Since... MAY!?

We've been on Go Mode since.... well apparently since May and the first hints of summer.

Since then, we had a Ben&B trip to Vegas.... where it actually ended up raining for a good portion of the trip. In the desert. We had a pretty wicked awesome corner suite room at the Hard Rock, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the center pool on 2 of the 4 walls. Ben flew in from Wherever, USA that he had a work trip the week prior, and I managed to get myself from MKE to LAS in one piece. Because Ben is amazing sometimes, he went out and bought an array of snacks, champagne and orange juice, wine, vodka, red bulls, and waters to stock up our room before I even got there. We had way too much fun at the pool (on the nice day.5), playing goofy slots, hitting up the blackjack tables, and walking the Strip.

So obviously, we went back in about a month's time. Hello Hard Rock Hotel, you sexy beast. The second go-round was for Ben's birthday, so we ended up going right over Labor Day weekend. There was a little snafu with not getting the corner suite again, so we stayed one night in a standard room and were told we would move in the morning. Morning came, we fueled ourselves with mimosas, and headed to the pool to wait for the call that at our new room was ready. Long story short, when we grabbed all our stuff and dumped it in the new room, our wedding bands were nowhere to be found. Ben went back to the old room to look around, and the nervous Nelly maid assured him that she hadn't seen anything................................................this brings me to a dark place. No additional comments.

Anywho, we spent the majority of this trip outside by the pool. We played swim up blackjack, lounged in the sun and sun, and went to the Jason Derulo pool party concert. It was while we were poolside that I found out my friends Kor&J were already on their flight headed to Vegas. And then Ben's cousin Jennifer from Phoenix texted and said she also was in Vegas for the weekend. What are the beautiful odds?! We ended up meeting up and spent a night out together causing a general ruckus.



The week before the second Vegas trip, I surprised Ben with family and friends at our apartment for his 29th birthday. His high school friend/best man Dan stopped by as the official distractor, and took Ben out on a brewery tour and to Potowatomi for lunch while everyone gathered. If you know anything about me, I'm :HORRIBLE at keeping secrets from Ben. I get too excited to share things with him, and when I do keep my mouth shut, he can pick up on my even more awkward attempts at being smooth and nonchalant. The surprise went off without a hitch, and the second surprise-- a pontoon boat for the evening-- went over great as well.

But more catch up later... time for work!

little big town

Little Big Town came to the Jefferson County Fair a week or so ago.... and Ben, Jessica, Brianna, Adam, Mama Steph, dad and I decided we should probably go. Because 96% of above mentioned group enjoys the likes of country.

 

 

Things got off to a rocky start when we could not all fit into one car, immediately followed by a surprise extra $10/each for general admission into the fair. We resolved to shake it off by shaking our bums to some country tunes, and to do that, you need a nice cold beer. So we got in line....

 

 

And the chaotic, communication-failing Jefferson County Fair sent us a curve ball.

 

 

Turns out that the line we made it to the front of was the line for beer tickets alright, but the country bumpkin running the shhht show needed us to have wristbands. Instead of talking to us like humans, she hog called "LINE FOR WRISTBANDS IS OVER THERE! WRISTBANDS FIRST!!" Annoying, but fine. So we got in line for wristbands... which apparently were a buck each. After defeating that line, we got back into the original line for beer tickets. Country bumpkin gave us our magical tickets, and we got in line at the beer tent. Upon making it to the front of that line, we each received our beer.

It was the most refreshing beer I have ever had in my life.

 

 

But our night of lines was far from over. One would think that the general admission ticket and reserved seating show ticket would be enough to gain access to your seat. Nah. The Jefferson County Fair would not be complete without another seemingly pointless line for another wristband. This special wristband stand was located on the opposite side of the entrance.

 

 

Yet to be deterred, we conquered the above mentioned lines, got another beer, and found our bleacher seats. The show started, and the booty shaking commenced.

 

 

  

The show was bunches of fun, and Ben was singing along by the end. Now Ben is a very creative boy, and towards the end of the show, we realized that we needed to "use 'em or loose 'em" with our drink tickets. So Ben used 'em. And he got fancy with those beers, artistically pouring them like a waterfall into his mouth during some group photos we took after the show ended. So by the time we were walking back to the car by going through the horse and cow barns...... Ben was a lively fellow. When a cow started to "moo" and we all started to giggle.... Ben began to yell "'HEY! Shut up cow! You don't talk to me like that! SHUT UP COW!!! SHUT UP COW!!" Mama Steph snorted and dad grabbed Ben by his flannel before the cow's 16 year old country kid owner came figured out that his cow was being harassed.

 

group shot!

 

And we all made it home to LM in one piece. Yee-haw

 

 

 

 

xoxo, b

Funeral for a fish

Yesterday was rough. Life is so short, and it seems as though death steals away such promising futures on a regular basis.

Yesterday, my sister Brianna's fish, Gill, died. She called me during work to break the heart wrenching news. Gill had gone home to the big fishbowl in the sky, and since I was there when he was brought home from the pet store, she felt it was only fitting that I say a few words at his funeral.

So I did. I spoke from the unprotected and vulnerable depths of my being. I spoke of Gill, and the amazing life he lead since I met him in March.

Then we flushed Gill, while Faith Hill soulfully sung "there you'll be" in the background. Bittersweet feelings arose as we bid a final farewell, and watched as he went to sleep with the fishes forevermore.

Then we went to Maggiano's for a family dinner, and to eat our feelings Italian style.

**I'm thinking Brianna needs to find herself a full time job. What an odd bunch we are.....

xoxo, b

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

cat with eyeliner

My parents rescued [another] cat. This kitty- RJ- has clinically proven ADHD. He looks like he is wearing emo eyeliner. He stole my peanut butter cookie, and then tried to take another right from my mouth. He's a mental spaz-cake.

He should fit in just fine with my parents.

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Ben's holiday work party was this last Friday. I miraculously had off that same day, so we drove down to IL together bright and freakin' early in the morning. I sang and seat-danced to Christmas music on the hour ride there, and Ben reminded me that I was not invisible while in a car. Exactly sweet cheeks, more like on stage...

I did some solid Christmas shopping, coffee drinking, and time killing while Ben was at work. I even saw the Griswold's family roadster with a dead christmas tree strapped on top of it. I took a blurry picture on my dumb-dumb phone and texted it to numerous contacts to share the joy of what I had just seen. Then I went in the mall and mall Santa waved at me. I texted my sista Branners right away to make her jealous of my amazing good fortune. She replied "he has to be nice to kids and retards... that's what he's paid for." Clever.

Then the holiday work party finally started, and I was able to have my X-Rated mixed drink and fried shrimp and fancy pizza and sliders. And all was pretty much good in the world.

Sidenote pet peeve: If you're going to start giving a grand diagnosis in front of everyone on how I'm so skinny and should eat a sandwhich, then the least you could do is buy me a damn sandwhich Dr. Nobody. Then I'd have a burger to go with your stupid opinion. And make sure it has pickles and extra cheese on it.

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Benjamin has been sick for the last couple of days. I got him pretty filled up with cough drops, NyQuil, orange juice, and even some homemade chicky noodle soup. I was pretty determined not to fall victim to the same monstrosity that made my husband become a whiney lump on the couch.

I woke up this morning with a scratchy throat. Not cool life, not cool.

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As soon as my mom gets her life together and finishes up work, we are going to make Christmas cookies. It will be glorious and sugar-filled.

xoxo, b

turkey extravaganza

My Betty Crocker baking experiences over the Thanksgiving weekend were..... multiple and devastating.

My first attempt at baking a freakin' apple pie ended with a burnt and butter-less pastry. Round Two seemed like it was going to be easier than prom night, until Ben came home and busted me for using a pre-mixed apple crisp concoction that expired in 2009. My bad. So I got my Betty Crocker buns in the car and hit up the Pick N Save for a pre-made pumpkin pie.

Sunday was a Turkey Day with my parents, Brianna, and Brianna's boyfriend (they started dating following our wedding, so I'm taking credit). Since we were hosting the little gathering at our place, I was in charge of making the turkey. After discussing with multiple individuals who know a thing or two about cooking, it was decided that I would make a turkey boob in the crock pot. Since the apple deserts had been a disappointment, I was pretty pumped to prove myself as a bonafide chef. Or at least a girl who can create something edible. 

I purchased my turkey boob, defrosted it in the fridge for a day and a half as instructed, and seasoned it late Saturday night. I gently lowered the boob into the crock pot and gingerly put the cover in place. Tilting my head to one side, I felt a smile crawl onto my face as I watched the beginning of perfection. I could practically taste my success. Ben was busy picking out a movie for us to watch before going to bed, so with one final nod and smile at my masterpiece, I left the boob to simmer to its glorious finale.

The next morning, I woke up and feeling confused, politely asked Ben if he could smell the turkey. He responded that he in deed did not smell the turkey, and rolled out of bed to investigate. He quickly returned to the bedroom, looking like a mug shot. Apparently, after watching the movie, Ben shuffled around the apartment unplugging the vast assortment of Christmas lights and unplugged the crock pot as well. He was so panicky and upset about the lifeless and cold turkey boob in the crock pot that I couldn't even be upset. We drove over to Pick N Save (again) and adopted our second turkey boob. Ben was left with intense instructions on how to recreate my original masterpiece in 1/4 of the time as I headed out to work. Blah blah blah we ended up having turkey in time for dinner.

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At Ben's family Turkey Day, THREE COUPLES stood up throughout dinner to announce that they were knocked up and expecting in May/June. His aunts and uncles kept looking at us, apparently waiting for a similar announcement from Ben & I. So I announced that I was planning on having a food baby and got seconds.

I am fully aware that it's startling and fantastic that I've kept a myself AND a pair of cats alive and functioning up until now... and that a tiny human depending on me probably isn't the greatest idea at this point.

"The Parent Rap"

So congrats to ya'll who are with child. I know what you did last September.

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 xoxo, b

gobble gobble lick lick

IT'S BASICALLY TURKEY DAY!!

yum

Today, I will get my Betty Crocker on, and try to create an edible apple pie masterpiece to bring to family turkey day. There is no middle ground here... it will either be a splendid surprise, or a god-awful disaster. Because that's how I roll.

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After my work meeting yesterday morning, I rushed home on a full tank of caffeinated coffee and attacked our apartment with Christmas decorations. It's great! But it's Christmas decorating... and in my humble but always correct opinion... that means you could always use a little more tinsel and twinkling lights. I'm unsupervised for the majority of the day today, and awake way too early thanks to Paris wiping kitty boogers on me until I woke up, so let's see what trouble I can get into.

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According to local sources, I will be doing my first ever Black Friday shopping with my sister within 48 hours of right now. Yikes.

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Nicole (aka SoCo) with a bottle of SoCo...

xoxo, b

amelia island

So. I'm at Amelia Island with the family. Mom, dad, sister and I all made the awesome little car ride together.... which ended up being.... long. Car rides are less fun when no one agrees on the music that should be played, whether said music should then be blasted, if the windows should be up or down, and when bathroom breaks should be taken. And the backseat/passenger seat driving? Enough to make you take a sleeping pill or two and pretend at least a couple hours of the ride never happened.

But I love them all.

Anyways.... the weather has been AMAZING. 80 degrees and sunny, sunny, sunny. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Love it.

I met my little German cousins yesterday, and spent a couple hours with them today playing in the sand building sand castles and jumping over waves in the ocean. They are really adorable kids. It's funny though, because they know German, but a lot of English too. So when they start talking to me in German, my 4 years of German class in high school run the other way and I have only the slightest clue what they are talking about. So I smile and nod. Because they are really cute kids.

AAAAAND Wednesday afternoon I fly to Vegas to join Ben. I hope he is behaving himself and not gambling away our wedding fund. Or first child.

xoxo,
britani