Yes/No Detroit

This past week had a LOT of stuff going on—I got back from my Vegas work trip last night, and I lost my voice on Tuesday somehow, so I am going to see the doctor today and probably only working a half day (and then Monday is Memorial Day, thankfully). World of Beer festival, Frankenmuth, MI What I've been up to this week: World of Beer festival, in Frankenmuth. My mother-in-law came to town last Friday, because of my work trip on Monday, but we asked her to come in a little early so we could go to the beer festival in Frankenmuth—we had gone in 2022 and 2023, and it was a good time. Your admission fee ($30-ish) gets you this tiny souvenir mug, pictured above, plus six pours, and you can buy three more tickets for $5 on site. They had a lot more vendors, including artisans, this year, and I bought a funny plaque that says "Welcome to the bathroom - a cat will be with you shortly" (we have two cats), which is now hung in our bathroom, haha. The festival also has food trucks...

The past week was pretty busy, because my husband and Baby K and I went to Indiana on Thursday, and then he and I were in Louisville from Friday through Monday with my sister-in-law (Baby K stayed with my in-laws).  Boudin balls at North of Bourbon, Louisville What I've been up to this week: Having good food . We kicked off the trip with dinner at North of Bourbon, one of my favorites—this is my third trip to Louisville (Nov. 2024 and Dec. 2025 were the others) and it's a very tasty restaurant. We always get the boudin balls (with pork, see pic above) and this time I split the chicken gumbo and a mushroom risotto-type dish with my SIL.  On Saturday, we ended up going to a food hall close to Rabbit Hole distillery (more on that below), and had some tapas-type items, like empanadas, which was good, and we also had really good charcuterie at the Garden and Gun Club, at Stitzel-Weller (see below) plus had good Italian food at Volare, which we had been to last December. On Sunday, ...

I was in Orlando from Sunday through Wednesday this week for work, and even though it was hot (about 87-89 degrees daily), it was nice to attend my conference and also get some consecutive sleep. Peeps bracelet from Alex and Ani What I've been up to this week: Work trip to Orlando . The last time I had been to Orlando was January 2018, when a friend and I hit up Disney World for two or three days, I believe, and Universal Studios for two days. I didn't have any theme park time this trip, unfortunately, but my conference (a candy one) was a lot of fun and I also squeezed in about an hour at the hotel's pool and waterslide area (see pic below).  Eating out and getting delivery . The day before I went on my trip, we got Pink Garlic via Doordash, which was tasty. The Sunday I arrived, I didn't get into my hotel room until 2pm or so, and my Uber had passed a Zaxby's on the way there—I have only had them once, so I got it via Doordash for lunch, plus I always get almond m...

And just like that, it's the end of February—to me, it kind of feels like January went by super slowly, and February went by super fast, for some reason. Sangria at Sedona Taphouse, Novi What I've been up to this week: Getting delivery/eating out . Last Saturday I actually got to go out to eat! Rare nowadays with a baby. I met a friend at Sedona Taphouse, in Novi—I used to go to the Troy one a lot for their happy hour, but have only been to Novi a few times. It's a little bit pricey but everything was good—I had the sangria (pictured above) and chicken marsala, and my friend had a cocktail and their gluten-free flatbread.  I also had a free birthday coupon for Crumbl, so I stopped by and got a S'mores cookie and also bought one of their Nutella ones; I liked both, but the S'mores was better IMO. On Sunday night, we got La Marsa via Dorodash, which is always tasty. On Sunday, we got takeout from Green Lantern, since I had a free cheesy bread coupon; their pizza is al...

This week went by fast, because I was in Dallas from Sunday through Wednesday for work. Not much going on this weekend except I am meeting a friend for lunch, which I'm looking forward to. Sign at the Hyatt Regency DFW, where I stayed What I've been up to this week: Work trip to Dallas . Both the conference and my accommodations were at the Hyatt Regency DFW, so I only got to leave the airport once (more on that below). I originally had an 8:30am flight that Sunday, and I got to the airport around 6:30am ... I was in line around 6:45 waiting to check my bag when I got a text saying the flight was CANCELLED, and they had rebooked me on a 9pm flight, getting in at 11pm. Kind of a problem when my meetings started at 8am the next day. I ended up rebooking and taking a 10:30am flight to Atlanta, then 4pm to DFW (Dallas Fort Worth airport) from there, but because of that I missed the Retail Rodeo, which would have had me going to a few grocery stores in the Dallas area. Thankfully on...

It's Friday the 13th, and I'm working till around 2pm today (I have a doctor appt. at 2:30pm) and then I'm off to Dallas for work on Sunday. Phantom of the Opera, Detroit Opera House What I've been up to this week: Phantom of the Opera  at the Detroit Opera House. Phantom is one of my two favorite musicals (the other being Waitress ) so I was super excited for this one. My friend who was supposed to babysit unfortunately texted me a few days before saying she was sick, but thankfully my parents were able to pinch-hit as babysitters. They've revamped the special effects a bit this time and the musical was REALLY good— it'll be at the Opera House until February 15th , and I highly recommend it. Getting takeout/delivery . We only had a short time window before Phantom on Friday, so I picked up Potbelly for us—after ordering from them the week before, they had given me a free sandwich deal in the app. On Sunday I was supposed to have lunch with a friend but I was fe...

Cancel everything, because it's like zero degrees outside (windchill feel of -15 ...) today and also, our baby is sick, so we are keeping her home from daycare for a few days. Bunny I saw outside What I've been up to this week: Getting takeout/delivery . A lot this week—we got Mamaeatz via Doordash on Friday night (a place that does Indian sandwiches—and they have a four for $25 deal which is pretty good), some friends brought over Jersey Mike's on Saturday for lunch, and on Saturday for dinner we got Big Dip Burgers via DD. On Sunday, my husband had to go out for an errand so he got us The Great Greek gyros (BOGO deal), and on Monday, he brought back Culver's.  Hanging out with friends . Rare these days! On Saturday, two friends and their 3-year-old daughter came over to meet Baby K for the first time, and they brought Jersey Mike's (as mentioned above), which was tasty. They stayed for a few hours and it was nice to see friends, as I don't get to do as much of...

Well, December flew by—I wasn't able to do a Friday Five last week because I was in Indiana for the holiday and didn't schedule a post—and now it's January, aka my birthday month! I feel like August through December 2025 went by fast (I wonder why, haha ...) and it's hard to believe our baby will be five months this month, too (on my birthday, actually; she and I share the same day of the month for our birthdays, which is fun).  Baby K on her new Lovevery play gym What I've been up to these (past two) weeks: Visiting Indiana for Christmas. This was our second time to Indiana in the past month—the first time was because we left Baby K with my in-laws to travel with friends to Louisville . Baby K thankfully does pretty well in the car, but the first time we drove there, we stopped at Culver's midway to eat; this time, we did it pretty much nonstop except for 1-2 breaks for me to use the bathroom and also pump in the car. Indiana was a lot of fun and I also got to ...

I'll probably include some stuff in this Friday Five that happened in the past 1.5-2 weeks, since I wasn't able to do one last week. It's been a busy month and I can't believe it's already Dec. 19th! Cornbread at North of Bourbon, Louisville What I've been up to these (past two) weeks: Traveling to Louisville with friends. My husband and I took Baby K on her first road trip a week from last Thursday, and she stayed with my in-laws while we vacationed to Louisville with friends. We had done this trip with the same friends last year, too, and it's always a good time visiting distilleries and having some tasty meals and treats, like the cornbread dish pictured above.  First road trip with Baby K. As I mentioned above, we drove to Indiana (four hours without stops, about 4.5-5 hours with) that Thursday, and then my husband and I left for Louisville Friday, and returned Monday; we left Indiana for Michigan that Tuesday. This was my first time leaving Baby K since...

Apologies for no Friday Five the past two weeks, but I'm back at it today, even though I have to leave soon for an equipment supplier visit for work, in Shelby Twp. (a 45- to 55-min. drive). Two weeks ago I was in Rhode Island, so I had planned on not doing a Friday Five, but last week was 4th of July and I completely forgot. (oops) East Matunuck State Beach, RI What I've been up to *the past two* weeks: Visiting Rhode Island . My parents, husband, and I went because my cousin was getting married, but it was also an excuse to visit family. We arrived on a Tuesday and we were there until Sunday, with the wedding being that Saturday night and the welcome party being the night before, on Friday. It was a good visit: I got to see like 99% of my Rhode Island family, which is rare (most were at the wedding/welcome party) and we also drove to Massachusetts one day to see that side of the family (my mom's brother, aka my uncle, and my aunt and cousins and their kids). I didn't ...

I am guessing I am probably not the only one in Southeast Michigan who is tired today: tornado sirens went off around 12:15am last night, then abruptly stopped 5-10 minutes later. In addition, our power went out for maybe an hour or so. I just got back from my work trip last night so today will be a busy work day, as well.  Mascots at the Expo What I've been up to this week: Traveling to Indianapolis for Sweets & Snacks Expo . This was the big thing this week, my work trip, since I was there Monday afternoon through Thursday afternoon. I attended the Sweets & Snack Expo, one of the biggest snack/candy industry conferences in the U.S., from Tuesday morning through Thursday early afternoon. This was my third time at the Expo, and it used to be in Chicago; now their schedule is every two years in Indy, and every third in Vegas, so next year it'll be in Vegas. I prefer it being in Indy vs. Chicago because it's a lot more walkable (it was at McCormick Place, so if you we...

This my one technically "free" weekend before I head to Indianapolis for Sweets & Snacks on Monday—by "free" I mean I have my Crohn's infusion tomorrow, and will see my parents and pack for Indy, but it's not a traveling weekend like the last two. I will also work a half day on Monday before heading to DTW. Blue Apron pesto rigatoni with peppers and ricotta What I've been up to this week: Traveling to Cincinnati . As I mentioned in last week's Friday Five, I believe, we drove down to Cincinnati on Friday and came back Sunday, for a friend's dad's memorial on Saturday. We got to hang out with said friend and other friends that came down for it, too, which was nice. On Sunday, we headed to Jungle Jim's, one of my favorite grocery stores (it's like Costco meets Epcot, is how I usually describe it) to buy some tasty cheeses and other things (we definitely brought a cooler with ice for that!), they have a massively huge store with groc...

Another busy week, and today I'm working in the office (about a 30-minute drive, including parking in the parking structure in Birmingham) so I have to crank this week's post out quickly. The weekend is shaping up to be a bit busy too, including a Ford House tour; I've never been, so I'm interested in seeing it. Steak board! At WL Socialhouse, Kzoo What I've been up to this week: Cooking . We finished up a Blue Apron box from last week and we had Green Chef this week. Green Chef used to be one of my top favorites, but it was a bit expensive; I got this box for $32 or so, which isn't bad, but I do feel like they're a little more limited now in meal choices compared to their sister companies, Hello Fresh and EveryPlate. Last night we cooked an Asian peanut chicken and udon noodles meal, and sometime this weekend we still have chicken tacos to cook.  Friends get-together . On Saturday night, we headed to South Lyon to hang out with some friends, one of whom is...

I spent the first half of this week in lovely Miami for work, where it was nice and warm (except for one day where it DOWNPOURED on me as I walked back to my hotel from the conference hotel ...). Looking forward to relaxing a bit this weekend, except I have my Crohn's infusion tomorrow so I have to be up early-ish for that. Chai-spiced macaron (left) and delicious Reese's tart What I've been up to this week: Traveling to Miami for work . I had a very early flight on Sunday, at 7am (had to get up at 3:30am and be in a Lyft by 4:30am...) because the other choice was 2pm, and the conference kicked off around 5:30pm. I stayed at the Residence Inn Aventura Mall, which is where I stayed last year as well—the conference was at the JW Marriott resort across the street, so it's a quick walk. The conference was mostly Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday I flew home. Dining out/getting takeout.  On Friday, I went to go check on my condo and then I got Pink Garlic takeout for my...

This week has felt long even though it's only been two work days for me—I was in Chicago from Sunday through Wednesday for a work trip. Looking forward to sleeping in a bit this weekend. View of Navy Pier from the Sheraton Grand hotel, Chicago What I've been up to this week: Traveling for work . I had a three-night stay at the Sheraton Grand, in Chicago—this was actually my third time staying there, the first was for a blogger conference, BlogHer, in 2013, and the second was for this same work conference in August 2023. The hotel is very nice, I was a tiny bit disappointed because last time I had a ridiculously large room (it had three windows!) and this time I had a standard one, but I still had a nice view of Lake Michigan and the river from it. I was there for a candy conference that's basically like speed-dating—I had about 11-12 appointments on Monday and Tuesday with companies, and three on Wednesday before I left.  Dining out/getting delivery . On Saturday, I think i...

The first week of February has gone by pretty fast. I'm headed to the office for my once-per-month day there soon, but not a fan of the fact that it's 14 degrees out right now ...  AYCE chicken meal at Zehnder's, Frankenmuth What I've been up to this week: Frankenmuth for Snowfest. Last Friday, my husband and I played hooky from work (aka, we both put in for time off, lol) and went to Snowfest, which is a favorite of ours. Snowfest is (unsurprisingly) primarily snow sculptures, but they also have ice sculptures. We had lunch at Prost, my favorite charcuterie/wine bar there, then also went to the Fudge Kitchen, Cheese Haus, and a few other shops, like the board game shop at the outdoor mall there. We finished up with dinner at Zehnder's, and because it was still January 31st, I had my free AYCE (all-you-can-eat) chicken meal on my Zehnder's card for my birthday. If you haven't been there (or Bavarian Inn) for their AYCE meal, and you like fried chicken, I hig...