Pour some Sugar{house} on me

If you are keeping up with my life, you should already know I have moved. 

To a cute little house in Sugarhouse. 

I didnt know much about the place except that Chick-fil-A is sooo close. 

With any new move its a requirement to throw a house warming party. 

Ours was last week and full of good food, lots of friends and a ton of dancing. 

We spent allll day getting ready for our party. Like literally, from the moment I got home from running until go time. 

Doing what? Looking back, Im not really sure. 

But it was kinda crazy all day! 

We decorated {pom poms! I love pom pons!}, we bought, we baked. I had two trips to Wal-Mart.

But it all paid off! 

It was the cutesiest party I have ever thrown. 

A lot of that had to do with our cute elementary school teachers roommates. 

{Roommates. Courtney. Allie. Me. Aubry}

We decided to have a "favorite food" theme to showcase..well...us!

I made mini cheesecakes and...quesadillas! 

My favorite food and often dinner choice. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see that my quesadillas were a hit!

Couldn't keep the plate full through the night!

I was so happy that some of my work friends came! Like Hayley.

Love this girl and we have so much fun at work.

And no party is complete without good dancing. Aubry and I are dang good at throwing dance parties. 

People probably thought we were crazy in the beginning since we were the only ones dancing in a packed house. 

But then our dance posse showed up and we took over the dance floor. 

I couldnt help but smile while I was dancing. I just love my dancing friends. 

We were getting so into and didnt even care that anyone else was there and we just have so much fun dancing.

 It made me so happy to have these great friends. 

quarter of a century.

Well. It happened. I turned the big 2-5. 

Despite my love for all things party and birthdays I was nervous I wouldnt be excited with this upcoming birthday. I mean, its kind of a big deal, right!? But it came and I was just as excited as ever. 

I starting brainstorming for my birthday months ago. And was a little stumped.

The NR3 guys moved out of their house. So no party there. 

Granada Hills doesnt offer many great hang outs for a party. So a repeat of the golden year was out too.

Much to my dismay, most of my crew here complains of birthday dinners. There goes the Lanai tradition. 

And my mother hates when I have more than 2 people over at the house. Oooof. 

My birthday was on a Sunday. Hard to celebrate then.

And it was Stake Conference weekend. No dinner outings on Saturday night. 

Then my father informed me that him and my mom would be out of town Friday night, no family celebration then that night either. 

I was getting a little bummed. And out of ideas. 

Sitting at work one day, it was like a lightbulb just turned on. 

Parents out of town? House to myself on a Friday night?

Let the secret party plans begin. 

Linden offered to make me a cake. I thought of some great decorations. Sent out the facebook invite. 

I had myself a party in the works. 

And it turned out to be a great success and one of the best birthdays.

I started the evening out with dinner

 (Lets be real, Im not not gonna go to dinner!) 

with a group of great ladies. 

Then back to my house for cake, chatting, a Dodgers pinata and dancing for the rest of the night. 

I was so proud of my Pom Poms that I made!! They were so adorable and perfect. They are still hanging up cause I refuse to take them down yet. Thanks pinterest!! 

Some of the party people gathered waiting for the pinata.

Im a little disappointed in myself for the lack of photos. 

(Allie Barker dont get mad at me!)

My excuses are that one, I was having too much fun to be bothered with snapping photos

and two, well I was still on the fence about coming clean to my parents and didnt want photographic evidence. 

The party was such a success! I had so much fun celebrating by dancing and being surrounded by all of my friends. 

And of course the celebrations continued on throughout the weekend with two family dinners and forcing my family to tell me all the things they loved about me. (I wont let that tradition die either!)

And so here is to being twenty-five. 

Inside I tell myself this means I need to be an adult. 

Although I fight it by still claiming hot dogs are my favorite food, sleeping until past 10 on the weekends and still living with my parents. 

But Im happy knowing that I like this 25 year old version of me more than the 20 year version of me. And knowing that, I think the years will just continue to get better. 

And as a finally side note, as I sat in Stake Conference on Saturday night, listening to my dad speak on honesty and integrity...having my friends poke me throughout the whole talk...needless to say, I came clean about my party. 

party rocking.

This should go without saying,

I enjoy any good holiday that allows me to celebrate by having a party. 

So add New Years Eve to the list. 

This year was no exception. Easily the best NYE yet. 

The weekend party started out with a Lanai Reunion at Lake Arrowhead. 

Eagles Nest with the troops. 

This gang has celebrated NYE together for the last five years, and Im glad I was finally able to be included in the celebrations. 

Within the hour of all of us sitting down for dinner my abs already hurt from laughter. 

They never disappoint. 

(and can i just do a quick side note. I love this gang. I love that we get together and do fun trips often. I love how much we laugh when we are together and that nothing seems to change, that I chat with many of them on a very frequent basis and that we've been out of lanai for years now, and yet they are still some of my very best friends. ok now resume...)

Thursday night and Friday consisted of catching up and laughing, a trip to the dock, the village, a boat ride around the Lake, a fabulous Mexican lunch and free dessert (We love you Arturo!!) and taking it easy at Trent's cabin. 

Our Friday night provided the most entertainment as the Squires put together some outlandish games for us to play. 

The prize?

 Competing for a spot to accompany Ronnie in the handicap lines at Disneyland. 

We couldnt get over that we all legitimately playing outlandish games, made up by Ronnie, just so we could talk advantage of him being in a wheelchair at Disneyland. 

We played "How well do you know Ronnie?" (I got 4th place, thank you very much), a made up game called Shark Attack (which Im still mad that mine didnt count), followed by the Shark Off ("I aint Sharking Off" best quote of the night Lacey!) and a game of darts (won that one too).

Saturday was Disneyland!! 

We got up ridiculously too early to get there as the doors opened. But it was worth it and we finagled those crowds like champs. 

And remember those games we had to play? 

Ya not needed. 

All of us were able to take advantage of the handicap lines. It was really nice being able to cut some of the crazy lines and still being able to ride everything together as a group. 

Highlights included: 

riding Tower of Terror...three times

Trent's constant fist pumps during California Screamin'

being terrified of getting wet while riding the river rafting ride

eating Churros, a must needed afternoon snack

 the corn dogs, Amy's demand for constant treats, and I could easily go on. 

I skipped out of Disneyland a bit early, and although I was really sad to leave the Lanai gang, I had to get myself to the next party!

I rang in the new year with my Northridge crew at the YSA party in Irvine at Dave & Busters. 

I legitimately sprinted to the doors

 found my friends 

and didnt stop dancing till the DJ made us. 

it was packed. crammed with over 2,000 people

we partied and played arcade games till 2 AM. 

no new years is complete in my book if you cant dance your way into the new year. 

Sunday afternoon I had to have a crash nap to prepare me for the next activity of the weekend

Rose Parade camp out. 

We got another great spot this year. 

And although some opted for sleep, I just couldnt do it. 

round two of an all nighter was a success. 

We played some games, Rudy and I went for long walks to check out all the crazies (we saw Jesus!) and kinda just chilled. 

The Parade got really sunny and warm. A little too warm for a winters day. 

The parade was great. 

Love the floats. 

Love Japanese bands breaking down to Lady Gaga. 

Love narrating the parade for the gang.

And love Tom making cat calls to the Queen of the parade even more. 

And then I came home and slept. 

The result of this party weekend:

Losing my voice. Viral Laryngitis. Calling in sick to work on Tuesday. 

But if i could, Id put this weekend on repeat.  

what happens on the road trip...

Last weekend the NR crew and I took off on a road trip to Sacramento.

It was a quick trip as we left Friday morning and came back Saturday afternoon. 

But we headed up there to celebrate the wedding of the NR3 celebrity couple Trester. (Trevor and Ester).

And we could not have been more excited to party the night away at their reception on Friday. 

Definitely a highlight of this trip was the road trip itself. 

I drove up with Ms. Letta, Ryan and Christina and we had so much fun dancing, singing, good chats, taking naps (i think i took like 5. each way.) and of course witnessing Ryan doing the best rendition and dance to Ke$ha I have ever seen.

 (its a must watch. find it on fb)

Road trips are so great just for that reason. I truly love my friends and am so grateful for all of the opportunities we have to do such fun things together. 

 However, before we left for Sac Town, I had one request. 

Perhaps as a lover of history and DC and never before visiting Sacramento, Ive always wanted to see the California Capitol. 

As we got to Sacramento a bit earlier than expected we made our stop in downtown.

It should come as no shock that I was overcome with excitement to see this great building. 

My friends allowed me to take lots of photos and even a nice walk around the building. 

We actually really enjoyed our stroll around the capitol and so the tree tour. Ryan was even nice enough to sacrifice his body for my photos.

Ryan provided more entertainment as he was challenged by Shylettera that he couldn't jump high enough to grab an orange off the tree. 

Which he did accomplish after many attempts.

And he did some great impersonations of squirrels and eagles.  

Oh so many laughs!

After chilling in the hotel for awhile, we headed off {late} to the ring ceremony. Followed by dinner and the reception. 

Trester could not have looked more happy or excited to finally be married.

 And Ester is easily one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen!

We took some photobooth photos and danced the night away. 

I loved being able to be there all together with our friends to celebrate and support their wedding. 

We had our after party at the hotel that night. Mostly just including trying to eavsedropping on the boys and then late night chats with the boys.

We then headed out that morning (as I needed to get back for a  concert that night...more on that later). 

We would have left earlier if the boys hadnt of taken so long.

Really? Riding the elevator for just one flight? 

Those boys really know how to push my buttons. 

We drove back with another great road trip. This time accompanied by Rudy as well. 

It was a quick trip. But super fun nonetheless. 

And what happens on the road trip...Get made into some great memories.