Friday...

Guys, I am really thankful it is Friday. I was not sure it was actually coming this week but it did, it really did! And even better, I have Monday off!
We have a semi busy weekend in front of us. Gotta help my little sisters finish up their costumes, my dad’s birthday is on Saturday and that night Tim and I are going to the Minus the Bear 10th anniversary show for their album Highly Refined Pirates! We both really love this band and we have some sentiment attached to their music soo ya know, it is sorta special for us. Seriously, these days I really have to weigh out how bad I want to see a band if it means I have to stand up all night, so this is sorta a big deal.

For a second there, I thought I would have no Halloween related plans but CromeYellow just posted a list of 11 Awesome Movies to Watch for Halloween!

There is no one’s opinion I trust greater than Sal from CY on horror movies, so if you have no plans this weekend, read this list and make it a movie marathon! Last year we had about 4 trick or treaters in total (2 happened to be my sisters) so TK and I are seriously considering turning off the lights, leaving a bowl of candy outside and just watching movies all night. Does that make us old and grumpy?
Oh well! Happy Halloween ya’ll!

Backyard Carving...

This year we are attempting to be more festive. Well, I am attempting to be more festive and I just make Tim come along for the ride. So when our friends, Emily and Pat said they were going to be carving pumpkins with their neighbors, we decided to invite them all over to our place and join in...


We really had to monitor Emily with the knife.

Pre-carving


I realized that I have little to no experience carving pumpkins. I think I may have done it once but I cannot guarantee that for sure. Thankfully, Tim bought me a very tiny pumpkin.

The finished products. Tim decided on a "Cyclops" pumpkin (what?!)

and here is my little guy...


We had a great time with pumpkins, and bbq and drinks and lots of pups running around the backyard.
Perhaps this year we will embrace more festive activities...I might even buy a real Christmas tree. I said might.

The face of 28...

For once I have a million things to post about and of course, I am way behind! So to start off here are a few pictures from Tim's 28Th Birthday! (on October 13th, eek!)

I seriously love this face so much. Even though it usually takes a handful of shots before you get a good one of that adorable smile!

My Mom always makes Tim dinner on his birthday and this year she of course did not disappoint. Meatloaf (Tim's request) and homemade Au gratin potatoes. Delish! My family also showered TK with a bunch of awesome gifts.


I got Tim these new boots and he wears them everywhere but to bed!


I am pretty sure this birthday card says it all...

Happy Birthday TK!

Workin it...

Tim and I have really been trying to put getting healthy at the top of our priority list. We both have been sorta bored with our regular workout routines so we thought we would try something new and try something together! We decided to try out P90X. It has been around awhile and people have had positive things to say about it, plus it seems like a workout we can both enjoy. (I have no clue why Tim does not want to do Pilate's with me?!?)
I am excited for the challenge but also kinda scared, because Tony Horton looks mad intense! But take a look at us...we look soo ready right?



I thought I would post about it here so maybe the Internet could help keep us accountable. But Internet, try and be nice about it, okay? Like "Hey Bri, stay strong!" not like " Hey Bri, I just saw your butt and it told me you gave up".

BTW guys, isn't my new workout partner like way cute?

The Dhaba...

I am a pretty picky eater. Not only am I a picky eater, but I am the worst kind because I typically refuse to try something and just decide from the look and smell that I am not going to like it. Sometimes it drives my friends and family crazy and they make fun of me for always ordering the same thing. I am confident that if I was in the bathroom at the time the server took our order, I would come back to a club sandwich without having left any instruction.

Note: I am not fond of my finicky ways either. It makes it hard to eat at parties or special events where the food is pre-made. For example, I hate onions the most out of everything and for some reason people think onions just go great in any dish and say "oh yeah add the onions, everyone loves onions!" So friends and family, I apologize if you are annoyed from time to time, but if it is any consolation, I am not making things any easier on myself.

Anyways, lately I have been a bit more adventurous with my palate. I don't know if you are ready for this information, but I recently added...wait for it...green chilies and blue cheese to my diet. Bam! That is growth right before your eyes people!
Tim has been trying to hard to get my to try Indian Food and it just never seems to appeal to me. I don't know if this sounds weird, but the idea of putting something in my mouth and then it tasting nasty just really freaks me out...does that make sense? Do you think I am crazy? Great, I just lost my 3 readers.
Since it was Tim's birthday last week, and there was a great Groupon for a highly recommended Indian joint, I decided there was no better time than to give in to my husbands request and join him for some Indian grub. We brought a long a couple friends too and here was our night...




The man of the hour







The verdict: I actually really loved it! There were definitely some dishes I favored over others, but I can honestly say I liked everything I tried that night! Who knew that I could be wrong about something that I never even tried before!! Tim is stoked because it means we can have more Indian food and I am just a bit proud of myself that in my 24th year of life, I am starting to look at food a little bit more reasonably now...but just a little. Keep those onions away from me!

Mom's 50th Birthday Surprise Party...Part 1

Since this week is a little slower than last, I finally have some time to post pictures from my moms wonderful 50th Surprise Party. Since I took a crazy amount of pictures I thought that I would break them up into a few posts as to not bore you all at once, since I am pretty sure it is probably just my family who wants to see them anyways :)

So first up, the decorations and the desserts!
My mom had originally wanted to take a trip to New Orleans for her 50th but the timing just did not work out so my aunt suggested a Mardi Gras themed party and we ran with it!


We did a crepe paper streamer backdrop behind the dessert table. I am bummed that I didn't get a good shot of the cute details on the top. My wonderful cousin Jacquie and my Dad (of all people!) were masters of crepe paper that weekend!


My aunt had this awesome cake made! (I don't have the bakery info, but once I get it I will link back)


I made the cupcakes and found the perfect little Fleur De Lis toppers!


We tried to keep the food sorta southern. Fried Chicken, Jambalaya and a Pasta Salad.


We blew up a million balloons to put this together and we all were extremely lightheaded for awhile but we were happy with the way it turned out.


After making these centerpieces, I found glitter somewhere around me and on me for days!



I was super happy with the way everything turned out and my mom loved it. There is no way I could have prepped everything on my own and I so grateful for all the help from friends and family! Stay tuned for more...

Twelve by 2012...

Come this January, my schedule and our lives are going to be changing a bit. I will elaborate more at another time, but lately I have been feeling like I want to sort of "wrap things up" around here while I still have the time to!
So when I saw Danni's, Twelve by 2012: Project of Goals, I thought it would be the perfect thing to do, to put me on the right track! I love making lists, so this was a cinch. Here it goes:

*image

1. Review finances and create a solid budget
2. Organize my closet
3. Set up our bed frame and finally "put together" our bedroom
4. Clean out the garage
5. Complete at least 1 crochet project
6. Go through and label all blog posts
7. Finally purchase a new pair of glasses
8. Re-organize office
9. Have wisdom teeth pulled
10. Start and stay consistent with P90x
11. make at least 1 handmade Christmas gift
12. Go on one last vacation before school!

So there are my goals for the remainder of this year. Obviously some more fun (12) than others (9!). If you want to join in make sure to link over at Danni's post and here is to a fruitful end of year!

Friday...

So I did not get around to posting half of what I had on the agenda for this week but I sorta had an idea that was going to happen. I did however stumble upon this Edward hair straightener at Best Buy yesterday (of all places?), so you know that is probably a high point of my week. Do you think if I straighten my hair with it, my hair will sparkle?



October is a busy month for us and this week especially.
Basically this has been my week:

Sat-Mom's surprise party
Sun-Spend time with family / Photo shoot with the niece
Mon-Family dinner before my brother and niece went back to l.a.
Tue-Mom's actual birthday / Backyard dinner at our house to celebrate
Wed-Long day at work / Finish shopping for Tim's birthday / early bday dinner w friends
Thur-Tim's birthday / Special Dinner at my parents house

And that brings us to Friday and today is just as busy because we are heading to l.a. again tonight! I am super excited to get away, if only for a couple days, and see our friends! Plus Saturday night we are doing this!(and I am not embarrassed to say, I am really looking forward to the Alice Cooper maze!) Even though we will only be in town for a short time, and there will be a lot of driving mixed in between(or at least for one of us!), I think it is the perfect way to close out this busy week!

Here are some links I enjoyed this week:

-I love these Ralph Lauren shots Kyla posted about (Click on the link in her post for more!)

-Thanks to Elise, I have been listening to this over and over

-This Fear Factory flicker album is pretty funny! (and makes me even more excited for Halloween Horror Nights!)via @withoutmelissa

-If you have not already seen 50/50, read this and then go watch it! I really loved it (and not just because JGL is my ultimate) and only entirely broke down in complete sobs once!

-Who doesn’t love Ol Marty?

Have a great weekend!

TK BDAY...

To this HANDSOME man on his birthday,



I can't believe I have been blessed to spend your last 8 birthdays with you (Even though the first one was technically on the phone!), and I can't wait to spend so many more! You deserve every good thing in life because everything about you is good. Happy 28th birthday, Tim! And don't worry, your still young! (Although, it does make me happy you will be in your thirties for a few years before I get there!)

I love you.

-Bri

*birthday card courtesy of The Haires!

Talks with TK...

BK: I think one day I would like to try a juice cleanse

TK looking very unsettled with the idea...

BK: What? Whats the matter with a juice cleanse?

TK: I don't know, but I am pretty sure you only do juice cleanses when you are trying to pass a drug test.

BK: What?

yo!

So things have been a little quiet around the ol' blog this last week. I was busy planning and preparing for a surprise 50th birthday party we held for my mom this Saturday. Plus I was busy spending time with this little lady...

I am happy to say that party went off with a bang and we all had a great time! I will be posting pictures soon... I hope. I am going to try and get back in the swing of things with regular posting but realistically I think that will probably happen next week. We still have quite a busy week ahead of us!
My moms actual birthday is tomorrow. TK's birthday is on Thursday and we have a weekend trip to LA Friday that I just cannot wait for! I MISS MY FRIENDS!! So anyways, I am sure you all have been waiting around, not knowing how to live without my posts so I will try to keep you in consideration this week and give you something to live for. I know, It gets hard. Just take a deep breathe.

What have you been put to?

Bedtime...

Our attempt at taking a family photo...