{you say it's your birthday...}

I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday.... i am the big 29! what the? It seems like i graduated from high school yesterday, but ya know. I had a great day with lots of hugs from my babes, visits from my friends and family, my favorite cupcakes, some fabulous gifts, and a night on the town with the hubs. B-days are a good time, and i actually don't mind getting older.. age is just a number, and i believe it! although i have hit the age that not many years ago i considered "old school." I think you learn so much about yourself....and life as the years go by. I have a feeling year 29 is going to be a great one.....

my fav cupcakes sitting atop these little martha stewart cupcake plates that my sis got me for my b-day! love them~{and one point and shoot style of me and mister caleb}

{i was tagged a while ago by jaimee to share 20 little known things about myself. i thought this might be a good time... better late than never, right?....feel free to scroll through...you might get bored!}

*my name is Swedish, and it is pronounced {share-stin}. Believe me, i have heard every pronunciation there is:) But no worries, I pretty much answer to anything that is relatively close. I don't have a middle name~

*When I start reading a book i like, i can't function until i am finished! Pretty much in my pj's all day with my nose in my book. It's a problem!

*laundry is my nemesis! every time i think i have conquered the beast, it comes back to taunt me again and again!
*we lived in College Station Texas for the first couple of years that we were married. We loved Texas and everything about the south. I still find myself saying y'all on occasion:)
*i watch {friends} reruns and laugh out loud
*my favorite dessert in the whole world is carmel bread pudding from Roosters. It is ooey, gooey, chewey, delish perfection! a la mode please~
*my favorite thing is planning parties. The most fun part is all the little details~
*motto of life-live what you love~
*i ran my first race at age 12, my first marathon at age 21. I have been running/racing ever since. It is definitely one of my passions. In response to some emails, i am working on a post about all things running.
*i worked at einsteins bros bagels making lattes and bagels through high school. What is funny is that all of my siblings eventually worked there as well. Ha! It was the perfect job, and i ate my fair share of bagels~
*I just signed up for my first bike race.
*i am a music junkie--can't live without my tunes.
*my favorite drink is water. It's really all i ever drink... unless there is a warm chocolate chip cookie involved. Then i must have a swig of ice cold milk.
*i am no good at tennis!
*cucumbers in red wine vinegar is fabulous
*one thing i have been trying to focus on... especially with my kiddos, is to have joy in the journey. To live in the moment and enjoy all the small things.
*At least one night out a week without the kiddos is a must.
*i hate blowing up and tying balloons. I always wind up with a headache..
*i really wish i would have lived in NYC before i got married and had kids.
*i love accessories--{home and apparel} that might be why i have an insane amount of pillows and jewelry....hmm...
*i live for vacations on the beach:)
*family is everything~
a few of you asked about some of the recipes of the desserts i have made for some recent parties. These two are super easy, and would be smashing at a v-day bash...oh and did i mention they both involve oreos? bonus~

petit fours--i make these babies for almost every party~

You will need the white chocolate oreos {or you can dip your own oreos}. Then spread a layer of wildberry or any other berry cream cheese, top it with a half a strawberry--- and finish it off with a drizzle of choclate. These babies will knock your socks off! they are as delicious as they are pretty~

oreo bites

You are going to love this~ you pick up some cakesters--they come in vanilla or chocolate at your local grocery. Then a small heart cookie cutter--or any other shape, and go to town. They come out clean and pretty. Can't get much easier than that:) thanks bakerella~
i will post a couple more recipes soon~