My Golden Birthday!

I went back and forth for the last few months over whether or not I wanted to have a birthday party this year...  I wasn't sure because I don't have the 1,000 person friend base that all of us had in college, so obviously I was worried that I would have a party and no one would show up!  In the end I decided to have the party, because 1. When would my birthday be on a Saturday again?  2. I was turning 23 on the 23rd,  3. I wanted to make my own piñata, so a party sounded somewhat essential, and 4. If no one except Bryan showed up, I would have fun anyway!!  So I made the piñata... and it was awesome :D

We had a fiesta-style potluck, and my friends DID come!

Even Lynette drove all the way from Atascadero just for the party, and it made me so happy :)

The actual piñata destruction was a great success...

After everyone left, the rest of us climbed up the mountain to watch the sun set :)  It was gorgeous!  But a little bit awkward because we were on someone's property.  And then right after we took this picture, the lady got home and told us to scram!  Oops... oh well, totally worth it.  Best birthday ever!

Succulent Bird Cage

I've basically been dreaming of this extremely easy project for the last two years... I would see a cute bird cage in an antique shop on State St. and think about buying it for whatever ridiculous amount it was priced at, then say no fricken way and forget all about it.  Every time I saw a bird cage I thought about it, and I even looked on craigslist but all I could find were like... ACTUAL bird cages, which are not cute at all - more just big and square.  Anyway, I was at Ross about a month ago and I saw a bunch of bird cages (the cute kind) in the gardening section!  I thought I was going to have my usual look-at-the-price-tag-gag-at-the-price-and-walk-away moment, but the one I liked was only $6 - score!!  So I bought it and it's been sitting on the deck since then.  Finally, the other night I decided to stop thinking about it and get some succulents to actually put in it!  So then I did.  And that's how this project that took approximately seven minutes to assemble actually took years to accomplish.  Taadaaaaa!

I had to stand on my tippy toes to get this next picture. And so begins the search for a chain of some sort to lower the bird cage so we can actually enjoy looking at it... I'll report back in one year!

Halloween and Four Pumpkin Pies

Okay, I'm back in the blogging world!!  For the last two months before Halloween I pestered everyone in my office about dressing up, and it actually worked for some people!

We had a party at the office, and carved a bunch of pumpkins.

The next day, I baked the pumpkins and threw them in the Vitamix so that I could try to make pumpkin pie from scratch!  I'd only ever made it from the can, and I'm never too excited to pick up a rotten old Jack-O-Lantern that's been sitting outside for days, so this was the perfect solution :)

Turns out I had a lot of pumpkin, so I made four pies!  I did still use the Libby's can recipe... but whatever, it's a classic!!

And they turned out pretty darn good :)  But I think I'll stick with the can for Thanksgiving... no point adding extra work on an already hectic day.  I think I found a new post Halloween tradition!

Day 365

The REAL last day.  I wanted to come up with something clever, but I didn't.  I just drank this delicious tea :)

Day 364

Today was crown the town, beer version!  It was really fun.  We started at Corks and Crowns, then went to Figueroa Mountain and played Operation and Apples to Apples, then went to Bay Roadhouse, then Union Ale.  Then we were supposed to go to O'Malley's but I ran away early because, well, it's a Tuesday people!

Day 363

Today I went to Trader Joe's, and had a VERY exciting moment... THE PUMPKIN ICE CREAM HAD ARRIVED!  You might remember my post last year about my love for this ice cream... and if you're wondering, I love it just as much :)

Day 362

I went hiking with some coworkers today!  It was fun and extremely hot.  No shade.  Ever.  If I'm going to live here for the forseeable future I need to get one of those umbrella hats or something... none of the hikes have shade!  Anyway, we went to lunch at The Shop after and I got this really delicious fried chicken and beet sandwich... nom!

Day 361

Today we went to the zoo!  Bryan's work was having a picnic slash BBQ thing, so we got to go to the zoo for free, eat delicious food, and look at all the animals :)  We also were the "beer pourers" for half an hour, which was actually so fun and entertaining.  But, obviously, this ADORABLE little fox was the highlight of the whole day... can I have it?  I want one!!  I'm not surprised at the fact that they have a note on the sign telling you how they would NOT make good pets... sometimes it's hard being ethical...

Day 360

I just love succulents :)  Good thing this blog is still going (haha) because I recently bought a little bird cage at Ross and I think I will make a weekend project of filling it with these babies!  Photos to follow!

Day 359

Today I had class!  Even though Thursdays are pretty much the longest days ever - get up at 6, run, go to work at 8, leave work and go to class at 6, get out of class and home by 9:30 - I love them because my class is so much fun and I get to see this view from the balcony outside :)  And this week Bryan had a delicious homemade pizza waiting for me when I got home... so it really wasn't too bad!

Day 358

This one's for you Lynette!  Important items on my bathroom counter.

Day 357

Yes, day 357.  Wow.  I guess a "blonde moment" is a real thing, since there are actually 365 days in a year, not 356... and proof that it was a blonde moment is Jenny congratulating me on day 356 :)  Love ya girl!  Haha.  Good thing I have an amazing and not-blonde aunt to tell me what's up.  Today I looked at tons of old pictures that my dad left for me, and found this gem.  Thanks mom for putting so many hours into this ridiculous costume!!

Day 356

I DID IT!!!!!  I took a picture every single day for a whole year.  Woah.  Which is more impressive, that or this amazingly happy basil plant?  I'm not sure, but I'm happy with both :)  Thanks for listening!

Day 355

Can you tell I'm really building the suspense for tomorrow, Day 356??  It's so exciting!  One whole year of blogging!!  But for today, just a really cute hedgehog measuring cup.  This stuff kills me in the best way possible.

Day 354

My dad came to visit this weekend!  And today we went surfing which was totally fun and awesome, but I didn't have my phone on me obviously... so here's some documentation of our delicious dinner!

Day 353

A picture of my wall of pictures :)

Day 352

Took pictures of some cool little parts at work today... I think I've said this before but it just reminds me how much I love Legos... especially the Star Wars sets!!!

Day 351

It was quite the beautiful morning today on my way out of the house!  Yes, that's my chimney if you were wondering!

Day 350

This morning on my run it was dark... like really dark.  This is the one thing that sucks about winter!  But at least it made the oil rig look really pretty, haha.

Day 349

Tonight we made some SERIOUSLY delicious turkey burgers.  Like woah.  Best turkey burger ever.  I can't even be modest... they were amazing.  Ha!

Day 348

The fog is back, and I love it!!!!!  I was really starting to melt...

Day 347

The. Best. Pancakes. Ever.  Actually that's a lie, my mom makes the best pancakes.  But these toppings were pretty fricken amazing!

Day 346

This crossword is haaaaaarrrrrddd.... urghhh but at least it's Friday :)

Day 345

SCIENCE!!!!  Haha, had my second physiology lab today and it is going just great!

Day 344

Today we made this.  It was everything I ever dreamed of and more!! And pretty in the pan, too :)

Day 343

Just to give my motivation a boost I've started taking my phone on runs to listen to music - today was some super relaxing Jack Johnson and a beautiful sunrise :)

Day 342

I guess being back in school means I have to study again... weird!

Day 341

IT IS SO HOT HERE.  What's going on.  We played croquet.  This is the its-so-hot-I-can't-touch-my-own-body pose.

Day 340

Leigh came to visit and we got pho!! And did lots of other really fun things, obviously.

Day 339

Today was the start of the beautiful cloud formations :)  And Friday!!

Day 338

Today was my first day back to school!!  This is the view from my classroom... I'm okay with it :)

Day 337

Yesterday on my run I noticed there was tons of trash on the ground around the entrance to the trail area... it made me sad!  And then I remembered how in high school I picked up trash sometimes... so I decided to do it again.  Bryan and I went and picked up two full bags of trash, yikes!  Also we found this envelope with jewelry in it... so weird and creepy.  Anyway it was fun and the trail looks way better!

Day 336

Today Bryan made an epic breakfast sandwich.  Yum.

Day 335

Okay I've been completely SUCKING at this blog every day thing.  BUT I have taken a picture every day.  So here I go.  I'm sorry.  Please forgive me.

This night we had the worst movie night ever.  Haha!

Day 334

Today me and Bryan went to the store and they were having a fundraiser - donate a dollar and get a rootbeer float, heck yes!!

Day 333

Day nine... we returned to civilization.  From over 12,000 feet to sea level in just a few hours. This is from the car on the drive home... man is it weird to be moving this fast again!

Day 332

We made it!  The climb to Whitney was awesome, and we had a lovely photoshoot with this adorable marmot at the top.  He is really workin it.

Day 331

It was a beautiful morning today because for the first time in four days we woke up and everything was dry!  Thank god for the rain being over.  Whitney tomorrow!!!!!

Day 330

Today was VERY different than yesterday.  The pass just about killed me.  Well, I guess there was hail both days, but yesterday we were in a tent and today we were on the top of a 13,500 foot ridge... YIKES!  But the amazing clouds afterwards made it totally worth it :D

Day 329

Today was our first pass back on the JMT... I was scared.  But it was a really gorgeous morning and I just couldn't get over the reflections in the lake!  And it turned out that the pass wasn't even that hard.  Awesome.

Day 328

Day 4! Today we walked a bunch and saw a cool stump.