Slice of Chicago

www.sliceofchicagopizzatours.com

Who doesn't want a slice of Chicago?  Such a wonderful city!  We like doing 'different' things around town (even if it may seem touristy) because we learn new tidbits of information and find out about places we may not have heard of before.  This time's adventure was the Slice of Chicago Pizza Tour and it was well worth the deal (a Christmas present for Carl purchased on Groupon.)  We both recommend it!

We met our group at Pizzeria Uno (different than the chain,) moved on to Pizzeria Ora, and finished up at Giordano's.  At each restaurant we tasted a smaller "sample" size of Chicago style pizza and listened to our guide talk about the restaurant and their style of pizza.  It's a seasonal tour, so at Pizzeria Ora there is inside seating, but the other two restaurants offer outdoor seating.  We went in May, so it was a bit chilly but overall a really enjoyable evening.  The guide is friendly and funny, the facts are interesting and the pizza is delish.  Pizzeria Uno was not my favorite (biscuit-y crust was a bit much.)  I'm glad the tour included Pizzeria Ora; it's a small, locally owned place with great food and extremely friendly service.  We'll definitely be going back since they have great deep dish and no wait, like with the well known pizzerias.  Finally, Giordano's was delicious!!  It's stuffed rather than the true deep dish, so totally different than the classic Gino's East but just as good.  We can't wait to go back and try a whole pizza our way!

What's your favorite pizza on the tour?  Let me know if there's some good Chicago deep dish I'm missing - we all know Carl loves a good deep dish.

Beer Fest Bonanza

If you follow me on Instagram, it was probably pretty clear Carl & I went to a beer festival last weekend .. what with the "Crown Beer Fest" pint glass, pretzel necklace, and all.  And it was fabulous.  So much fun - I definitely recommend going to one!  It's almost always a sure thing that I'll love any local wine or brew fest. 

My Top Tastes:
- Back Road Brewery's Blueberry Stout - sounds odd, but it works..it really, really works. (For being so close in La Porte, Indiana we'll definitely be making a trip out to the brewery in the near future to sample a flight.)
- Brickstone Brewery's Cherry Ale  - absolutely delicous!
- Flat 12 Bierwork's Cucumber Kolsch - talk about a refreshing summer beer! 
- Crown Brewing's Apple Ale & their Green Tea Dee-railer - both SO good!

There was such an amazing abundance of great beer that these are only a few of my favorites!

And finally, another great discovery last weekend was that the company BrewFest Partners does a whole slew of local beer festivals!  Check out the line up for the great lakes region here.  I've been looking at all the details; sign me up for the Great Lakes Brew Fest in Racine, Wisconsin.  That one sounds amazing, definitely worth a trip a bit North.  Bottoms up!

BB Cream Believer

www.garnierusa.com

For four out of the last six weeks I've been in and out of airports all over - Nashville, LA, Chicago, North Carolina.  I've loved every second, but all the flying + all the different waters can be totally tough on my skin.  Combine that with the fact that even though I love makeup (just look at my Pinterest,) I'm not an expert.  I'm talking I do my eyes, eyebrows, swipe on some blush, a lip tint, and I'm out the door.  I do not do foundation.  Or concealer.  Literally don't even know where to start (is that bad?!)  SO when every single cosmetic company started coming out with these self proclaimed 'miracle' BB (beauty balm) creams, I couldn't wait to try.  And then I tried a bunch I absolutely did not like.  Enter in one of my monthly magazines and a free sample.  Thank you Garnier BB Cream - you life saver, you.  I now swear by it.  I love it.  Perfect shade, perfect blend, completely evens out my complexion!  It even has SPF without being too heavy.  I literally work out for 40 minutes every day during my lunch hour and this does.not.budge.  GO try it!

What's your fav BB cream?  Is there another brand I should be trying?

Reflection

This time last year... this was the last week of my dad's life.

There are so many memories from the month of April that are seared into my mind.  Obviously the ones from the latter half of April are sad, but the ones from the beginning?  Those are full of love.

On Friday, April 13th my mom called to let me know that because the cancer had spread to the brain and skull, hospice was being called.  The rest of that day was a jumble: breaking down at work, filling out leave of absence paperwork, trying to pack (for a funeral when my dad was still alive), consciously knowing I needed to get my oil changed if my SUV was going to make the long trip home, contacting the oncology unit and hospice to start the Red Cross process of getting Carl home from Afghanistan.. it was a long a day.

And then my sister did the most self-less thing she's ever done for me.  Rather than stay with family, she left work and got on a one-way flight to Jacksonville.  She told me that if Dad passed while we were driving home it would be okay because he was with family and my mom.  She didn't want me to be alone.

And so it was.  We drove home.  And our house filled with love, family, and old friends that week.  At first my dad would sit on the main floor and visit, but once he began to get weaker he stayed upstairs and everyone would go to him.  When people were eating or catching up downstairs, he would sit contently and just listen to all the love in the house, trying to make out bits and pieces of conversations and recognize voices.  When Carl finally got home, he sat with my dad and went through everything in all of his deployment bags because it interested my dad so much.  Later in the week the weather warmed up and my parents needed the apple tree trimmed.  As Carl, Val, and I worked and laughed outside, I could see my dad's glasses in the upstairs window watching us and smiling.  We had a fire that evening too, and again I could see him watch lovingly.

I recognize that in a sense, we were 'lucky' if you will, to be able to have a bit of notice...like a warning to let us know - spend this precious time together.  It literally was one difficult, but precious week; one that I won't soon forget.

Out of the Office

Last week I was out of the office - I went to Nashville, y'all!  And I get to go back Sunday through Friday this coming week too.  I love a good work trip!  Oh.. I also love southern hospitality and sweet tea.

We ate at two memorable places, the Red Pony Restaurant in Franklin and Merchants Restaurant in Nashville.  Both so good and so different.

At Red Pony, we had the guacamole - a bit non-traditional for a southern cooking feast - but oh my gosh, it was quite possibly some the absolute best I've had.  I went with the shrimp and grits for my main dish and it was great, just a bit on the watery side for the traditional dish.  Beer wise, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company's Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale was delicious.  And for dessert the creme brulee was a must-order.

Merchants was the venue for my birthday dinner.  The big 2-7, watch out.  The first level is casual and looks out onto Nashville's Broadway stretch while the second level is a bit dressier.  They also have different menus.  The second level had absolutely no wait and naturally won out.  No appetizer here, but their bread is soft and warm complimented by literally the perfect sea salted butter.  I got the scallops and duck fat frites as my main course.  My choice was right on with the scallops, but if I were to go back I would get a different side.  The frites were basically seasoned fries and I couldn't discern the duck taste.  Dessert choices seem to be seasonal so I chose a dynamite dish combining pistachio sorbet and lemon panna cotta.  And not to let you down, of course I tried a new beer.  Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer is a must try!

Like I mentioned, I'm going back soon so do you have any favorites I should try?

Brew Review: Goose Island Brewpub

I attended a function Wednesday afternoon that was held at Goose Island Brewpub's Clybourn location.  The atmosphere was laid back and the beer was great!  The food was a bit bland, but I believe you'll have that when a restaurant aims to please 50 people with only a couple options. 

www.gooseisland.com

For appetizers, the cheese selection the brewpub carries is tastey.  That says a lot coming from me since I am not a cheese person (and I married a man from the cheese state of Wisconsin..crazy, right?! haha).  On the other hand, I normally love any type of hummus but this was super bland.  It won't be something I order again.  The main meal was rotisserie chicken - also bland - accompanied by brussel sprouts.  Although the chicken was bland, the brussel sprouts were amazingly seasoned and I could not get enough of them.  With that said, I totally think anyone who knows how to make brussel sprouts hit the spot can make a mean meal.  Towards the end, four different dessert bars were presented and I was a fan of all four.  I've checked out the standard menu options and I seriously cannot wait to go back with Carl.

Beer wise, they have so many stouts that it was hard to choose and you all know I love a good flavored stout.  I settled on the Imperial Coffee Stout, Resolutions, and let me tell you - this stout does not disappoint!  It was so good; very dark with a powerful espresso flavor.  From there I wanted to try a Goose Island barrel aged selection.  I ordered The Albatross, a Rittenhouse Rye Barrel-Aged beer.  The whiskey taste from aging in a barrel was faint along with a slight chocolate taste; also a great beer.  I did have sips of the other two barrel aged picks - Grand Delusions and Triple B.  I'll admit Grand Delusions made me forget it was beer; the whiskey taste was so strong I thought I was sipping whiskey on the rocks.  Triple B didn't taste as strong to me, it just wasn't my favorite flavor among the three.  Overall, I'm happy with the beer choices I made.  Next time I will definitely get a flight so I can try more!

What's your favorite Goose Island beer?

Steals & Deals: Birthday Month

I lucked out and got Good Friday off.  And since I'd already received a few birthday month rewards because I turn the big 2-7 on the 10th, I decided to head to the mall and combine those glorious rewards with the crazy spring break sales.  I racked up some pretty good sales and naturally wanted to report back!

Express:  Even though I don't use my Express card anymore, I managed to establish myself as an A-List user (thank you college years) and received a whopping $40 in birthday rewards!  As an added bonus, everything in the store was 40% off on Friday and they do a military discount on top of any other discounts.  This completely made my day & I snagged the Lattice Shoulder Blouse in Sultry Cobalt and the Crocheted Lace Shorts.  I've been eying cute lace shorts forever so Happy Birthday to Me!

Sephora:  I honestly had no clue that I was going to receive a birthday present here so imagine my surprise!  As I checked out with my mascara they handed me a Benefit birthday package with sample sized Benefit They're Real mascara and Watt's Up highlighter.  I love the mascara!  I may have just permanently switched from my Lorac Multiplex.  Decisions, decisions.

Victoria's Secret:  I'm going to be completely honest on this one.  I didn't have the energy to deal.  I received $10 in rewards.  And remember those spring break sales?  Yeah, the store was swamped with teenage girls hanging out.  Plus, let's be serious..nothing I want from here is ever on sale.  I was planning on grabbing some cute undies.  And.then.I.saw.the.line.  See ya later VS.  So maybe I'll head back before the end of April, making this birthday reward TBD....

Where do you get your best birthday rewards from?!