Birthday Weekend

Yayay! Happy 28th Birthday to ME!!... wait what?!!

How did I get here... 28?! Just yesterday I was 18... 21... 25... 27...

I mean 28 is TEN years after high school, it is FOUR years from my mothers age when she had me, it is TWO years away from 30!!

The journey to 28 has been a whirlwind of ups, downs, twirls & ....curls?! The ups are amazing, the downs are great lessons, the twirls are unforgettable and the curls, well let's just leave the perms out of this one! :) So many great memories, friends, experiences... I am so excited for 28 & beyond because it can only mean more, more memories, more love in my heart and more happiness :)

This weekend (although one of my more low key birthday celebrations) was one of the best!

Friday afternoon I received a text from my BFF LoBakes (formerly LC) that she had snagged a last minute flight in from NYC and to get the bottles of wine ready for an all night gossip sess! Hooray! I hadn't seen LoB since her July nuptials... this was a much needed reunion!

We like to keep our reunions very classy :)

BK Lounge style w a little wine on Christmas plates... ummm YAY!

Saturday morning came entirely too quickly, especially since we stayed up until 4am chatting & drinking! I believe my Facebook status was a pretty good indication of my feeling both mentally & physically that day... "Is it never good to drink an entire bottle of wine the night before your birthday dance party... Trying to pull it together in 5...4... 3..." :)

Thankfully, Tequila Monica called late afternoon to go get dinner before we hit the town! It was a very much needed filet that I indulged in... unfortunately there are no photos of this classy meal because I was already embarrassed enough by the way I looked that I didn't need to be "that person" photographing their meal.

But Tequila didn't mind... her NY Strip.

I was home just in time to dye my hair, shower & secure my fake eyelashes before heading downtown to meet up with friends at MGM! We made the center bar "U + ME Drink" our home until the need to dance took over :)

Jerseylicious earrings :) a must!

Jessica & I @ U + ME Drink

All the girls!

BFFs

Taking a break from dancing @ V

Typical :)

Post dance party USA... us girls were hungry! So after explaining to LoB, who "really wanted to go to Comerica Park for a hot dog" that it wasn't baseball season... we decided on American Coney Island.

I can honestly say, there is no better way to spend a birthday... than sitting with your BFFs in a coney island, with a dozen Santa's on a bar crawl, hot wing sauce all over your face, laughing while they make fun of your taste in men... all while knowing, there is no other place you would rather be at that moment :)

Before the wing sauce face.



On Sunday, my actual real life birthday :) I woke up to wishes from all my friends & family, a rendition of happy birthday from my parents & puppy kisses from Valentina!

Later that day, Tequila and I got margarita's cantaritos & enchilada's to celebrate the day!

A perfect ending to a wonderful weekend, so now all I can say is bring on 2012 and a fabulous 28th year!

xoxox

A Very Parade Co. Christmas!

Today was our annual tradition of silliness... the staff Christmas party extravaganza!!

We kick off each party with food, of course! This year, I went in on desserts (Chocolate Cheesecake Truffles) with a co-worker... but I will admit that next year I will probably return to cooking! It was kind of sad not waking up early this morning to make something :(

At our post Parade staff meeting we drew names for our Secret Santa... I again, chose Arlene, our Director of Costuming! Last year I had her & made a super colorful snowman fleece blanket (so cozy)! So this year I opted for a gift card & chocolates... you can't go wrong with either :)

NEW this year, in recommendation from Arlene, we each brought in 2 secret wrapped gifts for our blind auction. Each staff member received $500 clownie cash to bid on items!! I brought in my favorite bottle of wine (Barefoot Sweet Red) & a childhood classic, The Sandlot on DVD... "Shhhh you'll wake the beast!!!"

Last night I enjoyed a glass of my Sweet Red while wrapping them (of course) in leopard pink paper!!


I must admit, I made out pretty good in the gift department today!! :) See below!!



The bottle of Three Olives CAKE Vodka in the Lions bag & Color Ice Cream Cones are from my co-worker Steve for my Birthday!! (Which is on Sunday)... The pretty purple scarf & good smelling Florida orange organic soap is from my secret Santa Amanda (our Tour Intern)... the T-Pain Microphone is my winnings from the blind auction, which I won for $200 clownie bucks!! I traded my remaining $300 to my co-worker Don for the Bath & Body Works "Fireside" Candle, which he won from a co-worker who re-gifted it because she hated the smell (which I love & purchase often... SCORE)! Oh and the Olive Garden gift card is from our seasonal Costume Fitter... unlimited soup & salad anyone?! :)

I am so blessed to work at such a fabulous place, with fabulous people!! YAYAY!! What a great way to kick off Birthday weekend & Christmas! :)

xoxox

Lions Love!

Are you ready for this...The Detroit Lions are 8-5 and have a shot at playoff magic! YESSS!!

Detroit is such an amazing place, especially when our sports teams are something to celebrate... the energy is insane! I don't think I could ever live anywhere that didn't have a professional organization and FANatics! I love tailgating, sporting the colors and *\O/* <---gotta love the high school chat room lingo :) our boys from my living room, the bar or stadium!

Sunday I attended the game compliments of our fabulous relationship with the Lions in Suite 603... It was a BLAST! Friends! Good food! Free beer! and a Honolulu Blue WIN! Do Sunday's get much better?!!

I take my game day gear very seriously :)

BFF Tequila & I @ Old Shillelagh

GOOOOOO LIONS!

:09 seconds left i the game; holding the Viks back from a W!!

No game is complete without a posed field shot!!

The Tebow trend! Touchdown Jesus!! :)

This was most likely my last Lions game of the season unless we make the playoffs (at home) & tickets just fall into my lap :)... nonetheless, the energy of pre-gaming, winning & wearing my fav fan colors made me soooo excited for April 5, 2012!! YESSS I already secured the day off (back in October), am planning tailgating snacks (on Pinterest) and looking for an outfit for Tigers Opening Day! Obsessed much?!

But for now I will revel in a LIONS victory :) Woo Woo!!

xoxox

November Recap!

Real thought: Thank goodness there is no such thing as Blog Protective Services! Or I would be in trouble!

My November was memorable... but rather than organize a million different posts in the matter of days, I think it would be easier to give you my favorite photos of the month! I worked hard, played hard and made some really fabulous memories! :)

We kicked off Parade season with some fabulous successful fall events...

Preview Party - iWish4Detroit Compuware Elves

VIP Pancake Breakfast - Detroit Lions Roary

Then (a big portion) of my fabulous fam came for a tour of The Parade Company studio in early November! It was a blast having them see where I work & what I do and a much needed break for me to see familiar smiling faces!



Unfortunately I don't have a photo for this next wonderful moment that happened... but it's too good not to share. The day before Hob Nobble, I was standing at the office copy machine and in walked my Uncle Dave, my mother's only sibling, whom I hadn't seen in years! My emotions had been running wild this month and there were definitely (and still are now) days when all I really wanted was to talk, hug or get a smile from my mother! Seeing him was like getting the biggest hug from my mom! I know she is watching over me... although I think I might of scared my Uncle by bursting into tears :) but they were happy & welcomed!

Hob Nobble Gobble was a huge success ... Woo Woo!! However the event went by so quickly... I was almost in shock for days that it had happened!!

Hair & Make-Up (I can only credit myself w my hair)

The whole look :) Loved this ABS dress even though it left a glitter trail everywhere!!

Top view of the party!

It was great to see my favs as well!!

Tequila, Amelia & I w St. Nick!

Cocktails & Smooches

Oh and here is the cutest video I captured of the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences singing at the entrance of Hob Nobble Gobble... The little boy at the 2 minute mark reminds me of Phil when he was little :)


The week leading up to the Parade was relaxed and fun! Filled with TV book meetings, dance rehearsals and well wishes for my fabulous Facebook family... like this one from my brother!! Melted my heart :)


Detroit showed up in hundreds of thousands on Thanksgiving morning! The weather was perfect! We kicked off the Parade with our new "Celebrate America Celebrate Detroit" song (which is available on iTunes!) and Detroit shined! :) This was my 7th Parade and definitely one of the biggest & best to date!

Our mascot Clownie flying high!

One of my favs... the Budweiser Clydesdales

Detroit All City Marching Band & Kermit

My new fav photo... the details on the floats are amazing!

Where's Waldo CarolAnn?!
Keeping the 138 members of the Distinguished Clown Corps in line!

Post Parade... w the TV Zone regulators!

Thanks to my amazing friends who volunteered their Thanksgiving morning to help me wrangle the clowns!

This year, after the Parade I made plans to take my dad to the Lions vs Packers Game!! We were both super pumped... this was my first Thanksgiving game as a fan in a seat (in HS our cheer team danced in the halftime with Boyz II Men)!! 

Me & My Dad!!

Nickelback performed "When We Stand Together" during halftime!

The Lions did not win, but it was great time spent with my dad!! :) After we went to my Aunties for Thanksgiving dinner! I stayed until midnight catching up, eating, talking in accents with my little cousins, and eating some more! By the time I got home I was still wired, but by 2am I finally fell asleep!!

Friday morning came entirely too quickly. I went to Target & picked up a couple DVD's that my collection was lacking (Vampire Diaries Season 2 {I'm such a girl}, Burlesque and The Back Up Plan) and then headed into work for a few hours.

Friday night I slept some more, obviously :) Saturday I was back at work for A Day In Paradeland, the Parade Queen & Court were making free princess crafts with kids... A great end to a fabulous Parade season!!

OR WAS IT?!!

Come Monday morning we received a call from Detroit Public Schools, asking us to produce a Parade for the Cass Tech High School Football, which over the weekend became the first DPS school to win a Division 1 State Championship!! Woo Woo!!

So a week later (and just a few days ago) there we were... back on Woodward Avenue producing our LAST Parade of 2011!! :) My favorite moment of the Parade was watching the football team dance to Boom Shack-A-Lack by Apache Indian from the Scooby Doo 2 Soundtrack :) {I guess this is a good time to mention my addiction to the Scooby Doo movies, I own both on DVD and love the music} ... they were so happy, even in the rain, to dance & celebrate their victory! It was contagious!


AND Yesterday was our annual staff Christmas photo!!

Hoppy Holidays from The Parade Company

WHEW! So there it is, a November recap for the books!! :) I feel much better getting that all out because I have so many FUN things going on in December that I will need a clear blogging head for!!

Lions vs Vikings Game

28th Birthday !!

Holiday Party with Favs

Christmas with the Fam

The Little Caesar Bowl - DZ Reunion

xoxox

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today my grandpa Zack would of been 97 years old! He passed away on the day I graduated 5th grade in 1995.

Thought I would share this awesome newspaper clipping I found last summer from his campaigning days. Phil and I get a kick out of the selling points:

"I'll work against any type of pornography & pollution"

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

xoxox

Happy Halloween!!

The truth. I have never passed out Halloween candy since owning my home! I know, total lameness.

Typically I go up north to visit my parents for my last calm weekend before the Parade, but this year I was too excited to make my costume & show it off around town, so I stayed home.

When Monday rolled around, I realized a) I didn't have anything to pass out and b) I didn't even know how many treats to buy?! Polling a few knowledgeable ladies (my step mom and the mother daughter duo who own the tanning salon I frequent) I determined I needed about 200 pieces of something... off to Meijer I went!

YIKES! I had no idea how expensive candy was! I mean I hate to admit it, but I would much rather go shopping or have a fun night out for myself than spend $50 bucks on some kids who probably wouldn't even say thank you! So while scanning the aisles, I just couldn't bring myself to buy candy... I know that's what the kids want but EVERYONE would be passing out candy... and I'm not everyone!!

So I headed to the juice aisle... kids get thristy right? And thinking back to when I was in school, my favorite surprise was always a CAPRI SUN! We didn't get them often (I don't know why my mother wasn't a fan, probably because poking a straw into flexible plastic isn't the easiest nor fastest way to give a drink to a whining child)... so $24 and 3 cases of Capri Suns later, I felt like my money was well spent!

PS In case you're wondering why I only bought 3 cases (120 juice boxes) and not more to reach my 200 piece goal, I lost my debit card on Saturday night and the only cash I had on me was $30 bucks... and running out of money in the self check out... not a good time! :)

Long story short... I had the best time with a bottle of witches brew, passing out Capri Suns on my porch, listening to children shreik while good old fashion campfire smells filled the neighborhood (my neighbor had the right idea and bought their firepit front & center in the driveway)... and guess what... EVERY kid, big & small, except ONE said THANK YOU!! :)

After a few glasses of the brew, my eyes began to fill with tears... watching the children in front of my neighbors huge Halloween display, running from the kids he hired to dress up & hang out in the yard, screaming with joy... I was reminded of my mom. Halloween was by far her favorite holiday. She spent days making our front yard & porch the envy of every house on the block and for a few minutes I couldn't help but think of her, working on a fish tank with glass inserts separating a moving hand with live crickets from the candy grab, or cutting a hole into a folding table so one of the police officer's son could put his head in and talk to the treaters as they reached past the bodiless teen for a bag of chips.

I'm guessing Halloween 1986, before my mom really got intense with the decorations!

Ready for another truth?

I've haven't really been feeling myself lately, a little too tired, a little less fun... like a robot just going through the motions of life....work, eat, sleep. I think last night, in the cool breeze, my mom was there with me... lending a prespective I've been missing lately :) Today I feel good. Engergized, happy and positive... remembering why I work the long hours, why right now my life is just work, eat, sleep.

It's not because everyone has to work, it's because everyone needs to smile... and last night it became clear to me, that my Thanksgiving was my mom's Halloween. And even though it's just a couple hours and not everyone verbalizes their thank you, the difference a Capri Sun or larger than life Kermit the Frog floating by makes in someone's life... is always worth the money, the time and the sacrifice :)

xoxox

PPS ... ummm doesn't it look like Margie was setting up my Halloween costume for 2011... That looks pretty similar to my Toddler getup :) but with a gypsy stage mom!!

Ultimate Grand Supreme Detroit

Are you ready...

For the BIG reveal of my Halloween costume?!

The one that I made all by myself? ... That started off as 5 yards of organza, 6 yards of tulle, 1lbs of rhinestones, 6 princess necklaces, 1 pair of ruffle socks, 3 bows, 1 pair of $3.60 thrifted shoes, 1 premade hair accessory from Hobby Lobby (which I might add is one of the most fantastic stores in existence), lots of patience from our costume director (on teaching me how to cut out patterns & sew on the machines) and lots of blood (sort of), sweat & tears (of joy) ....

And our 2011 Halloween Ultimate Grand Supreme is....


Here she comes... Miss America :)

Seriously should move South & make a living on pageant hair!

My Momager Katie & I

OVer the primping... give me my sucker!

No costume is complete without glitzy shoes!



Me, James & Lindsay



Al, Marilena & Tequila

Pout face :o



YIKES! Thats what a night of prancing & dancing does...

xoxox