carnival night.

last night Jacob and I went to a neighboring town to meet up with the BFF, Gerd, to have a few drinks and a night out for her Birthday Week! YAHHOOOO:)

although we didn't stay out too late, we had a....pretttttty good time. Carnivals, especially in such a small town...are best gone to every few years. And if you have time to people watch, do it up. There's some interesssssting people out there. And apparently all those interesssssting people have a few things in common:

- clothes that are too small for them

- a love for all things piercings and tattoos

and now a little of us:)

UP me, Renee (Jacob's little sister:) and Jacob.

DOWN renee, Gerd and me....as you can see I look a bit...wild...in this photo. This is because I immediately got, what I call, Chucky Face. Where I'm unable to smile. It's more like a creepy 1/2 smile, 1/2 sneer. It's gross. SO...my 'how now brown cow' face stretch wasn't working...so I gave up and screamed.

Hence...wild face.

UP gerd and I have a good one!!!

UP renee and Jacob.

DOWN jacob and I:)

overall, a great night!! Nice to see a few of our friends and catch-up. Seems like things have just been crazy lately. Seems that every few months we say 'things are going to slow down come...' and then NEVER do. Grrrrr. It's a blessing and a curse and I'm told things will never slow down and that's hard for a girl that HATES change and hates the passing of time. Boo:(

lots of amazing things to come this year.

including another carnival:)

good name. good place.

my BParty is officially 65 days away and in my over zealous fashion...I've got it prettttyyy much planned out. Just need to get around to ordering my crown (obviously;) and then all will be ready!

we're spending an afternoon and night in Milwaukee (MKE). And not just any part of MKE but The Third Ward. It's got everything I love: little cafes, bars with great personality and music, a market...with wine and margarita's available in the afternoons:) and everything within walking distance. SA-Weet!

our first stop of the night: Charlie's. It's freaking perfect for what I want for my BParty.

I'm not much of a dancing queen (although I've been known to move my body on dance floors in ways not many have seen;)...so this place is perfect. It has a completely chill and laid back vibe with amazing tunes. It'll be the perfect place to begin our night!

UP jacob and I visited Charlie's for the first time, while visiting his sister in MKE...for the first time! Thanks for introducing us to Charlie's Renee:):)

DOWN jacob and I. Such a good night:)

PS. i've had some great luck with dealing with Dawn, from Charlie's. She seems very upbeat and excited about the ladies and I coming down for my BParty...she even added this:

"...as for your party...FABULOUS. Would love to have you all here. When it gets closer, give me more details. We like to create a drink in the honor of the future bride!..."

for REAL YO'!??! I get my own drink?! It's like I've been waiting all my life...for this moment;)

smith shake.

yes. They did this. In the bar. While out on the town. Ridiculous;)

what you are about to see is the infamous Smith Handshake (the secrets OUT;).

But this time you'll only be getting the backwards version. Yep. They know it the first ridiculous way AND that way backwards. Holy lord.

i'm marrying him and even THIS does not change how much I love him;)

me daily.

i'm playing a bit of catch-up here, so bare with me!:)

here's what we've been up to the last couple weeks and they too, have been great!!!!!

baby Drew was baptised:)

UP all the kiddo's had a 'special' part in the service.

DOWN baby drew is smiling:)

UP we went to Milwaukee this weekend to visit Jacob's sister, Renee. It was an amazing time. A shiat ton of money was spent but seriously...no shakes, no day-after guilt...it was a great time from start to finish:) THANKS NAE!!!

here me and Jacob are outside my new favorite bar in MKE, Charlies:) - this bar would surely be a stop on the BParty. Fabulous atmosphere!

DOWN our first stop in MKE was Riverfront Pizzeria (not the official site, couldn't get it to open). It was SO good. Best bruschetta EVA'.

UP/DOWN some MKE scenery:)

UP more of MKE. Also...thinking I loved it SO much that it's definitely in the running for potential BParty location:)

DOWN we ended our weekend in MKE with a night at a little Mexican joint, Las Palmas, watching a cover band, Failure to Launch. They make me seriously regret not considering a band for the wedding:( SO good! The keyboarder(?)/keyist(?:), Megan, is a good friend of Renee's and such a festive person! Love her already!

UP pals at the end of our Saturday night!

to wrap things up. I love Milwaukee. JACOB loves Milwaukee. I think he asked twice if we could move the wedding to the Third Ward in Milwaukee (where we frequented while there). And if I thought we could somehow make that happen AND get that band...I'd be on board;)

oh, and we were also able to visit some great friends on the way home, Kent and Holly. They have a new home and a baby on the way AND an engagement and it was amazing to catch-up with them. Laughs, laughs, laughs. When we left I asked Jacob if he really thought Kent was THAT funny or if that seriously crazy, hard, scary laugh was his 'fake laugh'...but apparently he just enjoys Kent's stories THAT much;)

PS. Kent's freaking hilarious, for real yo'!!

hope you all had as great of a weekend as we did!:)

NAE - Maid Quatro.

Maid - QUATRO by cmzimmerman featuring platform high heels

Mocha ruffle bandeau dress
29 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Ruffled dresses »

LC Lauren Conrad Embellished Cropped Cardigan
$50 - kohls.com
Cropped cardigan »

SHARLIN
$50 - aldoshoes.com
Platform high heels »

Women's AE Ruffle Rosebud Ballet Flat - American Eagle Outfitters
$50 - ae.com
Ballet shoes »

at last perfect bow pumps in black
$40 - shopruche.com
High heels »

Journeys Shoes
$40 - journeys.com
Shoes »

Disney Couture 'Have Faith In Your Dreams' Enamel Bangle
$48 - asos.com
Snap bracelets »

Black Jewel Ribbon Necklace
30 AUD - funaccessories.com.au
Ribbon necklaces »

Black Drop Chandeliers
$25 - charmandchain.com
Chandelier earrings »

Welikefashion.com - Bracelet India Gold by SECOND FEMALE
18 EUR - welikefashion.com
Gold bracelets »

Jet bead chain 3 row necklace
14 GBP - debenhams.com
Beaded jewelry »

Button Clip On Earrings 2cm - Black Faceted
$7.31 - make-me-beautiful.co.uk
Black earrings »

Metallic Beaded Layering Necklace
$5.50 - charlotterusse.com
Beaded jewelry »

all my maids are very teeny. Especially Nae:) She's a little gaffer!

here's what I have in mind for the little one!

a day full of happy:)

today is quite a happy day. Besides being the beginning...or almost beginning...of a new year...we have 2 birthday's AND a wonderful wedding!!!!

today my sister's little boy, Tayt, turns 4 years old! He's the most handsome bug in the whole wide world. You can't not melt when you look at that face!!!!!:)

me and Jacob have plans to take him out to eat this weekend or coming week and then he gets to pick out his own present. We try to do this with each kiddo. Something special just for them:)

and then there's Renee!!! Renee is my SOON-to-be-sister-IN-law (phew...SSIL:). She is turning 25 freaking years old today. To be 25 again;) HAPPY birthday Reneeeeeee!!!!!

and later on tonight we're going to be ringing in the New Year with these 2 amazing people! Carrie, the bride, has become one of my greatest friends. I went to High School with Chad, the groom, and am happy to report that we've stayed great friends and he found someone that suits him perfectly.

I know I've said it before...but there are few couples in this small town that I admire and they are definitely on the short list:)

i will be reporting back this weekend with wedding and New Years pictures!!!

for your thursday video-ment:)

this one goes out to you Renee!!!

and how much do you love the Canadian accent!?!?

'A-BOU-T'...good stuff;)