Flashback Friday-Birthday Edition

My birthday is in 10 days, and I am turning the incredibly-intimidating-and-grown-up-sounding age of 25.  I also have the wonderful honor of sharing my birthday (sorta) with one of my bffl's, Lindz.  She was born on the 18th, and I was born on the 19th, giving me a birthday twin to celebrate with!  (In super cool and coincidental news, we also share the fact that our dads share our birthdates, but in July.  As in, her dad's birthday is July 18th, and my dad's birthday is July 19th. AND her sister has the same birthday as my mom! Weird, huh?)  Our plans for celebrating this year are still in finalizing mode, but I know one thing for sure--it's going to be hard to top our epic celebration of last year.  Since we're birthday BAMF's, we decided to celebrate for two full days.  Some highlights of last year included:

Seeing a fav local band, The Noise FM

Eating crepes at an adorable place owned by a French man

Glow in the dark mini golf!

Going to the grand opening of Chick-Fil-A

Wandering an awesome used book store in Wicker Park

A truly epic celebration...I can only hope this year will be as much fun!  (and equally distracting from the cold hard truth of getting older.)

Flashback Friday-Nickelodeon!

I think I speak for most 20-somethings when I say that the most exciting news of this summer was the return of 90's TV shows on Nickelodeon.  I think it's safe to say I watched virtually every show that Nickelodeon offered me in that decade, but my favorites by far were Clarissa Explains It All, All That, and Rugrats.  I remember spending one Thanksgiving, probably in 1991, sneakily trying to watch Nick in between bites of turkey.  Why, you ask?  Because there was a Rugrats marathon going on, and my brother and I had entered a contest where you send in a drawing of your favorite character.  All throughout the day they were showing the winning drawings, and we were convinced our drawings would be shown.  Unfortunately, my drawing of Phil and Lil and his drawing of Tommy never gained TV fame, but it was a fun day of sneaking away at every chance possible to turn on the TV and hope for my art to be shown.

Thanks to this joyous return of 90's TV, I've been able to fill up my DV-R with lots of childhood awesomeness.  The other night I watched an episode of All That, and all of my favorite sketches came flooding back--including Super Dude.  His lactose intolerance and epic battle with the Milk Man always made me feel a little less lame about my own lactose intolerance and allergy to milk.  Kenan's Pierre Escargot sketch always made me giggle too, and probably was a contributing factor in me eventually choosing to learn and fall in love with the French language.  Who knew All That could be so inspiring?

Any other 90's Nick fans out there?  What was your favorite show?

Flashback Friday-Family

My grandma and great aunt--not sure about the date!

I find it so interesting to look through old family photos--the fashion, finding what is different and what is the same as the world I live in, seeing the people I love in a time that I didn't know them.  I've come to realize that the essence of a person always shines through despite their age or appearance--signature smiles, or in this case--cranky faces!  I think I make that same face on a daily basis.

Flashback Friday

Interlochen Arts Camp, 8.2.2008

Living in a cabin in the middle of nowhere Northern Michigan alongside 12 10-12 year old girls doesn't SOUND like a party, but that was seriously the best summer of my life.  High School Musical dance parties, seeing crazy pink and yellow moths like you see above, playing tooth fairy to 200 little girls, and sunshine.  So. Much. Sunshine.

Flashback Friday

Arles, France,11.29.06


Sometimes, the clear blue of Chicago matches the clear blue of Arles precisely.  When that happens, I close my eyes, imagine the chatter around me is in French, and see this picture in my mind.  It's not France, but it's the closest I can get without getting a plane ticket involved!