Who's Who...?

Can you guess who this is? Is it Anji or is it Elena? HHHMMMMM...I wonder?!?!

And on My Birthday, I Wished for Snow...and Guess What I Got?!?! Shoulda' Wished for a Million Dollars or World Peace!!!

Well, here in the North we do it up right when it comes to the winter time. Major snow folks, and it is STILL coming down! Here's some shots at the beginning...and I would show more, but we don't need that big of a pity party now, do we? ;) I really didn't wish for snow for my birthday, but it was a great segway to that topic, wasn't it? Eric took the day off for that special day o' celebrating o' the earth's blessing o' my presence (gagging noises can stop now, thank you). We went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch, did some shopping at Woodfield Mall, and I got a CAKE in the MAIL!!! Thanks, Julie! It is heavenly (and as of tonight after I am done with the gym, it will HAVE BEEN heavenly!!!)

Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!

No, we've not adopted a new little one, but if there ever was one to adopt, she'd be it. Isabelle is my dear friend Megan's daughter who just turned one. This was also Elena's first birthday party she ever went to...how cute is that?! So here's some pictures of that day: Megan, her husband Jason, and Izzy, Izzy and cake enjoyment, and Elena (she is playing one of the many games they had set up for all the kids - how smart is that?!?!). I am also adding one of my favorite pictures to this because Megan holds a special place in my heart. We've been friends for a few years now, but it seems like forever. We have got some wild similarities too that just make our friendship even more special...for instance, we both have Aunt Janices and Grandpas who are named Elmer Joseph!!!! How amazing is that?! There's much more, but I think I'd write a book then...so anyway, here is a picture of us on her wedding day, which is one of my best memories. She is by far one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen (and one of the most beautiful people inside and out). Love ya girl, congrats on one year of motherhood! You "wear it well"!!! :)

Girls Weekend...And WHY did we not go SOUTH!?!?!

My dear friend Julie and I made a weekend girl's trip to Minneapolis, MN for some shopping and some time at the Midwest Pageant Expo. There were booths for pageants, pageant wear, and sparkles, sparkles and more sparkles...OH MY!!! We had the opportunity to listen to some great speakers, and I had some one-on-one coaching time with Holly Ernst, who happens to be a former Minnesota State Titleholder for all three of the Big Three pageant systems (Julie was my support this weekend and not competing now, but I am sure that she will be the next one I know to hold that honor...wink, wink... ;) ). Holly and Julie were in the Mrs. America Pageant Class of 2006, and I could sit for hours listening to all their memories from Nationals and stories of their many pageant experiences. Those two are gracious, classy, beautiful, articulate, talented ladies and I am proud to know them (Bragging much? Yeah, just a little bit, but to know them is really something else!)

I will say as great a trip as that was, I do not EVER want to fly in snow storms ever again...it snowed to and from that weekend, but there was NO snow in MN!!! Go figure! So here's to a great time over all, and here's to the next trip being somewhere warmer like Mexico, or Florida, or anything with a beach! HA!