weekend of surprises

I can't remember the last time I had back to back surprise birthday parties for friends, let alone celebrating three birthdays in one weekend. But, apparently December was a popular month for the parents to get busy to have August babies.

Friday kicked off with my late entrance to my friend's husband surprise 30th Indians game. Erin (the best friend a girl could ask for) arranged over 25 friends to come to the game to surprise her husband. People kept walking into the bar - Surprise!

Surprise! Brian is 30!

Erin, the best party planner

Surprise #2 was held at Lopez in Cleveland Heights for my friend Shawn. Her BF said they were meeting there for dinner and she walked in to about 15 people yelling "Surprise!" I missed the picture but the pure shock on her face lasted pretty much the whole night, even when they brought out the cake to end all cakes.

Surprise!

Doesn't it look delicious? Red velvet inside

Sunday started off low key with a brunch with a group of friends. I'm so happy we opted out of going out and held a little impromptu brunch at her house where we were able to hang out with her adorable twins.

The spread - strata, monkey bread, fruit, donuts and mimosas

Now this is a tutu

Me, the baby whisperer, she is out cold

Lastly, this weekend ended with my little brother's (while not that little anymore) 27th birthday dinner at Market Garden Brewery where I didn't snap one damn photo! Oh well, here's to a busy week!

social suite time

Earlier this week, I joined a group of lovely social media ladies to attend my first Indians game in the Social Suite. You know, that Social Suite that everyone should sit in every game because of the amazing seats.

A group of us were invited to come to support Wahoo Women, where $3 from every ticket of that night's game went to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign.

view from the suite

Group shot stolen from Alexa's phone

rain delay!

While it rained, we talked about really important things like the weather as Alexa watched the radar explaining when it would pass, ran back and forth between the terrace club and discussed our favorite spanx brands. Really. Here's a tweet to prove it.

told you!

Jen and Janet's cute red shoes

Thanks Time Warner for the food.

Even with the rain, I had an amazing time for my first invite in the suite and oddly enough, I'll be back at the park this weekend for another game. Only I indirectly head to two concerts and two Indians games in one week!

Bloggers take San Diego Part 1

While I'm fighting one hell of a head cold after my return from my BlogHer, this doesn't change how much absolute fun I had over the three days with my blogger friends.

So much fun and so little sleep.

I was finally able to meet Jen and Rachael in person and reconnecting with a long lost friend from my table waiting days. Such perfect timing for meeting everyone in a beautiful city.

In case you weren't following my crazy foursquare checkins, I figured I'd share my trip via a few pictures from Day 1 and 2.

Finally here!

If you know anything about BlogHer, you know that brands go all out from lavish yacht parties to bringing in celebrity spokespeople -nothing is too extravagant at this event. I mean nothing! Well, as you know me, I'm not one to shy away from meeting a celebrity or three so I made sure to get in line and meet each of them. ( I somehow missed meeting Jane Lynch in a sexy track suit!)

With Giuliana - so beautiful and genuine in person

Who doesn't love a Bieber cut out? My friend Lia does!

Bob Harper - you have some sexy tattoos

Wendi from Reno 911 - I told her how many classes I skipped to watch the DVDs hung over

There you have it - a day and a half of attending sessions and meeting some celebrities at brand booths but my friends and I made sure to take advantage of the weather and beaches. More on that and my favorite booths in my next post.

off to BlogHer

While I had great intentions of writing about my fascination with the TLC show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding," I simply don't have time. I am obsessed with that show from the dresses to the accents I can't quite understand to the Rave-like outfits the teenagers wear to a wedding! It's a wedding after all and they look like they walked off the set of Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty."

I have managed to cram five days of work into 3 days as I'm off to BlogHer for my first time in San Diego. My goals are pretty simple - to meet up with the bloggers who I work with for my day job as well as meet some of the chicks I've been reading and stalking following along on Twitter for the past few years.

It is going to be a blast I tell you. One freaking bloggeriffic blast!

My agenda of places to go is pretty short.
-Coronado Island. That's  it. That's all I've got.

So, what places/stores/sights should I see when I have some down time in sunny San Diego?