A Bun in the Oven - Baby Shower Deets.

The BFF had her baby shower last weekend in LA.

I made a QUICK (and I mean QUICK) trip down to SoCal to visit and celebrate her Bun in the Oven.

BFF Julie's husband is a graphic designer, and for their wedding made the CUTEST graphic of bride and groom Wii Characters in their likeness that were incorporated into various parts of their wedding.

I should have known that the cute bun in the oven design on the invitation was also designed by daddy-to-be.

It wasn't until the cake was brought out that I was enlightened to this extra special touch.

 Me & Mama-to-Be

 Baby Niece of the Mama-to-Be & Me.

 Two other friends from High School were there for Julie's special day too. 

My good friend Katie, who was on niece-patrol. Sweet gig if I do say so.

Look at her little hand, I think she really likes Katie.

 Melanie was a fellow bridesmaid in Julie's wedding, and we've been friends since Jr. High. 

It's always fun catching up at Julie's life events.

 The hostesses ran with the bun theme, and it was so cute!

There were pork buns and chicken buns.

And puff pastry bun rolls - with cinnamon, brown sugar, and BUTTER.

The parting favor were sweet custard filled Asian buns from a delicious bakery.

 

 Julie and Dave are so loved.

So is their little bun.

They were showered with so many wonderful gifts.

 So many fun games at the shower. 

Including name suggestions for the baby.
They have a last name that pairs awkwardly with a lot of names, which makes this game extra fun.

My personal favorite game was Baby Picasso.

The room was divided into two, and we had a blindfolded draw-off. 

 Julie judged, cutest baby drawing won.

And so many gifts. SO SO MANY. 

One of my favorites was the baby carrier. 

Mostly for the packaging. 

And finally, Cake Time!

A lovely day, hosted by some wonderful ladies who gave Julie such a warm welcome into mommy-hood. 

I am so excited for what her little family's future holds!!

Roll.

It was an amazing season.
I got to attend 7 games.
And even got to get up close and personal with the 2010 World Series trophy.
I ate my share of churros, red ropes, hot dogs, and Ghirardelli sundaes.
I clapped my heart out, I fist pumped til my arm was numb, I didn't stop believing.

It was an unbelievable run in the playoffs. 
There were shark fins.
Man dimes.
Rally enchiladas.
And so much cheering.
Coming back in three straight elimination games.
TWICE.

It was a magical World Series.
Unbelievable bunts.
Glorious catches.
Fake tattoos.
And so much food.
Pies. Dips. Hot dogs. Cheese.
So much cheese.

And it was all worth it tonight.
Game 4.
Stress.
Torture.
Sweep. Sweep. Sweep. Sweep. Sweep.
Celebration.
Champagne.

2012 World Series Champions

San Francisco Giants!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a fun little consolation prize to put together for a certain Tiger's fan. 

Thirty-One: Take Two.

It was my thirty-first back in August.
I turned 31 in Florence, Italy.
Fancy, I know.
But I'm a brat, and I have birthday problems.
I never enjoy my real birthday. Ever. I cry every year.
I really try hard not to, like REALLY hard, but I can't help it.
This year was no exception.
It's embarrassing to admit. So let's move on.

The last few years, I have opted out of birthday celebrations - but my sister friends, Laura, Cindy and Ellen weren't going to let me get away with it this year.
Especially since they had the cutest Thirty-One themed birthday adventure planned.

It started with the three of them picking me up on Saturday night, and telling me to make sure my phone had space for plenty of photos - as this would be a blogworthy event. I knew right then it was going to be a great night.

From the backseat, Cindy handed me a card with what would be my first clue. Each of the clues had plenty of Bridemsaids references, and I was able to figure out we were headed to a new restaurant in town that I had been dying to check out, 31st Union.

So, it's no secret that I love all things California these days.
I mean, it's the best state ever.
Well, did you know that California was the 31st state in the Union?
Neither did I.

Well, this ADORABLE and amazing little restaurant was all things California.
A giant chalkboard map of the state, with arrows shot into all of the noteworthy cities.

Everything about this restaurant is local. And not just the food, the wood on the walls and benches was even locally sourced.
It made me proud to be a Californian.
God Bless California.

Small plates, small bites, but crazy good.

We split a cheese board between the four of us (forgot to take a pic!)
And I had the fish & chips (seafood exception comes into play here).
They were SO GOOD.

It was such the most perfect way to celebrate the milestone year of turning the big three-one.

Next thing I knew, I was told there was another destination.
I was given my clue, for thirty-one options of sweet treats.
You know where this is going....

But meanwhile, on our walk to 31 Flavors, we passed another local restaurant - 231 Ellsworth.
It wasn't on the agenda, but an appropriate photo op for my 2nd 31st.

They treated me to anything I wanted.
My Baskin Robbins favs are Pistachio Almond & Cherries Jubilee.
A scoop of each, in a waffle cone.
Also, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

And me, oh my, this was not my last destination.
There was another clue.
Complete with another Bridesmaids reference (Cindy, you have skills at tying them in).
And we ended our night hanging out at another local fav, laughing, and playing silly card games.

It was a wonderful homegrown celebration with lifelong friends.
Thank you girls.
(Also, I feel like we still need a trip to the mall food court: Food31 to complete the 31 theme!)

The Apple, and the Tree. They aren't too far apart.

We have discussed my mom around here.
 Love her.
A lot of you reading this love her too.

You guys are big fans of the person many know as "Nurse Band-Aid"

That was her VBS camp name.
No one else had camp names at VBS.
But my mom wanted one, so she gave herself one.
And it stuck.

Well, Nurse Band-Aid is basically the older version of CuppaKim.
I get told all the time that I am my mother.
I tell her all the time she is her mother.
And we secretly talk about how her mother, my grandma, is turning into her mother, my GG.
It's just how it works.

Laura, it's happening to you too.
The best thing you can do is embrace it.
Own it.

Speaking of owning it, I am a crazy dog owner.
I own it.
I try and hide it a bit around here.
But I won't deny it.
And lately, I have not been hiding it well.

Soooo.....
Here is what I need to tell you.

Several weeks ago, my mother requested that I throw Mylie (and Chloe too), a doggy birthday party.
What you need to know is, I did not think this was that crazy of an idea.
I thought it sounded kind of fun.

My mom told me we needed BBQ chicken and party hats, and a theme.
The theme she chose was "dog bones".
Themed birthday party? I think she wants to be a blogger at heart.

So, in the spirit of "owning it", here is Mylie's Birthday Party.

We didn't have BBQ chicken, but we did have BBQ chicken pizza. Much more delicious.
Kayla and Ashlyn had made Mylie some birthday cards (Ashlyn's is in Purple, Kayla's in green).
I stole the party hats from work.
It's-Its were dessert.

Mylie got a squeaky cupcake, and they got a box of dog bones to share.
My dad even got Mylie a gift and wrapped it for her.
Her favorite part is the unwrapping. More than the gift itself.

Soooo......
Yeah.
I think I will just leave you with that.
If you choose to come back another time, thank you.
If not, I fully understand.
The dog birthday party is weird.
Super weird.



 Also, side story:
In the kitchen at my parents' house is a Bichon calendar.
For years, my mom writes captions on the Bichons every month with a sharpie.
It's the best part of the month, seeing what the new calendar says.
That is probably a blog post of its own.
Remind me.

Don't worry, it wasn't an 8 hour party. 3-11 was an extra shift Nurse Band-Aid picked up.

Forever...errr FINALLY 21!

Sometimes things work out just perfectly!
Back in March, Jessica and I got tickets for Blog Sugar - when I went to put it into my calendar, I realized it was the same weekend as the birthday of my dear friend Margaret - who attends school in Southern California. Margaret's birthday was Saturday, and Blog Sugar was Sunday. CA-CHING!

Combining the two events for one fabulous weekend was a no brainer.

Jess, Laura and I drove down Friday afternoon - checked into our hotel in Valencia - and Betsy and Margaret joined us. We got all gussied up and ready to leave, and our other friend Hannah {also attending college in SoCal} arrived!

It was a gorgeous warm Southern California night, complete with crazy awesome clouds - and a sky full of lightening {which I did not see myself, but apparently there was a lot}.

We had a hilariously fun dinner at BJ's celebrating Margaret's 21st.
Betsy provided the crown.
I provided the awesome.
Standard.
Just Kidding.
Or am I?

She is an RA and is on a No Alcohol Contract through May of 2012.
So I hit up Cost Plus World Market and Sephora for some 21 themed, non-alcoholic gifts - including Margarita Body Wash, Cocktail Cupcake Mix, and Mocktail Mojito.

The Mocktail Mojito comes in a wine bottle shape - so I wanted to find a fun wine bag to present it in.
When I was at Cost Plus, I found that the gift bag section was even more awesome than I imagined.

Yes, that is Michael Jackson as a Chihuahua in gift bag form.
You're welcome, Margaret.

The rest of the table did not seem impressed.
But one of the BJ's waiters stopped dead in his tracks and nearly fell over laughing.
That was the reaction I was waiting for.

And just for comparison - "normal gift bag" and "MJ gift bag"

I mean, which would you rather have? A boring birthday angel, or the Canine King of Pop?
Obvious answer, right?

(They also have Lady Gaga, Snoop Dog, and Audrey Hepburn, all as animals, in case you are needing appropriate gift wrap).


And what would BJ's be with out a little Pizookie?
And crazy friend making faces at you while you blow out your candles?

Twenty-One looks good on you Margaret!

After dinner we hit up the hotel pool - which rudely kicked us out at 10pm - followed by dessert at the hotel restaurant to ring in Margaret's new year!

A night of beauty rest and we were up and continuing the party, after all, a birthday isn't a birthday if you don't celebrate for at LEAST two days....or a month. Whatevs.

Margaret allowed Laura (resident iPhone hater) to play with her latest apps.  She'll convert, it's just a matter of time.

We headed to the mall across the street - seriously, this hotel is in a fab location - and continued to celebrate Marge with her favorite activity - SHOPPING. And of course hit up the Photobooth.
Because what is a milestone birthday without a photobooth?

My sister is ridiculous.
Margaret had to be censored with a teal unicorn.
Jessica makes one mean fish face.
Betsy barely fit in the frame.
And I discovered food in my teeth in the last picture.

So FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY Margaret is 21! Welcome to the big girls club lady!

Happy Birthday Little Beast!!!

My all time favorite picture of the little beast.

I am so glad God gave me you as my sister.

I think everyone else is jealous (they should be).

I am so glad I get to spend the day with you today. 

And I'm glad we have each other to share eyerolls behind our crazy parents back.

And anyone else who is crazy.

(Sometimes I think we are the only ones who aren't)

No offense to the rest of you all. 

I'm glad you let me laugh at you when you are grumpy.

Or when you squeak when you are just waking up.

I love when you let me drag you to TJ's on the weekends. (I know its really your favorite)

It makes me happy that I can walk to your house from mine.

It means more to me than you know that you have shed tears of your own when I was sad.

You are the best dog-auntie in the world.

I owe ya one (and you don't let me forget it) for all the love you give Mylie - especially as a puppy.

My two favorite beasts.

Even though you're my little sister, I know you are always looking out for me.
And I wouldn't mind being like you when I grow up.

Although, it both amazes and terrifies me that you clean teeth for a living.

And I appreciate that you will stop talking about calculus (aka plaque) when I ask you to.

Or beg.

I hope I always have you around.

But ultimately, I am satisfied knowing that we will be worshiping Jesus for eternity together.

<3 I love, love, love you little beastie. <3

Happy Birthday to my BFF. 4-eva.