Pasta maker = AWESOME!!!

Friday night was date night here and while most women would prefer to be taken out and wined and dined, I asked if we could stay in and test out my pasta maker.  Being the good sport that he is and willing to put up with most of my silly ideas, Broccoli agreed and even helped me make the dough, run it through the pasta maker and cook a yummy and homemade fettuccine and red sauce dunner.  We laughed and joked and pretended that we actually knew what we were doing and just had a blast!  I forgot to take pictures, but it was hilarious trying to find spots to put all of this rolled and cut pasta in my teeny tiny kitchen.
Of course, I made enough fettuccine to feed an army, but it was delicious and I'm so glad I decided to use my birthday money for this.  It is definitely money well spent!  I am even making good on my promise to my co-workers and I'm bringing in a batch for them to try tomorrow!  Who knows, I may become the Mario Batali or Giada De Laurentiis of the office.  Think they'd let me transfer from Accountant to Office Chef??

A happy girl

It's been a LONG week and it's only Wednesday but nothing makes a week seem more bearable than when you get a gift.  The item today that totally made my day -- my new Kitchenaid Stand Mixer Pasta Roller and Cutter.

Yeah baby!!

It was delivered to work this afternoon and I was so giddy to finally have it that it made me dance around the office.  (Sometimes it's the little things!)

So, guess what I'm doing this weekend?!?!

Oh and somehow in all of the excitement, I promised an handful of my co-workers homemade pasta next week so I better get good at pasta making really fast!

It's that time!

Daytona 500 2011 -- are you ready?

I will be sitting here, in anticipation that my boy, McMurray will pull out all of the stops and win the race for a second year in a row.  Yes, I know I'm asking a lot, but I believe in him.

With new rules and a few good duels under their belts, this NASCAR season should be an exciting one!

Welcome to the team

Photo by Mark Buckner/NHLI via Getty Images

The final score between the Ducks and the Blues looked more like one you would see in baseball, not hockey, but it sure was an exciting game to watch!!!  And, for all those that though the Blues would be taking a hit by trading Erik Johnson and Jay McClement, you were sadly mistaken. 
Welcome to the Blues Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk!! 

I don't think I've jumped off the couch and yelled so much during a game all season -- definitely renewed my love of hockey!

Could it be true?

Not that I believe in this sort of thing, but my daily horoscope was emailed to me this morning and for once, I think it may hit the nail on the head.  Despite all that has happened in the last 20 hours, I feel like I know what I'm doing for once. 

You can't help but show off your independent streak today, and it certainly casts you in a positive light. It may also tick off your mate or family, but they have come to embrace your peculiarities.

Stay tuned....

Channeling Paula Deen

Ah, what a week!!  Last Saturday at this time the girls were strutting off of the Party Bus and we were headed for one more surprise for the night. 

From the very beginning, Coco couldn't believe that a Party Bus was pulling down her street when we picked her up for her afternoon and night of fun and she was completely surprised by all of our birthday antics.  As you can tell, I was also relieved and excited when we picked her up!

Overall, such a great time and so many awesome memories for all of us!

Sunday was a little rough though and while the Super Bowl party was fun, I wouldn't have minded staying home and watching the game in my jammies on the couch.  And after the week I experienced at work, those few hours of down time were greatly needed.

In spite of all of the craziness, I did throw an office party on Thursday to celebrate Coco's 50th birthday.  I couldn't let the actual day go uncelebrated and since we're co-workers as well as really good friends, I felt it necessary to decorate her desk and bring in snacks as well as make a homemade gooey butter cake (her favorite!).  I didn't make just any gooey butter cake though, I pulled out all of the stops and went with the Queen of Butter's recipe.

Delish!!!

 It got rave reviews and was gone in a heartbeat -- the two things I love to see when cooking and baking for others.  It was also decided that there are birthdays every day for the rest of the year and I'm supposed to provide the desserts for these celebrations....if I only had the hours in the day and endless capital for this venture! 

We joke that I should open a snack cart and run that from my desk too, especially since I wear so many hats there as it is.  Somehow, I'm thinking my bosses might not like that idea....just a hunch though.

Super Bowl XLV

Ben Roethlisberger totally resembles one of my co-workers.

With that being said, my money is on the Packers for the Super Bowl.  (Sorry Joel!!)

My Kinda Party

If you're singing Jason Aldean, we're on the same wavelength.  (Scary!)

In any case, I'm getting ready for another BIG party weekend.  We're surprising Ms. Coco today since her 50th birthday is Thursday.  She thinks Rosemary and I are taking her out for a low-key girls' dinner.  Little does she know, we've ordered a party bus and 15 of her girlfriends are picking her up for an afternoon on the town.
To top it off, the bus is dropping off us off tonight and one of her favorite places where the rest of her friends are surprising her with a massive birthday party.  It's been soooo hard keeping this a secret -- almost as hard as keeping the Bon Jovi trip a secret last year!  I can not wait to see her face, when we show up to pick her up in the bus!!

Tomorrow is Super Bowl and similar to years past, I've been invited to my boss' house.  He has a huge party with the perfect layout to watch the game and mingle with a bunch of fun people.  We always have such a great time and I expect this year to be no different.  And the bonus to the day would be if one of my squares paid off!!  Ha!

So...
"Lets get this thing started.  It’s my kind of party."

A birthday summary

Birthdays don't get much better than this one!  I had a great time celebrating with everyone and I'm so glad I agreed to all of the plans.
Here are a few pics from Friday night, aka Birthday Extravaganza Day 2:

Posing in the rock garden -- I was dared to do this by the girls! 
I think they just wanted me to show of my sexy shoes!!

One of my presents  -- LUSH: "Liquored Up Sister Hood"
I also got the new Paula Deen cookbook, cute measuring spoons,
a yummy candle, lottery tickets & a Victoria Secret swimsuit.

Success!  I caught a flying shrimp!!

I owned this shot!  And I impressed the tables sitting around us too!!

Dinner with my family on Saturday was also quite memorable albeit a little more low-key than the night out with the girls on Friday, but still so much fun!

And, I topped off my weekend with a date night on Sunday night.  Since the rest of the weekend was pretty busy, Broccoli and I decided on a low-key night in.  I think it's exactly what we needed and we were able to catch up with some must-see tv.

I wasn't sure what to expect turning 28, but I must say, it's been fairly good so far...let's keep it coming!

Today's news headlines...

- Blizzard Warning for St. Louis Metro Area
- MODOT: I-70 Closed from Wentzville to Kansas City
- Schnuck's Markets Closing for Weather
- Tonight's Blues Game Canceled Due to Weather
- Missouri Road Conditions Deteriorate
- Hundreds of Flights Canceled
- May Not See Clear Pavement for Days
- Illinois National Guard Mobilized to Help Stranded Drivers

I made it to and from work today safe and sound with the help of SS, who was awesome enough to chauffeur me through this mess.  Thanks SS for being calm and cool while I was a nervous wreck in dealing with the weather!!  As I've told him numerous times and probably everyone else I've come into contact with lately, I hate winter!  I'll handle the summer humidity, no problem, but snow and ice have to go.
As for work tomorrow, well, I'm aiming to get there at some point.  We'll just have to see....definitely don't want to have to burn a day off for something like being snowed in, but I'm sure I can keep myself occupied here if necessary.