Happy Birthday Little Sis!

Yesterday was my sister Sheona's 28th birthday.Can you believe it? My little, younger sister just turned 28...holy crap time creeps up on you.

Well, since Sheona and her boyfriend had just got home from a week long trip to Hawaii (I ain't hatin') on Tuesday, we thought we would give them a day break and celebrate her birthday, family style, tonight.As tradition goes, the family gathered at my parent's house for dinner, dessert and presents. We had Orange Chicken (a box from Costco costs only $13 and fed 8 of us...do we know how to live it up or what), rice and salad. Then we mosied on into the living room to watch Sheona open her gifts (guess which family member gave her this very tasteful bag and matching card...that's right...our dad!).

For dessert I made keylime cupcakes (from scratch) with cream cheese/powdered sugar frosting. Other than them being a little dry from sitting in the fridge overnight...not too bad for my first 'from scratch' cupcake recipe. Hey did I mention they were from scratch?

After all the festivities we were treated to a couple stories (boy do we love to tell stories) and then everyone headed home for the evening. Here's a couple pics of some of the family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEONA! We Love you!

She's a Rhinestone Cowgirl

Another GNO, another fun adventure. This time it was mechanical bull riding at the U-31 Bar (or something like that) in San Diego. After an earlier failed attempt to 'ride the bull' up in Temecula...this time we were successful and had a blast in the process.

Check out Jen in all her 'look maw I'm really riding a bull' glory. Can you tell she's in her element? (sorry for the blurred quality of the vid...it was from a cell phone...well, in that case...I'm not sorry...pretty good for a cell phone!)

After all the bull riding fun (Becs and I went once and Jen had twice the fun)...we were starving (hey all that bullriding makes a girl hungry)...so we went to one of our old haunts from back in the days...the we worked at Sea World Food Services days....late night dinner at Dennys! Nothing like a sampler platter, bacon cheeseburger and BBQ burger slider to settle the stomach...our night was complete. Can't wait until next month girlies!

Brand new floors...brand new floors

After 4 years in my condo I finally pulled the trigger and had wood laminate floors put in the common areas (living room, entry, hall and kitchen). Wow what a difference it makes. I have such a small space having the same material throughout makes it look so much bigger. Even Grace, my cat, enjoys the new slip and slide features...hours of low maintenance fun!

(Pictures to follow)
I LOVE WOOD LAMINATE!

Lucille and the Shout House

Every month for the past 4 years me and my two best gal pals, Jen and Becs, get together for a Girls Night Out (GNO). We leave behind the men, kids, worries and stresses of life and just go out and have fun...carrying on in most cases like little school girls who just snuck out the window of their parent's house. We try and do something new each month: dinner, movies, rodeo, rockclimbing, tattoos, dancing, GNO weekends, Padres Spring Training ..you name it..we've done it....to one of our best experiences yet...Dueling Pianos at the Shout House downtown! Holy crap was that the best.

For those of you not familar, the dueling pianos concept is simple. Two piano players sit up on stage and take written requests from patrons (usually accompanied by a small bribe) and if they know the song, they'll play/sing it...to much hilarity (oh and did I mention you are encouraged to sing along). It amazed us all how many different songs they know...they even take traditional songs and improvize the lyrics...our favorite (and the rest of the bar's) was when there is a pause at the end of each verse of Lucille...it is filled by screaming at the top of your lungs "You B%tch, You Sl^&, You Wh$r#"! Scandalous tee he he

Let's just say we had so much fun we closed down the bar that night. Heck when is the last time that happened, maybe 10 years ago?!? Oh and it was Jen's 36th bday so we made sure to toast to that occassion at midnight (a couple of drinks in)! Needless to say, we can't wait for Becs bday to roll around at the end of the month cause I have a feeling we'll be making a return visit!