Field Candy

We've got a problem. I'm already dreaming of summer and it's not even December yet. How will I handle the next six months? Maybe by pitching one of these bad boys in my living room and roasting some marshmallows in my fireplace? Yeah, that sounds like a grand plan.

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On the Road

I'm hoping today is the day to take the new road bike out for a spin.

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Better watch for wild animals!

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Wild Wild West Team Tour

The Team is heading to the Wild Wild West. But where to, exactly, is yet to be known.

Who the heck is The Team, you ask? The Team (yes, must be written in all caps) is my group of friends, five of us to be exact, that I have known since college. After college we parted ways, some of us farther away than others, but like boomerangs we have all magically returned to the Midwest.

Since college we have had our annual Team Tour where we get together in one of our respective cities for a weekend of eating, drinking and shopping. Each Tour ends up being remembered in some way, such as, "The Team Tour Where Jones Had To Get A Pirate Patch." Yes, this seriously happened. Arrghhh, memories.

This year we are mixing it up. Moneyapolis, Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago can no longer handle us. Time to take The Tour 'round the world.

To add more excitement all future Team Tours are going to be surprise trips. Yes, we were inspired by an article in an issue of Real Simple last year. One of us plans it and the rest are kept in the dark until right before lift-off...or a few weeks prior for those who don't like surprises! I, personally, don't want to know where we are going until we are at the airport! I've always wanted to take a trip like that.

Clues so far:

Clue #1 : Our destination is to the West of Wisconsin

Clue #2: You will need to bring a swimsuit : This clue is now being retracted. You don't really NEED to have one.

New Clue: A portion of our trip will involve camping somewhere really cool.

So far I am clueless (hahaha!) about where we may be going. Maybe New Mexico? Montana perhaps?  My friend planning the trip loves Utah but I'm pretty sure we are going somewhere she's never been. I think.


All I know is that I hope our camping involves an Airstream. Awesome, no?

(Image via lhaas)

Now, what does a girl pack when she has no clue about her final destination? 

 

Mi Amor, Chicago

This past weekend was the wild bachelorette party for my friend, G. Her sister planned the greatest day ever of cooking, wine, and dancing. And no, no strippers were involved. Phew!

We ventured down to Chicago Friday night and went to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant, Mixteco Grill. So very, very tasty. Then we became lame old ladies and went to bed. No wild night for us since we had to save our energy for the next day!

Though we all went to bed stuffed beyond belief we woke up and, after a few cups of (very strong) coffee to get us going for the day, walked across the street to Angel Food Bakery for breakfast. Such a cute place! They have a collection of Easy Bake Ovens that wraps around the ceiling and the bakery treats have cute, retro names like the Airstream and the R.V.

(Image via angelfoodltd.com) 

After stuffing our bellies yet again (seems to be the theme of the weekend) we had an impromptu fashion show at the apartment before heading out to our cooking party at The Chopping Block. I think the chefs were slightly overwhelmed by our group of 15 ladies! But alas, Sarge and Dave kept us in control even after the wine started flowing. No fingers were damaged during my mini chopping lesson, no fires were started on the grill, and no food was thrown in anger. We successfully prepared our risotto-stuffed mushrooms, Indian samosas with cilantro chutney, and our chicken satay with peanut sauce like we were Martha Stewart's star students.

 

 

There was more fun to be had after this! And where else but the Drake Hotel would you want to go? We made our way up to our suite which, by the way, was larger than my 2-bedroom apartment! Whoa. For the record this is not a normal weekend in my life. We did decide, though, that we should try to splurge like this once a year! We deserve it, right??

Thank goodness it was so spacious because later in the night we had our very own salsa lessons in the room. I had never tried salsa dancing before and was surprised at how much my bum was tingling after doing it! Pretty sweet work out if you ask me. Alas, that was all the salsa dancing I did for the night. Once we got to Nacional 27, our final destination in our lil' adventure, I lost all nerve to get out on the dance floor! But wow, there were some amazing dancers out there. Next time I'll get out there. Next time. And after a few more of these tasty Passion Colado Mojitos!

Chi-town Shenanigans

I'll be here this weekend. And I might not ever leave.

(Images from top: www.artsjournal.com, wwwpoetryforpeace.org, www.vicon.com, www.essential-architecture.com)

Geology Rocks!

Who knew the Geology Museum at the University was such a rockin' place?  Ok, the rock jokes are old, I know.

Yesterday my coworker and I meandered on over (in the freezing cold, might I add) to the Geology Museum for their Holiday Sale. It was quite the crowd of rock and gem fanatics.

I bought two pieces of Pyrite, aka Fool's Gold, and two pieces of Leopard Skin Jasper and then headed off to wander through the museum.

This place is such a hidden gem (oooh, nice joke). Seriously, it is. The first room has so many rocks and minerals in the most amazing colors. It is hard to believe that these stunning colors can be found in nature. Oh, and the shapes of many of the minerals. Unbelievable.

I'll definitely be making another trip when I have more time. And when the weather gets warmer!


(Pyrite photo from pitt.edu. Leopard Skin Jasper photo from nstargems.com)

Weekend Recap. Tired just remembering it all...

With a belly full of fajita-goodness I can now do a recap of the great weekend I had. It was jam-packed!

Wednesday I went to a much-needed Happy Hour at Opus Lounge. My friend and I had willpower and did not have the chocolate fondue. Normally, though, it is a MUST.

Thursday I went to a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of one of my coworkers. Countries represented: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Poland, France, Canada.

Black Friday. Yikes.

The Milwaukee adventure took place on Saturday. The Warhol exhibit was impressive, in my opinion. The color, the variety, the urine. I loved it.

After the MAM we ventured to Art vs. Craft. What a freakin' zoo. It wore us out and we had to venture to the Milwaukee Public Market for sustenance. After eating we wandered around the Third Ward and went to an antique mall where I found some awesome blue chairs for NINETY dollars. Such a score.

Mocha and MMoCA

It was a gorgeous fall day in Madison today. And a busy one! I woke up and finished a home project that has been in the works for a very long time. My house projects will be another (few) post(s). They are never ending.

After that I went with a friend to Burnie's Rock Shop. Burnie's is the mecca of rocks and gems. It's not a huge store but it has every type of metal, rock, stone, bead, etc. that you would need to make jewelry. If you want instant gratification Burnie's also sells jewelry - the selection of amber jewelry is out of this world.

I bought some stuff to make a new ring and then we were on our way to Michelangelos for coffee and a lil treat. Croissants and coffee make for a good day. Before making our way to the Holiday Art Fair we made a pit stop at Anthology and Little Luxuries, two great (probably the best) boutique/gift/craft shops on State St. More about them another time, though!

And then it was off to the Madison Museum of Modern Art aka MMoCA. I have yet to spend quality time in MMoCA. Don't worry, though. It's on my list of things to do.

The Holiday Art Fair was very similar, albeit smaller, than the summer Art Fair on the Square. For the most part it is not art I like. Jewelry and odd wall decor that is too whimsical and looks like it' made for crazy ladies with cats. And do people really wear fun fur scarves? Blech.

Yet, there were a few gems. Nick Wroblewski is a woodcut
printmaker and he had some pretty amazing pieces. I loved the color.

Another artist, Dylan Punke, had some interesting photography that I loved because it reminded me of home. Old farmhouses and lonely paths through the woods. Now, before you start to think "ugh, not more of THAT" hear me out. It was freakin' cool even if his web site does not do his art justice.


There were also a few artists selling some unique jewelry....but I can't seem to find their cards. We'll keep them for another post since this is reaching novel length ;)

All around it was a fun day. But, the real fun has yet to start. Dinner party!