Absolut Los Angeles

I saw an ad for this a while ago and have yet to find it--its Absolut Los Angeles. Its a limited edition vodka with all-natural blueberry, acai berry, acerola cherry and pomegranate. I am DYING to try this. Has anyone tried this yet? I'm determined to get my hands on this and when I do, I'll give you a full review.

Homecoming Shenanigans

Every so often a day comes along where you never dreamed it possible, yet somehow, it happens and its everything you ever imagined. Ha--ok it wasn't that dramatic but homecoming this past Saturday was hilarious!!

Ryan, Nate, Grade and I headed downtown to meet at my godfather's tailgate at 9am. I believe we cracked our first bacardi and diet at 9:02am!! It was a small crew for Badger homecoming but we managed to keep ourselves entertained. My godfather always has us out at his tailgate before the game for good and drinks. At game time, we took the LONG walk from Lathrop St to Bucks on Reagent.

By the time we arrived at Bucks, we had a pretty good buzz going and the drinks just kept coming. It was a little chilly but we braved it outside for a while, then headed in to Buck's where stuff really hit the fan. I recall walking in and immediately being bombarded by a very flamboyantly gay man who I didn't even know but he was talking to people in our group...hmm..interesting! I had all to do to keep myself from busting out laughing because apparently this guy just latches on to people at Buck's and he was trying to latch on to our group.

Anyhow, drinks, shots, lots of photos, its all a blur. We ended up staying at Buck's for the entire game and were all pretty drunk!! We needed to eat immediately and we decided to walk up to Ians for a slice. Well after I had to drag Ryan out of the bar, we started on our way up there. In all the shuffle we lost track of Ryan and a girl named Steph who had joined our group at Buck's.

Nate, Grade and I made it to Ians, waited in a long line, got a piece of pizza and were wondering where the heck Ryan and Steph were..."Brrrring" the phones start ringing....its Steph...."We're outside of Brothers (What??!) and Ryan's puking his guts out!" HA!! I just about died laughing, you see, Ryan was (and I emphasize WAS) our designated driver for the day!!

Wow--we start walking over to Brother's and arrive to this scene:


Ha--I've known Ryan a long time and never seen this sight before. It was great. So the next 1.5 hours was spent trying to get Ryan in a cab and back to McFarland. NO CAB WOULD TAKE HIM!! I was yelling, Grade was taking pictures, people were walking by and laughing....I had no choice.....I had to call him mother!


Yes, a cardinal sin against friends but I had no choice!! None of us could drive him home and it was only 3pm!! I made the dreaded call to RuthAnn and pleaded with her to come pick up her 28yr old son. Yes, we've all been there!

Ryan finally got picked up after a few more puking episodes and we continued on our way to go meet Jeremy back at Bucks. We stayed there for a while, kept reminiscing about the last few hours events, then headed to The Annex so that I could do some long overdue dance moves! Wow, yeah, I guess there's video but luckily I haven't seen it yet! Then we decided to head closer to home on the east side to go to Pedro's to watch the UFC fights.



Overall, the day/night was a blast and just hilarious! I always have a good time on Badger Saturdays and look forward to the two remaining home games. They'll be cold but SO worth it!

Just Ridiculous...

I was reading my beloved new issue of Cosmo yesterday, which normally I love and don't find much wrong with. But yesterday, I stumbled upon an article about ways to save money (because of the bad economy...blah blah) and it was ways to save money with beauty products. So I continued reading and came across a couple that I've heard before like not washing your hair everyday, which unfortunately curly haired girls who use any type of styling product need to wash our hair everyday, and adding a little water to the end of your shampoo bottle to get everything out. Pretty standard suggestions...

But THEN, I came across one that really irritated me--it said to only use moisturizer on your cheeks and skip your T-zone!! What?! This is just ridiculous--I mean, if you can't afford to put moisturizer over your WHOLE face then you SHOULDN'T BE BUYING MOISTURIZER in the first place!

I don't know why that irritated me so much but I thought that suggestion was just completely absurd. If you have a super greasy T zone and you can't use moisturizer on it that's one thing, but to SKIP that area of your face to save money, just crazy!

Photo of the Week

My nephew in his pile of leaves....couldn't get any cuter!

Teter Wedding Pics Posted

The wedding photographer has posted the pictures from the Teter Wedding. Take a peek...

http://afap.smugmug.com/gallery/6283814_zmv3g

Teter Wedding-A Bridesmaid Perspective

The week had finally arrived....the Rausch/Teter wedding, October 11th, 2008. I was quite looking forward to this event because of the recent events which forced me to miss her wedding shower and bachelorette parties, I was excited for a chance to be back to normal and hanging out with everyone.

I had been prepping, primping, trying to get in best form before this event, even though I was limited in what I could do. I was able to grow my nails out (which is a MAJOR feat for me since I always have short nails from work), I was able to fit in my dress (whew!!) after making sure to do lo-cal all week, and I was able to go tanning as long as I covered my back scar with a bandage (if you look at my back right now I have a nicely shaped square white patch directly over my scar--nice!).

Friday night arrived with a rehearsal at the Lutheran Church in McFarland and dinner to follow at Picasso's, also in McFarland. Two churches in one week for me!! YIKES! But luckily I didn't burn up or turn to dust upon entry. The rehearsal went fine, nothing too exciting to report there besides the fact that I was still not real thrilled I got moved to #3 but hey, what you gonna do--not make a big deal about it and smile smile smile!

We finished up rehearsal and went to dinner. Now, I love you Kevin and Greta but what the hell possessed you to, as Barney said, Carbo-Load the night before a wedding when girls need to fit into tight dresses the next day!! YIKES! I couldn't believe it--all fried foods and pasta buffet. But I made the best of it and ate just a little pasta, couple fried ravioli's and some salad, no dressing.

Everyone seemed to enjoy dinner, but I was secretly anxious to get my gift...I already had a hunch of what I was getting so I was getting anxious to open it already! My hunch was right and I got a flask with my initials on it--in pink!! So now I can give Jeremy his back and use my own for to feed my alcoholism on Badger Saturdays. Gotta luv my mini bar!

Anyway, we stayed for a while at Picasso's and chatted, some drank (not me!), and finally I had to call it a night because I was super tired and I knew I had to take the bride home with me since she was staying at my house. Greta and I got back to my house, I went and showered and when I got out, I found Greta out on my balcony looking super stressed. So we had a little chat, she had a good cry, I tried to make her laugh, and then everything was fine. I think most brides probably have that little breakdown the night before the wedding just because of the intense months of planning were coming to an end and everything she had worked so hard to plan was finally going to be shown to all of us...

OMG its Saturday morning--wedding day. Greta and I woke up, finished straightening my hair per request of the hair dresser doing my hair, loaded up, and headed to Artistic Hair Salon in McFarland. I had stopped off earlier and got orange juice and Greta's favorite champagne to make mimosas for us to drink all morning while we were all getting our hair done.

We all got our hair done, I downed 3 mimosas (YIKES), and Greta also got her makeup done. Of course I brought red drinking cups for our mimosas, as only a classy gal would do! I hated my hair when it was first done because it just wasn't what I was picturing in my head. So I made her pin it up more so it looked more formal. I don't know if it actually did but at least I thought it looked better. Any way, a couple made a Subway run and we all met at the church.

Time till wedding: 2 hours

We all got ready in the church basement (?) and were helping Greta get into her dress--funny stuff. We had to put a bag over her head because she had to put the dress over her head and she didn't want makeup or her hair snagged on the dress. Very hilarious. Since, as you know, I think all this stuff is ridiculous to begin with, seeing her go through all that just made me laugh out loud!

FINALLY we were all ready to go. I went up stairs to check out the scene and say hi to some people. Argh, the first time everyone was seeing me in my bright red, very unflattering, strapless, back fat showing dress. Kinda nerve wrecking for me considering I hate wearing dresses and this one was certainly not flattering. I likened it to putting a red box over me and calling it a dress! (Sorry Greta!) At least I can say Jeremy looked very nice in his new shirt and borrowed tie! Very handsome...

Ok, now it was show time. We loaded Greta up the stairs as I watched the Kevin finally walk up the aisle with his mom and I gave her the thumbs up to come in. Jenny and Jon went first, then me and Hot Cheese (Jason, Jeremy's brother), Julie and Barney and then Kristin and Arick. I had all to do not to bust out laughing as i'm trying to smile nice while staring at all the people looking at me. Then enters Greta and her dad--she did look very beautiful after all the getting ready, pinning, bustling, blah blah, in the end she looked really amazing!

The wedding started and I want to personally thank Jon for CONSTANTLY laughing with me because I was cracking up the whole time at the minister because he KEPT TALKING forever and ever about random nothingness...Shania Twain, falling in ditches, etc...

Skip to...they're married! Skip to....limo ride and millions of pictures being taken. The limo (which was a tight fit!) was nice and fully stocked with boos thanks to the boys. I had a very hard time getting in and out of the limo. I wish someone would have captured that on film. I couldn't bend the right way to get in the limo very gracefully so I pretty much just laid on the floor and got to my seat, funny stuff.

We went to the Stoughton Country Club for lots and lots of pictures, which I'm sure are going to be very nice but the photographer was quite bossy and annoying, and we were all starting to get hungry, thirsty and ready to head out. The pictures took so long that we never got to go to a bar, we just drove through downtown (on a badger Saturday nonetheless) and drank until we got the reception.

Skip to...me being tanked before we even walked in. Ya the life of a bridesmaid...get tanked as long as your not the maid of honor and have to give a speech. So that is exactly what I did. Dinner was good, didn't eat much of it because I got up to talk to people, never got any cake, heard that was good also. Oh one side bar point....its never a good sign when you show up at the reception and the first thing you see if your boyfriend drinking scotch on the rocks...at 5pm....Holy crap! Luckily he didn't like it very much and I don't think it got finished (thank god!)

Greta and Kevin were very adamant about not doing all the typically wedding reception crap so there was no bouquet toss, no garter thing, no dollar dance... etc. So we pretty much go to dancing right off the bat, and I never stopped the whole night!

See there's this funny thing that you may not know of...its called "When a bridesmaid gets free drinks all night, she forgets that she just had major back surgery not 4 weeks ago, which causes her to dance like a maniac all night for hours on end." Um ya, that's what I did. I did enjoy my swing dancing with Lundo, thanks! He's so good he made me look good out there.

Skip to....me having my camera out CONSTANTLY and taking picture of everyone and everything as the reception wore on. I remember talking to lots of people but I don't always remember what it was about---so hopefully I didn't say anything too stupid or ridiculous.

Skip to...shots being handed to me, me taking them, me thinking, OMG that was awful! The night came to an end as most wedding do, drunk people buying shots, ties around the guys' heads, Jon Coffey with out a shirt on, bride drunk but not as drunk as the bridesmaids...you know how it goes.

Finally it was time to leave. Most of the usual crew were heading back to McFarland and some of us had gotten a room at some hotel and were getting a bus ride there. Now, from here the story takes an ugly turn, a turn so ugly and unbecoming of a bridesmaid that I am not going to even share it. Sorry! I'm too embarassed to even talk about it so you'll have to live in suspense until someone tells you about it or luckily no one ever will.

Skip to...me waking up in the hotel, contacts STILL in, makeup STILL on, and no recolection of how I got my PJs on or what hotel I was in! WOW, that's the sign that I may have had a bit too much to drink the night before :) But it was an awesome time and I couldn't have asked for a better re-introduction into being up and normal again.

Kevin and Greta certainly know how to throw a party and I think the day went very well. There was no drama, no major disasters and everyone that showed up had a great time. Hopefully this will be the last wedding I'm in ever because I think I'd rather just be a guest! My next wedding will be in Hawaii at the end of January and I can't wait for that!

Weekend Recap

I'm so excited that I have something to blog about besides back surgery and pain killers!! This weekend marked my first full weekend out and about on the town, heading to as many events as I could cram in without overdueing it!

Friday night started out with a little Comedy Club action with Bra, Ganser, Mikey, Marie and Zig. We got to see the funniest guy on earth...Michael Kosta. Some of us had seen him before when he was here a couple years ago. Wow, very funny. He's on myspace, you should check him out. Had a nice time getting out and catching up. I was good and went home afterward right away to get a good night sleep before Saturday

What's going on Saturday you ask? Well its my belated birthday tailgate party! As you know, I didn't get to go downtown for my bday tailgate back on Sept 1st, so now that i'm pretty much better, I decided to grab some peeps and head down there. We had a crew of 7 (wish it could have been more but due to recent events, some people didn't come, which I won't hold against them but I also won't forget!!). We got to Johnny's tailgate (my godfather) and started drinking right away.

I knew I wouldn't make it very long so I tried to get as much fun in as I could. We ate, laughed, gave dirty looks to a girl Heather and I saw from highschool who we HATED back in the day. But of course, as girls do, I felt the need to say hi on our way out and had a 5 minute conversation, blah blah, obviously I was drunk!

We finished up there and at game time headed to Big Ten where the drinks continued. Couple shots, couple diet cokes with my mini bar from my purse, ran into a few people we knew and I made it all the way till the end of the 3rd quarter!! Pretty darn good.

I had a great time and I want to thank Heather, Jason, Justin, Jeremy, Greta and Kristin for coming out with me to celebrate for MY birthday. It means a lot.

Sunday morning arrived way too early for Jeremy and I, having to get up to go to church for his niece's baptism. Eh, I felt OK, not great, but ok, Jeremy on the other hand, puke city!! I arrived at his parents house only to hear the sounds of a freight truck, oh wait no, that's Jeremy throwing up!

We head to the church in Jeremy's brother's car (um sorry Hot Cheese, but you gotta vaccuum that dog hair), and I was sneezy and stuffed up already! At the church, a Luthern Church by the way, I was afraid i'd go up in flames, but luckily only a few sparks! After smoozing with the family and whoever the hell else I was talking to, we go into the church and sit down, smack dab up front.

Now being a non-religous person and totally opposed to organized religious services such as this one, I was damned determined to not participate at all, which is my usual take on these things. So as it started Jeremy and I just went through the motions, stand when we're told, sit when we're told, but neither of us said anything, mouthed anything or looked interested at all. Out of no where, the female pastor lady, stops her thingy, walks over to hand us their weekly bulletin and says something like, you can follow this and use the red book, and pointed to the song book or whatever the hell it is!! Can you freaking belive that?!?! That takes balls I have to say.

Obviously we're not stupid, we know what the bulletin is for, we just CHOSE not to participate. I thought it was awfully rude of her to assume that we were their religion and that we'd want to participate. I think the look on my face said it all, a time I wish someone had captured it!!

I was fuming. It took all my strength to not walk out right then, or start arguing with her about the crap of religion (sorry if I'm offending anyone).

Anyway, Jeremy had to exit, 5 minutes before the actual baptism to go throw up again--classy, real classy. Gotta luv him! He made it back in time and baby Jaydn was baptised. We went back to the house and had a nice lunch while I was sneezing and wheezing (cats in the house), but the meal was still good.

All in all, a busy but do-able weekend. I'm gearing up for the big wedding this coming weekend. This will be a real test of not only my physical stamina but also my drinking stamina. Stay tuned for the udpates on the upcoming nuptials of Greta and Kevin.

Two Things....

First thing: OMG why on earth would the powers that be schedule the vice-presidential debate on the BEST night of TV!! So starting at 8pm, none of the shows are on--how irritating!! Thursdays are my favorite. I'll still get to watch Survivor at 7pm and Sunny at 9pm because its on cable-thank god for cable. Ah, just had to vent about that...

Second thing: What the hell temperature do people keep their houses at in the winter? Being a first time home owner I have no idea what i'm doing with the temperature control. I'm freezing here in my place but I know its too early for heat. Give me some ideas...what temp do you keep your house at ?

(And I encourage people who I know read this blog but never comment to actually comment, you don't have to sign up for anything, you can just comment either anonymously or include you name at the end of the comment! You know who you are!)

Photo of the Week

My nephew at Eugster's Petting Farm in Oregon (or where ever that place is located). I didn't go but he seemed to have had a good time.

3 Weeks Post Surgery...

Today is 3 weeks since my back surgery, and 1 week back to work part time. The verdict...things are definitely better, not 100% but much better. My surgery pain is pretty much gone, just an occasional tinge in my back where my scar is when I bend or twist weird. I guess that's my back reminding me i'm not supposed to move that way. The leg pain is a different ball game. The pain I had before is totally gone but I'm having some muscle weakness/numbness/just overall weird feeling in my leg. This has just happened since i went back to work. I think its normal and its just since my leg is getting used to being back in action. Ah, slowly but surely i'm getting back to normal.

In other news, I've realized my life is quite a bit more boring when I can't go out and hang out with people. But there are a few things going on with me.

1. Got my hair cut today. 7 inches gone!! Ah yeah, yikes! It was a little more than I had planned but the lady said I needed it. Now granted, my hair is still bra length but yikes its a big change for me. I only get my hair cut like twice a year and usually get about 5 inches cut off at a time. This time I just got a little more. No biggie I suppose but the worst is when you take your first shower after getting a BIG hair cut. You squeeze in a huge glob of shampoo then suddenly realize, shit, I don't need all that! And then again, same thing with the mousse, damn, didn't need it! Ok maybe that's just me.

2. I got kicked out of my desk at work and had to move to another. So i'm adjusting to that. I knew it was coming sooner or later because the desk I was using was a 'loaner' but man, right when I get back to work suddenly I gotta move!! And if moving isn't bad enough, I got moved away from 'my group' and over by the bitchy lady, with whom I've had several all out shouting matches with--yeah that's right--at work! So I look forward to our next run-in!!

3. I went and worked out today for the first time--now before you spaz and say 'what the hell, you can't be doing that!!' the dr said I could do walking, biking and eliptical. So today, at my first day back at snatch fitness, I did a half hour walk and did some 5lb bicep curls and some 5lb shoulder work. I figured I'd try and regain some of my arm tone considering i'm in a wedding in a week and a half. Maybe its too late but it never hurts to try. But I AM glad to be back to the gym.

I guess that about covers it for now. I have a few issues brewing around in my head that I know will come out on here probably sooner rather than later. One is my shoe blog that I know I've promised to a few...no worries, it will come. And I just know they'll be things a-happening soon that I may finally need to explode about....stay tuned :)