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!

Five On Friday: Weekend Goals

 

I'm doing this one a little differently!  It's been a busy week, so I've been kind of slacking on the bloggy side of my life...but I figured everyone should have time to share five simple little tid-bits on a Friday!  I mean, it is Friday after all!  And who doesn't love a FRIDAY!  If you want to get in on this, make sure to link-up with  Christina, Darci, April, and Natasha for 5 on Friday!!! 

 

Goals...we've all got 'em, but it's accomplishing them that's the real challenge.  So far...not gonna lie....I'm not doing so hot on my New Year's Resolutions!  I'm totally wearing my shame-face - you can't see it, but trust me, it's there, and it's not pretty!  I would say, "maybe next year!!!" but instead of shirking off my to-dos a whole year, I'm going to make myself five little weekend goals!  They'll be easy and fun to accomplish so I'm really hoping they'll put me in the mood to tackle the big ones without wasting anymore time!!!

 

1.  Celebrate Brittany's Birthday! 

My co-worker friend's GOLDEN birthday is Monday so we're going to lunch tomorrow (Olive Garden - Unlimited B.Sticks/Salad and Soup....YES PLEASE!)  We're also all going to meet up on Saturday night for a bit of fun, which leads me to my next weekend goal....

 

2.  Meet Amy.

 

Another of my co-worker friends has let us in on a little secret!  His cute little girlfriend is coming to visit and B and I are so ecstatic to finally meet her!  The beer will be flowing, the laugher will be pleantiful and the smiles will be so many that they leave your cheeks sore for days!  At least that's how I picture it! 

 

3.  Hang with my ZTA Sorority Sisters.

 

Our alumna group is getting together for lunch and a tour of the Fox 17 Studio downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday morning and I can't wait!  It's always great seeing those lovely ladies and catching up!  And, thanks to our awesome and overachieving social chair, we have so many fun things planned on our calendar!

 

4.  Cross off at least two more movies on my Best Picture list! 

 

I really want to try to watch all the films nominated for best picture this year, or at least as many as I can before the actual Academy Awards (I think it's on March 2nd??)....but I'm kind of failing in a BIG way so far!  I've watched exactly two so far:  1.  Gravity and 2.  Captain Phillips.  Aiming for Wolf on Wall Street and either American Hustle or Nebraska this weekend!  Has anyone already devoured all of these?  Any suggestions?! 

 

And, in case you were curious...so you don't have to leave me to look them up...here's the nominees this year!

 

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

 

5.  Bake something.

 

I don't really know what I want to make, but I'm open to suggestions!  I just know I want to make something delicious and fun and different and exciting and....  ;-)

Ideas?  I'd love some new recipes to try!!!

 

Hope you all have a thoroughly great weekend and get all your own little to-dos done!

Cheers!

 



Spring 2014 Fortune Cookie Soap Box

It's here, It's here IT'S HERE!!!!

 

I was so excited when my first ever Fortune Cookie Soap Box arrived this weekend!!! 

 

Fortune Cookie Soap is a company specializing in providing unique and safe bath and body products!  They do really make soaps in the shapes of fortune cookies too - all the way down to the fortune inside!!! 

 

The Soap Box is a subscription box that ships quarterly and includes mostly sample sized selections of their newest seasonal line!  It's $19.99 a quarter, but they do also give you a $10.00 offer code with each box that you can use to purchase some more goodies!  Plus, the boxes usually have a really fun theme! 

 

The theme for Spring 2014 was In the Garden of Good and Evil, which I thought was super cute!  And, boy oh boy, it didn't disappoint!  I already knew what was coming (they email a "spoiler" sneak-peek a week or so before the boxes ship) but I was still really eager to actually get my hands (and nose) all up on those glorious new products! 

 

Native Nectar Body Wash

I just used this yesterday and it smells divine, like fresh coconut and Spring!  Ahhh!

 

Afternoon Delight OCD

The OCDs are FCS's hand sanitizers.  They usually smell pretty good in the bottle (this one smells lightly of apricots and watermelon) but unfortunately that smell doesn't translate too well to your hands!  It's been my experience that as soon as I rub it in all I smell is alcohol.  So, I guess you know it's killing germs!

 

Marshmallow Dreams Cuticle Butter

I actually put this on as soon as I opened it!  It's nice and creamy and my under-moisturized cuticles were quite thankful!  Plus it smells like marshmallows and lavender!  Yum!!

 

 

Make it Rain Whipped Cream

The Whipped Creams are FCS's body butters.  They are super rich and moisturizing and smell amazing!  Plus, the smell lingers for a looonngg time!  This one smells really fresh and clean!  It was Gatsby's favorite thing in the box!!!

 

Forbidden Fruit Fortune Cookie Soap

This scent is described as "dusky verbena creeping over fresh blueberry skins and lemon zest" which I get, but with my untrained nose I smell blueberry and lemon and spring treats!!!  I can't wait to use this (after I finish my Banana Hammock FCS)! 

 

Me So Thorny Steam Me Up Scotty!

The Steam Me Up Scotty's are shower steamers.  You place them behind (or to the side if you're me!) of the water stream, so they're not in the direct path but get splashed from time to time, and just relax with a wonderful aromatic shower experience!  Our bathroom doesn't have a bathtub so I'm always excited to get a fun / different "bathy" product I can actually use!  I actually used this yesterday too and the scent was so nice and relaxing:  citrus, lavender, and vanilla with hints of patchouli and sandalwood!  I've also tried their Serenity (which is mostly lavender and perfect to use on those relaxing before bedtime showers), the cold buster (which is minty and is supposed to open up your sinuses!), and one from their Hunger Games inspired product line!  I've really enjoyed them all - it just adds a little extra something to what could normally be a boring, typical shower!

 

The Bloom Bloom Room Bath Fizzy

This is the adorable little pink flower in the box!  I opened it and sniffed it out and I'm super excited to use this!  Now I've just got to plan a weekend or two to visit my mom so I can covet her huge tub for a little R & R!

 

Venus Fly Trap Perfume Oil



This one took some time and a few extra sniffs to really figure out how I felt about it!  It smells really citrusy in the vile, but when I first dabbed it on my wrists, I got a strong musky aroma - which I'm not a super fan of!  But then after it settles a bit I get more of the floral scents coming through.  It's not my favorite of scents and I probably won't wear it often, but I definitely appreciate its complexity and can see myself dabbing a bit on for a nice Springtime date once in a while!

Unfortunately the Spring Soap Box is already sold out, but if you're interested in getting one of these for yourself in the future, I believe they are taking new subscriptions beginning with the Summer 2014 box!!!  Find out more here!

Birchbox February 2014

This might be my most disappointing box yet...sad face!  And there's not even a perfume sample!  It just looks so....empty this month!  Hopefully next month will be more exciting!

Well....here goes nothing! 



Even Gatsby wasn't impressed...

The B-Squad:

Agave Healing Oil Treatment

Since you only ever need a couple drops of this at any given time...the packaging is what irks me the most here...how can you save this without making a big ole' mess!  But, I'll give this a go anyway - I like hair oils but they're hit or miss for me!  Some are great while others make my hair feel really oily and built up!

Eleven Skin Refresh Cleanser

This is the thing I'm most excited about in this less than thrilling box.  I'm always game for trying a new cleanser and this is a pretty legit sample size!  Yay for tiny victories!!

OPI  Sheer Tints in Be Magentale with Me Top Coat

I'm also looking forward to giving this a go!  I've never used a tinted top coat, so this is the other thing I'm looking forward to trying out of this month's samples.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara

I do really like Smashbox, but I already have a couple of these laying around from free samples I received in  Ulta/Sephora gift bags so I was a little disappointed because of that!  However, I think as far as BB is concerned this is actually a pretty decent sample.  I'll be gifting mine to my friend Janell since she'll get more use out of it than I will!

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Palette

Again, I really like Smashbox, but I'm not a super fan of the way this was packaged!  It's a cardboard card with 8 little single use swatches of the eye shadow.  The colors are nice though, and I do like their shadows - they're pretty creamy and don't crease easily! 

Okay...so now that I think of it, it's not that bad!  It could definitely be worse but it still is probably my least favorite box that I've received to date!  Do you get BB?  If so, what was in your this month?!