It's been a whirlwind few months and I apologize for my blog getting put on the back burner.

I literally just got home from an AMAZING trip to Disneyworld - my very first trip to Disney EVER! I did shed some tears when it was time to go home... it truly was magical and I can't wait to go back! There was still so much left to do and see, food to eat, and places to stay. I will greatly miss the warm Florida sunshine too!

Here is my Top 10 list of things EVERYONE should do at Walt Disney World - please be sure to add your favorites in the comments below!

7. Go "underwater" without getting your hair wet for the "Under the Sea" ride with Ariel's crew in Magic Kingdom... as well as "Turtle Talk with Crush" at Epcot (I am still trying to figure out how they do it, dude!)

5. Explore "Living with the Land" at Epcot and see some awesome techniques they are experimenting with to grow food in some crazy ways - many are harvested to be served in the Disney restaurants around the parks!

4. Eat and drink your way around the World Showcase at Epcot. (We had a fabulous "dinner & show" at the Teppan Edo hibachi restaurant - so fun and delicious!) !The park was beautifully adorned with the flowers and topiaries of the International Flower & Garden Festival during my visit (early May 2015), which added some extra vibrant pixie dust and fragrance. Be sure to stop by The Kunstarbeit In Kristall in Germany for your sparkly crystal tiaras and beer stein souvenirs - they'll even ship your fragile items home for a very reasonable flat fee.

3. See "Finding Nemo - The Musical" at Animal Kingdom - this colorful performance is entertaining and breath-taking for the whole family!

1. Get to Magic Kingdom before 8:30pm and park yourself in front of Cinderella Castle to get a prime seat along the parade route edges (score a FastPass+ preferred seating area if you can!) for the evening's Mickey's Electrical Parade and Wishes fireworks show! 


Not a night owl? During the day, around mid-afternoon, you can also find a spot along the "Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party" parade route through Adventureland and Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. The "Fantasmic" show at Hollywood Studios is also a great lights, water, and fireworks show for later evening entertainment!)

Again, this was my very first visit and there are still many things on my list for the next time... open to suggestions from others on what they love too! (Also note that my stomach doesn't handle rollercoaster style rides, so I did only the "Any Height" rides!)

In the expansive state of Texas, getting between points A and B is typically measured by time, not distance. This seems quite fitting for the great airport concept that I recently discovered, aptly named Minute Suites®: The Traveler's Retreat.

Last winter, I would have wholeheartedly taken advantage of this service on an overnight layover in Dallas. I flew into the airport around 10pm, but my morning flight wasn't until 6am. I wasn't sure I wanted to sleep in the airport, knowing I wouldn't rest well with the anxiety of keeping my bags safe and secure. So I booked a hotel night stay nearby. Standing outside in the cold, I waited almost an hour for my shuttle bus to the hotel and once I arrived, I realized that my shuttle back to the airport would be at 3am... I only had 4 hours to rest and freshen up! I was afraid of oversleeping so I slept lightly for about 2 hours before giving up and got ready for the day ahead. It was a total waste of time and money.

Have you dealt with a similar travel scenario? Minute Suites® offers the perfect solution!

Launched in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) in 2009 with 5 suites, the concept spread to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in 2011 with 13 suites, and then to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in 2013 with 10 suites, 2 shower facilities, and on-site laundry. All Minute Suites® locations are within the airports, past TSA security. Because these were the airports I flew in and out of for my recent southern road trip, I had the pleasure of touring both their facilities in both Dallas and Atlanta.

Based on the importance of naps, specifically in an airport setting, Minute Suites was founded to provide a place for weary travelers to recharge during hectic travel schedules. Grab a copy of "Take a Nap! Change a Life" from the front reception area or take advantage of their Nap26 program - a soundbeat technology developed by NASA to help you get the equivalent of 3 hours' worth of restful sleep in just 26 minutes. (This use of this CD is complimentary with your Minute Suites stay.)

In the bustling international Terminal D of the Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport (DFW), near Gate D23, you can find a private space to relax, rest, and rejuvenate. Whether you stay for an hour or overnight, you will find these cozy soundproof Suites offer a peaceful oasis dedicated to making you comfortable.

With themed names to fit each location - such as Alamo, Lonestar, Rodeo, and Cowboy - each Suite comes with a comfortable sofa daybed, as well as a pull-out trundle bed to allow for a second guest. Pillows and luxuriously soft blankets are provided (these are sanitized between each guest's stay). You can shut and lock your Suite door, instantly surrounded by beautiful silence. Even in the Suite closest to the main terminal corridor, you can't hear anything going on outside your door. There are controls for lights, temperature, and white noise that your friendly guest attendant can help you set to fit your personal comfort level.

On one wall of the Suite is a large-screen monitor and small desk and chair. Check your flight status, send a few emails, relax with a Netflix movie, or print off notes for your upcoming meeting. 

(Netflix and WiFi are complimentary at all Minute Suites locations. There is a small fee for printing, though you can get up to 3 free pages with a Suite rental - ask your guest attendant for details.)

Some business travelers rent a Suite for an hour or two so they can have a quiet place to conduct business calls. No one likes to deal with the loud hum of chatter in an airport's gate waiting area, especially when discussing confidential or private matters.

Looking to freshen up? Two spacious spa-like bathrooms with accessible shower facilities are available to rent in 30-minute increments at the Dallas location. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, fresh towels, and hairdryer are provided for guests. One of the bathrooms is adjacent to the large Alamo Suite and the two rooms can be rented together for families to utilize the full facilities.

When you take a break at Minute Suites®, you can schedule a personal "wake up knock" from the guest attendant or set the alarm clock, so you do not have to worry about oversleeping and missing your next flight.

The majority of staff employed by Minutes Suites® are local college students pursuing hospitality and management degrees. Nick Lutringer, the general manager at the Dallas location, has a hospitality management degree and Heaven Marshall, the supervisor at the Atlanta location, is a recent graduate from Georgia State University. Both are eager to welcome new and returning guests for their stay at Minute Suites®. Thank you for providing such wonderful southern hospitality, Nick and Heaven!

The five Suites at the Atlanta location can be found near Gate B15. 

This original Minute Suites® location offers a large selection of travel amenities, sleep aids and other over-the-counter medications to help make your airport stay more comfortable.

The largest Minute Suites® location can be found in Philadelphia's Terminal A-B Link and offers 13 suites and 2 workstation cubicles for rent.

The company plans to expand to 5 more airports in the next year - watch for a Minute Suites® the next time you have a layover at the airport!

Austin greeted us with a warm, sunny, 70-degree January weekend - quite different from the cold and snow that we left at home in Milwaukee. It's amazing what some sunshine can do to transform a person's mood and soul!

FULL DISCLOSURE: Admittedly, I have always had a "thing" for Capitol buildings. I grew up in Madison WI, which boasts a beautiful replica of the nation's Capitol in DC. (Fun fact: It is ALMOST as large, with each wing just 1" shorter than the original!) As an impressionable 3rd grader, touring that grandiose building hits you straight in the heart, as you gaze up at the dome in awe. My love only grew when I came back to Madison for college a decade later, where the campus is nestled in the shadow of the Capitol Square. I even took a shortcut through the gorgeous building every day when my senior internship and apartment were on direct opposite corners of the Square.

Texas is one of the more impressive Capitol buildings I have visited - I would rank it in my Top 5 (I've seen a lot!) Wandering the grounds, you will find gorgeous sculptures, including a miniature Statue of Liberty, a below-ground plaza, as well as dedications to the Pioneer Woman and Pearl Harbor survivors.

Inside, Texas dresses to impress. From doorknobs to hinges, from the mosaic tile floors to the star in the top of the dome, there are so many great details to admire as you wander the halls. 

Austin offers a laid-back buzz of energy for locals and tourists alike. On the glorious Sunday afternoon we spent in town, everyone and their dogs hit the park - Zilker Park, to be exact. Trails meander between the large open green space and the Colorado River, welcoming walkers, runners, dogs, bikes, and more. Kayaks float alongside ducks and turtles, while heron and double-crested cormorants watch from the shores. The Zilker Zephyr, a miniature green train transports excited families around the park's perimeter, slowing down as it goes under the Barton Springs bridge. Kids of all ages played games, while some couples relaxed on blankets with their books. Dogs ran around and happily played fetch. All with a fantastic view of the downtown Austin skyline. 

Another spot for a little workout and great views is Covert Park at Mount Bonnell. Take advantage of the natural stairs from the lower entrance and climb up to the summit. From the edge of the path, there are many open spots to look out over the Colorado River and the expensive homes with manicured lawns along its banks below. Just stay behind the barriers - it's a long way down!

 There's a platform at the top where you can see the skyline of downtown Austin to the left and the river to the right. Take the stairs down from this end of the trail to the parking area below, a quicker route than the way up. 

Nestled on the main drag of N Lamar Blvd, tucked in the corner of an old strip mall, next to a dry cleaner and behind a clothing store – Wink was surprisingly packed from the time we stepped inside at 8:45pm until we walked out just before 11pm. Extremely small and cozy, with a smattering of tables huddled together, the peach-colored space glowed with lively chatter and candlelight. Clad in plaid shirt and jeans, a very friendly young man named Alex greeted us each with a strong handshake, asked each of our names, and showed us to a table in the back corner.

Our waitress immediately brought out an amuse bouche for each of us – a tiny garlic tart for the gluten-eater and for me, a tasting spoon with small shoestring-cut cucumbers and a spicy pepper sauce to give it a strong kick. She quickly noted that she was also personally gluten free and that put me at ease... until she accidentally brought out regular rolls for me. Because it looked just like the other rolls around us, I double-checked with her (thankfully before taking a bite), and she immediately apologized and cleared off any plate or silverware that it had touched… the gluten-eater happily ate the gluten-filled roll for me, generously slathering up both rolls with fresh butter. While the moment of forgetfulness did make me a little uneasy for the rest of the meal to follow, she did restore my confidence with each plate served after that and noted how they made it gluten-free if any modifications needed to be made to it.

The hamachi poke came out first – a small “cake” comprised of chunks of bonito (sushi-grade fish) and avocado, covered in sesame seeds and a flourish of vinaigrette and greens on top (hold the wonton for gluten-free modifications). The light, fresh flavors of the cake fit the mood of the day and its delightful warm sunny weather – refreshingly reminiscent of late spring days, here in the midst of winter.

Foie gras taco, anyone? Yes, one of the best food ideas ever imagined! I have yet to meet a foie gras I did not like, but this foie gras tostada plate takes the cake! I would have gladly ordered another round of the buttery-rich seared foie gras, atop a corn tostada and surrounded with bright red tomatoes, lettuce, and queso fresco.... for dessert... or breakfast... or any reason, at any time!

For the main entree, my antelope was served with celeriac and mushrooms – a robust blend of spices gave it an hearty winter flavor, yet it was light enough to enjoy on a beautiful spring day.

The duck breast entree was delightfully paired with a cake of sweet potato slices (that added a hint of cinnamon to the dish), cabbage, and mushrooms - a melt-in-your-mouth, flavorful, decadent blend of flavors that was seasoned to perfection.

After missing breakfast to do a plantation tour in the morning, we were pretty hungry by lunchtime. Rolling into New Orleans, we headed for one of the first places that got good ratings - the Palace Cafe - after parking our rental car with a valet lot nearby. The weather was gorgeous - sunny and 70s - and sunshine kissed our cheeks as we selected a table outside along the sidewalk. Our waiter served us drinks - a Pimm's Cup cocktail and lemonade for me - and took our order.

My travel partner got the duck and alligator gumbo (I couldn't try it because it was NOT gluten free.) it was a rich stew of flavors with lots of chunks of meat and vegetables that had been braised all day.

I enjoyed a refreshing shrimp salad – several large grilled and marinated shrimp atop a bed of oranges, grapefruit, eggs, tomatoes, green onions, and chopped lettuce tossed in lemon vinaigrette. It was an excellent feast to fill my growling belly, while not being too heavy to walk around the French Quarter. 

The sunshine peeking through the high rises, a saxophone player serenading us from around the corner, streetcars rolling by, businessmen chatting over lunch, tourists and locals wandering down the street... an overall delightful moment to sit back, relax, and take it all in on a beautiful day. I can't get over the fact that it's the end of January and yet I am transported to a summer day. I may not go home to the snow and cold.

A smattering of picnic tables and blankets are spread out around the truck on the hillside, so you can relax while you eat your meal, if you have time to stick around. (Everything comes in compostable “to go” packaging if you need to eat on the run instead.) A small basin out front houses fresh herbs and inside they brew up a variety of butter coffee with ghee and protein powder. All meal options except for the soup – today’s flavor was tomato basil – are served cold and you can eat them chilled or heat them up yourself; I promise they’re good either way. 

We grabbed the carnitas on almond flour tortillas and the avocado BLT sandwich on almond- and coconut-flour bread from the cooler case and checked out before settling into a comfy spot on a picnic blanket. Sitting under their awning on a sunny day was the perfect way to enjoy a small meal before our trip out of town commenced. The bread for the BLT was hearty and sweet – a great blend with the fresh veggies and thick bacon. The tortillas were a bit crumbly (it’s to be expected with many gluten-free tortillas) but a little bit of the avocado spread held it together nicely – the flavor was pretty mild with fresh cilantro and sweet onions. Aaaah, it floated me away to memories of eating out on the patio on a nice summer day... 

When the Packers were playing on Sunday night, I knew that finding options for dinner out that night would mean going to a place that had televisions. After going past several local haunts, my suspicions were confirmed - many were closed due to anticipation of EVERYONE being glued to the TV.

I'll admit I'm a happy Bears fan in Cheesehead Country with the resulting peace and quiet after a nail-biter of a game. But hey, it was my 35th birthday and I wanted to go out for dinner and the football game wasn't going to stop me!

One of my favorite go-to restaurants in Milwaukee is Maxie's Southern Comfort, which is "open every single day at 4pm" (except for major holidays). And yes, they have televisions, so they were open on this night when Milwaukee had become a ghost town.

We bellied up to the bar and were immediately greeted by Sam, our friendly bar-keep. The staff is always smiling here, an extra dose of that southern hospitality that Maxie's brings to the Midwest.

The menu is full of mouth-watering Creole and Cajun inspired specialities. My entree of choice is usually the NC pulled pork, with a heaping mound of creamy slaw (in my gluten-free situation, because their fries don't have a dedicated fryer, hold the rough-cut fries...) 

But tonight I was in a saucy mood and selected the half-rack of St Louis spare ribs, with a thick layer of Kansas City-style tangy BBQ sauce slathered over the fall-off-the-bone meat. 

I substituted grits for the fries and beans and was not disappointed. Their grits are super thick and creamy, the perfect compliment to sooth the bite of the sauce. And don't forget the corn-arugula salad - one recipe that I'm still trying to replicate! The fresh taste makes me instantly slip into memories of lazy summer nights, when we can eat dinner along the front sidewalk and suck down Happy Hour oysters and drink specials. Until then, there's plenty of cocktails to keep us warm while we wait out the rest of these winter months.

Head down to Maxie's and... "Get some South in yo' Mouth"!
~Kati

A lot of families head to Wisconsin Dells in the summer to splash around at the waterparks, play mini golf, ride some rollercoasters, and just enjoy the sunshine while it graces Wisconsin for a few short months!

What happens when the day of your long-planned family fun finally arrives... and it's 50 degrees outside... or raining? Avoid being cooped up in a hotel room with grumpy kids or turning around to make the long drive back home - there's a hidden gem just down the road in a little town called Rock Springs.

That's how we stumbled upon the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center a few summers ago. It ended up being a fantastic turnaround to what could have been a miserable day.

We checked in at the little booth and it was fairly quiet, so we ended up getting a personal tour with Jenny, one of the owners. They had just moved Daytona, a 3-month-old tiger cub, outside from living in their house and she was quite the entertainer. I would have loved to jump in her cage and snuggle her but she probably already outweighed me - and those claws still looked pretty long and sharp!

Jenny introduced us to each and every one of the dozens of big cats that live in the rescue. Many cats enjoy the luxury of their own personal sanctuary, some share a space. Every pen is huge, filled with toys and things to climb on, and surrounded by extremely tall metal fences. If one of the large felines decides to be "friendly" and come up to the fence, you are literally standing within 6 feet of them... absolutely amazing! (Just a helpful note that we learned: If a big cat starts to turn and lift their tail or leg... be sure you run the opposite direction as fast as you can, so you don't get sprayed!) 

And when that mighty king lets out a roar, it shakes you to the core!

We had noticed a "menu" of treats you could purchase for the cats when we checked in. The option of a whole chicken stood out and we went ahead and got one for a beautiful white tiger named Isis. One of the staff - usually Jeff, another owner - will lure the cat into a small house at the back of their fenced area and lock it up temporarily, so he can go into the cat's pen and leave the gift for the cat to find... in this case, an entire chicken, frozen solid! The cat paces excitedly, waiting to be released (once the staff member has safely exited the pen) and then it is on the prowl to hunt its prey as soon as the door is opened! Be sure to have your camera ready to go - they have such an amazing sense of smell... that chicken was found and fully devoured in under two minutes flat! 

Each cat has a story - some have been rescued from zoos that closed or bad circus environments, others were illegal "pets" that the owners could no longer handle.

The rescue runs entirely on donations and sponsorships; none of their funds come from government support. Right now they are in the process of building a new Vet & Educational Center on the property, so they can take care of surgeries and routine care onsite. The cost to erect the building itself was covered by a foundation in Minnesota, but the rescue still need funds to complete the project. Consider making a donation - click here! As their site says, "Your donation makes a roaring difference!" Thank you!


*Wisconsin Big Cats Rescue & Educational Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Growing up, I would have never touched sushi with a 10-foot pole. But my boyfriend made me try it (reluctantly) several years ago and now I can't get enough of it! Even in the dead of winter, I regularly crave the sticky rice and fillings of a good roll. Luckily, my best friend is also a fan, so we meet up about once a month to catch up on what's going on in each other's lives and enjoy lunch together. 

Screaming Tuna is regularly voted one of the best places in Milwaukee for sushi and they have a fantastic lunch rolls special. The restaurant sits in a great spot at the juncture of the Menomonee and Milwaukee Rivers, facing north toward the high-rises of downtown Milwaukee. During warmer months, you can sit on the outdoor patio and watch several bridges go up as boats meander the waterways. Though the restaurant boasts a fun and trendy decor, they are very strict in their commitment to using only sustainable seafood and keeping the oceans full of healthy creatures. They are one of a few Midwest restaurants - the first and only in Wisconsin - that have partnered with the Montgomery Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.

BONUS: Many of their rolls and other entree options are gluten free, which is often hard to find. (They do offer gluten-free soy sauce there but I tend to bring my own bottle of coconut aminos, a lovely substitute that my best friend also introduced me to a few years ago!)


DOUBLE BONUS: They have a punch card program! When you dine in for lunch, get a punch... get 6 punches, get a free lunch! (This really does NOT help the sushi cravings go away!)

The friendly staff starts you off with a piping hot bowl of miso soup. They stopped putting soy sauce in it a few years ago, so it's a true treat to warm up on a cold January day with a bowl of tofu, seaweed, and mushrooms mingling in hot broth. 

My favorite rolls are sweet and simple - tekka maki (tuna), sake maki (salmon), and the Philly (smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallions, rolled in sesame seeds), which I also have them add avocado into the mix. Hold the ginger and wasabi... still haven't quite acquired a taste for these yet. 

My friend is a big fan of the vegetarian AKA (avocado, cucumber, asparagus) and the Wasabi Tuna (tuna, avocado, tobiko, wasabi mayo) even though the wasabi normally has her tearing up within a few bites. She says it's good for clearing out her sinuses; I say she's a glutton for punishment.

So far in my travels, the only sushi that I've loved even more than Screaming Tuna is a little place on the Big Island of Hawaii - Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar - where they literally pulled the fish out of the Pacific Ocean (a stone's throw away), fresh that day.

Cheers and may your sushi never smell fishy,
~Kati

FREE. That is always a great way to get someone's attention! 

I love that the Milwaukee metro area boasts some great farmer's markets in the summer... but when they all combine and move inside for the winter months, it's like a farmer's market on steroids! (Though the Dane County Farmer's Market during the summer around the Capitol Square in Madison WI still has the #1 spot in my heart!) 

EVERYONE can enjoy FREE parking and FREE admission to the Mitchell Park Domes from 9am-1pm on Saturday mornings (November to mid-April, excluding holidays) to attend the Milwaukee County Winter Farmer's Market, which is spread out through the main corridors and inside one of the domes! 

This is a great time for families - and anyone else - to get out of the house, shake off some cabin fever, and take a lovely stroll through the gardens without having to be bundled up in bulky winter gear. 

And while you're there, pick out some fresh produce, honey, soups, baked goods, cheeses, meats, elk antlers for your dogs... and more!