Optimistic Soap

We packed a lot into this trip and I’m still processing how much beauty, history, art and kindness we experienced along the way.
A few highlights:
🚂 Taking the Empire Builder from Portland to Chicago
Honestly, the train itself became part of the vacation. Watching the country unfold outside our window for 2½ days reset my nervous system in a way I didn’t expect.
And the dining car community seating — which I initially dreaded 😂 — ended up being one of my favorite parts. We met so many interesting people. One woman had worked on projects connected to the James Webb and Chandra telescopes and even showed us designs for a backyard project she’d created. I loved those conversations so much.
🏙️ Chicago
• Architectural boat tour (absolutely worth the hype)
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Oak Park + Frank Lloyd Wright home/studio + Unity Temple
• The Bean + Millennium Park
• The Winter Garden at the library
• Grant Park
• A fantastic free walking tour of The Loop through International Greeters
(Huge shoutout to Alan, our guide, who showed us astonishing architecture, stained glass, mosaics and interiors I never would have discovered on my own.)
• Another highlight: the extremely excited baby pug we met on Navy Pier. 😂
🦞 Boston
• North End / Little Italy
• Cannoli + lobster adventures
• Old North Church + crypt
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• Boston MFA
• Boston Public Library murals by John Singer Sargent (stunning)
• Freedom Trail wandering
• Back Bay walks
• Make Way for Ducklings statues
• Bartevian Shop run by 102 year old Pat. I’d heard about her from on the and the experience was as surreal as she described!

As wonderful as this vacation was, it also reminded me that joy isn’t only found in grand adventures. There’s joy in coming home too. In familiar routines. In being greeted by cats. In making soap again.

And yes, the soap shop is officially back open. If you’ve been waiting to place an order, now’s the time. Vacation was delightful… but now I want to get in front of the bills before they come due!

Thank you again to everyone