Sleepovers

Do you remember sleepovers when you were a kid?

My first sleepover was when I was ten years old. It was for my friend, Kathleen's 11th birthday. Since she was a year older than me and went to a different school, I didn't really know any of the other girls. So a few things I remember... I remember getting ready for bed and all of us changing into our pajamas and me being the only one who didn't wear a bra (at 10 I didn't need one, but really neither did they), watching Children of the Corn (probably why I hate scary movies to this day) and not being able to sleep the entire night.

Needless to to say, it hasn't scarred me for life, and I've gone on to have many fun and memorable sleepovers since then.

Anyways this weekend, Brigitte slept over at my place on Saturday night because Sarah was having a sleepover with 7 of her girlfriends to celebrate her birthday. Yogi got to have a little sleepover with Hannity Lockridge. Her parents were out of town so she got to hang with us for a few days.

Cute shot of them trying to sleep on my big chair while I snap pictures.

And to round it out, Dana's family was in town for a week long sleepover. Here's a shot of Dana and her sister, Grace, playing Guitar Hero. Well actually that's Dana dancing to Guitar Hero. YOU ROCK, "ACE"!!!!

Welcome to the Gundo...Chipotle

Nickki rallied the Gundonians for a Sunday night dinner at the newly opened Chipotle (yep the same one I visited on Friday twice). At 5:30 p.m. on a Sunday night, it wasn't too busy.

Janet from my bible study enjoying her first Chipotle burrito EVER!!!

We love those group shots...

I went on the Chipotle site and there is an option to send in "Chipotle-esque" pictures and if they post the pic, you get free stuff or something so stay tuned to see if they post this one.

Buon compleanno Steph!

Hollie took us to Italy for the evening when she hosted a birthday dinner for Steph on Saturday night. She was quite the hostess with a four course italian meal, Chianti and Andrea Bocelli playing in the background. Buon appetite!

Self Timer shot of the group

Happy XXrd Birthday, Steph!!!

Count the candles if you want to guess how old she turned.

Super cute gift basket from Angela with all sorts of italian goodies.

Last Time I Saw A Line Like That...

I was waiting in line to buy New Kids on the Block tickets.

Months ago I promised Sarah and Sam that when Chipotle opened in the Gundo, I would bring them lunch at school. That Coming Soon sign was up for a long time... So the day has finally come, and it just so happened that it was on Sarah's 14th birthday. So I headed over to Chipotle with 20 minutes to spare before Sarah's lunch period. I was met with everyone from America's Most Business Friendly city waiting in line. The line wrapped around the restaurant, outside the restaurant and around the corner. 20 minutes got me about 10 feet, caught sight of some Reddoor employees, thought about trying to cut in line, but they were only at the front door (another 20 minutes to the front and 20 minutes late for lunch period) so I left. No birthday lunch for Sarah.

How do you avoid the lines at the Gundo's hottest spot, go at 3:40 p.m. for an afternoon snack. So Sarah got a very late lunch and some Chipotle birthday balloons.

H A P P Y 1 4 T H B I R T H D A Y, S A R A H - F L Y N N ! ! !

Leaving on a Jet Plane, Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again...

Headed to Chicago for my annual 3 day work meeting where I wake up at a specified time, get dressed in work clothes and go into an IBM office with other co-workers. Before I got to Chicago though, my flight was delayed by 2.5 hours. What does one do with 3.5 hours at LAX and then a 3 hour flight (yeah there was a good tailwind or the pilot was speeding)?

Here's what I did:

1. Lies Women Believe Bible Study - week 1 day 4


2. finished thank you notes for Christmas gifts


3. read Lucky and Real Simple December issues (left at gate 47A for others to enjoy)


4. watched a bit of the AFC Wildcard Playoff Game - Go Chargers!!!


5. started a new book - Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama


6. watched End of the Spear on dvd (since for some reason American didn't show a movie)
   

I'll be back on Wednesday. I wonder if my travel day on Wednesday will be as productive.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1 Happy New Year!!!

Last day of 2007...I'm not really a big New Year's Resolution kind of gal. Sometimes I'll make a list of a few "things I want to do next year" but not really a resolution type of list.

So I kicked off the last day of 2007 by putting away my Christmas decorations and cleaning my apartment.

Then I dragged Sam (under the guise that he would get lunch) and Steph to Aardvark's to see I could find a masquerade mask for the evening festivities. We tried on lots of different costume things and masks.

"arrrrr!"

Then we headed to Red Robin which Sam claimed was "the best meal he's ever had in his life". Admittedly the burgers and fries were good, but I think it was just because I took so long at Aardvark's, and they were starving.

Only 24 hours before, Shannifer (as Jen and I have coined ourselves) came up with the New Year's Eve plan for us and a "few" others. Teresa's Mosaic Cafe, an authentic Sonoran mexican restaurant in the Gundo, was able to accomodate us on short notice for dinner and then we planned to head to Bad Dog Ale, also in the Gundo.

Dana taking some "sipsies" of my strawberry margarita.

The owners of Teresa's were so awesome. I had been to the restaurant before and loved the food and the look of the restaurant and had been wanting to get a big group together to go there. God worked in amazing ways (its impossible to get a reservation for 30 people on New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. with only 24 hours notice) for us and for the owners (he said that we made his night). Here's a shot of the group.

After dinner we headed to Bad Dog Ale. When we called a few days before, they said that it was going to be a masquerade theme and that the servers would be wearing masks and feel free to wear masks as well. As it turns out, none of the servers were wearing masks, and we were the only ones other than these two big burly bouncer guys. I, of course, was all into the masks after seeing an episode of Gossip Girl where they had a Masquerade Ball and Enchanted this past weekend. It was super fun to sport the masks.

Me & Janet (we're in bible study together)

The Blankenships masquerading.

Me, Dana and Steph

The newest Cheetah Girl - Ellie Higley!!!

Watch out Halle Berry, the next catwoman, Nickki Peavey.

When we weren't posing for pics, there was a DJ and we took over the dance floor. I was able to burn off the burger and fries calories for the next few hours.

Bad Dog passed out hats, noisemakers and champange a little before midnight in preparation for ringing in the New Year.

Congrats to newly engaged Sheri and Tim.

It was a super fun evening ringing in 2008 with friends Gundo style.

What's the first thing I did on January 1, 2008, opened my January gift card from my mom.

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year.