Birthday: Gif

Happy Birthday Mom!

2011 Bucket List: paeLLa party!

Making Paella made it to the Number Three slot on my 2011 bucket list.  Why Paella?  A couple years ago, Crosby, Brett and I ate some entirely mediocre paella in the Mission.  I remember looking at the dish, with its sad rice and little rubbery prawns, and thinking, "I could totally make this.  Better."  Then, somewhere along the line, someone gave me saffron and since I only know one thing to make with saffron, every time I saw that wee bottle I would think Oh Right. Paella.

Who could participate in the culinary adventure with me?  Wander into the world of yellow rice and weird spice Spanish sausages coupling with prawns?  Megan and Jonee of course.  The Kruez's (Kruezes, Kruezsss?) are perfect co-conspirators.  And so, a couple weeks ago, we gathered in my kitchen, let the wine flow, and had a paeLLa party!

And it was pretty dang good. 

Oddly enough, I don't think I really like saffron, but cooking something completely new was fun and challenging and I was really really glad to have Megan's expertise to fall back on.  She fielded comments like "oh, you take the casing OFF the sausage?!?!?" and "mussels have beards???" with complete ease.  Kudos to Jonee for debearding those pesky mussels. 

Since it was my birthday (kinda) Megan and Jonee also brought me the most amazing homemade Carrot Cake with Maple frosting:  

I might have eaten it for breakfast the next three days.

Birthdayness Cuteness

Loves Taylor Swift = cowboy boots and a hot pink guitar for her birthday.  Lessons next!

Yo. 31.

(Not pictured: Erin and Rachel)

31, hey how you doin'? Right?

Goooodness. Time flies. The year of the 30 came and went and now here I am, fully entrenched in those 30 somethings. Over the cusp, onto the slope. Did I just infer the ride is all downhill from here? Nahhhh, that was accidental. I'm sure there will be bumps.

I have always wanted to have a bookswap in my home and this birthday seemed the most perfect excuse to do so. Lovely ladies crowded into my apartment, and my bed was PILED with books. Good vibes, good people, good reads -- way too much fun! A good way to start the year, if I do say so myself.

Also, on the actual day, Mom, Dad, Sissy, and I went to lunch in downtown Pleasanton:

Wednesday night, Bill and I went to Flour+Water. That place has super good food and fun vibe, as long as you are prepared to make an evening of it and not go to a show after. We chatted and gabbed during our hour wait, and then chowed on awesome pizza and pasta and chocolate yummy dessert thing.

And that, was my birthday.

Red White and Birthday

My sister's birthday falls on June 14th, which also happens to be the amazing occasion of Flag Day. So, we celebrate both. YAY. The Central Valley was incredibly hot last weekend, and during my sister's bday bbq, the kids all had water guns, sponges, a plastic pool, and water balloons. There was a strict "don't hit the adults with water balloons" rule in place, and the children abided almost perfectly. They filled water balloon after water balloon and sprayed each other with the hose -- they looked like they were having a blast and the scene filled the adults with nostalgia even though we didn't want to directly participate.

Once people left, Brian and I began cleaning the yard up, tossing cups, collecting the sticky assortment of bubble blowing paraphernalia, and deciding that no, these kazoos cannot be saved. And then I found it. A tub of water FILLED with balloons-- these kids must have been preparing for a war that never happened (thwarted by sunburns and tumbling class)!!!

So, of course I began pelting Brian with water balloon after water balloon, and of course he totally rushed me and before he could grab balloons too, of course I started running and screaming at the top of my lungs, "I'm in a white dress! I'm in a white dress!"

Did he listen? Of course not. Just as I was about to make the safety of the indoors, THWAP! A water balloon exploded in the middle of my back. I was in the doorway and spray went into the living room. I suppose from the view on the couch, it was pretty epic: hollers of bloody murder, me throwing open the door, and, backlit by the sun, an explosion of water at my back.

Bombs bursting in air! Happy Flag Day!

To be honest? 30.

Last week, my mom and I went to the movies. Crazy cineplex with your neon lights and gaggle of teenage kids working at snack bars and ripping tickets... we gave our tickets to the ticket guy and my word, if he wasn't the most awkward 15 year old ever. This exchange followed between my mother and I:

Me: Wow, now that was what I call awkward adolescence.
Mom: Honey, I think he thought you were cute.

Me: No way. I could like be his mom.

Me: .............
Me: Holy crap! I could totally be his mom!!!!!

But let's be honest. I know it's kindof trendy to be overwhelmed by thirty, but I'm actually digging it. I like the way it rolls off the tongue. 30. Let's do the inevitable recap; it's not like I loathe my life and am disappointed in myself or anything, so at this measuring post in my life, I'm like, wow, this is a.o.k. When I was 15, I thought 30 was ancient. I thought I would be married with kiddos and have this crazy idyllic life with a house and dog. Hell, I thought that would happen by 25. But as I grew into myself and moved around in this eclectic world, I realized different timelines for me ...unknown timelines. All that stuff will happen in some way, shape, or form, someday. I'm not worried. And yes, I don't want to be an OLD mom. And it makes me nervous that my parents are aging and I want them to be able to enjoy my onedayfamily, but still, I really believe things will work out as they may. They have so far.

30. Thirrrrrrty. BooYA. say it with me now.

one more time, just listen.

Did he just go crazy and fall asleep? (also known as Camp Connell 2009)

I don't feel the need to make grandiose statements anymore (she says, one eyebrow raised)

hello, 29.

William in Sonoma

Bill's birthday was Monday, so we took a jaunt up to Sonoma for a night. We stayed here, drank wine from here, ate a fantastic meal here (truffle fries, what?). The trip was so much fun, and we felt like we were far from the city, even though the drive only took an hour. Indulgence. More photos here.

Let Me Count The Ways

Eighth wonder of the world, my grandmother turned 95 on November 3, 2007. In celebration of both her birthday and her continuous recovery, my family gathered in the "Sunshine Room" of the rehab facility she is temporarily staying in. This event was the first time ALL FIVE of the great grandkids were in the same room, along with five of the seven grandkids (including spouses) and both her sons and their wives. Mayhem. Squealing, laughing, wrestling, running, shh we are in a rest home, mayhem. And grandma loved every minute of it.The fam. No one ever realized I am the giant of the family. Or it could be camera angle. Either, really.

Shaely has inherited the impish quality; look at those eyes.

Oh Grandma,

I hope I inherited your genes.

death by chocolate

Every year, some week towards the end of September, our office accountant Diann celebrates her birthday by having the company buy her this decadent, gold bedecked cake that gives everyone in the office a jittering buzz around 130 and then a nap time crash around 3. Our office has grown so much in the past year that we had to forgo the 8 inch cake and purchase a sheet cake.....which equated to about 15 pounds of chocolate. Notorious.
Here is the infamous Diann posing with her birthday cake in our conference room. The party was BYOF (Bring Your Own Fork) since those utensils tend to be rare in the kitchen and fist fights occur. Across the back: Jen, myself, Shindo, Chris, and LeslieM, all attempting to hide behind cutlery. Overheard post cake? "I need a to cut this richness with a glass of half and half."

I might die.

no shutter snapped

Brian's birthday soirée was Friday night; we all bedazzled ourselves, drank fancy mojitos and nibbled on hors d'oeuvres. happy 29th! I took no photos, so I have to post a recent beautiful gem of the birthday boy:Saturday saw me at the Rickshaw Stop with some peeps watching Triple Cobra play. Super Rad. The Binges opened for them and I think I fell a little in love. Glitter, glam, rock n' roll, and somewhere amidst the confetti, we didn't quite notice how strong they serve the drinks there. No pics this night either (I'm sorry, but the digi SLR doesn't fit in my fashionable clutch), but here's the art for the night:

Yes, we 111 Minna-ed.

Call it what you will. Mock-Marina. Get yo' rap on. Those crazy folk all wearing sunglasses indoors. Friday night saw us out for Colette's 25th birthday and we owned our look whatever way you shake it. And shake it we did.

On our way. The birthday girl.

On our way. the beautiful Miss Rachel.

On our way. Turn-style T.

mini-pause. marketing.

Art begets art.happiness with a lemon wedge....

and gold beads.

shakin our money makers!

typs.

glaringly hawt.

painting roberto

Thursday was Rob's birthday, and we celebrated with rollers and brushes and paint of many shades. My favorite paint jeans acquired splatters of sunshine yellow on the thigh and a roller print of eggshell white on my butt from one Mr. Kellet. Good times. Good vibes, good friends, pizza, and cheap beer permeated the Sunset House. Happy Birthday Roberto. Welcome new roomies.

Tara reaching and brushing.

Esser says the top step is slick. Have care. And Rob surveys his new REALLY blue bathroom.

birthday girls don't need to know the words

Best. Birthday. Ever. part II

Sunday afternoon, I went to ptown for a birthday celebration with my family. Never in my life has my birth been so celebrated. The girls were super cute and fun, entertaining and having us participate in family band events. I am enthusiastic. I freaking love the family band.

Brin and Shae singing happy birthday into their new resonant microphones.

Decorations

Miss Shaely discovering cymbals.

Okay. So I have sensitive teeth. Like, I haven't been to the dentist in ages (don't get grossed out. I brush and floss, although not as much as Jaci (love)). Brinly has her first loose tooth. I am trying to be really excited for her but inside I am screaming and cringing and kinda want to cry. Oh, supportive aunt.

Sully ate shaely!Pooh ate Brinly!

Sully tried to eat Ellie but choked!

And tiredtiredtired Shae-bae just wants some caaaaaaake (insert child whimper here)

Best. Birthday. Ever.

28 came in with a bang. My last real bday party was when I was like 9 and Friday night was well worth the wait. Party at Tara's with some of my favorite people. I am a lucky lucky girl and thank you to all who celebrated into the wee hours with me.Saturn returns.

the sun not yet set. pomegranite juice and taradise.

enter sparkle vision! (fantastic contribution bri. freaking fantastic)

No party is really complete without a head measuring game, right? I mean, really.

And the winner is Moy Toy, with a whopping 24.5 inches. That's a HUGE HEAD (insert scottish accent)

Two of my favorite ladies. These girls are so incredible....they each made leslie tailored mixes. One played outside by the fire pit, and the other was dance ready in the coffee-table-less room. body roll woot!

hawtness.

Something wicked this way comes. Actually, I have no idea. Comments?

hat-gasm.

holla.