‘sports’ Category

« Older Entries

22 October 2012

Going home

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, sports, Wisconsin

Chicago is home most of the time but I haven’t another home too, southeastern Wisconsin. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but now, I only make it back there a few times a year.

And you don’t really get to appreciate fall when you live in the city. The foliage changes color but it’s not quite the same. And, there are no farm or corn fields within commutable distance. Fall in the city is great, but not quite the same.

So I headed north this weekend to get a break from the city, see family and get my live college football fix.

It was great and exactly what I needed.

So let’s take a look at fall on the other side of the state line.

It was a nice weekend and I’m looking forward to going back next month for Thanksgiving!

How was your weekend?

6 Comments

18 September 2011

Weekend recap: The cheese tent is in the back

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Food, sports

I’m not kidding, someone said that to me. And it was one of the sexiest off-beat comments I’ve heard lately.

Yes, an entire tent dedicated to CHEESE.

On Saturday, my Wisconsin Badgers were playing Northern Illinois University at Soldier Field and I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the game and a Badger pre-game tailgate.

The tailgate had beer, brats, sandwiches, cookies, chips and cheese. But, given that I’m from a cheese-fanatic state, a local cheese company had an entire tent dedicated to cheese, separate from the other food and beverage tents.

The minute the woman at check-in told us about it, I was off like a shot. I may be muttered, “I want to go to there,” and then quickly started scanning the crowd, full of red-dressed Badger fans.

Of course, the cheese tent was a little hidden (no doubt to control the crowds) but when I saw it, I had to photograph the awesome-ness of this moment.

If you couldn’t tell, I love cheese. LOVE IT. I’ve been known to demolish a cheese plate at a party with only carnage left behind. It happens.

Here are some photos of this mecca:

Cheese tent, I want to go to there

No surprise, Cheddar was the most popular

And of course, the best way to tailgate is a plate of cheese and a beer, clearly, I took advantage of both.

I love the Midwest

How was your weekend?

7 Comments

10 November 2010

Random non-weekend, pre-trip thoughts

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: apartment, music, Random, sports, television, travel

I love to travel but I get so wound up before I leave that I work myself into a total tizzy, much like I’m doing right now. URGH I hate when I do that!

Anyhow, to help clear my cluttered mind of random stuff I’m thinking about, I put together a lovely bulleted list of things on my mind, some more random than others.

  • How long will it take once I arrive in Mexico to be on the beach with drink in hand? My guess? One hour (at the most)
  • Is it possible to wear leggings as pants all the time and not look silly? I’m willing to try
  • I’m totally obsessed with Boo the dog on Facebook. Seriously, I would steal that dog. I want one just like him (kidding?) The video of his “typical day” makes me scream with cuteness
  • This week’s episode of Glee was so amazing. I’m letting myself download three (or four) songs…or maybe just all of them :)
  • Daylight savings time is bringing me down. I love getting another hour of sleep, but dark at 5 p.m.? Really?
  • Arielle asked me this weekend if everyone in the Midwest is obsessed with football. After seeing the crowds at the bar Sunday, I think she’s right
  • Why is picking paint colors so difficult? I’m so indecisive with what colors to select for my living room/bedroom. I’m thinking off white and light gray but I cannot commit. Blerg
  • I’m pretty much also stalking photos from the Breaking Dawn set in Brazil. I’ve got Twilight fever yet again!
  • I need to get back in for a mani/pedi stat. I did my own last night and it was…well embarrassing
  • I’m dying to try Temptu’s Under Eye Concealer. I have serious under eye circles

Also, THANK YOU everyone for the feedback on the dresses to wear to the wedding. Holy cow, I was truly blown away by the response it got!

The dresses I packed tonight are the Banana Republic purple/black dress, floral dress and pink NY & Co. one. The final pick will be a gametime decision, but I feel good about all of them thanks to you guys! I even laid out jewelry, purses and shoes. I will be glammed up in any of those dresses!

What’s on your mind lately?

18 Comments

10 October 2010

Weekend recap: Farmers market and college football

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, sports, Wisconsin

Happy Sunday everyone! It’s near 80 in Chicago right now and it actually feels like summer…in October. Weird.

Anyhow, this weekend was celebrating two more things I love about fall: college football and farmer’s markets. Sure, the latter is actually more of a summer thing, but for me, it’s more about fall.

I love college football. I don’t get to watch it live or on TV nearly enough so any opportunity I get, I take it. And this weekend, I got to watch my favorite team (the Wisconsin Badgers) play Minnesota in Madison. I LOVE watching games at Camp Randall, even if it’s 80 degrees and I’m sitting in the sun most of the day sweating like a wh*re in heat. Sadly, I only make it up there once a year so I savor it as much as I can.

That includes indulging in some great, beer battered cheese curds (YUM), New Glarus Spotted Cow (awesome beer) and the farmers market around the state capitol.

I suck at going to farmer’s market in Chicago because I am not a weekend morning person. I get up early five days a week, so Saturday/Sunday, I take my time leaving the house. This is why I never make it to the local farmer’s market. But in Madison, I get up early and hit the square before the game, visiting my regular vendors, like this guy:

I love walking around the square, seeing the fresh produce, fruit, flowers and seasons decorations.

And this time, I picked up some stuff I’m wicked excited about, including:

  • Homemade honey and honey shooters (yes, shots of honey)
  • Wisconsin maple syrup lollipops (YES!)
  • Green peppers the size of my head
  • Freshly made kettle corn
  • Honey crisp apples (LOVE these)
  • And this cutie……

Yep, I’m going to try and grow my own basil. I have no idea if it will work but I’ll give it a try!

How was your weekend? What are your favorite things to pick up at the market?

14 Comments

13 June 2010

Weekend recap: Pretty wine labels, spring haircut and Blackhawks parade

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Fashion, Food, Friends, sports

Happy Sunday everyone! Lots to share today and fortunately, I’m not hung over anymore so I can think coherently and upload lots of photos for everyone :)

Spring haircut

I love my long hair but in the summer, it’s kind of  a pain. It morphs into a frizz ball in humidity and feels like an animal laying on my neck/shoulders in the heat.

So when I got my hair cut this weekend, I was bold and went a bit shorter than normal. I do love it but I’m having a hard time adjusting. I just have to keep chanting “it’s only hair, it will grow back…..”

You may not notice a difference but I’m nitpicking on it right now

Pretty wine labels

No joke, when I look for wine, I usually buy what looks the cutest. I know what types of wine I like but when I have to narrow it down, the label can easily sway me.

So to celebrate pretty wine labels, several awesome, hilarious Chicago blogger ladies got together again to indulge in cupcakes, snacks and, well lots of wine. Seriously, lots of wine.

Last year it got pretty of control (in an awesome way) and this year was no different, including wine shots, dancing to 1990s music and screaming along to it. It was epically fun. My modesty will not allow me to post some of the things we talked about (or witty comments I made) but for me, the best part of the night was talking on hostess’ porch with the gals, laughing, screaming, drinking wine and eating custom cupcakes, check these out:

And then it turned into a dance party. I don’t remember a lot from the later parts of the night but I do vaguely remember faux riding a pony to Ginuine, doing the Single Ladies dance and making a horrified face with TC when someone halted the audio on Lady Gaga/Beyonce’s Telephone mid-song.

Oh and I woke up this morning with a massive headache and spent most of the day on the couch or in bed. I am a baller.

Hawks on parade

Finally, in case you didn’t know, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. I’m not a hockey fan but it as really exciting to watch and see the city completely come together and celebrate. And what better way than with beer a ticker tape parade downtown!

Here are a few photos and more are on my Flickr page too but I will just say, it was INSANE. The fans filling downtown and Michigan Avenue was unbelievable. I had Obama rally flashbacks and couldn’t believe how many people were there. Amazing. Another reason why I love this city.

Crowd at 8:30 a.m. (Rally began at this spot at 11:30)

The Cup was in the last bus and behind the cops are PEOPLE following the parade

How was everyone else’s weekend?

29 Comments
« Older Entries