by Wendy
Jack took this great photo a couple of weeks ago. There are still traces of the snow around the city, and it’s been really cold. More flurries may be on the way this weekend. Winter wonderland, right? All is well, just trying to get back into the blogging habit when it feels like my creative ideas are in hibernation. Hoping to break the ice soon. Stay warm and safe!
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
In November, Jimmy and I spent five glorious days in Negril, Jamaica at the Rockhouse Hotel to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. As I was looking through our honeymoon photos (also spent in the Caribbean) I laughed at some of my style choices. Granted, I could get away with a lot more at the age of 23! I did most of my shopping for our Jamaica trip during the summer sales when swimsuits and sundresses are cheap and plentiful. Here’s what I packed for our low-key resort stay,
by Wendy
follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
We had the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in Richmond, Virginia earlier in the month. Jack had a work event, and I was happy to escape the January doldrums and check out a delightful new city. Here’s a brief rundown of our Richmond weekend. Continue reading
by Wendy
The title is sarcastic. January has got to be one of the most frustrating months to face. It begins by taking down the Christmas tree that’s kept us company for several weeks. Losing that warm glow of holiday lights can make the house feel so bare. Going back to work after enjoying time off, getting back on the scale, facing colder temperatures, trying to find a new dentist because of changed insurance plans…January is a rough wake-up call. And then a blizzard messes with your travel plans. I’m all for being positive and focusing on blessings but sometimes, it’s comforting to complain about dumb stuff as you get back into your game. Do you have the January blues? Has any of this happened to you recently? We can wallow for awhile together. Continue reading
January 2015 marked the launch of Looks and Leaps. Our blog may not be the fanciest, but we are proud that we’ve learned to develop and operate it ourselves. We write our own content and take our own photos. We showcase different perspectives on travel, fashion and other fun topics from Looks and Leaps family members. It has been a fun collaborative and creative space and we encourage other families to give it a try!
On our one-year anniversary, a special thank you to everyone who reads our blog! Thank you to all contributors! Thanks to all who took the time to send a (non-spam) comment, and to those relatives and friends who have shared kind words! Read on for some fun facts/ statistics to date. Continue reading
by Wendy
Just like the old television character “MacGyver” who was constantly using everyday objects to get himself out of trouble, here are a few tricks I’ve used to temporarily fix various clothes and beauty issues. I can’t guarantee they’ll work in every situation, but you may find something to inspire an even better solution. Above all don’t give up – you can pull it together before you fall apart. Usually. Continue reading
by Joe
Homer Simpson once said while looking at a map of the US, Look Lisa, there’s a NEW Mexico! Well it isn’t new and it ain’t Mexico, but it truly is the Land of Enchantment. My wife and I just returned from an eleven day tour of the state and found it to be one of the most enchanting and geologically diverse states in the Union. The scenery is terrific, the food is fantastic, and the people are proud of their history and way of life. They are Native American, Hispanic and Wild West American all in one friendly, helpful, and gracious hosts.
We had considered going to New Mexico for several years because we had seen photographs and read info on their Balloon Fiesta held every year during the first couple of weeks in October. Which in itself is a great reason to stop in Albuquerque but by far is not the only draw that will float your boat (or balloon in this case). The more I planned for the trip the longer it became. We picked a great time of year as the temperatures are milder and more pleasant in the Fall. The north will see temps warm up in the day to the high 60s/low 70s with lows in the 40s. The south will still be very warm, typically high 80s during the day and the 60s in the evening. The sun shines everyday and the sky is so blue. Basically we spent five and a half days in the north and the same in the south. The half day was a transitional day as we drove from Santa Fe in the north to Las Cruces in the south which is about a five and a half hour drive. Continue reading
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
Don’t you just love to get back from a relaxing, rejuvenating vacation only to find that one of your major appliances in malfunctioning? Nothing kills that post vacation glow like an added home expense. We ordered a new heating element for our oven that wouldn’t preheat, but unfortunately we got the wrong size. There was no way we would get a new one in time for the holiday baking frenzy. Luckily, our stove top and broiler still worked. We also have a “babycakes” that helped us to be creative with our treats. Here’s how we ended up with a house full of sweets even without a working oven!
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
December is flying by. As the new year approaches I love to think back over the previous 12 months and remember the fun times. Over the course of 2015, I was lucky to have many weekends of travel. We took about 8 trips to see Jack’s family and 5 trips to see mine, plus had a ball hosting family visiting us in DC. We introduced my sister and nephew to one of our favorite local escapes from the city. We had wonderful trips to Spain, France, Utah, New York City and Hilton Head, which are captured in the blog. I love reading over these old posts – this was part of the reason for starting a blog in the first place. There were a few more weekend trips I wanted to call out for their specialness. Continue reading