What a month

Hello, 27.

Today is my birthday. Normally I want to celebrate all week long and plan something cool to do with my friends like a picnic or fancy dinner with cake. But this year, it's different.

This year, I would say I've gotten the best birthday presents ever, and have celebrated little by little all month long.

I bought my first place the first week of August.

I accepted a new job yesterday with a better salary.

I found a washer and a dryer for $100, plus a microwave for $10.

Things are falling into place for me--all the things I've been wanting for the past two years, I finally have. And that my friends, is the best gift a girl could ask for. Not to mention, I'm extremely appreciative for my family, who have supported me.

Happy birthday to me.

Where I've been and more mundane details

Life has completely taken over. That's a good excuse for not blogging, not commenting on other blogs, and basically just hiding in my own superficial cave, right? Right.

So I've been enjoying the last few weeks of summer. I finally made it to the annual peach festival. The past three years I've missed it. One year it was due to picking the wrong day and another year it was pouring rain and I abandoned the idea. But the peach festival was fun. Ironically enough, I didn't buy any peaches because I already had bought some with my mom from the farmers market the weekend before. But M got a really cool hat & I tried on one too. And we had delicious peach dessert pizza, peach cobbler with ice cream, and hot dogs. We also got our faces painted. It was awesome.

We also got our faces painted. It was awesome.

Then all last week I celebrated my birthday in style.

I baked fresh peach/raspberry crisp on Monday.

On Tuesday, I went out to dinner with my family and attended the Rockies game, where the guy right beside me almost caught a home run ball. It was both scary and exciting all at the same time. 

Holding my cousin at the game. The tiara is compliments of my brother's dentist office--my mom got me that for my birthday complete with a star wand. 

On Wednesday night, I went out for Italian food with some of my bffs. We totally had a great girls night out, complete with wine and dessert. Oh, and funny story, before dinner I totally locked my keys in my car. Deja vu, anyone?

 The girls

Thursday and Friday were down time to run errands and basically catch up with life, and then Saturday was the main event: my birthday picnic. Sadly, I don't have any pictures from that day, but imagine 8 people sitting under trees on picnic blankets with a smorgishboard of food. We're talkin' cherry cheesecake for dessert, brownies, sweet tea vodka, beer, crossiant BLTA sandwiches, watermelon, chips...and the list could go on. It was a great time (albeit a bit stressful) but totally worth it. It was a great way to celebrate, that's for sure. 

So now that you know what I've been up to, what's new with all of you?

Flyin' by...

This week has flown by for me. Tuesday I saw that murder mystery play with Steve, who I used to like alot. We went to celebrate my birthday. The play was really good, I would see it again. And it was nice to see what he's been up to (read: not much). Last night I caught up with M over dinner at Red Robin, where we talked a bunch. Twas good times. Tonight I'm not going to do anything special really, just keep hunting for my lost bus pass and Costco card.

The job interview I had yesterday went well. At least I think so. The guy just sat there and asked me a bizillon questions for an hour. I felt confident and thought I asked good questions. He has other people to interview, so I won't know if I made the next round until the end of next week. And he said ideally, the person who filled the position wouldn't start until end of September/Beginning of October, which is perfect. Why? Because on Sept. 21, the boss of our "community" is coming into town. Everytime he's come into the office, someone has gotten laid off. First it was our publisher, then it was the graphic designer, and then it was production... So, essentially, I'm preparing myself for getting laid off, because by now, we can't lay off the art person because she's the only one left in that dept. Which means that it has to be someone from my department and I'm the lowest one on the totem pole. Sooooo...ideal situation would be, get laid off, take severance package, and then start the new job come October. Let's just hope I get the position either way, k? K.

Ummmm other than that, nothing else to really shout about. I'm glad the long weekend is coming up.

(Wow this was a boring entry. I think I should take a nap now)

Pre-Birthday Weekend Recap

Friday- I had a rough day. So I fully intended to get a drink, or two. I went to the Rockies game with Just a Girl, where we mixed Mike's Hard Lemonade with Firefly's Sweet Tea Vodka. Needless to say, after the game we apparently went out to three bars, where she hit on cops, I threw up, and we almost got kicked out of the bar. She did get my a cab home, which I have never done, but I made it home.

A view of Coors Field

This stuff is so good, it's dangerous.

Saturday- I felt like death warmed over. Seriously. Never drinking again. Was definitely hungover. My mom woke me up at 7 to make me go for a walk. "You need exercise, it'll make you feel better." Liar! I did make it through the walk, even if I was walking like an old woman. After that I was tricked into going to pick up my brother, where my mom proceeded to tell his friend's parents that I was hungover. Thanks mom! When we got to my brother's football tryouts I literally face planted in the grass and felt like gravity was sucking me into the earth. I laid there, threw up some water, and passed out again. After that I came home and showered, because I reeked of alcohol. While I was showering, my mom took my cell phone, because apparently hers was dead. Okay. Well, turns out some (boy)friends called and she freakin' answered my phone! And, guess what she did? She proceeeded to tell them all that I has HUNGOVER and had to take a cab home and that I'd been puking all day. Score. I'm never letting my mom use my phone again.

After laying around and finally being able to digest 1 tortilla chip successfully, I got ready for my birthday dinner with friends. We had originally planned on going to Tuk Tuk Thai, but the one downtown is apparently more of a fast food type place instead of the legit restaurant type scene that I had been to. So thankfully we found a hibachi and sushi place two doors down. We went there, talked, did not drink, and had the most wonderful cupcakes ever from Yum Yums! I was just really happy to have my friends there to celebrate with. It meant more to me than having a huge bash and inviting random people, that's for sure.

Happy Birthday to me!

My new 'do with Kristen at dinner

I heart cupcakes! Onomomomom....

Sunday- I owed my mom for coming up to Boulder and waiting with me till the Pop-A-Lock guy showed up to unlock my car, so in return I spent all day yesterday running around like a crazy woman and feeling like a soccer mom. Basically we went all the way up to Ft. Collins, which is an hours drive away, to see give my brother some stuff from Costco and to get back my Dad's truck, which he had been using. Once we did that, we took him to Sunflower market and taught him how to pick out vegetables. And I totally flirted with the produce man, who was so freakin hot. And probably like 20. My bad. After that I raced back to Denver, picked up my lil brother from my uncle's house, ran to Target and bought a Hannah Montana doll and a Hello Kitty card, wrapped the gift in the car, and then dropped him off at the birthday party. Then I ran back home, unloaded groceries we bought at Sunflower, put on some more perfume, and then went back to the party with my mom. I got to witness the chaos of kids hitting a pinata and grabbing the candy, and then ate dinner and cake. I was so exhausted last night but I couldn't sleep at all.

....but today's a great day because it's my birthday!!! Yay for being 25!! I'm going to the Rockies game again tonight with my family and no, I'm not sneaking in booze.


How did/will you celebrate your birthday this year?

Paranoia, Paranoia

Oh, sometimes I get paranoid about the stupidest things.

Take today for example. My boss is out for the day so I took a short break outside to read "Love the one you love" by Emily Griffin. Her books are addicting, because I always feel like I'm the main character. Anyways, when I came back into the office, my co-worker let me know that a client called for me but couldn't leave me a message. But the funny part is, my phone has the red light blinking and says I have 1 new message. So I go to dial my voicemail, only when I hit the shortcut button, it rings another person I work with who's based in Cincinnati. And when I check my voicemail, it says I have no new messages. All very odd, but it all made me paranoid that I'm the next one to get laid off within our office. I mean, hypothetically if I was the next to go, my phone calls would be forwarded to one of my coworkers in my office, not anyone in Cincinnati. But still. I'm paranoid.

What else am I worried about? My hair. I know, I've probably lost your attention now, but seriously I need to get this out so that I can sleep tonight and not have this nervous energy when I wake up tomorrow. So here's the deal. I'm turning 25 on Monday, and in celebration I want to do something drastic, unpredictable, etc. So I'm going to go from brunette to blonde. Not Barbie-doll-fake-blonde, but blonde in some form or fashion. I haven't told anyone besides M and my mom, who of course said don't do it. Whatever Mom, you're no fun. I just want people to be surprised when I walk into dinner on Saturday night sporting my new 'do.

This is my natural hair color.

This is what I was thinking might look good.

I used to have my cousin cut my hair, only because of family stuff going on, I'm not really on speaking terms with her. I have an old family friend who's cut my hair on and off for years, but I think she's too traditional, and I want to be different, modern, and dare I say--sexy. Can a haircut be sexy? I guess I'll find out. I didn't know where to go, but I knew my old coworker Ashley, whom I hated for awhile, is blonde by artificial means, so I manned up and texted her last week to see who she goes to. After several back and forth texts, I booked an appointment with her stylist for this Friday at this salon in Cherry Creek, a very affluent part of Denver. I know it's gonna cost $$ but I figure it's my treat to myself. And I want it done right. And apparently I need to bank on it taking 3-4 hours, which is how long it takes her when she goes in--only I have way more hair so I might be there forever. So back to my point. Now that Friday is a mere 3 days away, I am starting to become nervous and anxious. Anxious in a good way. In a way like "omg i can't believe you're actually doing this." But I'm also nervous. What if I hate it? I don't even know exactly what I want. I never knew there were so many kinds of blonde. I just want it to look good. To not look so fake. I hope it turns out okay.

Have you ever made a dramatic change in your hairstyle?

A Golden Birthday

I had the best birthday everrrrrrrrrrr. Seriously! It was a golden birthday for realz. M and K were awesome! We went out to sushi, had saki, and even had cupcakes from Mermaids Bakery & Pie House. They were amazinnnnng! I was so excited! And our waiter gave us free shots after dinner, and two bottles of saki. And then we went out to the bars and sang to some classic songs that I used to hear at happy hour in 'cuse. The night ended with M and I getting a ride in a petticab to the parking garage. Seriously. Best. Birthday. Ever. I was so happy that everyone could come out, and that was soooo sweet of M and K to plan it all out. They sure are sneaky! But it was great!

The birthday festivites continued on Sunday with M and I waking up at 5am to go to the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival. It was worth it! After that, I got a free chair massage at my aunt's spa party, and some presents. Then I went to Bonefish Grill with my family, aunt, uncle, and baby cousin. I tried a pomegranate martini--it was so good. I really felt like a birthday girl! Dinner was amazing, and I even had peach pie for dessert at home with the fam. I got a bottle of wine from my aunt and uncle, and my mom gave me new perfume, a new tote bag and case, and new makeup. And my cousin Jessica said she would give me a free birthday haircut. Yay! All in all, it was an amazing weekend!

B-Day Ideas

• Go Saki Bombing--I've never done it and I'm curious to try it

• Get a mani/pedi
  

• Go to the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival!!!!!
  

• M and I went last year and had to wake up at the crack of dawn to get out there but it was so cool and we got alot of cute pics and even got to go up in one! So it could warrant a repeat performance

• Have a Spa Day with the extended fam

This is all I have so far.... more to come!

Just Peachy

On Saturday, M and I made her favorite dessert--peach cobbler. This is what it looked like coming out of the oven. It was SO good! SA gave me this recipe. It's from weight watchers and has less sugar in it--so it's low fat too! Yay! I also learned a trick from M to get the skins off the peaches easier. You boil the peach in water for about 30 seconds, then put it under cold water, and vwa la! The skin will come off!

M was totally excited, and I was happy to make it for her as a belated b-day gift. I still have to get her a card and stuff, but I'll make it a priority soon.

What prompted this you might ask? Well, this week of her b-day, one of her co-workers asked her what she wanted for the birthday luncheon. Yes, her work is that cool that they have b-day luncheons. Anyways, she said she wanted peach cobbler or any kind of cake. Well, then later on that week or something, she asked me if I could be a dessert, what would I be? She obviously said she would be peach cobbler, to which her dad said it was because she's "wholesome." LOL. After thinking about it for all of like a minute, I said I would be a cupcake because I'm sweet. (insert gagging noise here). I know, that's a cheesy answer, but I really do enjoy cupcakes! I even poised the same question to S while we made brownies. He said he would be cherry pie with really good crust. Of course my mom agreed with that answer--she loves cherry pie.

Saturday night I spent time with B and friends. We grilled out and played rockband. It's such a fun game! Although I suck at guitar, it's too much coordination I think. Haha.

Sunday was good times as usual. It was our last jazz in the park weekend, which was bittersweet but still fun. S made it and he brought Max! It was exciting. Josh came with Kristen and Jake even made it, despite this 40 mile hiking trip. And John, Ashley, and Eliana came too! We made our 7 layer dip which was soooo freakin good, and had cherry limeades--the perfect summer drink. It was a great way to end the jazz in the park stint. I look forward to next summer!

Weekend Recap

I was so freakin tired on Friday, that I came home and slept for an hour or so. It was M's birthday. While we had originally thought of going downtown and eating at P.F. Chang's with Kristen and Jake, and then going out dancing later, that didn't really work out. Instead, M, her sister Brooke, and I, went to dinner by our apt at P.F. Chang's. We had a really good meal, and I sneakily told the waitress it was her birthday so she got a surprise birthday shot for dessert. It was a shot glass filled with chocolate cake and raspberry sauce and frosting with a candle. After dinner, we came home and then watched some tv, and then decided to go outside and lay in the grass. It was windy, and we were tired, but it was still beautiful to look up and see the stars.

On Saturday, Kristen, S, Max, and I went to dinner at Noodles and then went to movies in the park and saw Transformers. It was a good movie; my favorite character was Optimus Prime. It was a lil chilly and I did get six mosquito bites, but it was definitely a good movie accompanied by good company.

Sunday, we went to Jazz in the park per usual. It kinda rained but overall it was pretty good. Kristen brought her friend Veronica, who's getting married next Fall. And S came. And we had a fun picnic. Good times.