Cheers to the Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here's to another year old...er...wiser, yeah wiser...let's go with wiser!

Love your bestest oldest daughter.

Looks Good Enough To Eat (The Holiday Ornament Edition)

For the second year in a row, my good friend Sara (whom I'm proud to say I have been friends with since kindergarten when my mom was her Girl Scout Brownie leader) and I have gotten together to make a Holiday Ornament for some of our friends and family.

We got the idea from a co-worker of hers when she worked at Voices for Children and with Sara moving up to Los Angeles last year after she got married, we thought what a perfect way to make sure we see each other at least twice before the craziness of the Holiday Season is upon us.

Last year we made a really simple glass ornament with holly, pinecones & berries. No sewing, no real talent...just some hot glue.

So much fun...it made us go a little insane

This year we kept the design simple but stepped it up a notch with doing some fancy sewing on top of the hot glue.

Check out the little holiday ornament elves hard at work

Our prototype was a little (lot) rough around the edges

But we finally got a hang of it and then...waaaa laaaaa..

Behold our Fabric Ribbon Candy (looks so good you could eat it huh?)

Sara and I had so much fun and we are such Holiday nerds we already have our ornament planned out for next year.

So hope you've been nice this year because you might just make the ornament list (if not, don't be sad...there is always next year...and yes, we accept bribes)

Happy Holidays...(I know...it's not even December yet..but like I said, Sara and I are Holiday Nerds...embrace!)

If Elmo Was Made of Cake

For Jen's 2yr old, Wyatt's, birthday party last Saturday I made him a simple Elmo Birthday cake with matching Elmo Cupcakes. Though the cake was easy to make, the decorating was a little more difficult because I ran out of pastry bags and had to decorate with plastic bags that kept bursting. Then to top it off, I ran out of cake boards so I flipped a cake pan upside down and used that instead (okay, I never claimed to be a professional...crafty yes, resourceful yes, professional...no way!)

Notice how red Elmo's body was (thanks to a little airbrushing)....the adults were saying it was toxic cake because the red got ALL OVER (and I mean ALL OVER) all the kids...kinda like a stain. Whatever, it washed off........................ Eventually.

And a close-up of an Elmo Cupcake. Thought they turned out pretty cute!

Wyatt was so excited when he saw his cake that he couldn't wait and had a cupcake a little earlier then the rest of the party. And he should have...it was his party and he did what he wanted to!

Happy Birthday again Wyatt!

The Liberty Hotel

The last couple of times I have been to Cambridge, MA for work I have had the pleasure of staying at The Liberty Hotel. The hotel has a hip architectural vibe to it and the best part is it was once the Charles Street Jail (original built in 1851). The jail was converted in Sept 2007 into the swank hotel it is today after being vacant for years. The property is owned by Mass General Hospital and still retains several original elements from it's years housing the morally corrupt.

So on my last trip a few weeks ago (shout out to my Cambridge colleagues!), one of the consultants I am working on a project with was kind enough to share his pictures he took (because I'm lame like that and had never thought to take pics of the hotel myself until now).

Here's a view from the lobby...stunning right?

And a view from the outside (it's much more impressive when lit at night..but still great bones!)

This is just a cool shot of some of the ironwork that still exists from the old jail days...thought my sister Moira might dig this picture!

I wish I had more pictures to share as this is only a glimpse into the beauty of the place. If you're ever in the neighborhood (and can catch a fare special 'cause I ain't gonna lie, if you don't have a company discount it'll cost you a pretty penny) I highly recommend you staying here.

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Jen's little munchkin, Wyatt, just turned two today. Jen had her mom/stepfather, myself and the kids come over for pizza/pasta and cupcakes. Unfortunately Chad is still working in Vegas but will make it back in time for the birthday boy's blowout on Saturday (Elmo Theme...should be fun)!

Here's a cute pic the birthday boy and his mom (Jen)! Too cute for words!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WYATT!

Now Instant Reaction

Check this out...a new feature of the blog...at the bottom of each post, you can now either continue to make comments (me love me some comments) or just select one of the instant reactions (currently 'too funny', 'cool' and 'whatever' but that might change)...it's just another way to let me know what you like about the posts.

So come on and try it!

Trick or Treat

Halloween 2008.....

Trick: I was tricked (not really but makes for a good story) into dressing up as semi-indecent Dorothy from Wizard of Oz for a friend's Halloween Party while Jen dressed in a matching Little Red Riding Hood getup. Ended up looking better than I thought...and had a blast with Jen making comments about all the other costumes parading around and the late night Denny's run after the party.Speaking of other costumes, some high/low lights...Crate & Barrel, Gladiator (host with the most), Save the Boob and Mr. Penis (don't ask...just know he was very anatomically correct, but probably very politically incorrect!).

Also here's a couple of pics from my work Halloween TGIF...Mr. Clean, Mulan, Mother Teresa, Napolean Dynamite and Genuine Ken Dolls!

Treat: Before Jen & I went to the Adult Party, we took her kids around Coronado for some kid-friendly trick or treating. PowerRanger (Dylan), Lightning MacQueen (Nathan) and Bumblebee (Wyatt) were hits and had a ball. It's amazing how one square block seems like miles for a kid...we got out cheap this year!

Hope your Halloween was just as fun. I'd love to see pictures!