Our Fall Adventure at Starved Rock State Park

We have been on a mission to see as much fall color as we can this year, so on one of Christopher’s days off, we decided to go on a fall color tour at Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois, about two hours from Chicago. The tour included a lunch, a fall colors trolley tour, and a guided hike to Council Overhand and Ottowa Canyon.

When we do day trips, I usually look for boat or trolley tours, so we can see as much of the area as we can. The trolley tour gave us a nice overview of the park and gave us an idea of which canyons to visit when there are waterfalls in the spring. It was relaxing to sit back and enjoy the beautiful weather and fall foliage all around us.

The guided hike to Ottowa Canyon was easy (though I almost slipped on the mud a few times) but it was worth doing for the beauty. The sandstone and the size of the canyon was striking, and it was interesting to hear that the Council Overhang got its name because they think Native Americans used to meet in that area.

After our tour, we hiked over to Starved Rock and Lover’s Leap for stunning views of fall foliage and the Illinois River. The trail is mostly paved, but it does require many steps to get to the top of the overlooks. The views from the top are worth every step.

Chris and I had so much fun exploring Starved Rock State Park that we hope to have a chance to come back in the spring to see all the waterfalls.

Friday Favorites: Mad About Plaid

Happy Friday! Like most of you ladies, I have been obsessed with plaid this season, so today I wanted to share some of my favorite buys and some items I really want.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I receive a teeny tiny commission.

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I love this Old Navy plaid shirt. There are lots of great color options, and it doesn’t have a super baggy fit (which happens to me a lot with plaid tops). I love that it is super lightweight, but it still keeps me warm.

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This is my favorite plaid top for fall. It’s cheap but great quality, and the colors are so pretty. I wear it any chance I get.

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I love this plaid infinity scarf from BP. The colors are perfect and work well with my navy North Face jacket.

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How gorgeous is this plaid tunic? I would love wearing it with leggings on a cold day.

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I never thought I would want plaid pants, but these are so pretty. I love that the plaid is subtle, but you can tell it’s there. I would love to wear these pants if I go back to work in an office.

What plaid items have you purchased recently?

Linking up with Amanda, Karli, and the High Five for Friday girls.

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! 

Guest Post: Fashion's Cinderella Stories

Note: This is a sponsored post written by Mary Jane Fashion for The Siberian American. 
Mary Jane Fashion looks at some of the industry’s key players who went from rags to riches
Like in many areas of business, there are powerful, influential people who were not born into the opulent, grand world they now inhabit. Although many were born into design and retail families, there are those who were either plucked from obscurity or worked their way up to being some of the most prominent figures in their field. Their stories are truly inspiring and the fashion world has benefitted from their presences; they have produced great work and wonderful moments that have benefitted and shone the best possible light on the industry. Here are some of the most famous figures who came from very humble origins and managed to become fully fledged fashion stars.

Natalia Vodianova

 Photo by Georges Seguin

One of the most highly paid and respected models in the world, Natalia Vodianova hails from Nizhny Novgorod in Russia (formerly Gorky in the Soviet Union) and was born into relative poverty. Her father walked out on her and the rest of the family when she was a toddler and she made money by selling fruit at a market stall with her mother. It was at this street market where she was discovered by a modelling scout and she went on to become one of the most prolific models in the fashion industry. She established a long-term relationship with American design house Calvin Klein (shop similar styles at Mary Jane Fashion), was a spokesmodel for Chanel beauty, featured in editorials for all the major fashion magazines-including a famous Alice in Wonderland shoot by Annie Liebovitz that also featured Tom Ford- and walked for houses like Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Versace. As well as being one of the most recognisable faces in fashion, she is a committed philanthropist, setting up charities like The Naked Heart Foundation amongst many others, which aid young impoverished people growing up in Russia.

Malaika Firth

Photo by Christopher Macsurak

Although she didn’t live in abject poverty like Vodianova, Malaika Firth’s background was not one of unparalleled affluence. Born in Kenya, the Firth’s moved to Barking in London, sharing a room with her sister and auntie and only have £2 to spend each day on her lunch. Famously, Firth’s mother rang up a modelling agency about representation for her daughter and she was signed straight away. Since then, she has modelled for fashion houses like Burberry and was the first black model to be featured on the runway and in a campaign for Prada since Naomi Campbell 19 years previously. Now she is a go-to model for many design houses, walking for Marc Jacobs, Kenzo and Dolce and Gabbana and is friends with other top models like Cara Delevigne and Jourdan Dunn. Firth has also maintained her relationship with Prada, which is a brilliant move towards fashion’s embracement of diversity.

Giorgio Armani

Photo by Jan Schroeder

Armani is one of fashion’s greatest designers and has, in many ways, transcended fashion with his business empire, which now includes a chain of exclusive restaurants and hotels on top of his menswear and womenswear labels. Famous for his high-quality, luxury goods, Armani is synonymous with style and sophistication. His early life, however, was troubled, because he grew up in the throes of Italian fascism under Mussolini and during the Second World War, with his home town Piacenza and nearby Milan frequently bombed by Allied forces, killing some of his childhood friends. Armani’s first taste of fashion and glamour came when he went to see films in Milan’s cinema, and sowed the seeds for his love of all things refined and beautiful. After a stint at medical school, he rose up through fashion’s ranks and in 2013 was worth an estimated $8.5 billion.

Life Update: Five Months in Chicago

I know I say this every month, but how is it possible that we are one month away from the halfway point of our year in Chicago? Before we know it, we will be heading back home, and I will be missing all the fun we had here.

We kicked off October with a cupcake tour. Even though the day of the tour was one of the coldest days we have had here so far, we loved tasting all the different cupcakes and can’t wait to go back to some of the places we visited to try more flavors.

We finally got to try Au Cheval, which The Food Network claims is the “best burger in America.” I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a burger snob. I think I have had better burgers at other places, but it was definitely good. Also, the fried egg fries with mornay sauce and garlic aioli were the real stars of our meal.

My best friend from high school came to visit for a long weekend. You know you love your city when you can’t wait to show it off to people who have never visited…and want them to fall in love with it too. I had a blast showing Ally around Chicago, and on Christopher’s day off, we showed her more of Illinois by going apple picking!

Y’all know how much I love day trips, so this month I planned two on the days Chris wasn’t working: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois. In Lake Geneva, we took a boat ride featuring some of the most beautiful fall foliage (and mansions) I have ever seen. I will be posting about our Starved Rock adventure soon, but we enjoyed a trolley tour and hiking to a canyon.

It hasn’t been all fun and games: Christopher’s hours have been super long lately, and there have been several two-week stretches with no days off (we are in the middle of one right now), and he hasn’t had a day off on the weekend since we went apple picking. Even so, we are trying to make the most of a hard situation, and I love spending time with him when I can.

Fall in Chicago has been beautiful with all the gorgeous fall foliage and wonderful weather. I am so excited for the holiday season to start at the end of the month because everyone keeps telling me Chicago is magical at Christmas. Let’s just hope the weather stays beautiful as long as possible!

Road Trip Around Lake Michigan: Seven-Day Itinerary from Chicago

Before we went on our Lake Michigan Circle Tour road trip, I was disappointed that I couldn’t take Christopher on a “bigger” vacation this year. Once I started planning, I realized there was so much I wanted to do and wished we had more time. By the time the trip was over, Chris and I were discussing moving to the Midwest someday.

We visited wineries, enjoyed scenic hikes, had amazing meals, and saw three of the Great Lakes. Since we got home, all we can talk about is doing this trip again someday. Like with my California road trip post, I will be linking up the individual posts to this itinerary as I do them.

Day One: Chicago to Grand Haven, Michigan 

Highlights: Did a chocolate tasting at The Chocolate Garden in Coloma, visited the lighthouse in South Haven, drove through downtown Saugatauk, saw the Holland lighthouse, then spent the afternoon in Grand Haven, eating great food and enjoying the lighthouse and boardwalk. 

Spent the night in: Grand Haven

Day Two: Grand Haven to Traverse City 

Highlights: Had breakfast at Morning Star Café, drove to Ludington and hiked to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse, then headed to Manistee to see the lighthouse. Next, we headed to the Arcadia Inspiration Point for stunning views of Lake Michigan. Spent the afternoon at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with three major stops: Glen Haven, the Pyramid Point Trail, and Pierce Stocking Drive. Finished a great day with an amazing dinner in Traverse City.

Spent the night in: Traverse City

Day Three: Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula

Highlights: Drove to Leland to see the historic fishing village, then headed to the Leelanau Peninsula for cider tasting at Tandem Ciders. Spent the rest of the day on the Old Mission Peninsula: saw the Old Mission Lighthouse and did wine tastings at two wineries: Chateau Chantal and 2 Lads Winery. Had dinner on Fleet Street and capped off our day with cherry products at the Cherry Republic.

Spent the night in: Traverse City

Day Four: Traverse City to Mackinaw City 

Highlights: Drove to Charlevoix to see the lighthouse, then headed to Petoskey to explore the Bayfront Park and the Gas Light District. Took the scenic drive through the Tunnel of Trees (M-22) and had lunch at the famous Legs Inn. Drove to Mackinaw City, dropped off our bags at the hotel, then headed to the beautiful Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Spent the night in: Mackinaw City

Day Five: Mackinac Island 

Highlights: Took a ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island with a special ride under the Mackinac Bridge. Took a carriage tour to get an overview of the island. Ended our tour at Fort Mackinac, then spent a few hours trying different fudge shops and exploring the island.

Spent the night in Mackinaw City

Day Six: Mackinaw City to Door County, Wisconsin 

Highlights: Visited the Seule Choix Lighthouse, saw Kitch-iti-Kipi, saw the Wagner Falls, and enjoyed a boat tour on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Spent the night in: Sturgeon Bay

Day Seven: Door County 

Highlights: Went on the Door County Trolley Tour, explored Door County, saw the waves crashing at Cave Point County Park, and capped off our day with a fish boil.

Spent the night in: Sturgeon Bay

Lake Michigan Circle Tour Road Trip Post Directory:

Quick Thoughts

Seven-Day Itinerary from Chicago
South Haven Lighthouse
Big Red Lighthouse
Grand Haven, Michigan Food Adventures
Grand Haven Lighthouse and Boardwalk
Hiking to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Arcadia Inspiration Point Scenic Overlook