Weekend recap: The 4th of July, Wisconsin-style

Hello and happy belated 4th of July!

I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing weekend. I took a few days off after my little vlog adventure to relax and chill in Wisconsin, where is it so quiet, it creeps me out sometimes.

I find that now, whenever I go home, I miss the Chicago urban hum. What? No drunk person stumbling around or horns honking at night? I should record the Chicago "hum" and bring it with me to soothe me to sleep. Or get a nice little mobile for above my bed. Sad.

Anyhow, outside of getting a much needed/deserved mani/pedi at home, the big activity of the weekend was my hometown parade, which I chronicled here last year and was dying to photograph again.

Wisconsin loves the 4th and it loves our country. I see this displayed in several ways at home, from interesting outfit combinations to pride in our parade.

In fact, our local parade is so big and popular that the city had to pass an ordinance a few years ago to keep people from putting out their parade materials too early, thus monopolizing the good places. Clever. And I can guarantee you that people woke up early and waited outside until it was officially 6 a.m. to start roping off space. We're that hard core.

You don't f*ck with America and you don't f*ck with our parade spots. I even started stretching before the parade so I could be more limber to get candy instead of kids. Yes, that's what I do, please don't pretend you're surprised.

So here are some highlights from our parade, from sh*t to camels to kazoo bands to enjoying the parade with bistro tables, wine and a feathered mullet. It's better than what people used to do which is drink openly and ignore their children at the parade. Guess that was cracked down on too with the new ordinance. I cannot wait until next year!

Saw this on the hood of a car en route to the parade - yes, I'm immature

Celebrating the Civil War heroes

My favorite picture of the day. Bistro tables, feathered mullet and wine (forgive the grainy image, I had to zoom almost all the way to capture it)

Yay, a camel...in a southeastern Wisconsin parade...yay, a camel!

Kazoo band drummer. Yes, he's pointing RIGHT AT ME *faints*

Parade outfit - Wisconsin loves America and keeping its legs warm on a cool July day

Cleaning up sh*t from a horse-drawn carriage. We're givers

I was also home this weekend because tomorrow is my dad's 61st birthday. I mentioned here last year that I risked increasing my chance of skin cancer to help him ring in #60 and this year, he's keeping the celebration much more low key and unfortunately I can't be with him on the big day.

I know he doesn't read this blog (thank god, although I think he's hunting for it), but I want to say in closing, happy birthday dad. I know I'm not always the easiest person to love, but you do, and I love you back a lot.

How was everyone else's fourth of July? Is there anything you do every year or that your family/city is really hard-core about?

Note: Thank you everyone for the sweet comments about my vlog last week. I was so nervous in recording it and making it public. Your comments definitely made my day and made me smile. I'm so lucky to have you guys :) Oh and yes, big things are coming up! I can't wait.