The Illinois Holocaust Museum: An Important Journey

We are very lucky to live an area with many resources that aid our children (and ourselves) as we learn about life, the world, and our place in it. The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie is one of these treasures. This month, we were given the opportunity to visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum to learn about the mission of the museum, gain more knowledge about the Holocaust, and see what our children will see when they visit. The Illinois Holocaust Museum has so much to offer that we have opted to discuss our visit in two posts. This post will focus on the main exhibit.

Be prepared to be moved as you visit the Museum. The main exhibit is extremely poignant and is appropriate for those 12-years-old and older. Through the main exhibit, you will follow a path that will wind you through the history of the Jewish people after WWI in Germany leading up to the Holocaust, through the Holocaust itself, and on to life after the Holocaust. There are many artifacts along the route which bring a reality to the Holocaust experience that can be sometimes lost if your knowledge is only garnered from textbooks.

Here is some of what we each took away from our visit to the Illinois Holocaust Museum:

Photograph by Jim Schnepf

Mel's take: When I learned that students from my daughter's school had visited the Illinois Holocaust Museum, I knew that I had to visit before my daughter did in order to  prepare for her questions. What I did not know was how much I would learn myself. The main exhibit really struck me in ways I did not expect. I was amazed by how the Museum used artifacts, videos, and special effects such as light and sound to impress upon visitors the stages of the Holocaust, life before, and life after. I teared up when I saw elements displaying how Holocaust victims still tried to have pieces of life during the Holocaust. Most of the exhibits were varying shades of black, gray, and white. However, I noted a red knit dress of a little girl who escaped to China and colorful drawings made by children--sparks of life amidst tragedy. 

The Museum light effects move from darkness as you move through the Holocaust to light when you reach the liberation and life after the Holocaust sections. As we move into the light, we bring life out of the Holocaust and the mission to not allow it to happen again. The light effects add poignancy to the exhibit.

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Playing in the Kitchen With Galena Garlic Company {Tasting Some More Blends}

Companies like Galena Garlic Company are soooooooo much fun. They have so many different spices and blends to explore. Of course, there also is quite a selection of garlic, oils, and vinegars. I always get lost in shops like Galena Garlic Company! Good thing for me--my daughter is just as enamored with such culinary delights making it easy to explore.

We do have a few more seasonings from Galena Garlic Company to share with you this week. It truly has been fun trying out these seasonings!

Of all of the seasonings that we have sampled, we enjoyed the Smoked Paprika Chipotle Seasoning the most. The seasoning has a bit of heat from the paprika, chipotle and cumin. I also love the addition of the mesquite--which yields a bit of a smokey, sweet flavor.

We simply used the seasoning to roast some potato wedges. (I admit, I am a sucker for spuds!) The potatoes were easy to make--just cut 1 large potato into small, thin wedges, toss with 1 Tbsp EVO and 1 tsp of the seasoning. Then, spread the wedges out on a preparing baking sheet and bake in the oven at 425 F for 20-25 minutes. Delicious!

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1-2-3 Quesadillas {Munchie Monday}

Quesadillas are a staple in this house. They are easy to make and we almost always have the ingredients on hand. They make for quick lunches or an easy dinner on those busy nights. We find that they are a great way to use up random  veggies that we have remaining from other recipes.

Ingredients:

Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Veggies--chopped
Salsa, Avocado, and/or Yogurt to top off (I have been substituting yogurt for sour cream.)

Directions:

Warm a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Place bottom tortilla on skillet. Warm slightly. Then, layer a little cheese on the tortilla. Next, layer a few chopped veggies.

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Birthday Freebies--Look at What I Uncovered!

It's your birthday! Time to treat yourself with some rewards! I love opening up my email during the month of February because I get all sorts of goodies. Here is a look at what I go this year:

$5 to DSW
$5 to Famous Footwear
$5 off of a menu item at Jason's Deli
$.50 Driscoll's Coupon (They almost never have coupons---sweet!)
$10 to Victoria's Secret
$10 to World Market
$10 from Godiva Rewards (I could not believe this one! Sweet spending!)
Free one scoop sundae at Culver's
Free Benefits Birthday Set from Sephora
$20 for Vera Bradley (Yup, $20 off of a $20 or more item--awesome!)
1 free tapa at La Tasca in Arlington Heights
Complimentary entree at Moe's Southwest Grill
Free noodle bowl at Noodles & Company
Free 12oz shake with purchase from Arby's
Birthday Mud Pie from The Ram
Double points at Ulta for February

Also, one of my favs:  a $15 food item at Cooper's Hawk Winery.  However, I cannot truly consider this a birthday freebie because I am part of their wine club.

**Starbucks also gives you a free beverage if you have a card registered with them and have supplied your birth date. Somehow, I did not supply my birth date when registering my card, so I did not get my freebie. :(

As you can see, you can really rack up the deals on your birthday! I am sure that my haul probably could have been larger, but, as a member of way too many loyalty programs already, my email is already bursting at the seams. If you have unwrapped other cool birthday freebies, feel free to leave the deets in the comments below!

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Seasons Harvest: a Culinary Treat in Harbor Country

On a recent trip to Michigan's Harbor Country, we stopped at a cute little epicurean shop called Seasons Harvest. Seasons Harvest is tucked away on Red Arrow Highway in Harbert, Michigan. As soon as we entered the store, we were glad to have uncovered this tucked away treasure. Seasons Harvest has quite a collection of BBQ sauces, salsas, rubs, dessert toppings, grilling sauces, and more. (For those curious, Red Arrow Highway is a scenic drive through Harbor Country lined with a number of interesting shops and restaurants. I definitely recommend ambling along Red Arrow Highway when heading to Harbor Country.)





The store is very cute and everything is easy to peruse. When we entered the shop, we were immediately greeted by the store owner. She explained all of the products to us, which made it easy to find items that fit our tastes. Samples were readily available. Ingredients were easy to understand. (No preservatives--nice!) Since there also was a chocolate event going on, we were able to try some of the chocolate dessert toppings warmed up like fondue. Yum! Everything invited exploration so you could really try the products and go home with something you enjoyed.

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Brunch at The Clubhouse: Every Visit Feels Like a Special Occasion

Whether you are celebrating something or not, brunch at The Clubhouse in Oak Brook will make you feel special. Of all of the brunch locations that we have been to in the suburbs, The Clubhouse is the only one that we return to whenever the opportunity arises.

My husband and I are not normally buffet people. However, there is just something about The Clubhouse's brunch that really resonates with us. When it comes to brunch, the hubby is more of a breakfast food type of guy and I am more of a lunch food type of a girl. So, brunches can be difficult for us if they are breakfast heavy or vice versa. The Clubhouse brunch has plenty of choices for both breakfast and lunch, making it appealing to both of us.

The brunch is set up with a couple of buffet lines and a separate omelet station, making it less congested. One buffet line has hot items that range from pancakes to breakfast potatoes to vodka pasta to orange glazed salmon to chicken fricassee. The cold buffet line has a number of salads, grilled veggies, a cheese display, shrimp, and crab claws. By the omelet station, there is also a carving station. To round everything out, there is a children's station with such favorites as chicken fingers and mac and cheese. (BTW--the chicken fingers are numptious!)

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Simple Tissue Paper Flowers {Reuse that Tissue Paper}

Ok, so you all know that I can be pretty thrifty and I don't like to throw things away. Well, I have mounds--and I mean mounds--of tissue paper from random gifts and purchases. I do reuse this tissue paper in other gifts as well as for packing. However, my supply has very much outstretched the demand. With my daughter home on Monday for the holiday, we decided to craft some tissue paper flowers.

The project was very easy to do. I actually used tissue paper that was already a bit crinkly--you know the stuff that would look a little too much "used" in another gift bag. We cut ten rectangles out of the desired tissue paper. (Each rectangle is the same size.)

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Website Wednesday: Chicago Foodie Sisters

One of my favorite blogs to read is Chicago Foodie Sisters. Chicago Foodie Sisters is always inspiring me. First, they blog about restaurants in the Chicagoland area as well as into Michigan. So, I am always getting some ideas for my adventures. (I have definitely added some restaurants to my list thanks to Chicago Foodie Sisters!) Also, they blog about recipes that are easy yet tasty. All of the recipes are presented in an easy to follow manner, making it simple for you! Plus, they introduce neat products to try. I always love new foodie products to try! So much fun! When you get a chance, check our Chicago Foodie Sisters!

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Valentine's Day at Nibbles' Play Cafe {A Sweet Special Event}

Nibbles' Play Cafe in Wheeling has a number of special events throughout each month. From character visits, to holiday celebrations, to kids' entertainment provided by local acts, to service projects that little ones can help with, to storytimes, and to events for parents, Nibbles' Play Cafe has a bunch to choose from. Last week, we were treated to a wonderful Valentine's Day Celebration at Nibbles' Play Cafe and would love to tell you all about it!

When we first entered the cafe, we were immediately greeted by a happy face. The cafe was decorated with festive Valentine's Day decorations. All of the reserved tables were labeled with cute little hearts. Since reservations are recommended for an event like this, the cafe was very calm. This made it easy for families to enjoy the fun! Plus, the cafe was alive with music, helping pep up kids to have fun!

A nice little buffet was set up. There were delights for everyone in the family! Parents and grandparents enjoyed choices of salads and sandwiches including a grilled cheese on a pretzel roll (yum), chicken salad, and a turkey sandwich. I love the sandwiches at Nibbles because they are always high quality. They are beautifully prepared and the vegetation is always colorful and fresh. (As opposed to the slimy vegetation that you will find elsewhere.) For the kiddos, there were chicken nuggets (a perennial favorite), heart-shaped sun butter sandwiches, gold fish, and fruit cups. A choice of drinks rounded out the buffet. The love was definitely present in all of the food. (Seriously, at how many kid's events can you actually say that you liked the food! I enjoyed the food at Nibbles'!)

A nice buffet with fresh food being added throughout the evening

Besides playing in the play areas, kids were entertained by songs and a balloon artist. The kids had a great time watching the balloon artist to check out his next creation. They were so mesmerized that they were actually sedate while waiting in line. An added treat--kids could also have their faces painted. What a crowd pleaser! Additionally, Nibbles' had a Valentine craft set up. It is always fun to put those little hands to work! ;)

My daughter was busy during the entire event. She engaged in all of the activities and had a blast!

Getting the place moving!

What's he making?

To cap the evening off, Kathleen, Nibbles' owner, hand delivered a Valentine's cookie and a piece of chocolate cake to each visitor. Kathleen really does put a personal touch on everything, which adds to the experience.

A special event at Nibbles' is something that parents and kids will enjoy. Just looking ahead, there are a couple that look interesting including a brunch with Curious George (March 10), Nibbles' Annual Easter Egg Hunt (March 30), and a Tinkerbell Party (April 7).  Also, don't forget that you can have a birthday party at Nibbles'!  Check Nibbles' website for more detailed information including more events and registration info.

For more on Nibbles' Play Cafe, check our previous review.

**Disclosure: We received a complimentary visit to Nibbles' Play Cafe through our affiliation with US Family Guide in order to perform an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% our own.

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Need College Textbooks? Consider CampusBookRentals

I always like to share info about interesting companies that I discover.  Recently, I was introduced to CampusBookRentals. I am sure that you can tell what CampusBookRentals is all about by its name.  However, CampusBookRentals is more than a place to rent college textbooks. They actually have partnered with Operation Smile. Through this partnership, CampusBookRentals is helping Operation Smile with its mission of performing cleft lip surgeries on children from families otherwise unable to afford the surgery. Operation Smile has been able to change the lives of many children. CampusBookRentals.com is contributing this great cause by donating over 1,000 cleft lip surgeries this year. That will help a lot of little ones!

Besides being part of such a great initiative, CampusBookRental.com is a good resource for those taking college courses to consider. You can save serious money by renting instead of purchasing textbooks. (I remember buying many a book in college that I could not sell back. Ugh!) So, CampusBookRental.com is definitely worth a looksie when acquiring your textbooks. Plus, a donation is made to Operation Smile with every book rented. Nice!

Here is a little video on how the process works:



CampusBookRental has launched a new program that looks interesting called RentBack. RentBack allows you to rent textbooks that you already own to other students. The website allows you to do a search in order to help you decide the worth of your textbooks. RentBack estimates that you can earn about 2-4x more through renting than you can for traditional buyback methods. (I remember trying to sell back books only to be offered $2-$5 for them. Boo!) With this economy, it is definitely worth researching.

If you are going to college or have family members or friends in college, this is a website that you should consider before purchasing books. You may be able to save some $$ by renting books and even make some by renting out your books. Plus, you will be helping Operation Smile in the process. (Yes, a cherry on top!)

**Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of CampusBookRentals. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Spicing Things up with Galena Garlic Company

Galena Garlic Company caught my eye some time ago. They have some intriguing unique blends and they are local to Illinois. What isn't to love! Recently, we were given the tasty opportunity to try some seasonings from Galena Garlic Company. We had fun experimenting some of their most popular blends and I thought that we should share some of our experimentation with you!

We were so graciously supplied with five awesome blends to work with. I am going to talk about two of them in this post. Each of the blends is surprisingly versatile and can be used with a variety of meats and vegetables. The spice packages are very handy-dandy. They can easily be resealed. This is very useful if you do not have any empty spice bottles sitting around! Plus, the labels clearly explain the ingredients in each blend as well as suggest great pairings. Two of the blends that we tried were the Coffee BBQ and the Papa Laszlo's Steak. Both were a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

Take a look at Papa Laszlo's Steak Blend:

Here is a quick peek at the Coffee BBQ blend:

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The Delicate Art of Complaining

I have long looked at complaining as an art form. Knowing how and when to complain is a delicate matter. Many times complaining can go too far. If we act in the heat of the moment, we are liable to let emotions distort what really happened and to make quick judgements without proper assessment. On the flip side, we can let things go because we do not what to make waves. However, doing this, we risk overlooking a problem that will cause us pain far into the future. Whatever you do, you cannot take it back, so you need to really think before complaining.

On my birthday, I had an incident that left me at that fork in the road--to complain or not to complain. I have been witness to people complaining just to get something free. If you have eaten your entire meal and wait until after to complain about it, you should not ask for it free. I so do not want to be that person.

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Spontaneous Stop Leads to Great Meal at Shoreline Brewery

Last weekend, we took a quick trip to Michigan. On the way back, we had a nice meal at Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City. We actually had intended on eating at a different restaurant in Michigan City. However, we stumbled on Shoreline instead and decided to try it. We made a great choice!

After quickly scanning the menu, we were already in love with Shoreline. While Shoreline definitely has some standard brew-pub fare (of which I am a fan), they truly had something more. I was immediately enamored with their addition of poutine to the menu. Seriously, how many places in the States have poutine? They also had falafel, pasta primavera, pork osso bucco, stuffed chicken breast, and more.  What choices!

After much deliberation, I settled on the falafel with vegetable chips. I loved it! I felt that the falafel was seasoned well and the cucumber yogurt sauce was yummy (a tad runny, but good). What can I say about the vegetable chips---beets, yams, and potatoes yum!

My husband had the pulled pork sandwich. He loved the sandwich and would order it again. However, he said that there are so many other intriguing items, he will try something else when we return.

They do have a kids menu at Shoreline. My daughter, being her unadventurous self, ordered buttered noodles. The buttered noodles did come with cheesy garlic bread. Nice!

When you visit Shoreline, you do have to try a brew as well. They have quite a selection, so I am sure that you will not be disappointed. What a place for a good brew and a good meal!

Shoreline Brewery is located at 208 Wabash St. in Michigan City, Indiana. It is a great option for those enjoying summer fun in the Michigan City area or those traveling up to Harbor Country.

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Eyes and Ears Everywhere

Apparently, even Google knows it is my birthday:

Image is a screen capture from Google.

I wonder if this is how Google looked last year on my birthday, but I didn't even notice it. Lol!

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Peanut Butter Maple Brownies {Munchie Monday}

I am always looking for new baked goodies to make. I recently concocted a Peanut Butter Maple recipe that my husband loves. He is not a big chocolate fan, so these brownies were definitely a welcome treat. I adapted the recipe from one in Cooking Light.The recipe is really simple, so this is a good one to go to when in a pinch.

Ingredients

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg white
1 large egg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Combine the flours, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Put to the side. Mix sugar, maple syrup, peanut butter, vanilla, and eggs together in another bowl. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture and blend until moist. Fold in chocolate chips. **I actually tempered my chocolate and mixed it straight in. However, I think that folding in the chocolate chips may work better.**

Once the mixture is blended, place into a greased brownie pan. (I just sprayed it with nonstick spray.) Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Test with a toothpick. When the toothpick comes out nearly clear, remove from oven. Cool. Then, cut and serve! (They were great a little warm!)

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Action, Fun, and Excitement at Monster Jam {Allstate Arena}

To start off our weekend, we headed over to Monster Jam at the Allstate Arena. My daughter has never been before, so I wasn't sure how it would go. Prepared with ear plugs, we headed on our journey.

From the beginning, my daughter was swept up in the excitement. (Hooray!) The crowd got going when the trucks all came out to make their first appearance in the bright lights.

 

The competitions--wheelie contest, races, and freestyle--provided great theatrics. My daughter was particularly enthralled with the freestyle competition.

She also enjoyed cheering on her favorites during the races. The trucks were all unique and interesting to look at. Her favorites were the Gravedigger and Zombie. 

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A Fresh Family Dinner at Moe's: Review and {Giveaway} 2/18/13

After seeing Moe's Southwest Grill pop up in our area, I put it on my must-try list. I love, love, love burrito bowls and fresh salsa--so, trying out Moe's was a no-brainer for me. Additionally, they make their food fresh and have 20+ fresh ingredients to create your dish. This is definitely a plus for someone looking for a quick meal in an overprocessed world. Moe's is focused on providing customers with the best possible ingredients that are fresh and cater towards different dietary needs.

Recently, I was  given the opportunity to visit Moe's, try their fresh food, and report back to you! Last week, my family and I visited the Moe's in Schaumburg, Illinois and enjoyed our dinner experience. We were actually a little overwhelmed when we first looked at the menu. There are a lot of choices and combinations! Everything is assembled right before you, so you get to see and pick exactly what you will be eating. My husband and I opted to share a burrito bowl. Moe's was so accommodating that we were able to put different ingredients on each side of the bowl. We also were given a dollop of guac without an extra charge. Nice!

Look at our burrito bowl!

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Tiesta Tea Giveaway {Winner}

Thank you to everyone that entered our Tiesta Tea giveaway. Your participation and support are very much appreciated! Congratulations to our winner, Erum! Erum has already been emailed and has 48 hours to respond.

We encourage everyone to go out and try some Tiesta Tea! You will definitely discover some blends that you will love!

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Tea-dyed Sock Heart {Cute}

I love when I can make a project with materials that are just sitting around the house. It is definitely light on the wallet. If you are lucky, you can reuse or repurpose something that you were going to get rid of. A couple of weeks ago, my daughter brought home a snowman that she made using a sock. That got me to thinking--my husband mentioned that he was about to replace some of his socks. Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I used the socks and a little magic to make a Tea-dyed Sock Heart.

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Alternative Therapies

I've figured out the main reason people visit doctors: pain.  No one thinks about doctors when all is well.  No, it is pain - as in, "Make it go away!" - that compels us.  But how much pain is tolerable before we are motivated to seek treatment?

On the flip side, it's often embarrassment that stops many from getting needed help (that, and the expense).  I've pondered these ideas a lot lately.  Yes, as you'd suspect, pain is a constant companion of mine.

This year, I've chosen to take action.  That action, I realize, involves entirely non-traditional, non-Westernized treatments. Western medicine has taken me only so far (hello Advil!) but has fallen short.  So I'm fighting pain with acupuncture (brand new for me), chiropractic care (not new for me, but a return after a year-long hiatus) along with some dietary changes, supplements and traditional Chinese herbs.

Of course, none of these would ever be recommended by my general practitioner - which kind of makes me mad.  They are things I researched and learned about on my own.  Did you know, for instance, that 2-3 magnesium tablets are not only good for migraines but - taken an hour before bedtime - relax muscles and promote restful sleep?  Me neither...until I wandered into a homeopathic/natural supplements store and talked to the employees.

Alas, the mainstream medical community and insurance companies (don't get me started on Aetna - grrrrr!) are slow to understand the benefits offered by "non-traditional" therapies.  Ironic, since traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, has been used successfully to treat various conditions for centuries.  Among the conditions it is most successful at treating is pain.  Chronic pain.

I'll be writing future updates regarding my "stomp out pain" journey; I promise to be truthful.  But for now, dear readers, I urge you to push past your psychological comfort zone if that is what's holding you back.  Set your skepticism aside and try to be open to different modalities.  Life really is too short to live with pain.

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Trying Out Glade with BzzAgent!!

I am sure that many of you have heard about BzzAgent. For those of you who haven't, you may want to check it out. I am trying it this year for the first time! You get to try products and spread the word about all of the items that you try.

I recently was given the opportunity to try the Glade Oil Diffuser. I have two dogs, so any air freshener is welcome in my house! I tried out the Glade Oil Diffuser with the lavender & juniper berry scent. I found the diffuser easy to use. It is a bit decorative, so it fits in easily with your decor. I like that it doesn't need to be plugged in. The scent was pleasant. The only problem that I found with the product is that the scent wafts into rooms other than the one intended. For me, that was a little strong. However, that may work well for others. (It does quickly freshen up the house!)

You can see the diffuser below. It is pretty cute!

 

 

 

 

***Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary product due to my BzzAgent membership. All opinions are 100% my own.

 

 



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Bubbly Mexican Layer Dip {Recipe}

Mexican Layer Dip has always been one of my staples for bringing to parties. It is easy to make and a lot of people like it. My husband and I have been making tons of Mexican-inspired over the years, so I changed our original recipe a little and came up with something new based on other things we have tried. (And the result was delicious, of course!)

Ingredients

1 15 oz can of black beans
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
6-8 small tomatoes, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1 small jalapeno, minced
1/4 cup jicama, sliced thin
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

Directions
 
Preheat oven to 350 F.

Drain and rinse black beans. Place in bowl. Add 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice and 1 Tbsp cilantro. Mash together. (I use a potato masher to mash my beans--it is easy and fast!) Then, spread the mixture on the bottom of a medium-sized pyrex.

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Here Comes my Birthday--Already? Really?

Here it comes. Everyone around me is starting to sound like my parents. "The kids are getting so big." "Where has all the time gone." "I can't believe that was so long ago." "I can't drink like I used to.""I can't eat what I did when I was younger."

Someone make it stop! My peers are not supposed to be uttering such things. Our parents sound like this! You heard me---our parents! And they're old!

Aging used to not bother me. But, as I see my birthday rapidly approaching and I count my years, I realize that at some point soon I will be starting the the "second half" of my life.

Your mind cannot help to race ahead sometimes to the loss ahead--the loss of friends, the loss of abilities, the loss of youth. Just like in a movie, every song I hear on the radio reminds me of the bittersweet as well as downright sad things to come. It is almost like all of the radio stations have developed playlists geared towards my anxiety about my impending birthday.

But, I stop myself and think of all the great things to come. So, even though I am approaching an age that I don't dare mention, I am refocusing and enjoying those things that are important. As they say, age is just a number. And, hey, you know what, I get a lot of free crap for my birthday because I am a mom and married to a couponer so I am signed up for every loyalty program from here to Mozambique. Now, that I can enjoy!

**Disclosure: I have not compensated myself for this post. I will, however, be sharing a list of all of my birthday freebies with you at the end of February.

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Avocado & Spinach Power Panini Thin: {The Verdict}

I was able to score one of those free Avocado and Spinach Power Panini Thins at Corner Bakery. (You have probably been seeing posts about the promotion around the internet.) As a member of their ecafe program, I received an email alert and signed up immediately. Today, I got to try my little prize.

I went to the Corner Bakery in Arlington Heights and ordering was smooth. The sandwich was a panini with multigrain bread, spinach, avocado, cheese, and egg. I ordered my sandwich with just egg whites. They were a little busy, so it took a little time to get my order. Nothing outrageous. I definitely would rather have a sandwich that is made fresh rather than one that has been sitting around awhile.

Here is a look at my panini:

I felt that the sandwich was good--not great. I liked that it had spinach and avocado on it. I was pleasantly surprised that the spinach was whole leaf as opposed to chopped up bits. The avocado went well with the sandwich. However, there just was not enough of it! I like that the panini did not leave me feeling all slimy and that I had eaten something entirely full of grease. The sandwich did come with some salsa. Since I brought my sandwich home, I used the salsa I had at home. It did taste good with a little salsa! My verdict: The panini is a good, quick option that packs more nutrition than your typical quick service fare.

If you are not a member of Corner Bakery's ecafe club, I do recommend joining. Through the club, I have received several free sandwiches and cookies. Right now, I have a coupon for a free combo sitting on my table. I have definitely gotten my rewards from this club! I did notice that there are a few reservations still left for this particular promo in my area. You can check the website to see if there is availability in your area. Another cool thing to check out---Corner Bakery has posted the nutritional content of all of their menu items. I like to use this info when choosing a meal!

**Disclosure: I received a complimentary panini through my ecafe membership. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100%  my own.

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