If you're happy and you know it...

This week saw my happy hourstravaganza and I can safely say that I am happy hour'ed out.  My max is normally one per week so four seemed like a lot, but I powered through.  I'm a hero that way.   I did have a strategy, though.  I decided that rather than multiple glasses of cheap wine and beer, I'd pick one cocktail each evening and stick with protein for appetizers mostly.  I expected to maybe gain a pound or two, but I actually lost, so perhaps I'm onto something...the Happy Hour Diet!

Monday: I joined my lovely and amazing friends Jenni and Jill at Hickock's for a spicy cucumber margarita, ahi tuna nachos, and cheap therapy (can't be beat!).  Love you guys!

Tuesday: My extended work family headed to The Bristol for cheap drinks and seafood.  Since some of them have abandoned us moved on to bigger and better things, it's rare for us all to get together.  Sniff, sniff!  I heart you all.  I had a French 75 (Limoncello, Cointreau, Gin and champagne...delicious!) and Chipotle Shrimp.

Wednesday: I took a break. :)

Thursday: I have a group of girls that I'd call my 'support group' for struggling to get pregnant.  Everyone is at a different place in that journey, so it's nice to commiserate, ask for advice, etc.  They've been a god-send.  The original intent of this get-together was a small shower or 'sprinkle', if you will, for one of the girls who is expecting in August, but unfortunately she had to cancel last minute (don't worry...we've already rescheduled!) but some of the rest of us powered through.  We met up at Avenues, which is a lovely little bistro in Brookside that has the most amazing small plates selection.  I had a Parisienne Pinotini, which is vodka, cassis and Pinot Noir...and bacon wrapped dates.   It was Thursday!  My willpower was dwindling.

Friday: Fridays should always be good, but this was did not start well.  To begin, I got less than 2 hours of sleep.  If you know me at all, you know this doesn't bode well.  I am a minimum of 8 hours of sleep kinda gal.  Then, I got a migraine (which I haven't had in AGES).   Finally, the air conditioning went out at work.  I considered hiding under my desk and taking a nap, but my work ethic got the best of me and so I persevered (again, hero).  

I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to leave work at noon on Fridays and while I haven't been able to take advantage of it as much lately, you better believe I bolted as soon as the numbers on the clock changed from 11:59am to 12:00pm.  I actually had a massage scheduled which completely got rid of my headache and turned the day around.  My final happy hour of the week was with Nick at Piropos, a beautiful restaurant on a hill in Parkville with beautiful views and great South American food.  I threw away my strategy and ordered a glass of Malbec (when in Rome!) and a goat cheese salad.  Nick and I also split a Venezuelan favorite, arepas, but it wasn't nearly as good as what my dear sister-in-law Lus (a native of Caracas) makes.  And then I promptly went home and fell asleep. :)  Nick and I toasted to what will hopefully my last happy hour for quite some time...I've got a whole post on Nick coming soon. :)

Now, I'm in dextox mode...more to come on that soon!

Blame it on the alcohol...

You know how if somebody tells you can't have something, it just makes you want it more? Or is that just me?  At any rate, after June 21st, I'm supposed to eliminate alcohol completely and HOPEFULLY won't be able to drink again for quite a long time...nine months or so.

But knowing that I won't be able to have it soon has made me crave it now.  It will surprise some of you (particularly those that know Nick and I from college) to learn that we don't really drink that often...maybe 1-2 drinks a week, tops?  (Sidenote: we're officially old.)  But since I learned that liquor and I were not going to be friends anymore, I've had more happy hours than I care to share here, PLUS I've got several 'Sarah's Last Drink for the Hopefully Foreseeable Future' outings coming out with various groups of friends (Bristol, Avenues and Piropos next week!)

One happened a few weeks ago, when I demanded politely requested that my girlfriends go out and do karaoke with me.  So, our host Jill had us over for drinks and snacks and then (once we spend about an hour and half arguing over whether or not we should take cover because of a tornado watch) we went to a magical place called the Red Balloon.  I think calling this place a dive would be a compliment. 

Have you ever seen a movie where a guy walks into, like, an old-fashioned saloon-type bar and the saloon goes silent?  That's pretty much what happened to us.  I'm not sure they are using to seeing women with their own teeth women as attractive as ourselves.  We caused quite a stir.  After waiting what seemed like hours and enduring the World's Smallest Toilet, we finally (after I bribed) got on stage and sang..."We Built This City" by Starship.  Two bars in, we cleared the dance floor.  I guess there weren't a lot of 80s music fans in the place that night.   Then, later, we snuck in one more...something by Madonna and they literally took the microphones out of our hands and kicked us out (although I think that's because the bar was closing, not because we were that bad).   Because we're responsible, nobody drove home and we all had a slumber party.  It was a lot of fun...thanks so much, girls!