Summer Playlist

For the past two years I've made birthday playlists.  It all started with wanting to hear "When I Think of You" on repeat on my 28th birthday.  I just wanted to dance all morning, but I had to take breaks because I was about 17 weeks pregnant.  I just started putting songs that I didn't mind listening to over and over again and songs that made me want to dance to or sing along to.  So I guess it's tradition now to make a Birthday mix each year.  Jbear and I listen to the mix I made last year all the time- he especially loves to shake his booty to "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" by LCD Soundsystem.  Here are the songs I have been listening to on repeat as of late.  I'm totally been inspired by my 90's birthday dance party as well as all the new music I've gotten this year and just some plain old favorites!!!  




My 29th birthday last year



2009


And no!!  I'm not ashamed that Mariah Carey's Fantasy is up there 2x or the fact that LaBouche's Be My Lover is on the list.  Nope, not ashamed at all.



Please, still be my friend!

The first day of my 30's

Joel surprised me and took the day off from work even though I told him that I didn't want him to.  I'm so happy he didn't listen to me because the day was so much more fun with him home with me.


It started off with a short dance party with Jbear in his bedroom and then I made pumpkin pancakes.  I also went out late last night to pick up whipped cream.  I had to have whipped cream!!

He wasn't amused when I tried to put some whipped cream directly in his mouth but he loved it regardless. 

Always playing with the phone while I check out all my facebook birthday lovin'.

These are the same faces that accompanied my 90's party decor!  

Joel is aware that Joey sang that song.  We are teaching our son to say Jordan Knight.  

Shirt: GAP, Skirt: Target- a gift from Kim, Lace Shorts: F21, Owl Necklace: Target, Bird Necklace: Uncommon Goods.  

I loved this idea of wearing all my favorite jewelry on my birthday. 

Flowers in our backyard.

Once he woke up from his nap we headed to the park before my Zumba class. 

All I wanted to do after my class was (take a shower) get some ice cream, put the baby down for bed, eat pizza and...

watch High Fidelity.  I LOVE this movie!!!

It was a really great day and I still have the weekend to look forward to.  And the roll of film from my new holga. 

I'm Zack, You're 30!

This is me today hanging out with Zack and Uncle Jesse (oh and Joel and Jonah too).  So far, so good.... strawberry frosted doughnuts, pumpkin pancakes and a peanut butter torte... my 30th birthday tastes delicious!

Good thing I've got Zumba tonight!!

Holga!!!!!

I feel so ashamed that I had NO IDEA that Holgas that took 35mm film!  My brother and his family got me this awesome camera for my birthday as well as an original (medium format) Holga.  I already have one from years ago but this one is purple, and I love it.  I can't wait to finish the roll and drop it off to be developed.

Beach!!!

CURLS!!!!






Love, love, love!



We spent 2.5 days up in Rhode Island with friends and it was amazing!  Another mark off on my list and it was done in the most fun way!

I have some more guest bloggers coming up.  I am not away on vacation, I just love guest bloggers!!!

SO MUCH FUN!!!

My party was a blast.  I seriously had the time of my life spending time with friends and family and dancing the night away.  Joel went above and beyond and got a photo booth from Ish Photo Booth Rentals!  It was ridiculous and my excitement made me want to kiss everyone!



Yes, I had some drinks but with all my crazy dancing I have to say that I didn't get drunk at all.  I also drink water in between each shot I take (it's my wonderful little secret) so I can enjoy tequila without the awful headaches the next morning.  Dancing and sweating like a lunatic helps too!  So what you see here is me the way I am surrounded by those I love like crazy.  I can't wait to see everyone's photo booth shots.  Once I get photos from my lovely friends Kim and Veronica, I will share those too.

My Gurl is Peacin' Out!

Yvonne is one of my gurls!  And she has been since 1997.  But she is leaving on Monday to live and work in Germany and I am going to miss her like crazy!!  There is just so much I could write about our friendship and maybe I will.  Right now though,  I just have to post these photos just to give you a glimpse of the hole that is going to be left with this girl gone.  Whoa, I don't want to sound all morose but good times always follow with Yvonne around.

Yvonne used to come visit me at work and we would always have the best time while I was closing up.  These are some of my favorite summer memories of 2001!!  I remember going online after work and she would help me respond with something clever to Joel's emails (we weren't dating at that point). 

Photoboothin' it up this past March.  

Last night a bunch of us went out to celebrate her and this huge step she is taking.  We ate, drank, drank some more and did lots of karaoke! I'll definitely post some photos when I get my hands on them.  FYI- I looked like a caged mommy animal on the loose singing and dancing to almost every song. 

We still have tonight though.  And tonight is my birthday party!! Woot woot!!  We'll be listening to this:



and this


and most definitely this


BECAUSE... It's a 90's Dance Party!  I am beyond pumped.  I don't want presents or surprises... I just want to dance and be with family and friends!!!

please forgive my terrible storytelling.  I am on few hours sleep and in a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation.  

cramming it in!!

The countdown to 30 is starting!!  And I still have many things to accomplish on my list.  

First up is Have a Picnic with Jonah!

Lately I've been so bored with putting Jonah in his high chair so we've been having picnics everywhere- his bedroom, the living room, the park, our backyard...


even in the back of my car in a Walgreens parking lot.


Sending some snail mail out!

Plus letters and photos for my grandmothers (I still need to call them though). 

I don't know about you but this week is going by so so so fast.  

Celebrating Jbear's 1/2 Birthday!

My favorite part about baking is eating the end result.  Sometimes I think that I'm a really good baker but it's SO not true.  I can NEVER get the cake out of the pan without half of it sticking to the pan or falling, in crumbles, onto my counter.  However, I put 'celebrate Jonah's half birthday' on my birthday list and you can't celebrate without a half birthday cake!!  Please don't take away my blogger card for posting the  atrocity that is this birthday cake.  It tasted delicious but WOW did it look funky!!!



I was wondering how singing "Happy 1/2 Birthday" was going to go since my kid is kind of strange when it comes to that song.  I have never met a little person that doesn't like that song.  Well, now I have and he belongs to me.  I don't know if it's the off pitch voices, his mother pretending she can actually sing, or the loud cheering afterwards but my kid HATES the song!!  


I love making my own buttercream frosting.  Ever since my friend Lee told me that I don't have to use powdered sugar I started making swiss meringue buttercream.  I go back to this recipe from Taste Goblet constantly.  I also used raw sugar which gave it the caramel-ish taste and color.  Dulce de Leche was added in with some frosting for the filling! Yum, yum, yum!!!


And this is Jonah crying to the dessert (before dinner) gods to let him have one more piece.  Oh my goodness the kid is crazy for food.  We could have given him the entire cake and he still would cry once it was all gone.  I'm actually surprised that we didn't get this reaction whilst singing to him.  If you're a mom, does your kid have any quirks like this?  I mean really???  Happy Birthday??

Play with Sidewalk Chalk

I found a huge (and I mean huge) bin of sidewalk chalk at Joann's the other day for half price and snatched it right up.  It is on my birthday list, after all.  Jonah and I went out for a bit this morning and played with a few pieces.  He drew a little on the ground, some on the grass, and a lot on himself.  I love this age, although I am constantly perplexed by his indecisiveness- he asks for "agua" but is annoyed that I bring him agua, then constantly asks for "agua" and the cycle goes on and on.








playing with Joel's work safety glasses, with a chunk of apple being chewed on.

How is this Monday going for you all?  It is super hot by me so maybe an afternoon with the garden hose is in order.  But plans to bake a cake are in order.  Ahhh yes, nothing like an afternoon with a steamy oven heating up your kitchen.

mommy relaxation weekend

Joel gifted me and Kim a spa sleepover for Mother's Day and we finally had a weekend to use it.  It was complete with massages, chocolate covered strawberries, manicures and pedicures and good conversation.  This is what we stepped out in for a fashion show at H&M and a sushi dinner.

Tank: Target,  Jeans: Rapsodia (Buenos Aires),  Shoes: Nine West,  Necklace: F21






I loved Kim's shoes.


As much as we like to get together for any occasion we might try and do a mommy getaway every year!


The Hammer dance was totally done in the dressing room




Orange-ish nails!  Another cross off on my birthday list.