Showing posts with label Minnesot-ah!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesot-ah!. Show all posts

Friday, November 17, 2017

Friday Feels - Volume VII

It's FriYAY! I'm sorry, I just canNOT get into that word. I like the sound of Friday just as it is. But here are some things I *am* into:

The controversial and massive $50 million Nicollet Mall overhaul is finally complete, which held an opening celebration last night. And our Mary is back in place!

She sits near the area of her iconic hat toss from the open credits of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. 

Have you ever noticed the bespectacled, kerchiefed woman at the end of the shot, who is giving some serious side eye to Mary?
Well, her name was Hazel Frederick - read about her story HERE

Also, since we are on a MTM kick - come visit me in Minneapolis, and we will do a mini Mary tour:

Were you into high school theater? It was a pretty big deal at my school and some of my happiest teenage memories are from on and off that Eagan High School stage. 

That's why I will definitely be tuning into this upcoming TV show where former class/cast-mates reunite to give one last performance of their favorite musical. Hm...maybe EHS should sign up?

It's been gloomy and cold around these parts. Last year we had such an extended warm fall that I got spoiled. Plus, with the darkness settling in each night by 5pm, it really can get you down. A suggestion from a family member led me to try SAM-e, a supposed natural mood enhancer. Maybe it is a placebo effect, but my outlook has brightened since taking them.

The news has been hard to take this week (or every week, really.) There is so much to unpack and sort through on a lot of really uncomfortable subjects. This week in particular, I've been disappointed in men. But at the same time, I'm honored to know so many wonderful males in my life. I won't go into all of the ongoing mess any further on a silly blog, but I did think this article had many strong points to be said about raising kind and confident boys.

I'm not a habit-forming kind of person. I tend to switch things up and multitask to the point where I always have a million unfinished projects. I've spent so much time organizing other people's lives, that my own tasks are left to dangle. Lately, I've taken charge of that and one tool that has really helped me is the Habit List app.

There are no bells and whistles, but it is very user friendly and I find the streak-incentive addictive. 8 glasses of water a day, here I come!

Or if not water, maybe beer...?

I admit, I often buy beer much like I buy makeup - based on the name and packaging. Luckily with these design-forward brews, the beer inside is just as impressive as the cool cans.

I fell in love with this colorful and mind-bending can when it was first released late summer, but couldn't score a pack before they sold out. I still was able to taste the hazy and fruit-heavy IPA at Fair State's Oktoberfest shindig and found it super refreshing. I was thrilled that they decided to have one more limited release this week - this time I was on the case - literally!

Sours are an acquired taste and not necessarily my first choice, but how could I not love a Lucy? 

This one totally shocked me. I grabbed a 6-pack after being drawn in by the mystic aurora borealis themed-can. I clearly did not look past the pretty midnight colors swirling about because this broo is a combo of ale and cold brew coffee! It is quite interesting and definitely wakes you up.

What are some of your favorite artfully contained beers?







Friday, August 25, 2017

2017 Minnesota State Fair 101

With my day at the Fair in sight, I'm studying up on all there is to eat, drink, and do like it is the night before an AP exam. Just like the days of those cram sessions, I'm happy to share my "notes". See the below links for some handy guides and references.

Food:

Beer:


All Around:

Can't get enough? Check out my pictorial guides from 2013 and 2014!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Friday Feels - Volume IV

Oooh boy! It's been QUITE a week, has it not? 
Marshmallow = LuRuSo

I think we all know what I am talking about. (insert big SIGH) One of the reasons I backed away from this blog for a spell is I worried about posting unnecessary frivolity while such serious unrest existed in the world. I didn't feel right ignoring the issues, yet I wasn't prepared emotionally to write about them. I still don't. But since it is a Friday Feels, I guess I can admit that I continue to be concerned, dismayed, and anxious about what is happening in our country and I am grasping at the idea of hope. Thank goodness for both the activists and the comedians out there, who give me fuel and a laugh.

Tina Fey is a national treasure. I'll buy the sheetcake if you bring the grilled cheese?

I think this could really work. Sorry, Florida.

This quote felt like a punch in the stomach. So true.

Might need to order a few of these tanks and walk around town passing them out.

But even with such distressful events and an unending political chaos, the world goes round, and the sun rises and sets. And sometimes the moon gets in the way and you have a solar eclipse.
An annular solar eclipse on May 21, 2012, Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Masashi Hara/Getty Images

Some fun solar eclipse facts HERE

More questions answered HERE

What it will look like from your time & location HERE

Fingers crossed for a clear day on Monday!

Do you ever go down the YouTube rabbit hole? You start off innocently watching one clip and then realize there are thousands of more clips on your topic and before you can realize it you've clicked through them all and have a mastery of the subject? I find myself in this position at least once a week. The latest one was instigated by talking about a historic Willie Mays catch.

Being a kid growing up in Minnesota during the 80s/90s, I do believe they had one egregious omission ("He...*caught* it!)

The past few weeks I've been upping my protein with shakes a few times a day. The Ninja has been my best friend. So easy to use and a breeze to clean up. And believe me, I'm super lazy and would usually not make the effort to take out and put away an extra piece of equipment. I especially like this set because it takes care of your blender, food processing, and smoothie needs all in one bundle.

After my stretch of clean & healthy eating, I'll definitely be primed to enjoy an adult beverage or two this weekend. I'm thinking perhaps a cider? It seems appropriate as we transition from summer to autumn.
Sociable Cider Werks

Another seasonal segue winner has been this eyeshadow palette. It has the rose gold and shimmer for these last August days, as well as siennas and wine-tones to be used as the September leaves start to fall.
Limited-edition Don't Quit Your Day Dream Eyeshadow Palette - tarte

I used it for my self date to see a show at the Guthrie the other night. I am in love with wandering around my new(ish) neighborhood. This might not be the case come winter, but for now, I spend hours exploring new sights and hidden streets. I couldn't believe I never ran across this "urban castle" a few blocks away from my home. Funny to think of how it sat amongst endless parking lots and the Metrodome before its more vibrant and blossoming current surroundings. I am completely obsessed with the rumor that it will soon be turned into a brewery. Downtown Minneapolis is killing it!



That's all the feels for this Friday. OK, I'm lying, I could go on and on this week, but let's leave it with this thought that I heard Senator Cory Booker say on a podcast:
Don't let hate make you hateful. Don't let the darkness make you dark.


Thursday, August 17, 2017

State Fair Season

It's the final countdown, folks. 

To what, you may ask?

(GASP)

Well, then I'm going to wager you are not a Minnesotan.

Let me give you a few LuRuSo clues:

Got it now?

It's Minnesota State Fair Time!

That's right, in the Great North we have five seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, State Fair, and Summer. It's a Minnesota "thing" - hard to explain. Kind of like Duck, Duck, Grey Duck and hotdish. We take it very seriously. There are even numerous guides, maps, ratings, and write-ups.
Minnesota State Fair 2017: The best music, food, beer & more

I'm not super psyched about any of the new food creations this year. What do you think?
New Foods for 2017

Luckily, I can save those calories and apply them to beer - lots of beer: The Growler’s Complete Guide to Beer at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair. There are so many brews that I am interested in tasting this season, most notably 612's Lingonberry Lager. It's the Swedish meatball in me.

In 2013 and 2014 I broke down my visit from A to Z. The subsequent year all of my fine fair pics were trapped on a failing iPhone, so I had to rely on THIS article to sum up a day at the State Fair. Last year, I also captured my time at the Fairgrounds, but I became distracted when I noticed the phenomenon otherwise known as Sweet Martha's. Can I be honest for a second? Truth be told (and you may want to sit down for this) - I've never had Sweet Martha's Cookies. Not one bite! Not a single chocolate chip! And I wasn't about to wait in the massive line to change that fact in 2016.

But...I was quite a few beers in (see above note about the hundreds of available brews), and in my tipsy state, I grew fascinated with how fairgoers clutched, cradled, and guarded their baked goods.
I mean:

























See what I mean? Sweet Martha, you enabler, you!

Let me know what you are most looking forward to at this year's Minnesota State Fair. And I need your opinion:
Is it necessary for me to dip my hand into the Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar this year?