A chat with khoollector, Hazel

***Rachel Khoo would like to thank all the inspiring people who helped make the Khoollect studio a hive of creativity. Although the Khoollect studio’s doors have now closed, you can keep up with Rachel’s newest adventures on RachelKhoo.com and on Rachel’s Instagram and Facebook pages – and, continue to enjoy the Khoollect website’s stories and recipes, which will remain available.***

We love to learn more about our readers. Every few weeks we pick a fellow khoollector to have a little chat and understand a little more about their lives. This week we had a chat with Khoollector Hazel from Chicago, an early morning starter with a love for travel and walks through her hometown. So grab a cuppa and get to know Hazel…

Full name?
Hazel Oreluk

Where do you live?
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Where can we find you online?
MyTravelDiary_byHazel

What do you do?
I’m a healthcare research manager. I handle number crunching, graphs and charts. All that fun stuff!

What do you #khoollect?
Books, magnets from places I’ve been to, anything French (postcards, books, stickers, posters).

What’s your favourite recent post on Khoollect?
The Khoollect Community Reveals its Top Copenhagen Hotspots: I love to travel and learn about other cultures, customs, their dishes, etc. I especially enjoy travel tips from locals or people who have been there versus “the official guide books”. Locals and visitors can tell you more personal stories/experiences about an out-of-the-way mom-and-pop restaurant that only seats 6 people but has great food, etc. than an official guide book.

What’s your favourite snack?
Warm soy chocolate milk with a splash of caramel and vanilla syrups, and a warm butter croissant! Yum!

Where’s your go-to hangout in your city?
Art Institute of Chicago and Millenium Park. They are next to each other. You can view great works in the museum, then take a stroll or ice skate in Millenium Park while viewing the beautiful Chicago skyline and holiday lights. (Tip: There are a lot of good food places: from high end to budget traveler, and dessert shops by Millennium Park. Dine in or grab a ‘take out’ and eat a picnic in Millennium Park while enjoying the sights and sounds of Chicago.)

How do you get cosy during the cold winter months?
Warm blanket, warm chocolate milk, a book, and a cuddle with my husband, baby, or both.

What’s your ideal Christmas day?
Waking up ‘late’ (like 7.00am, that’s late for me), open presents with family while still in our pyjamas, eat a pancake-bacon-eggs type of breakfast, head to church, then off to meet more family for lunch at someone’s house and just enjoy each other’s company. Dancing encouraged.

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve?
Go to an early NYE party in Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo with family and relatives, visit the animals, do some crafts, some eating, a lot of dancing, come home and put the baby to bed, and enjoy a quiet night with my husband watching the New Year’s Eve countdowns from countries all over the world.

Thanks, Hazel.

Do you live in Chicago? Or have you visited? What did you like about it, let us know in the comments…

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WRITTEN BY:
Sami Sharaf

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