SH*T SHOW 2012 RECAP

I had every intention of getting home from Watershed yesterday and doing all my laundry, unpacking and writing the best recap ever.

Instead I crawled into bed because I was still half drunk and laid there unmoving for about 67 hours. 

The only time I could be disturbed was to sip water and there was that brief moment when I gathered

enough strength to roll into Taco Bell still in my pajamas un-showered looking like hell on wheels. 

I am so glad I did that. 

The best 10 dollars I have ever spent at Taco Bell. 

Anyway what you should know is it took me all day yesterday to recover. 

I felt like my life was in shambles once I returned. 

I literally came flying in the door and when my dad asked me how it was this is exactly what I said 

“DAD LOOK AT ME I AM IN FREAKIN SUN DRESS WITH YOGA PANTS ON! MY FEET ARE BLACK AS NIGHT! I NEED TO BE PUT TO BED ASAP!” 

So that is exactly what I did. 

I went straight to bed and I vaguely remember him poking his head in the room at one point to find me sprawled across my bed two puppies cuddled up next to me and he may or may not have said something like this 

“ My poor child is passed out, she looks like a wreck.” 

Thanks Papa Chuck. 

I love you too.

Although in his defense I honestly did look like a wreck. 

As does my room…but onto more important things.

Lets first discuss all the things I lost this weekend shall we? 

First of all and the most heartbreaking of them all is my beloved Kate Spade sunnies.

I knew I should have removed those from my face halfway through the car ride and left them tucked away and sported my walmart specials but by the time we headed to the concert Friday night I was too drunk to even realize what I was wearing. AKA my swim suit a white tank top and plaid shorts. I looked like something else.

The next thing I lost was my dignity and I say this because it is true. 

While I barely have much of it left to begin with the rest of it is now laying somewhere between the ampitheatre and the campground. 

I was scattering it all about for the whole world to see in my drunkness. 

From my sweet dance moves to the “trueblood fairy” that my Trashley insisted I spend the evening with (at the concert not in his tent mind you) to the river, to my one leg sticking straight out of the tent while I slept. 

My dignity was out and about being sprinkled around like a flower girl at a wedding. 

Oh don’t let me forget about that moment when I literally went swimming after a dog so I could pet him and as I was following behind him scratching his back I was yelling: 

“COMMIN IN HOT OUTTA THE WAY”. 

Typical.

My white skin was the next thing to go out the window. 

And although this sounds amazing it isn't because in its place is a red hot lobster.

 I used sunscreen and I still managed to get the most epic sunburn ever. 

Not only do I have a sunburn but it’s a fat red strip right down my legs. 

That double tube sounded like such a good idea in looking back getting my ass out of it and switching positions from time to time may have been a good idea.

I also lost my voice shockingly enough because I am probably one of the quietest people I know… riiight.

I think that may sum up what I lost. 

On that note let me just intrigue and entertain you with a few photos from my epic adventure I warn you in advance that once a drop or two of booze gets into Trashley and I’s systems all good photo taking goes out the window to be replaced with our “pretty faces”.

Nap time, pretty faces and a lobster.

The beautiful view, my drunk ass and me and my Trash

So excited yet unaware of what was in store for me.

A little rode soda on the way to quench my thirst...

Last but not least a gorgeous trueblood fairy to spice up my night...

So very sorry for neglecting all my wonderful readers; but I hope you all loved Dani's guest post on bloody mary's! Isn't she great?!? I just love that little angel and what better to post about than a good ole' bloody? Speaking of I could go for one of those right about now... But instead I am going to do laundry. And think about the pictures I am supposed to post for the link up Thursday...

For the love of a Bloody Mary.....

Happy Friday!!! 

Let me start by introducing myself.  

{That's me on the left, my beautiful sister on the right}

I am Dani, and I blog over at Inspire.Motivate.Love on an almost daily basis, however, the wonderful Miss Ashley is out enjoying Watershed, a country music festival going on quite literally in the middle of our great state of Washington.  

 {Do you see who she gets to listen to this weekend? Be jealous. I am.}

She has asked me to babysit the blog for her while she's gone, and of course I jumped at the chance! 

Ashley and I have become fast friends thanks to blog land, and being that we only live about 4 hours away from each other, I can't wait until we meet! 

While we've been discussing/planning our meet up, we have carried on a continuous conversation about Bloody Mary's.  We, along with Meghan over @ ShineOn, seem to all have a shared love for the tomato, vodka, must have a salad or we will send it back drink.  

No joke - Ashley said she sent hers back because there weren't enough vegetables to top it off once! I am not surprised by this - and would probably do the same thing.

After a week of discussing this wonderful drink - I started thinking that I didn't have a "favorite" recipe that I went to.  I usually just throw stuff in the glass and away I drink.  

Sometimes I put horseradish in, sometimes I don't. 

Sometimes, I have worcestershire sauce, sometimes extra pepper, sometimes this, sometimes that. 

Well, thank you to Pinterest - I now have about 100 different recipes to try, and I thought I'd share my favorites, based on ingredients because I haven't made them yet, with you all today, in honor of Ashley's weekend of drinking fun, and our planned bloody mary fest. 

{Credit: Bon Appetit Mag}

This first one, care of Bon Appetit mag, says it's the "Best Bloody Mary."

Now - if you're all for cooking your own vegetable juice before making your drink, it sounds fantastic.  I mean, it has everything I love, horseradish, pepper sauce, chili sauce, lemon AND lime, and of course pickled veggies! This will definitely be on the list....however...I am not sure about putting Guinness in my bloody mary? Have you ever heard of doing this? I haven't.

{Check it out here}

The next one, from Food52 calls for a homemade horseradish vodka.  I'm sorry, what?! 

Count me in.  I will be trying this one asap. 

Like this weekend, perhaps. 

{Recipe here}

On to the United Bartenders of America.  You can bet they probably have millions of AMAZING recipes for anything.  Their bloody mary collection did not disappoint. 

There's a Bloody Caesar, Bloody Mary, Bloody Maria, and Bloody Bull (which apparently has beef bullion in it?). 

I never knew so many different versions existed.  I want to try them all!

The Bloody Caesar uses Clamato juice - of which I have actually decided I like.  You either like it or you don't. (It has shellfish properties, so be careful)

The Bloody Maria consists of tequila instead of vodka.  I don't think I've ever tried it this way?

{Credit: Sandra Lee}

Now, if any of you watch any kind of Food TV like the Foodnetwork, I am sure you have heard of Sandra Lee?  She's filmed some of her shows in the Seattle area, and comes up with the great ideas.  

This bloody mary recipe looks like it might be another one that is a win. 

I mean, who doesn't like a little Old Bay Spice and Grilled shrimp?!! 

I'm in. 

{Recipe Here}

The next recipe is a little more on the spicy side, but I could eat spicy ANYTHING every day.  I love it.  A Cajun drink would fall into that category. I came across a food blog with said recipe, and fell in love.  Basically, add creole seasoning and chili powder.  Yum!!

Check out Ezra Pound Cake for the recipe!

Most of those recipes call for just tomato juice.  Not a bloody mary mix.  This next one I found, on another great blog, calls for Trader Joe's bloody mary mix.  I had no idea this existed.  I will be going to TJ's today to find some.

This site has a TON of fantastic drink recipes.  

Check out Mint Love Social Club to find this one, and then stay and browse around!

Now that everyone is thirsty, because I know I am! 

The last thing I wanted to share is probably the best idea I've ever heard of or seen.

Meghan mentioned this earlier in the week, and then I came across this post.

{Credit: Foodgal.com}

A bloody mary bar. 

GENIUS! I'm all about it, and will be making one on a smaller scale for my grandmother's birthday BBQ this weekend.  

{The Symmetric Swan} <~~ Check out the full post here.

I'll be sharing my bloody mary experiment over on my blog after the weekend is over - and I'll review some, if not all, of the recipes above.  

I don't think you all understand how excited I am to do so! 

Besides a good martini, these are my favorite things to drink!

Can I use anymore exclamation points in this post? I am not sure....

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, and why don't you all try a new recipe while you're at it! Let us know how it turned out.  

We shall all also hope that Ashley's liver makes it out of Watershed alive. 

So then I screamed like a banchee and peed my dress...

Wow, when I was blog stalking the other day I had no idea I would end up screaming like a banchee and practically peeing my dress. 

But I almost did. 

No really. I am not exaggerating. I just wish someone would have recorded it. 

Anyway I have some very exciting news, Dani at Inspire. Motivate. Love has nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award. Holy shizznit. 

What. Just. Happened. 

I never thought that just a short month and a half after starting my blog someone, even if it's just one person, would value what I write and think I deserved recognition for it! I feel so overcome with joy and pride. 

I may have even done a sweet karate kick or two and yelled "EFF YEAH"... in a dress. Cute I know.

So what is the Liebster Award? 

It would appear it is an award that one blogger gives to another blogger who has less than 200 followers. 

What a great way to encourage each other. 

Isn't that why we blog, to touch each others lives? So here are the rules for the Liebster award according to the little research I did (I am waaaay too excited to do that) and what Dani provided!

1. post eleven things about yourself;

2.  answer the questions the tagger set for you;

3. choose eleven upcoming bloggers and link them in your post;

4. make eleven new questions for them to answerl

4. go to their blog and let them know you've nominated them;

5. not tag back.

SO Unfortunately for me I can not tag Dani, she has already been nominated but you bet your sweet ass if I could I would. Love ya Dani!

Here are Dani's questions for me!

1.  Favorite season? 

Fall, I love fall and it also means my birthday is VERY close and halloween!

2. Favorite handbag designer? 

I am a sucker for my coach bags. I just am. Classic clean and simple!

3.  Favorite animal print? 

Hmm I can honestly say I do not own anything animal print... but I will just throw it out there and saw Zebra why not!

4.  If you could relive a certain day again, would you? 

Hmm that's tricky. I mean depends on the day, I think if I could go back and relive the day little Hudson was born I would. It was so amazing to be there for my nephews birth even though it terrifies me!

5.  When you were growing up, what did you want to be? 

An actress or a lawyer!

6.  If you were given $1 million, what would you buy? 

First of all I would pay off all my debt, my parents debt and my siblings debt. Honest to God. Then we would all go on vacation!

7.  Favorite coffee drink? 

Iced sugar free non fat vanilla latte please and thank you!

8.  Favorite "adult" drink? 

Rainier beer or Jack Daniels, although my true love Sailor Jerry will always be in my heart.

9.  Best trip you've ever taken? 

Vegas 2010 with my girlfriends. It was such a needed break from my reality. It was also the time that I spent with my friends there reflecting on my marriage which helped me ultimately decide to get the strength to walk away.

10.  What made you start blogging? 

A need to vent, to open up. But mostly to write, I have always been a writer, when I was happy, sad, confused so this just seems natural.

11.  Favorite guilty pleasure? 

Teen Mom perhaps? I don't know I guess I don't feel guilty about much of anything that makes me happy! 

Here are my 11 things, which is quite the task after the 15 day challenge I participated in and my friend Sarah's guest post about me... dang it timing... But I ain't complainin!

I have never been out of the USA unless you count Canada, which I don't because its a few hours away.

I didn't eat and enjoy my first steak until I was 24. It's a crime I know.

Bacon is my favorite food ever and it makes everything better, well and gravy. I love gravy.

I want to move away from Washington so terribly bad but it breaks my heart to think I couldn't see my nieces and nephews whenever I want to.

I write a food column in a magazine called Lash&Ink.

I do not for the life of me realize how short I am until I stand next to someone really tall or hold up my jeans while doing laundry. Then I realize oh wow I really am a midget.

I am the most terribly messy girl. I hate laundry so much and 9 times out of 10 my room is a mess. But I hate a messy kitchen.

If I could quit my job and cook all day with my brother for a living I would. Like today.

I am not a morning person or a night person, my prime is in the afternoon. That must be why I 

love day drinking.

I wish I was a better snowboarder but I am awful at it. And I hate doing ANYTHING I am awful at.

I am and will be getting my little boobies done one day. I already had a consultation, I know what size but I refuse to finance plastic surgery. But one day... one day 375CC's are going right in me.

Now my 11 questions for 11 of my favorite bloggers:

1. Where were you born?

2. Daddy's girl or Mamma's little lady?

3. Favorite place to shop?

4. favorite pair of shoes?

5. favorite childhood pet?

6. Who was/is your childhood best friend?

7. Hardest lesson you ever learned?

8. Favorite holiday?

9. If you could be any animal what would you choose?

10. Your favorite blog of any size and why?

11. What was your first car?

I know totally random but whatevs!!! And now the award goes too:

Rachael @ Exactly As We Are

Alyssa @ A Latte Love

A sisterhood of Greeks

Lindsey @ Sassy Ms. Ginger

I know we are supposed to pick 11 but I can't honestly, unless I can choose ones with more than 200 followers. In that case I choose....

Taylor @ The Daily Tay

Erin @ Living in Yellow

Raven @ A Mommas Desires and Pacifiers

Tiff@ The Coffeehouse

Kristen @ All in My Twenties

Megan @ Mackey Madness

Steph @ BEAUtiful mess

I feel so blessed to be able to write about my life and have people actually want to read about it! How amazing!! I love you all!!

It was a whale of a weekend...

 

I am starting to feel like every weekend this summer is getting wilder and wilder as the weeks go by.

I don’t know if I am going to make it out of this summer alive.

 And no I am not being wildly dramatic, I honestly am afraid for my liver. 

That being said I had one fantastic weekend! 

But it really took a lot out of me and left me laid up on the couch all day yesterday. 

I was exhausted and by that I mean hungover.

It was one of my really good ones too; but I will spare you the details because they get pretty nasty. 

Aside from that little recovery day my weekend was fantastic!0

 Why you ask?  

Well I went on a date. 

Yes another one. 

It went pretty good, I mean we ate at the local Japanese steakhouse and who doesn't like to see things set on fire and food flung through the air? 

Also each year here in good ole Silverdale Washington we have a little thing called Whaling Days. 

No we don’t go fishin for whales; I don’t even really know why it’s called that but whatever. 

Anyway Whaling Days is one of those weekends when I am frightened for my well-being and genuinely have to warn my dad about my shenanigans in advance. 

There are live bands, carnivals, food fenders, boats, and a beer garden. 

Need I say more? 

But this year Whaling Days went above and beyond and if you follow me on instagram

(@amitch210) you would know why. 

Let me present to you my weekend at Whaling days:

First things first lets talk about "THE BALLOONS". I want to know who had the brilliant idea to give a bunch of kids balloons that look like straight up wieners? I mean honestly? I was dying. Kids every where had these balloons so obviously I needed to get my hands on em. And I was pleasantly surprised to see my nieces inappropriate with them. Guess which booth was giving them out? A church. It made it about a million times more amazing.

  Next up let me just explain to you that these two men holding their wives/girlfriends purses were absolutely hilarious. They kept switching positions, placing their hands on their hips, swingin the bags around. Oh they killed me. Not to mention take a peak at the size of that corn dog my little sister is eating?!?! Then do me a favor and take a gander at the large wieners my sister has stuffed in her sack... just saying....

 These pictures of me and my bestie Sarah basically sum up our friendship.Please take a peak at the bottom right photo. This would be Sarah cackling like a hyena and me straight up scolding someone. I am just so bossy after 4 pitchers of beer...  

 

  Last but not least and evening on the boat and of course "driving" a tractor. Essentially I lived it up and payed the price. But whatever, I enjoyed and if I had it to do all over again, I would!

 Well nuggets I just love you all to pieces and I just can't wait to hear all about your weekend shenanigans and how you plan to make it through another week at work. I on the other hand only have to survive three days and then I get to head off to the greatest concert venue ever, the Gorge... AHHHH!!!

26 in my 26th year

So I am joining in on the fun over at Erin’s blog Living in Yellow. She is doing a link up a "Blank in Blank". Yeah sounds intriguing right? 

Basically you take your age (25) and list that number of things you want to do in that year. 

Since I am half way through 25 I am cheating and writing my list for 26. 

Why? 

Because I am a cheater and this is my blog and I do what I want.

What a beauty!

Since I already did a 101 in 1001  list back in June (ya know my first very boring blog post) and I think I have proven I am a teeny bit lazy from time to time I am probably going to steal some from that good ole list. Just embrace it half of you haven’t read it anyway right? Love ya!!!

So here goes it 26 things I want to do in my 26th year!

{1} Get myself to Vegas and stat. Perhaps to celebrate my 26th birthday?

{2} Go on a road trip with my best friend, good thing that’s already

being planned!

{3} Visit the Grand Canyon; try not to have a panic attack while

looking over the edge.

{4} Travel to the East Coast, probably Virginia to meet up with my

food partner in crime Jeff!

{5} Meet a fellow blogger, “CALLING ALL WASHINGTON BLOGGERS!!” That

means you Raven and Dani.

{6} Get my passport.

{7} Run a half marathon; better get my badonkadonk to the gym.

{8} Get my Harry Potter tattoo, yes I am a nerd, no I don’t care.

{9} Grow this lil ole’ blog and keep working on it each day!

{10} Get back into my adult gymnastics class(aka get over my fear

after spraining my knee a few years back when my body decided not to

complete that backhandspring back tuck)

{11} Learn to be more open and upfront, stop biting my tongue and speak up!

{12} Join a small group at church.

{13} Join this virtual martini club Erin speaks of!

{14} Meet someone famous, preferably one of the many artists I will be

seeing in the next coming months, the Biebs, Blake Shelton, Miranda

Lambert, Dierks Bentley, any of them will do!

{15} Take a trip back to Nebraska and visit the familia!

{16} Go sky diving.

{17} Learn to be more organized like my sister.

{18} Learn to stick to the budget I created for myself.

{19} Start eating more organic again, Foodinc anyone?

{20} Spend more time with my sister and my sister in law, these two

are truly spectacular women and I have so much I can learn from them

and I love them sooo much it hurts!

{21} Truly, and I mean truly get over the last boyfriend, I mean he

broke my little heart back in February it’s time to get over it…

{22} Spend more quality time with my fur babies(aka take that fatty

Rooskey for more walks so he loses the lbs)

{23} Go cliff jumping again and try not to be such a huge baby about it!

{24} Make plans and stick to them!

{25} Make homemade pasta and pasta sauce with my brother again this year!

{25} Learn how to make risotto!

{26} Actually tell my friends and family about this blog… yeah most of

them don’t even know I blog…

How bout you guys? What would you like to do in this year of your life? I would love to hear from ya!

Love ya Nuggets I am off to stuff my face, duh!

If you really knew me according to who?

So this topic has been pretty popular lately on those big girl blogs you know like Ravens or maybe this little mess I don't know if you have heard of them but they kinda rock my world. Anyway I loved their posts so I thought "Hey maybe I will try that out". So I started writing, when I should have been working... but then I got stuck. So I e-mailed my best friend you know this girl that I often talk about: 

Best friends for years and years!

And she didn't disappoint. So I thought you know what, who better to tell you what you would know about me so here it is " If  your really knew me thru the eyes of my best friend" Sarah's in black I added some side notes in red! 

If you really knew Ashley according to Sarah

God, I could write a novel.... If people REALLLY knew you... They would first of all know that you LOVE food.... Like REALLLYY love it. (yeah that's true I think I may have  mentioned that) They would know that your drink of choice is Vitamin R (cheap Rainier Beer). They might even know that when you consume large amounts of Vitamin R that you turn wildly inappropriate.(me inappropriate? Never. I am such a lady) You are an extremely good writer. Your vocabulary is exceptional. (well thanks love) You always know what to say to make someone feel better....  or worse if you've got a wild hair up your ass...(yikes I will work on that...) If someone offends you... or God forbid... one of your close friends.... Shit is about to get real. And fast.(you bet your ass it is!) Its almost impossible to be serious around you.... and when there are serious moments... they typically don't last long and are followed by bursts of laughter. ( I think that's an "us" thing, we just can't stop laughing) You are "REALLLYY" sarcastic. ("oh reaaaalllly?" said in my best bridesmaid imitation voice) You also really love your family... even if they drive you crazy.... And I'm sure there is plenty more... But Dr. Brian keeps creepin behind me... Can't he see I'm busy?? So there you have it kids, this is me straight from my best friends mouth. A girl who has lived with me, held my hair while I puked, laugh, cried, and fought with me. A girl who has watched me in the best of times and stood by me in my hour of need. A girl who I can always count on to make me laugh and to be up for any adventure. If only she was a dude I might consider marriage again. Love ya kitten, stay classy! So what would your best friend say about you? I can't wait to hear it! Love ya Nuggets!

A Gay Bar, Zoo, and some alligator...

I had a wild weekend. It was quite the adventure. I am still trying to catch up on the missed sleep. I mean who else can say they went to a gay bar, a zoo, and then sealed the deal with eating alligator along with 75 thousand other things... oh that's right its me. Just me. So instead of writing about how awesome it was I will just show you about 800 photos instead. Lets do it to it. (I am so thug its unbelievable)

Loved this Drag Queen, I also love that he asked Dane if we were married!!! Riiight....

Never too old for the Zoo!

Oh  Bite of Seattle, I was soo happy to see you, coconut shrimp, crab cakes, and lumpia!

Pancit and chicken skewers, not to mention deep fried mac and cheese!

My encounter with Gator and my fabulous faces.

A day with my best friend is best spent creeping on horses and watching men flag people with gator skewers.

And then I fell in love with this mans dog. No really I loved him.

So that was my weekend, and thank goodness by some miracle I wasn't hungover after drinking all day on Sunday. It was real questionable for a moment though.

Love ya Nuggets!