I can’t believe I did this for many reasons… First and foremost, I didn’t even know I knew how to ride a bike, since the last time I was on one I think it had training wheels and I was six. Second, I have had two knee surgeries this year both on the same knee and have been trying to rebuild the muscle and get flexibility back in the joint so my surgeon probably wasn’t very happy with this excursion since I’m still healing. Third, this was another experience involving a helmet and the chance that I would fall off my bike and break something else on my body was pretty high.  However…. It was a BLAST!! My girlfriend Andrea and I went to Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park, and we both rented bikes along with helmets, knee and elbow pads. It was only $27 per person and we were free to stay as long as they were open. The man who helped us, Derrick, was super friendly and gave us some pointers as we were riding around the complex. He kept checking in on us as he knew we were beginners and made us feel totally comfortable. The park has a number of different areas to test your skills in. Andrea and I stayed in the ‘novice’ and ‘beginner’ section and built our confidence there. We did watch in awe of some of the riders in the foam pit where they were doing back flips on their bikes. SO COOL! I can’t believe we did it and lived to tell about it. It is pretty scary when you get a little speed going and are going over ramps and hills and other obstacles. This was a super fun adventure and I am so proud of myself for going outside of my comfort zone and trying something new!

I went to a sports signing event with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew! On Saturday, October 24th Waukesha Sportscards hosted some of the greatest players the Milwaukee Brewers and Braves have ever known. Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount and Hank Aaron were all in attendance. The line to get in wrapped around the block, the air was electric and all of the fans were so excited to meet their sports idols. I have never been to a signing event like this and as many of you know I am not the biggest sports fan in the world, but when these players walked in the room I was waiting in, I got goosebumps, my jaw dropped to the floor and I was in awe of their presence! It was pretty darn cool. I brought my own memorabilia for them to sign, an artist’s print of the last game at Milwaukee County Stadium with Miller Park being built in the background. I only wanted one signature on my print, Robin Yount. You are required to pay for each signature you want and the price depends on the player. Robin enjoyed my print and signed it where I wanted. He was gracious enough to take a photo with me and shook my hand. I was blushing and grinning like a school girl. This was a really unique and enjoyable experience! I highly recommend finding out if your favorite sports idol will be at Waukesha Sportscards in the near future and getting their autograph!

I have found my favorite cold weather beer! Leinenkugel's Cranberry Ginger Shandy... So crisp and delicious with the perfect amount of sweet, tart and a distinct ginger finish. This beer was part of their Shandy Sampler. I highly recommend picking up a pack to enjoy in front of a fall firepit! ​

Because the summers in Wisconsin are oh so short... I decided to board another boat in September and take advantage of the beautiful weather we have been enjoying this year! This time I decided to gather a few friends of mine and we set sail aboard the Dennis Sullivan!

The ship can accommodate up to 50 guests and is simply spectacular. We were allowed to bring on some celebratory champagne and snacks to enjoy during our two hour cruise around Lake Michigan. The crew was very informative and allowed us to help raise the sails if we wanted. The weather could not have been more perfect. There was a nice wind blowing which allowed magnificent views of the gigantic sails and the spectacular lakefront. We had so much fun together! I would highly recommend this adventure for an afternoon date for two or gather up to 50 of your closest friends and make it a party!

Those of you who live in Wisconsin know that summer is short so when you have the opportunity to get out on a boat, take advantage of it!

My August adventure lead me to a very LARGE boat. The Lake Express High Speed Ferry. www.lake-express.com. It was time to sail the local high seas... Otherwise known as Lake Michigan! My boyfriend Dave and I boarded the beautiful Ferry for our 6:00am sail. We also brought the car along as you can park below deck. There were many guests who drove their motorcycles aboard as well. The two and a half hour trip provided some great sight seeing opportunities as well as some much needed hot coffee. We arrived in Muskegon around 8:30am and drove off to explore the great state of Michigan. 

We decided to stay in Grand Rapids and make a weekend road trip out of it, driving back to Milwaukee on Monday afternoon. During our stay in Grand Rapids, we found a number of cool spots to enjoy the local microbrews and wines as well as their food scene. We visited Hop Cat, Stella's, Grand Rapids Downtown Market and my personal favorite shop 'Art of the Table.' 

Michigan has a number of great wineries, breweries, shops and tourist attractions and this trip provided a nice weekend escape to enjoy all of the above.

I rented a 38' sailing yacht! I visited Sea Dog Sailing in Milwaukee and made my reservation for a Sunday sail. The tour lasted about 2 hours and it was INCREDIBLE! I had never been out on a sailing yacht and had no idea how much work is involved. Captain Bob was full of fun facts and information about sailing so we were able to sit back, relax and enjoy the bottle of champagne we brought on board. Because the weather and winds were so perfect, we made it up to Whitefish Bay and back. Captain Bob had already been out on 92 sails this season and he mentioned how happy he was that the conditions were so ideal. Sailing can be a lot of work if the weather isn't helpful! It felt so relaxing to enjoy the sights of the Milwaukee Lakefront, the sounds of the waves and the smell of the fresh lake air. This was a really enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee!

I went on a Segway Tour! My friends Karen, Deb and I discovered 'Milwaukee Lakefront Segway' and booked a 1 ½ hour tour of Milwaukee's gorgeous lakefront.  The tour began with a short video and tutorial of how to safely ride a Segway along with some practice time in a grassy area. We learned the funny, but important phrase 'when in doubt, stick your butt out' which would stop the Segway if you felt as though you were cruising along too fast. Our instructor was really friendly and knowledgeable of all the stops we made along the tour and took a few pics of us while we tried to keep the Segways still for the photos! The June weather could not have been any more perfect as we cruised from each picturesque spot. The Segway was really fun to learn how to ride and control the speed. I felt like a tourist in my own city! I would definitely recommend taking a Segway tour of Milwaukee on a gorgeous summer day!