celebrate me!

last week was myyyyyy birthday! and what a lovely birthday it was.


i got a most lovely amazing surprise of lovely flowers from catherine!!



i had a great birthday dinner with friends at a new restaurant called cantina laredo. i had made a ressie for 10 and when we got there, they lead us to a private room area and it was fabulous! i didn't even know this room existed, but it was awesome and the food was delicious! and the company was the best!



stefanie and our waiter found a group of boys all dining together next door in another room. she brought them all in to say happy birthday to me!


and we got a dessert complete with a sparkler! what a fabulous day!!

otis discovers snow!

otis is a california kitty and although he has lived in chicago for 4 years and new york before then, he has never gone exploring in the winter time. so today, when winter finally decided to show up, i thought it might be fun to take otis up to the roof to check things out.


he was intrigued... but not quite so sure at first...



maaaaaaaaaybe....


what is this stuff?! and why does my paw sink?!


then there were second thoughts...


and a bit more thinking...


and then he went for it! neither of us stayed out too long... it was super cold and a bit too windy.



otis decided that while the snow wasn't terrible, it sure was a better idea to watch the pretty snow from inside his warm house on his comfy couch.

ssc

every month, the first wednesday is a drink fest related to charity. chicago loves charity. and we tend to go to events with a charity angle. so ssc is the stimulus social club and each month the charity the proceeds goes to is different. they are usually pretty fun events and last week was no different. we all had a great time.

this is catherine, me, and sarah

i don't love this photo, but nicole is super tall, and catherine is super short and i decided not to let nicole make me look like a giant by bending down to catherine's height all by herself!

this is a curt sandwich.

me and nicole. she loves tall shoes and i love that she sometimes actually makes me feel short!

i'm not quite sure who is next to nicole and me, but she was nice!

i forget who the guy on the left is, but the other folks are catherine, ed, curt, me and nicole

there were two photographers there... and here's us being photographed by both at the same time!

me, sarah and john

eve of the eve.

this year we decided to do new year's a little earlier. on the eve of the eve. and that's exactly what this annual party is called. i'd never been before, but a large group of girls got together and we all had a fabulous time!

the night started at erika's home in the gold coast. she's got a great place! and as you can see, we had a great group of girls!

i got my hair did and make up done so that i could feel pampered and beautiful after having had spent the end of november and most of december in houston helping mom and dad. this is me with stef and erika, the pre-party hostess with the mostest!

this is sarah, me, stefanie, and jamie.

and here is haley, sarah, amy, seasonne, andrea, erika, me, and jamie. yes, we are pretty much all in black. hmmm...

the event was held at union station which i'd never would have guessed, but was a gorgeous venue!

i think something like 2000 people come for the eve of the eve which benefits the highsight charity.

this is katie, haley, jamie, me, stef, and erika in the great hall at union station.

and here's a big group of us stunning ladies!

stef, catherine, and me

being "interviewed" by channel 7. we all took turns posing. we were faking being interviewed. essentially us drunk girls stole the poor guy's microphone!

it was a great party and one i would definitely attend again!