Sleepy Creek Vineyards ~ Midwest Winery
“Good Morning, This is wonderful and will definitely post on our Facebook page!”
Sleepy Creek Vineyards
Kanela Breakfast Club ~ Chicago Restaurant
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Chicago Food, Fun, and Relaxation ~ Road Trip
Chicago is one big city that sits in the Midwest of the USA. This is a dream comes true with a visit to this city. Driving in from Champaign, with my sisters Tina and Cherie, we see this massive modern American city, but as you explore you realize that the city has great neighborhoods that swallow the big city vastness. Each neighborhood feels like you are in your own hometown.
Chicago Neighborhoods
Lincoln Park
This was an excellent choice for dinner(see below). It is no the north side in Chicago. This area has some great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. This neighborhood has the Lincoln Park Zoo (America’s oldest zoo) and the Chicago History Museum. The streets this evening had many out for dinner and to watch the Cubbies play ball.
River City North
Sending my sister off in the morning was sad. She is a lot of fun to travel with and drove 1,300 of 2,400 miles of the cross-country journey. Tina and I take the subway into River City North. We enjoy a glass of white wine and watch families enjoy the riverfront. We also enjoy Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria.
The neighborhood looks or feels nothing like it started as an industrial and warehouse district. This neighborhood is modern as the many buildings tower over the river. This neighborhood is known for art. It has the largest concentration of galleries outside of Manhattan. We enjoy exploring the many wonderful statues, theatre area, and the most restaurants in Chicago.
Old Town
Walking to Old Town was a fun adventure to see the other areas of the town. Old Town is filled with old Victorian buildings, churches, great pubs, coffee shops, and history. The streets are lined with beautiful trees. This area was first settled by Germans. Around 1846 the immigrants established St. Joesph’s Parish. The history here is rich from buildings that survived the 1871 Chicago fire, to former speakeasies and ornate beautiful churches. We enjoyed a nice lunch at an Irish Pub.
The Loop
This is where you will find the “Bean” the name for the statue is Cloud Gate. The sculpture is by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor. This was so gorgeous at the night. It is located in Millennium Park in The Loop neighborhood. The statue is a 110-ton elliptical sculpture of a seamless series of polished stainless steel plates and a 12-foot-high arch. The inspiration for the statue is liquid mercury. It is an incredible piece of art. Uber (see the discount code below) provided a great get around from one neighborhood to the next during the evening.
Wrigleyville
Closing out the first night in Wrigleyville. A great night to see the stadium and experience one of the great bars in the area. It is a great spot day or night. It is a great place for nightlife. We enjoyed Sluggers, a great sports bar. My sisters enjoyed the batting cages and I took in a little music with the dueling pianos. This neighborhood offers some great Chicago experiences
- Bring chalk to write on the Wrigley wall
- Tour Wrigley Field
- Go to a ballgame
- Batting Cages
- Shopping
- Great restaurants
Wicker Park
Wicker Park is a wonderful neighborhood. It really takes to a small town feeling. It is close to the subway, has great shopping, and good bars. This neighborhood has many lush gardens with great events in the parks from movies, exercises, farmers markets, and concerts. This area is great for Wicker Park is known for local hipster culture, the art community, nightlife, and food scene. It was a great place to stay in an Air BNB (see discount offer below).
Old Navy Pier
This is a fun adventurous place to visit. Ellie (granddaughter) loves exploring the pier. The great boats, fun, and ice cream. We enjoy walking the pier. The Fifth Third Family Pavillion was so much fun. This is a beautiful place for a wedding, family fun, and weekly events.
The Navy Pier is on Lake Michigan and is 102 years old. We enjoyed an Uber (see discount code below) ride. They have this well set up for pick up and drop offs. Much easier than trying to park. The Old Navy Pier is the vitality of Chicago. Ellie enjoyed the Original Rainbow Cone even though she said it was not good she finishes it. The group enjoys a drink at the Billy Goat Tavern.
Chicago Food
Chicago sits in the Midwest has a history of all American food. This history is changing to one of sophistication and elegance. The dining experience is one set for the various neighborhoods in Chicago. The traditional American and deep dish pizza is found in each area, but the elegance is found with 25 Michelin-starred restaurants. Chicago is known for their yearly Taste of Chicago a food and entertainment weekend usually held the second week of July. There is a covering deep dish pizza this is a bucket list trip with deep dish pizza on the list.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
This was a fantastic place to take a crowd for lunch. There was a little bit of a wait but well worth the wait. They do allow you to order ahead of time. The pizza was enjoyed by the entire party. They had great selections with gluten-free and vegetarian options. The gluten-free crust was one of the best. They have a real family feeling to the pizzeria.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is a local favorite. The first restaurant opened by Lou, an Italian, opened a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday in 1971. They are always busy at all 51 locations in the Chicago area. Each pizza is hand created to each patron’s desire.
Pequod Pizza Chicago
Pequod Pizza, 25 years in business, is a popular place in Lincoln Park. We arrive with the dreams of deep crust pizza and watch the Cubs play ball. Arriving we realize that the wait is down the street. Heading into the small hostess station they tell us, “there is an hour for a table about another hour for service from seating.” We walk around the block and decide to find a place with appetizers to wait out the hour seating time. We find a great place called Distilled Chicago.
New York City mayor’s press secretary Eric Phillips has put in his vote on Twitter for the best pizza “Chicago pizza is the best pizza in America, and it’s not even close.” The tweet has a photo of Chicago-style deep dish pizza from Pequod’s. We return for our pizza as our buzzer for the table goes off.
We take the pizza back to the Air BNB for snacking and dinner on Saturday evening. It is a fabulous bucket list experience. Normally a thin crust pizza lover this was a true experience. The crust is caramelized and not as heavy as expected. The cheese strings as you take a bite making it a true cheese pizza. The sauce is the best to date. It is loud and excitable as the patrons are enjoying the final innings of the Cubs game.
Distilled Chicago
Distilled Chicago was a fantastic find just down the street from Pequod Pizza in West Lincoln Park. We sit at the bar. The decor is black and gold with an early 19th century feel. The Cub’s are playing on the TV. It is neighborhood experience as locals enter to enjoy the local menu with a modern twist on bar favorites. We enjoy a glass of wine and a beer. It is best known for being a whiskey bar with our 100 varieties. These are paired with the menu items.
The food is fabulous. We order the mac ‘n’ cheese bits, sliders with fries, and Italian beef egg rolls. The Italian beef rolls turn out to be a delightful surprise with the Au Jus Sauce. This fusion of Asian and Italian together well and our the favorite of the night. The mac ‘n’ cheese bits are crispy and tasty. The dipping sauce is house ranch. There is a good textual experience. The fries are crispy and the bacon jam brings the classic slider to a unique experience the arugula brings a fresh peppery flavor, caramelized onions, and the top quality Angus beef takes a bar classic to elegance. This became dinner. It is a great place to enjoy a ball game, the community, and an American classic menu with an elevation.
Scone City
Scone City located in Wicker Park is wonderful for a morning after bar hopping or late night in Chicago. Jessica and Tim Canning along with chef Laurie McNamara took on the endeavor in a specialized sweet and savory scone menu. This place was perfect stop as my sister Cherie is heading to the airport to return to her family in Idaho. It was so wonderful sharing this experience with here. Seeing places and enjoying the cross-country journey. I truly miss her every day. She enjoyed a sweet blueberry w/ lemon glaze scone she says, “It was delicious!! Sweet. Soft. Perfection!!! Soooo tasty.” They have savory scones as well. I enjoyed a hot Vanilla Bean Latte with the house-made vanilla syrup. It is a perfect start to a day of exploring Chicago.
Bangers and Lace
Bangers and Lace, a local bar in Wicker Park, has a rustic lodge atmosphere and is a great place for a good drink and great company. The patrons are friendly. The bartender for the evening was an instant win with a Big Lebowski shirt. The best feature is the is the classic beer tap handles. The restaurant’s name is Bangers for the British term for sausage and Lace for Brussels Lace, the intricate veil of beer foam that clings to the glass side. This was a great evening spot near the Air BNB for cocktails and a glass of wine. They have a menu of sausages, English beans, vegetarian option, and Belgian fries.
The atmosphere is friendly, fun, and did get crowded as the night went on. It is a great place for sports, conversation, and good drinks. What a fun experience.
The last morning of the road trip in the Midwest is brunch at Kanela, the Greek name for Cinnamon. This restaurant place is Wicker Park neighborhood on a street with many older shops. It is a great place, voted best in Chicago by USA Today, for a Sunday morning brunch. The coffee tops and wonderful after an evening at Bangers and Lace.
Brunch includes California Benedict and Fried Egg Sandwich this was an exceptional meal. The hollandaise sauce perfection with a nice touch of heat, the poach egg picture perfect. The sandwich was fabulous with the chili aioli brings the flavors together. The seasoned potatoes nicely cooked not too soft or undercooked. It was a nice brunch with my sister. We do agree that this is a great place for brunch.
This was a fantastic weekend with my sisters. This was one of the few trips we have taken just the three of us. It was hard saying goodbye to Cherie, but we have some fantastic memories and stories. Stay tuned as the road trip continues.
Special offers for you
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Party of the Year ~ 90th Oscars® Governors Ball
This year The Oscars® is celebrating 90 years. The Governors Ball is pulling out the very best for the years celebrity party.
Wolfgang Puck and his catering company will bring the best in food, entertainment, and ascetics for the best in the film industry at Oscars®. His goal with each event he caters to is, “revolutionized the dining landscape with a singular focus: to exceed expectations whenever our guests gather for a meal.”
This year’s menu brings some favorites back and new experiences. His Oscars® menu is set to meet everyone’s pallet and needs. The menu includes:
Amuse Bouche
- Parmesan Bread Sticks
- Everything Bagel Pretzel Bite, Scamorza Cream Cheese, Tomato Confit
- Aged Vermont Cheddar Cheese
- Aged Parmesan Cheese
- Candied Spiced Mixed Nuts, Pineapple
- Dried Fruit
- Apricot Macadamia Nut Lavosh
- Passed Hors d’Oeuvre
- Edamame and Black Truffle Pot Stickers (V)
- Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Tartare, Puffed Black Rice, Togarashi
- * Of the 28,000 Japanese Black cattle handled by JA Miyazaki, only 18,000 meet the criteria to become Miyazaki Wagyu.
- Tiny Taro Taco, Spiced Eggplant, Lime Pickle (V)
- Smoked Salmon Oscars®
- Miniature Wagyu Burger with Sharp Cheddar and Remoulade
- Signature Pizzas
- Spicy Tuna Tartare in Sesame Miso Cones
- Crab Stuffed Hibiscus, Lemon, Pomegranate
- Explosion of Rhubarb, Thai Flavors (V)
Small Plates
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Pea Shoots, Mezze Flavors (V)
- Frozen Beets, Ginger Milk Curd, Yuzu, Ice Lettuce
- Asparagus, Shiro Miso, Watercress, Cherry Tomatoes, Sancho Pepper (V)
- White Asparagus Soup, Caviar, Yukon Potato Croutons
- Potato Caviar 2.0
- Black Truffle Chicken Pot Pie
- Winter Truffle Baked Cavatappi and Cheese
- Mini Pea and Carrot Ravioli, Black Truffle, Cipollini Onions
- Miyazaki Wagyu Beef, Forbidden Black Rice, Crunchy Red Beets, Char Siu Cabbage
- Black Bass, Eggplant, Salsa Verde, Teardrop Peppers
- Housemade Spinach Campanelle, English Peas, Cipollini Onions, Roasted Tomatoes (V)
(V) – Vegan
Raw Bar
- Spicy Tuna, California, and Vegetable Rolls
- Made-to-Order Nigiri
- Scallop Crudo, Blood Orange, Finger Lime, Lovage
- Sea Urchin, Egg, Dashi Ikura
- Caviar Parfait with 24k Gold
- Oysters on the Half Shell
- Snow Crab Claws
- King Crab Legs
- Lobster
- Mussels
- Clams
- Shrimp
Pastries & Chocolate
- Caramel-Passion Fruit Oscars® Lollipops
- Mango-Lime Pate a Fruit with Tajin Pop
- Marjolaine Cake Pop
- Passion Fruit Meringue Lollipop
- Pistachio Raspberry Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Brownies
- Coconut Macaroons
- Cocktail Inspired Macarons
- Negroni-Orange, Campari, Vermouth,
- Gin Mojito-Lime, White Rum
- Piña Colada-Pineapple, Malibu Rum
- Individual Blueberry-Violet Entremets Cake
- Vegan Carrot Cupcake with Vegan Cream Cheese
- Gianduja Cupcake
- Lychee-Rose-Raspberry Tart
- Pineapple Upside-Down Verrine
- Housemade Chocolate Bonbons
- Lemon Cheesecake
- Pecan Pie
- Raspberry Pate a Fruit, Vanilla Ganache
- York Peppermint
- Kumquat Pimm’s
Vegan Items (without Gluten)
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich
- Coconut Vegan Cupcake
- Walnut Chocolate Cookies
Passed Small Desserts
- Ruby Chocolate Strawberry and Cream
- strawberry-hibiscus mousse, strawberry compote, vanilla sponge,
- mascarpone cream, Callebaut Ruby chocolate
- *Wolfgang Puck Catering is the first company in the U.S. to utilize and serve this new, fully sustainable, naturally colored, varietal of chocolate
- Key Lime Meringue Cheesecake Taco
- key lime cheesecake, graham cracker, white chocolate shell, toasted meringue
- Mocha Beehive
- salted sable Breton, dark chocolate Rocher shell, liquid honey ganache, mocha mascarpone mousse
- Tropical Halo-Halo
- coconut tapioca pudding, exotic fresh fruits, acai granita
Made to Order
- Mille Crepe Cake, Caramel, Chocolate, Raspberry Filling
- Cinnamon Sugar Beignets Topped with Caramel
- Hibiscus Kombucha Carbonated to Order
Photo credit: Robert Gladden / ©A.M.P.A.S.
The evening was a great ending to another wonderful Oscars® evening.
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Motor Raceway to USA Gymnastics ~ Midwest Road Trip
Midwest road trip to the Indy 500 Motor Raceway and USA Gymnastics competition is a great time. The spring has settled in to bring a little warmth, sunshine, and lush greenery for this road trip. It is spectacular time to travel. There are some great food, experiences, and sightseeing this weekend.
Experiences on Midwest Road Trip
Stopping in Indianapolis for breakfast there was a must to stop at the Indianapolis Speedway. May is the month for the raceway with NASCAR’s largest motor race.
Indy 500
The month is trials, pre-race, practices, qualifiers, and the last Sunday of the month the Indy 500. It was a perfect day to watch the INDYCAR Grand Prix Practice & Qualifying for Indy Lights Race 1. Colton Herta won the race with a hard fight to the finish. It was exhilarating to be so close to the racecars and feel the vibrations as they made their way around the turn. This year Will Power won the 102nd Indy 500 and sweeps the month of May. Love the Indy fashion. We find a gentleman at the raceway that is already for “This Is May.”
‘This is a place to visit anytime you are in Indianapolis. Here are a few other great places to visit while in town:
- The Canal Walk a waterside promenade for walkers, runners, bikers, and sightseers. You can rent paddleboats and explore.
- Gondola Rides experience the beauty, mystique, and charm of downtown Indianapolis with spectacular canal views.
- Fountain Square this funky Indianapolis neighborhood has vintage and antique shops, a world of restaurants.
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art one of only two such museums east of the Mississippi.
- Indiana World War Memorial a mausoleum-style limestone and marble memorial pays homage to Hoosiers killed during the war.
This is a beautiful town with many attractions, museums, baseball, and more.
Levi Coffin Home
Down the road about an hour is Fountain City, Indiana. This town houses the Grand Central Home for the Underground Railroad. Levi and Catherine Coffin’s, Quaker and abolitionist, home. This home welcomed slaves seeking refuge while making their way north to Canada. They estimate that he assisted 100 slaves a year to cross the border. The home is strategically built for accommodating Underground Railroad. There is an indoor well, kitchen in the basement, and even a cubbyhole used to hide slaves when their safety was a concern. This is a wonderful place to stop and learn a lot about the underground railroad.
USA Women’s Gymnastics
Cincinnati the final Midwest stop for the weekend brings great sightseeing, food, and USA Women’s Gymnastics National competition. This is an exciting time to see Camie Winger, my niece, compete as one of the youngest gymnasts there. She is a dedicated, hard-working, and focused young woman. Her region took 2nd in the competition. Congrats to all the gymnasts on making a great achievement in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, Ohio
The afternoon was wonderful with time exploring downtown Cincinnati, “Dream Big and Fly High.” We ventured to the cupcake shop for a little dessert after lunch. It was fun exploring the shop with Camie. The afternoon was great sightseeing downtown Cincinnati. This town is full of great adventures, sports teams, and restaurants.
The riverfront is a great place to really get to know the town and community. The Smale Riverfront Park is situated on the Ohio River center of downtown. They have many activities for an entire day of entertainment. They include:
- Anderson Pavilion banquet center on the floor below the carousel is a setting for parties.
- Bike Mobility Center serves downtown bike commuters.
- Carol Ann’s Carousel displays animals iconic to Cincinnati history.
- Castellini Esplanade its design reflects the historic character of the produce industry that at one time was here.
- Duke Energy Garden mounded garden at the entrance and oversized swings that offer relaxing views of the River.
- Fath Fountain filled with water jets that dance to light and music.
- Great Adventure Playground has rock-climbing canyon, log climbers, twin racing slides, a rope bridge and a mist feature.
- Gardner Family Grove & Rose Garden plush garden with roses.
- Labyrinth a great place for meditation, reflection, and walking.
- Ohio River Trail this trail will eventually connect Madison, Indiana, and New Richmond, Ohio. Today it goes to Yeatman’s Cove, Sawyer Point, and Theodore M Berry International Friendship Park.
- Pichler Fountains & Plaza The steps aligning with Vine Street are flanked by water cascades, and a plaza containing a fountain, a reflecting pool, water curtains, and glass balconies.
- River Play fountains for children.
- Schmidlapp Event Lawn & Stage for concerts and sunny days.
Food Stops on Midwest Road Trip
3 Sisters Cafe
The first food stop of the trip is 3 Sisters Cafe in Indianapolis, Indiana, in business for 20 years. They serve a large choice of elegant breakfasts from sweet to savory and great lunch menu as well.
They have great beverages (no alcohol) with flair. I enjoyed the turmeric and ginger iced tea. It was a great flavor not too sweet or sugary. The brunch was perfect a great hollandaise sauce over Scottish lox, poached eggs, fresh tomato, and locally made English muffins with caviar on top. The English muffin was fresh with a nice sourdough flavor. The hollandaise sauce was perfect with just a little heat. The porridge was a new experience. It was creamy with a hint of cinnamon.
Hebron Grille
The evening meal was a quaint place in Hebron Kentucky called Hebron Grille. The waitress, Brenda, was so friendly and informative. She provides insight into the southern menu. I decide on the Catfish Grand Bayou. This was a meal for two. It was perfect for a later time as well.
The fish was perfectly cooked with Cajun spice, white wine, lemon, capers, diced tomatoes, grilled shrimp, crawfish, angel hair pasta, and grilled asparagus. The capers brought an exceptional flavor and salt to the dish. The crawfish is a wonderful additional treat.
Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakes
Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati Ohio, my niece and I stop by Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakes. This was a delightful find in the lobby of the Hilton Netherlands Hotel lobby. This little shop has a variety of sweet and moist cupcakes. We enjoyed the coconut, black raspberry chip, red velvet, and peanut butter cup. They were perfect after a long of competition at the USA Gymnastics event.
This business is owned and operated by Nathan & Andrea Thompson (husband and wife). The name comes from their daughter, Abby Girl, she is the top taster for the cupcakes. The cupcakes are sweet and well-flavored.
This was a wonderful road trip in the Midwest especially seeing family. It is always good connecting with your brother and his family. They have six fantastic children. Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract to the rescue it saved the hotel white towels. It was a wonderful time traveling through the Midwest. There is plenty to see and do from art to culture and outdoor adventures. It is a beautiful part of the country with friendly people.
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Burt’s Bees For Road Trip Purchase Here
Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream
Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion
Moisturizing Lip Mask (road trip really made my lips dry this was fab)
Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract (perfect and saves fees for staining hotel towels)
Tropical Pineapple Flavor Crystals Lip Balm (This is fantastic, but does not have SPF)
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Journey For St Louis BBQ ~ Road Trip
Today is our journey to St. Louis for BBQ. Waking in the morning on our road trip there is a fresh coat of spring snow and 27 degrees in Eagle River Colorado. The morning birds are still happy and enjoying a little winter fun. Cherie and I get ready for the day and make our plans for the shortage from the snow closing I-70 in the Colorado Rockies.
Vail Colorado Road Trip
This was a real eye-opener in the morning. We had planned to try to go up further north towards Yellowstone, but as the week got closer the weather indicated snow. It has been a beautiful journey so far. We get ready for the day. Grateful for Burt’s Bees Foot Creme, Coconut this is perfect for my feet to stay soft and non-drying. We are looking forward to some Medical Ball Tea at Starbucks for our drive to Vail and Denver.
The snow is slowly melting and roads are clearing up. The traffic is heavy as drivers try to get to their destination after an overnight road closure (thank you Expedia for all your assistance with the many reservations changes) We get to Vail Colorado just in time to hear the melting snow, capture a few photos, and watch as skiers get ready for a day of skiing.
The town brings a sense of a European Mountain town. The town was explored by Irishman George Gore, known as Lord Gore, and American frontiersman Jim Bridger was among the first explorers to venture into the mountainous region. There are little shops, skiing, and wonderful architecture. Many buildings have high A-frame roofs and beautifully set into the landscape of the Rocky Mountains.
The town is perfect for winter sports and fun, but spring and summer are wonderful for travel. Vail Colorado offers:
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Fly fishing
- Hiking recommended
- Vail Recreation Path
- Piney River Trail
- Minute Mile Trail
- Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
- Spa Services
- River Rafting
- Tubing
Continental Divide Journey
We head down the highway to one of the most impressive engineering creation Eisenhower Tunnel. This tunnel is 1.7 miles going under Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. This tunnel is staffed with employees monitoring carbon levels and traffic. They walk the sidewalks inside, there are fire exits in the tunnel, and old booths where employees sat to watch traffic. The tunnel has a downgrade from the 11,000′ elevation. This section of I-70 through the Rocky Mountains is a wonderful journey of beauty and engineering.
Entering Denver, you quickly realize that the Rocky Mountains are behind the city to the West. Everything to the East is flat and you can see for miles. We stop for lunch at Zeppelin Station. This is a great place with a vast variety of healthy restaurants and a local bar. Many locals gather here on Saturday afternoon to share stories and enjoy a great meal.
Aloha Poké Co. provides a light refreshing meal with a wide choice of vegetables and rice. This is a perfect meal for this long day of road travel. Cherie and I sit outside enjoying lunch in the spring sun and looking back at the Rocky Mountains thinking a strong contrast from the last two days to the journey that lays in front of us.
Kansas Journey
Heading back on our journey again the landscape becomes flat and almost desolate. It seems at times there is nothing but land here. The road seems to go forever and the earth seems flat. The journey begins to become endless. We begin counting water towers for entertainment. We counted 68 total from Kansas to Champaign IL. I am sure we missed a few here and there.
Missouri Journey
Rolling into Kansas City, MO. the city is beautiful. This is not on our scheduled stops, but one to return to for visiting. We see our first baseball stadium, The Kansas City Royals. We make our way into Independence MO. Our ancestors were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We stopped by the Independence Visitors Center.
This center represents a time in the lives of the members of loss and contention with the government. They built homes and had plans for a temple for worship. The Saints entered the area in 1831 and by 1833 twelve hundred members in the area. This was a slave state and members did not support slavery. The voting power became a concern. The members were driven out of Independence in December 1833. The area is strong in religions started in the 1800s in the USA. The Community of Christ has a temple across the street. It is a great place to explore early American religion. As we make our way towards St. Louis there is a strong religious influence seen alone the freeway.
St. Louis City is a place that Cherie is excited to stop and explore. The first place we stop of course is the baseball stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals. It is a great place to explore the team and history. There are statues outside representing the best ballplayers. Looking behind the stadium, you see the Gateway Arch. This is the gateway to the West designed by architect Eero Saarinen. The St. Louis arch is the tallest arch in the western world. There are great things to do in St. Louis including:
- Private beer lovers tour
- Augusta wine tour
- Lewis and Clark historic tour
- Get a one-day adventure pass for admission to
- Children’s Zoo,
- Zooline Railroad
- 4D Theater
- Conservation Carousel
- Stingrays at Caribbean Cove and Sea Lion Show
St. Louis is known for its arch and barbecue. This being a late Sunday afternoon we realize that many locations are not open, but find one near the ball field, SugarFire SmokeHouse BBQ! This is an award-winning restaurant under Chef Mike Johnson has studied with Myron Mixon, cooked under Emeril Lagasse and Charlie Trotter. It was a great experience of community, exceptional food (sweet potatoes the best) and BBQ pork and salmon. It was a great meal for the remaining day’s journey to Champaign IL. We finally make it across the Mississippi River and enter Illinois.
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Burt’s Bees For Road Trip Purchase Here
Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream
Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion
Moisturizing Lip Mask (road trip really made my lips dry this was fab)
Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract (perfect and saves fees for staining hotel towels)
Tropical Pineapple Flavor Crystals Lip Balm (This is fantastic, but does not have SPF)
Special offer for your road trip new cell phone case cover:
Click here to see a vast selection.
You get one free by using code GET100 (1 per customer) (limited time offer). Ads by Case Fetish
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Royal Wedding ~ Two People Fell In Love and We all Showed Up
Two people fell in love and we all showed up for a royal wedding. His Royal Highness Duke Henry Charles Albert David (Harry) married Her Royal Highness Duchess Rachel Meghan Markle (Meghan) of Sussex. This fairy tale day began 18 months ago with a blind date set up by Meghan’s friend.
Wedding Style
The wedding took place at Windsor Castle at St George’s Chapel. The flowers and plants designed by Philippa Craddock include beech, birch, hornbeam, as well as white garden roses (late Princess Diana’s favorite), Myrtle (represents love and marriage) a tradition for all royal wedding bouquets, peonies and foxgloves. Some flowers came from Princess Diana’s garden as well. Prince William sat next to an empty seat in honor of their mother’s memory. The chapel is a high-medieval Gothic style. This is a beautiful place to share vows with friends and family.
The dress code for the bride includes dress must have sleeve, lace, and be white. The 600 guest to the wedding dress for the day is for men military uniform, morning coats, or lounge suits and women’s dress for the day is choosing a day dress with hat.
Many guests including George and Amal Clooney, Oprah, Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, arrive in the best finery. The best-dressed guest is David Beckham. He wore a Dior Homme charcoal grey super 130’s wool twill morning coat and pants, a light grey super 150’s wool twill double-breasted waistcoat, a white 200/2 Egyptian cotton poplin shirt, a grey silk satin tie, a grey silk satin pocket square and derbies in black calfskin leather. He seems to upstage the groom, Duke Harry.
Duke Harry wore his frock-coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. Duchess Meghan wore Claire Waight Keller Givenchy boat neck neckline silk crepe and 3/4 sleeves. 2019 spring collection, Queen Mary’s diamond Bandeau tiara, and Cartier jewels. She looked stunning in the beautiful gown. Her veil was absolutely the show stopper of the day. It was cathedral length, made from silk tulle, and featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers from the commonwealths, Wintersweet from the Kensington Palace, and California poppy, with crops of wheat representing love and charity. Her veil is well crafted by hand and hundreds of hours of work.
Her makeup was beautiful and light. This added a sense of innocence and you could still see her freckles. Duchess Meghan gave six of her dear friends and sister-in-law Princess Catherine gold disc bespoke bracelets called the Kensington Bracelet designed by Zofia Day.
Wedding Ceremony
Duchess Meghan entered the chapel nave alone. This was a strong representation that she is an independent woman and a change from tradition for royal weddings. Prince Charles walked to the last pew then he steps aside while Duchess Meghan walks to Duke Harry. This again shows her strong independence and strength. Duke Harry thanks his father, looks at his bride, and says, “You look amazing, and you look so beautiful. “They exchange rings, something not traditionally done. The rings made from gifted Welch gold from Queen Elizabeth. The ceremony was one of love and commitment. The most Revd. and Rt Honored Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated. Duke Harry could hardly look away from his bride.
Royal Family
Wedding Reception
The couple took a carriage ride around the town of Windsor after sharing their first public kiss outside the chapel. They then enjoyed a ride in an electric silver-blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero to the reception at Frogmore House. Duke Harry changed into a tuxedo and Duchess Meghan wearing bespoke Stella McCartney high neck lily-white gown in silk crepe with an aquamarine ring that once belonged to Princess Diana. They looked exceptional for the evening reception hosted by Prince Charles.
The menu for the evening reception included:
- Scottish Langoustines wrapped in Smoked Salmon with Citrus Créme Fraiche
- Grilled English Asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian Ham
- Garden Pea Panna Cotta with Quail Eggs and Lemon Verbena
- Heritage Tomato and Basil Tartare with balsamic Pearls
- Poached Free Range Chicken bound in a Lightly Spiced Yoghurt with Roasted Apricot
- Croquette of Confit Windsor Lamb, Roasted Vegetables, and Shallot Jam
- Warm Asparagus Spears with Mozzarella and Sun-Blush Tomatoes
- Fricassee of Free Range Chicken with Morel Mushrooms and Young Leeks
- Pea and Mint Risotto with Pea Shoots, Truffle Oil, and Parmesan Crisps
- Ten Hour Slow Roasted Windsor Pork Belly with Apple Compote and Crackling
- Sweet Canapés including
- Champagne and Pistachio Macaroons
- Orange Créme Brülée Tartlets
- Miniature Rhubarb Crumble Tartlets
- Beverages for the evening reception include:
- Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non-Vintage Champagne
- Selection of Wines
- Soft Drinks
- Apple and Elderflower mocktail (using the same syrup as the wedding cake)
- Sandringham Cox’s apple juice
- When Harry Met Meghan ginger and rum cocktail
The reception included a beautiful wedding cake. Clarie Ptak designed the wedding cake. The wedding cake features:
- Elderflowers syrup using elderflowers from the Queen’s residence
- A light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple
- Filling Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower buttercream
- Decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream and 140 fresh flowers that are in season
Elton John played a set of four songs after Harry asked, “Anyone here know how to play the piano?” Taking away from tradition Duchess Meghan gave a speech. The tradition is for the father of the bride to make a speech, but Duchess of Sussex (Duchess Meghan). This wedding brought modern traditions fusing with royal traditions to a new forefront. The event concluded with fireworks.
Congrats to the newlyweds on their wedding day. There is no official notice of their honeymoon.
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Brunch Toasted Sandwiches
Brunch is a beautiful time to create toasted sandwiches. It is a great time of year to have brunch outside. These recipes children can assist.
The sandwiches featured here are:
- Opened faced egg and avocado sandwich
- Fruit bagels
- Scrambled eggs with sausage sandwich
- Fried egg and bacon sandwich
It is a great time to come together and celebrate life.
Opened Faced Egg and Avocado Brunch Sandwich
Serves 4
- boil 5 eggs
- Egg boiling tips
- place eggs in the bottom of a saucepan
- cover with cold water
- bring to just boiling
- cover with the lid and remove from heat
- let sit for 12 min (large eggs)
- drain immediately
- Egg boiling tips
- 4 English Muffins
- 3 TSP Hummus, mashed avocado, or Butter to spread on the toasted muffin
- 2 large almost ripe avocados peeled and sliced lengthwise
- avocado ripeness
- darker green to black riper that light green
- You should be able to apply some pressure when squeezing in the palm of your hand do not use your fingers they cause bruising
- avocado ripeness
- Salt and pepper
Boil the eggs, peel, and slice lengthwise set aside. Toast English Muffins to your likeness. We toasted using ToBox 4 slice toaster. It provides great settings for toasting perfect bread every time. Butter or place hummus on each slice of the toasted English muffins. Layer on entire egg slices across the top of the buttered area. Top the eggs with sliced avocados. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Fruit Bagel Opened Face Brunch Sandwich
Serves 4
- 8 lengthwise sliced strawberries
- 4 sliced bananas
- 4 plain bagels
- 8 oz package of Neufchatel cheese softened
Toast the bagels to your liking. Our bagels toasted up nicely using the ToBox toaster. It offers a bagel setting that toasts only one side. Spread Neufchatel cheese on each bagel not too heavy. Place the strawberries on the outer edges of the bagel slightly hanging off the edge and bananas on the inside of the bagel.
Scrambled Eggs with Sausage Brunch Sandwich
serves 4
- 1 lb sausage (your favorite is best) made into 4 patties and cooked in skillet till done
- 8 large eggs beaten and scrambled salted and peppered to taste
- Scrambled eggs tips
- Use water instead of milk. This makes them softer milk tends to add a heaviness and tough
- Salt right before you pull them off the stove. This keeps them moister.
- Pepper right before you pull them off the stove. This helps the eggs keep their bright yell
- Scrambled eggs tips
- 8 toasted (ToBox toaster is great because it understands bread and toasting to perfection) bread slices buttered
- 8 slices of sharp cheddar cheese
Lay the cheese on each slice of toast. On one slice of toast place the sausage, then the scrambled eggs. You can add a favorite sauce hot sauce, salsa, or ketchup. Top with the other slice of bread with cheese. Cut the sandwich into quarters.
Fried Egg and Bacon Brunch Opened Faced Sandwich
serves 4
- 4 slices of bread toasted and buttered
- 4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 slices of bacon cut in half and cooked
- Bacon Tips
- cook bacon in the oven
- line cookie sheet with wax paper or tin foil
- cook for 15 to 20 minutes on 375 (time depends on your likeness)
- Bacon Tips
- 8 eggs fried until firm but not overcooked salt and peppered to taste
- Fried Egg tips
- cook eggs one at a time
- heat the pan on medium with butter in the pan
- when the pan is hot break one egg in the pan
- turn heat source down to low immediately
- cook slow until the white in the egg is cooked and yolks thicken but not stiff
- Fried Egg tips
Set up your toast place a slice of cheese on each toast. 4 slices of toast layer 2 fried eggs, 4 slices of bacon, and place the other 4 slices on top of the bacon.
We have an exclusive offer for the ToBox toaster Dealspotr Exclusive: 50% Off All Kitchenware and Appliances | ToBox.com (Site-Wide) use code ILOVEMYDAD at checkout.
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Over The Rocky Mountains We Go ~ Road Trip
The Rocky Mountains (Rockies) was home for me for decades. Many of my ancestors crossed over these mountains to settle the Salt Lake Valley. These gorgeous mountains brought each seasons beauty with exceptional colors. Heading over the Rockies my sister, Cherie, joins for the rest of the journey.
Utah Rocky Mountains
Growing up near the mountains, the seasons each bring a wonderful set of adventures. Mount Timpanogos, a view seen from the deck of my childhood home, is the second highest mountain the Wasatch Range. It is a great place for:
- Summer
- hiking including to Timpanogos Cave
- camping
- fishing
- river rafting
- boating
- Alpine Slide in Park City
- Seven Peaks Water Park
- Fall
- Drive the Alpine Loop at the peak of the leave colors
- Picnicking
- Visit Bridal Veil Falls
- Winter
- Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Shopping in Park City
- Sundance Film Festival
- Alpine Slide in Park City
- Spring
- Thanksgiving Point
- Utah Film Festival
- Crandall Historical Printing Museum (covers 400 years of printing)
The area has exceptional art and culture events as well. This is a great place for family road trips and staying for a week of fun.
Lunchtime
Leaving Utah County through Spanish Fork Canyon is a beautiful drive. Spanish Fork Canyon goes south over Soldier Summit (7,477 ft.) and then back down through Price Canyon. The drive is very scenic and great for Geology fans. It is full of wildlife. The Rocky Mountains are such a beautiful relaxing place to play and explore.
We stop in Green River just before Colorado. Lisa Sherman recommended having lunch at Ray’s Tavern. This was our first travel contest. Congrats, to Wes Hawkins at Utah Travels for knowing what city we were enjoying lunch. We ordered the chicken sandwich and a Garden Burger®. They had a Utah tradition on fry sauce, created by Don Carlos Edwards in the 1950s. It is as simple as ketchup and mayonnaise whipped together. I have seen variations with adding sour cream or buttermilk. This was a treat for sure. It was a great place. The waitress extremely friendly and the food fresh, including the fries.
Colorado Rocky Mountains
Full and ready to get through Colorado to Denver. We hit the road again and see the landscape change more. You lose sight of the Rocky Mountains. The Green Rivers flow into Colorado River (the mighty river that creates the Grand Canyon). The highway follows this along through Colorado Rockies.
The I-70 takes on new meaning to the Rockies. You enter this large canyon and marvel at the engineering feat you are driving. Colorado River runs through the narrow canyon that has two-lane traffic in each direction through Glenwood Canyon. The rain and temperature begin falling. Soon iMaps lets us know that we are not going to make to Denver for the night. The freeway closes just up the road for snow. I need to find a hotel before they fill-up. We find the Eagle River Lodge. This was a perfect place to stay for the evening.
The driving time cut short we enjoyed an evening of great local food and beauty time. Cherie went out to pick-up dinner from Luigi’s Pasta House salad and a medium vegetable pizza. After dinner, we enjoyed a night of cleansing, moisturizing, and using masks on our faces and lips with Burt’s Bees. I have been on the road for a week and traveling through various climates, different types of soap and water, and sleeping locations my skin was feeling tired and dry. Burt’s Bees is so wonderful. Cherie even enjoyed the results. When on a road trip it is important to remember to take care of your skin. Playing on the television in the room was a marathon of Tom Hank’s movies. We head off to sleep for another day of road tripping across the US.
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Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream
Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion
Moisturizing Lip Mask (road trip really made my lips dry this was fab)
Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract (perfect and saves fees for staining hotel towels)
Tropical Pineapple Flavor Crystals Lip Balm (This is fantastic, but does not have SPF)
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Dreamer and Believer ~ Sara Siders
Sitting in the local Champaign coffee shop, Cafe Kopi, with Sara Siders a musician, composer, and guitarist. She is a boundary pusher not only in her music but life. Sider’s is a transplant to the Champaign, Illinois music scene. Her strong sense of rock, blues, and funk to her performance and music.
Sara Siders is the lead singer for Mank and Sass, she grew up around the music world. Her father, Bruce Hall, is the lead bass guitarist for Reo Speedwagon. Siders states, “My father has lived his dream so you cannot tell me that dreams do not come true.” Seeing her father’s happiness she learned that you can make anything happen.
Enjoying her childhood, staying out of the limelight most of the time. Siders recalls, “going on stage with the ‘fambamfamily’ to sing “Roll With The Changes” As a child, she enjoyed pushing the boundaries. She says, “The joke is sports or jail for me.”
She enjoyed playing softball. She earned a place on the practice team on the Olympic Women’s softball team at the age of 15 she states, “I could not even drive myself to practice.” She earned a scholarship to Purdue for softball. This was a great opportunity for her, but her junior year her dream to play softball ended because of 5 knee surgeries.
The day she found out she was no longer able to play sports. She locks herself in her room. She was not sure what she was going to do with her life at this point. “School was not my forte.” Her roommate, Matt Zimmerman, threw her a guitar and told her to figure it out. That was the first time she had taken an interest in music. She did figure out the guitar and that she could sing.
Sara Siders discusses how she has huge stage fright. She began singing with her back to the audience. To this day she still has stage fright. She is still trying to get over stage fright. She has recently made a choice to stop drinking and that has intensified the fear. Her approach now is singing with her eyes closed. Sometimes friends will come up to the stage and stand there for minutes before she realizes someone is there. The smaller intimate performances are much more frightening for Siders than the larger arenas. She states, “she feels like the intimate settings are more personal and come with expectations of more talking.” The expectation that she should tell her story about each song and the inspiration behind the music.
She has taken the challenge of facing a change in her dreams to figuring out a new passion and facing her own fears of performance to make her new dream come true. She feels that the uncomfortably is present in her performance. She remembers even as a young child being coaxed to the stage to sing with her family. Her performances include music she composes as well as covers like My Neck My Back.
Sara Siders is also a music composer. The ability to hear the song and play songs, she believes is genetically inclined to her family. Siders is like her father in that there was no formal structural music training. She is able to write the lyrics and the music without the ability to read music. This gives her the believer and dreamer aspect of the world. She as a child was guided to believe in yourself and what you’re doing. Her dad lived out his musical dream. How can anyone tell her that a child of a dreamer it is not possible?
Strict playing is something she feels takes away from the art of music. She has a sultry raspy voice that is just intoxicating to listen too. She has always tried to stray away from the structure. “Structured music scene is difficult when you enter a venue that is small or empty,” Siders feels. She goes on to discuss that when any musician is starting out they do to the various audience and by the time you have made the big house you have played to every kind of audience there is out there. She wants to go with the flow. She never starts with a set list again there is no structure.
Jared Manker, “Mank” of Mank and Sass, is classically trained in music. He has the strict background insight into music. He assists her with the theory and structure of the songs. Mank has a strong structure in music and is learning to enjoy the improv with her personality. His schooling allows for Siders to see where she is with her music and how to find her personal style of music.
She met her wife in high school here in Champaign, even though she was living in California. Her family often visited family in Champaign. She met her at a high school party. She fell in love with Erin Siders right off the bat. It took a journey to get together. Between college and military, they stayed connected. Eventually, Siders moved from Indianapolis to Champaign where she reconnected with Erin on Valentines Day 2012. They married in 2015. Siders does not understand the confusion over love.
She knows that even walking down the street she is not the pretty straight girl. Her mother was concerned with her moving to the midwest. Having grown up in California the comfortably being gay was not found in Indianapolis. She says, “There were many times I felt like the only gay person walking in the state.” Her philosophy is if she is the only gay person someone meets she wants that will be a great encounter. Be good to people.”
Siders influences to keep going is that it makes her heart happy. The work she did before this time there was no connection. This just makes her happy. Her father is so happy with what he does was a great lesson she learned. She grew up around good timeless music. Her musical inspirations include:
- Janice Joplin
- She said, “you got to give it to a woman who looks like she is going to pass out every time she is singing on stage.”
- Ella Fitzgerald
- “A truly amazing talent,” she says.
- David Bowie
- “You got to love Bowie. You got to love someone who can be himself,” Siders states.
- Tina Turner
- She said, “She is strong and a great achiever.”
Mornings are her favorite time of the day. She is a very early riser and makes her bed every day. It is a challenge at this time her wife works the graveyard shift, but she makes the bed when Erin gets up in the afternoon. It is a closing to the night and a beginning to the day. Makes the room a lot better. She enjoys a morning of songwriting and coffee. She drinks at least a cup of coffee every day. She really loves coffee, mornings, and writing. Recently wrote More Than Caffeine.
As we finish our coffees she discusses her family and wife. How much they bring to her life. She has embraced the struggles she faced, stayed true to herself and continues to believe and dream.
She is releasing an album June 16, 2018 album on iTunes or message them on Facebook for T-shirts and a CD.
You can catch Mank and Sass at:
Clark Bar Champaign IL. (Every other Wednesday)
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