Good Advice: Southern Sayin's

I have a soft spot for low country, down south, and backwater talk. These postcards from YeeHaw are exactly what I'm talkin' bout. Imagine getting one in the mail and seeing the look on the mailman's face as he reads the "bake my biscuits" one. Hilarity. Check out their Etsy shop--they've got some pretty sweet concert posters and prints.

Packing List: Summer festivals

Nicole Sunglass, Modcloth, $11. J Crew caprese tunic, $35. J Crew studded leather belt, $68. REI Platypus, $12.95. GAP jean shorts, $49.50. iPhone 4, $199. Marc by Marc Jacobs cross-body bag, $198. Travel-size Neutrogena Sunblock, $4. Simple Tantan sandals, $85.

Summerfest is in full swing this week. I hope to go sometime this week to hang out and enjoy some summer music (maybe the Hold Steady July 1st??). And in Milwaukee, it seems there is a street festival or ethnic fest on the lakefront every weekend. Sadly, we'll be in Italy during Chicago's Pitchfork festival. But, if you go (or go to any other festival), here's what I suggest you bring.

Here's my game plan:
- Wear comfortable shoes! Preferably black because it's gonna be a dirty mess out there.
- Load up on the water. Especially if you're drinking in the sun, dehydration can set in very fast. Lots of grounds don't allow bottle/can carry-ins, but the platypus can easily roll up in your purse and be filled at the water fountain.
- Pick loose fitting, light colored clothes. Again, it's gonna get hot. And you're gonna sweat.
- Don't bring anything you'll leave in the bathroom. Like clutches, hats, coats, etc. Opt for a crossbody purse and sunglasses that will fit inside.
- A phone with a camera and internet access are great. One less thing to carry. And you can read books or check email when waiting in those long lines waiting for the bands to start. Phone service is often touch and go at big festivals due to all the people trying to call at once, but 3G and 4G work like a charm. So email or text to stay in touch with your group.

Cheap Thrills: Backyard produce

Our backyard garden is packed with all sorts of stuff! The lettuce is really good, and it only cost a quarter for all those seeds we planted. The jalepenos and tomatoes are on their way, but aren't quite ready yet. Can't wait to use all that mint for Mojitos this summer! I don't know why I was paying for $4 for herbs at the grocery store, when they're so easy to grow. Silly me.

Hello Moto

Four great Moto sweater jackets, from left to right:
Madewell, $78; Need Supply, $54; J Crew, $198; Splendid, $68

Coffee Break

I'm going to be starting a new segment called "Coffee Break": occasional photo posts from myself and readers of their "caffeine refueling", "work room breather", or "morning routine". So send me your iPhone pics or digital photos of YOUR coffee breaks and I'll post them! Why coffee breaks? Because it's 15 minutes out of a busy day to stop and smell the roses (or coffee beans), take a breather, let your mind rest. It's like the American adult's mini version of "siesta" or "recess". Everybody should have a break during the day even if it is a small one.

And it's good for you:
MIT study showing small breaks promote memory retention
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392812
Dutch study shows moderate coffe, tea drinking lowers heart disease risk
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/640186.html
UK study researching effects of caffeine on mental alertness, decrease in mistakes
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7710780/How-office-coffee-breaks-make-staff-work-harder.html

So send me your pictures at creamcityandsugar@gmail.com of how you spend your coffee breaks!

I want to go to there: The Ocean On Bicycles

The Ocean On Bicycles from runrobot on Vimeo.

I found this lovely little film on Copenhagen Cycle Chic today. Now I think I'll ride down to the lakefront. Bye!

Milwaukee Faves: Barnacle Bud's patio

Jeremy Pettis on flickr

I always feel like a Parrothead when I go to Barnacle Bud's. It must be the boat docks, Corona, Cheeseburgers, the smell of the water, and the laid back lazy days of summer vibe of the place. This place is tucked away, and when I say tucked away I mean it takes four turns down no name roads in the boondocks to get there. But once you're there, it feels like a world apart from downtown Milwaukee, which is nice for us who live in the city. It's a small restaurant/bar near the boat docks and warehouses in the Menomonee Valley with a large deck on the river, lots of picnic tables, corona buckets for the napkins/condiments, and plenty of boat parking. If you're lucky enough to own a boat, that has to be the best way to visit Barnacle's. If not and if you're down a road saying "This doesn't look right", then you're probably close.

Matt Vs. Kitchen: Chipotle Steak Tacos

Matt made a Chipotle sauce made of Jalepenos, Mango-Pomegranate Barbecue sauce from Cherith Valley Gardens, some roma tomatoes, then simmered it on the stove for about 10 minutes. After the steak was done cooking, he added the sauce, then we added a bunch of vegetables to our tacos (including lettuce from OUR garden!), and we were done. So good. I'm getting hungry again just talking about it.

Etsy Finds: LemonstoryNYC

I bought these earrings from Lemonstory NYC by Kimenna over a year ago. Since then, (I wear the earrings all the time) I have been oggling these cute and feminine sailor-style shirts and tunics trying to decide which one I might buy or even if I should buy it. I must say, after exclusively shopping sale racks for so long, I'm not used to spending $80 on a shirt. What's your personal shopping mantra when it comes to buying moderately expensive clothes? I think I need to make myself a spending limit or budget for those types of things.

Olive Oil Dish soap dispenser

Two bridal showers down! The theme for my shower yesterday was "Doing the Dishes". So, I got a lot of cute tea towels, pretty dish soaps, and money for a new GE Cafe Dishwasher! One of the most creative things I got was this olive oil dispenser to be used for dish soap!! I love great ideas like that!

*Thanks Jane and Tamarah :)

Travel Style: Roman Holiday

1. English-Italian dictionary 2. Come Away with Me dress from Modcloth 3. Ring of Roses tank from Anthropologie 4. Riptide swimsuit from Anthropologie 5. Calypso wedges by Toms 6. Morgan sunglasses from Banana Republic 7. The Ellie bag from Rubie Green 8. Vespa GTS 300

I have been putting a lot of thought into what I'm going to pack for our Italy trip. Mostly because we will be on a Vespa for the majority of the trip and I need to pack a small bag of duel-functioning outfits and essential comfort (but stylish--this IS Italy) items. So here's my plan: dresses, non-wrinkle fabrics, comfortable wedges and a nice pair of sunglasses. That should get me through the majority of my clothing needs.

Stay tuned to see how the packing goes......

Lulu the dog gets a bath, Sara gets a Latte

I took Lulu to Community Bark the other day for a bath. I decided to do the self-bath--I would do the washing but they would clean up. Dealsies! However, Lulu was not having it. She flipped out once we got to the blow dry portion, tried to jump through the window, and gave herself a big gash on her leg. Good grief. I guess we will just stick to baths in our bathtub and towel drying. She did like lounging around the "Barker Lounge" while I had my coffee. Community Bark has a little coffee shop that you can sit with your dog and drink Alterra coffee. Pretty nice!

A rainy afternoon at home

I was hoping to go to Bradford beach this week, pack a picnic, my Kindle, and sunscreen, but the weather has not been cooperating. So instead, I planned a rainy day afternoon for myself complete with a cheesy movie and comfort food. I would really like to find a pair of hot pink flip flops to wear around the house. That would really seal the deal.

Can't stop listening to: Sarah Jaffe

I'm loving this laid back summery album from Sarah Jaffe called 'Suburban Nature'. NPR featured the above song for their Song of the Day. I'd say it's pretty nice stuff for an afternoon of backyard suntanning or lounging around the house.

The Backyard garden

Our garden is doing quite well with all the morning rain we have been getting. Matt built this raised garden bed a couple weeks ago (based on the plans here). So far, there are strawberries, jalapenos, dill, basil, mint (hello mojitos!), green leaf lettuce, cucumbers, artichokes, carrots, green beans, spinach and rosemary. A little bit everything, so we'll what grows the best. I'm going to plant some moss this weekend around the base to help out with the drainage/leakage issue. And to spruce it up a bit.

Reading: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I haven't had time to read (and actually finish) a book in I don't know...years? This is my first day off of work in a long time where I can just sit. Usually I take off to travel, move, go to doctor's appts, etc., etc., etc.. And what a perfect book to read during my time off--a book about taking a break from your life to just breathe, reflect, and enjoy life. The Julia Roberts movie remake of this book will be out in August (the 13th to be exact). Let's just hope it will be better than Sex and the City 2.