birthday – Page 2

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet P.

Sweet baby girl you are three today! The years are flying on by and it’s crazy how much of a little lady you are turning into. You are such a firecracker, though most days we are so exhausted by the time night falls we wouldn’t change a single day. Your personality is radiant, you love helping others (especially your little bro) and you’re already wise for your years. You undoubtedly inherited your old soul from us. You spend your days whipping up crazy imaginary baked goods, serving me pink red sparkle tea, singing Taylor Swift from the top of your lungs asking for it to be, “louder…louder…no, higher!” If you had it your way you would survive off of lollipops and popsicles but then there are days where you wake-up asking for frozen green beans. You’re still a lover of anything food related but typically request lunch at Panera for broccoli cheese soup. The cuddlebug in you is what we look forward to and we love when you asked to be “sqqeezed” but not too tight. You love to sing, point out shapes wherever you see them within nature, count and recognize the abc’s. Each day we are reminded how blessed we are to call you our daughter. We continue to talk about your future and the person you are becoming. We love you peanut, happy third birthday.

cherish paperie {product review}

When I was brainstorming Brayden’s first birthday party I knew it had to be a modern twist on a woodland theme. I found inspiration for my invitations and sent it to Cherish Paperie, they were able to design my invitation exactly how I had envisioned it. Not only did the design process feel painless, it was also quick and within a few short weeks I had the gorgeous invitations sitting on my doorstep. While I did receive a digital copy the printed version was even more beautiful and I was blown away with the quality of the paper and printing. I have ordered from many of the top online card companies as well as online printing companies and none can be compared to Cherish Paperie in terms of color quality.

Cherish Paperie is an internet-based invitation and stationary design studio located in Southern California. They specialize in all things paper related, and gorgeous paper at that! If you’re brainstorming your holiday cards like I am you should consider Cherish Paperie for a statement maker this season! Impress your friends and family with one of their unique designs from classic to contemporary and everything in between!

Make sure to follow Cherish Paperie via Facebook and Twitter. Remember to contact them today to showcase your best family photo this holiday season.

Disclaimer: I received a set of birthday invitations for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

dirty thirty.

prepare yourselves for a picture and over sharing overload.

we began our drive out to las vegas early thursday morning. we stopped for breakfast, then a trip to the bank and then another to target. we were like kids in a candy store in target because we didn’t have either child freaking out. it was bliss. we made it out of target and then headed straight to vegas but it wouldn’t have been right if we didn’t stop in baker for a potty break. shortly after noon we arrived, registered, and headed straight to our room at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. we quickly put on our swim wear and met janelle and nelson down by the pool. we didn’t waste more than ten minutes before we had a cocktail in hand. we hung out by the pool for a few hours and then had a quick happy hour before napping. blissdom, yet again. after nappy time we got dressed and met my sister, brother-in-law, janelle and nelson down in the lobby and took cabs to grand lux and then an ankle breaking walk to go see absinthe. if you have a vegas trip planned anytime soon you need to book tickets for absinthe. the most raunchy, laugh-out-loud, cirque-esque type show i have ever seen. i am still laughing about the gazillionaire and penny. go see. after the show we walked across the street so i could play my first hand at black jack, let’s say i suck and yes, my first hand at thirty is pretty comical.

ready to tackle my last hours of my twenties

on my birthday, friday the twenty-second, we met my sister and brother-in-law for breakfast and then met nelson and janelle down by the pool. we quickly made our way to the lazy river, got bored, and bought inner tubes. it was relaxing but not relaxing enough until i had a 151 rum runner in hand. then let’s just say melissa got a tad bit, err, a lot tipsy. after four hours we were done with the pool and made a quick wardrobe change and headed to the mall with my sister so i could look for new sunglasses. it was a comical drive, trying to talk to our relator, making a call to spain all while drunk. the mall came and went (with new sunglasses of course) and then we picked up my brother-in-law on the corner, literally. we drove back and had happy hour of coagulated queso fundido, amazeballs guac and an outside quesadilla. another nap took place and then it was time to get dressed for dinner at red square. we had the most amazing dinner, like i could’ve just gone to bed right after it was so good. but that wouldn’t have been fun so we headed up to minus 5 where i put on a white fur and we took shots of patron and a sipped a margie from ice-carved glasses. another spot i highly reccommend in vegas for something non-traditional. we made our way up to MIX, which has the best view in vegas. go. you’ll thank me. after about seven shots, no joke, i was finally feeling good enough to dance. the music and enviornment at MIX is perfect, i am not a club girl, but put me in an ultra lounge and i will stay until closing, which we just about did until my filipino princess of a friend wanted french toast and then we lost her. we went to raffles, a must for us. apparently i was so drunk that i was yelling at a girl next to us and making fun of my hubby for ordering blueberry pancakes. by 4:30 am it was time to call it a night. best birthday ever.

the view from our room

i couldn’t even tell you how far in i was at this point.

i think this was the third to last shot, if that says anything.

we called him pitbull, however, papi chulo might have been equally acceptable. mclovin’ isn’t making an apparence on the blog. sorry ‘nelle.

the end.

the next morning we headed home to what i thought i was going to be a relaxing dinner with my parents and kids but no, my parents decided to throw me my first surprise party. first surprise ever that went over my nosy, know-it-all head. i was stunned and my mom said something to me that i will take with me forever. while i never think i am good enough and that i don’t deserve anything she stopped me and said, that i do deserve to feel special and important because you only turn thirty once. i might take that statement with me throughout this next decade. this birthday goes down in the books as the most amazing birthday ever.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Since this blog is primarily about my darling offspring I thought what would be better than on my birthday to dedicate this post to my parents. The two most wonderful parents a daughter could possibly ask for gave birth to me today at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Orange at 8:02 am. They have loved me unconditionally throughout my twenty-nine years, dealing with my opinionated, emotional, serious, goofy personality and never once wanted to turn me back in (well, at least I hope not!) They have taught me a hell of a lot but more than anything they have taught me how special birthdays are, so today, my dear loving parents, today is for you. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for you, well, I didn’t picture myself living in a hotel, so I won’t blame you for that! Thank you for all that you have instilled in me over the past twenty-nine years and thank you for bringing me into this world. I love you both.

mama six months preggo with my lil sis.

I’m ONE!

I’m TWO, Payton and I look very much alike, don’t ya think? My teeth had a bigger gap and my eyes are more squinty.

love you both. muah!

Jim’s 30th

So I had been planning Jim’s 30th for months, I knew it had to be BIG but I wasn’t sure how to pull it off. I went through several different options for his big day but in the end I opted for what Jim would want, a party at his aunt and uncle’s house. Jerome, my talented bff created the fabulous Simpson’s invite. Many of you probably don’t know this but Jim is a Simpson’s know-it-all, he can tell you any trivia, what happened in any episode during whatever season. It’s kind of silly but you know what, this is what I love this about him. We rolled with this is as the theme complete with donuts, a cake matching the invite, a DJ, a taco cart, enough booze that made the party just as classy as Moe’s tavern and plenty of Simpson-like crazy moments. Another thing about my recently turned thirty-year-old hubby is that usually he can handle his alcohol, nobody ever even knowing that Jim might be intoxicated, but his special day proved to be the first (and only) time that we will ever see him let go of everything (literally). After his party he spent Sunday recovering from his hangover while I worked and the next few days he has spent fighting off a sinus infection. His actual birthday was on Wednesday, and he called out of work to spend a few hours in urgent care and then I brought home Greek food from his favorite restaurant, he rented Wolverine and I bought him his beloved and childhood friend Fudgy the Whale cake from Carvel. Overall, his party was amazing and I cannot thank everyone enough who helped or attended for celebrating this milestone with us. Jim cannot stop talking about his party and how I pulled one over on him. Happy 30th Birthday Hubby!

Jim’s Invite

Our pre-party started at the Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo. Jim ordered a wine flight and didn’t drink enough while we snacked on appetizers, so when it was time to leave he had to chug three glasses of wine.

Then we blind folded him and drove around Poway for roughly twenty minutes throwing him off of where we were headed. He thought we were headed downtown to see Spamalot.