Pretty Drinks

As the temperature is slowly inching up(it might be in the 50's next week!) I am looking for hosting ideas. I love to have potlucks, intimate dinners, cookouts and cocktail hours. Birthday parties are also a very big deal around here. I've been trying to recreate some of the lovely drinks I had in Hawaii. A Lava Flow, Blue Hawaiian, Orchid Lemon Drop.

And if I could recreate the sunsets.....

Most Ginormous Christmas POST ! HOORAY!

I love holidays. All of them. Days set aside to make us stop, have fun, appreciate and be nice. I like it!  And one of the best is the Christmas season! Here is a HUGE collection of pictures from the American Swedish InstituteMacy'sSantaland and family and friends homes! Happiest of Holidays to everyone! 

Girly Geek Collections

So, I collect a fair amount of different things. Many of them geek related such as female action figures and certain comic books. I collect handmade necklaces and evening bags for the more girly side of my personality.

One of my collections I've been working on lately is my Harry Potter Legos. I don't have all of them yet. The newest sets are the ones I haven't added to my collection yet. Which is okay for now since until very recently I didn't have anywhere to have them set up Now, that I do I've been putting them all together. 

The earliest ones are great because they have colors of bricks in them exclusive to the Harry Potter line and have since been retired. Greens, orange and purples. I'm sure I'll post many pics as I go but here are a few to start.

The Fairy Garden Party by Deborah on Etsy

Trivia!

Something else that has happened the last few Februarys: playing in the St. Cloud University 50 hour Trivia Tournament. I'm fairly sure we just do it so we can eat and drink and look up silly facts for 50 hours at a time! All in our pajamas.

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Things to do in 2012, not when you're dead.

Thinking about things I'd like to accomplish this year.
The last month has been rather quiet as I was sick for about 3 weeks.
It started on such a high note with the success of the NYE party!
I did get to have a weekend with some friends in a cabin in Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago which was lots of fun even though I was still on meds.
1. Clean out my closet. I know this is stupid but I have so many clothes I don't wear. I used to manage a huge thrift store and it's pretty easy to buy everything you want for $1. I've actually started this project and I am halfway done.
I decided to try on everything I own and if it doesn't at the very least make me feel cute & comfortable, I'm getting rid of it. Life is too short to look like crap in your clothes. Plus, being a girl is hard enough without hating what you're wearing! It's already been making me feel better.
2. I am going to learn to make bread. I have this friend who is an amazing cook and bread baker. He's going to come over very soon for lessons!
3. I am going to make 300 pieces of jewelry. I've started making things and will be off to pick up supplies tonight at a sale!! Woohoo!
4. I want to explore some of the little towns around Minnesota. There was a great article in a regional magazine last summer talking about all the cute and quirky places around here!
5. I want to continue to stay healthy and exercise. I lost about 15 lbs. last year with biking and walking. I'm going to keep this up~ Plus, walking home from work saves money and pollution which makes me even happier!
6. I need to practice my French and get to work learning Spanish.
7. This is a huge one for me. I have been working on three YA books and I'm going to finish at least two this year.
8. I am going to get my blog all tricked out! I can do some of it but, I'm going to start enlisting all my geek friends for help!

That's what I got so far. I'm sure I have a million other little goals every day! :oP
Happy Chinese New Year !

On Valentine's Day in 2011 my sweetie snuck home after we'd left for the day together and left me the Twin Peaks dvd set and a beautiful orchid. Orchids are my favorite flowers. I think they are so unique looking.

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