The best part about traveling with Brian is A) he likes to extend vacation as long as possible B) he knows that the fun is in the journey C) he likes to drive while I navigate. This means that sometimes we make some stops along the way. On our way home from our Twin Cities adventures, we stopped in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and took the Leinenkugel Brewery Tour. This was something we had always wanted to do, and we were very glad we did.
This particular brewery was especially interesting to me as I have taken quite a liking to some of Leinenkugel’s brands of beers like the Canoe Paddler (a Kolsch style beer), the Snow Drift Vanilla Porter, and their entire line of Shandy beers, most especially their Grapefruit variety.
If beer isn’t your thing, however, taking any kind of a brewery tour is interesting if you haven’t done so. You will certainly learn about the beer making process which is awesome to see the machinery, and processes that go into crafting and bottling. Also, you are sure to get a lesson in local and national history too. And let us not forget the sampling, but as we had a long drive home and the kids were with us we had took only a sip and then took part in the free root beer and lemonade after our tour.
My favorite part of the tour was watching the bottling and learning about the women of the Leinenkugel family who have helped keep the business going strong for 5 generations.
After getting home, I wanted to up the ante on the Leinenkugel Grapefruit Shandy, and thought I would create a Grapefruit Mule. Let me tell you, this is the perfect summer treat to watch the sunset and it kind of looks like one too.
Grapefruit Shandy (makes 1 cocktail)
2 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1 oz lime juice
2 oz grapefruit vodka (I used Deep Eddy Ruby Red)
1 bottle Leinenkugel Grapefruit Shandy chilled
ice
Fill a copper mug or glass (I used a glass to show color) with ice and set aside.
Then, in a large glass or cocktail shaker, mix together grapefruit juice, lime juice, and vodka.
Pour vodka mixture into glass with ice, and top with Grapefruit Shandy.
Drink responsibly preferably while watching the last of these summer sunsets.
If I wasn’t so hot all the time, I would cover my head with the blankets and hide until Halloween.
Here is the thing, I love the start of school. New teachers, new friends, the smell of a new box of crayons all with so much potential for a wonderful and productive school year. There will be learning happening. There will be growth. There will be fun. There will be reading logs, journals, flashcards, and math. There will be field trips and lunches and school bus stories. There will be cooler weather. There will be autumn leaves and soccer practice and hot chocolate and snuggles. There will be organization and normalcy.
This is one of my favorite times of year.
However, didn’t summer just get here? Didn’t I just make the summer bucket list? Didn’t I just build a fire at 8:00 a.m. to have s’mores for breakfast? Didn’t we just have swim lessons? Didn’t we just spray the grass off our feet with the hose before coming into the house? Didn’t we just watch the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup? Didn’t we just bunk your beds, hang twinkle lights, read Harry Potter, go on day trips, watch movies, drink floats, go to car shows, and laze about? Didn’t we just get back from vacation?
The seasons are passing more quickly now it seems, which is why I am firmly planted in denial.
In a world where school supplies are next to pool toys, Halloween is discussed in July, and Christmas decor is already making an appearance it is hard for me not to feel guilty about my lack of over the top school preparation this year. Typically, I am in a organizational frenzy, cleaning every nook and cranny of the house and purchasing every possible back to school supply needed.
This year however, it’s the bare minimum.
The more I think about it, though, the more I realize I am not in denial, really. I am just firmly planted in the present. Living in the moment. Something, I must say, I am not used to. One foot in summer, one foot in autumn. Still waking up late and not grocery shopping while at the same time making lists for the upcoming year and faxing allergy forms to school. I am excited for autumn’s arrival while enjoying the last remaining days of our summer. Soaking up every ounce of sunshine, sprinklers, and popsicles while making sure my little ducks are in a row and have everything they need in due time. Autumn will be waiting for me. Summer will not.
So, this is what living in the moment feels like. I like it. I think I will stay.
When I think family vacation, I think road trip. There’s just something about loading up the car with way too much luggage, and hitting the open road in search of a an adventure. There is something so nostalgic, so American, so family friendly about it all. Even John Hughes wrote a whole movie based on his the tale he wrote for the National Lampoon about a fun old fashioned family road trip.
Brian and I have decided that picking a North American city and seeing everything along the way is the way to go. This year we chose the Twin Cities, and we found 11 fun things to see and do. In fact, we wish we would have had more time as everything was so serene as you can see by the many photos I took!
1. Shop The Mall of America: I know it seems weird to want to spend a day indoors at a mall in the middle of a beautiful midwestern summer, but we picked a rainy muggy day for this adventure and it was awesome. It was pretty amazing to see a mall this big, all the stores, and for even those that aren’t into shopping the variety of things to do.
2. Experience Nickolodeon Universe: This is the giant indoor amusement park right in the center of the Mall of America. None of us are too keen on roller coasters, but there is plenty more to do there, in fact the photos we captured with the kids and some of their favorite Nickelodeon characters like, Blue was worth it. They also film a kid’s game show there!
3. Check out the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium: This is also located in The Mall of America. I know it seems weird, but this is an amazing display of aquatic life. The kids loved touching anemones, sea stars, and sting rays. They also have huge display of various other sea creatures that will keep anyone captivated.
4. Make plenty of time for Mill City Museum: This was my absolute favorite part of the Twin Cities. This original Washburn & Crosby flour mill has been converted into a museum that both encapsulates and pays tribute to the milling industry of Minneapolis, but will also tell you everything you need to know about flour, wheat, milling, and the history of Minneapolis.
From the grain elevator to the water room…
the tasting room to the movies, this place was awesome.
Not to mention the view of the river and St. Anthony falls cannot be beat. I wish every city had a museum like this!
5. Eat at Grumpy’s: Grumpy’s Bar and Grill was recommended to us by an employee at the Mill City Museum for lunch. After talking to our server (that’s what we do). We found out that Grumpy’s has been around for quite awhile in the area. The food was great, and it is where I got my first taste of a Juicy Lucy (a burger with cheese in the middle).
6. Visit University of Minnesota: Brian and I have a tradition of visiting collegesand universities when we vacation in a new place. University of Minnesota is a gorgeous campus complete with a few places to stop for ice cream. Also, let’s not forget seeing the stadiums, including Ridder Arena where the 5 Time National Champion Golden Gopher Women’s Hockey Team plays.
7. Stroll through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: Coming from a city that has a Giant Bean in the middle of a park, I guess I am enthralled with outdoor sculpture. This spacious and gorgeous garden is part of the Walker Art Center and is home to 40 permanent art installations including the famous Cherry on the Spoon. The kids liked running through the spray of water.
This was a perfect place to walk around, snap photos, and just kind of relax.
8. Explore Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: This gorgeous and unique place in St. Paul is exactly what is says in its name. It is a giant park, beautiful zoo, and the perfect location to see some of the most beautiful gardens you have ever seen. My favorite part of this visit was the water gardens as we walked in. It was like being in a Monet painting.
9. Tour St. Paul: Visiting Minnesota’s state capital, we were able to get a great guided tour of St. Paul from my friend Melissa. St. Paul is the perfect definition of a bigger city with a small town feel.
10. Try Snuffy’s Malt Shop: This is another Twin Cities favorite, and where my we all got to try some fabulous ice cream treats like a Ice Cream Cherry Soda, a Creamsicle Malt, a Mrs. Snuffy’s Malt, and a Chocolate Covered Cherry Malt.
11. Walk around Minnehaha Falls: This 53 foot waterfall and surrounding park is perfect spot to take in a hike, bikeride, or picnic. There are also some historical landmarks housed here like the Longfellow House (Not the real Longfellow House) and The John H. Steven’s House Museum. We wish we would have had more time here.
There was so much to do that there were a few things we didn’t get to see or do.
BONUS. Take in a Game: No matter what the season you can see the Minnesota Twins play at Target Field, The Vikings play at US Bank Stadium when its completed (formerly the Metronome), The Timberwolves play at the Target Center, The Minnesota Wild play at the XCel Energy Center, or even take in a St. Paul Saints Minor League Baseball Game (Bill Murray owns the team).
BONUS. Play some mini golf: The Minneapolis Sculpture garden also has a mini golf coarse inspired by art.
BONUS. Take in a free concert: We wish we would have had time to visit The Chain of Lakes and take in one of the free concerts which happen almost every night in the summer.
This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser the opinions, information, and stories, are my own. #CollectiveBias #ScottTubeFree
I used to think the most used room in the house was the kitchen. Now, I would say it is the bathroom. As the kids get older want more independence regarding their own self care and maintenance, the morning routines are getting longer. Teeth brushed, faces washed, and combing hair is taking up more of the morning.
With school starting soon, and all of us needing to get out of the house in a jiffy, we don’t have time for extra steps.
I know with all of us trying to get into the bathroom at the same, it might be a good idea to help make some basic bathroom tasks a bit simpler, quicker, and more user friendly for small people. Which is why I organized with some items I snagged at Target. I organized their tooth care items in a small drawer using a desk organizer, added this handy under cabinet drawer set for hair care items and extra hand soaps, and moved the washcloths and towels to a place that was easier for them to reach.
Finally, I have decided to use Scott Naturals Tube Free Toilet Paper.
I was able to find it at Target with everything else on my list.
Not only has Scott created the perfect roll of toilet tissue that eliminates the need for extra waste (who doesn’t want to be kinder to our planet?), but Scott has also eliminated an entire step of having to get rid of the cardboard tube on the roll after each use, which makes my little ones lives a little easier. You can see how there is nothing left in the video below!
No paper tube, no extra waste, and no extra steps. When it’s gone, it’s gone. And let me tell you with three little ones, it is often gone.
Want to try Scott Naturals Tube Free Toilet Paper for yourself? There THIS GREAT OFFER for $2 off a 4 Pack or Larger at your local Target stores. This is almost 50% savings on the 4 pack size! Also, you can look RIGHT HERE to see all of the Scott line of products offered at Target.
What are some quick bathroom organization tricks you have for getting ready for the school year? What ways will you streamline your morning routine? If you’re looking for ways to make things easier and save some money too, don’t forget about THIS GREAT OFFER from Scott Naturals Tube Free Toilet Paper.
While this shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias and its advertiser #QuakerTime all opinions are 100% mine.
We are a Quaker family. I am sure you have seen several of my recipes using Quaker products in the past, like my several variations of oatmeal cookies, or all the different times I have used oatmeal in other recipes. Quaker oatmeal is allergen friendly, and many of their other cereals are too. Also, Brian kind of has a thing for their granola bars.
It should come as no surprise to you, that I brought a selection of Quaker products with us on our family road trip this year. From Instant Oatmeal and Life Cereal for the kids to Chewy Granola Bars for Brian, all of these things have been tasty and healthy snacks to keep us full of energy on our travels. Also, when I run out of any of these things, we have always been able to stop at a Wal-Mart and pick up more along the way.
After being in a hotel for a few days, I started to get a bit creative with snacks. After a particularly long day of sightseeing, Brian and I were exhausted. The kids in true kid fashion, were not. We were planning on a evening swim before dinner to perhaps wear them out a bit, but I needed a snack with a little more oomph. So, with some Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, and some other ingredients I had in the hotel room, I made an healthy treat to help Brian and I keep up with our energetic kids.
I made the perfect Vacation Parfaits, and you can make them too.
I just layered up some yogurt, berries, and then crumbled my favorite flavor of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (Chocolate Chunk) on top. And voila, we were able to conquer the pool with three little ones.
I was so happy that I was able to enjoy this awesome snack. Even though I am still in vacation mode, there is a little part of my brain that is thinking ahead to school starting and all the great things I can whip up with Quaker for my hungry kids. CLICK HERE and use this link to as a fabulous resource for some awesome back to school treats. For more information about Quaker and to stay up to date on all things delicious check out Quaker on TWITTER of FACEBOOK.
Have you ever had to do any cooking or assembling in a hotel on vacation? What creative idea did you come up with?
I love breakfast foods. So does Brian. So do the kids. We could eat them any time of day, and a lot of times when we are a little indecisive about what to have for dinner, most of the time we pick Breakfast for dinner. Also known as brinner.
We have been grilling a lot this summer. Also, my kids have discovered the joy of putting anything grilled on a pretzel roll. I found a brand that is allergy friendly for them, and now I always have them in the house. So, we have kind of forgotten about our old stand by, brinner. Until recently.
I was kind of getting sick of grilling, and wanted to bring our old friend back for a special dinner brinner.
I made pretzel bread french toast, and it was delicious.
You could have this delicious treat any time of day, and you could even serve it up with a vanilla glaze instead of syrup for dessert and call it bread pudding. That is how good it is!
Pretzel Bread French Toast
Ingredients
1 large pretzel loaf or 6 small pretzel rolls cut into cubes
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups 2% milk
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray and arrange bread cubes in dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture and making sure to coat all the bread. You may have stir it a bit.
Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best.
The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake the French toast for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup.
3.3.3077
What is your favorite go to dinner? Is it brinner? Do you have a favorite recipe that you always have ingredients for on hand?
When you’re a Mom and a blogger it is very rare that I am in front of the camera. I am usually on the other side of the lens happily taking photos of the people and things that I love. Also, the longer that I have been writing, I have found that editing and playing with photos is fun too.
Confession Time: I used to loathe having my picture taken.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
I have always felt that that old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” was always lost when it came to photos of myself. My bubbly, and friendly personality never was showing through because I was always so self conscious about my tummy, double chin, my hair, having enough make-up, too much makeup, everything that really isn’t important. My self consciousness was showing. It was hard for me to walk into a portrait studio or see examples of beautifully coiffed and airbrushed small women and then trying to put on a brave face for a camera.
With all the changes at Home Everyday, I knew that I would also need new professional headshots, but I was determined to let what was really important show through.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
The first thing I did was call my friend, Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography. I knew it was imperative I call a friend. This was someone who knows my personality, my quirks, my business, and most importantly my strengths. I told her what I like about headshots, and kind of the look I wanted. I know not everyone has friends who are photographers, but I also know that friends have friends who are photographers. I also know that photographers like repeat business and want their customers to be happy with their photos. In the past, I think I was too wrapped up in a photographers professional opinion to tell them what I wanted, or tell them what I was like, or have a conversation with them for a few minutes to get comfortable. Ultimately, this showed up in the photos, and I ended up paying for photos I hated and the photographer lost a repeat customer.
Tip #1: Get Friendly. Talk to a photographer friend, a friend of a friend or communicate with your photographer before your session. Tell them about yourself, and let them know as much about you, your likes, dislikes, and your business as possible.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
Next up, with Stephanie I planned a location for our photo shoot. This is going to depend on a lot of factors many of which your photographer will have expertise such as lighting, background, and overall feel of photos. However, don’t be afraid to do what makes you feel comfortable and what will help showcase your personality too. It would be silly for a blog all about camping and fishing to have a headshot that wasn’t taken outdoors, don’t you think?
Tip #2: Location. Location. Location. With the help of your photographer pick a location that not only represents your personality and showcases your business, but also makes you look and feel comfortable too.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
Deciding on my outfit, makeup, and hair for photo shoot day was no small feat. However, once I came to the conclusion that I should be comfortable, the decision making became much easier. I decided to do my make up myself, I didn’t want my outfit to require Spanx or seem too formal or uncomfortable, I wanted my hair to be styled in a way that would make me recognizable, and I wanted my outfit to show my sense of style. I knew that if I felt comfortable, wore my favorite outfit, colors, and accessories, and wore my make-up and hair in a way that made me feel confident that would translate to my photos.
Tip #3: No Spanx. Wear clothes, makeup, and hair that make you feel COMFORTABLE and confident. Confidence will translate to your photos.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
The day of my photo shoot, I had to bring my kids with me. I know this wasn’t an ideal situation, however, it ended up being a fun time. It was a beautiful day, and my kids were playing in the park nearby. Also, it was fun to hear the questions they were asking Stephanie, and to be fair they kind of put me in relaxed Mom mode for the duration of my photo shoot. In addition, because we met at a set location there were no photos in a studio to look at and make me self conscious about myself, the outfit I had chosen or anything else I was about to do. I was honest with Stephanie and told her that I was a bit nervous, and she made sure to keep the conversation flowing about other things to keep my focus on the fact I was not having my photo taken. Between the kids and Stephanie, I had a relaxed smile on my face and was even able to take a few fun and silly photos.
Tip #4: Accentuate the positive. If your photographer is not your friend, ask if it is ok to bring someone to talk with or who will make you laugh or smile in a natural way.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
When I saw my photos for the first time, I could have cried. I had never been so happy to have received photos I actually liked. This was the first time I looked at a photo of myself and was as pleased as pie. And that that, my friends is saying something. I am convinced that Stephanie’s awesome eye and my relaxed attitude brought about the best photos ever. I was sure the day of the photo shoot to stay relaxed and leave the rest to Stephanie making sure to carefully listen to her directions.
Tip #5: Leave the rest to the pros. You hired a professional photographer with expertise for a reason. The day of your photo shoot it is your job to smile and look pretty. Do just that.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
Have you had to get your photo taken recently? Were they family portraits or professional headshot? What are your favorite tips and tricks for looking your best?
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kush of Natural Light & Lifestyle Photography.
For more information about Stephanie Kush and Natural Light & Lifestyle Photogrpahy you can visit her Facebook page or email to make an appointment.
For those that know, I am a bit thrifty, a little stubborn, and incredibly interested in how things work. I often believe that it is this combination of traits that has lead me to my DIY passions and can do attitude. Which is why after about a year of research, debate, talking it over with blogger friends, and attending a blogger conference last weekend, I finally decided to make a switch here at Home Everyday, and of course I did it mostly by myself.
You will notice that the design is a bit lot different than before. However, that is not all that has changed. I made some changes behind the scenes too, which will hopefully make writing this here blog more fun, but more importantly will make your experience as a reader even better too!
I made the switch from writing all of my posts on Blogger to a self hosted WordPress site, and here’s why:
1. Labor of Love: When I started Home Everyday, I wasn’t sure where it was going to go. I didn’t want to spend a great deal of money on something that might not succeed, and beginning my blogging journey on Blogger seemed like an easy, foolproof, and low risk way to get moving on a blog. I was able to customize some features I wanted. However, as Home Everyday grew, and I learned more about this blogging industry, I learned that there are some set backs to starting a blog on Blogger. Also, I want to own my own content. To quote blogger buddy Jennifer Evers of Me Myself and Jen who gave a great keynote talk at Collective Bias’s SoFabU On The Road Chicago Conference last week, “not having a self hosted site is like building your dream house on rented land.” So, after about a year of hemming a hawing, I decided to make the switch. The hundreds of posts and photos on this site chronicling a lot of me and my families adventures were too much for me not to own.
2. Back Up the Backups: While I was always sure to back up every photo and blog post I wrote on Blogger, I was never really positive if something went really awry, would have I have a way to restore everything quickly and easily. Not only did I want to build my dream house on land that I owned, but I also wanted good homeowner’s insurance too. With WordPress and my hosting provider, I now know that if something does happen, my content is safe, and I am able to restore it much more easily.
3. More Features: Writing on this platform has so many more features in which I can showcase my writings with all of you. There are also ways to better organize the information on this site so it is more easily accessible.
4. Familiarity: When I first began Home Everyday, I had no idea what I was doing in regards to a blog. However, I have had the amazing opportunity to also write on my South of I80 blog at ChicagoNow. This is where I was first able to become familiar with WordPress and learn some of the awesome features, and over time I have become increasingly familiar with this platform.
5. Customization: One of the reasons I have never gotten a tattoo is because I change my mind way too often. I like being able to switch things up and customize them depending on seasons and trends. WordPress will allow me to more easily make design customizations to this site to make it more beautiful.
Home Everyday is a labor of love, and I wouldn’t do it without my wonderful readers. Over the next week, I will be making some changes on the back end (all by myself), that will enhance your reading experience.
If things look a little fishy here to you, I apologize profusely, and want you to know that this one man lady operation will work as quickly as possibly to get things up and running as as possible.
I was compensated for this post by zulily, but the opinions expressed are 100% my own.
There are a few things I feel I have missed the boat on: Breaking Bad, Cronuts, and zulily. I don’t know if it is because I have been so busy carting people to various activities, watching Parks and Rec, or debating if I should paint the kitchen cabinets (again). I just sometimes feel that I am often late to the game on things.
When the awesome people of zulily reached out and asked if I would like to write about zulily, I felt a little more than sheepish admitting I had never even purchased anything from there. However, after one shopping trip, I am a zulily believer!
I cannot stress to you enough the awesomeness of zulily!
Obviously, when going to zulily.com I made a bee line for the home category, and was astounded at all the adorable, functional, and amazing items they had. Also, the prices couldn’t be beat! From rugs to lamps, furniture to kitchenware, I was sold.
Look at this adorable vintage flour sifter I snagged. My grandma used to have one of these, and they work perfectly, but I hadn’t been able to find one anywhere at a price I liked!
Also, check out the vintage kitchen section. All of the glassware is just begging for a Thirsty Thursday cocktail.
Photo courtesy of zulily.com
What about this chair? I know I cannot even. This would look great as an accent chair or a dining chair or a desk chair or…
I also loved the art section. I found this cute print, and I cannot take my eyes off of it!
This site has more than housewares though, they have clothes for every member of your family, health and beauty items, shoes, and all kinds of things for baby and kids.
I know I was late to the game on this, but I think I have found a new place to shop!
If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
