Gotta Google Yourself

One of my favorite part-time jobs was being a tour guide at Lakefront Brewery while I was a teacher in Wisconsin. Every tour was a challenge because of who was in the crowd, sometimes there were beer enthusiasts, but not always. My goal was to get everyone to laugh and have a good time while I told them a little bit about how to make beer and what our company was all about. Every tour at Lakefront is a little different but since we were known as the best tour in Milwaukee every tour had to be good. Here is what one columnist, Mark Shuman from the Daily Herald, wrote about me:

While dispersing technical information about hops, yeast and grain, Lakefront tour guide Sarabeth Gidley was also a Santa Claus of beer samples. A middle-school teacher by day, her crowd-control skills no doubt came in handy.

"Anyone already been on the Miller's tour?" Gidley asked. A sheepish few offered hands. "They have a video and they have a lot of stats, but YOU GET ME!" she said. Promising to dance if we sang, Gidley started a tape and pointed to a cue card with a stick.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Schlmeel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated!"

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=53897&src=330

Fashion epiphany

Over the years I have battled with my wardrobe for many reasons but I think that I am starting to be honest with myself about what my wardrobe should consist of. I have categorized the areas of fashion I have wrestled with:

1. Cost - I just don't like to spend alot of money on clothes, but I have realized that if I expect something to fit well and last a long time I need to spend money on it. I am still battling with this a bit, but I do look for well made clothes more and I don't just trust the brand name for clothing construction.
2. Body type - I am a pear (baby got back) so I have finally embraced it. I buy clothes that fit my body type instead of trying to fit into the latest trends that are obviously not for my body type.

3. Cohesiveness - I got SO sick of having pieces that only coordinated with a couple other pieces in my closet. Although I have not gotten rid of the random pieces entirely but I have tried to be more creative with my "odd" pieces and not buy to many odd balls.

4. Professional - I have to look professional at work, always, even if I am casual - I just can not risk someone not taking me seriously because of the way I am dressed. Working in a casual environment does make this difficult but I do it anyways (most of the time).

5. Color - Stay away from pastels and stick with rich colors like jewel tones.

Local Acre

Well, I have to say after being disappointed for awhile I am back on the "I love Lakefront" band wagon. The new beer just released is SMOOTH, lots of flavor without being too complex. I am sure the hop heads will not be satisfied - but I am. I am a HUGE Cream City Pale Ale fan, but since it was changed I have to say this one is NOW MY FAVORITE. Love, love, love it

worth the calories

Albuqurque NM

Well, I was there for work and we went out for Mexican 0 YUM! I wanted a light beer so I tried this, it was ok. What was better is that after I posted this picture on my FB one of my friends suggested a microbrew right up the way. I LOVED IT! I got a growler.

Rock Bottom - Rye IPA

During the warmer months Joe and I go to Rock Bottom and I had to try this because it sounded interesting. I thought it was a little dark for an IPA but overall hoppy from beginning to finish.

The best if the Mug Club, you must get it - its FREE! And you get free stuff. So do it!

Homewood Flossmoor Station

Ok, so I guess I am officially a beer snob. I went to the Flossmore Station knowing that I would get some decent beer and decent food but what I did not expect is the waitress bringing out the snob in me.

I enjoy an unfiltered, blonde in color beer. So when I asked if it was filtered and she responded with the attitude "no microbrews are filtered" I felt the need to correct her. I mean - clearly from this picture you can see it is not filtered - but some of the beer in the tasting glasses are.

I enjoyed the blonde, unfillered Gandy Dancer Honey Ale - I would recommend this place for a happy hour but not a dinner date.

Riverwest Stein and a fire

Riverwest Stein is a staple! A must have, not many people don't enjoy this beer. I am a big fan of Lakefront - HUGE, it might be because I was the BEST TOUR GUIDE EVER! That fact aside, this is an amber lager which is well balanced between malt and hopps. Very balanced and LOVELY.