Wednesday, July 31, 2013

HELLO 50th and France








After breakfast at the Original Pancake House we drove on over to 50th and France. It is one of the cutest shopping areas I've seen. It's still in Edina so not too far from the Pancake House.

We drove around, went to Anthropologie, Caribou, and a few paper shops; we even drove a little further on France to go to Russel and Hazel, see the original Caribou Coffee, and take photos of HELLO Pizza.

It's just such a cute little area. I would shop there all the time if I lived around Minneapolis.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Alterra now Colectivo

Double post!
Bam. Bam.
I normally only post the usual three times a week, but I think that this news deserves a little posty-post.

If you live in the Milwaukee area you probably heard the crazy news that Alterra changed their name to Colectivo Coffee. If you have been following me for a while you know that Alterra and I have had a rather long love affair so you can only imagine how I was feeling when I found out.

I received the email blast from Pabst this morning and I went through a variety of emotions. 

First I was just livid, then confused, then inquisitive, and then completely content with the change.

The background story:

Over the years Alterra had been approached by multiple companies that wanted to take them to a different level. None of the situations seemed like a good fit until 2010 when MARS approached them with a great opportunity that would ensure Alterra the growth and development that they would not normally see during the tough economic times. Alterra (now Colectivo) agreed to sell the name of the company not the company. After three years they decided to part ways with MARS and are now becoming Colectivo Coffee.

After reading everything that Colectivo has posted I see that this is, in fact, a great move. Colectivo will stay true to it's roots here in Milwaukee, producing great coffee and experiences.

The new name is after the colorful colectivos (buses) that are used all around Latin America. And honestly, after living in Antigua, Guatemala and seeing and riding colectivos everyday I couldn't be happier with the new name.

Change is always a little difficult, but Colectivo, I warmly welcome you. 
Although you never left ;)


For more information about the name change you can visit Colectivo Coffee's website.

And watch this video, dang it!

Panqueques {Spanish for Pancake}

The morning after the Queen B concert after cleaning up camp, famished, obviously, we headed to the only place in Minnesota that could cure our hunger: The Original Pancake House.


I had never been before, but Renée and Ben said it was absolutely necessary that we go.
(That's subjunctive tense, people, you take that seriously.)
(Grammar statement. We don't really have subjunctive in English, but if you speak a foreign language, babe, you're my kindred spirit.)



We went to the Edina location. It's the original one, thus the decore. 


We were all a bit weird because we were extremely hungry.
My hungry face...don't get it confused with my...other faces.


The photo says it all.


R passed the time takin' photos like a true blogger...
or non blogger.
I think she should start one maybe...or do a ghost blog on Lemons???
Any votes?




R and I each got the hash browns and eggs.
Eggs over-easy to drench the browns.
The browns are delicious! Super crispy on the outside and buttery and light on the inside with onion.


I had a side of the banana pancakes. 
I love banana pancakes.
It either stems from Olga, my host mother from Guatemala, she always made me banana-cakes...or Jack Johnson.


Mmmhhmm.


 Benjaminio had the steak and eggs.
He said it was awesome.


B also had the bacon pancakes. 
I think it is safe to say that they were the BEST bacon-cakes we have ever had.
No way was there too much bacon.
Ahem, Renée.


 Based on the last photo I think it's safe to say that this was the best place we could have stopped for breakfast.
Don't you agree?

If you're in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and you're looking for a sure-thing for a great breakfast joint head over to the Original Pancake House. There are two locations and a third one to open soon.

MmmmMmmmm.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Leinenkugel Brewery Tour























The day that we road-tripped up to the Beyoncé Concert was Ben's birthday so whenever he wasn't sleeping in his luxuriously-cozy-backseat-birthday-boy-nap-cave we had him pick out things that he wanted to do from the side of the road. One of those tings was the Leinenkugel Brewery Tour.

It was the best roadtrip pit stop you could have. The tour is a steal. No really, I think we robbed them. The tour is free. You only need to pay $1 for the Leinenkugel glass for your 5 samples.
I know, right! AND you get to keep the glass! 
We are THIEVES.

To get our names on the list we went into the Leinie Lodge and asked the sweet ladies at the desk to sign us up for the tour. They gave us our glass token for the glass and the wrist bands to keep track of the samples.
(Smart, huh? AND we became official taste testers.)

While we waited we had our first sample at the bar. Above the bar is the old copper drum that used to be in the brewery and around the shop you can see bits and pieces that were used when the brewery first opened.

We were taken around on the tour and they showed us the whole brewing process. The brewery is a mixture of new and old. One building was built within the last couple of decades, but the original one was from the late 1800s.

When we came back we toasted to the B-day boy with each sample left. B was very happy with our spontaneous stop.

Good thinking B.

If you're ever in the Chippewa Falls, WI area you should for sure stop at the Leinenkugel's Brewery. You will need about two hours for the sampling and tour, but it's worth it.

More Bey-hive road-trip stories to come next week.
I swear I could celebrate Queen B for Day-Z.
(Did you see what I did there??)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

What we wore...BeyHive {Sister Edition}

















Me: Top and shorts: Target
Wedges: DSW
Hoops: Aldo

R: Top and skirt: Banana Republic (I hope I'm not making this up...)
Shades: Aerie
Wedges: Oldies but goodies (she doesn't remember)
Earrings: Aldo















We had such a great time at the Beyoncé concert. The whole time Renée and I kept saying "she is right there!" We had always heard that she puts on an amazing, high energy performance and she really does! Ben enjoyed it as well (and it was his B'Day...ironic right? (That's the name of her 2006 album)). I would for sure see her perform again and pay to be in the standing room. 

I love Bey.
I have no guilt.

Sidenote: I won a little sidebar widget giveaway from Becky at Loose From the Zoo so I will be featured on the side of her blog for a month! I'm so excited!