Five On Friday ♥

It's been a while, but I'm excited to be back at it and linking up

with Christina, Darci, April, and Natasha for 5 on Friday!!!

 



 

March has been buzzing with activity and keeping me pretty busy in the process - birthday parties galore, Michigan weather that can't make up its mind, soon to be concert crooners, a new friend to hang out with in the car, and obviously a bit of randomness!

 

• ONE •

 

Everyone and my sister has a birthday in March!  I swear, it's totally nuts!  Last weekend we celebrated Rob's nephew's sixth birthday (his for-real bday was in January), but better late than never! ☺  It was great to get together with his family and nosh on all the Pinterest-y types of yummies!

 

Here's the cute little creation his mom came up with (with a little thanks to the above mentioned Pinterest) for the Birthday Treat!  I made the frosting and then piped it on to look like little bits of grass - you know, just doing my part!  I think it really turned out cute!  She always adds such sweet little touches (ahem, barrel of jelly beans, little chocolate chicks...need I say more)!

Followed by that was my dear little sister's 25th birthday!  She's a whole quarter of a century old now which makes me feel super old!  Yikes!  I always love getting together with my family no matter what the occasion!  There's always great food, lots of treats and even more laughs!  This time around we played 'what can we find in the basement and in Lauren's closet' followed by a quick gander at some old photos! 

 

 We have had Dirt Cups (you know...oreos, pudding, gummy worms...amazingness) in lieu of cake for the past couple years for her birthday dessert but this year she went with Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins which are also super tasty!  Later when the exploring began, we found an old marionette 'Nsync doll from back in the day hiding in her closet - remember this guy?  (Side note:  One of Gatsby's many nicknames is in fact "Joey Fat-One!")  All in all it was a really fun day!  Happy Birthday, Lo!

More birthdays coming soon:  Rob's is Monday (also Oberon release day for all the Michigander followers!) but we're celebrating with his family tomorrow!  Bestfriend Allison's golden birthday is next week with my Little's!  And then March is pretty much over! 

• TWO •

 

 What's up Michigan....it's Spring now.  I would appreciate it greatly if you would act like it!  Last week it was nice and sunny and warm (for here at least) then on the for-real first day of Spring, what do we wake up to but another dusting of snow and frost!  I'm all for 'Pure Michigan' but I'm so over this fresh powder stuff!  Bring on the green grass and flowers! ☼

• THREE •

So...Rob and I were heading out the other day on a little local adventure, and what do we find stashed in the half-melted snow bank next to his car but a ...

Yes...there was an actual 'city' turkey hanging out in the snow bank.  We're not sure how it got there but figured it's so random, why not mention it!

• FOUR •

Sunday Funday here we come!  My gal pal and newest friend to join the bloggy lands and I have an action packed day full of fun planned to cap off our weekends!  We're starting by seeing Divergent in the IMAX (in bangin' seats I might add - thanks Britt!) and then heading over to Fan Girl out over Demi Lovato's Neon Lights Tour!!!

Confession time:  I originally had this as Number Three, but I couldn't resist making it 'Four!' ♥

• FIVE •

A new friend to hang out with me in the car!  Sounds a little creepy, right?!  Rest assured, I have not been forcing someone to ride around in my car to keep me company!  I renewed my library card (because for some crazy reason GR thinks you should every three years???) and took myself on a date through the YA Audio Book section!  I picked up a couple that struck my fancy:  Extras (the final book in the Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld) and Wither (the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren Destefano).  I'm around 3/4 of the way done with Wither and so far I like it pretty well.  It's not life changing but it's entertaining and a nice switch from the same-ole-same-ole radio nonsense. 

A Friends Update:  I'm almost done with Season Two!  Currently watching "The One With the Chicken Pox" where Phoebe and Charlie Sheen get down and dirty scratching in the living room! 

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend!?



Keep Cold, Pour Hard

I love a good stout and the Left Hand Milk Stout definitely doesn't disappoint! 

So, imagine my excitement when Rob and I noticed there was a bottled Nitro version of our favorite milk stout!  AHHHH!!!!  (And that was only a preview!)

We snatched up a sixer and went on our merry way - picking up a few other necessities...milk, snacks, lego mini figures.  ☺

To set the scene:  we're in the kitchen, two pint glasses rest on the countertop, and Rob is to my right pouring himself a nice cold Founder's Centennial IPA.  I grab one of the Nitro Milk Stouts out of the freshly stocked refrigerator and popped the cap.  Then I tipped it straight upside down and Rob about had a hernia!  He quickly paused mid-pour and exclaimed, "What are you doing!?  It's going to go everywhere!!!"  I shrugged, stated I was just following directions and pointed to the cap laying beside my glass.  The words Keep Cold ♦ Pour Hard were staring straight up at us, and I smiled. 

I wasn't really sure what would happen, but it didn't overflow, instead it poured similarly to how a nitro beer pours on tap - simply amazing!  I'm actually enjoying one as I type this post - and I captured the magic on video for all you non-believers! 

Hope you enjoy this little bit of brew magic!!!  Cheers! ♥  Sorry the quality is pretty bad - I recorded it on my phone originally as a Snapchat...but you get the idea!  This is poured in real-time, I promise!

 

 

And, if you're wondering what this magical elixir looks like when it's settled, feast your eyes on this little ditty:

 

 

 

If you love stouts, I definitely recommend this one - nitro or not, it's a goody! The nitro just gives it that awesome creamy flavor!!  Mmmm!

 

Have you tried any bottled brews "on nitro?"  What ones?!  I'd love to discover some new gems!  And, if you've tried this one, what did you think!? 

 



Why hello again, loves...

So...maybe you've noticed, but I've been away for a bit....  I've actually been dealing with some personalish stuffs on top of being super busy at work, and catching that nasty cold that has been going around. 

I'm {mostly} an open book so here goes nothing! :0)  

Not so long ago I discovered that my birth control pills might be causing adverse side effects in the way of terrible, horrible mood swings that make me act like a crazy person, together with a constant looming sense of trepidation and foreboding.  And to make matters worse, every four weeks (you know, that magical time of the month us gals all love...) a switch in my brain basically flipped and I became someone I hardly recognized.  For the entirety of 2013 and the last couple of months it's gotten progressively worse.  I didn't recognize the signs early on, and instead just figured I was suffering from additional work stress, or just general glumness, etc.  I have never had issues with depression or have had any side effects like this from the good ole' BC in the past.  I had heard stories of friends who had similar issues, but figured I was in the clear - boy was I wrong!

So, lately I've been really scrutinizing the past year or so and I've been able to begin to see an inclination in the crazy that became me.  Looking back I can't believe I didn't realize there was something more serious wrong - classic denial...  I just assumed it couldn't happen to me, blah, blah, blah...  I'm thankful to finally have identified the  root of the issue (fingers crossed) and I'm really hoping it's as simple as a change in prescription.  I have an appointment (tomorrow actually!) to work on getting this whole ordeal straightened out so I can get back to feeling like me again...before my relationships are stretched past the point of no return!  Right now I'm looking forward optimistically and am so ready to get back on track with my fun, happy-go-lucky kind of life! 

I really wanted to share my experience in the hopes that if you ever find yourself feeling similarly, you don't just write it off to stress, and instead take a closer look at what might really be a bigger issue! 

On a happier and more random note - I've been watching Friends (yes...for the first time) and I LOVE it!  I just finished season one, and am already getting a good start on season two!  I was never interested in it when it was actually on (for starters I was nine when it aired) but even as I grew up and my peers were getting into it, I was happy as a clam just watching my Nick at Nite (back when it was Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Taxi, etc.) and Disney Channel Original Movies!   I'll always have a soft spot for Under Wraps, Zenon, Smart House, and Brink! 

When Friends ended in 2004 I was just wrapping up my first year of college, finals had just finished up and I was heading back home for the summer.  When I went to say goodbye to my dorm floor friends, I found them all crammed in one room watching the finale.  I was made to wait until the commercial break before I actually got to bid my adieus!  So, there lies my first Friends experience.  I later ended up catching a few episodes on  my lunch break at a prior job (only 2 or 3 channels came in on the tiny little break-room TV) but I usually tried to make it so I was on lunch the same time Who Wants to be a Millionaire was on.  When I couldn't make that, it was between Friends re-runs or something like The View (absolutely no interest in that) so needless to say....Friends won!  Now I'm really glad I've found it and get to experience it for the first time as an adult - you just get so much more of the 'humor' in it!  It's kind of like when you watch a movie you loved as a kiddo as an adult and BOOM you finally get that sneaked-in joke that always made you wonder why your mom and ever other grown-up in the room was chuckling! 

So, that's the mystery of my recent away-ness!  I've been hanging with my new Friends and trying to work on getting back to me and over this cold!  Hope you're all having a great week!