Hey team! I’m writing to you from the horizontal position on my couch that I’ve maintained for the past eight hours.
Sickness is a funny thing…sometimes you feel it coming on and, like a wave, it passes mildly, but other times, *WHAM*, out of nowhere, it feels like Clay Matthews came at you out of your blind spot and you’re out of commission for awhile. I’m so lucky that my home in the suburbs is less than an hour away so that, during times like this, I can come home, act like a baby, and be taken care of. My day has mostly revolved around soup, m&ms (for my mental health, of course), and Buzzfeed.
Speaking of which, I found a pretty cool article you might find helpful!
24 Diagrams to Help You Eat Healthier
My favorite diagram is the one about nuts — now I know I can eat allllll the pistachios.
Before The Plague of January 2015 came on, I had a pretty awesome Saturday spent with my dad. After I got off work he came to the city and we made a night of it. If you’ve ever read my About Me section, my high school life revolved around basketball, and it was my true love for quite awhile. I even considered playing in college but decided I wanted to go to Illinois, a D1 school, and that was never gonna happen haha. But my dad was always my #1 fan, always at all my games. Anyway, we used to go watch women’s basketball games at Northwestern, and since it’s been a few years we decided to bring back the old tradition and go see a game.
It was so much fun to be back at Welsh-Ryan arena with my dad, especially because the Wildcats played Michigan (our #1 team). Funny how I used to be terrified of college athletes but now that I’m post-grad, the players all looked so small! Perspective is a funny thing.
After the game we went to dinner at Farmhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on seasonal, local food. We sat at the bar and had a few drinks and appetizers before placing our dinner order. It was a beautiful space!
Their drink list is interesting — they don’t carry any commercial brands (you should have seen the look of surprise on my dad’s face when he asked for Bombay Sapphire gin and was instantly shut down). I asked for the closest draft to my beloved Stella and the bartender gave me a few samples before I settled on a wheat ale (I really wish I could remember what it was! Blogger fail).
After consulting Yelp, we knew we had to start with their famous cheese curds
Beer Battered Wisconsin Cheese Curds with homemade ketchup and spicy curd sauce.
Now, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad plate of fried cheese, but these were definitely special. The sauces were both homemade and you could tell the curds were as fresh as possible. Each and every one was well-sized and stuffed with cheese — no extra breading at all. We both loved them.
And for our entrees Dad and I got the same thing — the Indiana Fish Fry.
Beer battered yellow perch, tartar slaw, mustard seed gatstrique, and tavern-cut fries
There’s usually nothing special about fish and chips. It can be great no matter what — all you need is a little lemon and tons of ketchup or tartar sauce and you’re golden. But the special thing about this was the entree as a whole: when you combined the fresh fish, slaw and mustard seed gastrique all in one bite is was absolutely perfect. I could have swam in a pool full of that gastrique. The bartender said it was sweetened malt vinegar and mustard seeds. I would love to meet the person who created that — I love restaurants that take care to make sure all the elements of a dish come together to make one spectacular eating experience. It was like a math equation: fish + slaw + gastrique = perfection. Now that’s math I can understand.
So even though I spent half the weekend horizontal on my couch, it was a great one. Great time spent with my dad and wonderful food. Now I’m spending my Sunday night with some of my favorite ladies…
And gents…
My besties.
i had a big lunch 
Argh, hope you’re feeling better buddy! I love that movie- I claim fame to Fat Amy (even though she was not that character there but still).
Fried cheese curds? Okay, I need to google this because it sounds amazing.
See now you need to come BACK to America and try cheese curds. And even though she wasn’t technically Fat Amy she was basically Fat Amy in that movie haha. What a good claim to fame for Australia! She’s the best.
Oh no! I hope you feel better soon!
When I come to the States this year I can’t wait to go and see a basketball game – I am just not sure which one haha.
In my opinion college basketball is the best! Otherwise pick an NBA game and you’ll have a bal — such good stadium food too 😉
Glad you didn’t forget the M&M’s for your mental health! And I played basketball all my life too. I was supposed to play in college but then I got hurt my senior year 😦 Another thing we can talk about when we finally meet ha.
Whoa that sounds like a story I need to hear! And of course, m&ms help any situation.
I’m sorry that you weren’t feeling well! BTW, Farmhouse has some of the best chicken soup in the city. Also, their cheese curds are a must, and the Humdinger is my favorite of their cocktails. I LOVE THAT PLACE
I may have to go back and get some of their chicken soup…I bet it would cure all my ailments!
Yuck! I hope you feel better soon!
Thanks girl! I woke up this morning definitely feeling better! It must have been the m&ms 😉
Sorry you aren’t feeling well! At least Saturday was a good one. Your restaurant choice looks amazing. I didn’t feel so hot last week either – my stomach had been a little off but nothing crazy. Then I went downhill one night really fast. It’s all good now though. Hae a great Monday!
I’m glad my stomach hasn’t been affected by this sickness — my appetite hasn’t gone away. Glad your sickness didn’t last too long either! Nobody likes to be out of commission.
Mmm fried cheese. I’ve also never had bad fried cheese. I’m guessing it’s just universally delicious.
Sorry to hear you’re sick. It seems like everyone in the world was sick last week, including me. Hope you feel better soon!
Fried cheese, in any form, is definitely universally delicious 🙂
Ahh I hope you feel better lady! On the bright side, your dad date is SO CUTE. Although I would say that no matter what you guys did. I need to ask my dad on a dad date!
Aw thanks! Yeah it was so much fun 🙂 Definitely something we need to do more often!
I love restaurants like Farmhouse! The food tastes so much better than chain restaurants it makes me wonder why people even go to them! Hope you feel better too!
That’s what I was telling my dad! I had no problem eating all that food because I knew whatever it was, it was all high quality. The cheese curds, for example, were fried but not over-fried with tons of extra batter. It was all so delicious, flavorful, and satisfying.
Ughk, feel better! I’m glad you at least have the hilarious ladies from Bridesmaids to keep you company. Being sick is the pits though. Sending good vibes and healthy thoughts your way!
It’s funny — sometimes I wish I was sick so I have an excuse to be lazy and be left alone…but then the minute I am sick I regret it because it’s so miserable!
Oh no! Sorry you’re not feeling well! Oddly enough, the blogger right before you in my Bloglovin’ feed was also down for the count this weekend, so at least you’re in good company 😛 That’s great that it’s so easy for you to to go home, though! Whenever I’ve been sick since becoming a “grown up,” pretty much the only thing I’ve wanted is for someone to take care of me. In fact, that’s become my litmus test for if I’m *actually* sick or if I just *feel* sick (my stomach has a mind of its own, so queasiness and I are pretty well acquainted with one another :P): if I need to call Mom, I know I’m actually sick hahaha.
Haha exactly! you think you’re all grown up until you get sick and then it’s straight to Mom. Good litmus test hahaha
What a fun date with your dad! I haven’t spent time with my dad just hanging out in YEARS. Like more years that I can even count. Maybe I should give that guy a call. All that food looks yummy and I’m starving.
I’m sorry to hear you’re sick too! WTF is up with all the sick right now!? I hope you feel better today!
I definitely feel better today, thanks! Don’t just think about it, DO IT. Give him a call 🙂 it’ll mean so much to both of you. I appreciated those few hours more than anything I’ve done in a long time.
I hope you feel better soon! Im so sad to read Clay’s name after yesterday’s game. So sad. whyyyyyyyyy?????
Glad you didn’t get sick until after father daughter time. I hope you feel better soon!!
Haha too soon to mention Clay? My bad! Will you be at Sweat in the morning? I’m gonna go for Tabata Tuesday as long as I’m feeling better!
Hope you are feeling better. My husband had something like that it wasn’t pretty. Good excuse for MandM’s and Bridesmaids though :0
There’s always a reason for m&ms and Bridesmaids 😉 everyone seems to be sick right now! sending healthy vibes your way!
Sorry you’re not feeling well! I got sick right before the holidays and it literally came out of nowhere and I couldn’t get out of bed for 3 days. It was the worst! I hope you are at least able to relax a bit and enjoy being taken care of!
I completely checked out all day Sunday and, surprise surprise, today I feel so much better!
Hope you are feeling better! There’s no place like home to try and get back to your normal-self. Love that you had a date day/night with your dad. There’s nothing like special time with your parents, nothing!
So true! It was a wonderful “date” 🙂 and I was so lucky that he came to the city so then he could drive me home and I could stay home for a day.
Hope you feel better soon! Even though being sick sucks. Sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to just veg out on couch to be lazy and watch movies.
That’s how I know I’m REALLY sick — because 9 times out of 10 I hate sitting on the couch all day and not being productive. But with the way I was feeling yesterday, that’s all I COULD do. Aka the sickness was real haha.
So sorry to hear that you caught the plague! I am finally recovering from it as well- I spent all of Friday night and most of Saturday half alive on my couch watch Investigation Discovery 😛 Hopefully you’re back to 100% soon!!!
Having cable would make sickness so much more bearable 😉 glad to hear you’re recovering! I’m almost at 100% myself!
Sorry you are sick! But at least you got in a fun daddy/daughter date which are always the best!
It was the best 🙂 so glad we both made time for it. Moments like that are what count in life!
I haven’t been sick in a while (knock on wood) but it usually hits me out of no where! Soup and crackers sound good though…mmmmmmm.
Oh my gosh KNOCK ON SOME SERIOUS WOOD!
Oh no! Sick days are the WORST!! Hope you get better soon! ❤ – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Thanks girl! I’m almost back to 100% thank goodness 🙂
I think I’m having sympathy pains.. starting to get sick over here now! OH NOES!! LOL, glad one of us is on the upswing! 😉
Noooooo get some rest, stat! That’s all that helped me…well, that and a good dose of cough syrup 😉
Hope you feel better soon ❤ Glad you had a fun day with your dad though! I'm hungry now thinking of that food! Bar food is my favorite. That infographic is really cool, though! I'm excited to look at it a bit closer.
Bar food is the best, isnt it? Such a treat!
“I love restaurants that take care to make sure all the elements of a dish come together to make one spectacular eating experience.” Yes, yes, yes! Kudos to understanding and most of all appreciating this aspect to a great restaurant experience. I like it when I have buddies (even blogger buddies) who can understand my obsession for GREAT food. And appreciate the art behind it. Sorry to hear you’ve been down with the plague. On the bright side, I do think Bridesmaids is some good choice of therapy. Never can get enough of Bridesmaids. Feel better!
I seriously think the laughter helped me feel much better 😉 and im with you on the “great food” thing. I love when people appreciate it too!
That grocery list is AMAZING! Thanks for sharing. Hope you’re feeling better — being sick is never any fun…
That whole article is full of great tips and tricks. And the grocery list is great, right? I need to use that more often to keep my grocery trips in check haha
Hope you feel better! You and your dad are so adorable! 🙂
Thanks! I think we are as well 😉
Oh no! Feel better!!!
I hate being sick! We always talk about going to a Northwestern game and never make it. I miss living in Evanston : )
I always forget how lovely Evanston is. I really enjoyed it! And you have to go to a game — they’re such an inexpensive way to spend a few hours!
I miss it like crazy! Suburbia Sux : )
I hope you are feeling better now Lauren! I must admit all you want to do when you feel poorly is snuggle down in a blanket at home, a bowl of hot soup and someone to take care of you!
What a fab day out with your dad. I love spending time with my dad, always feels really special 🙂
You become such a baby when you’re sick! But it’s all good because that’s how you get over it the fastest 😉
ughhhh sick is the worst. hope you’re feeling better, and it’s so nice to have home nearby. i’m such a baby about it and just want someone there to take care of me and affirm the fact that i am justified to feel so lousy and whine about it. haha i saw that algebra thing on Insta last week and it always cracks me up.
Isn’t that algebra thing so true? Haha when I think about how hard that class was, and how little I use it to this day, it drives me mad!
So I stumbled here from another blog and I think you’re a keeper. First, in the first and only post I read, you discuss Clay Matthews, you like Stella, and your first comment is from my guy Armen. Then, I look through some photos and it appears you do some fitnessing at a CrossFit box, which is a plus. Oh and your blog starts with the same word as mine. So yeah. I just might come back. Get feeling better!!
Thank you so much for your kind remarks! Stella is in a league of its own for sure. I would like to pretend I do CrossFit but I basically do bootcamps that resemble CrossFit w/o Olympic-style weights. I tried CrossFit awhile back and injured my lower back so I’ve been scared to go back ever since. Gotta work on that fear! I can’t wait to read your blog! I already checked out your About Me section and I have to agree that red velvet cake is in the top 10 best foods on the planet. So we can definitely be friends now! haha thanks for stopping by!
Whoever thought to fry cheese is seriously an evil genius. I hope you are feeling better lady!
Evil genius is the perfect term for it! Feeling much better thanks!
Hope you feel better soon…seems like everyone is getting sick! Gotta love the movie Bridesmaids + Chocolate…that combo will make anyone feel better!
Bridesmaids just gets funnier and funnier every time I watch it!
Lauren!! I’m so excited to have found your blog! I just read through your past…uh…maybe 10 posts 🙂
I actually haven’t seen Bridesmaids yet! But I’m definitely all about the M&Ms…especially the peanut butter ones 🙂
Hope you feel better ASAP!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I want to check out yours as well but I can’t seem to find your blog link via your profile…comment back with a link pretty please! 🙂 m&ms are my favorite candy…strangely enough they were my least favorite back in the day but now I just can’t get enough. And don’t even get me started on the pb ones — they are pure CRACK! Bridesmaids is so great — it gets funnier every time I watch it.
Oh, whoops! Thanks for letting me know! You should be able to click on my name now, but if not, the link’s http://www.healthy-liv.com 🙂
Love the reference to Clay Matthews. Wish he would’ve done a bit more during the last 2 minutes on Sunday. GRR!!! What a horrible way to go out 😦 😦
p.s. I hope you start feeling better. Keep eating those m&ms though. I’m sure their the perfect cure to any sickness
Since I was bedridden I watched that whole game and my jaw was on the floor at the end — un-freaking-believable! Packers dropped the ball on that one (literally). m&ms are clearly a health food 😉
That bball game looks like a lot of fun! Bridesmaids is the perfect sick day movie.
xx,
Paisley
paisleynotplaid
Agreed! The humor was just what I needed 🙂
Hey!! Sorry you were feeling sick!! Yucky!! I’m sure you still looked gorgeous!! 🙂 Also, love that you spent time with your dad!! Basketball is amazing and I know you were an amazing player! I wish I would’ve played basketball. I grew up playing with my dad. He was a basketball player. I always cherished those fun mornings playing basketball with him. Have an amazing day because you’re amazing! XOXO
Basketball is such a fun game! Im so happy i had so many good years playing it. Happy i didnt take it too seriously though otherwise i wouldnt have had time in college to discover my love of food and running/other types of fitness
Such a good point!! 🙂