• About
    • Partner
    • Contact
    • Shop
  • Style
  • Beauty & Wellness
  • Sincerely, Ashlea

  • Travel
    • The Pacific Northwest
    • Alaska + Vancouver
    • Los Angeles
    • Las Vegas
    • Chicago
    • The Midwest
      • Columbia, MO
      • The Greater St. Louis Area
    • Virginia Beach – COMING SOON
    • Cancun, Mexico – COMING SOON
    • Costa Rica – COMING SOON
  • Food & Wine
  • Books & More

Sincerely, Ashlea

Chicago

Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL

Before you land on this page arguing that Chicago should rightfully be added under The Midwest page of my travel blog, just know that I purposely made it its own category for a reason. Chicago may be at the heart of the Midwest and in the same state I grew up, but it feels worlds apart. And because there is just SO much content to cover being the third biggest city in the nation, it gets to stand alone.

 For those who haven’t heard, I recently made the move back to Illinois — residing in downtown Chicago — in September 2022! 

To catch you up to speed on my journey circling back to the Midwest, I was born and grew up in Southern Illinois and Missouri and also attended college there (learn more about my connections to the Midwest here). In January 2020, I moved out to Seattle, WA, swearing I would never return to the boring Midwest and make the most of myself on the West Coast. 

I did, in fact, make the absolute most of the start to my adult life on the West Coast and had a lot of my “firsts” there — starting my first job in the city, publishing my first book, starting my first business, moving in with my amazing boyfriend, and even starting this lifestyle blog! 

But even so, the West Coast hadn’t impressed me just as much as I thought it would (granted, there was a pandemic that put a damper on things). Without getting into the negatives, I am so grateful for the experiences I had on the West Coast, but I am even more thankful to be given this huge breath of fresh air with this move to Chicago. My boyfriend recently landed a new career, which is actually what brought us here. 

Chicago, IL

 

As a kid, I knew the basics of why Chicago attracted so many people, including my family: Giordano’s deep dish pizza, the Magnificent Mile, an endless supply of restaurants and shopping in general, and the beaches and lake, of course. 

Growing up, my dad absolutely LOVED Chicago and would drive up the entire family from Southern Illinois to spend the weekends here all the time. Even during Chicago winters, which I hated but endured several times so we could visit my sister who went to college at UIC. Back then, between the awful winters and having my over-protective parents within driving distance of coming to see me, Chicago was not it for me. 

But now, being 26-years-old and having seen and explored parts of the world on my own, I’m ready for Chicago. My boyfriend and I currently live in the heart of downtown in River North within walking distance of literally everything. 

Dive in with me and learn about all the cool things to do as I explore my new city!

Explore Chicago
Chicago, IL

A view from the 94th floor of the John Hancock building, which is owned by the Hearn Company! (I knew I’d be a billionaire one day…)

angel_ashlea

Author 🤓📚 SHE THAT BRAVES THE PAGE. ✍🏽 Content Creation, Beauty + Wellness, & Style ✨ Multipassionate #entrepreneur 🛩🌏👠🎻🎹🍵⛳️ Sincerely, Ashlea 💋 #lifestyleblogger 💋 www.aehearn.com

angel_ashlea
Thank GOD I moved to a city with such a fabulous s Thank GOD I moved to a city with such a fabulous symphony!!! So much history behind my love for Carmina Burana, from performing it with the Edwardsville High School Symphonic Orchestra to seeing the ballet in college 😍😍 absolutely STOKED to see tonight’s performance for one of the best orchestras in the world! @chicagosymphony 🎻 not to mention this photo with a gigantic Alice (my violin since childhood) has made my entire night!! ❤️ #chicagosymphony #carminaburana #chicago
As if I needed another spot to obsess over wine! S As if I needed another spot to obsess over wine! So glad my boyfriend and I got to experience this incredible and delicious pre-Valentines Taste-Around event at @eatalychicago last week that was a total DREAM for wine and cheese lovers like myself 🍷🧀

Chicago locals and visitors, head over to Eataly in River North (literally MY neighborhood, which still psyches me out after living in the suburbs for like my entire life!!) and shop their marketplace for all your V-Day needs, or book a future reservation at their amazing restaurants, like Vino &…

Head to the link in my bio to read my newest blog “Eataly Chicago, A Must Visit for Valentine’s Day & Beyond” for all about my tasting experience, plus to sign up for one (or all) of their three Vino Camp experiences happening next month in March (and tickets sell out FAST!!!) including:

🍷 A Private Dinner with the Winemaker
🍷 A Walk Around Food and Wine Tasting
🍷 A Wine Seminar in La Scuola

Shout-out to my amazing Valentine @aidanpazan for being an incredible boyfriend and photographer ❤️❤️❤️

#eataly #eatalychicago #foodandwine #chicago #rivernorth #italianwine #italianfood #winelovers #cheeselovers #foodblogger #travelblog
For the past three months I’ve literally become For the past three months I’ve literally become so OBSESSED with the Peloton that I had to blog about it as the best at-home workout. 🤪 @onepeloton seriously has me addicted to working out, like I have NEVER been willing to exercise more than once a day or more than an hour at a time until I discovered this magical bike, and I’ve officially hit 50+ rides since October!

Head to the link in my bio to read my newest post “A Fun Workout Class You’ll Become Totally Obsessed With: The Peloton Bike” that includes...

 🚲 All the iconic and personable trainers you never knew you needed (including my all-time favorite baddie @fitxkendall who slays me in shape every single day and pushes me so hard in her metal and punk rock rides to break my own records! And my other favorites SO FAR ➡️ @robinnyc @codyrigsby @alextoussaint25 @milamariana)

🚲 My favorite playlists (with everything from metal, to club bangers, hip hop and pop, throwbacks, and artist highlights like @linkinpark and @badbunnypr)

🚲 Thousands of classes to give riders so much variety

🚲 Plus my experience of actually getting way stronger, unlike typical cardio workouts

Grab a Peloton or a find a new apartment building with a Peloton (like I did on accident when I moved to Chicago) and add me as a friend @ Ashlea777 😝

Happy riding! 

#peloton #onepeloton #pelotonstrength #pelotonweightloss #pelotonbike #athomeworkout #cycling #spinclass #bike #bikelife #bikelovers #pelotoncommunity #pelotonfamily
The tea has officially been served! ☕ For my St. The tea has officially been served! ☕ For my St. Louis friends or those visiting, I want to take a minute to rave about my amazing Afternoon Tea experience on NYE at @chouquettestl — a beloved neighborhood bakery in Tower Grove with French pastries and a New Orleans twist that has captured both my heart and my stomach. 

Head to the link in my bio and read my new blog, "La Patisserie Chouquette: A Must-Visit Boutique Bakery in St. Louis" for all the yummy details on...

🫖 Afternoon Tea
🍰 Stunning custom cakes
🍪 So many colorful macarons (plus a monthly subscription for my macaron fiends)
🧁🧋 Other yummy desserts & drinks

Be sure to visit their recent posts or the link in their bio to check out the special menu for their next Afternoon Tea that will have you saying, "cucumber sandwiches, who?" (Although I adore a good cucumber sandwich). 

Chicago friends and visitors, I'll be bringing you a detailed review of Afternoon Tea at @thedrakechicago very soon — so stay tuned for more tea time! 🍵 #afternoontea #teatime #tealover #lapatisseriechouquette #stlouis #tea #explorestlouis #bakery #lapatisserie #frenchpastry #neworleansstyle #neworleansfood
You will never catch me without a carb 🍔🍽️ You will never catch me without a carb 🍔🍽️ I exaggerate for effect LOL — I'm no stranger to a carb-less meal but completely cutting them out? No, thank you.

It’s the first week of the year which means not only are a lot of people crowding the gyms but they're trying out new "diets." One in particular I’ve been hearing about a lot is the Keto Diet and using it for weight loss, so I decided to do some of my own research and share my findings about Keto, how it works, and also some of the downsides most people don’t understand before actually trying it. 

✨ Check out my new blog, “Weight Loss & Keto - What They Don't Tell You About This Low-Carb Diet”

For me, the key to eating healthy (and enjoying life) is all about balance, and the BEST way to approach weight loss in general is simply being calorie deficit combined with being somewhat active. So I’m not a fan of this diet or its harsh restrictions, which a lot of people are finding isn't very sustainable or realistic and has even been said to make them sick. 

But I’m curious though — have you tried the Keto Diet and found that it actually worked with lasting results?? And if it did work, what happened when you finally reached your goal and stopped using the diet plan altogether? Let me know in the comments below. 👇🏽

#ketodiet #ketoweightloss #keto #newyear #2023 #newyearnewme #diet #fitness #fitnessgoal #healthyeating #lifestyleblogger #healthblogger
Showing up for 2023 wearing pops of pink and busin Showing up for 2023 wearing pops of pink and business suit-powerful 😝👠💋 #2023
Playing Betty Crocker the baker this morning 🍪 Playing Betty Crocker the baker this morning 🍪 Our Angel gingerbread cookies may have turned out to look more like lumpy Halloween ghosts but the Christmas spirit is still alive! 🎄🎁 #merrychristmas #gingerbreadcookies #bakingtime
Christmas in Chicago is officially LIT thanks to o Christmas in Chicago is officially LIT thanks to our first day of actual snow today and holiday displays like this one! 🎄❄️🎁 Just be sure if you’re visiting @jackfrostwinterfest that you bring hand warmers!!! ⛄️ #chicago #jackfrost #christmastime #christmasinchicago #decemeber #winter #holidaypopup #iceskating #holidaylights #holidayspirit
Anyone who's known me over the last couple years k Anyone who's known me over the last couple years knows how absolutely OBSESSED I am with @orangetheory and consider myself an avid Orangetheorist! So it was about time that I finally got around to writing about how incredibly life-changing this gym has been for me, teaching me to appreciate and genuinely love working out. 

The OTF fam provides so many perks such as...

🧡 1,357 locations around the U.S.
🧡 A fun group workout environment with awesome trainers
🧡 BOMB music and playlists that make you feel like you're in the hottest club
🧡 A well-rounded, full-body workout instead of a "death by cardio" concept
🧡 In-house competitions for both hardcore gym nuts and beginners 
🧡 And community bonding!

Head to my NEW BLOG "Learning to Love Working Out with Orangetheory Fitness" using the link in my bio for details on my experience over the years and how you can try it for free and revamp your exercise routine.

And shout-out to my Washington State studios who welcomed me in like family — I will totally miss you guys!!! 🔥 @otf_laketapps 🔥@otf_southhill 🔥

#orangetheory #orangetheoryfitness #orangetheorynation #workingout #fitness #fitnessjourney #fitnessmotivation #workoutroutine #workoutfamily #wellness #wellnessjourney #wellnesswednesday #lifestyle #lifestyleblogger
Luxury furniture meets modern art at 3 Arts Club C Luxury furniture meets modern art at 3 Arts Club Café and RH Chicago - also known as Restoration Hardware, an upscale American home-furnishing company. 

This has easily become one of my fave new places in Gold Coast for a few reasons:

🍷 The wine vault (yes, you read that right)
🌲 An ambiance that feels like you’re dining in a garden surrounded by olive trees
🖼️ And interior design as a total art form

Read all about this chic experience in my newest blog at the link in bio 🍵 #chicago #goldcoast #visitchicagoland #visitchicago #furniturelovers #interiordesign #artgallery #artlovers #chic #cafe #artandwine #winelover
Fellow foodies, look no further for a reason to bo Fellow foodies, look no further for a reason to book your cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas with @royalcaribbean and read all about my experience on-board the ship in my new blog “Radiance of the Seas, An Alaskan Cruise for Foodies and Families.”

You’ll find all the details on:

💰Ticket sales
🎭 Planning your itinerary 
⛳️ Ship amenities
🧖🏾‍♀️ The spa
🛏️ Rooms with major views
🍽️ And all-you-can-eat decadent meals and desserts

Stay tuned for future blogs on all the fun things I did in Alaska and experiences you’ll want to book for your trip too! 🌊

#royalcaribbean #radianceoftheseas #cruise #cruiseship #alaskancruise #foodies #allinclusive #planyourtrip #vacay #travelblog #foodblog
She’s perky, she’s fun, and now she’s number She’s perky, she’s fun, and now she’s number one, k-kick it Torence, T-t-t-torence 📣 #bringiton #halloween
Load More Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Legal

Copyright © 2023Site Powered by Pix & Hue.