Happy 30th Lovie!

August 31, 2017August 31, 2017 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ Leave a comment

I’m writing a very happy birthday blog to my best friend Tannith today!

What an amazing lady you are Tannith. I so appreciate the kindness you offer to me, the time you spend despite being a super busy mom and wife, and the true friendship that we have. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that we’ve only been this close for four years! I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You make everyone around you a better person plus you bring such joy to other’s lives.

I think the best thing about you is that you constantly cheer others on, because you genuinely care for other’s successes and happiness. You have been there for me when basically no one but my mom was in my corner. You have walked beside me, dragged me, and helped me through so many days. I just want you to know that you are so special to me and the friendship we have is something I’m so grateful for each day.

Cheers to 30! I know that this side of 30 will be the best and that the potential you have will lead you to exactly what continues to make you the best person I know.

Thank you for being you Tannith, you smart, funny, delightful wizard you! I love you girl! I’m so happy to be in your life. Have such an awesome day. ❤

Midnight Birthday Tea Party

August 1, 2014 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ Leave a comment

During my trip in Denver my babes of friends threw me a little birthday tea party. I just still can’t get over how much fun it was and how amazing these girls are to me. We played an awesome game called Munchkin, ate, laughed hysterically, ate more, and just had a damn good time. Plus tea! It was just so thoughtful and wonderful and I’m smiling wide just thinking about it again.

Here are pictures of the decorations, the games, and the amazing desserts. That coconut macaroon! 😍

Childhood Photo

October 6, 2013October 6, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 2 Comments

Birthday '92 or '93. — Birthday ’92 or ’93.

So any family and some friends know my birthday always merited a GIANT party. I loved these and actually this year, being in Chicago – was the first time I have not had a giant family/friends birthday party in almost 3 decades! It actually made me want to cancel having my birthday this year and move it!

Anyways this was in 1992-1993, a rare picture of Lois in the lime green. My entire extended family is there and I just loved moments like these. Growing up in a larger family made it so that events were GIANT and so fun. One of the few things I miss about living close to them is having these awesome get togethers at least once a month. Since my birthday is in July, we would have my party in the backyard and run wild. Lois would make spaghetti and we would all PIG OUT. My great aunt Nita would always give me PJs which I loved and I would clean up nicely in the toy/game/money department. I always had wonderful birthdays growing up and these pictures from this specific one remind me that maybe summer isn’t so bad.

xxxx
GFK

Some More Cupcakes

May 7, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 1 Comment

Over the weekend we had a good friend celebrating a birthday! We did several ‘birthday-themed’ things from dinners and drive-ins to drinks and cupcakes.

I’ve had a gift card to William-Sonoma’s for years now so there was FINALLY parking in the Lincoln Park location to shop at that store. My better-half is a kitchen gadget/knife junkie so he was in heaven. I love baking and realized that in my moves I misplaced/lost my standard 9X13 cake pan. I picked up one for $20 – which I thought was a great deal since the quality is much better than a cheaper glass version.

I was planning on making a cake, but then I spotted some special cupcake/cake mixes that WS makes. They literally had $25 cake mixes….. I couldn’t even think about spending that much money on a cake mix so I saw their cupcake mixes were 20% off for $10. The Dude suggested Red Velvet so we went for it.

I loved the recipe – I think I’m going to incorporate the vinegar, buttermilk, and oil into my Boxed-Cupcake Cheat recipe. It really made a difference in moisture and density.

The Cake:

Box Mix

2/3 C Buttermilk

2 Eggs

3/4 C Vegetable Oil

1 tsp White Vinegar

Frosting:

8 oz. Cream Cheese

8 Tbs Butter

1 3/4 C Confectioner Sugar

1 Tbs Vanilla Extract

The frosting was TO DIE FOR. I did sub the butter for Earth Balance. I’ve been trying to incorporate more vegan/vegetarian choices into my diet so not buying butter was a good place to start. The Dude was concerned about the amount of frosting on each cupcake and usually I agree with this less-is-more frosting ratio, but with this batch I was not going to doubt the people at WS who proportioned the recipes. People loved the cupcakes (even strangers at The Silver Palm)! The frosting to cake ratio was just on the edge of being too much so maybe next time I would scale back just a small amount. In the end the Dude abided and enjoyed a cupcake.

Plus check out the awesome ‘eyeball’ satanic theme decorating job!