Summer and A Blogging Break Come to an End

Hello again!

I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend and a great Summer.

As you have probably noticed, I took a long break from blogging. For my standards, that was a huge break. Hopefully, you haven't forgotten about me. :)

There are a couple of reasons why I decided to take a break. First, I was

feeling burnt out; I've been blogging for several years and hardly took long breaks. Besides, keeping up with a regular schedule means working 24/7 in content creation, which means lots of work.

I felt the pressure mainly in the blogging department. Writing, taking pictures, and making and editing videos put me in a dragging mode. I also felt left out of social media as my Facebook and Instagram accounts were blocked over a year ago.

I needed a blogging break. A space to rest, renew, and refresh!

Second, I wanted to spend more time with my family. My two kids are already young adults who still live in the area. I want to spend as much time as possible while they're still close to us.

Let me tell you a bit about the main things I got busy with during Spring and Summer.

MONTICELLO - FAMILY VISIT

My sister Elena and her family visited us during Early Spring. I took this opportunity to go and visit Monticello, as it had always been at the top of my bucket list.

It was a trip that we all enjoyed immensely.

Monticello, the home of President Thomas Jefferson, is a remarkable estate.

I love how Jefferson himself was the one who designed the mansion, the gardens, and the outbuildings.

I took my time touring the mansion, soaking in every single detail. 

The chunky moldings.

The high ceilings.

The many skylights given that Jefferson loved natural light.

The fireplace mantels and the art hung all throughout the mansion.

The collections of books and Native American artifacts.

Those parquet floors and the furniture!

I was impressed by many of Jefferson's inventions, like the copying machine and revolving bookstand.

I was also in awe of all the technology he used throughout the mansion. These double-pane windows caught my eye.

For more about Monticello, visit their page right HERE.

D.C. - NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

Having visitors means a trip to Washington, D.C., is inevitable. It was a rainy day, but the rain didn't matter as we would spend all day inside the National Gallery of Art.

We took our time and got into very informative tours; somehow, time flew away.

The gallery is immense. We must return a few more times to get a good glimpse at the beautiful collection.

SUMMER STORMS

Did you have any summer storms in your region?

I hope not; they're scary.

We had a couple, and this tree ended up in our backyard during one of those. It came down, crashing onto the fence.

CHICAGO

I joined my kids for a Chicago Summer smash, and we did have a wonderful time!

Sightseeing was done early in the morning/middle of the day. Then, I took the kids to their concert, where they stayed until late.

Once again, I was surrounded by majestic architecture.

We soaked in the skyline from a Lake Michigan and River boat tour. Those buildings are impressive.

We got into lots of walking while getting to the main attractions. We also enjoyed the famous deep-dish pizza, my first time trying it. 😋

THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

We also went to the Art Institute of Chicago as there was a Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde exhibition. I loved it, but I wish we had more time to enjoy the collection. We were running out of time before heading to our next adventure. 

This year, I had a Hot Pot Mother's Day celebration. Oh, I love those soups. 

ORIOLES PARK

Given that my daughter lives in Baltimore, we have been discovering new places and the many activities this pretty city has to offer. 

Attending the Orioles games has been a fun way to spend time and connect with our kids.

I'm so glad I took this break. It was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate and return to blogging, feeling refreshed and inspired. I missed connecting with you all. I'm more than ready to get back to blogging!

But hey, as you all know, we do-it-yourself-ers can't stop!

I was also as busy as a bee working on projects around the house.

I'm super excited to share the projects I've been working on with you. I've got a lot of great content planned.

Stay tuned.

Love,

Cristina

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