Hungover: Too Much Wine and Roses Edition

Warning- SPOILERS ARE AHEAD

Well, well, well- it is Wednesday. Post two night Bachelorette finale and post wine night, this blog post is coming to you live from my office where I am sitting in the dark because that hangover was a little rougher than usual this morning. And, yes- I do watch the Bachelorette. It gives me the things I lack in my everyday life- drama, love, men, you get it… But, watching this man do what he did not only to Hannah- but to the other woman, hits close to home.

We ended Hannah B’s season yesterday, and I must say- I’m happy this season is over. Not because I didn’t like someone, I mean obviously, I didn’t like Jed or Luke P. But because I knew how this ended- and it wasn’t on the hillside in Greece.

Of course, we got our fill of drama and everyone loves to watch an emotional confrontation- but I feel for Hannah in the sense that she got jipped. She came into this as excited, full of hope like a high schooler on their first day of school- a fresh start, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for love. What she wound up with was a broken heart and back to square one (or maybe not).

This season, though, Hannah was not the issue.  A little too trusting and a bit hopeful, as she should of been, as we all should be going into a new relationship. But also, ready to get pissed and tell those dudes EXACTLY what she was thinking. She was real. She was just like all of us- at one point or another, we all were Hannah.

I know exactly who I was years ago and I know exactly who I dated- men who I gave way too much time, attention, sometimes money, thinking “One day this man will take care of me, one day this man will see everything I did for him and know I’m the only one who will treat him this well.”

Been there, done that.

No, no, no- Hannah was never the issue. It was the shitty dudes she was introduced to.

H I L L S I D E PROPOSAL

So, reluctantly, I sat down with my bottle of wine and my roommate and I watched the shit show unfold. Except yesterday, I couldn’t pretend to love Hannah and Jed’s love even if I tried. I was so furious, watching him get out of the car with HIS FUCKING GUITAR. Not the time or place, man, not even close. Immediately could not take the dude seriously.

*Cue my roommate and I screaming obscenities at the TV*

This is what I’m saying- not even for a second, did I want to be happy for them.

Right after that they cut to Chris Harrison, who basically couldn’t get the words out fast enough and clearly doesn’t care about spoilers anymore, essentially saying: “Don’t worry, America, we are NOT letting Hannah end up with this douche bag.”

A F T E R ~ T H E ~ F I N A L ~ R O S E

The episode quickly turns from the usual Bachelorette finale to an episode of 60 Minutes. We get cute photos of Hannah and Jed, videos of them smiling and being happy together. And then we get Jed coming over to their engagement funeral in a random Airbnb. Unfortunately, as I stated earlier on in the post- this one hit close to home.

As I’m sure it did with every girl who has dealt with a cheating, lying, scum bag who tries to defend the shitty things they did and try to make you feel like everything was misunderstood. Like it was a one-sided relationship completely. I can feel my blood boiling just thinking about this because, I too, have been made to feel this way- like my feelings weren’t valid, like I was crazy, like I had no reason to feel the things that I felt.

I just can’t get behind this behavior- dating someone on and off/ sleeping with someone before you leave to go on the show is one thing, but this- not cool, Jed.

But, in Jed’s defense, he “told her everything”- meaning after he slept with Hannah and let her be happy, he told her a very vague description of his “Not relationship.” Let’s talk about this “non-relationship,” shall we?

• Had sex with this woman consistently
• Had sleepovers
• Met each others families
• She hosted a surprise party for him
• They went on a trip bought by her parents…wait for it..for his birthday
• Said I love you- not once, multiple times

But hey, she wasn’t his girlfriend. Jed “broke up with her” before leaving- emotionally and spiritually. Convenient, eh?

The worst part was watching his piss poor effort to not say sorry- but to try and defend himself. In the end, you could see right through him, he really only cared for himself and his image. Hannah, rightfully so, tells him that she didn’t say yes to the person he truly is. And that’s what’s so god damn wrong with this- he chose to not show his whole self to this person who was giving him everything. And then he has the audacity to ask for more- “grace and patience.” Give me a fucking break.

“This is not what I said yes to.”

I want everyone to remember that line and remember it again when someone tries to make you feel like you owe them something.

N O N – V E R B A L B R E A K – U P S

I also want to take a moment to reflect on the poor girl at home- she doesn’t get to tell her side of the story, she gets what the media will put out there and unfortunately, it sounds like she really did love him. I want you to think about that when you hear a guy talk about his “crazy ex-girlfriend.”

The “spiritual” breakup from the “not relationship”, which involved the sex, meeting each others family, ‘I love you’ and leaving it open ended- happens EVERY DAY in the dating world we live in now. Usually, this shit just isn’t on TV.

The problem with dating in today’s world is we start our conversations on an app, or in direct messages, which already sets the tone as impersonal and casual. And then, were just stuck with it because it’s more simple than to just define a relationship.

And I get it- it’s a way to protect yourself, keep things non-exclusive. I, too, have played the if we aren’t “official” then I don’t owe this person anything and I can’t get hurt.

The sad truth of all this- is that whether or not there is a label, there’s another person involved. And it shouldn’t take being “official” to treat that person like they’re a human being.

❤ T Y L E R C. ❤

Yeah, Chris Harrison, enough of Jed and his fivehead, let’s get the real man of the hour out here: Tyler C. You almost couldn’t help but smile when you watched Tyler and Hannah see each other for the first time. You know the feelings haven’t gone away and even though she is still hurting, maybe there is a silver lining at the end of this tunnel. I really do hope they sit down for that drink.

Regardless, hats off to the best Producers in the business- The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. This show never ceases to give me something to talk/think about and never fails to make me feel “all the feels.” We got the ending we deserved per usual.

D A I L Y R E M I N D E R

Know your worth, people. And have confidence to tell someone when they hurt you or piss you off.

Sunday Funday: Meal Prep Edition

Hello, my readers. It’s been eleven days since I wrote last. Last week was a rough one. My mental state definitely took a huge hit- I’m slowly but surely piecing it back together, one vodka soda at a time. I’m not ready to open up and write why just yet but I did want to share this awesome meal prep idea and get a little bit of writing in this week.

First of all, it was a long weekend- but a great one, filled with girlfriends and drinks, the best kinds of weekends, right? Late nights Friday and Saturday and brunch and day drinking on Sunday.

After the day drinking festivities on Sunday, I came home and instead of getting the Hot and Ready like I wanted, I decided to go to Meijer and meal prep for this upcoming week.
I looked up recipes and most of the ones I found had chicken or beef, but ya girl really felt like spoiling herself- so I went with shrimp. These shrimp burrito bowls are seriously awesome. They are full of flavor and fill you up- I almost couldn’t finish my lunch today. So here we goooooo:

First, I threw the shrimp in a strainer to thaw and while I was doing that, I poured myself a glass of Leelanau Cellars Select Harvest Riesling, I took my time chopping up my peppers and onions, there’s something so relaxing about cutting up veggies (or fruits) to me. Nothing is on your mind but slice, dice, chop, sip your wine, repeat. 

After I had everything chopped up, I threw some avocado oil in the pan and sauteed my veggies, I put a little bit of salt, pepper and garlic jalapeno seasoning on it and kept them in there until they weren’t totally soft but had a nice crisp bite still. It took probably about 10/15 minutes on medium heat. I tossed those in a bowl and cooked my shrimp in the same pan. While they were cooking, I threw some brown rice on the stove as well.

After that I threw my shrimp in the pan, topped with salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and the tiniest bit of cumin. While I let the shrimp cook on low, I cut up my avocado, put some fire roasted corn in a little pot and made a creamy greek yogurt & salsa sauce. If the shrimp are thawed, they really only need a few minutes in the pan to turn pink and still be nice and juicy- if  you over cook them, they still are fine, just might not have as much flavor as you would want.

The sauce I made was really flavorful and was the easiest part of the process, equal parts of greek yogurt and salsa, mix it together until there are no lumps (except the chunky parts of the salsa) and bam- you have a great sauce to top the bowl with.

I portioned these into 4 bowls for lunch, a bowl for dinner last night and I plan on using the left over shrimp and veggies to make some tacos tonight. I really needed my time with myself last night and it was the perfect ending to a really long and draining week.

Volleyball is really coming into full force this week and I have four days in the gym. I’m doing my best to keep up with working out, but also doing my best to tell myself it’s okay to not workout.

This weeks goals/to do list: Get a workout in 3 times, get to my Dad’s office one day, pick one shift up at WOB, get a lobster roll from Mudgies, run two open gyms, attend two days of volleyball camp, finish the work week without a mental break down.

Wish me luck, xoxo.

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Shrimp Burrito Bowl Grocery list

• Frozen, peeled & deveined shrimp (31-40 bag size)
• 1 avocado
• 1 Cup Greek Yogurt
• 1 Cup of Salsa
• 1 Can of Fire-Roasted corn
• 3 Bell Peppers (at least one green)
• 1/2 Red onion
• Salt, pepper, garlic jalapeno salt, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin
• Avocado Oil (can be switched with olive oil)
• 2 Cups Brown Rice (Dry)
• OPTIONAL: Leelanau Cellars Select Harvest Riesling- it was a little sweet for me, but a crisp white wine is always a good pair with seafood.

Shrimp Burrito Bowl Recipe

• Cut up veggies as if you were going to cook them for fajitas, cut up avocado
• Run cold water over shrimp to thaw
• Cook rice while veggies and shrimp cook (usually takes around 20 minutes)
• Sautè veggies in a pan, add garlic & jalapeno salt, pepper
• After veggies are cooked almost all the way through, throw them in a separate bowl.
• Throw thawed shrimp in the pan, add chili powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder and a little bit of cumin.
• After everything is cooked- build your bowl, divide the rice into equal parts, top with shrimps (I did around 5-6 a bowl), corn, avocado and peppers.
• Mix equal parts of salsa and greek yogurt into a separate bowl and divide into 2 oz. containers.
• OPTIONAL: Lime wedges, cilantro and/or green onions on top might be a good addition.

Stranger Things 3 End of the Season Award Ceremony

** THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS POST **

And just like that, Stranger Things has arrived and just like most people, I have no self control so for me-it’s already over and I’m already on the edge of my seat dying for next season. I have to say, every season I truly believe that it cannot get better and sure as hell, The Duffer Brothers surprise me every freaking time. Just as Lucas says about the “New Coke”: “It’s like Carpenter’s The Thing. The original is the classic, no question about it. But the remake… sweeter, bolder, better.”

This season was special, I developed feelings and bonds with characters I never thought I would of, I jumped from being so scared (multiple times), I jammed out to the Never-Ending Story theme song and have had 80’s songs stuck in my head all week. The cinematography, like every season, was on-freaking-point. I mean COME ON, the Soviet “Terminator” scene with Hopper and the Russian dude fist fighting in a lab, the Back to The Future scenes, the Material Girl song at Starcourt Mall. The 80’s nostalgia is unreal, you can’t help but want to throw your hair up in a scrunchie, put on a pair of high- waisted jeans, some crazy patterned shirts & converse and run around the town blasting Cars and REO Speedwagon.

Sunday, we binged episodes 1-7 and Tuesday night we watched episode 8. And every single season during the last episode they always butter me up with an 80’s song and put the kids together and I leave the season happily and loving those kids even more.

This season, was far- farrrr from that. (Okay, I still love all of those kids- that has not changed.) In the last 25 minutes of that episode, I experienced every emotion humanly possible. From laughing, to feeling the love between Joyce & Hopper, to heartbroken, to hopeful, to smiling a little bit, to absolute depression. Not to mention, the song they play, for those of you who didn’t catch it- it’s Heroes, the Peter Gabriel version, the same song they play when Will’s “body” comes up in Season 1. Which leads me to believe they are trying to tell us something….mourning a false death maybe???

The last scene shows El reading a letter from the only Dad she has ever known(wow, I have chills thinking about it), who I refuse to believe is dead. As she reads the letter, the kids help the Byers pack and say goodbye- which is a metaphor in itself. Not only are they saying goodbye to them, they are saying goodbye to being “preteens” if you will, a very important time in all of their lives. I have never in my entire life, cried so hard over a TV show- not Game of Thrones, not Vampire Diaries, not even This is Us. People, I’m talking feel it in your belly, ugly not crying, sobbing. It is by far the most moving and powerfully miserable scene the show has given us- and the perfect goodbye (?) to one of the most beautifully developed characters.

Bravo, Stranger Things 3, bravo. An absolute masterpiece.

As you all know, I am a coach and at the end of the season, we give out awards and now, for my end of the season awards…………………………….

Honorable Mention(s):

Nancy Drew, my Detective- Nancy knew something was wrong all along and NO ONE believed her, not even her boyfriend. (Honestly, it’s a hard no on Jonathon Byars but that’s just me.) Unfortunately, she was deprived of her “I told you” moment, but we all know and those piece of shit news guys know it, too.

Lucas- I’m still waiting for us to get more in depth into his life and his story, but we did get his bad-ass idea with the fireworks, which played a key point in killing the demon and my boyfriend said he has a great “frame” so he gets honorable mention in my book.

Will- For staying out of the Upside Down all season.

MVP(s): Scoop Troop

Steve, Robin, Dustin and Erica.

I mean honestly, Steve in his Scoops Ahoy uniform alone is gold.

Steve finally wins his fight. Dusty-Bun is just too charming for his own good. The girls were a great addition and kept the boys in line. Without them, no one would have been able to close the door and the demon would have only gotten stronger.

Most Improved: ElMaximo

Obviously, El didn’t really need to “improve” per say. The girl is an absolute bad ass. But I’m all about some girl power and that’s exactly what we got. Max really brings out a good side of El and helps her with her girl problems- we all need our girlfriends. The board gives them this award strictly for the “I Dump Your Ass” scene, influenced totally by my girl Mad Max. Good job, ladies.

Defensive Player(s) of the Year: Stoli-Bomb Slushie Stars

Composed of Joyce, who had no problem telling the government what is up. Murray, who always comes in clutch with some great information. And Alexi, he didn’t say much but he was imperative to defending the town against the Upside Down and everything that comes out of there, I hope heaven has a million cherry slushies. (May he rest in peace.)

Rookie of the Year: Erica. She started off as your annoying little sister type of character, always taking advantage of the free samples and being sassy to her elders. But towards the end, you realize, she’s just a nerd like the rest of us. I love some good character building.

In Loving Memory:

Billy

As you know, I love some good character building. The guy starts out as a Divsion 1 asshole last season, starts this season as the eye candy for the women of Hawkins starring as a life guard, to becoming the Mind Flayer’s pawn. It’s only in the last season we remember who he really is, a kid, and beyond that Max’s brother. I’m a sucker for a kid who had a hard childhood and this guy deserved more. He got his redemption at the end, but I can’t help but wonder what kind of bond we could of got out of him and Max if we just had a little more time.

Hopper

He’s not freaking dead and I won’t shed any more tears believing he is. NO BODY, NO DEATH. But we can all learn a lesson from him:  “Make mistakes, learn from ’em. When life hurts you, because it will, remember the hurt. The hurt is good. It means you’re out of that cave. But, please, if you don’t mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches.”

Not mentioned:

Mike- he played tough for 10 minutes until Hopper set his ass straight- not only did he take an L from dear old dad, he took that L hard from El. “I dump your ass.” The kid was on his high horse for two seasons, he needed a reality check. Maybe next season, Wheeler.

Jonathan Byars- Bro, do the words “YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS ALWAYS RIGHT” mean anything to you?

The 8th of July

After a long weekend, it’s always hard to come back to work. This one is no different- after 4.5 days out of the office, I’m depending on this midday coffee a little more today. For those of you who know me, you know I love my country and know that my favorite holidays are the ones based around red, white and blue.

After the initial “Oh shit, I have to be in a bathing suit this weekend” fears fade, these holidays give me a sense of peace and a sense of calmness that I don’t get around other holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s not frowned upon to spend it with good friends, most times around a body of water with a drink in your hand and the food is hands down the best holiday food – I mean come on, hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, pasta salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, s’mores.There’s no awkward conversations with family, just cheers to the flag. On Fourth of July, there’s no pressure to be anything you’re not because you’re celebrating what you are- an American.

This morning, yes, it was hard for me to get my sunburnt body, unwashed hair, hungover butt out of bed but on my commute to work, I thought about all the things I am grateful for and it overpowered the bad mood times a million. I am so lucky and blessed to live the life I live and to surround myself with the people I do.

I am so grateful for the men and women who fight and have fought to protect our country, who fight for the rights we have. Some days, I feel sorry for some of the people who live here because we do have such cold-hearted people- like any country does. But I will never feel sorry for supporting and loving my country and for what it’s supposed to stand for. And that’s the best part about America, is you don’t always have to agree with what everyone else thinks and believes, you have that right. You can have democratic views mixed with conservative. You don’t HAVE to pick one side, this country was built on disagreements, compromise and the ability to have your own beliefs. What you HAVE to do and what you SHOULD do- is respect every single person in this country, because that’s what being American is about. Understanding there are different views in this world and figuring out how to live and love each other through the indifference.

So, cheers to America and to the rest of this week. I know it’s tough to come back, but challenge yourself this week to not have the “I have to go to work” mentality and to have the “I get to go to work” mentality. Because, we are all lucky to have the freedoms and rights that we do- and I think we forget that sometimes.

Xoxo~ Kenz