i love lucy!

via ultimateilovelucy

Happy Birthday, Lucy!

In honor of the comedic genius, Lucille Ball, watch some of her funniest moments here. Although my favorite Lucy moment is pictured above. Do you know which episode it's from?

another year older

Today is my birthday. I'm another year older. But instead of the usual dread I've been feeling about getting older, I've decided that I want to always be as excited for my birthday as I was in this picture. I don't want the magic of birthdays to disappear just because I'm all grown up. I'm celebrating this day because I am so very grateful for being on this journey of life, for being given another day to make the most of my time here. I know that sounds a bit corny but I'm allowed a little sentimentality on my birthday.

It's been a lovely day! I spent it exactly how I wanted to…by creating my happy! Now, I'm just waiting for Ebert to get home- spending the day with the person I get most excited about seeing would have been the only thing that could have been this day better.

this time of year

Last night, as part of an early birthday celebration, I had a girl's night out with my friend Ivory. We enjoyed cocktails and appetizers at my apartment, then headed out to dinner at a neighborhood Thai restaurant. It's always great chatting away like girl's tend to do and catching up on life, but the real fun of the evening was seeing one of my favorite bands, Better Than Ezra, perform at a street festival. It was a perfect summer evening for listening to music outside and dancing in the street.

The absolute best part of the night, however, was when the lead singer, Kevin Griffin, threw his guitar pick out into the crowd. The pick sailed through the air and bounced off dozens of hands trying to grab for it, then fell somewhere onto the ground and got lost amongst the crowd. I tried looking for it right away but didn't want to be looking at the ground during their last few songs- I wanted to enjoy the moment and their music so I thought to myself if I'm meant to find it I will. Twenty minutes later as they finished their last song and walked off stage and the crowd started to disperse, I took a couple of steps around and what do you think I saw on the ground just a few feet in front of me? Yes! The yellow pick. It's like it was just waiting for me to find it and it felt like magic! I was beyond excited.

And now I've given myself the challenge of learning to play this Better Than Ezra song with Kevin's pick before the next time they play in Chicago. They have a new album coming out in the fall and will be touring shortly thereafter, so it doesn't give me much time but I'm going to try. I have no idea where to begin but I do have a guitar so I guess that's a start. The reason I want to learn the song is because at most of their shows they usually pick someone from the audience to play the song with them onstage. I don't really have any musical talent but if that happened, well it would just be "so good". Here's to trying…

365th

7.15.13 - 365

And thus concludes my 365 project. I decided to end it this year the way I began it…with this guy's photo. Ebert made my birthday extra special yesterday, he makes every year amazing, and he's been with me the whole way during this project- liking my photos, reminding me to take a photo, encouraging me to carry on.

Besides, what other husband would rock a t-shirt with your name on it for your birthday? Love this guy!

Now on to the next project…

week in photos

7.08.13 - 358

7.09.13 - 359

7.10.13 - 360

7.11.13 - 361

7.12.13 - 362*

7.13.13 - 363

7.14.13 - 364

One more photo left to take. It's nice that the 365th photo will be taken on my birthday!

*photo courtesy of ebert

another year older

via ignitelight

Well…in exactly one week I'll be another year older. I'm looking forward to making way for the new but also taking what I've learned this past year and moving forward with confidence, trust, appreciation and vigor.

this guy...

Santa Barbara - May 12, 2008

Happy Birthday, husband! I know you don't like making a big a deal about your birthday but you're a big deal to me. I can't help but want to make today special for you because you make every day special for me. Here's to celebrating you!

Besides celebrating Ebert's birthday and Mother's Day here are a couple more reasons why today is awesome!

happy birthday, bill murray!

via derekeads

Happy Birthday, Bill Murray!

Ebert and I watched this movie to celebrate. A Friday evening at home with my husband, a bottle of wine and Bill Murray. What more could a girl ask for!?

to sleep under the stars

This is on my list of 31 things to do before I turn 32...to sleep under the stars. And by sleeping under the stars I mean to actually be able to see stars while falling asleep. Doesn't that sound amazing? But I know that is not going to happen in the city and most likely won't happen before my birthday either (which is only in a few weeks). Seriously, how the heck am I already turning 32? When did I become a person in my thirties? I could be a character on the show Thirtysomething! Wait...that's not possible. Those people were old and I am definitely not old, but I am thirtysomething (gulp!).

Anyway, I would like to sleep under the stars, if not soon then someday. And when that someday happens if it could be at any of these awesome places then that would be doubly awesome. But I will also consider just some good 'ol fashion camping too. Ebert was a boy scout after all!

Blue Mountains Safari: Sydney, Australia

Ecocamp: Patagonia, Chile

Tenthouse Suites: British Columbia, Canada

happy birthday bill murray

via billmurray.tumblr

It's Bill Murray's birthday today! What's your favorite Bill Murray movie? Mine is this, this, this and... oh the list could go on and on. Seriously, I don't think there's a movie of his that I don't like. Although Ebert is shocked, shocked I tell you that I haven't seen this one yet.

happy birthday bill murray!

secrets of a great harry potter party

This recent birthday has taught me a few things, or at least reaffirmed a few things I already knew- I love theme parties and d.i.y projects, I especially love when I can find economical ways to make the projects happen. I still wait until the last minute to get everything done which means I don't have enough time to get everything done so it doesn't all happen exactly how I want it to. And I never take enough pictures.


The golden snitches were made out of rocher chocolates using this template for the wings.


Simply open a bag of these for some green, crunchy troll boogers.


Ok, these aren't real pumpkin pasties but I do love me some cheesecake.


I scored some adorable owl swizzle sticks on sale at West Elm.


Don't throw out your glass jars, reuse and repurpose them. It's eco(nomy)-friendly!


Another great find.


The dollar store had these gigantic beer mugs, a la Hagrid size- perfect for the licorice wands, but a little too big for the pretzel wands.


This is a great template for apothecary style labels.

And every Harry Potter party needs a Platform 9 3/4 photo booth! I got the brick wallpaper from Michael's and handmade the platform sign.



All in all it was a great birthday and a very fun party! I'm so glad my sister and cousins flew all the way from Phoenix to Chicago to be a part of the magic!

Now, what can I plan next?

happy monday!

A Harry Potter birthday party makes me happy!

sunday supper: bloody marys

bloody mary @ trocadero

You know it was a good birthday when all you want is a bloody mary the next day. If you want to try the best bloody mary ever then you must go to Trocadero Gastrobar in Milwaukee. I swear it was so good- it's like a garden in your glass! None of this celery nonsense, this drink comes with a green olive, green bean, asparagus spear, a pickle and a beer chaser. You know a drink means business when a beer chaser is required.

For those who are daring enough to make a bloody mary at home, which I am not, here are some variations on this classic cocktail.

Bacon Swizzle Stick Bloody Mary

Heirloom Bloody Mary

Watermelon Bloody Mary

Green Mary

Cheers!

sunday supper: harry potter party

My birthday is in 5 days and my day of birthday fun will include seeing Part Two, going to a British pub for some traditional English grub, then having friends over for some Honeydukes treats and sweets. It's pretty much going to be an awesome day!

butterbeer via bakingdom

acid pops via tradewindtiaras

drooble's best blowing gum via blowoutparty

licorice wands via thepastryaffair

dessert table inspiration via allfortheboys

one more week

Next Friday is going to be amazing, I can hardly wait! It will be a double rainbow kind of day- the final Harry Potter movie comes out and it's my birthday!

via nanlawson

via fuckyeahmovieposters

via minimalmovieposters

coincidence?

Do you think it's a coincidence that my birthday just so happens to be on the same day that Part Two is released, and that the British restaurant I will be celebrating at later that same day has a crest with a lion on it that looks very similar to the lion on Gryffindor's crest?

via theredlionlincolnsquare

via hp-lexicon

I think not!!! Only 4 more weeks...

goodbye 20's

I turn 30 in 15 days. I honestly don't mind getting older - I'm looking forward to gaining wisdom that only comes with age, having a certain confidence I lacked in my twenties, and a better knowing of who I am and what I want. But, at the same time I'm not exactly where I thought I would be at 30. I know it's a bit of a cliche to say that time goes by fast and that I thought I would have accomplished so much more by this age, but it's true....Where the heck has the time gone? And what exactly have I been doing with my life?

Ok, ok. I know that in my 29 years and 350 days of being on this planet that not only have I accomplished some things I've also learned some things. So, in an attempt to become aware of everything that I have learned I'm writing a list.

30 Things I've Learned Before Turning 30

1. When you meet 'the one' you will just know.

2. Practice really does make perfect.

To Be Continued...

30th birthday!

My 30th Birthday is in six months and I want to throw a party! Here are some great party themes that I currently have crushes on.

An outdoor lawn party is perfect for the summer time.

Decorating with yellow and sunflowers is cute and summery, but I am a girly girl for pink.

To celebrate the year I was born a 1980's party would be like a totally rad idea.

This ice cream parlour party will keep everyone cool during the dog days of summer.

A cocktail party is always a classic idea, as well as a wine and cheese soiree.

I am loving the idea of a vintage party!