Dinner at the Shanks

Last week, my co-worker Janet and I stopped by our other co-worker's, Crista, house to have dinner.....Oh and see their newest addition....HALEY ADELLE! Janet brought yummy Thai from a place in PB and we proceeded to pork out in between cooing at little Haley (so cute!).

Here's a couple pics of Haley (and her proud parents) in her happy and not so happy moments:

After dinner Janet and Crista gave Haley a bath....she loved it! Just look at how calm she is.

Had a great time, can't wait to see Haley, Crista and Bruce again...and can't wait until Crista is back from Maternity Leave! We miss you at work (though Janet is doing a great job keeping the troops entertained in your absence)!

Another great dinner visit with another great family, how lucky am i? BTW, are you noticing my pattern of visiting my friends with kids during dinner time so I get double the treat...babies and food...coincidence? hmmmm

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!

Happy Bday Dad!

My dad's birthday was Thursday, August 28th. He turned a spry 68! He's such an awesome birthday boy he even made his guests dinner; his speciality deep dish pizzas from scratch - Sausage & BBQ Chicken, Sausage and Procuito, and Double Sausage (hey, do you think my family likes Sausage on their pizza?). They were delish!

Presents-wise my dad is into Hawaiian shirts and I think he got his fill of them as his stock just rose by 3! And of course a few books thrown in for good measure.

Overall, good birthday wishes and fun were had by all. Happy Bday dad!

For more birthday fun...check out my sister's, Moira, post of the event (with pics)

Hey Homechickens!

It's Friday night....so that makes it alright to be.....walking through Target after a day of work and working out (20 miles on the bike baby!)..and what do I stumble upon in the CD section? What? What's that?

It's a CD Compliation from the early 1990's. Big whoop? Big WHOOP! Why? Because when I tore open the CD and popped it into my car CD player (I know a little old school..but hey it's the theme)....what comes blasting out but.....

DO ME BABY...by Bel Biv Devo....oh and other similar offerings from the early 1990's....Push It (Salt N Pepa), Humpty Dance, MyBabyDaddy, Doin' Da Butt...13 glorious rump shakin' songs of my late youth/early adult in total.

Totally hilarious fun....made me think of my friends and all the dancing we used to do....hell it makes me want to go out right now and "Come On Shake Shake It" on the dance floor and show those 20 year olds how a 35 year old get's her "Tootsie Roll" on.

Okay, who am I kidding, I'm staying home, working on the computer....drinkin' a beer and staring at my cat...and listening to my 'dope' new CD.

WORD Homechickens WORD!