Coffee Cake & Cherries

Take a look at THIS!

It's a GIANT piece of coffee cake from "Village Cafe" - 

a cute little breakfast spot in Egg Harbor, WI.

They serve it with a STEAK KNIFE!

This flavor just melts in your mouth.

Say hello to "Butter Pecan!!!"

They bake it up in a bread tin - and serve it literally RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN!

It's fresh... and so warm and delicious.

Egg Harbor is located in Door County, Wisconsin.

It's basically, the tip of the state - that juts out into Lake Michigan.

Places such as...

Sister Bay

Sturgeon Bay

Ephraim

and

Fish Creek

... are also housed along the shoreline in Door County.

Some describe it as the "Martha's Vineyard of the Midwest" ...

full of cherry orchards, wineries, blue waters and beaches.

After visiting, I totally agree.

I mean, look how GORGEOUS this place is!

The main reason I went up to Door County this past weekend, was for the

Door County 1/2 Marathon.

My good friends Jon and Aubre ran the entire thing!

(So proud of them!)

After the race, we went to Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant for some brunch.

They are known for their "goats on the roof."

We got Swedish pancakes covered in cherries and whipped cream...

... along with your traditional potatoes, bacon, eggs and toast with lingonberry jam.

Yummmmmmmmmm.

After brunch, we broke out our "Naughty Girl" wine!

It's made by a winery in Green Bay, called "Captain's Walk."

Then, we headed to Fish Creek for some photos...

... and to SHOP!

Fish Creek has some FABULOUS little boutiques and shops.

I had to buy something to bring back home - 

so I grabbed one of my FAVORITE things...

"Red Raspberry Pretzel Dip."

Put some on a pretzel...

so delicious and sweet!

All in all...

It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend - with some of my best friends.

It's a place to literally forget about your worries - and enjoy nature.

I'll be back!

Can't wait :)

Breakfast... for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Monday through Friday,

I am always up and at em' (headed for work) by 12:30 AM.

Our morning show runs from 5-7 AM.

With my crazy work/sleep schedule...

... the one question everyone seems to ask me is, 

"What do you eat? And when do you eat it?"

For starters....

A banana, cereal or granola bar are the "breakfast" of choice around 2:00 AM.

Along with LOTS of coffee!

But, when I get home from work (usually around 10:00 AM), 

I am ready for "lunch" - which is actually... just more breakfast food.

A cinnamon/raisin bagel with cream cheese, apple wedges

 and a drizzle of honey is a GO TO "lunch" item.

So is FRUIT!

I swear... I eat fruit all the time now.

From blueberries, strawberries, oranges...

... and GRAPEFRUIT.

I seriously could eat grapefruit for every single meal.

(Sometimes I do!)

For "dinner" (which is usually around 5:00 PM) 

I have to eat something

LIGHT.

Otherwise, I will toss and turn in bed with a full stomach...

and won't be able to sleep.

So...

I tend to eat lots of veggies...

... or throw a bag of edamame in the microwave. 

Pita chips with humus is always good too.

Or soup!

Soup is always great.

But, like I said before...

GRAPEFRUIT

(with some crackers and pepper-jack cheese)

is a great "dinner" food.

On the weekends... 

 I can "let loose" a little bit - 

and NOT eat breakfast for basically every single meal!

That's when sushi, pizza and cake can come out and play :)

House Crashing - Ben & Jen

Who's excited for more House Crashing?

(Me! Me! Me!)

Today we're checking out the fantastic home of "Ben & Jen"...

(And - NO - not THAT "Ben & Jen.")

THIS "Ben & Jen" bought their ranch-style home in 2009.

It was built in 1952 - just outside of the Cedar Rapids, IA.

It's a 2 Bed/2 Bath, and is about 2300 square feet.

(Check out that HUGE YARD!)

In the summertime...

... and in the wintertime.

The house sits on 2 acres of timber...

... which I'm sure the "smallest" member of the family

just LOVES to explore!

The entire house was gutted down to the studs in 2006 -

and includes exposed beams!!!

(I am such a sucker for those.)

Jen has managed a Pier One for about 7 years now, 

and according to Ben - all the "interior design decisions" are left up to her.

But he, "lives with the idealistic notion that his option matters."

Spoken like one smart guy!

I love how earthy, warm and inviting the house is...

that BIG leather sectional is perfect.

Curious about their furniture?

Most of the pieces are bought from:

Antique Shops

Pier One

West Elm 

Restoration Hardware

There is a hint of PINK in the house.

And...

what little girl wouldn't want this room?

Now...

for the MASTER BEDROOM.

Check out that view!

We have GOT to talk about this amazing bed.

Ben actually BUILT it himself.

He used most of the materials from an old barn that was torn down.

It was made, following the simple instructions from this blog:

"My Family Loves It."

Guess how much it cost to make?

$60 BUCKS!

That's it!

And... it only took him 4 hours to build.

 A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Ben says, "Jen was a bit skeptical at first - in both my woodworking skills,

 and the final outcome of the project."

But, now that it's done - Ben & Jen both agree - the platform bed has

INCREASED their quality of sleep.

I think it's great.

Super jealous.

Makes me want to go out and build a bed.

Also...

I absolutely LOVE the chocolate brown panels they used for a headboard.

(And the curtains... and the big, white comforter.)

Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos of your beautiful home!

Keep up the great work!