Literally, Caffeine and Cocktails

I had an epiphany yesterday and thought that I would actually post my choices for caffeine and cocktails...well, current choices, anyways...

Caffeine

Skinny Sugar-Free Latte from the 'Buck or a Northern Lite Latte from the 'Bou
(That's Starbucks and Caribou Coffee, by and by.) I really like the Cinnamon Dolce, Caramel, that good, old standby, Vanilla, but the 'Bou has a Turtle flavor that is decadent...I go between iced and hot depending on the weather, the day, or just me. For an extra jolt, read: Monday, I just add a shot of espresso.

F My Life, a/k/a Mocha Frappacino Light
I superimposed the letters on the side of my cup once and an F My Life was created. The baristas at the local 'Buck know me, so when I order an F My Life, they know what I mean. They think it's funny, too having since being directed to fmylife.com. It's a nice little dose of chocolaty coffee that's blender-ed with ice....yummy....


Sugar-Free Red Bull
Having some wicked hangovers from regular Red Bull, I swore off the Bull altogether fearing the same nauseating result. However, in my recent time-travel in time zones and not allowing my internal body clock to adjust, the sugar-free version was reintroduced to me in small doses and surprisingly, I took to it very well. With only 10 calories for the 8.4 oz can, I can't complain...oh, and the price tag is a little nicer from the 'Buck and the 'Bou.

Cocktails

Grape Soda
A grape soda is simply grape-flavored vodka and soda. It tastes like grape soda. Simple and delicious.

Sweet Tea
This little gem will really get you into trouble...it's Sweet Tea Vodka, water, and ice. You don't taste the alcohol and that's where the trouble begins...it's so good once it hits your lips.

Bacardi Melon and Sugar-Free Red Bull
It's like a delicious melon ball with some energy behind it. As part of my reintroduction phase to Red Bull, I was served this masterpiece of non-alcoholic tasting awesomeness.

Wyoming Cream Soda
Served tall (meaning in a taller class to allow for more mixer, one serving alcohol), this little glass of heaven tastes like, you guessed it, cream soda. I call it a Wyoming Cream Soda for the person that made me my first glass. I can tell you that I was initially hesitant to taste Captain Morgans and 7Up, but with the right ratio of 2 parts 7Up to one part Captain, it's magnificent.



I hope that you will try some of these concoctions and share yours! I'm always looking for the next signature drink....

Wedding, She Wrote

This weekend, the last of my two months of traveling, was spent in Michigan with my dad and one hundred of his closest friends and family.

I should have known that it was something more than just a BBQ, but when I asked my dad point blank if this weekend was really a secret wedding, he said, "Nah. This is just how Sharon does parties." So, putting it from my mind, I played one-handed croquet (it's one-handed because you were required to hold a beer the entire time) and sitting back listening to the band play. (Perhaps clue #2)

After thanking everyone from coming, my dad told everyone to go to the maple tree because he and Sharon were going to get married. By the way, the officiant was found on the Internet and he's also a flight attendant who left right after this to fly to Miami. Oh, and he was the only one in pants. (Perhaps clued #3)

For the most convenient terms, I have two step brothers and a step sister, who has a son, so technically, my dad is a grandpa and I have a nephew of sorts...weird. Although, I don't think that this will be awkward because none of us will be living with them and have to argue about touching someones drums or making our beds into bunk beds so that there would be more room to do activities.
Now that my travels are over for some time, it has been pointed out to me that where ever I go, there seems to be a wedding. Thinking back, I have gone to a wedding the four of the last five weekends and I am sure that there were numerous weddings in Vegas to make it 5 for 5. Apparently, I am the Jessica Fletcher of weddings. Instead of going somewhere and someone gets murdered and I investigate it, I go to places, people get married and I party. It's a much better version, I think. Jessica Fletcher never caught on that all these people would die around her and apparently her friends didn't either because they kept inviting her.

Perhaps with all this blogging and wedding-going I should start a novel series: Wedding, She Wrote. Ha.

Racking Up the Miles

Today, I realized it has been over a month since my last post. To be fair, I have really only been in town for three to four days at a time before jet-setting across the country.

My weekend in Holly was the first of seven weekends in a row that I would be traveling, so now that I am upon my last one, I thought that I could play catch up, in several parts.

Weekend #1: Holly, CO - See also: "Everybody Dies Famous in a Small Town"

For your visual entertainment, I will include a photo of me and the grad before her first of two graduation parties.



Weekend #2: College Station, TX

I had never been to the Aggies' home base, but I had a great time while I was there. I got to see some baseball, a lot of East Texas, and had a great night in Northgate. Here's something that Denver should look into: Shot Bars. While I can see the logic that most people in the winter will not go to a bar for a shot or two and then move on, however, it is a promising business in the other seasons...Having a menu spelling out what is in shots also creates diversity in my drinking palate. At a stop on our impromptu bar crawl, I met Mr. Madras, here. What you can't see in this picture is his matching white leather loafers. Awesome.


Weekend #3: Lakewood/Morrison, CO

Ok, so I live only about 15 miles from these two towns, but since I was A) without a means of my own transportation, B) I was living out of a suitcase, and C) I didn't go home from Thursday to Sunday, I consider this a trip.

This weekend was for my friend Kathryn's wedding. She went from K-Ro to K-Mart. Things started on Thursday night with a Bachelor/Bachelorette Party slash Meet-and-Greet for friends and family. Friday brought about the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (beer pong and pizza - AWESOME.) Saturday was the big day...It was a gorgeous outdoor ceremony right next to the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater. From there, we danced and drank the night away! It was a fabulous fete! Sunday, clearly, was left for recovery.


Weekend #4: Las Vegas, NV

To celebrate my friends Nicole and Shira's 30th birthdays, a group of girls got together in Vegas. We stayed at the Hard Rock (my first time), had a delicious dinner at Nobu, danced the night away, and went to Rehab on Sunday. If you haven't seen the TV show on truTV, let me tell you that it is crazier than the show. It is wall-to-wall people and you should be inebriated to think it's a good idea to get in that water....yuck. It was a great weekend away and a fun time with my "circle of friends that will never be square." (Mariyah's toast.)

Seriously? Icky-poo-poo.

Weekend/Week #5: Littleton, CO/Pittsburgh, PA/Morgantown, WV

This was one long weekend that turned into a week. On the Saturday of this weekend, I actually stuck around Denver and attended my friend Shannon's wedding. It was exquisite and definitely a party. In true Shannon style, the shoes were, of course, Manolo.


On Sunday, I headed to Pittsburgh/Morgantown to hang out with my friend Katie for her wedding the following weekend.

Weekend #6: Washington, PA

The most recent weekend was to celebrate Matt and Katie and their kick-ass wedding. Katie and Matt were told by the hotel and the DJ that it was the best wedding that they had ever had there and it was. Everyone at some point was on the dancefloor. And after the wedding, did everyone retire to their rooms? No! Everyone went to the hotel bar and continued the party until last call. There was another wedding there that night, so everyone was in a party mood.

Double-fisting on the dancefloor. That's my girl.

It's not the most flattering picture, but it's fabulous.

Weekend #7: Lansing, MI

So, this weekend hasn't technically occured, it does involve a family reunion of sorts with my dad, my uncle, my godparents, my future step mom, her family, a live band, and alcohol. Details and photos to follow.

I promise that I won't let so much time lapse between posts!