happy birthday anne!

dear anne, here are 10 reasons why i'm so happy you were born:

1. you are my oldest friend, and i never would have survived 6th grade without you. seriously. middle school was rough.

2. you're so kind and giving. you have been volunteering, teaching, or caring for kids since i met you.

3. you're always up for a trip to cy's, bao ju's, or victoria's—and you usually let me pick.

4. you never give things up. if you had sundance & tom's wedding story episode on anything else but vhs, you'd watch it everyday.

5. you bravely left home and traveled throughout india.

6. you know and love every lyric of total eclipse of the heart and every line of super troopers.

7. i'm not sure if you still play minesweeper, but i bet you do.

8. you always had me over for thurow family dinners and i loved every single one of them.

9. you always hated being the "cute" one.

10. you fell in love, married a wonderful guy, and moved too far away. i miss your face.

Happy Birthday Feifei!

dearest feifei, today is the day you never thought would come. you're now 25 even though you once uttered the words, "eew...you're 25? gross." you my dear, are even more fabulous now then you were then.

here are some reasons why i'm so glad you were born:
1. you gave up facebook for lent and it's been harder on me then you.

2. you had drinks with robin williams, saw santogold perform at a party, and attended a lecture featuring hilary clinton, diane von furstenberg, & iman,-all in one fabulous new york week.

3. you're my go-to person for literature advice. i've discovered some amazing books thanks to you.
4. you're one of the few chinese girls that can pull out her southern savannah-style accent whenever necessary.

5. you have excellent taste in music and we share an undying love for broken social scene, new pornos, spoon, feist, and phoenix.

6. you had the best college side job: bar mitzvah dancer. and you were great at it.

7. you blew out your car speakers because we were listening to the ying yang twins. totally worth it.

8. we met during a college work trip to the gulf coast and i'm pretty sure it was love at first sight.

9. we were early obama supporters, and you were one of the few people that knew he could make it.

10. your name is feifei.

Happy Birthday Laura!

dearest laura, here are 10 reasons why i’m so happy you were born:

1. you tell AMAZING stories. the simplest occurrence can be so memorable and hilarious after you tell it.

2. you were my first dear friend at scad. who would have guessed that a wisconsinite and a jersey girl could meet and become besties in the south?

{image: laura & i acting fabulous in 2004}

3. you’ve traveled the country to visit me all over the place and i truly appreciate it.

4. you showed me how to cook and continue to be a stickler on following recipes exactly.

5. you have the LOUDEST, craziest, most fabulous family. i’m so fortunate that you’ve shared them with me and that they’ve shared their lady gaga impersonations.

6. you had so much fun at st. patty’s the first year, that you never had to go back for all the other years.

7. you hold the record for leaving me the longest voicemail messages. they’re always so funny to listen to and usually include some sort of laura sound effects.

8. you’re learning french for your boy which is the most adorable & romantic thing ever.

9. you’ve always been able to say, “no andra, i don’t think so” whenever i’ve wanted to do/wear/eat something terrible

10. you’re about to embark on a new adventure and i’m oh so excited for you!

Happy Birthday Lulu!

happy birthday trish!

dear trish, here are 10 reasons why i'm so happy you were born:

1. you are incredibly funny. you have your own catchphrases and gestures that only you can pull off.

2. you taught me how to be a good michigander by exploring all the best places.

3. you love your friends and family and would do anything for them.

4. you always have chewy granola bars, string cheese, and yogurt on hand. you can usually be found trying to feed someone something.

5. you are fantastic around kids and you will be the best mom one day.

6. you give great hugs.

7. you purchased spank rock’s yoyoyoyoyo cd simply because you liked the name. you also rock out to madonna in the early hours of the morning.

8. you never complain, even when you should. even when i’m grumpy towards you for no good reason.

9. you are a crazed foodie that got me to love bbq, bumpy cake, and chicken ’n waffles.

10. you are the most positive person i’ve ever met. you can see the bright side to everything which is a really amazing gift.

Happy Birthday Buster!

My little puppy is now officially one years old. He's still a cutie. :)

¡Feliz cumpleaños a ti! ¡Mi Chica Favorita!

dear sister alissa, here are 10 reasons why i'm so happy you were born:


1. you speak spanish which is helpful when I need a dirty rap lyric translated


2. you are the only girl that could ride a motorcycle from guatemala to mexico and survive


3. you have dad's ability to wake up super early to workout but you fall asleep during action movies and at loud bars


4. you have a more extensive knowledge of wine than any midwesterner should ever have


5. you love fútbol even when you have no one to watch it with


6. you travel the world and have amazing stories


7. you forget to eat sometimes and can survive on a handful of walnuts


8. you are incredibly smart and have good advice for everything


9. you have great taste in clothes and you are an amazing gift giver


10. you have a big heart and you are going to save the world one day