Hip Hip Hooray!

Yesterday I made waffles. Not just any waffles. I made rich, decadent sour cream waffles topped with rasberries and real maple syrup. An entire champagne bottle's worth of mimosas may have been consumed as well. All of this was in honor of my beautiful friend Katie. You see, Katie got a new fancy job and I wanted to celebrate. 8 waffles, 1 container of rasberries, a bottle of champagne, a few splashes of orange juice, and a Pretty Woman viewing later we were both very happy and full. Congrats again Katie, I'm so excited for you!

I was too excited to eat the waffles after I poured on the syrup, so here is the picture before.

Dillen was also there to help us celebrate. I was dog sitting for the day.

Brrr. It's cold out there.....

No, this is not a post about Bring it On. This is a post about adventures up at Whiteface Mountain, near Lake Placid, NY (Home of the 1980 Winter Olympics)!

A lovely group of 11 (plus Dewey!) made the drive up there to celebrate President's Weekend in style. After 3 days of snowboarding, laughing and brutally cold temperatures, my body is certainly exhausted and I'm counting down the work day until I can crawl back in bed. Great weekend. Great friends. Tons of fun. I can't wait to get on the snow again. Maybe next time I'll get the hang of it a little more and not embarrass my pro of a boyfriend.

Jason and I riding the gondola to the top. Really the only tolerable way to go when the wind is kicking (ps. That cute mask I am wearing was sooo key that day - don't judge me).

Top of Little Whiteface.

Katie and I before we head down the scenic mile and half trail from the top of Lookout Mountain.

Group shot (minus Danny who had to go home early for family day) - Lance, Blake, Drew, Pretty Yan, Dewey, Katie, Jason, Neil, Ken and Me.

It's my birthday...

(well, it was on Saturday)...And I can get the big girl beer now.

Jason, Blake and Ken are shocked at my new (old) age. (PS I love the ridiculousness of this picture)

Birthday Cooking

Birthday girl is working hard drinking wine. Dewey really didn't like the Hello Kitty birthday hat, or the balloons.

Best couple shot of Blake and Lance. Jason's first New York Christmas tree!

It was a birthday party fit for a queen! Friday night a few of us got together for one of our cooking nights and to celebrate the beautiful Blake in all her birthday glory. When we usually get together we have to make these really terrible Whole Foods recipes for part of Blake's job. But, after many weeks of doing all we can to make those recipes edible, we decided to go a different route. Each of us submitted an ingredient and had to make a dish using one of the ingredients they did not submit.

This week's ingredients included avocado, crab boil, italian eggplant, fresh cranberries, goat cheese, and tomatillos. We ended up with such delicious creations! I used the avocado to make this delicious (and VEGAN) cake for the birthday girl. I do have to say that my favorite dish was the goat cheese and shrimp risotto. Way to go Lance. You really knocked that one out of the park. In terms of birthday celebrations, we had party hats, Hello Kitty plates and napkins, champagne, and of course a vegan birthday cake!

Can't wait for the next cooking adventure :)

Group shot before we ate. We all look tired because we were. Our dishes took a really long time to make and we didn't get to eat until about 10:30!

A lovely little Sunday

A beautiful sunflower in the tacky Italian Mens Society Garden on my block.

This weekend I have been boring. I drank wine and slept. That is it.

Ok, ok, that might be a tad of an exaggeration, but I did catch up on sleep and life in general. It's been beautiful in the BK this weekend and this afternoon I met up with some really splendid ladies for brunch. It honestly was some of the most delicious food I have had in a really long time. We went to this restaurant I've wanted to go to for a while now. I constantly pass Bocca Lupo during my runs and I always forget about it when picking a place to eat. I will never forget about this place again. IT. WAS. AMAZING. Do yourself a favor and try it if you are in the hood. Actually, make it a point to come to the hood and try it. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, I also ran. 9 miles. Only 17.2 more to go until the marathon. Why do I do this to myself?

Happy Birthday to ME!

So it happened. I turned 26 this weekend. It was a sad event when I had to enter 2 - 6 on the elliptical this morning instead of 2 - 5. For the first time in years I decided to actually go out and celebrate it! Thank you to all the wonderful ladies and gentlemen who showed up to celebrate with me. I am truly amazed at the number of lovely friends I have in my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Apparently black was the color of the evening.

I love you ladies!

PS. I swear this was not a ladies only event despite these pictures seeming that way.

Confetti and Breadcrumb

Last week Jon and I ventured on the G train so we could see our first live performance of Confetti and Breadcrumb! It was amazing. You can check out some of their classy music videos here. I WILL someday make it in one of their videos. I made them promise me. Don't think I forgot boys.

Check out a partial video of Bees - not the best quality, but still entertaining.

Lauren gets married...on New Years Eve!

This New Years was amazing. I spent it with people I love, watching two people celebrate their love for each other. I can't think of a better way to start off 2010. Congratulations Lauren and Daren. I'm so happy for you both.

The good looking groom and bride, Daren and Lauren. I wish you the best in your future together. I love you both.

Let's Go Gators! My cheer ladies (sans bride) Shae, Katie, MK and me. Side note: I am the only one of them unmarried - weird feeling.

Me and the beautiful bride.

My hot date, trying to be sexy ;)

Mary, you make a really cute kid. Baby Addison rings in 2010 with a nap.

Thank you Patty for giving up your New Years to be my date.

Holly and Kelley take Sarasota!

Last week Holly picked me up and we made our way down to Sarasota to meet up with our favorite boys of Museum Walk. It was so good to see everyone. Just like old times, minus the whole being in college thing. I already miss them all. At least Holly is waiting for me in NY :)

We started our night by watching the sunset on the Gulf and a little bubbly.

In the back of the Tahoe. JUST like the old days :)

Most of the Museum Walk crew. Funny how all the ladies now live in NY.

Bry Bry is one lucky guy.

That sure is an Ugly Sweater!

Last Saturday I headed to my friend's place for an ugly Christmas sweater/Christmas movie marathon party. It was perfect. Snow was falling the whole time and it was quite magical. Such a great way to get be in the spirit!

Those are some snazzy sweaters. Ebay wars at its best.

Look at all that holiday spirit! You can sort of see the snow in the window :)

They are a packaged deal :)

Look how hard it's snowing!

Wine Wednesday: Christmas Edition

On Wednesday I met up with a few ladies for our Christmas edition of our beloved Wine Wednesday. In truth, we really didn't do anything different than we normally do (chat, stuff our faces, catch up, among other girly activities) except play the Hanson Brothers' and Mariah Carey's Christmas albums. My faith was restored in why I hated the Hanson bros when I was a child - they are pretty terrible.

The night though was a huge success - great food, great wine, great people! I hope all of you ladies have a wonderful holiday.

Such a cute little Christmas tree!

So much food to choose from.

Erin and I

Maple, brown sugar and pecan covered brie. AMAZING. Kudos to Laura for making such a delicious creation!

No party is complete without pigs in a blanket.

Happy Thanksgiving

While I didn't get to make it home for Thanksgiving, I am thankful I got to spend it with amazing friends, who can cook amazing food. Or, pretend by making a stop at the Boston Market. Oh, and I'm thankful for Taboo.

Confetti modeling the MK scarf/posing like Ezio

I love these ladies.

Family Portrait. Luckily Gary and Brett got dressed up for it.

The boys are impressed with the spread we pulled off.

This turkey was so delicious. I'm hungry just looking at it.

50 years young

Last weekend I headed down to Florida to surprise my mom for her 50th birthday. She cried. She was just so happy to see me! We had a wonderful time discovering St. Augustine. I'm so happy I was able to be there with her.

Yep mom, those are a lot of candles you have to blow out!

The four of us on the beach. Blake, me, Jessie and Mom.

What a Weekend!

I had such a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. Mine was filled with lots of sleeping, eating way too much pizza, getting a tad sun burnt, people watching at Long Beach, sucking at Frisbee, going toe-deep into the frigid water at the beach, drinking sangria on a roof top, straining to see the fireworks on the Hudson, catching up with friends, brunch, and napping. I'd say it was a successful weekend.

Seems a few others had the same idea to spend the 4th at Long Beach.

Katie and I stroll the Boardwalk after grabbing some lunch.

Jessie's crappy "fireworks" setting on her camera.

A perfect Sunday dinner

Last night I had the most wonderful night. A few friends gathered and we cooked a delicious pasta dinner and peanut butter brownie and ice cream dessert. We spent the evening enjoying the beautiful NY summer weather (FINALLY!), chowing down and discussing important topics such as: what would happen if our butts lit up like fire flies, but you had different colors for different moods; getting in sibling fights (I apparently suffered a bite mark to the thigh at one point) and making fun of Jessie for spending entire days watching Lifetime movies. I cannot wait for our next dinner!

Up tonight: Weeds slumber party!!!

Judging by the look on Jon's face I think we were discussing Jessie having to discover mangled dead children for her dream job of working with murder scenes. Awesome dinner conversation.

So good: bowtie pasta with a (homemade) goat cheese tomato sauce

Testing out the timer function - Group dining on our patio :)

Let's hear it for 3-day weekends!

Yeah for Italian Ices! Photo Credit: Hispanic man selling the ices who did not speak a word of English.

It has to be said that I love three day weekends. I just feel so much more relaxed and charged up for the 4 day work week that lies ahead. I strongly encourage the US to take this on as the norm.

My weekend was filled with relaxing activities such as attending a rooftop birthday party, running errands that I finally found time to do, cleaning my apartment, drinking Stumptown coffee at Cafe Pedlar, going to a pilates class, brunching in Park Slope, meeting up with some fellow Brooklyn (and UF!) friends in Prospect Park (PS. check out their videos here. AMAZING), eating a Mango Italian Ice (can't beat two scoops for $1), playing a little frisbee, getting my butt kicked in 4-square, and watching Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, which was an incredibly weird movie.

How was your weeekend?

I love photo booths.

and the bars which have them. great saturday night. dinner. drinks. dancing. friends.