FIRST ANNIVERSARY, Birthday, & Turnaround Planning!!

Good morning and happy Monday, you beautiful people. I just got back from Trader Joe's. I could not film inside because one time I got in trouble for it. And now they have a sign on their door that specific specifically, specifically says no filming or photography in the store. Not saying I'm the cause of that, but the timeline is very interesting. Needless to say, I am trying something a little bit new tonight. For dinner, Mike randomly requested pico de gallo with cabbage. I had no idea that was a thing, but apparently it's like a Mexican coleslaw kind of. Never would have put cabbage in pico, but he requested it, so we're trying it out today. I'm currently washing some cilantro, tomatoes, jalapenos, and green onion so we can like get it all washed, chopped up and assembled. To be honest, I feel like maybe purple cabbage is the norm, but I got green because he wanted green. So we'll see how it turns out. I'm trying to get a little bit better about planning meals for the week instead of just being like the day of spur of the moment. Be like, what do I want to make tonight? Because I probably go to the grocery store at least three to four times a week and it's not time efficient whatsoever. So if I can use Mondays or Tuesdays to kind of go to the store and grocery plan for the week and just get whatever I need to, that would be ideal. We got back from the first turnaround of 2026 last week and it honestly went so well. It was our first time testing out the format of us having just one videographer still doing a four day long trip, only two turnarounds instead of four. And in those four days and I feel like it went really well. It was so chill. The applicants were great. Now I'm starting to plan next month's turnaround. Just looking at other applications, we've honestly had some really good ones come in. As I kind of briefly mentioned before, we're kind of trying to target the bigger businesses. So ideally anything a million plus with the juicy story, and we've definitely gotten some really good applicants in. We might be going back to Texas in March. We'll see. There's like a massive business out there that had applied, so definitely eyeing that. We're still trying to stay in the southern states at least until April. So if we can go to Texas and then like maybe another spot, that would be great. We also got an application here in Washington. It will be like a three hour drive. Ish. But I need to connect with some of our team about it, see how they feel, and then start reaching out to people. Ever since I was given the green light to kind of take over the whole turnaround process, I've loved it even more. I just feel like I have so much autonomy over everything. And our team is amazing. Our videographers are amazing. And when you have a players, it just makes the job so much easier as a whole. So I'm going to do some computer work here before prepping for dinner.

Custom things that I'm talking about. So we'll open them, change the insides. I am struggling in the business a little bit.

It's very neat.

So what I answer the questions you asked about employees. We have one virgin listed. I have you missing.

That is so interesting. We got an application for like a customer car accessory company, which he even acknowledged like it's not a home service business. So it's very out of the ordinary from the rest of the applicants we get. But that is just a very interesting business, to be honest.

My name is Chris Friedel and I am the proud owner of the show guys here in Windsor, Connecticut. How many employees do we have? It's fluctuated currently through winter. It's just been myself. I picked up a rock star this past fall after going through a couple guys throughout the whole season. And unfortunately, that rock star got hit by a car on his way home from work and his leg was broken pretty bad.

So. Hey, trill, hope you're doing good. I'm just such a base with you. About the turnaround trip we kind of briefly discussed on our last turnaround trip While I was doing some computer work, I was letting some veggies wash and now it is time to make the pico. So I'm kind of not following recipe. I like glanced at one, but whenever it comes to the seasonings, I can just piece that together. So let's see how this turns out. I'm going to try to do this in a food processor, so. So I wonder if the ratios will be even. All right, folks, here's the final product. The colors, absolutely beautiful. Hopefully the ratio is right. It tastes pretty good, actually. So hopefully it's as good as Mike said it was whenever he had it growing up. So we'll have to give a review on this later. What's the consensus?

Phenomenal. Did you use a recipe?

I glanced over one. I just kind of spiced it. However,

in 10 minutes, we're flipping over from copilot to homework. So this is my. What's it called? Pre game. Pregame.

Pregame. Meal. Gotta pray that it all goes smoothly.

At the very least, I'd be filled with goodness. We had a local cow skirt steak.

Yeah.

Homemade salsa. And it's banned. Virgin tomorrow.

I am a year older since you last saw me. 22. So old. I know, I know. Couple updates. So first of all, this was a Valentine's Day gift from Mike and we finally finished it yesterday. I think it was yesterday. And it looks phenomenal. I don't like have mod podge or anything or even a frame to put it in right now. And I really want to get off my kitchen counter. So I don't know if I'm just gonna like dump it back in the tray and put it together again some other day and then like frame it. We'll see. But for my birthday, poor Mike, he has Valentine's Day, my birthday, and our anniversary on the 28th, all in February to celebrate. So it's kind of a cluster of special events. But anyway, my birthday, he got me an espresso machine. If you guys watched our vlog from whenever we were in Turks and Caicos, I talked about how much I loved using the one at the place we were staying. And it's amazing for my meal plan because they have like flavored pods and they're not sweetened. There's like no calories in it or anything. So I just make the coffee, put almond milk in it and it still is like really good for my meal plan. So that's like my way of being able to get my coffee and without blowing my meal plan and like getting a lot of milk and sugar and stuff from a coffee shop. I can just use my espresso machine at home and I love it. I'm already on my second cup today and I had pre workout this morning so it's definitely not good for my caffeine intake. But that's okay. Drinking out of the Mr. Cup, by the way. Ignore that. I'm trying the Starbucks caramel. The Starbucks smooth caramel flavor. Amazing. I love anything caramel. It was the best birthday ever. Our for my first birthday since we got married and it was just so special to celebrate together. Mike made me feel so special. So it was definitely my favorite birthday ever. I'm trying to grow some cauliflower and I think that cuz I need a little longer. Nothing worse than veggies cooked on the outside and raw in the middle, you know what I'm saying? Mine and Mike's one year wedding anniversary is this weekend and I want to get him. Well, I already got him one gift. And, like, he's so hard to get gifts for, so I figured you can't go wrong with just getting a basket full of goodies. That's one of his favorite things so far. I just have chocolate, but I have ideas for other things I want to fill this basket with. But I'm at Target trying to collect a few things for him. Okay. I only got a few things from Target because I'm about to go to Fred Meyer, and I also want to get him Lulu socks. I think I'm going to theme the basket a few of your favorite things. We'll see. This basket's so cute, I'm probably going to steal it. Not going to lie, but got him some chocolate Quest chips, his favorite chapstick. I wanted to get him also a Celsius, but they didn't have his favorite flavor. So we're going to Fred Meyer to get a few more things. Now, I'll have to go to Lululemon sometime this week because if I got it ordered and shipped, we're they wouldn't deliver in time. So that's the vibe I'm going for. And then his other gift is better. He's just so hard to get gifts for. Whenever he wants a physical item, he just buys it. I'm gonna write him a letter, and that'll be like, the more meaningful gift as well as part of the basket. So I'll have to check back in once this is all assembled and have to hide it in my closet somehow without him seeing it. Okay. He's not home, so I'm gonna try to assemble his basket. Our anniversary is in three days, and he tried to give me one of my gifts yesterday, and I was like, I would say yes if I had your gift ready. But this is one of the two gifts. I'm getting him the other one. I actually got him an Orange Ridge wallet. It's like the same orange as homeworks, and it has not come in yet. I ordered it, like, probably a week ago by now, so hopefully that gets here in time before our anniversary. But I want to go ahead and assemble this just in case he tries to give me my first gift. I'll at least be able to give him this one. He loves Quest chips, which there's four bags in here. So I think what I'm going to do is just, like, put one or two and then save the rest for after. But these are like salsa. Salsa ver flavored. I don't know if he's ever had them, but I feel like he would like Them, they're just like protein chips. And then today I got him some Lululemon socks. It's one thing from Lululemon that he does not own. I actually saw this really cool orange zip up, like, sweater shirt situation. And it was the same orange of the other shirts he's gotten from them to match the homeworks colors. But they didn't have his size. And they would have ordered it online. But it won't come in time. So I might get that for him later. But for now, I just wanted to, like, get stuff that I could. I could actually put in this basket. So three pairs of the kinds of socks that he likes. Like tab length socks. They're athletic power stride socks. A Celsius. I got him quite a few snacks. Not gonna lie. Just because he also loves food. So why not Lily's chocolate. His favorite gum. Favorite chapstick. Burt's bees Hue chocolate. Oh, I've got the Saloni for me. Totally forgot I had that in the bag. And some paper to fill in the gap. I'm also gonna write a note. I have it typed out in my phone. But I'm gonna hand write him a little note. And that'll be like the more meaningful special part. But you can't go wrong with little gift basket. So let me make this all cute. Boom. That was so quick and easy. At first I was clearly going with the green theme. But, you know, other things kind of ruined that. But that's okay. It was so fast and easy to do. And hopefully he likes. It was the night before our first anniversary. Yeah.

And all through the night. And a creature was stirring. Not even a mouth.

But this is the second present I got him. It's an Orange Ridge wallet. Because his old one, it is that. It is very old. I've had it for 15

over 15 years.

That's crazy. And he always had the air tag hanging off of it. But now I got him the wallet with an attachment. So like. And he's. That's what he's doing right now.

We're on an orange kick right now with the homework.

So I wanted to actually engrave homeworks on it. And the logo. Orange.

Orange. Now we got orange.

I wanted to engrave the logo on there. But I wasn't fully confident that he would like it because one time in our whole relationship, he told me that he absolutely loved his wallet. So I wasn't sure if I should bother getting him a new one. But I took a gamble. But I didn't engrave it. Just in case I wanted to or he wanted to return it now for airtag.

Ah, so good.

Needless to say, he's happy with it. So I'm happy.

So we gotta see if these all worked out.

Yeah. How many cards do you have? I think it fits up to 12. 10 to 12. And then he also opened his basket, but the ridge wallet definitely stole the show. He's most excited about that. He got me this really cool sign. Established in 2025. That's right. And then this other one. This is so cool. It's like on the COVID of a magazine type situation. I love it. I love it. Gotta hang those up somewhere. I don't know where we're gonna put him, but anyways, how's it going over here?

I'm working, I'm working.

The airtag is very flush with it, thankfully.

Yeah, it's super, super thin.

Glad you like it.

I'm a happy guy.

Awesome.

Out with the old and with the new. Orange for you. Alright, folks, so this is anniversary weekend and I have never been in a room where there's glass between the bathroom and the bed.

That's insane.

So we're on the 11th floor overlooking. What is it? Pure 55 in Seattle. And you can see the Ferris wheel over there.

Oh, that is so cool.

Big sliding door, glass walk in. This is where we'll be hanging out for the next couple nights. That is a. Ooh, very romantic. Electronic shade. Look at this.

No way. That is insane. This is what they're talking about when they said the finer things in life. Wow. Automatic curtain.

All right, welcome to our crib.

Michael is a huge fan of his wallet. He said it like five times.

If it's right in between there.

So beautiful. All right, let's navi to the gym. That one's higher rated, but it is closer. That one looks actually updated.

Oh, really?

Yeah. Interesting. So that's what I was saying in there. I think the batteries are old.

Old again. That's a nice.

Oh, that's like a gamble. You know, I love this city sometimes. Well folks, day one into our first anniversary celebration and Mike gets hit with the virus that's going around. Poor guy. Yeah, I got him a protein shake and some coconut water. Apparently it just needs to run its course and it should be over in 24 hours. Cuz that's what's going around right now. But poor guy.

We celebrating.

Hey, in sickness and in health. You know, this is actually the first true test.

That's right.

Probably like one of the first times he's gotten actually sick since we've been married. Like you'd get sick but still go to work. But he's not doing too good right now. At least we have a great view out there. You know, you can see it from the bed.

You might as well die in a good place.

Oh, please. You'll be okay. Happy anniversary. It is day two of our anniversary Seattle trip and it is 6:36. He's feeling a little bit better so we're getting out to walk around, heading to the pier. It's so nice not having like hardly anybody out here right now. Clearly made it back home. We arrived last night. The trip honestly didn't go as expected, but that's totally fine. Just glad that Mike is feeling a lot better today. Didn't get a ton of clips. We honestly just ended up hanging around the hotel while he recovered. It was just great to get some quality time together, honestly, overall. But thank you so much for watching and we'll see you guys next week. Bye.