Recently I did a poll on Instagram asking moms what they really wanted for Mother’s Day and can you guess what most of the answers were? They all related to some form of self-care.

That’s right, moms want time off, time for themselves, some rest and relaxation, a spa day, a girl’s day/night, and my personal favorite – delish cocktails by the pool. I have to admit all of these options sound heavenly and while I can’t book a spa day for all my mama friends or make a pool appear (although that would be amazing!) – I can share a few of my favorite new cocktail recipes and tell you how you can get your own delivered straight to your door.

Let’s start with how you can get craft spirits delivered straight to your door. (Intended for a 21+ audience) Spirit Hub, the craft spirit authority, is an online retailer that partners with independent distilleries to bring you a collection of exceptional craft spirits direct to your door. They currently service Illinois, North Dakota, Nebraska, and New Hampshire. We’ve used them for a year now and love their selections.

Spirit Hub has an amazing selection of craft spirits, spirit sampler boxes, and even chic barware. Basically, they have everything you need to make Mom happy this Mother’s Day. When ordering use code: FREEGIFT and get a FREE set of Coupe Glasses on orders $125+. Shipping over $100 is free too!

My Mother’s Day gift set just arrived and it came with Crescendo Spirits Pompelmocello Grapefruit Liqueur. This spirit was fan-requested as there are not a lot of grapefruit varieties out there, and let me say, it delivers!

Here are just two grapefruit cocktail recipes I know you’ll love:

Traditional Paloma

What you’ll need:

• 2 oz Tequila (Spirit Hub has a great Tequilla selection too!)
• 1 oz Pompelmocello Grapefruit Liqueur
• .5 oz Lime Juice
• Splash of Fresca
• Salt
• Grapefruit Twist

Steps:

Rim a glass with salt by dipping the glass in fresh lime juice and then salt.

Add tequila, lime juice, grapefruit liqueur, and a pinch of salt.

Add ice, top with a splash of Fresca and stir.

Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Pink Sparkling Martini

What you’ll need:

• 1 oz Pompelmocello Grapefruit Liqueur
• 1 oz vodka
• .5 oz grapefruit juice
• 1 oz sparkling wine/prosecco

Steps:

Add grapefruit Liqueur, juice vodka to a shaker tin with ice and shake.  

Strain into a glass.

Top with sparkling wine and garnish

Here’s to all the mamas out there and don’t forget to put yourself first this Mother’s Day. Cheers!

Winter is closing out and I don’t know about you, but I could use some spa days to unwind and recharge. This year has definitely been one for the history books and my mind, skin, body, and soul could use some extra loving. I’m sure yours could, too.

I’m so excited to share this list of a handful of my favorite places for spa services in Chicago with you! I even have some product recommendations to treat yourself to an at-home spa night.

First up, Freeze and Float Spa Chicago – 371 W Ontario St

Go for the Float Session. Float in one of their private and spacious floatation suites in highly- concentrated salt water, eliminating daily stressors through the sensation of weightlessness. This form of relaxation ushers in the half-awake, half-dreaming Theta state, where meditation, healing, rest, creativity, and emotional rejuvenation thrive.

Floating also eases the pain of sore muscles and joints after a tough workout or restores postural alignment after a long work week. Known as an aid to reduce headaches, improve sleep, and release endorphins, floating also reduces cravings, making a healthy weight management goal more easily attainable. Improved circulation to each of the body’s systems, including the skin, is another benefit that leaves you with a radiant, post-float “glow.” It’s a unique experience you’ll want to try at least once. Pricing is available here.

If floating isn’t your thing, try an Infrared Sauna session.

Infrared Sauna sessions are a natural way to detox, heal, and relax in complete privacy. By gently increasing your body’s core temperature, infrared heat permeates deep into the body’s tissue, releasing toxins through your skin. Relieves sore muscles, burns calories, reduces wrinkles, firms skin, and improves overall health/well-being. They are relaxing and you immediately feel refreshed after in the rainfall shower.

Dvida Med Spa – 507 N. Wells Street

I’ve had many services at DVida (ask for Olga, she’s the best!) including the Hydrafacial, Dermaplaning, and Cool Sculpting, which I highly recommend, but my next service will be the M’Lis body wrap.

The wrap is a holistic approach to body contouring that decreases cellulite, aids in weight loss, and helps remove toxins and dead skin cells.

Chicago CryoSpa – 2640 N Lincoln Ave

Stop in for a Whole Body Cryotherapy (by appointment only). I’ve also had the Cyro Facial and the Lymphatic Massage – highly recommend. The team there is the best!

Cyro treatments were first utilized in Japan in 1978 to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Studies conducted over the last two decades have established Whole Body Cryotherapy as a powerful treatment that has numerous benefits. It’s a powerful treatment for inflammatory disorders, injuries, and muscle and joint pain. It can be used to treat conditions such as fibromyalgia and rheumatism, and you have an immediate release of endorphins can help with insomnia, fighting depression, and decreasing psychological stress. 

AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago – 800 W Superior St

AIRE offers a variety of treatments for couples and individuals with the best being a relaxing indulgent bath experience that includes a 60-minute full-body massage.

Benefits include relaxing the muscle and joint tension while cold water reactivates blood circulation, tones the skin, and has a reinvigorating effect. AIRE massage combines different techniques and is specifically designed to achieve a maximum state of relaxation in a short amount of time, through slow, deep, and comprehensive movements. 

Go with the significant other or a girlfriend. Perfect day out!

Ricci Kapricci – 1416 W Fullerton Ave

A full-service salon & spa, Ricci Kapricci offers a variety of services including an amazing Ultimate 90-minute Hydration Facial. Maria, their licensed Esthetician, works her magic with this detox, triple cleanse, soothing oat milk mask facial. Let’s not forget about the head, neck, shoulder, and arm massage either! Heaven! You can reach out to her directly on IG or contact the spa to make an appointment.

Now for a little at-home spa day!

You have to RUN to Mojo Spa Chicago – 1468 N Milwaukee Ave, and pick up the Hello Bright line!

This line is the perfect prep for transitioning into spring skin from dry, cracked, dull, dehydrated winter skin. Start with the Hello Bright Foaming Cream Cleanser. Ultra-thick cleansing cream with a rich lather that removes dirt, makeup, and impurities for a deep clean, and vibrant glow. Leaves your skin feeling fresh, hydrated, and silky smooth. Ideal for all skin types.

Next, use the Hello Bright Cloud Mask. This mask initially has a gel consistency but morphs into a cream mask when applied, which I love. The mask provides superior hydration and uses Aloe Vera to provide a cooling effect and soften the skin. It’s the ideal mask for overnight use, or to revive dull and tired skin after a long night.

In the morning, finish the treatment with the Hello Bright Facial Tonic + Refresher, a.k.a., the bottle of sunshine!

This is a completely unique three in one product—a toner, refresher, and illuminator! It’s comprised of three layers—an oil layer, floral water layer, and a pearl illuminating layer. Shake to blend the layers, and apply the product as a traditional toner, or as a refreshing, hydrating refresher throughout the day for a healthy-looking glow. So versatile, it can be used under, over, or instead of makeup! This might be my new favorite product.

Mojo Spa has so many great hand-crafted products from skincare to makeup to candles. They’ve been gracing Chicago now for over 15 years and also offer Mani and Pedi services (coming back soon, stay tuned!) with Champagne. Yes, please! They ship nationwide, too!

I hope these places and services inspired you to make an appointment for that spa day you so desperately deserve! And, if you need a gal to tag along – I volunteer!

If you haven’t heard of the Ice Castles by now, they are an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains, and much more. While there, you feel like you’re in a fairy tale, If you live relatively close to their locations in Utah, Colorado, New Hampshire, or Wisconsin – they are worth the drive.

We are in Chicago and it’s about an hour and a half drive to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where they are located. Tickets purchased online (even pre-covid) typically sell out in minutes, if not seconds. Tickets are even more limited this year due to safety requirements.

I do recommend signing up for their newsletter and email updates along with following them on social for any updates or openings. You can also get on their pre-order list for next year which means you’ll get first access to tickets before the general public.

If they are sold out online, can you still get in? Possibly! Many hotels in the area are offering Ice Castle packages. This is how we were able to get in. We booked a room at The Ridge Hotel which included a room and Ice Castle tickets. They set up the reservation and time slot for you for the Ice Castles. They also offer Igloo services for meals and have an indoor heated pool and spa. It’s a nice little getaway even without the Ice Castle! Another bonus of staying at a nearby hotel? They offer free shuttle services to and from the Ice Castles. There is a pretty large parking lot at the Ice Castles, however, during peak times it fills up fast and parking can be very difficult to find. If you are going to drive and park, I recommend reserving a non-peak time to avoid any parking hassles.

I’ve also heard people having luck just showing up at non-peak times and being able to purchase tickets at the door. Tickets onsite are more expensive. Online they run $23 per adult and $19 per child 4 and up. Children under 4 are free.

Once you arrive you’ll see they have several activities besides the Ice Castles on the property. They have a large ice skating rink, indoor and outdoor bars with food services, cozy fire pit seating options, and toboggan rentals. It’s a winter wonderland of fun!

For safety, they do require masks at all times and you have to sign waivers. You are not allowed to touch or climb on the ice structures. They also limit the number of tickets sold as to not crowd the areas. We were there during a prime spot and it didn’t feel too crowded.

Once inside you get to walk through illuminated caves, see a large ice water fountain, and even ride an illuminated ice slide! There are smaller slides for the little kiddos too. I do recommend wearing (especially kids) snow pants so they won’t get wet sliding down the slides.

As you exit the Ice Castles you’ll find two food vendors and fire pit seating if you want to stop for a cocktail or hot cocoa and a bite.

Overall, it is such a cool experience day or night. If you’d like to check out more photos and videos from our Ice Castle experience, head over to my highlights on Instagram under the handle hollydays_chicago.

Can you believe we are already onto Valentine’s Day? Didn’t we just get through Christmas? Either way, I’m here for it!

Truth be told I’ve never been one to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the past, but given the last year we’ve had I’m grateful for any reason to celebrate – especially if what we are celebrating is LOVE. Can’t we all use a little more love in our lives lately?

Because that answer is a big YES from me, I got myself this cute shirt and plan to spoil my loved ones with lots of hugs, kisses, extra love, and a few gifts this Valentine’s Day.

I’ve been on the hunt for some fun Valentine’s gifts for him, her, and those Galentines (let’s not forget about those ladies that always have our backs!) in your life and sharing them below.

First up, this list is for the men. What’s your significant other’s love language?

• If it’s an act of service, give her a card that reads you’ll do all the household work for the week without her help. Cook a few meals and throw them in the freezer to save her some time and work. Take the kids away one night and let her have a movie night without interruption and a nice bottle of wine by herself. Invest in a cleaning service to come do a deep clean of the house for her.
• If she loves experiences, find a nice spa in the area and book her a massage or a facial. Give her the gift of self-care. We all know ladies (and moms!) put themselves last most times.
• If she’s sentimental, you can buy a journal and log all the things you love about her and why you’re grateful to have her in your life. Most often, these little sentiments are forgotten but mean the most.
• If she loves gifts then here are some great ideas she is sure to love.

I thought this one below was unique. We love our candles and to have a message like this when it’s lit is extra special. They are customizable and supports small business. They also have ones with fun sayings you don’t have to customize.

Let’s move on to some Galentine gifts!

I couldn’t help myself with this one because sometimes we all need a little humor in our lives.

And, again, you can never go wrong with some cozy gifts for all your favorite Galentines.

Let’s move onto the special men in our lives, shall we? They are always so hard to shop for but I think these items will make them feel extra special.

Let’s start with a self-care kit. Loving this one because it also supports a small business.

Here are a few unique ideas. For the cocktail connoisseur or the chef in your life, I found this class topper cocktail smoker and a defrosting board. If you don’t have a rapid defrosting tray for meats, you’re missing out! They are amazing.

And, lastly, for the man who loves a good laugh.

I know your loved ones will enjoy these gifts, but there’s nothing better than showing and telling them how much they are truly loved.

xo,

Hollydays Chicago

*Disclaimer: Any links shared in this blog post may be commissionable. If they are, it is a very small commission and is at no extra expense to you.

We’ve arrived! It’s officially winter in Chicago. I know Chicago offers a plethora of things to do in warmer months, but don’t count winter out! You’d be surprised at all the winter fun available for all in Chicago and surrounding areas.

Just walking around after a fresh snow is enough to make you fall in love with this winter wonderland, also known as Chicago, but if you want to play in it you’ll have to check out these fun sledding hills in the city.

Lincoln Park. Head to the north end by the playgrounds closer to the Diversey side and you’ll find several hills ranging from small to large. I would go early because by mid-afternoon it gets crowded and you have people sledding in all different directions – which always makes me nervous for safety concerns of kids running into each other.

Horner Park. This park is off Irving Park and California and also has some great sledding hills for the city.

If you’re tired of being cooped up inside, you can venture out to some of the creative spaces Chicago restaurants have made available due to Covid and keep you warm while dining outside.

Dine-in an Igloo! We have dined in several igloos this past month and one of our favorites was at Barcocina. Kids are free, adults are $100 per person – but that comes with a 2-hour reservation, three food selections, two drink selections, a heater, couches, blankets, and a wireless Bluetooth speaker to play your own music. We went with two adult couples for a date night and had basically all you can eat tacos, elotes, margaritas, and sangria! Highly recommend them. So many places are offering safe eating experiences and what better way to support our local Chicago eateries. A good resource to check out all the igloo/outdoor dining options is on Timeout Chicago.

Old Grounds Social / Lincoln Park They have a bottomless brunch on their winterized wonderland patio that runs about $50 a person. Someone book and invite me! They had me at “bottomless mimosas”.

Maggie Daley Ice Ribbon. We love the ribbon and it’s one of our favorite winter activities in Chicago. You can’t beat the backdrop either! Experience “alpine in the city” skating down a quarter-mile winding ribbon of ice that curves up and down around a 40-foot climbing wall with the city’s stunning skyline in the backdrop. It’s a must for your winter bucket list. Reservations cost $5 for those who have skates and $16 for those who rent. (via Secret Chicago) Image via TimeOut Chicago.

If you want to venture outside of the city, here are some places within a couple of hours or less of a drive from Chicago.

The Forge at Lemont Quarries. This is an adventure park just 20 miles from downtown Chicago. They feature activities like ziplines, climbing walls, and towering ropes. Be sure to bundle up depending on the temps and some activities are only available weather permitting. Plus, The Forge also has a 3,600-square-foot ice skating rink. Score! Check their website for pricing and details.

Wilmont Mountain. Just about an hour from Chicago, Wilmont Mountain offers skiing, tubing, and more winter fun for the whole family. It’s also a great spot if you have beginner skiers in your group.

Wilmont has almost 120 skiable acres, 25 trails, 7 lifts, 2 surface conveyor lifts, and 4 progression terrain parks with a double high-speed rope tow, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night.

They also have snow tubing! The image above via Yelp. For those who are not up to skiing or snowboarding, there is the tubing area which has 22 lanes and 2 surface conveyor lifts to take you back to the top.

They offer lessons and ski school for the littles, too. You can make a day out of it or stay at the resort and make a weekend out of it.

Starved Rock. Our family was here in the Fall and it’s one of my favorite places to go. Sometimes you need wide-open spaces and fresh air. It’s a little over two hours of a drive from downtown Chicago. There are almost a dozen hiking trails and you’re surrounded by the grand beauty of nature. I’ve read it’s even more beautiful in winter with layers of white snow on the ground and ice sculptures hanging from all the caverns. Those sites alone would be enough to garner a day trip out to Starved Rock.

Ice Castles at Lake Geneva Per their website, Ice Castles is an award-winning frozen attraction located in four cities across North America. The experience is built using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains, and much more. Ours is located just over the border in Wisconsin.

Tickets go on sale soon as the castles open up mid January. If you want to make a weekend of it, some resorts are offering packages that include the Ice Castles, tubing, and/or ski packages as well. We will definitely be checking out this phenomenon this winter!

If you have any favorite Chicago winter activities be sure to share them below or with me on social!

This holiday season I’ve really focused on supporting small businesses and looking for unique gifts for my loved ones, so I was thrilled to learn that Spirit Hub and Tie Bar partnered to create the perfect gift box.

In case you are not familiar with Spirit Hub, it’s a new craft spirit virtual retailer serving Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Hampshire! Intended for a 21+ audience, they offer a wide variety of craft spirits from small artisan distilleries delivered straight to your door. Genius, I know. I found out about them over the summer and have since tried several of their vodka, bourbon, and tequila brands. They did not disappoint. You can check out some drink recipes I shared here.

Now, back to the perfectly curated holiday gift box. Spirit Hub and Tie Bar partnered to create a box where taste meets style. What’s included? SIX exceptional spirits, a cocktail guide, one promotional offer for a future purchase at Spirithub.com, and one promotional offer for a future purchase at Tiebar.com.  We got some stylish socks, a tie, and a handkerchief.

Skip the gift cards this year and give the gift of crafted timeless fashionable cocktails. The cocktail guide it comes with features classic favorites and innovative firsts and all for under $40. Sounds like the perfect gift to me.

If gift boxes are not your thing, don’t worry, Spirit Hub has a great selection of craft spirits, mixers, syrups, and bitters. They also carry some sleek barware and glassware for a one-stop-shop. Use code: HOLLY20 for 20% off! Check out their site over the Black Friday weekend for sales and promotions too.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out their recipes which are updated frequently. My personal favorite is the Hot Cinnamon Apple Toddy.

*Disclaimer: Some links in this post are commissionable at no extra cost to you.

I saved the hardest for last. Here is my holiday gift guide for the special men in our lives. I hope you enjoyed my kids’ gift guide and my women’s gift guide. Now, let’s get to the men.

I know men can be so hard to shop for. Every year I get the “I don’t need anything” response from Adam and I have to go on the search for gifts he’ll love. I have a long list of gift ideas this year and know you’ll love them! I’m focusing on small and local businesses and small vendors on Amazon to give them extra support this year.

First up.

Did you know you can shop VET owned businesses on Amazon? And, you get custom amazing gifts like below.

These fun gifts were recommended by a friend. Check out this Barbell Barware from Jonathan Adler.

Also in love with these cocktail coasters.

On the topic of entertaining and cocktails – You can’t go grown with a Whiskey Ball maker.

Or, this full bar set or cocktail maker.

A Chicagoan? You can pick up some Cider from Eris Brewery! They sell them at Binny’s too. Everyone loves craft beers, ciders & spirits! I can verify that the ciders are so delish! They just released a pumpkin one and it sold out immediately!

Eris Craft Cider

Does Dad love coffee? Support this small business by checking out all his Dad coffer lover gifts.

Okay moving on to self-care.

Men need to manscape right? Here’s the perfect gift to help them out.

Men also need skincare! They may not admit it but they’re stealing yours when you’re not looking. Starting Black Friday through Cyber Monday you can get up to 30% off site-wide with Rodan + Fields. Take this quiz to see what combo works best for their skin.

Got a man who likes to cook and grill? Here are some of my faves from an old staple, Crate & Barrel.

Next up, sharing some great Amazon finds your man will love.

This is a great one. I bought this garage door opener for Adam last year and he loved it. It’s compatible with most garage door systems and so convenient to be able to access from your iPhone,

Last up, let’s help our men get fit! Adam loves this weight set and every man can use some loungewear since we are home often these days.

I’ll be sharing more ideas via social media as we dive into the season. I know there are some last-minute shoppers out there! If you have a small business recommendation, don’t forget to leaves those in the comment section.

Disclaimer – some links posted are commissionable.