Did you know that there are actually 7 types of rest?
I think one thing most, if not all, humans have in common is the need for some good quality rest. Any chance that I have to unwind and relax in a cozy, decluttered environment, I take it. Unfortunately, that is more of a privilege these days and not something everyone has the luxury of having. Especially with the fast paced life that a lot of us live.
Good Roots is a retail space located in downtown Glen Ellyn. A space designed by two women (Ashley & Lindsay) with big dreams of spreading the love and joy of houseplants into the homes of everyone.
They are both natural nurturers: both in their homes as wife and mothers and to their plant babies. With hearts full of gold, they love to watch both plants and humans grow. Knowing full well that everything stems from “good roots,” they decided to use that for the name of their space.
These two meeting was fate as they were two kindred spirits destined to pursue their passions together. So much so that in the heat of COVID, they decided to take the plunge and convert the playroom in Ashley’s home into a place where they sold plants on the weekends. How cool!
This passion project grew into a bigger purpose as they realized that their side hustle had more potential than they initially realized.
When I visited Good Roots for the first time, I was greeted with so much kindness and good energy. Ashley and Lindsay talk to their customers like they are old friends. I find that absolutely beautiful. Since then, I have been able to connect with them more on social media. When I asked them to go into depth about their Good Roots mission, they said:
“When we opened Good Roots, we wanted it to feel like a place people could visit as frequently as they wanted to – to unwind, relax, find inspiration, or escape. Our passion for design, plants, and people is really what drives Good Roots, and it absolutely feels like a home we built together with customers that feel and share with us like family.”
To visit Good Roots: 492 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
I’m not sure why, but something that has been on my bucket list for a while was Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta. It is the world’s largest hot air balloon festival where over 700 hot air balloons come for the week long fest. This fest generates the bulk of the revenue for New Mexico and hundreds of thousands of people visit during the event.
This was my first time in New Mexico. I got there on a Thursday and the first day of the fest wasn’t until Saturday so I was able to do some exploring during my trip. The first day I was there, I visited Old Town Albuquerque. It was a charming little town with beautiful architecture. There were tons of shops and street vendors selling handmade items.
Old Town Albuquerque 
San Felipe de Neri Church
Some of our family friends who have been to New Mexico told us there was nothing to do in Albuquerque and that we should make our way to Santa Fe. There’s even a train that will take you there from Albuquerque for $9! So we headed there for the day. And honestly… I wasn’t impressed. Santa Fe was too tourist-y for me. So we took the train back in hopes of getting to see the sunset from the tram back in Albuquerque. Unfortunately, the line to get on the tram was over an hour long, so we had to view the sunset from the visitors center.
Santa Fe, New Mexico 
Sandia Peak Tram
Now for the Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta, you need to choose AM or PM tickets. I chose the PM because of this thing called a Glowdeo. So we didn’t have to be at the shuttles until 3PM. Since the rest of the group arrived, we went back to Old Town so they could see it, too. When the time came, we got in the lines to take the shuttles (school buses) to the event. It was incredibly organized and we were there in no time.
The balloons were spectacular. So many colors and shapes. ALl of them lighting up in unison to put on a beautiful show. However, they were all on the ground instead of in the air. We all decided we wanted to see the Mass Ascension so even though we were leaving Sunday afternoon, we purchased tickets for Sunday morning to see the balloons in the air. Back in the security line at 4:30AM to see the balloons go up at sunrise.
What we witnessed was something I couldn’t explain if I tried and I would recommend it to everyone. There’s something about hundreds going up at once that makes it feel like magic. I’m thankful I was able to share the experience with my family and cross another adventure off my bucket list.
If you’re interested in learning more information about the fest, head to https://balloonfiesta.com/
