Fun

The Land of Beer and Cheese!

 

Since Craig and I moved to Wisconsin, we have enjoyed craft beers and cheese curds a time or two, but never ventured to a Wisconsin Brewery.

When Groupon threw out an opportunity to go to Minhas Brewery, we were all over it!

Craig and I decided that it would be fun to bike to Monroe, WI, since it was about 40 miles away. We would leave on Saturday and come home on Sunday. As we headed out of town on Saturday morning, the sky was looking a bit gloomy, and we hoped the rain would hold out. After about 45 minutes on the bike, it began to downpour. We found ourselves soaking wet, surrounded by steep hills and corn fields.

Needless to say, we were beyond ready to make it to Monroe! As we got closer to the town, they sky started to clear. We made it to our hotel with enough time to eat lunch before our brewery tour.

After seeing Baumgartner’s on the Food Network, we knew we needed to go to try their cheese! We went and had a cheese plate that was surprisingly mediocre compared to other Wisconsin cheese. One cool thing we did get to experience there was the community table. This was a long table where everyone sat together. We chatted with locals, people from Iowa, and others from around the states who were visiting this small town.

Soon after, we headed over to Minhas Brewery for our tour. As we walked inside it was PACKED! The 1pm tour was just ending, and guests wanted to get the most of their “unlimited beer pours” before they were asked to leave. As people cleared out, Craig and I sampled a Chocolate Bunny Stout and a Double IPA.



We watched a video about the “Oldest Brewery in the Midwest” and learned about their packaging and distributing. We viewed all the bells and whistles of the brewery and headed back for more samples. We left Minhas each with a 8 beers and 4 root beers!





Sunday's Ride Home!

After an exhausting day of biking, walking, eating, and drinking, we finished the evening at Pancho and Lefty’s, a small local restaurant known to be the best in town.



The quaint atmosphere of the town was great, we got up the next morning, and headed back to Madison…this time in the sunshine!

I can’t wait to explore more of Wisconsin’s hidden gems. Next stop, New Glarus Brewery!

Cheers,

Samantha

 

Key West or Bust!

 

This past week, Craig and I ventured with some friends to the Florida Keys for the Keys 100 Ultramarathon.

A few months ago, Craig got this crazy idea to run 50 miles through the heat of Florida from Marathon Key to Key West. Craig completed several training runs, some breaking personal records in speed and distance. Not only were were excited about the race, but also about an awesome vacation with great friends.

The night of arrival, we stayed in Key Largo, where we went to Wahoo's Restaurant with the APG crew. The place had a great view of the ocean and some amazing key lime pie.

Wahoos, Key Largo

The next day, we took a snorkeling excursion into Molasses Reef. Here, we were able to get up close and person with fish, coral, and all kinds of sea creatures! Needless to say, it was a great time, besides the bout of sea sickness after about 45 minutes in the water!

Saturday was the big race! Craig and a few other APG members started in Marathon, FL on their 50 mile adventure. To make a long story short, they did amazing and pushed through every challenge they encountered! Craig even placed first in his age group!



Finisher!



That evening, we checked into La Te Da, a quaint hotel in Key West on Duvall St. Since we were all exhausted, we ate a nice meal, and went to bed early.

The next day, we enjoyed an early breakfast, and went to the awards ceremony to celebrate all of the APG crew's accomplishments, then headed to the beach for some R & R. The beaches in Key West are small, but beautiful. The water is clear, the waves are mild, and the sun is hot. We were in paradise.

That evening, we headed to Duvall St. and Mallory Square, where we cut loose, enjoyed lots of laughter and fun. If you have the opportunity to go to Key West, there are two locations I would recommend checking out:

- Sunset at Mallory Square (be sure to watch the "cat man" performance!)

- Flying Monkey Bar, here they have the best frozen drinks!

Mallory Square Sunset

After such a great week, I have never been so proud of both Craig (my hero!) and my awesome friends. Each of them are such an inspiration to the type of person I am striving to be. They say, you are the company you keep, and I keep awesome company!



On Monday, we headed back to Ft. Lauderdale and enjoyed sometime with an old friend. Now, we are back in the groove of our routine. Next up, Sunday's Half Marathon! Updates to come!

Cheers,

Samantha

 

 

I should have been a Girl on the Run...

 

This is 8 year old me…

I was awkward, insecure, and nerdy in my teddy bear t-shirt. I struggled to fit in with the "athletic bunch", felt too cool for the "nerdy bunch", and feel somewhere in the middle of the two. I didn't have any particular talent that made me stand out, but I always was a leader.

No matter the age, I stood in front of people and felt comfortable. I celebrated other's successes and comforted them in their failures. I encouraged them to become better and do better. I challenged the status quo and tried to be a catalyst for change.

As I grew older, some of my insecurities evolved, and others diminished. Until now, I forgot a lot about the girl in the teddy bear sweater.

Now that I am "Girls on the Run" coach, I realize what an important age in a woman's development this is. Even in 3rd-5th grade, some girls do not consider themselves beautiful. Some do not life hearing compliments. Some struggle with family or friend issues.

These young women are like sponges, absorbing everything the other coaches and myself say. They look up to us. They are inspired to be like us. They lock arms with us, run with us, and laugh with us. They bring out a softer side in me. These young women don't care how silly I am. I can show emotion, good or bad. They value me as a mentor and person. In fact, adults could learn a lot by them.

I hope to inspire these beautiful young women to evolve into strong and capable adults, and show them that somehow the girl in the teddy bear sweater turned into the amazing woman I am today.

I'm looking forward to continuing the GOTR journey.

Cheers,

Samantha

 

 

Don't Forget To Celebrate The Ridiculous!

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Girls on the Run!

 

I have always enjoyed volunteering. As I have become more acquainted with Madison, I decided to find an organization whose passions align with mine.

My co-worker, Christine, is a member of the Girls on the Run of Dane County, Board of Directors. Christine took the time to sit down with me to discuss what Girls on the Run is all about. GOTR is an international organization that works with young girls in 3rd-5th grade. The 10 week curriculum works with these young women to build confidence, self-esteem, and happiness through activities with other girls, ultimately culminating with a 5k event held at the end of the season.

Last weekend, I attended training, where I met other women who will be coaching in the Madison area. Each of their stories were inspiring, as everyone has such a variety of reasons for helping young women.

As part of GOTR, I will be coaching about 15 girls twice weekly. I hope that I am able to help show these young women all the beautiful qualities that they have to offer. I am looking forward to making a positive impact in their lives.

If you are interested in being apart of GOTR in your city, visit Girls on the Run here.

Cheers,

Samantha

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We're All The Same

I have always loved to travel.  It's the feeling you get when you hop onto a plane to go somewhere new, or the opportunity to taste and see a new culture or area of the world.  I find meeting people and discovering new places as thrilling.  While I can't pick up and travel all the time, I have realized that there is often beautiful peoplewith diversity all around me.

Science is a topic that knows no language, race, or cultural background.  So, when my partner began his PhD, we were opened to the opportunity to befriend people from all over the globe.

Recently, I have found myself spending time with people from Chile, The Netherlands, Japan, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and China.  I have learned about Dutch Christmas traditions, Chilean appetizers, Puerto Rican desserts, and even hand-rolled my own sushi and finished the meal with traditional Japanese tea.

While language can sometimes limit communication, there are no barriers for goodness in human nature.  Too often, we are worried about our own problems, and forget that there is this big beautiful world with millions of people and stories to share.  Many of the people that have helped Madison feel like home, are those who are not from Madison, or the United States!

I plan to continue my intrigue for all things beautiful, no matter the language, race, religion, or background. And while I plan to travel more in the future, Madison is offering a amazing array of diversity in the mean time :)

Cheers,

Samantha

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Florida Fun!

This past week I went to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to visit my dear friend Lindsay. After a two hour flight to Atlanta, and a one hour flight to Ft. Lauderdale, I had arrived.

For those of you who have not been to the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area, this is a place to add to your list. Downtown Ft. Lauderdale boats a variety of small restaurants, boutiques, and shops. If you are a beer lover, I would recommend trying American Social Bar, where restaurant-goers can try over fourty tap beers, including "pour it yourself" taps.

The Ft. Lauderdale public beach is not too crazy, lined with bars, shops, and restuarants, and is great for a low key and fun vacation.

Lindsay and I also spent a few afternoons venturing to Miami, FL, about 30 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale. We spent one afternoon exploring Collins Avenue, the main strip of South Beach. Here we found high end retailers, restuarants, and people from all walks of life.

As we made our way to Ocean Drive, we found that it was Art Deco Weekend, this is where vendors from the area display and sell jewelry, art, clothing, etc. Ocean Drive was lined with street performers, shop keepers, and locals and tourists exploring each booth.

If you get a chance, make your way down to South Florida. The art, people, and culture is worth the trip. Thanks to Lindsay for a great vacation!

Cheers,

Samantha