The Bachelor Episode 7 Recap: Who Says You Can’t Go Home

If you are a Bachelor fan, but new around these parts, you might have some catching up to do!
Click HERE for Bachelor recaps from previous weeks.
You know you don’t want to miss when Olivia made this grand proclamation….
right before she was sent home.

And part of me is left wondering if Olivia is still standing on that island.
I think we just have to trust and believe (apparently I’ve been doing too much Shaun T. lately) that she was evacuated because of the impending hurricane.

The episode opens up with Ben heading back to his hometown of Warsaw, Indiana.
Before seeing the girls, he met up with his CUTE AS PIE parents at a local diner.
I’ll tell you this:
THIS BOY LOVES HIS MAMA.
He loves his daddy too.
But I was a little surprised that Mike and Carol weren’t there.
#imposters

He gave his parents a Cliff’s Notes version of the 6 girls left.
And now I’m going to give you a Cliff’s Notes version of Ben’s Cliff’s notes.
Part of him likes Becca, part of him doesn’t.
He thinks JoJo is HOT.
Emily is wayyyyyy better than that other girl that looked a lot like her.
Calia is pretty, but scared.
Amanda has kids and is “shockingly beautiful”.

While he’s wrapping up his time with his parents, the girls are walking through Warsaw, admiring the charming houses, frolicking in the breathtaking  foliage, and just soaking up the crisp and fresh air.
SERIOUSLY.
It could not be more picturesque.

If you watched, tell me part of you didn’t want to pack your entire family up and relocate to Warsaw immediately.
I’m betting the crime rate is low, the produce tastes better (I’m guessing), and as you’ll see in a bit they have a stellar after school program.
All the girls felt the same way I did.
They all want to move there immediately and start popping out babies while their dreamy hubby runs for city council.
BECAUSE HE TOTALLY SHOULD.
Seriously.

He should at least run for a spot on the tourism board….because with all of the beauty and splendor I just mentioned in the great city of Warsaw…look what made it to the Warsaw welcome sign.
Welcome to Warsaw.  The Orthopedic Capital.

Anyhoo.
Becca went on and on about how much she loves Warsaw.
And you know what she loves the most about Warsaw?
It’s not a farm in Iowa.
#i’llbehereallnight

I do feel like I need to point out to all of the girls that Ben does not currently live in Warsaw.
HE LIVES IN DENVER.

Ben picked all the girls up in a boat.  He was comin’ in a little hot, and Caila single-handedly kept him from crashing smack dab into the dock.

He took them to the DARLING little water front property that they would be staying in for the week, and they all sat down on the couches to chat.

I’m guessing there is NO WAY anybody could have predicted what Ben was going to say next.
Ben told the girls that his parents lived just across the way.
He then warned them to not be peeking in their windows because they are “still very much in love.”
EW.
Ben.
Your parents are in love, we get it.

LAUREN GOT THE FIRST 1:1
In a change up that I don’t think we’ve ever seen before, Ben just turned to Lauren and asked her out on a date.
NO DATE CARD?
WHUT?
I felt like the axis of the earth had shifted.
.
Ben told Lauren she had 30 minutes to get ready.
And she was freaking out, although she already had a full face of make-up, eyelashes for days, and her extensions in.
#calmdownlauren

They hopped in a red vintage truck and rode around town.
He showed her his elementary school, his high school, his church, and the local movie theater….
and he told a cute little story about his first kiss at said theater.
It was all very charming and endearing.

They pulled up at the youth club where he used to work and I gotta say,
Ben was IN. HIS. ELEMENT.
This guy really does seem to be as sweet and wonderful as we all think he is!

The coach challenged a kid named Ronnie (who is apparently a Warsaw legend) to a half court shot. If he got it, Ben had to kiss Lauren.
Well, Ronnie SUNK THE SHOT.
I’m telling you, NOTHIN’ BUT NET!  This kid was the star of the show!
Go Ronnie!  Go Ronnie!  Go Ronnie!

So he sunk it, and then this happened.
Look at all of the little girl’s faces in the background.
I imagine that is how many a Bachelor watching party looked as well.

Ben then told Lauren there was about to be a huge surprise.  He walked in with Paul George and George Hill, and I was like “who?”
Well, they are apparently pretty big deals and a couple of the star players from the Indiana Pacers.
The kids were all pretty excited, but if somebody tells me there is about to be a huge surprise, my fingers are crossed for queso.

Ben then played basketball with a toddler in a diaper (what is the little guy doing at after school care?) and then counseled a little fella found crying in the corner.  He sat down beside him, asked his name, and then talked him into participating with everybody.
It was sweet as can be, and Ben was super genuine, but part of me wonders if a producer pinched that poor kid really hard or stole his after school snack to induce those tears.
Cue Lauren’s ovaries exploding in 3…..2…..1…….

That night they headed to Ben’s favorite local dive bar with his friends, and Ben was just as happy as can be having Lauren by his side.
In summary, this date made me really like Lauren!
And Ben.
And Lauren and Ben together.
Lauren declared, “I’m not in love with Ben, the Bachelor. I’m in love with Ben from Warsaw, Indiana.”   Cue the oohs and ahhs!
I really wish we would have seen more with the friends at the bar…because I’m guessing they would have had some stories about middle school and high school Ben that we all would have loved to hear over some shots!

NEXT 1:1
Who: JoJo
What it Says:  Let’s find love in the windy city.


Although some of the girls did point out that it is in fact windy in Warsaw, they headed to Chicago anyway.  And Ben lived out a life-long dream.  He was cute and totally fan-girling about the fact that he was on Wrigley field.
So, they did some throwin’ and some hittin’…

And then they did a little kissin’.
And although not pictured, she grabbed his butt.
And, listen.  I know I’m not a sports expert, but I think  butt grabbing is 1/2 way between
1st and second base.
#gojojo
They seemed very at ease and like they were actually having fun and possibly falling for each other.

They returned that night and had dinner on the field.
JoJo revealed a little more of herself to Ben, which Ben liked, and she ended the night by saying she’s “Team Ben.”
Which was precious.



GROUP DATE
Who:  Caila, Amanda, and Becca
What it Says:  I don’t remember.  And I’m too lazy to google it to find out.  What it should have said was “Get Ready, Because This is Going to Suck.  Hard.”


Nobody wanted a group date…. but Caila, Amanda, and Becca got it.
They rode in canoes, flew kites, and sat on some hay.
WORST GROUP DATE EVER.

This is what happened during their 1:1 time:
Caila is OVER group dates  and told Ben that she pictures herself as moss and has always  “been trying to find the perfect tree to grow with.”, Amanda’s ready to see her kids (of course), and Becca is really needing some affirmation.  She whispers “just don’t blindside me”.
That, my friends, is a little something I like to call foreshadowing.

The one redeeming part about this date was that there was a rather large cheese tray in the barn where the two other girls would wait when Ben was off doing 1:1 time with the other girl.
 I would have been ALL OVER that cheese plate.
I would have happily eaten plenty of cheese to cover up any feelings I was having.

Ben returned and then explained to the group that this rose he was about give out was the most important rose in the history of roses.
Not only was the girl that got the rose going to be guaranteed a home town date next week, but she would also get 1:1 time with him the rest of the night.
WHERE IS HARRISON?  THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE HIS JOB!
Ben gave the rose to Amanda, and Becca and Calia were crushed.

So, where did Amanda and Ben go on their date the rest of the night?
The possibilities were endless!
Well.
He took her to McDonald’s.
#didyouknowthattheyarenowservingselectbreakfastitemsfordinner?
#becausetheyare
#andnowyouknow
And as long as we are talking about it…their breakfast burritos are LEGIT.

They worked the drive thru, and I felt super sorry for the people in the drive thru.
If I’m running through McDonald’s to get a Dr. Pepper (with extra ice) and a large fry, I DO NOT want the general American public to know about it.  I want to eat it in private thankyouverymuch.

Then they ordered some Egg McMuffins and fries and channeled Lady and The Tramp.
TOTALLY cheezy, but just to be clear, I would eat a McDonald’s french fry like this with a stranger if I had to.
Look at these two.
#McCouple

After they ate BREAKFAST FOR DINNER (because you now, McDonald’s does that now)  ;), they headed to the Warsaw carnival.
I learned something about Ben on this date.
He shares my fear of carnivals where the rides are put up in one day.
#deathtraps
#nothankyou


That means Emily’s got the last 1:1.
Card says:  Home is where the heart is.
When Emily found out she got the last 1:1, the girl straight up bawled out of sheer happiness.

Emily and Ben hopped on his pontoon, and he took her to his parent’s house.

Emily looked so cute with her fringy scarf, but man oh man she BOMBED with the parents.

She appeared sooooooooooo young.
Like middle school young.
This isn’t a direct quote, but it pretty much sums up her time with the family.
She rambled on and on an on, and basically said,  “I hate carrots, but I love cheerleading.”
She then said, and this is a direct quote: “I feel like I’m so average at everything in life….” 

When talking with Ben’s dad, she goes on to tell him that she would love to just sit around and watch movies all day.
Emily, Emily, Emily.
Of course we would all love to do that, but we would never admit it.
I guess that’s something that comes with a little maturity.
😉

Ben’s mom was all, “Um, NO M’AM.  My Ben is not going to marry a carrot hating cheerleader.”
Well, she didn’t say that, but she did get all teary…and I think it was because she was genuinely nervous about what all of the other girls were going to be like.
If this was a calculated move on Ben’s part, well then I say “Well played.”

After saying good-bye to the parents, she hopped back on the pontoon with Ben.

She said “Where am I going?  You’re not taking me home are you?”
Yep, Emily.  It’s time to go back to Twin Enterprises.
But I’ve gotta give it to her, even though she broke down with the other girls (who all seem to genuinely like and care for each other)….

she handled herself perfectly in the limo!
I mean seriously, other people need to take notes.
She was mature and lovely.
She said, “The fact that I even got to come here and meet someone so amazing is an absolute blessing.”
WAIT, TWIN!
Don’t go!
More of this and less “I hate vegetables” could have bought you another week!

Rose Ceremony.
The girls are standing there, waiting on Ben.
Caila senses “something isn’t right”….and I’m all, I KNOW!
What are these garments you are wearing over your pretty dresses?
WHEN WEARING COCKTAIL DRESSES, COATS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN BACHELOR WORLD.
That’s Rule #28.
(Just fyi: a couple of more rules you may or may not be familiar with:
Rule #34:
When on hometown dates you must run and straddle the Bachelor when you first see him.
Please refer to Kaitlyn.
Rule #16:
When in a foreign country, if you walk by a stone wall, you must throw your date up against it and kiss her passionately.  This is also referred to as “Arie’s law”.
Rule #52:
Harrison can do no wrong.

Caila, Amanda, JoJo, and Lauren B. all got roses.
Becca was sent home.
While walking her out, Becca asked “Why did you do this?” (blind side her) and then wondered in the limo why she keeps putting herself in this position.
We are wondering that as well, sweetheart.

So…NEXT WEEK is hometown dates and it looks like it’s gonna be CRAZY GOOD.
Like brothers speaking out of turn good.
#let’spouroneoutfordesire’sbrother
Remember him with Sean?
WHOAH!

One more Bachelor related item…
 I noticed on Ben’s instagram that he was highlighting this bracelet that he’s been wearing all season.
If you want to read about the thought behind it and learn what the proceeds go to, head to his instagram post here!
I had a couple of readers e-mail me about this, so thank y’all for making sure I knew about it!

If you usually only come around here on Wednesdays for the Bachelor Recaps, you might want to check out my Monday post too!
It’s Joanna Gaines Told Me To, and I recreated an outfit that I pinned with one of Joanna Gaines’ outfits from one of her photo shoots.

And you can still go HERE to enter my instagram contest for a military jacket.  Rules found on the instagram caption !

And don’t forget, the Nordstrom Winter Clearance Sale is going on right now!
Click HERE to shop the entire sale.
Click HERE to shop everything for women!
Click HERE to shop North Face on sale for the entire family!
  Click HERE to shop UGG on sale for the entire family!