My kids have been asking to visit the Jelly Belly Store in Pleasant Prairie for a while now and last Friday my son’s school had an early release so we decided to visit. The Jelly Belly Store is very easy to find, right on Green Bay Road just over the WI-IL border.
When we first walked in we saw the Sample Bar where you can sample their jelly beans. We asked the gentleman behind the counter about when the next train ride was scheduled. He called the “conductor” right away and told us to wait by the door. We waited about five minutes and then we began boarding. There were four other families taking the tour with us. I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the store and warehouse – it was immaculate! The tour started and we were shown videos of how the candy is made; not only jelly bellys, but also taffy and other candies that Goelitz makes. It was very interesting. I was a little disappointed that the facility in Pleasant Prairie is only a warehouse; I wanted to actually see the candy being made. However, the tour was fun and interesting. The warehouse has actual machines that make the candy and the videos are well done. Near the end of our tour we passed some people who were working at the time. They were very friendly to us and waved at our tour group as we passed through, the kids loved this! At the conclusion of our tour the conductor gave us each a sample bag of Jelly Bellys. Needless to say that mine was gone before we left the building!
I asked each of my kids to pick out some candy they would like and we bought some gifts. The store is real nice, more Jelly Bellys than you can imagine! The Sample Bar is great, you can sample all the flavors and mix some together for new flavors too! Jelly Belly only uses natural ingredients whenever possible. My favorite is the Very Cherry, which just happens to be the most popular. Jelly Belly has new flavors now called “Soda Pop Shop”. Jelly beans in soda flavors like Orange Crush and Dr Pepper – yummy!! I wasn’t too eager to try the Harry Potter Jelly Belly’s though. With flavors like buger and puke, it made me wonder…..do they use natural flavors in those too??? I passed on those samples! Although my five year old son thought it was the coolest thing on Earth and had to buy some! Guess I’m getting old.
Overall, we had a really great time at the Jelly Belly Warehouse and Candy Store. I asked my son what he thought of our visit. His response was one word – “sweet!” That seems very fitting!

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Despite having lived my entire life in Lake County, I had never taken the time to visit the Great Lakes Naval Base. I had driven by it a few times and gaped at the huge buildings behind the heavily-guarded gate, but never found an opportunity to explore what lay inside. Recently, however, I was invited to attend one of the Naval graduation ceremonies, so I jumped on the chance to see what I had been missing out on all these years.

I arrived at the ceremony a little early and grabbed a seat towards the center. By the time things got rolling, however, the place was packed with friends and family members of those participating. The atmosphere was astounding – the ceiling was comprised of all 50 state flags, while American flags could be seen in every direction. You know that feeling you get when you hear a really good rendition of the national anthem… Those patriotic vibes that shoot through your body, making you feel proud to be an American? By the time the ceremony got started, that’s how I felt, only to a greater extent.

The ceremony was coordinated to perfection – each step, song, and even each gun twirl, were all executed perfectly. Graduates marched in strict patterns, some holding state flags, some holding American flags. Periodically, all action would halt, and a small group of graduates would sing a patriotic tune. At one point, a large group of graduates entered with their instruments, gathering together right in front of me to play a few more songs. Throughout the ceremony, graduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements during their experience at the Great Lakes Navy Base. Looking around, I could see the proud faces of many parents, some with tears in their eyes. By the time the presentation was over, friends and family rushed out of the stands to hug whoever they were there to support. Even though I wasn’t there to support a specific graduate, I couldn’t help but feel proud – It’s a comforting feeling to know that so many people have taken it upon themselves to help defend our great country. The ceremony was not only entertaining; it was also a true reminder of how lucky we are to live in America.

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On a frosty weekend in early January, I put my long-overdue replacement laces in my hiking boots and set out for some winter trail hiking. The temperature hovered a little above freezing, but, outfitted in Gore-Tex and Under Armour from head to toe, I felt comfortably cozy. I parked my vehicle at the Des Plaines River trail head at Kilbourne Road and headed northwards into the trees.

One of the first things I noticed upon entering the forest was how the shapes of the assorted trees and branches stood out to the eye without their seasonal foliage. One tree had some light-brown leaves clinging to it, but other than that, the forest from eye-level up was a curious maze of twisty branches. Craggly Oak trees intermingled with dark-green pines, and, despite the recent warm spell, patches of snow coated some tree limbs and parts of the forest floor. I followed the horseshoe tracks pressed into the crushed limestone trail, and marveled at the lime-green lichens growing on a nearby wooden fence.

As I scanned the treetops, I noticed birds' nests in varying shapes and sizes nestled high overhead. A little further on, tiny footprints tracked the snow near my feet, and a survey of the surrounding trees revealed an enormous squirrel nest about 20 feet up. Red shapes swooped and dipped low through the trees in front of me as I followed the path along a bend in the river, and I stopped to observe what turned out to be a group of male and female cardinals chirping and flitting amongst the branches. Some fallen trees criss-crossed the river, and one nearby revealed some large holes, carved out at some point by hungry woodpeckers.

Some bright colors in the growth caught my eye, and I marveled at the moss that covered the tree trunks in shades of green ranging from very light to very dark. The base of a nearby bridge was submerged, revealing how much the river had risen in concordance with the recently melted snow. I continued on, observing vines of varying thickness, some covering trees like veins, others hanging lazily from high branches. A broken tree to my left bearing black scorch marks looked to have been struck by lightning. Birds chirped overhead, and I walked on past a massive mound of roots attached to the base of a large, fallen timber.

Further up the trail, marshy areas to my left neighbored some bright-red thorn bushes. I instinctively looked up upon hearing some honking souds, and was treated to the sight of a large "V" of geese traveling overhead. Dark, round shapes strewn around the floor at my feet turned out to be large nuts and acorns fallen from nearby limbs. Vines twisted amongst each other in the surrounding tree tops, forming patterns not unlike sloppy spiderwebs. Bright poles standing out vividly from the adjacent growth turned out to be dead trees, beige-colored since being stripped of their bark.

Turning back, I began to notice the many holes high up in the surrounding trees, and I began to imagine how many animals must make their homes in them, high above and out of sight. Some footprints in the snow near the river bank appeared to be raccoon tracks, and as I leaned in to check them out I was amazed by the display of colors present on a cluster of fallen trees. Bright orange fungus and sky-blue lichens coating the bark of different trees stood out in bright contrast to the predominantly dark colors of the forest. Brown squirrels chattered in the trees above me, and I strolled on past pale-colored thickets of dead grass. As I reached the end of my hike, I felt refreshed by the clean air, and reflected on my re-affirmation that even in the dead of winter, the forest is still flourishing with life, sound, and color.

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I needed to do some shopping and wanted something other than the usual mall fare. I’ve passed through downtown Antioch many times but have never taken the time to “stop and smell the roses” so to speak. I decided to stop with my daughter into all those wonderful shops I passed by so many times before. We parked near Hannah’s, so we decided to see what’s new. Their displays are just beautiful, wish I could have their visual merchandisers decorate my home this nice! Hannah’s has an extensive scrapbooking department that is awesome. Anything you would need for scrapbooking you can find at Hannah’s. I picked up some paper and stickers. Next stop, JJ Blinkers. I’ve heard a lot about JJ’s and decided to check it out. This is THE place to go for a costume any time of the year. Where else could you get a Cleopatra costume in January? The staff is very friendly and helpful, I really enjoyed looking at all they have to offer. By far, JJ’s had the best selection for not only costumes, but also gag gifts and party supplies. Their customer service is top notch too.

We needed a little something to drink and decided on Infini-tea. What a comfortable and welcoming place to have a spot of tea. I brought some of the Holiday Tea home and it is terrific. I need to go back and buy some for a gift. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting, and everyone greets you with a smile. I could see myself sitting here sipping tea and catching up with an old friend for an afternoon.

This is the first time I have stopped in at Alexandria’s and it is already my favorite bath & body shop. I spent a small fortune here on candles, soaps, gifts, etc. Everything they sell is handmade. Try the soy candles, simply delightful. I can’t wait to try the Coffee Mocha and the Diamonds & Pearls candles I picked up. I love the Dry Skin Soap too.

At last it was time to bid farewell to our shopping adventure, by now we had spent enough money. We had a great time, every shop we went into we were treated with the friendliest staff and the best customer service. I have to say that I was impressed. We had no trouble finding a place to park, plenty of parking behind the shops on Main Street. One tip when visiting downtown Antioch, many of the shops are closed on Mondays. Plan your trip for later in the week.

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It was a cold day in mid-December when I decided to take a trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden to explore some of their exhibits. I know that December sounds like a strange time to be checking out different types of flowers, trees, and other plants, but don’t be fooled – After visiting, I can see how their indoor displays are enough to attract visitors year-round. With a wide assortment of trees, Christmas wreaths, greenhouses, and even a “Winterland Express” room showcasing Chicago’s historic landmarks, there is still plenty of foliage to check out, despite the bitter cold. In order to get to the Regenstein Center which housed many of these displays, I left the lobby area and took a brief walk outside through the gardens. As I strolled through, the plants were covered with snow and were surrounded by dozens of pine trees with festive Christmas lights. As the tour guide mentioned, once the weather warms up again, the gardens will be blossoming with all types of exotic flowers, providing a whole new venue of outdoor exhibits. When I first arrived at the newly-remodeled Regenstein Center, I decided to explore some of the greenhouse displays. My first stop was at the tropical greenhouse, which showcased all types of exotic palm trees and other tropical shrubbery. While wandering through, I came across a huge banana tree with a cluster of green bananas shooting off to the side – I asked the tour guide what the coconut-shaped orb was that was dangling from the banana cluster, which turned out to be the “flower” of the banana plant. With so many tropical branches hanging over my head at every turn, I felt like I was someplace warm on vacation… And speaking of “warm”, my next stop was at the arid greenhouse, which housed several plants that you’d find in a dry, desert climate. I had no idea there were so many different kinds of cacti, some with long, sharp needles, and others with thousands of tiny bristles. Some were small enough to fit in the palm of your hand (not that you’d want to put them there), while others weaved in strange patterns all the way up to the ceiling. While I’d already checked out several displays, I still hadn’t gotten to the main attraction – The “Winterland Express.” On my way to the exhibit, I passed through hallways plastered with artist-designed wreaths, as well as intricate gingerbread houses. When I neared the entrance, I saw that the walls were decorated with pictures and information about Paul Busse, the man who inspired the exhibit – He was in charge of finding creative ways to design all of the miniature Chicago buildings I was about to observe. When I finally made my way in, snowflakes made of water and vegetable oil gently swirled through the air, looking exactly like real snowflakes. I took a look around at the gigantic room filled with all types of plants, railroad tracks, and replicas of familiar buildings from all over Chicago. Looking more closely at the buildings, I was in awe at how creative the artist had been in designing them. The materials used to create every building were all-natural; Sticks, acorns, gourds, and even mushrooms were amassed together to create some of the most impressive works of art I had ever seen. I walked past the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Soldier Field, and even Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, each brilliantly created with twigs, bark, and other things you’d find outdoors. Weaving my way under the train tracks as seven trains and three trolleys circled past me, I finally got to the famous scene of downtown Chicago. I saw Navy Pier along with its famous Ferris wheel, the Hancock Building, and sure enough, the Sears Tower rising above everything else. Waterfalls splashed down from overhead displays to create a replica of the Chicago River as well. It was a room filled with nostalgia, a true historical representation of Chicago’s landmarks from both today and years past. If you have an appreciation for exotic plants, displays of intricate artwork, or want to experience all of downtown Chicago in a single room, check out what Chicago Botanic Garden has to offer. After visiting, you’ll be amazed at how much there is to see, even in the bitter cold of winter.

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