My Weekend Party

This weekend I hosted a bridal shower, a sure fire sign that we're not in Kansas college anymore.  It was a small gathering, but as I mentioned before, I was quite nervous about having people over.  Something about the first 'formal' gathering that you host can really get to you, or so I've learned.

Maybe it's my type A personality or my unhealthy obsession with Pinterest, but I wanted the every last detail to be perfect.  So I cleaned for days, arranged flowers, bought what felt like half of the super market, and made my boyfriend hang my other DIY curtains in preparation.  (Please note this is the cleanest our house has been in 2013, see what hosting a party can do for you?)  All in hopes of attaining perfection.

Well the event was far from perfect, you probably noticed the crossed out food label above due to a last minute menu change, but it was heartfelt to say the least. The out pour of love and support that was given to me as the host, and my good friend as the bride (isn't she stunning with that pixie?) was really amazing.  Especially considering how poorly the bachelorette party went? Remember this story?

Among my favorite moments was when she was opening presents, and got a book that has advice from couples that have been married over fifty years, and tears came to her eyes. It wasn't the grandest or most expensive present there, but it was the idea behind it that really got the bride to be everyone choked up.

There's just something so special about sharing moments with friends who are getting married that you can't ever recreate.  I'll probably never parade around the house in my bridemaids dress, next to a best friend in her veil and wedding shoes in front of our co-workers just for fun ever again. Nor will there be that much excitement stirring in my home for a while, but I was honored we could all be together to share and celebrate the last few weeks of her 'single' life.

I can't wait to stand up at the alter with her in six short weeks, and I really can't wait to break it down on the dance floor.  But really I can't wait to share the future with her and her husband. It's going to be be so amazingly special.

P.S. I got my camera back, but I didn't take these, a guest did. Didn't she do a GREAT job?

Top Ten Things I Still Love About My College House

Three years ago I moved out of this house to join the real world, and it was horrifying. Not only was I moving 'away' from college, but my bestie and then next door neighbor was moving too, the worst.  This house, and my room (the two windows on the right) defined my college life.

Here are my top ten memories in this house.

-Celebrated my twenty first birthday by drinking, playing beer pong, and eating pizza in the front yard (it was lawn back in the day). I wore a black bondage dress that zipped up the front. It was a classy scene to say the least, you mean that's not a normal birthday celebration?

-Vacuumed our kitchen, it had carpet, and I am pretty sure this is a first for any house, ever.  No matter how many times we vacuumed it, it never felt clean.

-Had my bestie next door, and I spent the last night of college running to and from her house in my underwear. The story behind this is not might not be appropriate for the le blog, time will tell.

-We spent spring days out in our front yard (told you it was grass) like this. When I wasn't working or in class that is.

-My bed was in a nook, which was perfection.  There is nothing better than a nook bed, except maybe the King size I share now, but in college everyone needs a nook bed with a light that has a pull string.

-Had four roommates (seen below), four bedrooms, and dun dun dun one bathroom. It made for an interesting year that's for sure, we got exceptionally close.  Man was Brad in over his head when he signed up to live with us three girls.

-Locked our roommates hockey pledges in the basement, hey it wasn't the girls idea.

-Taylor Lautner was our fifth roommate, he lived in the living room, I'll explain.  We had life size cut out that looked out the living room window to the street.  We wanted people to think there was always someone home.

-Random mac PhotoBooth sessions before going out were normal.  The roll taken this night was about 37 pictures, we may have been a little drunk before we went out.  Gosh those were the days...

-My Grandma once showed up in our front yard, remember I'm a local gal.  If that wasn't weird enough watching her start at my shirtless male roommate was. P.S. I'm totally going to be that old lady someday.

-Solved serious mysteries...seriously. What bars did we go to last night?

Can't believe it's been four years.

Loved that house, and will always love these memories.

Cant wait for our roommate reunion March 2014.

Five Small Things that are Better with your Bestie

If you haven't already heard that I spent Thursday thru Monday morning with this one you've probably been living under a rock you're probably dead.

And what does a Bestie make better. Simply everything.

1. Target Trips

When in college, I for sure spent exponentially more money (and time) at Target when I went with her.  But I just can't seem to find gems like pleather peplums, BB cream, and the perfect lip gloss without her. 

2. Car Concerts

Life Rule: When driving in a car, you are invisible to the world, so the moment when someone catches you rockin' out solo to the next overproduced overplayed hit, it's embarrassing. But when you're with your bestie, no shame.  It transforms from a embarrassing solo to a effing awesome duet.

3. Wine

Need I say more. Four bottles later the night we 'stayed home' may have needed the most Gatorade and ibuprofen in the morning.

4. Snuggling

 Three years later, it still feels totally normal to share a bed with her, despite the fact that I have been co-habituating with my boyfriend for close to two years.  In college no less than two three drunk nights a week ended with two blondes, one bed. 

5. Getting Dressed

Getting dressed alone is like getting dressed in the dark.  Unless my outfit has been copied off pinterest or inspired by a blog, I'll be lookin' a hot mess, or I'll text her to see what she thinks.  It's so much easier when she's here.

Becuase We're Just Not Old Enough For That

It's been over two years since I've seen her, which is basically like suicide in best friend world. 

Oh what the East Coast and mid twenties will do to friendships post college...almost impossible.

The last time we met up for a short weekend in Boston where she drove 6+ hours through a terrible storm to spend two short nights with me and some friends, drunkenly.  But we made time count by seeing a Red Sox game, and cuddling in bed together.

But in the middle of a serious (yet medically unidentified) quarter life crisis she booked a ticket to CA, and we'll be reunited once again, and she's here.  Thank bejeezus.

This weekend we have ideas of doing super adult things like going to coffee shops, eating nice dinners, and taking a zillion pictures for our blogs, all of which I'm sure we'll do.

I'm also certain that the coffee might just be Starbucks as we stumble down the street, our meals might not be quite as nice as we planned, and majority of our pictures will end up looking like this one (which admittedly was taken while we were stone cold sober).

But I'll leave that up to fate.

Maybe in our thirties we'll be ready for fancy dinners, spa days, and coffee dates.

Shots Cause She's Married

As if you haven't heard enough about my best friend getting married, I'm here to share more.

This picture is among my favorites from her 'big day' while it's a family tradition (on the brides side) to take a shot of Patron during the party.  Seeing as how this was a huge party, the Mother of the Bride requested one before we drove over the the venue. To that I have one word, awesome.

It was also awesome that later in the night we took another shot, and my Mom threw hers back on the dance floor...man I love that lady. I love her even more when we slow dance together trying to figure out who is leading because my Dad and boyfriend are too caught up in conversation to join us.

Also a thank you for being in her wedding, got us there beautiful robes. This might be put to some good use to avoid instances like your boyfriends Mom walking stopping by to drop something off while you are baking in your underwear at 4pm on a Sunday. More to come on this later.

And speaking of boyfriend, this is also among my favorite pictures of us at wedding, mostly because I'm not passed out, my dress isn't ripped, and I'm not dancing with children I don't know.

All in all, this might have been my personal 'best performance' at a wedding, also because I nailed my speech. I'm not sayin' I'm awesome I'm just saying that unsolicited, a guest I did not know told me it was the best MOH speech they had ever heard.  I thanked them politely, as my internal happiness meter jumped off the charts and did two back flips.

So after nine weddings, I've finally got it down.

I guess some us just have a slower learning curve.

Me, A Wedding, and a Speech (We All Need Help)

From her Chicago Bachelorette Party

On Saturday my best friend little sister best friend is getting MARRIED.

And I can't even believe it, she's going to be a wife.

Seriously though, I've know here since the day she was brought home from the hospital, and now she's getting married, but I think you probably got that part.

On to the next. I'm giving a speech at her wedding, and I SUCK at public speaking.  Give me a group of sorority girls, a team at work, or a small crowd at a party and I am fine, but a group of people, many of whom I've never met and I stumble, stammer, stutter, and slur (especially after a few glasses of wine).

I've started writing it yesterday and I have 

three

measly

lines

Anyone have any good tips on how to write a good maid of honor speech?

I'll take all the help I can get.

P.S. Let's hope for a good showing at this wedding, remember what happened at the last one?

My Life in Numbers

I had grand plans of writing a post about how I want to work when I am a Mom, but how I also reserve the right to change my opinion of that in the coming years.  I even have one all written up sitting in my drafts, but then it just seemed all too serious a post for a beautiful summer Friday, so I decided not to. #bigwhimp

So instead I find myself eating breakfast (fried egg on toast with salsa, of course), trying to come up with something to write about. And then it came to me, take a page from the bestie.  

My life in numbers.

8 days until I have to give a speech at my best friend's wedding.

 I still haven't written it, I better get on that.

13 days until Nadine is here...gosh that isn't quite soon enough.

41days until I am officially a quarter century, gosh that sounds old.

2 loads of laundry down (I did them yesterday)

4 to go #ithinkicanithinkican #goshihatelaundry

130 calories in skinny cows chocolate Carmel bites, admittedly worth every single one.

7 miles run this week, down from the usual 12-15, and not feeling good about it.

1 more day of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I can resist the urge, I can resist the urge, I can resist the urge playing in repeat in my head.

3 trips the grocery store this week, and I forgot something every.single.trip. I need to start making better lists, or just go back to making lists in general.

90 cents off the gallon this week with Safeway Gas Rewards, when I can fill up for under fifty bucks, it's a BIG win ladies, but seriously I felt like I had just won the jackpot.

14 bucks for these cute shoes at Target, I didn't believe it was real at first either.

53 times I listened to this song yesterday without getting sick of it. Not joking.

3 measly blog posts this week, you can't win 'em all.

6 hours between me and the weekend, leggo.

She's Coming

 If this is what it takes to have her back in California, I'll take it.

(but seriously click on the link it's hilarious!!!!)

Can't wait to be reunited with my bestie.

36 days and counting

What is she really you might ask?

Nadine Is:

Random Phone Calling

An Outfit Picking Outing

Duet Singing

A Drink Finishing

Silly Face Making

Honest Opinion Giving

Ridiculous Giggle Fitting

 Most Judging

Most Loving

Good Book Recommending

Flip Flop Loving

Best Friend Supporting

Age Denying

Partner in Adventure-ing (and Crime)

Road Trip Warrior-ing

Random Trip Visiting

Terrible (sometimes) at Texting

Your Hair Isn't Blonde Enough Commentating

Sorority Sister(ing)

Late Night College Drinking

Fellow Akon Loving (by default)

Country Belting

Cut Off Jean Short Wearing

Last Call at 2am Go-ing

We Can Study Later Saying

East Coast Living

Archie Obsessing

Wine Sipping

Boyfriend Domesticating

 Scared of Flying

Grown Up Attempting

Let Be Young Forever Thinking

Did We Already Graduate Wondering

What Will We Do With Our Lives Pondering

Forver21 Shopping

Frugal Budgeting

Silly Dancing

Responsible Older Sibling

Let's Not Go Running

Great Blogging

Toe Ring Dawning

I'm Not To Old For a Belly Button Ring Hoping

 Silly Nick Name Giving

and a zillion more -ings

And I get to see her in 36 days.

P.S. This is probably a more accurate representation of our relationship.

It's going to be awesome.

An Email to my Best Friends

The other day, I almost quit blogging, yeah not sure what had come over me.

But I mentioned that I wanted my writing to sound like an email to my best friends (who pretty much live all over the country). So I am going to give it a try.

Most of my best friends and I communicate You've Got Mail Style, only we use Gmail instead of AOL.  Who uses AOL these days?  Wasn't that just something us boy band-loving teenagers used to AIM with our friends in middle school with user names like starcutie0008???  

Those were the days.

circa 2006

Our emails typically include lists of things that are happening in our lives, numbered off so we can keep our life categorized and so we don't get distracted in the writing of the email. The next responder just writes what's happening in their life under the numbers, and so on. 

We talk about our boyfriends, life troubles, birth control preferences, current reads, and whlep we talk email about pretty much everything.  I feel so normal when I email them, which is bizarre because they are both in graduate programs that will one day put a Dr. before their last names, which automatically makes them like 902,402,673 times smarter than me, but they love, and that's what matters.

Would you trust her with you hoo-ha? And her with your pets....I WOULD
Gosh I love them!!!

The other day I then spent an entire section of my response email explaining that if either of them had cancer, I knew they would beat it; but if either lost their hair from the chemo, I would shave my head for her.  It wouldn't be pretty because my head is too big for any hat (no like seriously, I can't wear hats) so I'd have to just rock out my baldness.  Clearly fit's in a normal 'category' or life, right.  It's titled: What A Best Friend Would Do In Extreme Hypothetical Situations

I also informed them that last night I used three different self tanners.  While this might seem like over kill, I 'developed' over night and woke up tan, or as my boyfriend says orange.  In all reality, I might have been a shade between tan and orange, but that means I'll look fabulous tomorrow which is something to look forward too. 

Our emails also have to funny things we have seen, read, things we are doing, or planning on doing.

This is one of the links they sent me. I watched it, and cried, and immediately wanted to do this myself.  Warning, you need at least five minutes to watch think link, if you do not have time now, come back, and watch it later.  It's seriously a great lesson for us ladies and our self esteem.

Our email thread also contains a 'category' titled 

'General Bad-Assery'

My question to you is, what would you put in that category??