1. A weekend of fun in the sun with some pretty damn fabulous women.
 |
|
| Back Row (L to R): Steph, Kelly, Marcia, Allison, Aly, Beth, and Kent Front Row: Emily and me |
In mid-September, some of my favorite girlfriends and I got together in Ft. Myers, Florida for a long weekend of talking, sunning, drinking, talking, eating, drinking, dancing, beaching, more drinking, more talking…and very little sleep. If more fun had been had it would have been illegal. (In fact, I’m not entirely sure some of it wasn’t.) I look forward to our weekend get-together all year, and this year was one of the best yet!
2. This charming necklace, snagged from Charming Charlie for just $1!
 |
| This picture was taken with my cell phone, looking into a mirror. I will not be adding “Professional Blogger” or “Professional Picture-Taker” to my resume anytime soon. |
3. Trader Joe’s sea salt brownies.
I don’t have a picture of these because:
- I didn’t have my cell phone on me.
- I also didn’t have a mirror on me.
- I ate them before acquiring items #1 and #2.
I’m not a sweets person, and I’m really not a chocolate person, so imagine my surprise when this tub of bite-sized brownies fell into my cart and soon thereafter my mouth. I blame the large “Sea Salt” scrolled across the front of the label?
What? Salt??
Yes please.
They were so good I’m never buying them again.
4. My birthday boot at the Essen Haus!
 |
| About to make this boot my bitch. |
If you’re ever in Madison, WI and not sure what to do for fun–check out the Essen Haus and order yourself (well, your whole table, actually) a boot of beer.
Commence fun-having.
The Essen Haus boot is two liters (early 68 ounces) of German brewed goodness, served in a large glass boot to be passed around and shared with your tablemates. Rules for the boot-drinking game include things like the boot must never touch the table, and the last person to drink from the boot before the person who finishes it must buy the next boot. If it looks like you’re going to finish the boot, everyone you’re with starts pounding on the table (at which point people at the tables around you stop what they’re doing and join in the table-pounding) to cheer you on in your chugging…which is exactly what happened seconds after the above picture was taken as I drained that sucker.
And that, my friends, is how you celebrate a birthday in Wisconsin.
Awww, looks like fun! And those sea salt brownies are right up my alley. I love salty things, and brownies are one of the few sweets I enjoy. You might have just created a monster.
Love the boot idea! Happy Birthday!
who is this charming charlie?! I love that necklace!!
Ah, I love boot night! Had the opportunity to do it once for my Dad’s birthday and it was the BEST time!
Way to keep the WI stereotype alive! (Happy Birthday!!) I haven’t been to Charming Charlie before but will look out for it next time I am at the mall (is it a store or a cart?).
Happy Belated Bday! The boot is a must whenever we visit friends in Madison
Happy Bootday!
I’m envious of your girl’s weekend, but thrilled that you had so much fun. Love that necklace too. I think the picture looks good!
jbhat
Thanks for featuring Charming Charlie in your blog!! We have added your blog to our blog mentions page on our website. It’s a page we created exclusively for showcasing Charming Charlie blog mentions!
http://www.charmingcharlie.com/blog-mentions
Awww, thanks for bringing back GREAT memories of the Essen Haus! I went to grad school in Madison and had many fun nights there.
Thank you for your comments everyone!
@slechr–Charming Charlie’s is a new accessories store in our mall. It’s huge and all the jewelry is organized by color which is so neat!
@Anne Marie–It’s a store in West Towne kind of across from The Limited (not sure if East Towne has one or not).
@charming–Thanks for the shout out; how fun!
Now that boot is Midwest birthday celebratin’ in style! Happy birthday!
Where did you get that top you’re wearing in the boot pic (I took my eyes off the boot full of booze long enough to notice)? It looks so luxuriously soft & has a lovely drape.
Thanks FC! The top is from Gap, and it is super soft. Love it.
You were my favorite thing in September, too, sweets! I had such a great time that weekend. Thanks for hosting us again!
That boot picture cracks me up. You’re face is hilarious.
And now I’m craving brownies. :sideeye