Outside My Comfort Zone - Fletcher Arms

This post is long overdue. When I found out I was pregnant, I put most  of my blogging on hold while I prepped for CJ's arrival. Now I'm playing catch up with some fun experiences I had prior too and during my pregnancy. I'm actually holding him while I proof this.

**I know this topic can be a bit controversial, but I am sharing my experience and my opinion. 

In the past few years, I realized there are certain things that I haven't done because I have not stepped outside my comfort zone.  Ask many of my friends and they will tell you I play things safe :)

But in the last two years, I have been venturing out and doing more adventurous things with the persuasion of my friends--you only live once and so it's worth trying. I may not have completely loved all of them, but I am glad I can say I tried. Some examples include hiking in Colorado, zip lining, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and paddle boarding. And then there is the biggest one that I never thought I would do--shoot a gun.

My parents don't hunt--we are a fishing family so there was never a reason for me to hold or shoot a gun while I was growing up. And to be frank, guns scared me--not just a little bit, but a lot.

My friend lives alone and works from home most days--she talked to our close group of girlfriends about learning how to use a gun for self-defense reasons and getting her conceal carry. She lives in a safe area, but now a days, you just never know, We talked about it a bit and thought that it could be in all of our best interests to at least take a class and learn more.

My husband used to be co-workers with one of the owners of Fletcher Arms. They stayed friends after moving onto different jobs, and I have gotten to know her family through the years. So I reached out to inquire how we would go about learning more and possibly shooting a gun. Megan did me one better and offered us a lesson that would end with time on the range. Fletcher Arms wants to educate as many people as possible about the safe use of guns and it provides classes and lessons to the public in addition to being a store and range.

My friends and I found a date that worked for us and the instructor, and we got together to learn about guns. I will admit that I had a lot of anxiety even just walking into the gun range and seeing all of the firearms that are available to the public to rent or purchase.

We met Mike and sat down in the classroom at Fletcher Arms and here is where my perception changed. Mike has a way about him that makes you understand guns while keeping the conversation light and easy to understand. My anxiety dropped drastically after just a few minutes of education. Guns are a serious matter, but that doesn't mean that the conversation has to be dull and boring. He spent a lot of time with us to make sure we understood the basics and that the weapon wouldn't become a weapon against us.

What we received was a solid overview that educated us before our initial time shooting, but I would recommend to anyone that wants to know how to shoot a gun, to take a class a Fletcher Arms and get an education on firearms. I am definitely interested in taking more classes. By no means is the class going to make you an excellent marksmen, but you will learn how to be safe, respect the firearm, and how to aim to produce a quality shot.

After the class, we picked three guns with Mike's recommendations from the rentals to shoot in the range. One was small and pink that would fit nicely in your purse (and it looks "cute."). The second was a 9mm medium sized gun, and the last was a 45 that was rather large and the heaviest. Mike wanted to show us the difference in power in these guns.

Upon entering the range, I got a little sweaty and my heart was pounding. I took a moment to calm down with a few deep breaths because no one wants a "Nervous Nelly" holding a gun. Mike assured us we were prepared for this. We went in the short-distance range and put on our ear protection (FYI - GUNS ARE LOUD).

The three of us each took a lane, filled our magazines with ammunition, and prepared to shoot. Many safety precautions are taken at Fletcher Arms, and I felt as safe as I could to shoot. I readied the gun in my hands, finger off the trigger, and took the ready stance.

I learned something interesting on how I prefer to shoot--though I am right-handed, I shoot left-handed (see image). Based on the eye I closed and stance I took, Mike told me to use my left hand to pull the trigger. This isn't the only thing I do lefty - I shoot pool lefty as well. Not 100% sure why, but it just happened that way. I don't think it matters which hand you shoot with, but you don't want to close your left eye and pull trigger with right finger as that causes a bit more of a cross and the shot will be less accurate without correction.

We all shot a round on each gun and then traded until we all shot all three. You move and the gun stays in its lane, but we took our target with us to each lane. The kickback, though small in this case, was still impressive on each gun, and the sound is something else. I don't think I have ever been close to someone shooting a handgun, and the noise is definitely different that an shotgun or rifle. It's loud, even with the ear protection.

Here's my opinion on the three guns after shooting them:
-The pink gun, though cute, isn't a practical option (IMO). I kept releasing the magazine and basically jamming the gun so it wouldn't fire. The gun doesn't fit nicely in my hand and overall lacked in power.
-The 9mm medium gun was my favorite and I was able to shoot it rather accurately in the range.
-The 45 had a lot of power and was fun to shoot, but for me, it was too much.

Guns sure do have a kickback and the larger they are, the more power there is behind them usually.

After releasing the empty magazine and clearing the gun to make sure there wasn't anything left in the chamber, I was able to pull my target forward and see my shots. Overall, I would say I have a pretty accurate shot. Sure there were a few that missed the target completely when learning the gun, but once I understood how the gun fired, I got more accurate. And for my first time, not bad. I enjoyed archery as a child and in high school and was rather accurate then too. Darts, I'm somewhat accurate with, so maybe I have good hand-eye coordination.

Before I would consider purchasing a gun, I would take more classes from Fletcher Arms. I don't take guns lightly and would want to learn everything I can about them before I would want to own one. However, I feel I know enough about guns now, that if my friends and I wanted to go to the range again to shoot, we would be able to do it without too much guidance from the staff. And my anxiety will not be as high. I won't say it will be gone, but definitely lower and manageable.

Fletcher Arms offers gun leagues as well as discounts on nights to help you save on the cost of gun rental and ammo. They have Happy Hours, Ladies Night, and Free Rental promotions. They also offer memberships for the gun aficionados to help you save.

By the end of the night, I was sooooo happy I joined my friends and took this class. It was definitely outside my comfort zone then, but now it's on the border, and I know with more experience, it can become inside it. And a huge shout out to Megan and Mike for making it so quick and easy for us to get in and get an education. My friends are considering taking more classes and possibly getting their conceal carry, and we all said that a ladies night is in our near future!

St. Patrick's Day - A Little Nontraditional

For many years, my friends and I have gone out together for St. Patrick's Day. We have gone out in a few different cities, but no matter where we go, we always have a great time! 

This year will be a little different for me being pregnant, but I vowed to myself when I found out I was pregnant that I would not be a hermit or not go out. I still want to have a good time with my friends and not miss out on experiences or time with them. I even bought a special shirt for the day and have a cute headband to wear to be festive!

Our plan is to enjoy St. Patrick's Day festivities on Sunday, March 17--the actual day, in downtown Waukesha. There is plenty going on at many of the local establishments. And quite a few of them are Irish or becoming Irish for the day. :)

I am a huge fan of Reuben Rolls--corned beef, cheese, and sauerkraut wrapped in a wonton and deep fried and then served with Thousand Island dressing. I already saw a few places plan to have them, so I'm ready to indulge! 

I looked up what to drink that would be non-alcoholic on St. Patrick's Day, but didn't find much that would be easy to make knowing the bars will be very busy. I most likely will stick with Sprite or water with a lime, but I may  switch it up and have a seltzer or a lemonade as well. I'm not a fan of non-alcoholic beers, which is basically beer-flavored soda. If there is a place in downtown that wants to make me a fun n/a cocktail (and has the time), I will gladly be there. If you have suggestions for me as well, I'm all ears. (Moscow Mule....hold the Russia?)

Here are just a few places that are having specials for St. Patrick's Day. Even if I didn't list them, most bars offer something special, be it green beer or shot specials. 

Daylee Public House-celebrating both Saturday and Sunday! Mmmm Guinness Beef Stew 

Mainstream Bar & Grill- Reuben burger offered all month long. 

Roots Coffeebar & Cafe - Get yourself an Irish cream coffee to start your day. 

Magellan's (aka McGellans) - Renamed for the day to celebrate and Reuben Rolls! 

Donnie Boys - Plenty to drink at this place! 

Bernie's Tap Room - our savior a few St. Pat's ago when other places were busy and we could get in a food order a flatbread right away!

House of Guinness - need I say more :)

Taylor's People's Park - another Reuben Rolls stop! Received an email about their specials but I don't see it on their website or Facebook yet. 

Five Points Pub/The Clarke Hotel - This menu has Irish flair all year round. 

Meli - one of a few places we found green beer a few years ago

Boscos Social Club - Hoping it's warm enough outside to enjoy their patio and play some bags. They do have heaters out there. 

Whatever you do for St. Patrick's Day, please do it safely. Stay hydrated, remember to eat (who could forget with all this awesome food??), and use a designated driver. Uber & Lyft helped me get around last year and it wasn't expensive at all. Let's pray for nice weather too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Murf's Fish Fry

With the official start of the Lenten season next week Wednesday, where many Catholics make the decision to not eat meat on Fridays, I found it only fitting to write about Wisconsin's favorite Friday night activity - Fish Frys!! (Is it Fish Frys or Fish Fries??? I did some research but didn't get a definite answer.)

I have been a fan of Murf's in Waukesha for the better part of two decades. During college, I had a friend that worked there who we would occasionally visit. One memorable night, I  was rollerblading around Waukesha with a friend and  we found ourselves to be starving. We stopped at Murf's to see what our money could get us. We had enough to get a bucket of fish, complete with fries, rye bread, coleslaw, and of course tartar. Though that night happened about 17 years ago, that fish fry stuck with me. We ate it on the tables outside of Murf's on a beautiful summer evening and then rollerbladed back home during sunset.

Since then, I have told many people about Murf's and stopped there from time to time myself, though never again on rollerblades.

Recently, I introduced my husband to Murf's and he in turn has told many people about it. He even had a guy's night and instead of just ordering pizza or getting wings, all the guys got Murf's and we made many the place have even more fans.

Though they are mainly known for their burgers and custard, the fish fry is still as amazing as I remember. My husband and I love fish frys - be it at home or out in the area, and with Lent starting next week, I see many fish frys in our future (and a lot of Wisconsinites' futures!)

My husband had not had the fish fry from Murf's so it was time to dazzle his taste buds with this great fish. We ordered the 8-piece meal instead of two four-piece dinners to save ourselves a little bit of money. Murf's was hopping as always, but it didn't take too long for our meal to come out.

I was happy to see the exact fish that I remembered from that summer night so long ago. We each fixed ourselves a plate and went to town making our bellies happy.

The fish is generously sized cod fillets that are breaded solidly, but not thickly. You could actually pick up the pieces and eat it like chicken tenders with your fingers if you wanted, but we opted to cut it with our forks.

The butter was really cold, so I actually put it under the fish on the tray to help warm it up before spreading it on my rye bread--worked like a charm.

At first my husband and I were worried about the amount of tartar we received. We enjoy dipping our frys in tartar as well, so we thought we were going to run out. But actually it ended up being a perfect amount and the tartar was quite good. Rye bread was also nice, fresh, and delicious with the warmed butter.

I wasn't a fan of the coleslaw, but I am a bit more picky on this overall. There are very few that I like and I prefer a more vinegar-based style. This was very creamy with lots of mayo and just wasn't my thing. But if they have been offering it for all this time, I know others must enjoy it.

This fish fry is very near the top of my husbands and my list for go-to fish fry. It's close to home and it was really good. We hope to venture out a lot more during Lent and try even more fish frys to add to our arsenal. Here are some of the others that we have tried in the past few years that we have really enjoyed and suggest you check out. I would love to hear your favorite spots for fish frys in the Waukesha area.

Cue Club of Wisconsin - probably the top of our list
People's Park
Delafield Brew Haus
Thunder Bay Grille - splure for the seafood fondue as an appetizer - it's soooo worth it!
Tally's Tap & Eatery
Tofte's Table
Spring City Restaurant

Boombalatti's Pizza Co.

I like to believe that I have always lived a healthy lifestyle--making good food choices and staying active. Since I was little, I was always riding my bike around town, playing volleyball, basketball, and softball, and I loved to dance, both classical ballet and competitive poms. Even after my sports days ended with high school, I continued to stay active with bike rides and I even added running/jogging into the mix. But the older I get, the easier I find it to fall into really poor habits and it's a lot harder to keep the weight off.

My love affair with the gym is one of epic proportions and probably something to discuss on another post. In a nutshell, I have joined and cancelled multiple gyms in the past 15 years and hopefully this time around, I have found the commitment to stick with this one and keep going.

But staying active is only half of the challenge--you can workout all you want and burn calories, but if you go home and chow down on unhealthy options and eat more calories than you burn, it's all for nothing.

Right before I met my husband, I had found a solid routine that balanced healthy eating and working out regularly and I'm aiming to get back to that lifestyle (but I know it won't be easy).

I fall victim to carbs all too often. I am a girl that loves bread, pasta, potatoes--if its a white carb, I love it. And I have had fears that I will never be able to break the habit. But I am also someone that knows I can't go extreme or I will fail. Everything in moderation is ok.

Cue in Boombalatti's Pizza Company -- I first heard of the company from an article in the Waukesha Freeman introducing the company as a low carb/keto-friendly pizza company and I was instantly intrigued. The business utilizes the kitchen at the Easter Seals building and provides fresh pizzas (and a few other goodies) to take and bake at home.

My husband and I are finishing up our "Biggest Loser Challenge" this month. It consisted of changing out lifestyles however we each wanted to be supportive of each other's choices. I increased my activity level and shrank portions, and my husband has cut his ties with the vending machine at work to provide ourselves with a healthier lifestyle.

I ordered from Boombalatti's and got a sausage, black olive, and green pepper pizza for us to try. The pizza is a 10' round, which doesn't sound that large, but let me tell you it is. The owner makes her own crust and sauce from scratch and loads up the pizza with plenty of toppings. Cooking instructions are provided and it's no more difficult that making a Papa Murphy's.

Once out of the oven, the pizza looked and smelled just like a regular pizza. Though the crust didn't get nearly as crispy as my husband likes, I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza. To me, it wasn't too far from a regular pizza in flavor, and knowing I was enjoying fewer carbs made it even closer to regular pizza for me.

Boombalatti's is growing in popularity and offering more days to for pickup during the week. How it works is that you order in advance before the pickup day, pay online, and then come during the pickup time window and your pizza is ready for you.

I have had a few conversations with the owner and she is experimenting with more varieties of pizza and food options and has a very solid following for those looking for gluten-free/keto-friendly food options that are fresh and local. I see good things in her future!

Pieper Porch Winery

Pieper Porch Winery has been around for about five years, but recently it has been picking up steam and popularity. More and more of my friends are talking about the business and it was about time I checked it out. The opportunity arose about a month ago and my friend and I decided to enjoy a nice sunny Saturday afternoon at the winery. 

The winery is located on the edge of Waukesha/Mukwonago off Hwy. I/River Rd. It's just a short drive from my house and is a residence that has been turned into the winery and vineyard. 

The tasting room is located in the basement of their home and the family/staff is smiling and ready to serve you. The winery provides five samples as part of the complimentary tasting from their lengthy list of varietals. They even provide further explanation than what the sheet provides on each wine if needed, and then you have some time to choose your samples. 

I tried some sweet wines, but mostly stuck to the dry varietals and was very happily surprised with how bold their wines are. When you think Wisconsin wines, sweet and fruity come to mind a lot of the time. Peiper Porch knows how to do both kinds of wines and does them well! The reds are very deep in flavor and are dry. 

After our samples, we decided to split a bottle to enjoy on their covered porch and have some girl talk. The winery was quite busy, but the crowd seems to rotate well and we found a spot with no problem. They have two silo areas that can be reserved for special events in the vineyard, and the grape vines were really impressive. You can also bring in your own food to enjoy at the winery--we took notes for next time. 

We watched kids play in the open field while parents enjoyed each other's company. I also ran into a friend from high school and it was her first time here as well. It was good to see her and I found out that if you aren't a wine fan, they do have some beers to offer to help please more of their crowds (not her, but her husband isn't a wine guy).

After about an hour, we noticed the sky getting a little darker and started to make plans for what to do for dinner, realizing our wine time was nearing an end. The winery is only open Friday-Sunday 11 am - 5 pm, so regardless of the rain, we were about to get the boot.

It did rain and so we went inside, wrapped up our sales, and asked to take the rest of our bottle home. They gladly recorked it for us and sent us on our way. We told them we would definitely be back. I will be keeping them in mind for presents as well #shoplocal!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and quality of their products. They have a solid business and you can see the pride they have for it in the wine and the vineyard. I also recently saw their wines for sale at Sentry Fox Run--not sure where else they are available, but this was a good find for the winter.  I know I will be back soon to enjoy more.

Waukesha Floral

Kara Reese Photography

When I started at Image Makers fourteen years ago, I became aware of Waukesha Floral & Greenhouse. The company is a client of Image Makers and also provides floral and decor for the office. If you drive down North Street in Waukesha heading to downtown, you might notice the brightly colored, fun decor in front of our building. Waukesha Floral does an amazing job and we have even had people stop in and ask about it. 

Marty and Jane are genuinely fun people and experts in their field--it was a no-brainer when it came time for floral for my wedding. 

Kara Reese Photography

The floral arrangements that Michelle, WF's wedding specialist, came up with for my day were the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. Though I gave input on the types of flowers that would make up the bouquet, I had no idea how gorgeous it would turn out. 

Kara Reese Photography

As I shared before, Tom Kaupp, the president of Image Makers, passed away in November. Before he passed, we had a conversation in his office and he offered to purchase my bridal bouquet. He shared this wish with others before passing on and so the least I could do on my wedding day was let everyone else know how special he is to me and my family. The bouquet that Waukesha Floral put together for me was absolutely stunning -- I know Tom was with me on my day. 

Kara Reese Photography

I received so many compliments on how the floral really pulled the room together and weeks after the wedding, many friends and family still had roses and succulents still alive. I am trying to save some and grow them in my yard.

When it came time to find annual plants for our new home and add some color to the yard, we selected Waukesha Floral. There were so many plants to choose from and we let the girlies pick out whatever they wanted.

After we picked plants from the outdoor area, the cashier told us to check out the greenhouse and see how beautiful everything was coming in. The girlies were mesmerized by the beautiful colors and how many plants were in the greenhouse. It really is something to see.

This was the girlies first time really getting in the dirt and planting all on their own and they did any amazing job. The hardy plants from WF have survived my absent-mindedness to water them and bounce right back.

It's no wonder why Waukesha Floral has been around for over a century -- their amazing flowers stand the test of time and I have no doubt who I will turn to in the future for any of my floral needs.

PS - they have an amazing shop with home decor, candles, purses, jewelry and more - definitely worth checking out.

Fish Fry Season is Upon Us

Today is the beginning of Lent and for many of us in Wisconsin, it's the unofficial kickoff to fish fry season. I enjoy fish fries year-round, but many restaurants up the ante during Lent and offer their fish fries more often or have more offerings. I want to share with you a few of my fave places around the area that I have enjoyed a fish fry.

Thunder Bay Grille Fish Fry

Spring City Restaurant/The Rox Bar - They have a full menu full of Fish Fry specials. I recommend the cod and the perch. The restaurant is a traditional family place, but if you want a more lively atmosphere, head to the bar side and enjoy it there.

Thunder Bay Grille - They do offer specials on Friday in addition to their regular menu items. I love the Fish and Chips - Atlantic cod, farmhouse ale beer batter, fries, house made tartar sauce, house slaw - 13.99

Tally's Tap - They offer an AYCE Fish Fry among other specialties and they have really good potato pancakes :) They recently went through a remodel--I haven't been there to check it out, but it's a sports bar with bar games and such.

Cue Club of Wisconsin - This is probably my fiance's and my favorite fish fry in town, and not just because we lived close by. They have a menu exclusive for their fish fry. The portions are great (they offer a smaller portion too for those that don't need a lot). The breading is good, fish is flaky, and waffle fries--need I say more.

Delafield Brewhaus - This place is known for their fish fry and it's a year-round tradition. Portions are large and delicious. I left stuffed with a happy belly--where as my friend who is usually on seconds when we are just taking our first bites--was considering adding on the clam chowder!

Albanese's Roadhouse - This offers bar room dining or a dining room depending on which atmosphere you are in for. The fish fry has an Italian breading that I really enjoyed.

Murf's Custard - This one takes me back. In the early 2000s, my friends and I roller-bladed here and pooled our money together for a bucket of fish and fries. We ate it outside on a gorgeous evening and then roller-bladed all over downtown and around the city. The scariest part was rollerblading on the boardwalk late at night (yes we probably shouldn't have, but we were young and it was fun!)  I still remember the fish and it was great!

People's Park - My parents and I have enjoyed this fish fry many times. They have a fish sandwich as well. And I love that I can get the cucumber salad instead of fries. My mom always opts for the sweet potato fries!

In addition to the places that I have shared, there is a website dedicated to fish fry's in the Milwaukee area--with a page just for Waukesha. Check it out and maybe find your favorite.

And please feel free to share your favorite place with me - I'm always up to try new places and new foods!

225 So. Soooooo Good!

I shared with all of you my first experience at 225 So. - Mia Famiglia and I gave it rave reviews back then.

I returned last month with some co-workers for Happy Hour and enjoyed some wine, appetizers, and flatbread. We stayed well past Happy Hour talking about everything except work (like you should) and loved that the owner kept coming over and checking on us. He even told us to throw something at him if we needed anything. I love his fun spirit and smile that I see - such joy in his business.

Last week, I introduced my friend Tiffany to 225 So. She knew the business from the Waukesha Farmer's Market but just hadn't had the opportunity to check it out yet. The place had a decent crowd for a Thursday night and the aroma from the kitchen was heavenly.

I walked Tiffany a bit through the menu before our server came over and explained to her what I have already tried and loved. The server then went a bit more in depth for Tiffany explaining that the chef was classically trained in Sicily and so some of the items might have a bit more spice. But also that everything on the menu except the handmade ravioli can be prepared gluten-free. This is awesome news to those that have a hard time finding restaurants that can provide this sort of catering on their menu.

We pursued a bit longer and selected a pasta entree each and I told her that we must have the bruschetta. It came out really quickly and looked scrumptious. I couldn't wait for her to try it. The balsamic is out of this world good!

I ordered the Whole Wheat Pappardelle with braised beef, pearl onions, mushrooms, and capers in a light cream sauce. It was PHENOMENAL. I was hesitant on the capers as I haven't been much of a fan from past experiences, but this dish pulled everything together and it was delicious. I paired it with a glass (or two) of Chianti and it took it to an even higher level.

Tiffany order the gnocchi and she loved it. Again she tried something unique and we both took home leftovers with excitement of when we get to eat it next.

We didn't save any room for dessert, but next time we must. I have heard so much about their Tiramisu that I have to try it. We didn't hurry out after our meal, but instead enjoyed the ambiance and chitty-chatted while finishing our drinks. It's a very warm and inviting space. I can't wait to go back again and definitely need to introduce my guy to this place soon!

There are so many amazing things happening for 225 So. and I hope that although it's off the beaten path, that it becomes a local favorite for others like it is for me! They have been granted some land from the city of Waukesha for an urban garden. I don't know much more about this at this time, but it's going to be by the river and then they can have "extremely" local produce!

They also have a great Happy Hour from 4 - 6 on Tuesday - Thursdays. Great drink specials, 1/2 price appetizers and $2 off the flatbreads. The Duck Confit flatbread gives Bernie's Tap Room some stiff competition. Luckily each are unique enough that I don't have to pick a favorite! And finally, you can purchase their sauces and ravioli at the restaurant and at the Farmer's Markets. See their recent interview on Fox 6.

New Year's Eve in Waukesha - 2015

Updated**

2015 is coming to an end, but not without a big bang to close it out. Many local places are hosting some sort of New Year's Eve special and I wanted to share with you what I found out.

No matter where you go or what you do, please do it safely. Don't drink and drive. There are Taxis, Uber, and Shuttles as options to get you home safely! 


Here's what I know so far:

The Cooler is offering $40 all you can drink all night.

Mainstream Bar & Grill - The Great Big" perform for their New Year's Eve party. Click for details.

Boscos - Balloon Drop & Glitter Bomb

Bernie's Tap Room - “Your first stop on New Years Eve” As We Count Down to the New Year Indulge Yourself with our Special Lineup of our 23 Craft Beers on Tap including these special brews. Pizza Special - Bernie's Bacon Pizza with Pesto & Duck Confit 16" round $15.75, 12" round 9.75. $3.00 glass of champagne all night!

Spring City Wine House - music by Jake Williams (live piano) from 9pm - 1am, appetizers, and drink specials  - no cover charge

Spurs Saloon - Cowboy Up performs and free pizza and champagne at midnight

Taylor's Peoples Park - DJ Even Steve, drink specials, Free champagne toast at midnight, Rockefeller Fillet & Grilled Shrimp for $24, And they are even having a New Year's Day Brunch from 11 am - 2 pm.

Fox Run Lanes - open from 11am - 2am and have a limited menu.

Cue Club of Wisconsin - $5 cover, free shuttles after midnight. Almighty Vinyl performs.

Nice Ash - Burgundy Ties performs and there is no cover charge. Click for details.

Key Westconsin - Surf and Turf ( a 5oz Filet and a 5oz Lobster tail ) for $19.99.

The Lucky Rabbit - prize filled balloon drop and DJ. 

The Neighbors Bar & Grille - beer and drink specials all night, champagne at midnight and party favors


Meli - Masquerade Bash.

Crush Wine Bar - Pete Lange Duo performed live jazz, bottomless glass champagne fountain, party favors, appetizers and midnight toast. Open 4pm - 1am. Click for details.

I'm sure there will be more and I will update the list as I can, but there is definitely no shortage in having a good night in downtown. Again, please do it responsibly and call a cab if you have had too much to drink.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Wings Around Waukesha: Mainstream

Here it is - the first wing post on my blog! Sure I have talked about wings before from some of my favorite places, but never to the level that I am going to take it this time. I'm starting it off with Mainstream Bar & Grill. It was at this bar that I really brought the chicken wing blog idea to fruition. I had done some research of all the bars in the area and their wings and specials, but this was the first place that my guy and I ventured to on a mission to try their wings.

Although Tuesdays & Thursdays feature $.45 wings, we went on a Sunday, because...why not? We got to the bar right around noon and picked a table for two. The bartender came over and welcomed us.

We went right to the Chicken Wings area of the menu and started plotting our game plan. Ten wings are $7.95 when not on a wing special night and every five can be in a different sauce.  We asked about the sauces on the menu and if they were in order of heat. Unfortunately they are not.

The menu lists them as: Naked, Garlic Herb, Honey BBQ, Caribbean Jerk, Buffalo, Demon, Inferno, and Thai Peanut. The bartender let us know that the spiciest is Inferno and Thai Peanut is about the same level as Buffalo.

I ordered ten wings and selected Garlic Herb and Honey BBQ. My guy ordered Thai Peanut and Caribbean Jerk. We also ordered the Fried Chip Basket because the chips are amazing! And I figured we might need a side to enjoy with the wings.

It didn't take too long for our wings to come out and the bartender apologized that the cook accidentally made all ten for each of us with one of our sauces. She would be bringing the other five for each of us out shortly. This was no problem for us and we appreciated her apology.

And so we dug in. What I noticed first about the Garlic Herb wings is that the wings weren't overly saucy and I wouldn't be elbow deep in wing sauce causing me to use 10,000 napkins. For me this is a plus--I appreciate wings that are coated, but not dripping with sauce. And I loved the flavor on these wings. The mix of herbs and garlic was terrific. My new goal is to figure out their blend and use it on all my chicken. It was really good. I couldn't stop eating them!

My guy's Thai Peanut wings were nicely coated in sauce.. We of course shared our wings so I could try the other flavors--I agree that these had a slight kick but weren't overly hot. The heat mainly comes at the end. I could probably handle a few of these, but for my guy, he thought they were a nice heat and could eat them all day.

I didn't take shots of our additional wings because my fingers were a little too greasy (and maybe I forgot). The Honey BBQ is a very sweet sauce with no kick at all--very mild. This sauce too would be great on grilled chicken.

Unfortunately my guys Caribbean Jerk wings came with the wrong sauce, but whatever the sauce was, it was really good. The bartender was quite busy at this time and because the wings were still delicious we continued to eat without complaints.And the chips were a welcome snack for us to munch on between wings. We will definitely be returning to Mainstream to eat here again and try more wing flavors. And my guy has to have one of their burgers - I love those too.

Mainstream Bar & Grill Rating (Max Score of 5): 4.3

Flavors: 4 Drumsticks (flavors in heat order would be helpful but great variety)

Size: 3.5 Drumsticks

Taste: 4.5 Drumsticks - huge fan!

Price: 3 Drumsticks on non-wing night (~.80 each)/4.5 Drumsticks on wing night ($.45 each)

Temp: 5 Drumsticks - came out hot but we were able to dig in right away!

Sauces: Options are Ranch & Blue Cheese

Veggies: Celery is offered

Wet Naps: Not provided with wing order - didn't ask if they had them available

400th Post! And a New Feature

Drum Roll Please......I have reached post number 400!!!!! Wowzers! What started out as an online diary has morphed into this blog over the past years. Attending a blogger conference in Utah in February of 2013 is really what got me focused and set my course for the posts that you are reading today. In just the past year, I have changed the look of my blog and actually had a logo developed for my "brand." And in the past two years, I create a Facebook page and have fans that follow and comment. All of this just boggles my mind, but I still enjoy this pastime and love to see where it's going.

A huge thank you to all of you that read my blog. I hope that what I share brings you some information and maybe a few smiles or laughs along the way. 

Time for a little reminiscing over the past few years. Here are a few of my favorite posts that I have shared with all of you.

The post that started it all

The addition of the bars and restaurants tab on the blog

Paninis and Potatoes Post

Working with Qdoba for some posts

The Annual Food Blogger Cookie Swap: 2014, 2013, & 2012

My year as a Foodie PenPal

And of course, all of my posts about Waukesha. This town holds a special place in my heart and I hope that my posts show that. I want everyone to see how great of a city I live in and want to come here and spend time and money!

And with that, I want to introduce a new feature that I am adding to my blog. I'm calling it.......

Wings Around Waukesha

Eight years ago if you asked me to go out and get wings with you, I probably would have said no. I didn't understand biting meat off of tiny bones smothered in hot sauce. But now....ask me to get wings with you and I'm in! I still don't like the hot sauces, but just like everything else in this crazy world, wing sauces have developed tenfold and restaurants offer more than just BBQ, Mild & Hot.

I want to share my wing experiences with you in the community. I already have a few favorites that I'm going to start with to get things rolling and once I have a few posts written up, I'll add a tab to the site that features all the wings I have tried.

If there is a specific place you think that I might want to check out, let me know. My guy and I love wings and are always open for trying new places. And he likes spicy foods so we will be able to try a variety of sauces.

I am working on a rating system and also have some specific things that I'm looking for to compare the wings from location to location. I hope you find this feature fun and useful if you are a wing fan too. Watch for the first post next week!

Again thank you to all my readers and here's to another 400 posts!