As the blogging hiatus comes to an end...

Hello readers and friends.  My apologies for disappearing with no parting words.  This year has really thrown me for a loop.  I needed to take time for me; break away from the blog world for a bit.  After some time, I've decided I'm ready to return.  Be on the lookout in January.  It's a fresh year, and I feel refreshed.  I'm going to redesign and migrate to Wordpress.

Thank you for still reading and supporting me throughout this hiatus.

Food & Beer Friday :: Peachy keen.

This week's feature beer is just perfect for the summer.  I fell in love with Dogfish Head's Festina Peche back in college when D got a case of it for amazingly cheap.  It's characterized as a Berliner Weisse, which is traditionally a beer brewed in Berlin that's typically identified by it's tartness.  We had a Berliner Weisse at our local brewpub recently and they served fruit syrups that you mix it.  Trust me, it sounds weird, but it's great!  Don't be scared off by the term tart; many beginner beer drinkers enjoy this style.

As for Festina, the 4.5% alcohol level makes it really easy to drink.  It's so crisp, bright and delicious.  You can get hints of tartness, but it actually reminded me of this beer I recommended to beginners.  In my opinion, it's the perfect combination of sweet and sour.  While I think this beer is great for sipping at the beach or on the porch after a long day.  As for food, I would go with a light fish.  I'm imagining a fish topped with a mango salsa!

Now, I'm off in DC for a long weekend to celebrate the end of my birthday week!  Head on over and see what Sarah chose to feature this week.  Cheers to the weekend friends!

Do you have a favorite tart beer?  Or can you even tolerate them?

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Wishing for...

I appreciate the kind words from my reappearance to Food & Beer Friday last week.  To be honest, I really haven't felt myself after being injured.  I think a break was good.  I've missed writing.  But that's a discussion for another day.  What's important now is the fact that it's my birthday week!  

I haven't been near as excited this year as I was for last year's birthday week.  It's understandable in the wake of things.  With the way 2013 has been treating me, my expectations to surpass last year's awesomeness are not high.  That's not stopping a girl from dreaming though!

Polite as Fuck tee :: I've had this shirt on my wishlist for a while now.  I don't know why I'm obsessed with it, but I am.

Saltwater sandals :: I don't own any casual colored sandals anymore, and these are perfect for school and going out.  I know they'd pair perfectly with my maxi skirts.  And they're so affordable.  I know I'll be treating myself to a pair if I don't get them.

Kiehls' Body Cleanser ::  After receiving a sample of this in a Birchbox, I became obsessed.  The orange flower & lycee scent is wonderful.  It covers up the chlorine smell if I swim at the gym, and my sister thought I was wearing perfume after I showered with it.  It's definitely pricey for a body wash, but the smell is so worth it.

Camelbak Hydration Pack :: I'm not good at multitasking on my bike, so this is the perfect way for me to hydrate while riding.  If I ever get back to my running ability, I know it'll come in handy on long, summer runs.

Harvey Prince Hello ::  Another Birchbox item that won me over.  I adore this scent and want to wear it all the time.  I'm usually not much for perfume, but since I'm growing up I think it's important for a lady to have a scent she's remembered by.

I'm hoping to be back next week in full force with a Life Lately update and to share how I spent my birthday week!

Food & Beer Friday :: The "I'm Back" Beer.

I'm not much for apologies here on the blog, but it's no secret it's been almost a month since I posted.  Summer has been busy, and I've been loving summer reading more than blogging.  I don't know many who would consider that a bad thing.  Then it happened.  The unexpected death that rocked my world. There's no need for details or emotions right now.  That was three weeks ago and now I'm trying to get back in the game.  For now, on to the beer!

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with farmhouse ales.  I assumed it would be fitting to debut my return with another!  Brewery Ommegang's Hennepin drew me in with it's style.  And let's be honest, the purples on the label didn't hurt.  This beer had a nice dry flavor with very little hops.  While Ommegang describes it as "hoppy and crisp," I would certainly disagree with the hoppy portion.  Crisp is quite the fitting word for this brew though.  At almost 8% alcohol, you likely want to pair one bottle with your dinner.

As for food pairings, the ginger, coriander, and citrus flavors in this beer make it perfect for pairing with your favorite Indian dish!  I didn't pair it with a meal myself, but I think I should have.  This isn't your typical cook-out summer beer.  

Now head on over to Sarah's and check out what she's reviewing this week!  Link up and tell me, what beers are you loving this summer?

Ps. my sincere apologies to those who sponsor/advertise with me.  In the wake of the past few weeks, I've stopped reading blogs, responding to comments, etc. I just took/am still taking a blogging break.  I'll likely start fresh sooner than later.  Until then, please bear with me while I maintain my life, emotions, and sanity.

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Food & Beer Friday :: Summatime.

While I've been enjoying my summer, and mainly my books, I'm sort of taking a blog sabbatical.  And I'm ok with it.  In the meantime, I'm definitely still drinking!  I couldn't pass up sharing a beer from one of my favorite breweries.

You may not remember my affinity for Anchor Steam Beer, but it was one of the first I reviewed.  I picked up Anchor Summer Beer in haste at my bottle shop due to my love for Anchor.  After purchase, I realized it was a wheat beer.  I'm definitely not a fan of wheat beers as they tend to be a little too sweet for my taste.  Believe it or not, I was pleasantly surprised by this brew!  While it's an "unfiltered wheat beer," it only had a slight wheat flavor and was otherwise refreshing.  Anchor says the top-fermenting yeast and malted wheat help give this beer a lighter wheat flavor.  I can't say that this would be a go-to summer beer for me, but it's definitely a good transitional beer if you haven't tried many craft beers.

In my delayed summer fashion, this is the perfect fourth of July beer (along with the perfect 4th outfit).  It's only 4.5% alcohol (so low!) and easy to drink in the heat.  It's available all the way through October though, so enjoy the summer even after it's gone!

Now head on over and check out what Sarah is reviewing this week!  Cheers & here's to hoping I have another awesome beer (and more blog posts) for you next week!  What's your favorite summer beer?

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Life Lately :: Food & drinks.

It's about time I updated with a real life lately post.  Even though I've been busy, I've been trying to document the special moments.  It's been a busy June, but I'm hoping that July will embody a bit more relaxation.

 [We D and his dad installed hardwood floor in our bedroom which mean sleeping in the breakfast room for two days.]

 [Absolutely delicious squash pasta that I'm obsessed with!]

 [Having a long weekend with my sister in town was fabulous.  Snow cones that make your teeth yellow are always a good choice!]

 [After having friends and family stay at our house seemingly non-stop and constantly doing dishes, the sink looks like this when I finally have time alone.]

 [That sink of dishes calls for a special-recipe margarita...or two.]

 [A nightmare of a Friday night of rain, driving, traffic, anxiety, creepy people, and flight delays resulted in a little in-car reading...at least I finished two books in one day.]

[Wish we would have had a little bit longer of a stay at the Nantahala Outdoor Center]

Now for some awesome links...

• Jenni mentioned every single thing that defines happiness for me.  As I grow older, I'm learning that my definition of happiness and success isn't the same as every one else's.  And that's ok.  They can have theirs while I have mine.  Oddly enough Jenni's list is the same as mine.
• This looks like the perfect, refreshing summer cocktail!
• I couldn't agree more with how consistent exercise changes your body image.
• Speaking of body image, it's time to give this advice a try.
• My moral self is ashamed that, as a vegetarian, I hadn't thought more about the purchase and use of leather goods.  
• What a cool company!  I love a good beard (plus there's a giveaway!).
• This gal is really making me want to buy some Saltwater sandals!  Are they as comfy as I hear?
• My goal is to eventually run a race (preferably a marathon) for a cause, and I'm grateful for these tips!
• I'm swooning over this little anniversary celebration!  The picnic had me sold...
• Thrilled to find out about this local NC company that sells cocktail mixers!

Food & Beer Friday :: Another twin.

While I won't apologize for my lack of post last week, I will mention that I had a semi-emergency that involved my sister being in town and lice.  Ew.  Nonetheless, in the midst of a crazy busy and overwhelming week I've definitely been drinking some beers.

I've talked about Evil Twin Brewing before, and I'm a big fan of the company.  For some reason, Falco really stood out to me and I just had to have it.  It's an IPA, and I've mentioned my taste for this style is growing.  Maybe I got ahead of myself; maybe my hopes were too high.  While the beer was well done, it just was not for me.  The hops were some of the most bitter and strong that I could remember tasting.  It was really hard for me to drink the entire bottle on my own.  If you're really into hoppy beers and IPAs, definitely give this beer a try!  If you're an IPA newbie like me, bypass it or take a sip of your partner's!

Since hoppy beers pair well with spicy foods, I had the Falco with my favorite easy salsa and chips!  Now head on over and check out what Sarah has been sipping on this week!  

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Chicago :: The sights v.1

Way back in May, D and I headed out to Chicago for an early summer vacation.  Chicago had been on my bucket list for quite a bit, so I was thrilled to finally visit one of my coveted cities.  We headed out for five nights, and it was the perfect amount of time for exploring Chicago.

We got in late on a Wednesday night and got a hotel accessible to downtown Chicago.

The Palmer House Hilton is absolutely stunning.  It's old, and I won't bore you with the history of it.  It was right down the street from awesome restaurants and sites in Chicago.

We were only blocks from this gorgeous view.  It was a dreary, foggy, and chilly first day.  We ate breakfast nearby then decided to check out the Bean while we were in the vicinity.

Millennium Park was two blocks from our hotel.  While I wish it would have been a bit warmer to really enjoy and explore, it held the crowds off.

We hadn't heard of the Crown Fountain at the park prior to visiting.  I'm so glad we got to see it, but it's certainly...interesting.

LEDs illuminate videos on the the 50 foot tall granite towers with water running through them from May to October.  My understanding is that the videos change.  You could see scenery or pictures of Chicago locals!  That's an amazing way to display art.

After checking out our apartment we rented through Airbnb, we headed back downtown to the Bank of America Theatre to see The Book of Mormon. 

Seriously, the best of times.  D and I had access to a full bar (free drinks!) with apps and desserts before and during the show.  I'd go so far as to say this highly increased our love for the show, but it's definitely a must see!

Also, congrats to Shelley on winning the Esprit de She giveaway!  Please contact me via email by Wednesday!