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Today is my last day at Drake.

But it’s also my little sister’s birthday! Happy birthday, Coree! She turns 23.

[23 years ago I became a big sister — and my dad was apparently rocking a mustache]

[coree rocked a barney sweathsirt while showing papa and gram how to headbang like beavis and butthead]

[watch out kiddos, coree's 14 — hitting the road — check out the awesome cell phone]

[this is one of the last photos i've got with just the two of us ... which is kind of sad because this had to have been 2004 judging by my hair and weight]

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A belated happy birthday to me: Margarita time. I had my birthday party last night since I’ve been over-scheduled all month (and into next month too … ugh). What better way to celebrate than cheap [awesome] Mexican food and MARGARITAS.

I didn’t realize it was ISU’s homecoming yesterday until the game let out and everybody got stuck in traffic. Mark, Matt and Katie (front 3 in the photo below) got stuck holding a table for 10 at La Fuente — fending off mostly drunk or hungover college kids who didn’t believe they were SERIOUSLY using all 10 chairs (yes, we are sure we’re using them!).

[me and katie]

[mark and matt]

[coree (my sister) and her friend ayla]

[steph and nathan]

[kelly and danielle]

MARGARITAS! Matt doesn’t believe me that the regular margaritas have more booze in them. They’re kind of gross, but they’re full of tequila, which I guess is probably why they are kind of gross.

After La Fuente we all came back to our place and played Apples to Apples and had some awesome flourless chocolate chipotle cake (recipe coming soon!).

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Three years ago my beautiful and bossy* niece, Emee, was born. Man how time flies. Now she’s art directing my coloring and has hair halfway down to her butt.

*side note … I don’t know where she gets these things …

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27 is still close enough to 25 to be considered mid-twenties, right?

What will this year bring? Who knows.  I already have ONE big change in store, but I’m not sharing just yet (oh the suspense is killing all of my 5 readers).  Cat will be out of the bag by the end of the week most likely (those of you with the inside scoop, keep it to yourself please).

I actually started my b-day off on Friday with a Jim Gaffigan show at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.  I laughed so hard I was crying! Note — don’t go to a comedy show after doing a killer ab workout the day before.  Side note — there was mention of a fork made of bacon.

Of course, there was shopping involved this weekend.  Since it’s my b-day, I bought myself a couple of gifts.

Found this fabulous Jessica Simpson bag at Gordmans thanks to a tip from my friend Shelly.  She bought one in a neat beigey-pink color.  I had to go with red to replace my almost 2-year-old purple bag.  I bought the purple bag in January of 2010 and busted it out that year in June. I’ve been too lazy to change bags and haven’t found anything in an affordable price range that I love just as much. Also, I combed the internet to find this bag so you could purchase too … but no such luck.

I also found these amazing shoes.  They’re G by Guess and they’re boots.  And heels.  Obviously.  But I don’t wear heels typically.  These are really comfy with a hidden platform and they have major traction on the bottom so they aren’t completely useless in the snow.  Oh, and they are COMFY.  And super hot. When paired with these jeans I look kind of tall (and by tall I mean average height) and super skinny.  LOVE these.

And I got a LOT of new fabric.  A lot of which for my new wallets. The top row will make great insides for my wallets.  And I’m beyond in love with the bottom right — “dropcloth” in plum.  I might have to make myself a wallet out of that with the dots on the inside.

To celebrate today, Mark and I went to The Café for lunch. YUM.  We haven’t been out to eat anywhere “fancy” for a while — just La Fuente and that’s mostly for free chips and salsa + booze.  I picked up lunch because I think it’s kind of rude to invite somebody out for lunch, and then expect him to pay for it.  He offered to pick up dessert.  Mostly because he knew if I picked it up we’d only get ONE dessert and he wanted something other than my first choice of dessert (they are all amazing there!) … so we got two.

[Mark's pick — the fig & goat cheese cheesecake — my 2nd choice]

[and my pick — chocolate cayenne torte — since I've been obsessing over spicy chocolate as of lately]

I also picked up a new album, which really isn’t out until tomorrow, but I snagged it on emusic early.  New Wednesday 13  [he's in Des Moines on the 23rd ... ].

All in all it’s been a pretty awesome day.  :) Here’s to another year!

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I’d like to start out by saying Happy Birthday to my friend Lora and to another good friend who shall remain nameless.

You know who you are. You’re lucky I didn’t send you a birthday card. Fortunately, I didn’t think to save your address from a previous letter you’d sent me. But I WILL GET YOU NEXT YEAR. And there might be a cake involved because I feel like I never owned up to that cake promise from years ago.  So a random cake at a non-birthday time is probably going to happen. Watch it.

ANYWAY. It’s Saturday. AND it’s CRAFT SATURDAY. Which just happens to be the last craft show of the year that I’m doing. So, if you’re around, come on down! And check out the awesome selection of vendors — and of course, me.

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Happy birthday to my little sister, who is unbelievably 22 today.

In honor of her birthday, I share this glorious photo of us as kids. And yes. We are doing Beavis and Butthead. My mom has to be proud.

Also, I think it’s funny that I’m doing the metal hand correctly … and as for my sister, not so much.

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OM nom nom nom nom!

What could be better than combining chocolate and beer? Frosting it. With cream cheese frosting. Oh, and putting it in a portable and cute cupcake form.

Last Sunday was my b-day and my friend Danielle and I made Guinness cupcakes for our friends to enjoy at my little gathering.

I used this recipe for the cake and this recipe for the frosting. These were super super naughty, but soooooo good!

Here is my lovely cupcake display — of course, I frosted them hot pink. Would you expect any less? And Naked Michael Jackson had to come to the party too. It’s not a party without naked michael jackson.

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So I turned 26. Last Sunday. I’m a little late on this post, but I’m a little partied out. Not to mention I’ve had a ridiculously busy week at work! We moved from our old office to a brand new space that was built out just for us.

Anyway, 26-year-old festivities began back in September with my friend Kelly‘s birthday on the 23rd.  I like to make it a 2-week event (and I’m sure she does too) with fun birthday activities and fall times.

For Kelly‘s b-day, we went to Fong’s Pizza in Des Moines.  It is amazing. Chinese food? Check. Pizza? Check.  Chinese Food as pizza? What? Yes. Check.

They also have these shots that are so hardcore that they require helmets. They’re so nice at Fong’s that they even provide them for you!

Kelly and me with our helmets

Most amazing photo ever — it so describes our girl group in a snapshot: Steph‘s being all “peace out”, I’m being all badass hardcore metal, Kelly‘s smiling like she has no idea this is out of the ordinary and Maria looks very afriad.

For a full recap of those festivities, check out Kelly’s post. I just realized I left out a super juicy detail from the evening, but you’ll have to check her blog out for that. Plus, she writes better than me anyway.

For MY birthday festivities, I had a semi-formal gathering in which we went to dinner, went for drinks and ended up at my place for dessert, drinks and games. Fun times! We played a 3-hour game of Apples to Apples and ended up going through the ENTIRE box of cards!

Mark and me all dressed up

My friend and former roommate, Danielle, and me all pretty and such — I’m so glad she came down — she drove 3 hours to make it!

My friend Molleh and me. Well, it’s Molly, but I prefer to call her Molleh.

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First of all, happy birthday to my fabulously amazing niece who turns TWO today!

As you can see, my mom likes to put her in colorful outfits. She is so damn cute (takes after her aunt, yo).

Anywho, today’s musical selection is Les Savy Fav —  another case of something awesome not catching on with me until a lot lot lot later.

My friend, Kasey, gave me a copy of a Les Savy Fav CD a LONG time ago.  At least 6 months ago. However, I didn’t bother listening to it because it had a weird name, and a lot of the stuff he listens to is kind of off-kilter. And the name made them sound more death-metally than anything and I wasn’t in the mood for metal at the time.

But, I’ve been digging this song, “Let’s Get Out of Here” on MPR’s The Current for a LONG time. AND I just figured out that it’s actually LES SAVY FAV — who aren’t, in fact, a death metal band, but an awesome art rock band out of NYC.

Um, also — check out their website. The video on it is awesome.

So for your listening pleasure today, here is “Let’s Get Out of Here” (the video is just their GLORIOUS album cover):

SIDE NOTE: I got the new Belle and Sebastian CD on Tuesday and haven’t had a listen. I will give you an update and a review when I get a chance!

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Welcome to my much-needed new feature … FO Friday.  FO stands for finished object (as opposed to UFO — un-finished object).

To recap my embarrassingly long list of UFOs:

1. Mug for a friend’s birthday present (2 weeks ago)
2. Tattoo Dish Set (July 2009)
3. mom’s pleather jacket restyle (September 2009)
4. quilt for my mom (March 2009) — in my defense, I just haven’t had the extra $75 around to get it professionally quilted.
5. coin stack quilt (March 2009)
6. Thea’s Puzzle Quilt (April 2010)
7. Roseanne Afghan (November 2007) — this project is to work on when I don’t have any other projects to work on
8. fabric scrap greeting cards (May 2010) — I have 45 blank cards left to create
9. camera cases (July 2010) —  I have 10 cases left to sew — just need to buy buttons and elastic to get them done
10. fabric scrap flowers (July 2010)
11. jeans into summer pants/shorts (July 2010)
12. Map of the states quilt (April 2010)
13. Yellow fake-esta ware dishes (July 2010)
14. Nerdy cross stitch (April 2010)
15. cookbook (December 2009)
16. Portfolio/website/resume revamp (May 2010) — don’t worry — just time for a refresh.
17. Wonky Log Cabin Quilt #1 (February 2010)
18. Wonky Log Cabin Quilt #2 (February 2010)
19. Workout/Recipe/Craft project binders (February 2010)
20. Family recipe book (January 2008)
21. ironic greeting cards (May 2009)
22. T-shirt quilt for my cousin (August 2009)
23. Fabric Frame (June 2010)
24. touch up painting my kitchen (May 2010)
25. recycled t-shirt rug (September 2009)
26. Black and white quilt (March 2009)

Today’s FO is #1 — Mug for a friend’s b-day present.

My new coworker and friend asked me to create a mug for his girlfriend for her birthday, which was August 3. Don’t worry. I had this finished beforehand. I just wanted to save the blog post for Friday so I can have a Friday feature (and more importantly have to have some FO to share with you every week from here on out).

Also, I may have lied when I said I wasn’t going to add anything to the list … if I do this Friday feature I’m going to run out of things to blog about rather quickly. Some of the things on the list aren’t going to be able to be finished in a super timely fashion because they’re either too expensive to finish or too time-consuming to finish in my spare time that quickly. So, I’m going to probably add some projects to the list. BUT instead of including the list on my blog post every week, I’ve created a page where it can live.  There’s a link on my sidebar to it as well.

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