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!

Plowshare Marketplace

Every time I go shopping with my mom in downtown Waukesha, we have to make a stop at Plowshare Marketplace. It is my mom's favorite shop and I love checking out the ever-changing inventory of Fair Trade goods. I asked the store manager, Sara if I could chat with her and get a bit more about the store. She happily obliged and I am excited to share the story with all of you. 

Sara has been the manager of Plowshare Marketplace since 2011 but the store is in its 26th year in Waukesha. It was the first Fair Trade shop in Wisconsin! It moved from the middle of downtown to it's current location in the Avalon Square building in 2008, allowing for more room and a reorganization of the store.

The store is divided by category - clothing, food, toys, jewelry, etc and has products from approximately 30 developing nations. My personal favorites are the scarves and clothing. I attended Plowshare Center's fashion show last fall and was able to see the fashion on local models and really had the chance to see how things looked off the hanger. I am a big fan and love the hooded sweatshirt I picked up at the sale.

So what is "fair trade" and what makes this store unique? I think Plowshare's website explains it best.

Sara shared with me that the artisans are given half of their payment in advance for the goods requested so they can purchase the materials. Unlike other artists that need to wait for the items to be sold and have to sell the products themselves, these artisans are paid upon completion of the goods and its up to stores like Plowshare and other Fair Trade organizations to then sell the goods. And of course these artisans are paid a fair wage for their goods to help them prosper.

I asked Sara her favorite part of working at Plowshare Marketplace and being an artist herself and a (fellow) Carroll Alumi with a Fine Arts degree, she loves the shopping. It's a great mix of art and culture. She knows the hard work that went into creating each and every piece in her store and it gives her pride to display them. These items are unique and one of a kind.

Sara hasn't had the opportunity to travel to the countries that Plowshare purchases from, but if she was given the opportunity to travel, Nepal and Ecuador top her list.

Sara has so much passion in sharing Plowshare Marketplace and the story with me. "We are a generation that can make an impact in the world and bring more social awareness." So powerful and so true. When I need to get a present for someone and wasn't given a specific idea, I usually head to Plowshare because I know I will find a one-of-a-kind gift that has a great message behind it. Not to mention, the A-List also named them one of the best gift shops in the Milwaukee area.

Plowshare offers a number of rewards clubs on their food products. They have coffee, tea and chocolate clubs, chocolate being the most popular of course. They are all plans that you buy a certain number of the product and then get your next one free. The rewards cards are kept on site in a file, so there is no need to remember to bring it with you. And the clubs have no expiration date! They also have a birthday club that offers you a discount. 

Plowshare Marketplace hopes to revamp its website in the next few months and unveil a new loyalty club for frequent shoppers. With the new website, they are hoping to start offering some items online for purchase. It would be limited, but Fair Trade shopping, so every new direction can only help right?

So next time you are in town, take a gander through the shop! They even have these beautiful baskets to use (or buy) when shopping through the store.

Downtown Waukesha - Don't Fear the Construction

I took a walk around downtown yesterday on my lunch and took a few pictures. The snow is melting and they are predicting 40s and 50s for the next few days. I'm excited to see all the snow melt!

As I headed over the river on one of the bridges, I couldn't help but notice the right side of the river looks like winter and the left looks like Fall. Come on sunshine, melt that snow and bring us some greenery!

Downtown Waukesha is going to need its faithful followers now more than ever to help share the word that everything is still open despite the construction. Bring your friends and family and don't be discouraged that the roads are under construction. Last year it was Clinton and Main - this year (and into next year) it's the rest of Main Street. But have no fear, businesses are open and you can get to them rather easily.

Here is an article from WaukeshaNow.com about the construction and a timeline.

Sidewalks are still open and a lot of businesses on the north side of Main Street have back entrances as well. Those on the south side do not, but I know the city has taken that into account and will make sure that people can get to those businesses as much as possible. There is no getting around this construction - it is necessary and when finished, I'm sure it will bring us an even better downtown.

I walked up from the Riverfront Road to Main Street between the Main Street Apartments and the Antique store. This will definitely see a lot more use during the construction as it's a way to get from behind the businesses to Main Street. And it's a pretty walk as well.

Next I saw that the old Jackson's is having some Time Warner/Road Runner assistance today. I hope that means its nearing it's new opening. I'm so excited for this restaurant to open. My parents loved Mia Famiglia in Hales Corners and this will be the same family.

South Street is going to be alive with new renters in the Prairieville Apartments this summer. The skywalk is in and work was going steadily in the parking garage and units when I walked by. 

Next up I walked down Grand to Main Street and couldn't help notice these two brightly painted buildings on Broadway. What a welcome site for Spring! Burlap & Lace opened a clothing and accessories store to compliment their other shop on Grand. 

I turned left at the five points and headed down Main Street.I couldn't help but notice the large diggers in the road. But I believe I read they are already ahead of schedule!

I turned left onto Clinton and then right on Wisconsin. I noticed this sign helping guide people into the Maple Street lot. This lot is behind Couri insurance and the other main street businesses and is often forgotten. I think it's going to get plenty of use. This entrance is on Wisconsin, just west of Clinton. 

I walked down Wisconsin to Maple and took a closer look at the construction. It's only between Maple and Main Street currently, so you can get to the Clinton lot from Main Street at this time. You can also access this lot from Clinton Street by Hannon's Pub. This lot goes behind a lot of the businesses on Main Street and these businesses do have back entrances from this lot.

In the Clinton lot is a bridge that goes over the Fox River and connects to the Waukesha State Bank employee lot. I believe during business hours, the lot is only for employees, but after hours and on weekends, you can park in this lot.

I also found this map on the City of Waukesha website that shows how many spots are in each lot. Plenty of options when Main Street doesn't allow for street parking. 

So let's not be afraid of the construction and let's embrace it and I'll see you in downtown!