16 candles + 10

I accomplished another full year of living, which brings my grand total to 26. Lucky for me, I have not had any spontaneous arthritis, need for a hip replacement, or found any grey hair. However, I'm 26 now, and I fully realize I will need to monitor for those types of things from here on out.

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To celebrate such a joyous and monumental occasion-- aka the 5th Anniversary Party of My 21st Birthday-- Ben and I decided to head  north to DeCabin in Winter, WI. We left Thursday, and after a pit stop in LM, showed up at the Leinenkugel's Brewery by 3:30 on the dot. We got our tour on (with a crowd of 4 other people), wrote postcards, and sipped 5 different beer samples. Life was good.

Then the TomTom got us lost. Then we got ourselves found. Then we continued to DeCabin.

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part of the goofy zoo puzzle

The next day, my parentals showed up with their pup, Eko. We didn't do much of anything on Friday... other than go for a Friday Fish Fry at the Wannigan, watch movies (What About Bob!), play games (which I managed to win every single one...), put together a crazy puzzle (that ended up missing a piece in the center), walk around the edges of the lake (because I figured I would fall through or a muskie would fly thru and eat me), and drink wine.

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Saturday, we went for breakfast "downtown" at The Hotel. It was the first time since we got up there that either Ben or I had an Internet connection (but still no cell service). No cell/Internet is fantastic!! After breakfast, we took a little trip up to Hayward, WI. On the way, we stopped at the LCO Casino and played 5 cent Wizard of Oz slot machines. I won five bucks on a spin, which apparently flipped a competative switch in my mom, because she immediately went ahead and won 8 bucks on her 5 cent spin. Typical.

mom with Hook Stone wine to open in the summer!

After winning big at the casino, we did some wine sampling at Hook Stone Winery. We bought a bottle to bring back to LM and open sometime in the summer so that my birthday will continue to last throughout the year. Then we stopped by The Angry Minnow Brew Pub and shared a paddle of their craft beer.



beer samples at The Angry Minnow



After the Hayward trip, it seemed like a good idea to make a gigantic bonfire.... even though it was negative something degrees outside. So Ben and my dad created a 5-alarm fire with gasoline and pallets, and then Ben and Eko shot off some fireworks. I think the macho fire was to prove that they COULD make a fire... since they weren't able to do a dam[n] thing about the fireplace inside....

2 men, 1 fireplace, 1 goal

the birthday tiara and matching earrings

Since my 'rents were leaving in the morning, my mom made a steak birthday dinner Saturday night. It was dee-lish. I was even allowed to wear the AMAZING plastic earrings that went with my birthday tiara to dinner... even though it wasn't my bday yet. Because a birthday tiara is exactly what every [twenty-]six year old needs.

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Anywho, Sunday was my official birthday. I woke up with the sun shinning and birds/butterflies fluttering around and Ben singing a gorgeous melody in a deep and soulful voice while on one knee..........then I woke up from that dream to Eko's wet nose and sloppy tongue on my face. A few cinnamon rolls and a shower later, and it was time for me to wait impatiently by the duck phone for my grandma to call and sing me happy birthday. Because it's what she does every year, solely because she is awesome. 

mom signing the bottle

I wore my tiara and earrings that day, we popped a little pink bubbly, and I turned 26 like a champ.





one of the bottles Ben & I
got in NY on our anv roadtrip!

 

In other birthday related news, Ben bought a strange pie and some candles when we first got to Winter. We ate half the pie right away. The second half we saved for my actually bday. Since there weren't enough candles, a couple of scented pillar candles completed the distraught-looking mess of a bday cake display. It took awhile for Ben to light all the candles, and then I forced him to sing to me. After I blew out all the candles my first attempt, we lit them all again so Ben could prove that he was able to blow them all out in one breath, too.

definition of a beautiful disaster

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By the time Ben and I left, neither of us had any idea what was going on in the world or exactly how many days we had spent at DeCabin. It was lovely.

We stopped in LM on our way back to MKE for some birthday margaritas in Mexico (aka the Mexican restaraunt in town) with Jessica. Brianna and Weiner happened to be in the area at the same time, and stopped by to join us. It was a mini fiesta! Brianna told the waiter that it was my birthday. He asked me if I wanted a tequila shot or a shooter. Well HELL! Tequila shots and I end up making bad life decisions together, but I've always gotten along with a shooter. So I asked for a shooter. He brought me a fried cinnamon stick in a glass of whip cream... a "churro."

birthday "shooter"

Life Lesson from a Quarter Life Crisis: You know you're geting old when you turn down a shot and ask for dessert. And the whip cream on that fried cinnamon stick? The fact that you didn't hear the waiter correctly in the first place.

Here's to 26.


xoxo, b

Didn't steal your boyfriend

I woke up in the dead of the night..... last night..... because I head butted my husband in the face. There was some cussin' on his end. Bed ninja strikes again!!

I bet this had something to do with the solid rock concert I held before falling into a gentle slumber. Instead of moving the Xbox from the bedroom, I took advantage of the opportunity to dance around on the impromptu stage (bed) while my Guitar Hero band-- Glitter Tits, of which I am the lead/sole member-- rocked out to "Welcome to the Jungle."

More like welcome to the kingdom of awesome.

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Work pet peeve: Calling clients to tell them their special order ring is in. Not bad, but here's the kicker... Getting lip from the insecure fiancée who apparently believes I'm the woman on the side booty calling her man.

I'm asking for "Nick" because "Nick" is the only name on the account. But thank you for going into crazy possessive lady mode and informing me how YOU are his fiancée, "Jane." Good for you, I don't care, your shhht is here.

Because I'm not looking for a fight club right now, I'm still finishing my coffee.

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Birthday is in 4 days! We are going up to the cabin, maybe tomorrow, for sure by Friday morning.

I'm still waiting on my bday tiara.

•••••••••••

xoxo, b

meditation station

At approximately 8:30 this morning, I was subjected to group meditation at work. We showed up with our comfy pants and pillows and got our zen on.

Except for me. I can't turn off my brain after a pot of coffee and an intense 30 minute performance of hardcore singing/yelling in my car on the way to work.

So while getting comfortable (which for me is sprawling out face down on my zebra blankie) and listening to the instructions to feel our breathing and become one with our bodies... I got the giggles. My mind was on overdrive.

Example: [instruction] Feel your breath. Feel it in your toes. Imagine breathing in and out thru the tips of your toes. Pay attention to your senses. Feel every part of your body. [ADHD-coffee-mind me] Breathing in my toes?! That's absurd! Would I smell thru my toes, too? Eew. How would I wear shoes? I don't like shoes anyways, rather be barefoot. Plus, I have that little plantar wart on my big toe right now. Sick. Feet are nasty. I'd rather breathe through my nose, thank you kindly.

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Anywho, while getting ready in the bathroom this morning, Nicole came waltzing up to the counter. She said "hey" and jumped into the counter. Then she threw up in the sink and left.

What the what.



xoxo b

Mother Earth/Martha Stewart

Today, I realized that I'm Mother Earth AND Martha Stewart rolled into one green thumbed, crafty individual.

[100% self-reported results with no additional tests supporting exaggerated tales of glory that follow]

FIRST: I found the dried up and dead plants that were hiding on my windowsill. "How amazing and forward thinking am I that I can showcase these pots with nothing but dried dirt in them?" I thought to myself. Then I decided to try something new; I WATERED those pots who still had plants "growing" in them. I gave them more dirt, some tender plant love, and a few motivational and encouraging words to help them realize their potential. Then I had a serious talk with Nicole to keep those kitty lips off my greenery. Wham bam! One minor mess later, I present to you.... plants.

SECOND: I went Little House on the Prairie up in this joint and made some candles. Home made, glorious smelling, adorable little glass jar candles. Because not only am I Mother Earth today, I am also Martha Stewart. There is such a strong mixed smell of apple jack and blueberry pie (plus the other three candles I strongly felt should be burned at the time) that I feel a slight sense of lightheaded-ness. Or maybe that's just the euphoric feeling of success. I'm going with the latter.

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On a very important note, my birthday is a single week from today. I asked Ben for a birthday tiara. I also asked my mom for one, because a girl needs a backup plan.

I was under the impression that there would be another major quarter life crisis in which I jet off to Vegas.... Or maybe this go 'round I'd get a questionable tattoo or piercing or make some other irrational life decision. However, it dawned on me like a ray of sunshine that Clay Matthews is 26. If he can do 26, I can do 26. It's just one more thing we have in common besides long blonde locks and strategic tackles.


xoxo, b

From a brilliant mind to the brilliant phone

Guess who has two thumbs and got a brilliant phone for Christmas?

This girl.

And guess who finally figured out how to blog from her brilliant phone?

This girl.

That's right folks, I will eventually figure out how master this smart phone, who can be a bit of a smartass at times. I think a few ground rules need to be put in place. Like quit trying to guess what I'm going to write brilliant phone, and quit autocorrecting everything. Maybe I WAS trying to type "hoelsu".... Don't act like you know me.

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Sister Branners and I went to the Packer vs Vikings playoff game in Green Bay this last Saturday. It was fantastic, and cold, and everything a playoff game in Lambeau should be. I absolutely adore that place!!

Super Bowl here we come!!!!

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My New Year's Resolution:

To make a New Year's resolution

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Ben and I are moderately concerned about Paris and her seasonally affected depression.

This morning I caught her trying to squeeze herself into a plastic grocery bag that was on the kitchen counter. I'm going to put her on suicide watch until she gets her life on track.

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In other late breaking news, I found our car's GPS. Naturally, it was in the living room couch cushions.




XoXo, b