. Baked and ta da! Veggie quiche!

My only exposure to quiche has been a spinach quiche I used to make with tofu. Using the @justegg makes it tastes different, but that’s because now there’s mung bean vs tofu. I can get fixated on certain foods and I wasn’t sure if I’d like the switch in my quiche, but I do!

Asparagus Spinach Pea Sausage Quiche
1 pie crust (parbake according to package directions)
Shallot, minced
Asparagus, trimmed and chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Fynd meatless breakfast patties
1/2 tsp ground thyme
3/4 cup frozen peas
1 large handful fresh spinach
1 T Dijon mustard
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup unsweetened plant based milk
1 cup vegan Parmesan
1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat small amount of oil (I used avocado) over medium heat and sauté shallots for one minute. Add garlic and asparagus and sauté two more minutes. Add sausage and sauté. Add spinach and peas and sauté until wilted. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme and set aside.

In large measuring cup, mix @justegg, milk, mustard and nutmeg. Set aside.

Sprinkle Parmesan over pie crust. Spread veggie mixture over top of cheese. Now carefully pour over “egg” mixture. Bake for about one hour. Let sit about five minutes before serving.

Serve with fresh veggies or a salad. Great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.

#vegan #veganfood #vegansofig #veganrecipes #whatveganseat #whatveganscook #justegg #naturesfynd #veggiequiche #veganquiche #cookingforone #travelblogger #asparagus #veganprotein #solocooking #veganfoodshare #veganeats #veganlifestyle #quickveganmeals #quickvegan

When you wake up on Monday morning and Thailand is

When you wake up on Monday morning and Thailand is on your brain. Another day of working on planning my future and dreaming about living somewhere new. Thailand has it all from natural beauty, friendly people, amazing food, and it’s ridiculously affordable. Not sure where I’ll end up, but planning is so much fun.

I’m currently living in Las Vegas, which is hot as hell and expensive. Yes, I find it more expensive than the northeast or California. And we all know I love to try new places so maybe an international destination for me is next. Any suggestions?

📍Wat Phra Singh Waramahavihan, Bangkok, Thailand

#buddhastatue #thailand #thailand🇹🇭 #bangkok #bangkok🇹🇭 #bangkokthailand #bangkoklife #bangkoktravel #journeyjunkie #adventureseeker #travel #travellove #ilovetravel #travel_captures #travelworld #traveldeeper #solotraveler #solofemaletraveler #worldtraveler #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #traveldestination #travelmemories #photographytravel #travelphoto #travelpics #aroundtheworld #instatravel #travelphotography #travelblogger

#ad I rarely post pics of myself, especially witho

#ad I rarely post pics of myself, especially without makeup so you know there has to be a good reason when I do. I also don’t usually promote products unless I actually use them myself and believe in the product.

My skin is complicated at best. I have mostly oily skin with some areas of dryness related to seborrheic dermatitis. Plus large pores, rosacea (which you can clearly see in the pics because I don’t have makeup on), and lastly an assortment of scars on my face and neck area. I’m quite picky about the products I use because I’ve been known to break out or have an allergic reaction because my skin is highly sensitive.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try Bambu Earth’s skincare products. They gifted me a set of 7 products: Makeup/dirt cleansing oil, rosewater cleanser, Dead Sea mud mask, exfoliating mineral facial polish, rosemary toner, intense hydration facial mist, and intense hydration cactus concentrate. I followed the easy to use instructions and I have to say, after the first use my skin feels amazing. The products smell fantastic and they absorb fully into your skin and don’t just sit on the surface.

Bambu Earth believes “in the healing power of nature” and they also “reject the plastic contamination, the synthetic preservatives, and the lab-made shortcuts to better-looking skin.” Their choice to use all natural products to make a line of skin care products that actually works on a variety of skin types is why I wanted to try them out and I’m so glad I did. Go check out their Instagram page @BambuEarth and click on their website to learn more.

#sponsored #skincare #skincareroutine #skincareproducts #skincarenatural #beauty #beautyproducts #beautytips #bambuearth #travelblogger #solotraveler #traveladdict #rosacea #rosaceaskincare #antiaging #glowingskin #sensitiveskin #sensitiveskincareproducts #sensitiveskincareroutine #templifyapp

Sunday cleaning vibe in progress! I was motivated

Happy Monday! I decided to cook (shocker!) because

Happy Monday! I decided to cook (shocker!) because I’ve seen a few smashed potato type salads lately and wanted to try one. We still have warm temps in Vegas. It was 100° over the weekend but it’s supposed to be “cooler” this week.

This recipe is from @natsnourishments that was later veganized by @veganfitrecipes

500g baby new potatoes
100g green beans
1 jar borlotti beans (I used cannellini as that’s what I had)
1/2 a red onion

Yogurt:
3 tbsp Greek yogurt (use vegan yogurt)
1 clove garlic
1/2 a lemon

Mustard dressing:
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp honey (I used agave)
1 tsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Put the potatoes in cold water with salt, bring to a boil and let simmer for 5 minutes or until just soft and then drain. Get them on a baking tray, squish them with the back of a glass and drizzle over olive oil and salt. Roast in the oven at 200C for 30-35 minutes until crispy.

Drain and pat dry borlotti beans, roast with olive oil and salt alongside the potatoes.

Boil the green beans for 4 minutes and then plunge in ice water.

Mix together the mustard dressing ingredients. Put drained green beans, sliced red onion, roasted potatoes and beans in and give a good mix.

Mix the yoghurt dressing together, spread on a plate and top with the potato mix.

My entire salad was a modification of sorts because I only had white onion, cannellini beans, German mustard as I didn’t have any wholegrain mustard, avocado oil, etc. My biggest oops was that I wanted to buy vegan Greek yogurt at Trader Joe’s and they didn’t have any but they had cashew yogurt. I should’ve looked closer as I ended up getting a strawberry one. So I just mixed some vegan mayo with the garlic and lemon. But it still came out really good!

Have you tried a smashed potato salad yet?

#vegan #veganfood #veganrecipes #veganlife #veganfoodshare #whatveganseat #veganlunch #veganpotatosalad #travelblogger #veganfoodporn #smashedpotatoes #smashedpotatosalad #healthyeating #lunchideas #lunchrecipes #templifyapp

My secret guilty pleasure is Bridesmaids. I’m no

My secret guilty pleasure is Bridesmaids. I’m not the kind of person who likes rewatching movies all that much. Unless it’s Bridesmaids. If you don’t know, it’s on every single week on some random channel or streaming service somewhere. And it doesn’t matter if I catch it at the very beginning or 5 minutes before the closing credits because I’m watching.

There are so many great lines like “Whatever You Say, Stove” or “Look Away! What Did We Eat?! The Sink’s A Goner! It’s Comin’ Outta Me Like Lava!” among dozens of other insanely great lines. I love that “Bridesmaids” was written by two women and had a great female cast to carry it off (as well as the amazing Chris O’Dowd and Jon Hamm among others).

Sometimes you just want to curl up with an old movie like they’re an old friend. So even though it probably makes others crazy to see it on yet again, I do love Bridesmaids and hope more well written scripts starring women are under consideration in Hollywood.

“I never got a chance to try that f*#!ing cookie!” Of course, I love that her dialogue sounds like I wrote it. 😄

#sundaymovie #movie #whatimwatching #bridesmaids #comedy #travel #travelblogger #comedyclassic #iamhappyforyoulillian #sundayafternoon #weekendvibes #templifyapp #reelsofinstagram #igreels #paulfeig

Rideshare options at the airport are more common t

Rideshare options at the airport are more common than ever before. As someone who lives in Vegas and uses Uber and Lyft to get to/from the airport, I feel compelled to offer some helpful information to anyone visiting Las Vegas.

To access your Rideshare ride, after collecting your bags from baggage claim, you then need to go back up one level and walk across to parking garage level 2.

This is the important part ➡️ KEEP WALKING straight past all the people who stop here because they don’t know better. Weave in between everyone until you see the walkway to the rides, but keep walking until it looks kind of empty. This is the best place to wait until your driver arrives because few will walk over to this less cramped side.

By walking out of the scores of other lost souls waiting for a ride, I guarantee you will feel far less stressed and ready to start your vacation in Vegas.

If you like this tip from a local, buy me a drink or a vegan donut to say thanks. 😆🍸🍩

#lasvegas #lasvegaslocals #lasvegaslocal #harryreid #las #rideshare #ridesharetips #uber #lyft #travel #airportride #ilovetravel #travel_captures #travelworld #traveldeeper #solotraveler #travelporn #worldtraveler #lovetotravel #worldtravelpics #traveldestination #travelmemories #travelstagram #travelphoto #mytravelgram #travelpics #aroundtheworld #instatravel #travelblogger

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