Sunday, February 24, 2013

Let's Go

One perk of my new shift? 3 days "weekends" every week! Yep...every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday off. And when my manager said we were overstaffed on a Monday and needed someone to take a day off...I volunteered! 4 days off in a row?? Let's do something fun! Let's do something spontaneous! Let's....go visit K. in Los Angeles?! Sure! Booked my flight a week in advance and just did it.

K. would be working during the day, but I had plenty of people to visit while I was there. I got dinner with C. one night, D. Harry took me shopping one day, and T. caught me up on the gossip and frat boy lingo. Mostly I just went to campus every day and caught up on Netflix (90210...my newest guilty pleasure...), read my books, or drank Starbucks and wandered the perfectly manicured campus that is University of Southern California. I found my new favorite library this visit too...Hogwarts anyone??

(misspelled name...wrong drink...eh. it's Starbucks...who cares!)

We went out one night with D. Harry and his GF and T. We went to a bar with a Trivia Night and had so much fun! Even though we apparently suck at trivia. We blame the host with the British accent and inability to pronounce English words correctly. K, T and I stayed out later and wandered the downtown LA bars, but being midweek there wasn't too much excitement. We decided another visit was needed to explore the night life more.


You'd think that being running buddies and all that we'd have ran at least ONCE while I was there...but of course we didn't. We baked treats and made fancy dinners and tested out new wines and did nothing even close to working out. But hey...it was a vacation! I don't feel guilty.


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Out On The Town

Concert season! And what a good season it was this year.

Started it off big with DJ Girl Talk over Memorial Weekend. I only had a little exposure to him, but he basically just does mashups of songs...what's not to love?? So we gathered the girls, did PF Changs happy hour, then hit the Knitting Factory. 
Don't ask me how, but someone grabbed us? or asked us? Still unsure, but next thing I know we're lined up against the wall to go backstage. To dance. During the concert. WHAT?! I was totally excited, yet nervous. How did this happen?! It was such a fun experience. Dance party on stage with my favorite friends, to great music. Doesn't get much better. 
(Slightly embarrassing, but there's a youtube video from the crowd as proof. Mostly just embarrassing for Roomie. We're on the right side of the screen. Roomie is the one going crazy with balloons...)


Next was Neon Trees. I've loved them since their first album and even saw them at the California State Fair! I was even more excited this time around because they just released a second album...just as good as the first! They put on such a good show and sound identical to the record. Always a plus nowadays. 


The Knitting Factory had quite the lineup this summer! Next in town was Hot Chelle Rae. I was really excited to see them...I loved a few of their songs that had been on the radio lately. However they didn't quite live up to the hype. Maybe I set the bar too high, but I was a little disappointed. Overall it was a still fun weeknight out with the girls.


Joshua Radin was another one I was super excited about. I'm pretty sure I was introduced to him from one of my Pandora stations...but I always like his songs. It was a more laid back atmosphere at the Knitting Factory this time and I really enjoyed it! LJ confessed I'm her musical soulmate...we HAD to go to this show together!


LJ's birthday was the next one...Jake Owen at the Idaho Botanical Gardens. My first time at the venue and a great artist to see there! Sundresses, blankets, and beer...happy birthday friend!

Finally it was a concert with the BF! He was gone all summer so missed out on the rest of them. This time it was Andy Grammer, Mat Kearney and Train. We did it as a pre-anniversary date...and I was so excited! Honestly I was going mostly for Mat Kearney. He was another discovery thanks to Pandora and he was just as good live as I hoped! Andy Grammer did well too...his whole set was acoustic because of travel issues with his band. I might have like that even better! Train put on a good show of course. I loved that they played some of their big hits from the 90's too! Overall it was a really fun night.

Last but not least...All Time Low! I know, I know...we've already seen them! Twice! But they are our FAVORITE! It was J. and I (of course), but Roomie also shares our addiction. B. tagged along for the ride too. Although she didn't know the music, I think our dancing and singing around her made it enjoyable. As usual we were some of the oldest ones at the show, but hey...less line for drinks!



Drink In My Hand

A little late on this one...but I completely forgot to post this! 


Sister turned 21 this year (craziness!) and I wanted to do something fun for her birthday gift since I wouldn't be there to celebrate with her. She's not a big drinker, but it was her 21st birthday! I was bound and determined to change that.

She said it wasn't that she didn't like alcohol...just that she didn't like the taste. Looking back on my underage escapades, that's understandable. You're not drinking anything worthwhile back then...she just probably hadn't ever had a good drink yet!


So I made a list of 21 different drinks/drink combinations...

1. Wine (Moscato)
2. Wine (Chardonnay)
3. Wine (Merlot)
4. Wine (White Zinfandel)
5. Calimocho (red wine & coke)
6. Mimosa (champagne & orange juice)
7. Screwdriver (vodka & orange juice)
8. Vodka Cran
9. Rum and Coke
10. Whiskey Coke
11. Whiskey Ginger
12. Gin and Tonic
13. Creamsicle (vanilla vodka & orange soda)
14. 7 & 7 (Seagrams 7 whisky & 7 up)
15. Malibu and Sprite
16. Malibu and Pineapple Juice
17. Tequila and Orange Juice
18. Baileys and Hot Chocolate
19. Baileys and Coffee
20. Warm and Fuzzy Apple Cider (butterscotch schnapps & apple cider)
21. Kahlua and Baileys

...and headed to the liquor store to stock up on the mini shots! The clerk at the store loved my idea and had fun picking them out with me. I bought mixers and labeled the drinks with the corresponding numbers to my list. 


I put them in a little basket and wrote a note explaining the gift (ok, ok...the BF came up with the poem):

"From vodka to whisky, tequila to rum,
You can try different drinks and have some fun.
There are 21 options for you to test,
So when we’re in Hawaii you’ll know what is best!"

And that was that! It turned out super cute and she loved it. Happy Birthday Baby Sister! <3