Weekend Recap: Good Times on the Mississippi River

So, I've been a little behind on my weekend blogs, so this one is actually about 2 weekends ago (not last weekend).  Our weekends have been steadily busy throughout the summer, which is not any different from every other summer...and I like it that way! 

Friday night we went out for drinks after work at a bar downtown with some friends and co-workers of Chad's.  Then, we headed out to All That Jazz, one of the many festivals in our town during the summer.  This is one thing I really love about living here is that there is almost always an event going on in the summertime so it's hard to get bored.  All That Jazz is a once-a-month festival downtown with food and beverage vendors, live music, and lots & lots of people.  It's always a good time down there because you are bound to run into at least 5 people you know. 

Saturday morning we woke up bright & early to head to the river with our friends Austin & Kellie.  This weekend the White Rose Regatta was going on.  If you're not familiar with a regatta, it's basically just a big ole party on the river where everyone anchors out and ties up their boats to one another.  Then, if the water is shallow enough, everyone can get out and walk around or if not, everyone just walks boat to boat.  This regatta in particular was a benefit so they did an auction and had live music out in the middle of the river (doesn't get much better than that)!  We had a GREAT time with our friends, my cousins, and all of the random people we met for the almost 12 hours that we were out there. 

Needless to say, we were beat and starving after that long day in the sun and heat.  We got home around 10:00, took a quick shower, and then rushed to our favorite Mexican restaurant to see if we could get in before they stopped serving food.  We were in luck!  We got in just 15 minutes before closing time and those chips & salsa never tasted so good.

Sunday we attended a welcome back party for Chad's uncle because he returned from Afghanistan after being there for almost a year.  It was nice to see him back in the states and good to know he should be back for good now.

Overall it was a hot, but enjoyable weekend with friends and family.  I was happy to have been able to get out on the river for a full day since we don't get out there as often as I'd like lately.

How have you been spending your weekends? 

Song of the Week

This week I'm choosing another great summer anthem as my song of the week.  I've been hearing this song for quite a while now but I'm choosing it because it's just now getting a lot of love on VH1.  Give it a listen and watch the video and let me know what you think!

Pumped up Kicks-Foster The People

Robert's got a quick hand.
He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan.
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid.
Yeah he found a six shooter gun.
In his dads closet hidden in a box of fun things, and I don't even know what.
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you.

[Chorus x2:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet.

Daddy works a long day.
He be coming home late, yeah he's coming home late.
And he's bringing me a surprise.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.
I've waited for a long time.
Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger,
I reason with my cigarette,
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah.

[Chorus x2:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet.

[Whistling]

[Chorus x3:]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet.

Summerfest: Weekend 2

I know you've all been (anxiously) waiting for me to post my second Summerfest recap, so here it is (in pictures)!

Parachute...literally ran for almost a mile to get to them in time. Sixth time seeing them & still awesome!

Backstage photo with Will which ended with me losing my husband for 1/2 hour (but I got this picture!)

The beginning of our brewery tour...on a boat!

Bingo at one of the brewery stops! I won a $10 gift card AND a shot! (only in Wisconsin)

Enjoying the beautiful views on a beautiful day...

Hour 4 of the boat brewery tour...things started to get crazy!

After the tour, we stopped to see The Fonz! And took this nice picture...

And then we got some crazy idea to have some fun with The Fonz...

He's so easygoing...

Grabbed some much needed food at the infamous AJ Bombers (featured on the Food channel)

Then we got the brilliant idea to take some pictures in this fountain...and my camera was drowned...

...but I still had my phone! Back to Summerfest for Dashboard Confessional & a ride on the SkyGlider.



Although there were some mishaps along the way, Summerfest: Weekend 2 was a success! We had a great time hanging with our friend Amanda (who we met last year on VH1's Best Cruise Ever) and taking in all of the festivities (beer) and attractions (statues)!

P.S. I'm very happy to say that I truly feel like I've been making the most of my summer this year.  I've spent a ton of time outside enjoying the weather, the water, and great friends. Hoping the rest of the year is just as great!

Song of the Week

My song of the week comes from one of my favorite bands whom I recently saw live (I think for the 6th time), Parachute.  I love how upbeat and just plain fun this song is.  "What I Know", is from Parachute's sophomore album, The Way it Was.  I was first introduced to Parachute when I saw them on tour with SafetySuit.  They put on a great live show and are just a fun, down-to-earth group of guys.  They always make sure to meet each and every one of their fans after a show, no matter how long it might take.  Also, they're very active in the Twitter world so make sure you check out @Parachute if you're on there.  I hope you enjoy my song of the week!

What I Know-Parachute

I take the car and drive the night

The white stripes blur and ease my mind

When all that's left is a single line

Instead of this confusion

And I'm not certain of the way it was

And I'm not sure what I could of done

Oh but I wonder if it had been enough

To stop her from leaving

And I realize the only thing I know is

She said , I'm in love with some one else she said

I fell in love with some one else and I

I'm in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

I stop the car and close my eyes

I can see her face, but It takes a while

And it feeds it like the morning light

Slow and unfocused, So I go home and

She's sitting on the kitchen chair

Oh a suitcase waiting by the stairs

Oh they're both worn out from all the years

They're ready to let go

And I realize the only thing that's sure is

She said , I'm in love with some one else she said

I fell in love with some one else and I

I'm in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

She's in love with some one else she said

She fell in love with some one else and that

She's in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

And I'm on my knees

And I'm on my knees

And I'm on my knees

And I'm on my knees

Yes and I realize the only thing I know is

She said , I'm in love with some one else she said

I fell in love with some one else and I

I'm in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

She's in love with some one else she said

She fell in love with some one else and that

She's in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

I fell in love with some one else and I

I'm in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

She's in love with some one else she said

She fell in love with some one else and that

She's in love with some one and that's all that I know for sure

Summerfest: Weekend 1

So, I realize that it's been a while since I've posted, but hopefully this will explain why.  We've spent the past two weekends enjoying the world's largest music festival in Milwaukee, WI...Summerfest!  We saw 9 different bands perform, drank way too much beer, and got to hang out with some awesome friends (not to mention the cool people we met along the way)!

We had originally planned to go to Summerfest only one weekend since we found out that most of the hotels were completely booked and the ones that weren't were very expensive.  I was talking with my friend Jeri last week, though, and decided then that it would be a good idea to just go both weekends so that her and Greg could join us for one of them!  I was able to book our go-to hotel at the last minute and we were off!

Friday night (July 1st) we arrived at Summerfest just in time for the three major headliners at 10:00 PM.  We caught parts of each show, since I was interested in seeing all of the bands playing at the same time.  We started with Anberlin at the US Cellular Stage, then moved on to Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at the Rock Stage, and finally ended up at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage to see Third Eye Blind.  By that point, we were really enjoying ourselves and it was the perfect time to hear some old-school songs to which we could sing along word for word.  Who doesn't want to hear Jumper and Semi-Charmed Life live after driving almost 3 hours, and walking over a mile?  I think that alone made the trip worth the effort.

Anberlin

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Third Eye Blind

After Summerfest was over for the evening, we took another long walk downtown to go to Mo's Irish Pub (one of our favorite Milwaukee watering holes).  Since Jeri & Greg had never been to Milwaukee before, we had to show them a good time in one of our favorite cities!  We had some delicious Guinness at Mo's and some cheesy late-night food.  We ended up hitting the pillow around 2:30 AM after a successful, fun-filled night.

Saturday (July 2nd), we headed to Jimmy John's for lunch and then to a brewery tour at Lakefront Brewery.  Chad & I had been on the tour 3 times before, but it's so much fun that we had to show Jeri & Greg what the hype was all about.  If you ever go to Milwaukee, this is one attraction you don't want to miss.  Even if you aren't a beer lover, I guarantee you will be thoroughly entertained on a Lakefront tour.  The great thing about this tour is that you get your samples beforehand and can get refills along the way.  Also, the tour guides are absolutely hilarious...every time.  After the tour, we enjoyed the rest of our samples outside on the riverfront patio.  This is one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee on a warm, sunny summer afternoon.

Jeri & I with the big beer mug at Lakefront Brewery

Beautiful day on the riverfront patio

After visiting Lakefront, we headed down to Lake Michigan to continue enjoying the beautiful weather (which, by the way, we were lucky enough to have both weekends).  Chad & Greg had pull-up contest (haha) on the workout equipment that they have along the lake, we took some pictures, and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. 

Hilltop on Lake Michigan

Greg & Chad's pull-up contest on the lake

We had a delicious supper at the Milwaukee Ale House (another place we had to take Jeri & Greg during their first visit to Milwaukee).  I had the most delicious beer pretzels with cheese I have ever had in my life!  That Wisconsin cheese was absolutely amazing, and I think everyone else at the table agreed.  The Ale House also brews its own beer, which is another reason why we love it so much.  After supper, we walked to Summerfest for the second night of music. 

Most delicious pretzels & cheese...ever

Saturday night we got to see Fitz & The Tantrums, The Airborne Toxic Event, and a little bit of Hinder.  They were all good bands, but none of them blew me out of the water.  I think my favorite shows of the weekend were the bits of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Third Eye Blind that we saw on Friday night.

Can you see us in there?

Finally, after a fun-filled couple of days, we topped off the weekend by having some drinks at Fanatics (a huge sports bar near Summerfest) and Fire on Water (a cool music-themed bar on Water street). 

Stay tuned for my next post...Summerfest: Weekend 2!

Song of the Week

I'm a little late on my song of the week, but this week I'm liking Coldplay's Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.  It's a little strange that I would choose this song, just because I'm not a huge fan of Coldplay.  I like some of their music, and really like a select few of their songs, but I find most of their music to be average.  I think Every Teardrop is a Waterfall has a great sound and if this is a sign of what's to come from Coldplay, I'll be listening in the future.

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall-Coldplay

I turn the music up, I got my records on
I shut the world outside until the lights come on
Maybe the streets alight, maybe the trees are gone
But I feel my heart start beating to my favorite song

And all the kids they dance, all the kids all night
Until Monday morning feels another life
I turn the music up, I'm on a roll this time
And heaven is in sight

I turn the music up, I got my records on
From underneath a rubble sing a rebel song
Don't want to see another generation drop
I'd rather be a comma than a full stop

Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees
Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes
But my heart is beating and my pulses start
Cathedrals in my heart

As we saw oh this light
I swear you emerge blinking into
To tell me it's alright

As we soar walls
Every siren is a symphony
And every tear's a waterfall

Is a waterfall, ah
Is a waterfall, ah
Is always a waterfall
Every tear is always a waterfall, ah

So you can hurt, hurt me bad
But still I'll raise the flag

Oh,
It was a wa-ah-ah-ah, waterfall
A wa-ah-ah-ah, waterfall

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

Wisconsin Dells!

Last week, we decided to take a somewhat last minute trip to the Dells for the weekend.  We make sure to take a trip up there at least once a year since it's so close and there's so much to do!  We had a great time, as usual, and made sure to pack in as many activities as we could.

Chad and I left straight from work on Friday night so we could get our mini-cation started as soon as possible.  We checked into the Monaco Motel before starting our night.  The Monaco is located on Wisconsin Dells Parkway right next to Noah's Ark, America's largest waterpark.  If you've never been to the Dells, you probably don't know that they pride themselves on having the largest, longest, fastest, first ______ (insert anything here).  We normally stay at the Black Hawk Motel, but they were booked that weekend so we settled on Monaco.  It was very outdated but this is to be expected from any motel in the Dells.  If you want to avoid this, you can stay at one of their many (expensive) resorts with indoor and outdoor waterparks.  By staying at the Monaco, we got free waterpark passes and oodles of discounts at restaurants and attractions.

We started our weekend by eating at Famous Dave's on Broadway (downtown Dells).  The food was delicious and I just love this location as it is right in the middle of all the "cheesy" Wisconsin Dells action.  Afterwards, we decided to walk up and down Broadway and stop in any place that interested us.  We stopped a Nig's bar, took a stroll on the Riverwalk, and went to the Showboat Saloon.  Downtown Wisconsin Dells is really hopping on summer nights.  Everyone is on vacation and just wants to have a good time.  We had a great time bar hopping!

On the Riverwalk

Saturday we got up early and made sure to get to Noah's Ark right as it opened.  This is key, as it tends to get very packed after the first couple hours.  We got on all the awesome rides we wanted to and even did several of them more than once.  It was a slightly cloudy day so it worked out perfectly because we didn't have to wait in long lines to get on the rides.  Some of our favorite rides include the Sting Ray, Black Anaconda (America's longest water coaster) and our favorite waterslides, Black Thunder. :)

www.noahsarkwaterpark.com

After tiring ourselves out at Noah's Ark, we headed back to the motel and got ready to go eat some lunch.  We had lunch at the High Rock Cafe, which has a great location above "the strip" downtown.  I love this place as their food is awesome and I love people-watching while we eat.  The service left a lot to be desired at this visit, though. 

High Rock Cafe

Later that afternoon, we decided to try out zip lining.  I wasn't sure it was going to be worth the cost, but I'm so glad we did this now!  If you ever get the chance, make sure you check out Bigfoot Zip Lining in Wisconsin Dells.  This was my first time ever zip lining, so it was a bit nerve-wracking, but turned out to be an amazing experience.  We did 6 zip lines and walked over 500 stairs (all after walking 1000+ stairs at Noah's Ark).  The final zip line was definitely the scariest, as it took us above the tree tops and over Sasquatch Lake. This one was also the longest at 1397 feet.  The guides were great and they even taught us tricks, which I was too chicken to try, but Chad did them all!  He even zip lined upside down (crazy if you ask me)!

Getting ready to go zip lining!

The 1397 foot zip line

We did it!

After an action packed day, we relaxed with drinks and supper at Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Company.  This place is really neat and really huge! They have 3 floors, 3 bars, and their own brewery on site.  We tried out some of their microbrews and my favorite was definitely the Rustic Red.  We also ordered a pizza and I was surprised to see that their taco pizza is made with Doritos! If you've never had taco pizza with Doritos, you're missing out.  My favorite pizza place ever makes their taco pizza with Doritos and I haven't found any other place that does, until now! 

Ahh...Rustic Red after a long day

Just being goofy

The Dorito-covered taco pizza :)

After filling our stomachs, we headed back downtown and walked through some of the shops.  The great thing about the shops in Wisconsin Dells is that many of them stay open really late.  They have tons of candy shops, fudge shops, ice cream parlors, and souvenir stores.  I had to stop and get some of the delicious chocolate as a dessert.  I chose a chocolate and M&M covered pretzel from Swiss Maid Fudge.  We ended the night by hanging out at the beautiful, relaxing Riverwalk Pub.  This place has a great set up as it is set back from the strip area, so it's away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but still easily accessible by foot.  They have a great beer garden area where you can enjoy drinks overlooking the river.  We tried to convince ourselves to stay out all night, but after doing so much that day, we decided to call it a night.

Sunday morning, we had breakfast at Denny's and then took advantage of our free waterpark passes at Chula Vista resort.  This was the first time we had been to Chula Vista, and were so happy we had the chance to check it out!  It's absolutely gigantic and has both an indoor and outdoor waterpark.  Sunday was a little chilly, so we didn't get to try the outdoor waterpark, but the indoor one was fantastic!  We had so much fun on their waterslides.  They have some great tube slides that Chad & I went on over and over again together.  They also have great racing slides, and another that really gets you going fast!  Chula Vista's indoor waterpark also has the world's fastest and longest indoor water coaster (see, I wasn't lying about that), but we found this ride to be quite boring compared to the slides.  If you ever get the chance to go to Chula Vista, make sure you don't miss out!

www.chulavistaresort.com

After a fun-filled weekend, we finally decided to head back home.  I don't think I've gotten that much exercise in one weekend since I was a kid, but it was totally worth every minute!  If you haven't been to Wisconsin Dells, it's definitely one of those things you have to put on your bucket list.  How could you miss seeing America's largest waterpark, the longest indoor leisure river in the U.S., or the first U.S. indoor waterpark?  You can see all of that and more in "The Waterpark Capital of the World" (largest concentration of waterparks in one area) with 18 indoor waterparks and 3 outdoor waterparks within 18 square miles, including more than 200 waterslides and 16 million gallons of water. :)