902. Go to the Milwaukee Auto Show

 Growing up I remember seeing ads on TV for the Milwaukee Auto Show and what celebrities would be there. My brother went one year and brought me home a Gabrielle Carteris autograph. I still have that somewhere. So when I wrote the original bucket list back in 2002, the Milwaukee Auto Show went on the list.

When the hubby told me he had a softball tournament in Rhinelander, I was like I need an adventure. I checked to see if the Auto Show or Sports Show as both were on the bucket list. The Auto Show was going on and I was like Stacy I may need to borrow your son. I figured I had a chance to go to the auto show I better take it.

The Milwaukee Auto Show is at the Wisconsin Center (former Midwest Express Center) in downtown. It runs February 25- March 5, 2023. Ticket prices are $15 at the door or $14 online. Kids 12 and under are free. Stacy got our tickets ahead of time so they were only $12. I'd call that pretty cheap entertainment.

The first floor feature the higher end cars -- BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Cadillac, Porsche, and Lexus. There were no real high cars like Maserati or Alfa Romero. 

There was collector cars as well. 

Some race cars and Electric Vehicles too.

There was not much up on the second floor except for a few cars including a DeLorean . 

I was beginning to get worried that there were no traditional brands at the auto show until we got to the 3rd floor. The 3rd floor was were all the real cars were -- Ford, Chevy, Jeep, Subaru, Toyota. Brands I could actually afford if we were looking at a new vehicle

There were a lot of cars. Each brand had it's own section of the floor. There were sales people walking around. Toyota actually had a stage with games and Q and A sessions -- Very interactive. Most of the cars you could sit in and get a feel for them. 

Toyota showcased the Brewers Rav4.

There was even a small scooter/motorcycle section.

Subaru had an adopt a pet area where you could play with some puppies.

Feeding America was there with a mini golf courses. For a $2 donation you could play $18 holes of mini golf. I initially thought it was $12. Stacy, Hanna, and I played. We didn't keep score but it was fun. I got 2 holes in one. 

I figured the hubby wanted me to check out some Fords, especially a Bronco. I'm not a huge fan of the Bronco but once I sat in it, I could definitely see myself driving it. The extra "oh Shit' bar on the by the passenger's leg is an interesting feature.

As we were leaving Stacy asked if it was all I hoped for. I was like it's an auto show. We just got new cars so we are not looking right now but I can see if you were looking for a new car, how the auto show would be very beneficial. It is also fun to look at cars without the pressure of buying. Overall it was a fun adventure -- something different. 

Maybe one year I will get to the Chicago auto show or the hubby will want to go to the Milwaukee Auto Show with me. 

Books and Chocolates -- A Colleen Hoover Chocolate Pairing

 While playing book bingo the other week, I was checking out library events at the area libraries for February. Menasha library was having a chocolate and book pairing on Valentine's Day. The hubby had a game so nothing was on the docket for me. I figured I might as well enjoy some chocolate.

The Menasha Library teamed up with Vande Walles Chocolates to pair different pieces of chocolates with 6 different Colleen Hoover books. I have not read Colleen Hoover but I know she is wildly popular and I figured I might as well see what all the fuss is about.

Book #1: November 9 and Dark Chocolate Vanilla Caramel. 

The reasoning: Because like Colleen Hoover's book, the caramel will pull away and flip. The book is full of plot twists that so it's similar to the caramel flipping over on itself. Being dark chocolate and caramel it was one of my favorite pieces.

Book #2: It Ends With US and Milk Chocolate Covered Biltmore Delight

The reasoning: Because of how Lily reflects on her childhood in the book and how Steve Vande Walles reflected on life growing up in the Biltmore when he visited. Okay this one is stretch but not all of the are perfect matches. This chocolate would be better if it didn't have the peanut butter in it. Too many flavor combinations

Book #3: It Starts With Us and Milk Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Caramel

I don't remember the reasoning but this is a book about second chances and starting over. The tie-in has to do with that. I am not a fan of sea salt and chocolate so this one was okay.

Book 4: Reminders of Him and Milk Chocolate Covered Chocolate Meltaway

The Reasoning: Because like the book, chocolate has the ability to pull you into a moment. If you close your eyes, you can savor the chocolate melting in your melt while appreciating the complexities of milk and dark chocolate working together. This piece of chocolate was decedent and sweet.

Book 5: Verity and Milk Chocolate English Toffee

The Reasoning; Lowen doesn't expect to find chaos in Verity's office and this chocolate causes chaos in your mouth. Um.. okay. I am not a fan of toffee because of how hard it is so I struggled to eat this one. The hubby would have enjoyed it though.

Book 6: Ugly Love and Dark Chocolate Caramel Filled Heart

The Reasoning: What better way to kick of a messy love story than with messy chocolate. The ooey-gooey caramel spills out of the heart and makes a mess. This was definitely my favorite chocolate. 

Word to the wise: Don't eat 6 pieces of rich chocolate in 30 minutes. You will get a belly ache. It doesn't mater how good the chocolate is, it's too much chocolate.

 Besides OD'ing on chocolate, it was a fun event. I learned a little about Colleen Hoover's novels and even picked up Verity to read. Everyone said I needed to read that one. I really only had time to read one otherwise I would have gotten It Ends With Us since I already listened to It Begins With Us before the event.

The Menasha Library is thinking about doing other chocolate and book pairings. I will be curious to see what other authors or genres they do in the future. Chocolate and books are always a good combination in my eyes.