Archive for March 2010
Peachy Pleasures in Chicago
Posted on: March 23, 2010
Just this past week my girlfriends and I decided to have a girls weekend in Chicago. It turned out absolutely fantastic! We spent our days shopping and getting pampered at a local spa. Being that this was just a weekend trip, we did want to keep our budgets modest and, of course, peachy.
We scoured the internet for the best deals in hotels, restaurants, and spas. I’ve recommended Hotwire.com in the past, and still do so. This time around though we found the best deal with La Quinta‘s facility right downtown. It was a great location for the price, and I was honestly surprised at the bright and lively decor throughout the hotel. Also included in the price was a continental breakfast. Now, this we expected the traditional array of muffins, bagels, and cereals. But we were delighted to find a waffle station, fresh fruit and yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and a variety of breakfast beverages. These are definitely minor additions that are becoming more popular among hotels today, but nonetheless it was a nice surprise.
Our shopping was had on Michigan Ave – not so famous for their peachy prices as it is for luxury and decadence. But there was one gem in the mix, Nordstrom Rack. There you can find designer pieces largely discounted and at a great value. For instance, I walked away with a rockin’ pair of $70 jeans for which I only paid $16!! It doesn’t get much peachier than that for a shop-a-holic like myself!
The key to finding our most valuable peachy pleasure was the research we did prior to driving into the city. Just by digging a bit on the internet, I found Renew Spa. The reviews were fantastic and the prices were just a steal. During the month of March, they were offering specials on hour-long massages for only $65 and manicure/pedicures for $40. We couldn’t pass it up! 
Our therapists were fabulous. My girlfriends had nothing but good things to say about their massages and manicures. My experience was just as great. Being the petite individual that I am, my masseuse said I got about 1.5 hours worth of work in the 1 hour appointment. Sometimes it pays off to be a shortie! I also was fortunate to briefly experience a variety of techniques. She used both hot towels and stones throughout the session. I’ve had other Swedish massages in the past but this was the first experience that combined the stones and towels. I thought it was pretty cool and more importantly, extremely relaxing. I would recommend the spa to any of my friends. Great service for a great value!
I’m psyched I was able to share another traveling peachy pleasure with you. Just goes to show that with some of these tips there are deals to be had in any city!
Regional – I feel like global themes while fun, are pretty stale. Why not try regional food from different parts of the USA? I’m thinking along these lines: New England Seafood, Southern Soul Food, Louisiana Gumbo, or Hawaiian.
Seasonal/Holiday – Everyone’s favorite recipes from the holidays! You’re bound to feast on turkey, ham, green-bean casseroles, cranberry sauces, and pies – can’t go wrong there!
Peachy Pleasure #4: Volunteer
Posted on: March 2, 2010
According to BusinessWeek, “Marquette University has a long-standing tradition of strong participation among all students in volunteer and community service. Several courses involve service learning activities and virtually all student groups have a community service or volunteer requirement for their members.” Fact. In every student organization I have been a part of, Greek Life included, service is an important pillar to the very foundation of the group.
Volunteering has always been a passion of mine. Every year I try to get involved with the community as much as I can, even if it’s only for day events. Perhaps it is my parochial education that has instilled in me this “must give back, must give back” mentality, or perhaps it is just the simple pleasure that I get out of helping a fellow neighbor.
In my time at Marquette, I have taken quite a few opportunities to participate in different programs. To start, my freshman year I was a part of Big Brother/Big Sister Milwaukee, Habitat for Humanity, and volunteered weekly at Penfield Children’s Center. That year, I would have to say Penfield Children’s Center was my favorite. Having assisted with handicap children and adults in the past, I was assigned to the “intensive care unit” for infants. I rocked, played, and fed babies who were struggling to stay healthy. It was a pleasant departure from the craziness of my school schedule, a quiet place where I can just act silly and relax.
In my last two years, I have been involved with a student organization called Midnight Run. The group organizes hundreds of students with a variety of service sites. With this group, I have worked with two different shelters. Last year, I visited a family shelter every week to play and mingle with the families staying there. Occassionaly we helped serve dinner or clean up, but more often than not we organized board games, imaginary games, built Lincoln Log homes, and put puzzles together. Again it was a great escape from the little bubble that you form as a college student, realizing real life’s complexities beyond the cafeteria, classroom, and nightlife.
One of my most intense volunteering experiences was a week long trip to New Orleans. I say intense, because our group worked from 8-5 while there, repairing, painting, cleaning, and gutting Katrina-damaged structures. It’s been 5 years since the storm, and the wreck it left behind remains a constant reminder for the city. I’m told that there has been much progress, but there is so much more work to be done. We worked on one church that hadn’t been touched since the hurricane, and water effectively has been constantly flowing through the building since. There are more buildings like this, buildings whose owners lack the funding and support necessary to rebuild. Volunteer groups like mine continue to make trips there, year round, and so the work progresses.
In a 2007 study, researchers found that older adults whom volunteered experienced longer, healthier lives, being less susceptible to depression and heart disease. One would assume active volunteers often are participative in other aspects of their local communities – another factor in a healthy longer living. But, there is an underlying point. Volunteering is an opportunity to interact with your community, meet new people, and give back to society. It leaves you feeling good. Accomplished. And best of all, it’s free.
Find a volunteer opportunity that speaks to you, or something you’ve always wanted to try. I had always wanted to build or re-build homes, hence Habitat and the NOLA trip, but I soon discovered this is not in my skill set. I had no idea how to properly use power tools or crowbars – and if we’re being honest, I’m not sure I mind ever fully developing that skill set. What I did learn, what you may have gathered, was that my passion in volunteering is impacting the people I’m helping – listening to their stories, living their life for a few moments. It’s all about trying new things, experiencing different walks of life, and escaping the world you live in – even for a few minutes.
Have you had valuable service experiences? Do you think it could lead to a healthier longer life?
Peachy Pleasures 
