Birthday Broad and Parentheses

Whelp. I'm officially 27.

Worst thing, I woke up this morning thinking I had turned 28 and learned that a 27 year old body doesn't recoup from a hangover as easily or as quickly as a 26 year old body. Damn you, box wine.

So OBVIOUSLY I partied hard yesterday. And by that, I mean I drank wine at home then went out to dinner with the hubs. At one point in the night, though, I was convinced we should go to a country bar to dance (WITH MATT, WHO HATES COUNTRY MUSIC AND DANCING) as well as smoke cigarettes (I'm SO COOL). Um. Yeah. Sorry Mama Smith and Mama Fennel. And don't worry, we totally didn't.

That wouldn't work well with our triathlete couch potato bodies, right?! BTW, we haven't gotten any further with that. HUSH.

I woke up this morning holding my brain -- trying to nurse its bruises. Aleve and Coffee DIDN'T EVEN HELP. But we still went to work - Didn't call in sick. Mostly because I HAD SO MUCH TO DO. And Matt had a class to teach. We're totally adult-like, aren't we?

So, what did we do for my birthday?

I worked from home. And Matt took a vacation day (because he's worked at AmFam for longer than me and has more vacation days (Jerk. Just kidding. Love you - totally just did a parenthesis inside of a parenthesis) and we've used all my vacation days on ACTUAL vacationing. First world problems, amiright?).

Aside from working, I drank wine. AFTER 3:55 pm. We walked around the pond. Made brownies. And went to our first Vegan restaurant in Madison. It was quite an eventful day for the Fennels.

Me and my babes.

Picking flowers for me at the pond.

I also got a nice, little [wine] catnap in.

Pros and Cons of my 27th birthday:

(I will put the cons first because I always like to end on a good note!)

Cons:

Obviously I tried to convince myself that I was still young and cool by drinking A LOT of wine. And I failed. MISERABLY. I sat in the shower for 20 minutes this morning just letting the water fall on my head. And I wore a black cardigan and a navy blue maxi skirt with frizzy ass hair to work today. NO SHAME. And it's 2:39 pm and I still have a headache.

Being hungover is really difficult when you're vegan. WHY?! Because you can't eat a greasy cheeseburger the next day to get rid of it. So, we ate at Which Wich AGAIN -- for like the third time this week. Which (no pun intended) by the way -- was incredibly packed at lunch! We even had to wait for a table -  AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT! And by eating there so much, I think I've gained an extra 500 pounds. Matt swears this is not true because A) he is my husband and he is trying to boost my self esteem and B) "You can't get fat off veggies."

I had a total breakdown yesterday while working because I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO -- and my list just keeps growing exponentially. In fact, I balled my eyes out to Matt because I was so so stressed. But on the upside, my boss emailed me from CANADA to wish me a happy birthday (probably because I put it as a meeting reminder on his Outlook calendar) And as always, Matt calmed me down after my freak out panic attack.

Work.

Although, yesterday, Matt did say, "You're the birthday girl! -- Oh wait, you're too old to be considered a GIRL" That's when I threw in the term "Birthday Broad".

I'm getting closer and closer to THIRTY! This really freaks me and my girlfriends out (who are the same age). As in, weren't we just 18 years old with fake IDs and going to frat parties every weekend?? WHERE has the time gone?

Absolutely disappointing and sad, we weren't really impressed with the Green Owl (vegan restaurant). Don't be mad at me fellow vegan and vegetarian friends! There were a TON of fruit flies flying around (I counted 12 at our table alone). Matt blames it on my fruity wine (MORE WINE!), but it was really, really disturbing. I just wanted to tell them about the Dawn Soap and apple cider trick. I also ate something that I could have made at home for a fraction of the price (I'm so cheap) that would have tasted much, much better (and arrogant). We still had fun. And the wine was excellent (compared to my normal box wine).

Last night, I woke up every hour, on the hour. Thanks sleeping disorder and alcohol.

Pros:

I got to spend the entire day with Matt. Yippee Skippy!!!

My box wine is never-ending! This also could be listed as a con today.

I totally bought myself two really cool presents online -- which are expected to come in the mail any day now. I also convinced Matt that they're for him, too, and "Credit Karma grades me as the letter D for 'use of credit' -- So, I HAD  to purchase something with my Discover......" He just looked at me like, "REALLY?"

The brownies were AMAZING. Second time making them and still equally impressed. In fact, I ate one for breakfast this morning AND when we got home from work. Get the BEST vegan brownie recipe by clicking here! PS: just tried to spell IMPRESSED starting with an E. as in, E-M-P-R-E-S-S-E-D. I blame the red wine. #DONOTJUDGE

The weather was surprisingly like a Fall day. Happy Birthday to me! Which reminded us that its LESS THAN THREE MONTHS UNTIL OCTOBER AND THE APPLE ORCHARD - and LESS THAN 5 MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS AND WINTER! (Do not tell me to stop- we live in Wisconsin/Illinois, people! - You want nice, hot weather all year round? Move South. Gosh, I'm sassy today, sorry). And I also cannot keep up with all these parentheses. I am going to stop using them now. (((())))))()()()(). Not really.

My bestest gals (EVER) uploaded the cutest collages/pics on Facebook to wish me happy birthday. Loved each and every one.

Happy birthday to my best friend of 18 years! I love you and hope your day is full of red wine, trashy TV and some amazing vegan meal served by Matt Fennel in an apron (only an apron). -Ashley Lamano

THOSE BANGS. AND THAT SLEEVELESS ZIP UP VEST.

Happy Birthday to my flyer! Allstar Cheerleading has made so many impacts on my life today-- but the memories were the best thing of all- I can remember one time I wasn't with this girl during our Allstar days! I can't wait to tell Brynlee about our crazy times! Miss you- Hope you have an amazing day!! Happy Birthday Jac!! #tbt -Ashley McMullin

Wishing my twinsie and happy HAPPY bday!! Jackie, you've literally been by my side for as long as I can remember (both in the air and through all life's crazy events) and I couldn't feel more blessed to have you in my life. No matter how many miles away we are, it's like we don't even skip a beat! You're the best friend a girl could ask for, and I love you more than anything! I hope you have the BEST birthday yet- you deserve it Jackle!! Xoxox -Heather Stoner

 Happy birthday to this beautiful best friend! Love you Jaclyn Fennel -Carmy Feery

 Happy Birthday!!!!This picture sums us up at weddings I believe...seeing as we seem to have the same great move down! Love you!!! - Courtney Bumber

Happy birthday to the beautiful Jaclyn Fennel! Love you so much and miss you tons Scruff McGruff ! Xoxo -Nina Jacobson

Happy birthday best friend!!! Just wanted to share a few of the millions of memories we have made over the past 9 years! Hope your birthday is amazzzzzing!! Enjoy every second- bahahahah. Wake up and call me already...geeez!!! Love you bill! - Courtney Boris

I got amazing cards from Ernie, Lulu, and Matt -- As well as my favorite little boy, Judebear (and the Lamanos!).

 AND

27 is going to bring on so, so many special blessings, and I cannot wait to share them with all of you and personally experience it (with Matt).

Overall, it was a fabulous birthday and I'm so grateful to have the husband, family, and darling friends that I do, Thanks for the birthday wishes.... (I thought I should end with one more set of parentheses and a hidden inside joke that I share with my bestie). HAPPY FRIDAY!

Couch Potato Triathlete

Its the eve before my 27th birthday -- and what am I doing?

Laying in bed at 5:43 pm watching TV.  Does this officially make me old?

If it makes you feel any better I'm watching a show about working out and being active..... with thoughts in my head about eventually beginning to work out and be active.

Gosh -- I feel like I've written this post a ga-jillion times. Ya know. Blah blah blah. Being active. Talk talk talk. Running marathons. Bullshit bullshit bullshit. Yap yap yap.

Matt and I are obsessed with ABC's Extreme Weight Loss. Like OBSESSED. We DVR and watch it together every week. I follow both Heidi and Chris on Facebook -- and I read Heidi's blog on a weekly basis. Not only are they GORGEOUS and ADORABLE and in love, and darling and have adorable kids and....... everything else!!! They ALSO eat super duper HEALTHY and are SO FIT and their bods are amazingly hot. (how many times can I say and??)

I pretty much want to be her.

You guys!! She has four kids. Nothing stops her.

Okay, I think you get it.

Matt just called me a creep for saving these pictures on my desktop.

Moving on.

On the show -- In 365 days -- people completely transform their lives. Lose all this weight and become incredible athletes.

Last week, Matt and I watched Brandi on Extreme Weight Loss, who only after 6 months (while weighing over 250 pounds), complete a 70.3 Iron Man.

Copy and pasting from Wikipedia:

"An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of long distance triathlon races. The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run."

It was amazing. She trained for 30 days and finished it! Incredibly inspiring.

So of course, Matt and I were like "uhhhhhhhh seriously?!? If she can do it - so can we." So we started to look at the Ironman website, googling training plans, looking at swimming gear, biking gear, running gear and everything. That's when we made the decision.

We are totally doing it! 

What better time than to commit to a YEAR of transformation and being a triathlon athlete than the day before my 27th birthday!!!!

We went Vegan on a "weekend whim" -- (I say "whim" because I wrote about going vegan eight months before actually doing it -- but once I committed and we were totally committed). So why can't we do this?!?

Now completing an Ironman - heck, a half Ironman -- (in OUR opinion) is much harder than going Vegan -- and a hell of a lot more expensive. There's the registration fee ($225 a person), equipment costs (which are WAY more expensive than we thought -- for swimming, biking, and running), monthly gym memberships to train...... and more. Yikes.

But still - you guys -- we are absolutely 100% going to do this.

Sidebar: Since starting this blog - I have had 9130 views. Which is like 110 views per post.

This means I have roughly 110 people to hold us accountable now. Each and everyone of you have my permission to call us out -- ask us how our working out is going -- and ask us when/where our next triathlon will be.


Timeline:

With costs, vacations, the possibilities of growing our family -- and life, in general, we are not putting an exact timeline on this. We will, however, commit to a specific year. (Ha, pitiful - I know)

2016

(maybe)

Yes -- It will take over a year to get our butts into shape. No shame! And we're hoping to do a destination triatholon - because they're held in really cool, fun, exotic places. Like the Caribbean Islands. PINA COLADAS while doing it!!!!!!! Totally just kidding. Any excuse to travel, right?!

 So - where are we in the process? In bed. Watching TV. And googling it.

VIS-U-ALI-ZATION -- Got to start somewhere.

Currently, we are looking into gym memberships and will be starting a "week trial" at the gym of our choice by August 1st.

HOLD US TO IT, BLOG FRIENDS!

The night before we went Vegan (on March 2nd) -- Matt wrote on his timeline: "Just had my last carnivorous meal. This guy is going vegan. Doubt me, I dare you"

So, I'll say that to you - in a less confident, more delicate way. 

Hold us accountable. Please.

Goodness - what did we commit ourselves to???

Hippy-rific (SO MANY PICTURES)

Yesterday was a TERRIFIC day. Wait, no - a HIPPY-rific day

First, we went to the Farmer's Market on Capitol Square

State Street was packed.

We bought some Fennel

Then stopped at American Family's DreamBank

We went to Alterra to get some Green Hornet Smoothies -- made with Kale, Apples, Cucumbers, Celery, and Lime. Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had a little picnic

 The "Fennels"

Yummy sweet cherries.

And delicious carrots

Saw some protesters....

 Then went to Willy Street Co-Op. Our favorite grocery store in the whole wide world

We bought some Hemp soap.

And more essential oils

And a TON of Vegan Sweets!

Vegan Pecan Cinnamon Roll,

Vegan Pumpkin cookie,

And a vegan raspberry filled donut!

Then we stuffed our faces in the car/parking lot of Willy St Co-Op (enjoy the pictures)

We went to our favorite bookstore -- Frugal Muse

And got my birthday present!!!!

The entire Shel Silverstein collection

HAPPY GIRL

Matt kept smelling the soap. BECAUSE it smells DELICIOUS!

Once we got home -- we walked the pond

Pretty flowers.

I love him.

New favorite picture

Then went downtown (again) to meet Renae!

We grabbed apps and drinks at The Old Fashioned

Brandy Old fashioned sweet (picture taken for CINDY JOERS!!)

(it was delicious)

How did I get so lucky??

Round Number 2

And ended the night with Bennums stopping by.

F is for FOREVER FRIENDS.

Love them.

What a great birthday weekend celebration!

Thank you to everyone who made it so special. 

xoxo

I hope this isn't how you all feel about me.

(Next weekend is our Fennel Family Fun Day Family Reunion!)

Only three more days of me being in my mid-20s :-(

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO LUBCHEK AND COURTNEY BORIS!!!!