Sharing my amazing story of my #YESMoment with Kohls. If you missed the first part of this story, click here to catch up on what this adventure is all about!
Tiffany showed up at my house bright, early, and bubbly on Friday morning to kick off our adventures with Kohls. Car service had been arranged to transport us to the airport, giving us a glimpse of the VIP treatment we were about to experience.
At the very same time and several states away, Beth, Donna, and Angela were boarding their flights from Nashville to meet us in the city known for their beer and cheese.
Also in tow was “Flat Jaede.” Having just given birth a week prior to the trip, Jaede had her hands full with baby Kaede and was only able to join us in spirit. Thanks to Angela for bringing Flat Jaede and for chaperoning her throughout our weekend!
When we arrived in Milwaukee, we were greeted by a limo driver at the airport. I just had to take a picture of the sign he was holding… I mean, when does this happen??
The luggage arrived quickly and the driver whisked us away to the Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee. What an amazing hotel, impeccably designed and with fantastic service. If you’re ever in Milwaukee, I highly recommend staying here!
Upon arrival, we were instantly greeted by our fantastic hostesses Katie and Lilly. Such wonderful ladies, they truly made this trip all that it was… and took such care in attending to all of the details.
After a quick lunch on the patio and a warm welcome from the rest of the group, we quickly changed into clothes for our afternoon activities. Kohl’s left welcome bags in each of our rooms as well as a detailed agenda of events.
In addition to this super sweet card welcoming me to Milwaukee, Beth and I spotted sweatbands for the Color Run. Considering that my niece Hailey thinks that sweatbands are the most embarrassing thing ever, we put them on immediately and sent her a selfie. 🙂
Our adventure kicked off with a shopping spree at the local Kohl’s store! We each had an opportunity to purchase a new workout outfit that would help us work toward our wellness goal.
We had so much fun shopping together and picking out just the right pieces. Now, you guys know by now, I love to shop… so this was right up my alley! After a quick trip to dressing room, we all had new Kohl’s clothes to wear and were excited about our purchases.
I found so many things I really liked… it was hard to decide, but I ended going with a new pair of pants from their Tek Gear line, a top from their Gaiam line, and that coral top on the right above (that’s more fluorescent in real life). I actually was so excited about my new outfit that I changed into it right away… just in time for our afternoon activity.
After our shopping spree, we were shuttled to a bluff near Lake Michigan for a beautiful outdoor yoga session. To me, there is nothing like outdoor yoga… and outdoor yoga facing the water = PERFECTION.
Zack led us through a beautiful gentle yoga class, encouraging us to focus on our breath and to enjoy completely this moment we were in. Truth be told, this was one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. Since my car accident last fall, I haven’t been able to spend as much time on my mat as I’d like… and an opportunity to practice is always good for my body, mind, and soul.
I also loved the fact that I was practicing yoga with some of my favorite people on the planet. Whether they realize it or not, they totally got a glimpse at my passion and my favorite workout during that class. And, it was Beth’s first formal class – – how cool!
Afterward, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the evening activities. For me, the evening kicked off with a video shoot with the production team. As part of the #YESMoment campaign, my wellness story is going to be featured on the Kohl’s website and shared via their social media channels. Isn’t that awesome!?
After my quick interview, it was time for dinner. Kohl’s had arranged a private dining experience for us at Engine Company No. 3, an old firehouse turned restaurant in the heart of Milwaukee.
Walking upstairs to our dining area, we saw a beautiful banner from the Kohl’s Milwaukee team… signed by everyone and wishing Vicki and I best of luck in the 5K on Saturday. This was such a warm, gesture from the Kohl’s team… and it really helped me to recognize the army of supporters we had for our YES Moment, even beyond our friends and family! Thanks, Kohl’s!!!
Dinner was spectacular. A tapas-style feast… every dish that arrived at the table seemed better than the last. I’m a huge fan of tapas because they’re typically small bites with huge flavor: everything from lamb skewers to goat cheese curds to butter chicken to the most amazing cheese tart. The meal was fantastic and a wonderful way to end day one with the group.
Can we talk about cheese curds for a moment? Holy cow… I can’t believe how good these things are. Seriously, I’m glad that they’re not on the menus everywhere here like they are in Milwaukee or we would have a HUGE problem. So decadent, delicious, and definitely a splurge! We loved them!!
We arrived back at the hotel, where I was reunited with another dear friend of mine Laurel. Great friends since college, I always try to meet up with Laurel when we are in close proximity and she made the 90 minute drive to Milwaukee to join our group for some of the festivities. So glad that she was able to join us!
In light of our early wakeup call, we made it an early night in preparation for the next round of fun that lied ahead.
Stay tuned for my stories on this amazing weekend with Kohl’s…
Disclaimer: This weekend and its associated #YESMoment was sponsored by Kohl’s; however, my comments of the trip and Kohl’s programs are based completely upon my personal experience and opinion.