Brews Day Review :: O'So Brewings Lupulin Maximus

This beer is from another awesome Wisconsin Brewery- O'So Brewery out of Plover WI (and in my opinion the up and coming brewery to watch). This amazing imperial IPA is all things a great IPA is: hoppy and bold yet smooth and full of flavor... and this special treat even has a hop cone in every bottle to boot! If you love IPAs you need to check out this one!

Brews Day Review :: Fallen Apple by Furthermore Brewery

This beer is the perfect fall treat! Clean, refreshing and a bit effervescent this well balanced apple beer is a great compliment to all things fall. We had the pleasure of trying this at the Great Lakes Brew Fest back in September and when it hit shelves we bought it at least 3 times (this doesn't happen often to us). Furthermore Brewery is based in Spring Green Wisconsin... maybe it's time for a day trip to a new brewery!

Fragrance Find

If you know me, you will know that I worked as an Art Director for a fragrance company for 4yrs, though I do longer work in the personal care industry I do still enjoy fragrance and find that it is still fun to explore really great fragrances and recently I found another that may just be another favorite. Gucci Guilty is a really great florioriental that is both warm and sexy but not over powering like some similar fragrances. I love how it dries down to a very wearable scent that you could easily incorporate into your every day style. I may test it a time or two more before an actual purchase however from my first impression this is a really great fragrance!

Inkwell Dinnerware

Got a really cool email from Anthropologie (one of my favorite be it so expensive I rarely buy anything from there places) but I thought I would share this decorative plate set that would be really fun to get if we actually had a house out in the woods to entertain with! Enjoy!

Brews Day Review :: Bell's 25th Anniversary Ale

This tasty gem I found just came into our favorite lil liquor/beer store and I HAD to get it as Bells is probably one of our most favorite breweries. Based out of Kalamazoo, MI we have actually been there twice. All of their beer is distinct with so much personality and awesome flavors and this beer was no exception!

Our best description of this beer is a very subtle amber ale with a smooth, floral hoppy flavor. I would recommend this to even someone that isn't a hop lover because on the second one I really got a nice caramel and effervescence that I did not expect, almost something you would get more out of a Belgian style of sorts. Over all this is a great beer that I hope they continue to make!

Waterfalls :: UP style

If you are in Northern Wisconsin and are looking for a fun and beautiful day trip, I highly recommend making a trip to Michigan's U.P. and checking out one of their many waterfalls, our favorite is Bond Falls near Paulding/Bruce's Crossing Michigan. Here are some awesome shots the husband took while we were there!

Photos by my awesome husband Matt, check out more Fornear Photos here!

Brewsday Review :: Oasis by Tallgrass

Just about a month ago a friend of mine made the trek out to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver CO and was kind enough to bring back a few tasty treats from her travels! This here is one of them from the Tallgrass Brewery in Manhattan Kansas. All of their beer is canned because it is a much more environmentally friendly way to go and the Oasis doesn't loose any flavor by being in a can and is a smooth hoppy blend that is awesome to drink. Sure wish we could get some of these around here- plus their artwork is really cool too!

Kringle Wisconsin Style

Some fresh Danish Kringle from O & H in Racine... pecan oh yeah, this is the best! If you are not Danish or from Wisconsin you may not know what Kringle is but it's an AWESOME treat and is great with coffee!

Great Lakes Brewfest :: Racine Wisconsin

Workin hard today at the Great Lakes Brewfest!!! Many tasty beers from all over Wisconsin and other parts of the Midwest. Lots of fun getting to talk to people about beer (until they are too drunk that is.) Five hours is WAY to long to let people drink their faces off! I even got some help from the husband making it a fun day. Here are a few images we were able to snap off of us as well as some representation from our favorite breweries!

Photos by my awesome husband Matt, check out more Fornear Photos here!

Brews Day Review :: Leine's Oktoberfest

I haven't done one of these in awhile and seeing that Octoberfest is almost here, I really needed to do one. Now I used to be a HUGE Leine's fan (and still do enjoy their beer) however when I learned that they sold out to the big boys of Miller it did dampen my thoughts a bit. Sure I get it, their brand can reach more people and they don't have to worry about money, blah blah blah but the craft beer lover in me has been a bit tainted ever since. But anyway~ on to the beer!

This beer is a very clean, crisp Märzen perfect those fall nights. Not too hoppy or malty just right. Personally I would have like a bit more flavor out of my Oktoberfest beers (I REALLY love the Bell's Octoberfest but the Leine's version is good and good for the masses.

Figs!!!!!

I think I have a new food favorite and it's figs! I have never had a strait up regular fig until this weekend. Sure I've smelled it in candles and fragrance but I have never had one before. WOW~ they are amazing! They are like naturally brown sugar flavored treats (if you ask me)! Later today I think I am going to make a salad with them too, for now this was my breakfast figs & iced coffee. Yum!

Dark Side of Oz :: Fish Fry & a Flick

This is something I have been wanting to do since last summer and this so go to one of the Fish Fry & a Flick movies on Milwaukee's Lakefront at Discover World. It turned out to be really awesome! The fish fry was really yummy (you totally get what you pay for), the Pointskis were going down smooth (and priced right) and the movie was cool with no little kids running around and knocking over your beer. (I love kids but sometimes at some events parents need to leave them home and in the case of this event all of the movies are "grown up" movies.) Also, as a teenager I never did get the chance to watch the Wizard of Oz set to the Dark Side of the Moon so I was really thrilled to finally get to do this too!

Summer Bounty

Well, this appears to be the last of what my sister has gathered from her garden... I was able to manage and to find a few other scraps and other random things. There was some squash blossoms that I found and since the beginning of summer and reading a recipe for them I have been dying to make them so I did! Sadly it happened so fast there is no picture but I just gently sauted them up w/ a little evoo, a touch of butter and salt & pepper and they were great! Can't wait to find them next summer!

Northbound for the Labor Day Weekend

This was our awesome view traveling in Wisconsin.... that is until we hit a 1hr snag in Madison. So damn joyful I tell ya!

EAA Airshow :: Oshkosh, Wisconsin

This is a bit of a late post but two weekends ago we headed up to Oshkosh for their annual EAA Airshow. The is a pretty well known, national airshow as people fly in all week long, from all over the country to attend including many celebrities like Harrison Ford, John Travolta and such (not that we saw them or cared) but it is an interesting little fact. Here are some of the really great pictures we snapped!






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Leon's Frozen Custard Stand

On our way home from a BBQ with friends we were in the neighborhood of Leon's Frozen Custard, something that is pretty well known in Milwaukee that Matt & I never had. Living in Wisconsin there are MANY frozen custard locations and believe me we have tried our share but never this one, so considering it was like 80 degrees plus w/ humidity last night we swung in for a treat.

Very simple items treat items on the menu and little food but it was good and hit the spot. The only disappointment (in terms of the custard) was that I really wanted to try the homemade plain mint custard but I would have had to buy a pint of it and I really didn't NEED a pint. Also, the place was packed, no where to sit but your car and the crowd was bit too rowdy for even us.

Not saying we would never go back, but it's really not in our neck of the woods and I don't think we would make a special trip back just for it. Never the less, it was good, tasty custard and that helped us beat the heat a bit!

Farmers Market Saturday :: Delafield, Wis

So I've been wanting to go to a farmers market all summer and so far now that its August (ugh) it's my first one! The Delafield one was the closest and most convenient to me so I figured what the hell?? It was cute and small but I found a few things I was looking for (and one I wasn't)!

Here are a some fun unique items I didn't get.

The bounty that I brought home... a pattypan squash, some tomatoes, some onions and fresh honey.

Oh and the thing I wasn't looking for, some homemade Scandinavian bread, who can pass something like this up?! And it was delish with some eggs and the fresh honey :-)

Lakefront Brewery Friday Night Fish Fry, Milwaukee Wisconsin

Oh yes, the Wisconsin Fish Fry... how you folks not from Wisconsin or select other parts of the Midwest even miss out on this fantastic phenomenon! I never truly understood that it was specifically Wisconsin/Midwest related until I moved to Arizona for a few years (yes, I know it's the desert) too but I just seemed weird not having it on Friday nights. Later after even meeting my husband from Central Illinois I learned they they do not have Friday Night Fish Fry their either... bummer.

So as a Wisconsinite (and an otherwise vegetarian except when it comes to fish on occasion) it seems as though you are always seeking out a new/better/different Fish Fry than the next. Last night we checked out Lakefront Brewery's take on it. Though we have been to this brewery before we have not gotten the chance to have the Fish Fry... I would have to say it was really yummy! The only part we didn't *love* was the communal/family style seating, but we really lucked out and our table mates were pretty friendly. Not sure if it's all you can eat as we didn't have to ask since the husband and I were pretty satisfied with one helping.

I would recommend if you are in Milwaukee and like good beer to check this out on a Friday night! They even have brewery tours running to late so you can enjoy both in the same night! I didn't get a picture of the food because by the time I remembered to do so it was gone ;-)

Puppy Playdate

Had a super fun weekend and this being the first thing we did, had a puppy play date with my friend Mary and her sweet boxer Penny. Great times with friends, a day of boxer fun turned into an evening flowing with great brew! Here is a clip of the fast friends Giada and Penny doing what cute boxers do best...

Yummo Alterra

WOW, just had to share this AMAZING sandwich I got today from Alterra for lunch! I was their special of the day, roasted asparagus with Gouda, pesto and other goodness! Yum yum!

Fried Zucchini

So I actually made this last week thanks to my friend and coworker Amy who was kind enough to bring in some awesome zucchini from her garden! I very rarely fry things but I wasn't sure what to make and this fried zucchini concoction is what I ended up with and it turned out quite yummy! After a fun weekend Up North I now have even more zucchini and next time I am thinking zucchini bread or muffins. Stay tuned!

Northwoods K9 Karnival

Matt, Giada and I had a great time at the first ever Vilas Co. K9 Karnival in St.Germain, WI over the weekend! We got to meet lots of people and visit with old friends. Below are a few pictures we captured from the event! See more on Facebook or Fornear Photo's website!!

Work and Bits....

So it's that time of year at work (I work at Wisconsin brewery) and we happen to sponsor a day at the Wisconsin State Fair. That means two things, my work load is at it's peak for the year with graphic demands every which way plus some AND the State Fair people feel as though it's their duty to hand delivery throughout the city one of the things our state fair is know for.... CREAM PUFFS... Yes they are both delicious yet sickening at the same time. Hey, at least I didn't eat a whole one, I split it with my friend Tammy!

Something Special (sorta) from Wisconsin

I came across these really fun and kitchy kitchen towels, my Mother-in-Law is sort of a kitchen towel freak, I never was but I think it's starting to rub off on me a bit! Personally I am much more of a mix and match/fun type of person, not into matchy-matchy items so something like this would be perfect in my kitchen! From what I have read these are created in Michigan but printed in Wisconsin. Enjoy!

Scooter!

Every since our little trip south of the boarder (to Chicago) last week I have had scooters on the brain. They were EVERYWHERE there and they look so damn fun, plus right now I am also loving the color mint green and I just can't stop daydreaming about running erronds on a fun little toy like this! My sister who is a Harley mama would probably kill me and then laugh in my face! Oh well, I still think this is really cool and I want one!

Dessert :: Balsamic Strawberries with Cracked Pepper served over Soy Mango / Vanilla Ice Cream

I normally don't "make" dessert, I simply settle for a small bite of dark chocolate but I keep hearing about all of these new, exotic ice cream flavors that are on trend right now and thought I would give it a DIY try!

A simple Balsamic Strawberries with Cracked Pepper served over Soy Mango / Vanilla Ice Cream is what it was (with a piece of pistachio dark chocolate toffee on the side) WOW was this flavorful and amazing! LOVED IT!!!