I’ve only been to NYC once before — more than a decade ago. My mom and some of her friends took me as an early 18th birthday present, and we spent all of our time taking in the sights and sounds of Manhattan. I was long overdue for a return trip!

Saturday

We got in late Friday night, thanks to a flight delay, but we were up early Saturday morning and eager to explore Brooklyn. We stayed at a friends’ apartment while they were out of town, but also spent quite a bit of time with our friends Larry and Erin. They live about a five minute walk away from where we were staying, and were the most amazing tour guides the entire weekend.

My favorite way to vacation is by experiencing a city the way locals do. That’s exactly how we spent our first day in Brooklyn, and it made it easy to see why so many people move to New York. The day started with coffee and croissants at our friends’ favorite neighborhood bakery, before we spent some time browsing at a couple local shops. I immediately fell in love with an independent bookstore called Books Are Magic,which has a stellar cookbook selection. I actually went back a second time that day to pick up a few more Short Stack Editions, which are amazing, short cookbooks that are focused on one particular ingredient.

After doing some shopping, we grabbed a couple of amazing sandwiches from Court Street Grocers on our way to Valentino Pier, which Erin says is one of her favorite spots in the city. There’s plenty of space to tie up hammocks or throw down a blanket and take in the amazing views of the Harbor and Statue of Liberty. We enjoyed our sandwiches and the sunshine, then dug into a birthday cake Larry and Erin got James from Milk Bar. I’ve heard so many people rave about these cakes, so I was pretty excited to finally try one. It’s like a grown-up funfetti cake, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I especially loved the rainbow cake balls on top.

We took a brief break from stuffing our faces with carbs before Larry and James headed out on a mission: get a table for dinner at Lucali. If you haven’t heard of this super popular pizza joint in Brooklyn, go watch the first episode Ugly Delicious to see what all of the hype is about. Since appearing on that and several other shows, the restaurant is even more popular. James had been before and kept saying how excited he was for me to experience it for myself. That meant he and Larry had to go stand in line with dozens of other people just to put their names in for a table. Bless them for doing the hard part, while Erin and I hunted down wine. We killed a few hours walking around and hanging out at the apartment before our 9 p.m. seating. Boy, was it worth the wait. What’s so great about Lucali is it’s a no-frills pizza place. You order a pizza or calzone, with about six toppings to choose from. We ordered two pizzas and a calzone, which I never thought we would finish. But, we ate every last bite. The simplicity of the pizza let the quality of the sauce, cheese and huge amounts of fresh basil shine through. The crust is my favorite kind: super thin and crispy, with the perfect amount of humped dough around the perimeter. And, the atmosphere was pretty amazing. The restaurant is very small, with the staff making pizzas out in the open. It’s cozy and intimate — or as intimate as a super-popular restaurant can be. Any time a restaurant is talked up so much, I worry I’ll walk away disappointed because all of the hype. Lucali was just as amazing as everyone said. We went to bed with tired feet and happy stomaches.

Sunday

Sunday started the way Saturday ended — with a feast of carbs. We had brunch at Frankies 457, which several friends had also raved about in the past. We all ordered our own entrees and split an order of the french toast for dessert (because calories don’t count on vacation, right?), and everything was phenomenal. James and I then headed out on our own to play tourist for a few hours.

Our first stop was The Other Half, a brewery in Brooklyn I’ve been dying to try. It’s known for its impressive list of super-hazy IPAs, and I couldn’t believe how many different versions they had on tap. I got a 4 oz. pour of Einstein’s Daydream and Double Dry Hopped Cheddar, which were both Imperial IPAs. They were so damn good, and we probably would have hung out at the brewery all afternoon if we weren’t so stuffed from consuming nonstop carbs. We grabbed a Lyft to Manhattan to walk off some of what we consumed on The High Line. The city took over the old rail line and converted it into an amazing public space with walking paths, beautiful plants and artwork. Walking along the High Line is a great way to see the city from different perspectives. And, we had the perfect, sunny day to take advantage of the views.

We walked as far south on the High Line as we could before hopping on the subway and heading over to see the 9/11 Memorial. The two waterfalls are placed where the towers once stood, and are inscribed with the names of every person who died. Seeing the memorials in person was emotional, but something I’m so glad we did. I was especially touched by the Survivor Tree, which somehow withstood the carnage of the attacks. While it was severely damaged, the city was able to save and nurture the tree for several years before returning it to the site of the memorial. What a fitting symbol of resilience.

We capped our day of sightseeing off with a late afternoon treat at Supermoon Bakehouse, which looks like it was made for photo opps. I came across the bakery while perusing Instagram one day, and James kindly trekked to another area of the city so we could check it out. He got a matcha lemon croissant, while I opted for the banana sundae version. They were both insanely good, with such unique flavors. But, I actually think I preferred James’ —the more simple filling let the pastry itself shine. We were stuffed, and happy to spend the rest of the night in having dinner and watching a movie (Brooklyn, appropriately) at Larry and Erin’s. It was the perfect Sunday night.

Monday

We didn’t let our last full day in NYC go to waste. We woke up early to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge with Erin in the morning. She makes the walk everyday to get to work, and it may be the most amazing commute in the country. The bridge itself is stunning, and the views of the city are breathtaking. We lucked out with mostly sunny weather during our trip, and the most beautiful blue skies. Once getting across the bridge, James and I headed off to grab breakfast before taking the subway to Central Park. One of my favorite things to do when visiting cities is to take advantage of the unique outdoor spaces. It’s pretty amazing to be walking through such a lush, beautiful park,  while also seeing the NYC skyline in the background.

It started to drizzle a bit, so we ducked into The Met for a few hours. Neither of us had been, and we both found ourselves wanting to look at every single exhibit. If only we had more time! We decided to focus on what we wanted to see most: The American Wing, Greek and Roman sculptures, Ancient Egypt and photography. I’ve always loved art, and it had been a while since we’d gotten a chance to check out a new museum. I love discovering new artists through the exhibits, and seeing paintings I remember from books in person. Washington Crossing The Delaware surprised me the most, because I had no idea the enormous scale of the painting. Both the painting, and the intricate frame that held it, were breathtaking.

Once we finished our speedy tour of The Met, we headed back to Central Park to walk past the Alice In Wonderland statue, boating pond, and Strawberry Fields. We had a specific destination in mind: another bakery. Because I love baking, I always like checking out different bakeries while vacationing. We walked more than 30,000 steps several of the days we were in the city, so I’d like to think we earned it? We grabbed a chocolate chip walnut and chocolate peanut butter chip cookie from Levain to split, and all other cookies are now ruined for us. I’m not a huge cookie lover, so I was skeptical about Levain’s baked goods being as good as everyone said. I cannot begin to describe how wonderful those cookies were. They were thick, rich and perfectly gooey. Now I understand why there’s oftentimes a line out the door.

The sugar helped reinvigorate us for the last big event of the trip: seeing the Colbert Show! This is something James has always wanted to do, so we requested tickets as soon as we booked our flight. Erin and I snagged a couple priority seats, while James and Larry got tickets in the balcony. The taping is a several hour commitment: you check in, wait in line to get in, then a comedian and the band warm the crowd up before the show starts. It was so cool to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into getting the show on the air every night, and Colbert never disappoints with his jokes. I was cracking up the entire time. We ended the night with ramen and one last indulgent dessert — the perfect way to cap off our trip.

The weekend was the perfect balance of experiencing the city like a local, and hitting up some of the tourist spots we’ve always wanted to see. Like so many others, I fell in love with New York and found myself wondering what it would be like to live there. I can’t wait to make another trip to the city! But, until then, I’m in need of a serious carb detox.

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While most of our time here will be spent in Cocoa Beach, we headed to Orlando for a couple of days to check out theme parks. Our week started with a day at Universal Studios, which none of us had visited before. I’ve been dying to go and check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and it lived up to all the hype.

We headed straight for Hogsmeade when we got into the park. It was cooler than normal for this time of year in Florida, which worked to our advantage. The crowds were relatively small when the park opened. So, James and I got on to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey right away. It ended up being my favorite ride of the entire week! You walk through Hogwarts to get to the ride, and all of the detail put into the castle is absolutely amazing. Then, you get strapped in to go on a magical ride throughout the Hogwarts grounds with Harry. The ride combines video elements, animatronics and motion for a real thrill.

We, of course, couldn’t resist grabbing a butterbeer when we got off the ride. They offer it as a soda, frozen or hot. We went for the classic soda version, which tastes similar to cream soda. It’s topped with a frothy, butterscotch cream. We sipped our drinks as we wandered through Hogsmeade and checked out a few shops. You can buy just about everything from the books, from wands to chocolate frogs. We couldn’t resist picking up a couple of chocolate wands for some friends.

Next, we hopped on the Hogwarts Express to head over to Diagon Alley. In order to ride the train and see all of Harry Potter World, you need a park-2-park pass, because the attractions are spread out over two parks. Like all of the rides in Harry Potter world, the train ride was magical. The ride is also different each time if you ride it both ways! We stepped outside into the streets of London, and ducked into Diagon Alley.

This area of Harry Potter world is also full of shops and restaurants inspired by the books. There’s a Race Through Gringotts ride, which is extremely popular. The wait was 1.5 hours, so we decided to grab lunch at the Leaky Cauldron before heading to check out the rest of the park.

I wasn’t allowed to watch The Simpsons growing up, but a large part of the park is dedicated to the long-running show. This section of the park is setup like Springfield, the town where the show is set. There are several rides, as well as famous food from the show. We couldn’t resist trying Duff beer and a giant Lard Lad donut. I was constantly amazed by all of the detail put into each area of the park.

We went on a few more rides before taking the Hogwarts Express back to Islands of Adventure. We kept hopping on rides until about 5 p.m. there, when we decided to call it a day.

We stopped for a treat at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium  on our way out of the park. If you have a sweet tooth, you MUST stop here. The restaurant has everything from specialty chocolates and macarons, to the most insane milkshakes I’ve ever seen. James and I split and peanut butter and jelly shake, which came topped with half a sandwich and a cupcake. It was a meal in itself, and I’ll be dreaming about that shake for a while.

We had a blast at Universal, and I would definitely go back. We lucked out with minimal crowds, and were able to do almost everything we wanted at the park in one day. I’ll be back later this weekend with another recap from our day at Disney!

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In standard Friday fashion, I’m sharing some of my favorite eats, reads and activities from this week.

A Real Christmas Tree

This year James and I picked out our first real Christmas tree together, and it makes me remember why I loved having a real tree every year growing up. The beauty and smell just can’t be replicated! One of the reasons I suggested trying the real deal is because one of our cats actually chews on our fake Christmas tree every year and ends up getting sick. I hoped the taste and texture of a real tree would stop her from trying to eat it. So far, so good! We are on the hunt for a Christmas tree collar to help keep our pets out of the water in the tree stand. We’ve found several we like, but we need one with a hinge on it so we can put it around the tree stand without having to pick the entire tree up. If you have any other suggestions for keeping pets out, send them my way!

Concerts

This week has been full of so much great, live music. It started out with our friends making their debut performance as a couple at Cardinal Spirits. Mark and Ashley are both so talented, but they’d never performed a gig together before. They blew everyone away with their renditions of classic and modern Christmas songs, which definitely heightened my excitement for the holidays. We also hadn’t been to the distillery for a while, so it was nice to try out some of their seasonal cocktails and finally try some of their new food. We’d already eaten dinner, so we just split the creme brûlée. But, it was excellent! We’re hoping to return soon for a proper meal.

We also drove up to Indy to see one of my favorite bands, The Secret Sisters. This was our third time seeing them in concert, and they never disappoint. Laura and Lydia write some of the most beautiful lyrics I’ve ever heard. Their voices serve as impressive instruments, which makes even the solo guitar that backs them seem unnecessary. I’m so happy to hear they’re nominated for a Best Folk Album Grammy this year! While we made the trip for the Sisters, we were pleasantly surprised by the opening act. Brian Dunne’s got some killer pipes! Many of his songs have thoughtfully-written lyrics and brutally honest themes that make me so drawn to country and folk music. We snagged his record at the show, and I think I’ll be playing it on repeat for a while.

The Couple Next Door

My mom lent me a few books to read and the description of ‘The Couple Next Door’ immediately intrigued me. From the moment I started the book, it was hard to put it down. While it’s certainly no literary masterpiece, it’s a quick, suspenseful read. The book follows a married couple who arrives home to discover their baby is missing. The book is full of unexpected, and oftentimes unbelievable, twists. But, sometimes that’s just what you need. I made it through this book in just a couple of days because I was so hooked!

Nashville

We made a quick trip to Nashville to see my brother over the weekend and, as usual, I fell even more in love with the city during our visit. I dragged the guys to 12 South for lunch and shopping. Popping into the shops and indulging ourselves in gourmet burgers and donuts was the best way to spend an afternoon. We knocked a few items off our Christmas shopping lists and sampled no shortage of local brews.

What are your favorite things from this week?

The post Friday Favorites: Concerts & Christmas Trees appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

1. Visiting Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

Nothing gets me more into the holiday spirit than visiting the German Christmas market in Chicago every December. There are three locations this year, but we always go to the original location at Daley Plaza. It’s conveniently located downtown, which means it’s easy to hit up before seeing a Broadway show or when you need a break from shopping. The market is full of little huts selling everything from beautiful, wooden ornaments to hot, mulled wine. We always get a glass or two of the wine to sip while we stroll around and window shop. We often buy an ornament for ourselves or as a gift for others at one of the market’s shops, which has just about every ornament you could imagine! The crowds here are always large, but it’s worth braving the masses.

2. Lunch at The Walnut Room

This is another Chicago tradition you have to partake in at least once! My parents visited the Walnut Room with their families when they were kids, and it’s a tradition they’ve passed on to us. The Walnut Room is located inside the former Marshall Field’s on State Street, which is now a Macy’s. People are willing to wait hours to get a table during the holidays because of the amazing decorations. There’s always a breathtaking tree in the center of the room that serves as the backdrop for many families’ holiday photos. It’s decorated with a different theme every year, which makes the annual trip all the more exciting. The Walnut Room offers a special menu during the holidays, which includes my favorite holiday drink ever: Eggnog Brandy Alexander. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations during the holidays, so expect to wait about two hours for a table. But, don’t worry — you can shop while you wait! We’ve also learned that going at odd times during the day makes it easier to get a table. And, if you don’t have anyone under 21 in your group, you can sit in the bar. We’ve opted to snag a table in the bar section the past two years and haven’t had to wait more than 20 minutes.

3. Taking in the decorations at West Baden Springs

If you’ve never visited West Baden Springs hotel, Christmas is the time to go. The domed atrium of the hotel is impressive year-round, but the giant tree that stands in the middle of the room makes it even more beautiful. We like to grab a drink and dessert at the atrium bar while taking in the amazing view. It’s also worth hopping on the trolley and visiting the French Lick Hotel, which is also extravagantly decorated for the holidays. Check ahead of time to see what events are happening when you plan to visit. There is often live entertainment on weekends and plenty of family-friendly activities to check out. I highly recommend taking the historic, guided tour of the hotel if you haven’t visited before.

4. Drinking lots of Krampus

You knew there had to be a beer-related activity on this list, right?! We’ve been huge fans of Bloomington Brewing Co.’s seasonal Imperial Black IPA since we moved to Bloomington. It’s become a tradition of ours to not only grab a few pints during December, but also fill a growler or two with Krampus. We almost always have a limited amount to share with guests during our annual craft beer and cookie exchange. BBC is hosting its Krampus release party this Thursday, and my dad will conveniently be in town for the event. I can’t wait for the first sip of the season!

5. Tubing at St. Patrick’s County Park

While I don’t miss the lake-effect snow that came along with South Bend winters, I do miss some of the snow-related activities we enjoyed while living in the northern part of the state. I’m dying to get back to our old stomping grounds to go snow tubing at St. Patrick’s County Park. You pay to rent a tube for the day and then slide down a giant hill. You can go on your own or create a train of people, which makes you go even faster! St. Pat’s also offers great cross country skiing, including some special guided nighttime programs throughout the winter. James and I actually got engaged at this park, so it will always be a special place to us.

6. Cheering on the Hoosiers

Our favorite time to go to Indiana University basketball games is during winter break. All of the students are gone, so it feels like a ghost town — which we love! While the games may not be the most competitive, that means it’s usually easy to snag decent seats for pretty cheap. We’re really excited to be taking my family to their first game this December.

7. Stopping by the Hovey house

There are few things that bring me more joy than driving past this house on Hovey Avenue in my hometown of Normal, Illinois. Seeing the yard and roof packed full of illuminated holiday figurines is something that I’ve looked forward to since I was a kid. The display’s grown over the years. Last year, it included 1,000 figurines, which also spill into the neighbor’s yard. When we went home for Thanksgiving last week, the display was already ready to go.

8. Hosting our craft beer and cookie exchange

We love throwing parties, but our craft beer and cookie exchange is by far our favorite of the year. Everyone brings a dozen cookies or a six pack of beer to share, and we spend the evening sampling all of the goodies. It’s a great excuse to get together with friends before the craziness of the holidays really settles in. And, can you really go wrong with cookies and beer?

9. Making tortellini

When we get together with my cousins over the holidays, we often end up making some of my grandpa’s famous tortellini to enjoy for a meal. Having a large group of people to help fill and fold the tortellini makes the process go much more quickly. And, there’s something extra special about preparing a meal together. Spending time in the kitchen with loved ones is one of my favorite parts of celebrating Christmas.

10. Feasting on appetizers

My favorite meal of the entire year comes on Christmas Eve. My family started a tradition years ago of having an appetizer buffet. Each of us makes two to three appetizers, and we always have more than enough food for a meal. The dishes are usually a combination of family favorites and new recipes. It’s a great way to have a delicious, memorable meal without spending all day in the kitchen.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Tell me in the comments below!

The post My 10 Favorite Holiday Traditions appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

The celebrations started with a trip to James’ hometown on Thanksgiving morning. We spent the day with his parents and family friends eating a delicious spread of food and catching up. I cooked the least I’ve ever cooked for Thanksgiving this year, which was a nice change of pace! I made a double chocolate pumpkin cake for dessert, which is one of my favorite indulgences. I also made a homemade sugar cream pie to drop off at the hospital where my mother-in-law works. It’s never fun working a holiday, so I hoped it would help brighten the staff’s day.

I failed at taking pictures of our spread this year, but everything was delicious! I’m always more into the sides than the actual turkey on Thanksgiving. This year my favorites were the corn casserole and green beans — I went back for seconds of both. After an afternoon of visiting and eating, we headed back to James’ parents’ house. I spent the evening finally finishing the book I’ve been reading for more than a month. It was the perfect, relaxing end to Thanksgiving.

We got up early Friday to hit the road to my parents’ house in Illinois. We arrived to a house full of energy! My cousins were visiting with their two kids from Ohio, so my sister brought our niece and nephew over to play for the afternoon. We gave the parents the night off from cooking. I made a big batch of lemon chicken, roasted potatoes and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. It was fun to catch up with the adults over dinner and play with the kids afterwards.

My parents arrived home from a trip to Portland Saturday, which gave us the perfect opportunity to celebrate my dad’s birthday. He and his older brother are three years apart, but were born on the same day. They decided to celebrate together in Oregon this year, and their birthdays happened to fall on Thanksgiving! We had a laid-back, belated celebration in Illinois that involved us serenading my dad before digging into some cake. James and I also brought some special beers to enjoy with my dad once the kids went to bed. Our favorite was Mail Order Bride from Bare Hands Brewery in Granger, Indiana. It was one of our go-to places for beers when we lived in the South Bend area, so we’re thrilled to see Bare Hands distributing further south in the state!

Before we knew it, it was time to hit the road and make the trip home to Bloomington Sunday. We’d been talking all weekend about getting our first real Christmas tree together and made a spur-of-the-moment decision to pick one up as soon as we got into town. My family always had a real Christmas tree when I was growing up, but James hasn’t ever had one. He agreed to give the real thing a try this year, so we went to Twin H Tree Farm and picked out a Frasier Fir.

The tree farm was adorable! It has a little shop with free hot chocolate, cider and popcorn you can enjoy while searching for the perfect tree. We were in and out within 45 minutes. Now we just have to let the branches settle for a day or two before we deck it out! I’m always in full-on Christmas mode as soon as Thanksgiving is over, so it’s taking all of my willpower not to just start putting the lights and ornaments on tonight.

It sounds cheesy, but I get so excited for this time of year because of the spirit it brings. The season is centered around spending time with the ones you love and giving back, which are two things that are very close to my heart. There’s so much to look forward to over the next few weeks!

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Tell me in the comments below!

The post A Midwestern Thanksgiving appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

Friday

To make the most of our quick reunion, we all opted to fly into Denver as early as possible Friday morning. That meant a 3 a.m. wakeup call for me, but it was so worth it to have extra time with the girls. I was in Denver before 8 a.m. and Katie and Emily arrived shortly after. We hopped in a cab and headed for our Airbnb in the popular Highlands neighborhood. Gina’s place was perfect for the three of us and so cozy! It’s just a few steps from several cute shops and restaurants and walkable to other hip areas of town, including LoHi and LoDo. We grabbed coffee and breakfast at the nearby Wooden Spoon Cafe & Bakery before vegging out for a couple of hours. It was so fun to just sit around catching up — Katie recently got engaged and Em just finished her first year working for a newspaper in Wyoming, so we got a chance to get up to speed on all the exciting changes we’re all going through.

After relaxing with some face masks for a bit, we got cleaned up and headed to Linger for dinner. Several friends and basically everyone on the internet recommended having dinner at this unique tapas restaurant, which has a rooftop bar and is located inside an old mortuary. We started off with some cocktails and decided to order just three dishes to start. We got the lemongrass potstickers, Waygu sliders and chicken satay salad, which was more than enough for our group! I snapped photos of all the food, but it was too dark for them to turn out well. The dinner ended with a special surprise dessert for Katie to celebrate her engagement. We popped around to a couple of bars after dinner but ended up heading back to the apartment to spend the rest of the night drinking wine and laughing — our favorite activities.

Saturday

We decided to continue eating and drinking our way through the city on Saturday by heading over to Denver’s River North Arts District, which is home to lots of amazing local breweries. We started off at Crooked Stave, which is known for its great sours. We all got flights so we could sample a little bit of everything and my favorite was the Nightmare On Brett Raspberry. The bartender at Crooked Stave was super helpful and helped plot out our strategy for the rest of the day. Next up was Great Divide’s Barrel Bar, which was less crowded than the brewery’s downtown location when I visited earlier in the summer. Great Divide had our favorite beers of the day, hands down. While I usually go for a pint of Velvet Yeti anytime I can find it, I decided to give their Hazy IPA a try. I’m so glad this style is so popular right now because it’s quickly becoming my favorite!

From Great Divide we walked over to a new pedestrian bridge, which helped us get over to Epic Brewing for more sampling. I wanted so badly to like Epic’s beer, but I was disappointed. I got the IPA flight and all three beers fell pretty flat for me. We did get some much-needed snacks while there and both the pretzel bites and spicy popcorn were a hit in our group.

Not far from Epic is Ratio Beerworks, which has an awesome patio area and interesting tap list. I tried the beet saison, which had a beautiful pink color and crisp flavor. I appreciated the unique flavor pairings and wish I could find this back in the Midwest! Our last stop of the day was Our Mutual Friend Brewing, which happened to be having its customer appreciation party. That meant the place was packed both inside and outside, but we didn’t mind the crowd when beers were being poured for $4! We had a great time taking advantage of the photo booth and hanging out for a couple of hours before deciding we needed some real food and an early night’s sleep.

Sunday

After two full days, we decided to spend Sunday morning just moseying around downtown Denver and taking in some sights. We stopped by Union Station, which is still a functioning train station but also houses a bar, restaurants and shops in the old indoor terminal. It’s such an amazing spot and I’m dying to go back to get a drink there sometime!

We also walked around Larimer Square, which is an adorable block of historic buildings that have been converted into delicious restaurants and high-end stores. We were tiring quickly after doing so much walking all weekend, so we decided to make a quick stop at Little Man Ice Cream for a pick-me-up before retreating to the apartment to spend a few hours binge-watching Netflix. It was the perfect way to end the weekend because it felt just like we were back in college, lounging around at my old apartment on a Sunday afternoon.

The weekend went by way too quickly and I was so sad to say goodbye to Katie and Em. While we may live in completely opposite parts of the country, our bond has only gotten stronger since college. I’m so glad we have plenty of wedding activities for Katie that will bring the three of us together more often over the next year. And, we’ve decided we need to make a weekend girls’ getaway an annual tradition! So, where should we go next?

The post Girls’ Trip To Denver appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

The week starts with my uncle driving us out to one of the islands, where we dock the houseboat for the next five days. It’s the ultimate relaxing vacation because we spend most of our time swimming off the back of the boat, reading in hammocks we tie up to trees or exploring the island. I think I’m always happiest when I’m close to the water.

My father-in-law brought along his fishing poles and tackle box and my niece quickly became enamored with fishing this year. She caught several bluegills —one that we ended up filleting and grilling — and even a catfish! We went through three boxes of night crawlers during the trip because she got so excited about fishing each night. Of course I didn’t catch a single fish when I decided to pick up a pole.

We also got a chance to explore other areas of the lake when a few of us took some jet skis out one afternoon. It was the perfect time to be on the water because after Labor Day there was hardly any boat traffic. We cruised around the islands and had fun seeing just how fast we could go in open water. It was the first time jet skiing for several of us, but our nerves quickly faded away once we took our first lap around the lake. It felt freeing to be speeding across the water with hardly anyone else around.

James brought his drone along and got some amazing footage of the lake and my aunt and uncle’s boats. It’s making me miss being on the water so much already!

For me the most enjoyable part of the trip, aside from spending time with family, was being able to knock a couple of books off my reading list. It can be so hard to get through more than a few pages a night during the work week, so I loved being able to plow through All The Stars In the Heavens and The Woman In Cabin 10. They were both quick, easy reads that were perfect for a vacation. Next on my list is Kiss Carlo, the latest book from my favorite author Adriana Trigiani.

It’s always hard to get back to reality after vacation, but I’m glad we have the weekend to recover and get ready for the work week ahead. I hope you’re having a relaxing Sunday!

The post A Week On A Houseboat appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

I know I’ve been a bit MIA lately — summer somehow got crazy busy for us! Between weddings, road trips and family commitments our weekends are all packed. It’s so much fun, but it leaves me feeling a bit drained every Monday morning. So, I’m making it my mission to slow down a bit for the rest of the summer and soak up all the season has to offer. Here’s my bucket list for the rest of summer.

Swim In Lake Michigan

When James and I lived in northern Indiana, we spent many summer weekends driving across the Michigan border to visit the beaches at New Buffalo and St. Joseph. I’m so happy we have a lake in Bloomington, but it’s just not the same! We’re headed up to southwest Michigan next weekend and I plan to spend at least one afternoon at the beach. Michigan summers are magical.

Read More

I’m still working toward my goal of reading 20 books this year and I’m just a bit behind schedule. I just finished up Devil In The White City, which several friends recommended. The book was phenomenal, but it definitely took me longer to read than most books. I’m guessing it’s because it’s nonfiction and I’m typically a fiction reader. I just got The Marriage Lie from the library after reading a few good reviews and I’m hoping to get through it quickly. If you’ve stumbled across any good summer reads, I always love hearing recommendations!

Spend An Afternoon At Oliver

Oliver Winery is one of my favorite places in Bloomington. The grounds are beautiful, the wine is delicious and there’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying a picnic on a summer afternoon. I’ve made it out to the winery a couple of times this summer, but James hasn’t yet. Luckily, that gives me an excuse to go back!

Participate In An Organized Bike Ride

James and I are avid cyclists, but it’s been a long time since we’ve participated in an organized ride. I’ve been eyeing the Moonlight Loop ride in Columbus, which sounds like it would be a more leisurely outing. We aren’t as familiar with the annual rides in south-central Indiana as we are with those in the South Bend area, so if you’ve participated in one that you’ve enjoyed, let me know!

Host An End-of-Summer Party

We absolutely love entertaining and it’s been a few months since we’ve thrown a big gathering at our house. I’ve always wanted to do a craft beer bottle share, so we just need to pick a weekend and go for it! You can’t beat sitting around the fire pit at night while laughing and drinking with friends.

Attend An Outdoor Concert

Between Bloomington and Indy, there are so many outdoor concerts throughout the summer. It’s so fun to pack a giant blanket and some snacks and enjoy local music in the parks.

Visit The IMA’s Beer Garden

We already did this once this summer and had so much fun that I’m dying to go back again. The IMA’s beer garden is one of the most beautiful, serene places I’ve ever gotten a drink. And going back will give us a chance to check out some of the exhibits we missed last time!

Make Ice Cream

I was an ice cream making machine last summer, but I haven’t gotten around to making any this year. Luckily, the cookbook club I’m in selected Food52 Ice Cream And Friends as one of the books for this month, so I have some extra motivation to break out our ice cream maker.

What’s on your summer bucket list? Tell me by leaving a comment below!

The post Soaking Up Summer appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

One of my favorite parts of vacation was our visit to Ft. Collins, Colorado, which coincided with our two-year wedding anniversary. The college town is full of great breweries and restaurants, so it was the perfect way for us to celebrate. We planned to exchange anniversary gifts, but when we found out the traditional gift for year two is cotton we decided we would buy each other brewery t-shirts from our trip instead.

We had plans to visit just a couple of the nearly two-dozen breweries in town and started with afternoon beers at Odell Brewing. We don’t get Odell in Indiana, so it was my first time trying any of their brews and I quickly became a fan. I got the local flight, which included pale ales, IPAs and a porter. My favorite of the bunch was actually the Drumroll APA, which is a delicious, unfiltered, hoppy beer.

After enjoying a round of beers at Odell, we headed over to New Belgium for a tour. You can book a tour up to two months in advance, which is highly recommended. They’re extremely popular and fill up quickly!

The tour takes you behind the scenes of New Belgium’s brewing operations, which started in a local couple’s basement. The brewery’s since grown to more than 800 employees and expanded with a second brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. It was interesting to hear more about New Belgium’s back story and the philosophy that’s guided it as it’s expanded nationwide. Even with all of its successes, New Belgium remains 100% employee owned. Along the tour we got to sample several beers and learn more about the brewing process. The tour ends with an opportunity to slide down the famous metal slide that was installed for employees to use at the end of the day. It helped to illustrate the philosophy of fun that remains central to the brewery’s mission. If you’re a craft beer fan, you can’t miss this tour!

James and I grabbed a beer in the tap room after the tour and couldn’t stop talking about how much fun we had. We ended up making two trips to New Belgium during our stay and I ordered a beer from the pilot brewery each time. They’re experimental beers only available on tap at New Belgium and their fate remains uncertain, so I felt like I had to try them in case I didn’t have another chance! We could have easily spent all day hanging out at the brewery because of the large outdoor space and the long list of amazing beers on tap. But, we decided to head back downtown for an anniversary dinner at Bisetti’s Italian restaurant before turning in for the night.

We woke up early on our second day in Ft. Collins so we could head to Rocky Mountain National Park for some great hiking. The park is about an hour away. We didn’t get to spend as much time there as we wanted, thanks to the rain. But we had just enough time to get a short hike around Bear Lake in, which is one of the most popular spots in the park for good reason. The views are breathtaking and the hike is easy. Although it was about 70 degrees out, there was still quite a bit of snow on the paths, which made the hike even more fun.

We also walked around an Elk preserve on our way out of the park, which offered more great views. We spent a little bit of time popping into shops in Estes Park and visiting the famous Stanley Hotel that inspired The Shining before heading back to Ft. Collins. We met up with a friend of mine from college for a bit and ended the night with appetizers and beers at Ace Gillett’s, a jazz bar in the basement of our hotel. The bar had an impressive offering of local craft beers on tap and great food.

I was sad to leave Ft. Collins because I fell in love with the town during our short stay. I have a feeling we’ll be making a return trip for the beer alone. There are so many breweries we didn’t make it to! But, for now, it’s back to the grind.

The post Ft. Collins Highlights appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

We arrived in Custer too late on our first night to take in any of the sights. It was also almost too late to grab a bite to eat, too. Most restaurants close at 8 on the weekends and many aren’t open at all, so plan ahead if you need a later meal. We had luck at The Custer Wolf and The Buglin’ Bull.

We woke up early Sunday morning so we could hit all of the highlights in the area. Our day started with a visit to Mt. Rushmore. Although the national memorial is steeped in controversy, it’s worth a visit. I suggest reading up on the history of the memorial and the American Indian tribes in the area before you visit, because you won’t find any information about them at the memorial. It’s an important part of our history to acknowledge and learn from. Get to Mt. Rushmore early to beat the crowds. We walked along the Presidential Trail to see the mountain from multiple angles, browsed through the museum and watched the video about how Mt. Rushmore was carved into its current form. After about an hour, we decided to head to our next stop: Wind Cave National Park.

Wind Cave was absolutely amazing. I hadn’t been inside a cave since I was a kid and I forgot how magical it feels. We bought tickets for a guided tour of the cave, which took just over an hour. It’s not recommended for anyone who’s claustrophobic, and I can understand why. There were several places where we had to crouch down or walk sideways because the cave got so tight. The tour starts by descending 100+ stairs. From the bottom of the stairs through the rest of the tour, you’re walking through the cave’s natural tunnels, just with a paved floor. Wind Cave is the sixth largest cave in the world, with 147 miles of tunnels. And, there’s likely more to be discovered. As we made our way through the cave, our guide told us about its history and some of the research being done at the site. If you’re in the Black Hills, don’t miss Wind Cave. It was one of the highlights of our day. It seems especially great for kids, but keep in mind there’s a lot of stairs to walk up and down and you’re not allowed to touch the cave. I was extremely impressed by the mother who carried her baby during the entire tour because baby carriers aren’t allowed.

We were really hungry by the time we got out of the cave, so we stopped back in Custer for a late lunch, followed by pie. Guys, you HAVE to stop by the Purple Pie Place if you’re in town. We got slices of bumbleberry and strawberry rhubarb pie and they were both delicious. You can’t beat homemade pie!

With our bellies full, we drove to Crazy Horse, which has such an interesting history. The project receives no federal funding and is instead made possible through visitor fees and donations. The late sculptor, Korczak, spent the first five years chiseling away at the mountain himself, walking up hundreds of stairs several times everyday. Now his children help supervise the project, which has a much larger crew these days. They’re focusing on shaping Crazy Horse’s hand and the horse’s head. It’s amazing to see how much progress has been made just since 1998, which is when Crazy Horse’s head was unveiled. We walked through the museum and took in the memorial from the deck out back. You can pay extra to take a bus that gets you a mile closer, but we opted not to.

As storm clouds started to roll in, we decided to drive toward Custer State Park, which my friend Zach recommended. We drove the scenic Needles Highway, stopping to take in some of the views. I had to close my eyes at some points because the switchbacks made me so nervous! But it was so worth it because it was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve been on. We then made our way to the Wildlife Loop, where we passed antelope, donkeys and lots of bison.

We also walked around gorgeous Sylvan Lake, where you can rent kayaks and canoes. Next time we come to South Dakota, I want to camp at Custer State Park. It was my favorite stop of the day.

After a full day, we scarfed down dinner and went to bed pretty early. We stayed at the Bavarian Inn, which was a great little hotel. I’m very picky about hotels because I’m a clean freak, and this one held up. Our room was simple but comfortable and the friendly staff was attentive and helpful. I think this would be a great place to stay with kids because there is both an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a breakfast pancake bar with any topping you could imagine. I have a feeling that’s what made James choose the hotel! I would highly recommend the Bavarian Inn if you’re looking for a place in Custer. The lodges and cabins at Custer State Park also looked great.

Now we’ve got about seven hours in the car until we reach our next destination. Thank goodness for podcasts!

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