Twin Cities Live Experience

Yesterday was the Twin Cities Live Top Blogs show and it was so much fun to be in the audience!  I have never really seen a TV show filmed up close before, so this was a really neat experience!
Before the show, a few friends and I met up across the street from the studio at Cupcake - because you can't be that close to Cupcake and not stop in for, well, a cupcake.  I had a dulce de leche cupcake and while it was sweet enough to make my teeth hurt a little, it was delightful.

We then made our way over to the studio where we got to have a social hour with all the other bloggers who were going to be in the audience.  The producer of the show also explained what would be taking place during the taping and answered any questions we had.  He then escorted us out into the studio.  I was surprised to learn just how small the audience section is.

As you can see, not a huge area of chairs.  I'd say there was maybe 30 of us total?  I didn't really get a chance to count.  We each got a goodie bag of items to take home with us too.  Before the show started, a few of my girls and I were in perfect position for a selfie, so of course we had to do it because what kind of bloggers/Instagrammers would we be if we didn't?  I think ours is cuter than the Ellen Oscar selfie.

We were encouraged to take pictures and use Twitter/Facebook/Instagram what have you during commercial breaks.  We were also given directions on how to clap (faster than you normally would) and that it's ok to react to what's happening on stage.  And then they brought out hosts Steve Patterson and Elizabeth Ries and started the show.

The set is warm and cozy feeling and it has a nice feel.  Steve and Elizabeth kicked off the show with their host chat and then throughout the show they featured several different blogs that have kind of "made it big" in different ways and it was neat to hear each story and what they've done to get their blogs off the ground and turn them into a business venture.

They also had a panel of expert bloggers that they feature on their show on a regular basis and they also gave out some good tips and information as well.  The hour seriously flew by and pretty soon it was all done.  After the show was done we were allowed to wander on set and take pictures if we wanted.  I decided to pose on the couch and pretend to be Elizabeth for a minute.

And then my group decided to grab a group photo with Steve and Elizabeth too.  They're warm and friendly people - they did a great question and answer session right after the taping was finished too. I sure wish I was home more often and could watch them every day!

And this last picture I stole from my friend Sara from Writing with Bangles, she DVR'd the show and got some screen shots of us clapping in the audience!  So I guess I'm pretty much famous now?

Overall it was a super fun afternoon, it was really neat to hear other bloggers stories and get some of their tips and tricks and it was fun to connect with other bloggers I hadn't met before, as well as get some quality time in with the bloggers I already know!  Thanks again to Twin Cities Live for having me!

My Target Field experience

Well it may have taken me all week, but I'm finally getting around to doing a post about my experience at the baseball game last Friday!  We had so much fun! Again, I commented on this last Friday - we've had this beautiful outdoor ball field for several years now, but this was my first time actually getting a chance to go there in person!

The seats were AMAZING.  I was lucky to have been given tickets from a vendor through work - my boss doesn't take those kind of gifts for himself, but is happy to let his employees have them, so he gave me first dibs.  I had no idea just how awesome these seats would be, even after a friend of mine had told me how great they were.  They were in what is called the Legends Club - so these are not just your average general admission tickets.  There are tons of exclusive bars and food vendors as well as tables and chairs inside behind the glass that still gives you lots of views of the field if the weather was not good.  Thankfully it was actually pretty decent outside, so we went ahead and found our seats once we arrived - they were padded!! No sore behinds for us!  We were also lucky enough to be under an overhang that provided some nice protection from the wind.

We were to the left of home plate, between 3rd and home.  I have heard people say there really isn't a bad seat in the entire park and I do believe that is true - but I sure liked our location!  I absolutely love the city skyline in the background as well!

After the first inning was over we decided to wander around a bit in search of food and beer.  The downside for craft beer lovers like ourselves, the good beer can be hard to find.  They had some Summit at the bars which is decent, but we were hoping to find Surly.  We chose Summit though because it's "better than a poke in the eye", as the Pants Monkey would say.  The bartenders were SO friendly and personable - they make sure to call you by name.  I forgot to mention, another perk of the Legends club is that there is a person that comes around takes food and beer orders at your seat and will bring stuff to you if you want!  We didn't take advantage of that, but the gal serving our area seemed very friendly and attentive.  For dinner I had a turkey bacon wrap (I love wrap sandwiches!) and The Pants Monkey had a Cuban sandwich.  I know we didn't even come close to finding all the amazing food the field has to offer - it was easy to just stay in the area where we were.

After another couple of innings we went and bought Mr. Monkey a hat, used the restrooms (no lines!  So awesome!) and then we found Surly beer!  One of the bars up there had it after all.  So of course we had to have one.  And I decided I just had to have one of the helmet cup sundaes I used to get when I was a kid and the Pants Monkey had to have a hot dog, because you just can't not have a hotdog at a baseball game!  We were definitely in food comas after that!

Sadly, the Twins really didn't play well that evening - they didn't score once - but it was so fun to just be out on a date without the baby, sitting outside on a nice spring evening and enjoying the sites and sounds of our fine city.  I know we would never be able to afford those type of tickets regularly - but I have heard you can sometimes score deals on StubHub - especially when they aren't playing so well.  I also learned my aunt and uncle have season tickets in this area too and sometimes are looking for people to use them, so my mom planted the bug that we'd be happy to help with that on occasion!  Overall I really enjoyed my first trip to Target Field, well worth the wait!  If you ever visit Minnesota, it's a must see attraction!