HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.

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TRAVEL LOVE: Loews Chicago Hotel

You may have noticed that we’ve been traveling quite a bit this year. I haven’t tallied up just how many trips I’ve been on, but between work travel and family exploration, I’d be willing to bet that 2016 is my most adventurous year yet. Things haven’t slowed down now that it’s winter either. This past Thanksgiving weekend we road-tripped all the way to Chicago to simply explore the city.

The Loews Chicago Hotel hosted our stay and was the perfect home base to play tourist. We checked-in on Thanksgiving evening and were happy to see the lobby already decked out for the holidays. We made our way up to our room, where Iris was thrilled to find her very own tent and “campfire” set up to stay warm. As part of the Snowed Inn package, this also came with homemade cookies and hot chocolate delivered to our room for Iris and valet parking for me (in downtown Chicago that’s an amazing score).

We were in the Windy City for three nights and two full days, but the first morning was actually spent driving to Munster, Indiana. Yeah… You read that right – beautiful Munster! Turns out, it’s quite the destination for beer lovers and only about 45 minutes away from the hotel. Home of 3 Floyds Brewing, Todd stocked up on their famous Zombie Dust Pale Ale while we filled up on a surprisingly delicious meal at the restaurant side of the brewery.

After that random detour, we headed back over to the Loews where, thanks to the perfect-o location, we didn’t need to drive again during our stay. With our car safely tucked away in its valet spot, we walked nearly everywhere. We hoofed it to the Magnificent Mile for a little shopping, Navy Pier for a little Ferris Wheel riding, the Chicago Children’s Museum for a little exploring, the famous “Bean” for a little photo taking, and Maggie Daley Park for a little playing.

We also were able to walk to some incredible food and drinks around town: Pasta at Rosebud on Rush, Eataly for a nice little happy hour, and devoured Stan’s Donuts for breakfast. And it didn’t hurt that there was a Starbucks perfectly situated when we got of the hotel elevator every morning. On our last day we wanted to venture a little farther, so we took an Uber over to Willis Tower where we used our CityPasses and braved the SkyDeck. From there we Ubered even further over to the Wicker Park neighborhood where we ate pizza at Piece Pizza and got some treats from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Exploring made us exhausted each day, but coming “home” to the comfort of our hotel room was a treat all in itself. The beds were beyond comfy and the view was incredible. Looking out through the high-rises, we could see Lake Michigan and even the Ferris Wheel back at Navy Pier. We had quite the adventure in Chicago, but I would have been just as thrilled to have stayed in and relaxed all day. Maybe another trip is in order…

Quick Trip: Chicago

Ever since Iris has been here,
it seems like I’ve been on a travel hiatus.

This late summer though,
is a different story.

I used to love packing my bags, but now…
Saying goodbye to my love is tough.

I wanna bring her with me.

Recently I flew to Chicago
for a short business trip
(sans baby).

Here are a few photos from
my two night stay…

Downtown Chicago

I can see my hotel from here. #chicago

A sliver of a lake view.

I can see a sliver of the lake from my hotel bed.

A drink at the Signature Lounge
(96th floor of the John Hancock building).

Blueberry mojito on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building. {this one's for you @bevcooks }

Photos from home
melt my heart.

Melting my heart from miles & miles away.

Pregnant me / today me.
Same hotel. Same meeting.
Exactly one year later.

Pregnant me / today me. Same hotel. Same meeting. Exactly one year later. #flashbackfriday

Met up with James from Bleubird Vintage.
Such a lovely surprise she was in town at the same time!
(photo by – Bleubird. Sorry James, I had to steal this one
– it’s way cuter than mine!)

Sarah & Bleubird - Chicago

I met her ah-dorable Gemma Bird & husband too.

If I can't hang out with Iris, I might as well hang out with Gemma. @bleubird

Oh, she's the cutest. @bleubird @aubreymccoy

Dinner with good company on my last night in town.

Last night in Chicago.

Coming home to Arkansas is always sweet.

Home! Such a pretty flight coming into Arkansas.

But coming home to this
is sweeter.

REUNITED!

TRAVEL LOVE: 21C MUSEUM HOTEL NASHVILLE

For the third year in a row, we continued our Thanksgiving tradition of taking off and exploring a different city for the holiday. The first year was Chicago, 2017 was a whirlwind trip to Disney World, and this year was – Nashville! Our best buds at 21c Museum Hotel Nashville hosted our stay, so our trip was nothing less than marvelous.

Not only was this our third Thanksgiving trip, but it was also our third stay at a 21c Museum Hotel. Bentonville and Oklahoma City were our previous visits, but I’d now like to make it my mission to explore each and every one. As for Nashville, our eight-hour drive was surprisingly easy-breezy. We arrived mid-afternoon which allowed us time to relax at the hotel before we headed out to explore. Conveniently located downtown, everywhere we went was either a short walk or quick Uber ride away. You honestly can’t get any better location-wise.

I’m a sucker for a nice hotel and with 21c Museum Hotels I always look forward to the details. From the Malin + Goetz bath amenities, to Nespresso coffee maker, and of course the crisp linens – I could live in this hotel room. And I’m pretty sure Iris would happily live here with me because of the teal penguins alone. Every 21c Museum Hotel has these ginormous penguin statues that guests are welcome to move around. When Iris found out we were staying at the hotel, her first question was what color the penguins were. And when she found out they were her absolute favorite color, she reacted as if she had won the lottery. So naturally we snuck one into our room… Oh. And Todd will also be joining us in our new abode thanks to the local craft beer always stocked in the mini fridge. :)

Of course with any 21c, the coolest part about the stay is 24/7 access to a museum. We love exploring the art throughout the property, so we make it a point to stop on every floor to ensure nothing is missed. In Nasvhille, much of the art was interactive which of course scores big with a seven-year-old. We spent a fair amount of time in a room that featured videos, along with twirling chairs that made you feel like you were going to fall with every spin (spoiler alert: you won’t ever fall, but it sure is fun). Iris loved that part so much I joked I was going to send down her blanket and pillow and see her in the morning. She was very disappointed to learn I was only kidding.

Another favorite was the on-site restaurant – We frequented Gray & Dudley as much as we did our hotel room! Breakfast, lunch, and Thanksgiving dinner. This is the third year we’ve had our big meal at a hotel and the third year I haven’t regretted it for a second. No cooking, no clean-up, no rushing around. Just eating, drinking, and relaxing! For the Thanksgiving dinner at Gray & Dudley, you chose your main course, then the appetizers and sides were served family-style. They even had a cute little menu for the kiddos.

Beyond the Thanksgiving meal, Gray & Dudley is a lovely spot for brunch (Iris recommends the smoothie) and the bar is a perfect spot to break from exploring the art (I recommend alllll the wine). If I lived in Nashville, this would be my place.

It’s kind of funny that our “non-traditional Thanksgiving” has turned into our own tradition, but I love it. If you are considering doing something similar this season, they have a great “Explore More” holiday offer going on right now. Stay three consecutive nights through February 28, 2019 at any 21c Museum Hotel, and save $100 on the third night. Treat yourself to an escape when you probably need it the most. Find out all the details over on their website.

THANK YOU 21c Museum Hotel Nashville for incredible service (seriously – everyone was SO hospitable) and a Thanksgiving we will always remember!

TRAVEL BLOG: 2016 In Review


2016 was my most adventurous year yet! I think January and March were the only months I wasn’t on the go. I’ve had so much fun capturing our travels and hope the adventures continue throughout 2017 and beyond. Here’s a quick roundup of every place I ventured to in 2016!

February – A work trip to Newport Beach, CA for our organization’s annual meeting.
April – Visited Heber Springs, AR for a relaxing couple of days by the river.
May – Jetted off to Minneapolis, MN for a business meeting and then to Rosemary Beach, FL for our annual family beach trip. We also squeezed in a pit stop to Birmingham, AL along the way.
June – A weekend getaway to Kansas City, MO to visit our pals.
July – Explored Tulsa, OK for a couple nights and also had a lovely weekend at The Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, MO
August – Attended the ASAE meeting in Salt Lake City. Flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with my Girl Squad. Even took the train from Kansas City to Herman, MO to trolly around wine country for my good friend‘s birthday.
September – We flew to Houston, TX to explore the city. From there, we drove down to Galveston and boarded our first Carnival Cruise ship. We sailed to Progresso and Cozumel in Mexico.
October – Flew to Las Vegas, NV for another business meeting. As soon as I returned home, we took a family trip to enjoy the Little Red River again in Heber Springs
November – Attended a conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO. We did another family road trip St. Louis and enjoyed Thanksgiving Day Brunch at the Four Seasons St. Louis. We drove a little farther north and explored Chicago for a few days.
December – And last but not least, we had fun at the Peabody Hotel in my hometown of Memphis, TN.

And what will 2017 bring? We have our classics that we’re already planning – of course our annual Rosemary Beach trip, another girls’ trip in late summer, and quite a few work trips sprinkled throughout the year. But there are some places on my wish list that I can only hope we end up this year, or at least in the near future:

Hawaii – While it’s doubtful we’ll end up there in 2017, a girl can dream. The islands will always be at the top of my list. I went once for work (all by myself) and it’s my ultimate goal to go back with Iris and Todd one day. I visited the island of Maui and it was hands-down one of the best destinations I’ve ever experienced.

Rosemary Beach, Florida – As mentioned, we go every summer and I don’t want to miss it this year. The beaches are some of the best in the continental U.S. and you better believe I’m already scoping out rental houses.

Burlington, Vermont – We’ve been throwing around the idea of staying at Hotel Vermont for our 10th wedding anniversary in August. Some of the best breweries in the world are nearby and apparently this hotels has a beer concierge that takes you around.

Los Angeles – We’ve been earning Disney points for a full year and they are about to burn a hole in my wallet. Now that Iris is older, I want her to experience Disney! I know everyone usually insists that Disney World is the way to go, but I’d love to take her to Disneyland while also exploring Southern California.

Asheville, North Carolina – Because I’ve always heard such great things (and Todd knows about their great beer scene). I think it would be fun to eat and drink our way around this new-to-us city!

New York City – One of my favorite places ever. I want to bring Iris for a Big Apple playdate in Central Park.

Mexico – This is where we’ll most likely end up for our annual Girl Squad trip. We were in Cabo last year, but we haven’t pulled the trigger on a destination this year!

All the road trips – I want to visit so many cities around us, where we can venture easily to on the weekends. Ones that maybe aren’t as obvious as vacation destinations, but that I know we can make fun. Omaha, Tulsa, Dallas, Kansas City, Hot Springs, New Orleans, Nashville – I’m looking at you.

Special thanks to all of the wonderful cities and properties that have hosted us over the year. This is been my biggest and best year of blogging yet, especially in regards to travel blogging. Have some ideas of where our family should explore next? Email me at sarahfortunegill (a) gmail so we can chat!

Colorado Springs

I just woke up in my own bed after most of the week away. I’m not sure if it was a blessing or a curse to be traveling so far away from home on election day, but at least where went was absolutely, naturally gorgeous. I attended a conference for work in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor. The property was stunning, the views were even better. On the last night my friend Laura even drove down from Boulder to keep me company.


Being my last work trip of the year, I feel like I’m now home and able to look towards the holidays! Even though that means more travel – This year we’re doing something a little more unique for Thanksgiving and skipping town. After having a Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, we’re headed for St. Louis and then Chicago for a few days to explore. We’ll only be in St. Louis for one night, but if you have any suggestions for Chicago, please send them my way!