Old World Wisconsin

Today Freddy and I decided to spend the whole day at Old World Wisconsin.  Last time I was there I was in elementary school and Freddy has never been there.  The weather was a little cool but it was a lot of fun.

We left right after church so we can get there right when it opens and we did not leave until about 4:00p.m.  The first place we stopped was the Catch Wheel Fever. It is one of Old World Wisconsin's newest exhibit.  This exhibit allowed us to get some experience with the 1890s cycling boom.

We were allowed to climb aboard a highwheeler and ride a cycle around the area.  After talking for a while to the guy in charge of the repair shop we made our way to the Crossroads Village.  We visited Sanford Farm, Four Mile Inn, Sisel Shoe Shop, Grotelueschen Blacksmith Shop, Thomas General Store, Peterson Wagon Shop, Hafford House and St. Peter's Church.

We had a lot of fun looking around the village.  The next stop we visited was the African-American, German and Polish Areas.  We did not feel like waiting for the tram so we decided to walk.

We loved seeing the leaves and getting a little exercise in as well.  Freddy and I were really impatient today so we walked a lot instead of using the tram.

Freddy did some preaching at the United Brethren Church.  It was the church for the African-Americans.  Next we walked to the Koepsell Farm and Schulz Farm.  We learned about some of the different ways that people in the olden times made their living.  Freddy also met a friend at the Schulz Farm.

Then we took a horse drawn wagon to the Schottler Farm.  The Schottler Farm was really interesting because they were butchering a pig.  It was quite interesting and kind of nasty to see what goes into making delicious pork, bacon, ham and etc.  Then we walked to the Kruza House which was little Polish house.  After walking around for a while we were getting a little hungry so we caught the tram back to the Welcome Center to get some lunch at the Clausing Barn Cafe.  It was really tasty.  Next we took the tram to the Norwegian Area to finish the last half of our trip.

We saw some steam- and gas-powered machines doing some work.  I also had to pose in front of this really cool car before school started that the Raspberry School.

When I was little, this was one of my favorite places to see.  I always loved learning about the people going to school in the olden times.  This one-room school house would hold grades from first to eight and one teacher for all grades.  After participating in a fake class, we walked to the surrounding farms in the Norwegian Area.  Next we took the tram to the Danish Area were we drew some water at the Pedersen Farm's well.

Freddy of course had a lot easier time drawing water than myself.  But after trying it for about 20 times, I finally got some water out.  Next we walked to the Finniah Area before heading home.  We saw some chickens getting plucked at the Ketola Farm.  Also a really interesting and nasty thing that Freddy and I witnessed.  The chickens was not as nasty as the pig.

We had a lot of fun exploring and learning about how people lived in the olden times of Wisconsin.  We will totally be back some day.  Since it was not the warmest day, I could not wait to get home and have some really nice soups and warm up from being outside all day.  You never realize how nice it is to come home and make some soup in a really nice warm house instead of trying to start a fire to keep warm.

Have you ever been to Old World Wisconsin?  If so, what is your favorite place to visit?

Healthy Pizza

Today I created this really yummy healthy pizza for dinner.  I got the idea from All Good Healthy Fast Food.  One of items I always get to eat is the All Good Combo.  It comes with a All Good Pizza, All Good Taco, Spring Roll, The Fix and a drink.  I decided to recreate their All Good Pizza my own way.

Ingredients:

Flat bread

Wholly Guacamole

Lettuce

Cherry tomatoes

Goat cheese

Schuett Farms

Today marks the official day that Freddy and I started dating.  As of today, we have been dating for six years.  It feels like yesterday that Freddy asked me to be his girlfriend, and now I am planning on marrying him.  I cannot be any more happier.

Freddy took off work so we could hang out all day.  We decided to go to a pumpkin farm.  We chose Schuett Farms because it was pretty close and they had a corn maze and a pumpkin patch.

On our way to the farm we could not stop telling stories about when we were young visiting the pumpkin farm.  We were so excited to relive our childhood memories today.

I had some many lovely memories of going to the pumpkin farm with my family.  I remember the farm had two haunted houses, corn maze, things to climb on, animals and there was a little store where you could get apple cider.  My sister and I would always get apple cider in green alien cups.

When Freddy and I got to the farm, the first thing we wanted to do was the corn maze.  While purchasing the tickets for the maze, I noticed some caramel popcorn.  I cannot even remember the last time I had that.  I purchased it so we would have something to munch on while doing the maze.  Also, if we got stuck in the maze at least we would not go hungry.

The maze was a lot of fun.  They had all these check points that you were supposed to find in the corn maze.  I believe that when you found them all you were entered for a prize.  We found a couple but got a little bored trying to find them all.  We wanted to get some pumpkins instead.  So we tried finding the exit which was a challenge in itself.

We had a ton of fun finding a lot of pumpkins. Freddy was being really picky with his pumpkin.  He wanted one that was perfectly round, no markings on it and extremely orange.  I kept telling him that those were already picked and in a pile close to the front of the farm.  But he wanted to pick his own pumpkin.  After walking around the patch for a while, he finally found one that he was happy with.

We really enjoyed the farm and maybe someday when we have children of our own we could take them to it.  That way they can also have great memories of the pumpkin farm.

Do you have any fun memories at the pumpkin farm?  Comment below your fun stories.

Bridal Expo Tickets

I finally received my tickets for the Bridal Expo.  The show is November 2, 2014 at the Sheraton Hotel in Brookfield.  I am super excited to go.  I was going to purchase 4 tickets for myself, my sister, my mother and my aunt to go until I noticed that all brides or grooms-to-be get four free complimentary tickets with a proper promotional code.  I emailed the person in charge to see how I can get the tickets.  She gave me the code to enter and said that I needed to fill out the request form.  Once I get approved for the tickets, they will send them in the mail.

Since I received the tickets today, I must have been approved.  I can not wait to go to the show.  I will post a blog of what happens at the show after November 2.  Have you ever been to the Bridal Expo?  If so, please comment any tips or anything that I should be looking for during the show.

Tea Time

If you do not know, I drink a lot of tea.  I have one glass of tea everyday. Sometimes even two or three depending on my mood.  A couple of my friends wanted me to show my tea collection, so that is what I am doing today.

Here are all my teas.  It might be a small collection but I do not care.  I love what I have and I am slowly enlarging it.  I get all my tea from Teavana and if you have ever shopped there you will understand why it is not a large collection of tea.  Teavana is really good tea but it is really expensive for the tea you get.  It is like when people ask you why you get high grade make-up or clothes rather than the cheap stuff.  You just like it better and you do not care what you pay to get it.  That is how I feel about my teas.

Teavana sells loose leaf teas which are my favorite.  I like to see what is in my teas and what makes my teas taste so good.  I do not like tea bags because you can not see what they are putting in the tea bags.  There could be chemicals and/or artificial flavoring.  No thanks.

Now lets get into each tea I drink.  The first tea I ever bought from Teavana is the Samurai Chai Mate.

This was one of the teas that used to always be on sample.  Every time I would walk by the store I would get a sample of the tea.  One day, I decided I needed to buy the tea and I did.  I drank only this tea for a really long time.  I still drink it now and then.  I love drinking it warm in the colder months.

The second tea I bought from Teavana was a blend of Blueberry Bliss and Strawberry Lemonade.

This is my all time favorite tea in the summer.  I always have it iced.  Sometimes I like to throw fresh or frozen blueberries or strawberries into my drink.  I went into the store wanting a good iced tea since I already had a really good warm tea. They told me about this blend.  The lady behind the counter told me that she could make me a drink for me to try.  It would cost, but that way I could try it.  I said why not.  The worst thing that could happen is that I would not like it and then it only cost me for the drink. But that did not happen.  I feel in love with the drink and bought the tea right away.

I think that is the best idea for anyone trying tea for the first time. Ask the sales person behind the counter if they could make you a cup of it.  That way you could try it before you buy 2 or more ounces of tea you really don't like.  The next teas I purchased at Teavana is my favorite green tea blend, Strawberry Grapefruit Xue Long and Gyokuro Imparial.

This time I walked into the store really wanting a green tea.  Green tea is one of the best teas for you out there.  It is full of a lot of health benefits.  The sales lady said that they have many different kinds of green teas. I told her that I like fruity flavored teas.  She showed me many different flavored green teas.  I asked what is the best tea that gives the most health benefits.  She showed me the Gyokuro Imparial.  I got really nervous because it looked like grass not flavorful at all.  Then she said that she normally blends her Gyokuro Imparial with a flavored green tea so she can still get the yummy flavor and the health benefits.  She told me that she was going to make herself a blend and that I could try a sample before she takes a sip.  I was super impressed that she would do that for me.  After sampling hers, I feel in love with it like all the other teas I purchased.  I have had this tea both hot and cold. I was drinking it everyday but the Gyokuro Imparial would run out a little too quickly.  That tea is super expensive so I decided to just have my green tea every other day.

Now fall is my favorite season and I wanted a fall favored tea.  The tea I chose for that "fall feel" is the Pumpkin Spice Brulee.

In the fall, pumpkin is everywhere.  There is pumpkin spice this and pumpkin spice that so when I saw that Teavana was selling pumpkin spice tea I had to have it.  It tastes really good.  It is the perfect treat.  I like this tea both hot and cold but since the temperature is changing I normally make it hot.  There is nothing better than having a nice warm pumpkin spice tea Saturday morning under a blanket watching tv or reading a good book.

I just recently went into Teavana because I found out they had a reward system just like Starbucks.  (Why I did not know about this before is beyond me.)  So mainly I wanted that, but since I drove all the way there I could not not buy tea.  I purchased the Peach Momotaro and Weight to Go tea.

The Peach Momotaro tea is a blooming tea.  Blooming teas are white teas that when steeped in water show a beautiful flower display.  The Peach Momotaro tea is a really light peach flavor.  It is really delicious and super neat to see at the same time.  Weight to Go is the weight loss tea that Teavana offers.  I have not tried this tea long so I am unsure if it really does work.  I will let you know the minute I see results.  I drink this tea also every other day in the morning.  I drink it iced.  I have not tried it hot yet.

Now some of my friends asked how I sweeten my tea.  I also like using Teavana German Rock Sugar.

To tell you the truth, I normally do not drink my tea with any sweeter.  I used to only drink my tea with some type of sugar or honey.  That is the reason why I purchased the rock sugar.  I am trying to get away from adding any sugar to my tea.  But I still sometimes use it when I want a nice sweet treat.

That is my whole tea collection.  If you drink tea, what is your favorite tea out there.  It can be from Teavana or any place that you like.  Place your answer in a comment below.

Saturday Walk

So this morning, Freddy and I took a walk to get breakfast.  We walked to the Good Harvest Market.  We wanted something a little healthier for breakfast.

It was a little cold outside so I wore my favorite jeans and boots paired with a cute orange top, a light jacket and a scarf.  I wear scarves about everyday in the fall and winter months.  I also had to make my favorite fall time tea, Teavana Pumpkin Spice Brulee Oolong Tea.  I can not start my day without tea.

I wanted something to drink on my walk home so I picked up a Mamma Chia Blackberry Hibiscus.  It was my first time having it and I think I am in love.  I have heard from many people that it is really good but after seeing it I was a little scared.  I thought the seeds would be so hard and gross.  I am super glad I did try it.  It was really good.  The seeds are not hard they are jelly like.  If you have not tried it, I recommend picking one up.

If you go on walks, where is your favorite place to walk to.  Comment below your answer.

Hobby Weekend

This weekend, Freddy and I decided it would be all about our hobbies.  Freddy's hobby is video gaming and mine is crafting.  Now that does not just mean we got to do our hobbies all weekend.  It meant both of us had to participate in each other hobbies as well.  This gave us a little experience with each of our hobbies.  We really wanted to know what each other enjoys before we tie the knot.  Freddy and I really enjoyed this and we might do it again.

First we did my hobby.  At the Scrapbook Store and More there was an All Day Krop this Saturday and Freddy joined me.  It was a lot of fun to have him there.  I normally go by myself and it was really nice having someone there to talk to.

Freddy is very artistic when he wants to be.  He might never admit it to his friends but he is.  He really enjoyed making cards.  Freddy drew a Mario card that turned out amazing.  I was really impressive because he hand drew it.  I never knew Freddy was into drawing so much.  He had to keep asking me what colors to use since he is mildly color blind.  But that is alright.  I think it turned out really well.

He also created some scrapbook pages.  He helped me create scrapbook pages for the Brad Paisley concert.

Freddy then created the Six Flags pages all by himself while I did the proposal pages.  I think he did a really good job.  He might have a hidden talent...paper crafting.  He just kept saying I was a good teacher.

For dinner, Freddy and I treated ourselves to Japanica.  If you have not heard of Japanica, it is a really good Asian restaurant.  They have sushi and hibachi.  Since, Freddy has never eaten there before we decided to eat at the hibachi bar.  The food was delicious and the show was amazing to see.  I also tried sake for the first time.  We were feeling pretty good before coming back to craft.

After dinner we decided to have a little competition with our crafting.  We both picked one stamp set that we had to use in a card.  Freddy chose bee4me and hive4bees from the Stamps of Life.  We decided it would be okay if he chose two because they were in the same folder.  I chose the stamp set from Avery Elle called Bonjour.  We had to use at least one piece from the stamp sets in our cards.

This is what we came up with.  Which one is your favorite?  Comment below your answer.

Sunday was Freddy's hobby day.  So we played his video games all day.  I might be pulling teeth to say this but...I really liked playing video games.  It was a lot of fun.  My favorite game would have to be Diablo III.  I also played Spiral Knights, Orcs Must Die! 2, Warframe and War of Warcraft.

Freddy wanted me to play more games but I was really into Diablo III that we did not get to them.  I even created an account and Freddy bought me the game to play.  Freddy and I are leveling up together.  For dinner, Freddy took me to The Fox and Hounds Restaurant.  It is normally super expensive, but they had a buy one entree and get one free deal. So we could afford it.  Freddy and I feel in love with the place. We might end up having our wedding reception there.