The 20 Year Reunion

After having served in Student Government for all four years in high school you should just expect they will ask you to help with the reunions. It was a pleasure. The people I went to school with are a warm, fun-loving, good natured, dysfunctional, and off-the-hook kinda of group. I love their guts. (I apoligize about the space...I have no clue what's causing it or how to get rid of it.)

Friday night I got together with my girls...Nikki, Jen, and Missy. It had been a very long time since I'd seen them. I think I was more excited to see them that night than the reunion on Saturday night. We shut down the restaurant that we went to. Are you kidding me, we had some serious catching up. Look at us...we're four very different people but we have history and memories together and that can never be replaced.

My role for this reunion was I was the decorating committee. The place was pretty much all a reunion committee could ask for but we knew it needed some Casa Roble Ram memorabilia there. My parents are so amazing, they offered to help just like they did while I was in high school and I gladly accepted. Here's a few pictures of the place.

Michelle did an amazing job with organizing the whole thing, that's why she was class president! She had a friend come and take some professional pictures. You'll notice they difference from hers and mine.

As you can tell there was drinking and dancing. It was a blast!! These were by far my besties in high school. Nikki, Jen, Missy, and Michelle.

Can you believe that they were able to get a hold of all of us to get a picture? They took about 10 but I love this one! Specially since the 2 is backwards. :)

After dancing we all went over to the Sheraton, downtown Sacramento, to continue to hangout! These two girls I've gone to school with for all 13 years. Love you Heather and Erin!!

There were some that weren't able to make it due to previous commitments but I hope to see them at our 25 year reunion. That's right our class doesn't want to wait another 10 years to see each other. See you in 5!

A Jack of All Trades

Ever since I moved into my house, 12/20/2008, my master bathroom sink has been clogged. I've tried Drano, coke, and hydrogen peroxide down the drain. Nothing worked. It was really starting to gross me out brushing my teeth considering my toothpaste, spit, and water wouldn't drain for at least 2 min. Geee-rrrrosse!! It was high time I did something about it.

I got out my tools and went to work on it.

I did get everything out of the p-trap and ended up having to use my tweezers and about 50 Q-Tips to get the rest of it out. YUCK!!

Look how handy...I put it back together with no leaks to date!

Evils of this world...for dogs.

About a year ago our neighborhood court adopted a peahen. She just appeared one day and at the time we all were getting our cameras out to take pictures. Word got out and we'd have cars driving in our court to see her as well as take pictures. Animal Control has been out about six times and they haven't been able to catch her. She'll fly up to someones roof. They've just given up. We've also had random strangers come and try and catch her but they just aren't quick enough. We've also gotten a bit protective of her so we'll ask them to leave. My neighbor feeds her as well as the random cats and places their bowls right up against our fence that we share. So you might ask yourself Oooo how is Rosco and Sandy doing with our neighborhood zoo? It definitely gives them something to bark at which I understand they're dogs, it's what they do. Still doesn't change how I want to strangle them sometimes. But like children they're so peaceful when they sleep.

After a morning run this is what was going on in front of my house. The peahen on my front lawn, a white cat chilling in my tree, and my dogs having a fit. They really wanted to "get them" and they will bust through the wood. I've seen it happen myself and sometimes I come home to broken planks of wood along my fence.

See photos below. I've have to replace about 10 planks already since I've adopted Rosco. I know it's him but Sandy doesn't help...she the instigator.

One afternoon I had a brilliant idea. Chicken wire my fence. I went to Home Depot got about 250 feet of chicken wire and some staples for my staple gun and went to town.

This is what it now looks like. The dogs still get all ticked off but since the chicken wire has been up I haven't had to replace a single plank. Phew!

Disney on Ice

I think the last time I've been to something...on Ice was about 25 years ago. I know many of you think I'm only 25 but hate to disappoint...I'm a wee older.

Melanie was gracious enough to take care of my ticket and all I had to do was assit with the little ones. CAKE!! I turn into a 7-year-old in an atmostpehere like that. The kids aren't huge fans of loud noises so ear plugs were being sported.

Afterwards we wanted to get the h-e double hockey sticks outta there. So I put Cody on my shoulders to make the trek a bit faster. He didn't know what to do with his hands so why not grab my head???

Love the firework ending!!

More baking

Valentine's Day I made brownie's with home made cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries for friends and co-workers. De-lish!!

Now March came really fast and we celebrated Floyd, my brother-in-law's birthday...back to the calendar. This is what he got instead of a cake...chicks!

This is how it began...

I made my beaks with orange Starburst. I softened them in the microwave and then rolled them out and then just guessed the rest of my way. The beaks were my favorite part of this project.

The finishing part is to dip the cupcake in melted frosting. Timing is everything, they're no 2nd chances. If the frosting cooled a little while dipping it in they turned out like majority of my chicks. I was hesitant to show you all but hey at least one turned out!!

Then St. Patrick's Day came and the rainbows came out!! These were so fun to make and they tasted amazing!!

They were a hit! And I must say I would never use paper cups to hid the fantastic color these had.

Cupcakes

One of the gifts I received from my brothers for Christmas was a cupcake calender. Some may not know that I LOVE to make cute cupcakes!! I've decided to attempt to make the cupcakes of the month, January...Polar Bears. Brent, my brother's birthday is January 8th so why not...

I made a dozen and it took me about 4 hours.

This is the calender's picture...

This is how mine turned out...

We all met up for dinner and I brought dessert!

I have to show you the ducks for March...YIKES!

December crafty gifts

This year I decided to make a lot of Christmas presents. I got this idea from a friend of mine and couldn't pass it up. Muffin Tin Advent Calenders.

This is the original blog it's from with instructions (if interested) and then a few pictures of how mine turned out.

http://eulessnotuseless.blogspot.com/2008/11/mini-muffin-tin-advent-calendar.html

Then I received this gift from Melanie. Love!! You can eat the candy that's in it! It's got a little plug at the bottom but I'll admit the ribbon keeps me from getting into it. I don't want to mess it up. It's wrapped all around the block. Such a cute idea!! It says Life is Sweet at the bottom. Thanks again Mel!!