Groupon Weekend

Two weekends ago boyfriend and I went a little crazy.  Crazy because we had the most random, fun, and crazy weekend thanks to Groupon.  For those of you that don't know about Groupon - you are living in a sheltered world and I ask that you follow the link to Groupon and register now!  This website offers discounts everyday on something new in your city....what is not to love about that.  You can also purchase from cities surrounding your (or anywhere for that matter) and that is just what Jeffrey and I did.  As we saw Groupons in Austin that sounded fun to us we bought them and ended up with a fabulous weekend that was pre-paid!  HOLLER!

So on Friday night we went to a Rampage hockey game in town.  I have become quite the little hockey fan so this is always fun for us....we go to a lot of games and I just want more and more every game that I go to.  This night was special because the ice was dyed pink to support Susan B Komen for the Cure.  It was cool to watch the ice start really bright pink but turn to white as the players skated on it and kicked up snow.  They did a jersey auction after the game so boyfriend and I stay and are thinking maybe we could get a cool jersey for a relatively good price.....WRONG!  These jerseys were selling for thousands of dollars - what a great cause though.  I look forward to going to the second annual 'Pink in the Rink' night.

Pink Rink...How cool is that?

Saturday we slept in and then headed to Austin.  I had bought a Groupon to stay at the Vintage Villas on Lake Travis.  The resort was beautiful....a favorite for weddings.  Our room was very spacious with country decorations - our bed spread even had a cowboy on a bucking bronco on it! haha it was too funny!   So for lunch on Saturday boyfriend and I headed across Austin to another lake to have lunch at the Hula Hut.  Well, usually it is on a lake.  They drained the lake to promote some sort of seaweed to die so it ended up being a slight fail - the smell of the decaying seaweed and lack of water were less than impressive.  But, the drive was pretty awesome.  Scenic and windy - the kind that make you wish you were driving with the top down with your man and big sunglasses!

The view from our patio at the hotel!  The lake was way down but still beautiful!

Next, we went to The Triangle where I got some new sunglasses and purse at SoLa - a cute little clothing and jewerly boutique.  The Austin Flying Saucer is in this shopping center so of course we stopped for a few beers as well.  We had some friends that also went to Austin that weekend so we met them there and had so much fun.  I would share my crazy beer stories with you but you have to wait for the UFO club about those!  Hint: I had a chili beer!

Boyfriend and I, and the new sunglasses....they are purple!

A photo of the shopping center using the iPhone app Hipstamatic

After the Saucer we heading over to Cedar Park to watch a hockey game in Austin.  The Texas Stars play at the Cedar Park Center....and omgsh!  This was probably the best hockey experience that I have ever had.  First off, the arena only has like 16 rows so every seat is a great seat and everyone there is really into the game, partly because there are less people and partly because the view is so great you feel like you are really part of the action.  Boyfriend and I are already planning another trip back because we need some more hockey at this arena!  The game was great as well....it ended in a shoot out - the best!

The view from our seats!

Checking out the merch!

Sunday we got up and had a complimentary breakfast at the hotel.....which did not live up to the hype but that is okay.  After breakfast we drove back to San Antonio just in time to catch the All-Star hockey game.  haha - we are hockey nuts!  But that is okay...it was definitely a great weekend.  And Sunday night, I sure did sleep well!

What city near you do you like to sneak in a little get-away to?

Is the pressure of Valentine's Day getting to anyone else?

UFO Club: 35, 36 and 37

This night Jeffrey and I met my friend and big in my sorority out at the Flying Saucer!  It was so good to see her and catch up - it had been awhile.  I need to be more intentional about hanging out with my really good friends from college and not letting those connections fall to the wayside because I am now a grown-up, working girl.

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale - 3 Stars

Not a bad tasting beer but it needs some UMPH!  This ale has a gentle maltiness that leaves you wanting me.  Like those really fun people that you can tell have to act a certain way with certain people - like the trapped feeling.  LET IT OUT, you know?!? The biggest fault of this beer is that it has less than 5% alcohol....so basically you get jipped!  And who wants that really?  If you are not going to give me any alcohol you better call it water and you better give it to me for free! The end.

Pilsner Urquell - 5 Stars

A beer I really like that I never knew about!  This is a light, fresh, beer - a pilsner! haha...imagine that.  This beer is brewed in the Czech Republic, which is cool.  And it is yummmmmmmy so what's not to love?  I don't write much about the beers I really like, I guess I am assuming this is the way beer is supposed to taste, which I guess may be true in my world!  Urquell baby!
 (Oh and that is Jaclyn with me, she is the best big in entire world.  I miss her)

Samuel Adam's Imperial Stout - 2 Stars

Notice how I am all over the charts in my beer choices for one night.  Which never ends well for me, yet I continue to do it.  I hope I learn that this is not okay quickly!  Anyways....this beer has a bite to it!  And a nasty one at that.  It is very dark, much like motor oil.  In fact, you could probably run your car on it.  So after a great beer this was even a bigger disappointment.  The Imperial Stout is not for this girl.

This was a fun night, I remember.
I had the 3 B's: Boyfriend, Big and Beer! haha!