Memorial Day Weekend Blate {Part 1}

Here we go!

Today, I'm sharing days 1 & 2 of our big Blate here in Columbus. I figured one post doesn't do this whole last 5 days justice, and I'd probably start to get dizzy from so many pictures on one post, so you get 2 posts for this amazing recap.

Steph and BBFT flew in on Wednesday night and the other girls weren't coming in until Friday, so we got to hang out with them for a day and a half before the other girls arrived. I was literally so excited to pick them up..I just couldn't wait any longer.  See?

Dance parties in your room are totally acceptable.

I can't say I wasn't nervous to have Steph, BBFT, Erica, and Jess all stay at our house. I mean, would they feel welcome? Would they hate it? The pressure was on and I WAS nervous! Luckily, like Billy told me 50 times,  everything was fine in the end and I had nothing to worry about.

Steph and BBFT finally landed safely (after they texted me 3 times pictures of their drinks they got on the plane) and I told them we would wait for them outside and pick them up by passenger pick up. I decided to just run in myself with Rocky and surprise them while Billy pulled the car up, and I just immediately went running over to Steph and about knocked her down with the biggest hug ever. Then came my infamous "BBFT!!!!" scream and huge sesh and suddenly all was right in the world. They were in my city, already fell in love with our pups Rocky after 30 seconds, and the girls would arrive soon. Happiness.

Once we got home and settled in, drinks were made, our house tour was given, and then we just sat up and talked until about 3 in the morning. Beau and Billy were back to their normal conversations about guns, hunting, and inappropriate bathroom things. A taco bell trip may or may not have happened, as well.

The thing about Steph and Beau is that we have only "met", technically "vacationed", with them once before this trip, but they feel like our closest of friends. I can honestly say we consider them our best friends. The four of us have so much fun together and we are all so similar. It's comfortable and effortless with them. They really are the kindest, most fun couple. It's perfect because Steph and Billy can hang out and talk together, while BBFT and I are off doing silly things that they judge us for, and it's perfectly normal. Nothing is off limits for us to talk about (and trust me, we talk about it ALL) and there are so many times we mention how much we lived in the same city. Actually, it was more like Steph saying, "I mean, besides your friends, family, and jobs-what else do you have in Ohio? You might as well move to Houston!"

...ok, ok, she's right.

 The blogging world is wonderful, isn't it?!

{I spy yellow shorts...}

We decided to exchange gifts this night as well. I had some fun aviator sunglasses, a scarf, an OSU koozie, and a water bottle for the pool for Steph (and one for BBFT). Steph got me and Billy "red neck" wine glasses (aka a mason jar with a candlestick on the bottom), the most AMAZING "Keep Calm and Blog On" tshirt, a beach bag, UH koozies (of course), a fun headband for my birthday, and the best of all....a picturebook from our trip to Naples. Pages and pages of all our favorite pictures from our trip together, and that meant the world to me!

The next morning, Thursday, we woke up and made Steph and Beau breakfast and knew exactly where we would spend the day....our favorite pool/restaurant/bar, called the Goat. Let me just say this, the weather was in the upper 80's and lower 90's all weekend long, with zero rain. We couldn't have been any luckier!

side note: you'd think that since Steph has lived in Texas her whole life, the Ohio heat wouldn't effect her. WRONG. Girlfriend gets HOT instantly and was often caught licking sitting on top of our air vents! I'm not sure who loves them more...her or Rocky? Steph famous line of the trip: "I'm soooooooooooooooo hot". Beau's response? "Shut it, Stephanie!"

Where was I? We soaked up the sun, made some interesting random friends at the pool,  ate lunch outside together, and sipped on drinks all day. Me and Steph have a tradition of getting McDonald's iced coffee's together (a tradition can be just twice, right?), so once we were done at the pool, we picked some up so that we were all ready to have a nice night out together. But first, we had to make a pitstop at our local Kohls to pick up Beau new flip flops. Why, you ask? Because the ones he bought smelt like a dumpster. I can just hear Steph now saying, "BEAU! We can smell those! Why didn't you get new ones before you came?! SICK! We are going to get new ones now!" ...and that we did. We had a hilarious trip inside the Kohls (considering most of us had quite a buzz) and made friends with an employee who ended up giving Beau the $20 pair of flip flops for a whopping $2.98. It was hysterical (one of those-"had to be there" moments.)

the bromance

 back together again...

so typical

 of me and Steph...

Thursday night, we took Steph and Beau to dinner in downtown Dublin at a place called Mezzo. Downtown Dublin is a super cute area with modern shops and restaurants, and it is the city I grew up in.  I knew we wanted to eat outside on a patio to enjoy the weather, so we thought it was the perfect place to take them! We had a great dinner, and then we wanted to show them some of the local bars we go to on a regular basis. We stopped at a bar/restaurant where I play sand volleyball at in the summer, called Flannagans. Flannagans recently built a pool and swim up bar, so we sat outside in lawn chairs and had drinks by the pool. After Flannagans, we took them to another bar we go to often and Steph bought us some of the nastiest birthday cake shots I've ever taken. ;)

{the patio of Mezzo}

Have I mentioned I'm really awful at taking shots?

I am.

Who knew that Ohio could be so much fun?! I told ya'll (for you, Stephanie) it's a fun place to live. Also- right before the pool this day, Billy and I showed them all around where I grew up, my parents house, and the lot where my parents are building their new house. It was the best feeling to be able to show them the areas where I grew up and where we hang out at often. At the end of the day, I can say this was one of my favorite days I've had....ever. Loved every single part of it!!

...oh, and it only gets better from here when Erica and Jess join in on the madness.

Rocky got so much attention, he could hardly contain himself.

Look how presh he is..

PS-Notice how Beau and I are matching and Steph and Billy are?

Not planned!

For those of you who have asked, both Steph's skirt and my dress are from Target!

Stay tuned for Part 2! :)