Halloween. Part 3 of 3

This post is very overdue, like many things in my life. Ahem.

I was looking back at old posts and realized I never posted the third Halloween installment which is, in my opinion, the pièce de résistance. My roommates and I threw a pretty awesome party. The many hours of planning and preparing were totally worth it. The following is a small sample of many pictures taken.

Milk and taco.

Wonder woman and a two faced something?

Now a greek pita.

Pimp.

Indy.

Otter pops.

Wesley.

Owl.

Zombie cheerleader.

Peacock.

Jane.

Miss Saigon.

Flapper and mobster. A Flobster if you will.

A complete breakfast. There may have been a stare down between the two milks.

Probably my favorite costume of the night. I was hoping someone would be Tobias!

Rosie and friends.

Coworkers.

People from all walks of life are regaled with the tales of a pineapple farmer.

Diabla.

Someone said "let's take a picture of the two Greeks!" B was sad since he was supposed to be Dobby.

?

Rosie. Miss Fortune. Alice.

Awesome.



Powerpuff Girls.


Ole!

Time traveling Amelia Earhart and a redbox. The redbox was the most entertaining costume of the night. She could quote multiple scenes from all of the movies on her box. I think we tried them all.

Very good times.

You've gotta live to party!

So, it turns out I'm 25 now! I had a wonderful birthday weekend that included baking cupcakes, birthday lunch, some shopping, birthday dinner and a wild party.

The only picture I got of dinner at Bangkok Grill:

Party time!

Last year (which I got all the pictures ready for but apparently never blogged) I had people paint me a watercolor. When they were all done I took them and got them bound into a pretty sweet book. This year i decided to do almost the same thing but I told people the pictures needed to be either a self portrait or a memory that we shared. I also threw in markers, crayons, and colored pencils in addition to the watercolor since apparently some people have paint related anxiety. I loved the book from last year but this one is going to be so much better, there are some pretty funny memories depicted in there.

This is only part of the future book:

Michael hit his head on the lamp many times.

I've got some very good looking coworkers. Seriously.

I made the cupcakes for the party and they were delicious! My mom thought I was crazy for baking my own cupcakes but I loved having the excuse to try out some new recipies. I should have taken a picture before they were so close to gone. From l to r we had spice cake with caramel frosting, chocolate with peanut butter frosting and pineapple coconut with pineapple frosting. The only issue I had was the appearance of the pineapple frosting. I would like to try that one again and see what I can do to doctor it up.

It really was a wonderful day, I've got some pretty wonderful friends. Thank you if you came (in person or in spirit) and participated!

The party doesn't have to end, we can dance here

Today I needed this quote. Perhaps it will spark something in you too:

If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double Dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the cupboard in his bedroom. He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living twenty-four crowded hours of the day. - W. Beran Wolfe

(found via Dainon. again.)

Once bitten and twice shy

I was messing around on Facebook today (shocker!) and found this list that was going around last year and I participated in. I was pretty impressed (depressed on a few) that everything was basically the same so I figured I might as well share.

25 Random Things.

1. I think that cheese is directly imported from heaven.
2. I recently convinced some of the girls I work with that I am Jewish. That was fine and funny until one of them said, “I respect you so much more now.”
3. I punctuate my text messages. Even if it just says “yes” I usually add a period.
4. I’m not the kind of girl that has her wedding all planned out. I just know it will be me + my best friend + a white dress at the temple. The rest doesn’t matter so much.
5. I love drinking soda. Dr. Pepper first, Coke second, but I really love any sort of drink that is not water. Why drink water when there are so many other things you could be drinking? This is also why I know I cannot drink alcohol.

6. My favorite person is probably my little sister. She’s amazing. Sometimes I call her just to absorb some of her awesomeness but most of the time she wants to get off the phone and do eleven-year old things.
7. Mark my words: I will own my own bakery one day! People keep saying to do it now but I really think that it would be the perfect thing to work on once all of my kids are in school. However, since I do not have any children yet, and it’s not looking like I’ll be working on having children anytime soon, the bakery timeline may change.
8. I love people. I think people are inherently good and that every person has something unique to contribute to life. It’s no surprise to me that I’ve chosen a career that will allow me to focus my time and energy on people.
9. My current job is extremely stressful but I can’t imagine doing anything else right now. I love my job. A large part of that love is my awesome coworkers. Thanks guys!
10. I moved to Utah essentially by myself. I knew no one in my dorm. I’m so very grateful for the friends I made, especially 4 wonderful girls that became and remain some of my very best friends. Even though we’re spread out I love knowing that I can call them anytime and I’m looking forward to the first of many girls weekends this summer.

11. When playing Rock Band/Guitar Hero there are a few songs that I just can’t stand to hear butchered.
12. I own a keyboard, a guitar and a ukulele (soon to be 2!). I could start my own band but I wouldn’t be able to actually play in the band.
13. I’m an only child, a middle child and the oldest child. It’s confusing.
14. I went to 17+ actual concerts in 2008. I love live music.
15. I love music in general. Lately I’ve mostly been into singer/songwriter music. John Mayer is my all time favorite.

16. Someone offered to burn me a John Mayer CD the other day and I had to laugh because I own more John than any person I’ve ever met. I even have his high school band.
17. I secretly want to be Polynesian. I love the culture, the dancing and the food.
18. New Zealand is the number one destination on my extensive list of places I would like to travel.
19. I love football and sometimes basketball.
20. I don’t think I could marry someone who didn’t at least like football but then again getting married is not really an issue currently in my life.

21. I love driving. Just last night I was in a funk so I put on some John Mayer and drove around.
22. As a very young child I told people that Johnny Carson was my friend.
23. I have no idea what my life would be like without the gospel and I don’t really care to find out.
24. I miss summer. Summer = bonfires, demolition derbies, car shows, sandals, BBQ, boating, outdoor movies/concerts, snow cones and road trips.
25. I’m on a quest to make the perfect sweet potato fries.

Nobody belongs to me

I love my mom. We were talking about boys (men?) when this happened:

(it is helpful if you know that marathons are all 26.2 miles. there's no "little" or "big" marathons)
Mom: Is he athletic? Have him help you train for the marathon!
Jodi: Mom, it's a 5K.
Mom: Well, just tell him it's a little marathon.


And I also love Corinne who asked me this:

Corinne: Do you have a spata? Sparat? A tool thing for your car that's like a wrench but not really?
Both: (much laughter)
Jodi: I have no idea what you're talking about.

I don't belong to anybody

How was your Christmas vacation? I spent a lot of mine being very domestic or receiving domestic gifts. I made a double batch of cupcakes and used extra batter to test out my "tasty-fill" mini caked pans. White cake with homemade lemon curd filling and blackberry butter cream frosting. They didn't last long; the cupcakes were eaten and the mini cakes fell into a pile of crumbs. (Note to "tasty-fill" pan users: take the cake out of the pans asap or they'll be too moist to stand up.) I also made marshmallows and creeped my family out at the same time. They were shocked that marshmallows could be made at home. I was shocked they came out tender with all the whipping and the cooking to high temperatures. I used almond extract instead of vanilla and I thought they turned out better than any store bought marshmallows I've had.

I also spent a lot of time working on my applique. And turning 80. When we were in Hawaii my mom bought me an applique pattern of my favorite fish from our snorkeling adventure. I then coerced her into directing me while I made it. I ended up liking it so much that I used the extra fabric to make two more. One for my mom and one for my aunt.

(This is just to prove that I really made this piece by piece)

Mine. WARNING: If you come to my apartment I will make you look at it. Please be nice to my fledgling applique-ist feelings.

Version two.

Anyone want to come make marshmallows with me? I want to try different flavors and try using the marshmallows to make s'mores and other sundry treats.

You get what you need

People are you watching Glee? If you're not, you really should be. I often hesitate to send out a full endorsement of any show or movie because everyone's tastes vary. Does that add some validity to me telling you that you should really be watching Glee?

Where can you watch Glee?

On Hulu right here.
On Fox Wednesday night.
On my television. Meaning I bought Season 1 Volume 1 on sale at Target and I'm not sure I'm willing to let it leave my sight for the moment but I would be happy to watch with you.

Why should you watch Glee?

Witty dialogue.
Quotable dialogue.
Beautiful music.
These men:
I rest my case.