Happy Birthday Roomie!

celebrated Nicole's birthday Baltimore style...eating crabs and drinking beers :)

can you just sense how much more relaxed we are since school is out?

weekend wrap-up...part 1

this weekend is jam-packed with fun!

no, but really, I've already done a lot of fun stuff...so I figured I'd cut the weekend in half...Friday and Saturday, and then Super Bowl Sunday.


so far, I got in the car and drove up to New Jersey to see my Brother for a belated celebration of his birthday...we feasted on Pizza and birthday apple pie

 then I got all fancy, and made us breakfast on Saturday- after sleeping "in" till 8:15...I love my furry little friends, but not having anyone poke me in the face or hurl themselves into the blinds to wake me up for food, was pretty awesome today.


I have been trying out this whole Vine app, making some stop-motion videos...here is one of me making breakfast!

then we went out to run a few errands...bank, gas station, grocery store...and had Thai food for lunch...

I feel like I talk about food a lot...hmmm...


then Brandyce & Pete came over...and we had ourselves a grown-up dinner party :)  I made lasagna rolls, some just regular cheese and the others were with chicken and spinach...

more funny videos were made...and when they were leaving, we realized it was snowing...yet again!

so tomorrow I'm heading back to Maryland, to watch the super bowl...hopefully the Ravens can win one for Charm City...I'm afraid to see what happens if they lose...


fingers crossed the roads aren't too snowy tomorrow!  even though it is mighty comfy here...

and...Happy Birthday to my Brother!!

my little brother :)  who always makes me laugh...

hope it's the happiest!

who mee?  I flooped the pig... ;)

happy birthday to my Panda :)

whew!  it was tough being the only one of my friends to be 31...well not only, but out of my oldest friends...

so happy 31st Pan!  ruv you!!

birthday wrap-up

you might know that I like my birthday.

a lot.


which typically means I like to milk it for as long as possible :)


this year was no exception.  on the actual day, Friday, we went to dinner, at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Little Italy, La Tavola.

I had super yummy freshly made gnocchi- sooooooo amazingly good.  And some delish birthday canolis- okay, so they were just regular canoli...but it was my birthday, so whatever.



on Saturday I had class.  allllllllll day.

but my lovely friends decided they would come out to dinner and to a piano bar on Saturday night with me :)

where I had a bottle of wine, more yummy food, and this lovely salted caramel birthday cake.

so thanks everyone who came out with me! 

31.

whew.

the day has arrived.

01.11.13


a.k.a. my 31st birthday.


so far I've been pampering myself- nice visit to Starbucks, a little gift card shopping- where I bought far too many things with stripes on them- had lunch with the super silly Jen- who got me a snail card!- and video chatted with Mom & Dad :)

now I'm finishing up HW for grad school tomorrow, taking a teeny tiny bday nap, and getting ready for dinner.


Happy Birthday to me, indeed :)

30 from 30

I honestly mean it when I say, no year of my life has flown by as fast as this one.

30.

THIRTY.

and tomorrow.  31.


an un-even number.  ick.



but, we cant stop time, so I guess I just need to suck it up...and make something happy out of this, end of my 30th year, beginning of year 31.  10 years since my 21st...gosh, where does the time go?


seriously, do you know?



anyway...I thought it would be fun to list 30 memories from this year...for you to enjoy, and reminisce with me :)


1.  I had my second surprise party thrown by my awesome friends Bonnie and Brandyce :)

2.  I FINALLY got the hang of skiing!

3. I finished my first year of teaching ART

4.  I enrolled in graduate school!

5. planned a surprise 30th for those lovely ladies who planned mine :)

6.  planned a surprise 60th birthday party for my dad :)  lots of surprises and big birthdays this year!

7.  celebrated my brother's new job!

8.  traveled to North Carolina 3 times

9.  spent Easter in South Carolina for the first time 

10.  said goodbye to the Silver Jetta and inherited the Blue Jetta

11.  went white water rafting for the first time...my knee has still not forgiven me...

12.  went to one of my oldest friend's weddings in May, and college roomie's wedding in October

13.  walked around on the dock in the town where Dawson's Creek was filmed

14.  became OB-sessed with Pinterest

15.  as a direct result...tried out many new recipes

16.  and a handful of DIY-projects- all of which involved glitter...

17.  cleaned out and inventoried my entire closet.

18.  enjoyed my first summer off as a real live teacher :)

19.  attended the first baby shower of a friend from growing up...man we're getting old ;)

20.  spent a few fun days at wineries with great friends

21.  made great teacher friends

22.  got a little caught up in Baltimore sports fever- don't worry NY...you're still my #1 ;)

23.  enjoyed a VT win over GT for the first game of the season

24.  I started my second year of teaching ART

25.  I advertised my jewelry business on some awesome blogs.

26.  did my first craft show in an entire calendar year- and did it feel GREAT to be back

27.  made my first 'vlog'- video blog- and cringed at my squeaky voice

28.  survived Hurricane Sandy and learned how to work a wet-dry vac

29.  had my 30th Christmas complete with all the traditions I love

30.  worked on a 365 drawing project and didn't faire so well...this year will be different!


whew.  hope you enjoyed my list :)  I love lists :)

Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown!

well...not Charlie Brown exactly, but Monday the 26th would have been Charles Schulz's 90th birthday if he was still alive...and since one of my favorite movies- not just holiday, but movies in general...A Charlie Brown Christmas was on...for the first of many watchings between now and December 25th, I thought I'd write a little bit about him :)

All info and photos were found in this article on the Huffington Post online :)



Did you know...

Schulz was drafted into the Army during WWI?

The original name for the Peanuts gang was Lil' Folks?  I like Peanuts a LOT better

although...Schulz did not ever like the name!

Some of the characters, like Linus and Shermy were named after friends of Schulz...and the "little red haired girl" was real!  She was someone he dated, but she turned down his proposal...silly girl!

Network execs wanted the cartoon to have a laugh track...that would have just ruined it!  so glad that never happened!

In his lifetime, Schulz created 17,897 Peanuts comic strips...impressive!

so there ya go!  a few days belated birthday to one of my favorite people!

Happy Birthday Meggers!

feels like it was just yesterday that we were in Scranton for your 21st!






Happy 22nd :)  love you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my MOMMA!

I know you might all argue that your Mom is the best.



but you'd be wrong :)


Happy Birthday to the world's greatest Mom :D

LOVEEEEEE YOUUUUUUUUU!!

pancakes with candles

since I was conveniently home for the weekend...we also got to see Katie and have Birthday breakfast with her!

nothing like pancakes with a candle in them :)

and some awesome Harry Potter themed earrings!  a new addition to the JerseyGirlDeisgn collection :)  in the shop soon!

Happy Birthday Kait!!

another roommate bites the dust...Happy 30th Kait!!  so glad we had that random Accounting class together to discover we were both Jersey girls!  and not just Jersey...but 5 minutes apart at home :)

xoxo!  watch out for freak thunderstorms, missing flip flops and suspicious guys wearing shorts in the library in the winter ;)

Happy Birthday to my Mini Me!

I still feel like you are my little neighbor...can't believe you are 27, married, and a homeowner!  I am so proud of you and so glad to be your friend after all these years :)

photo circa December 2004

Happy Birthday Dana!!!
xoxoxo

A big day for Birthdays!

Not only is today my Dad's 60th birthday, but it is my best friend Bonnie's 30th!  Two of my very favorite people in the world, and today is their day!!

happy happy birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the other LB :)

 Lauren B & Lauren B...happy birthday little one!  :)  love you!

Happy Birthday Becka!!

to one of my favorite room mates, and fabulous new mommy...happy 29th birthday!!

love you!!  we must plan a visit soon...mr Parker is getting too big too fast!!

Happy Birthday Bean!!

Happy Birthday to our Christina-beana!  we love youuuuuuu!!

here's a nice photo of us last September...remember, when it was warm??

Happy 107th Birthday to Dr Seuss!

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

Will you succeed?
Yes you will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

today is the birthday of one of my greatest inspirations in life...Dr Seuss...he would have been 107 years old if his genius was still with us today!  

so I'm ditching my original lesson plan for class, and we're going to have a Dr Seuss themed day!  now I'm off to watch the Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham and all the others that are on my Seuss DVD :)  

it's also my goal to own all the books in his collection...so far I'm doing pretty good, but as you can see from this photo, I've got a ways to go!!

Happy Birthday to Lizzzzzz!

my Hokie, Zeta sister, and room mate in college, but most of all, my very good friend...hope you have a wonderful 29th birthday!!  can't wait to plan our next visit!!

here's a really old photo!  back from junior year...

Saturday's Photo

oh yes, that is coconut creme brulee...a surprise birthday dessert for me and Amanda last weekend :)