Today is the day O' the Irish and as a mostly Irish lass I like to celebrate by wearing green, drinking Guinness and eating Irish grub. And, nine years ago (wow how time flies) a few of my friends and I celebrated by dressing up in our best leprechaun inspired garb and ventured to the Gas Lamp on the Coaster to have boxties, drink Irish libations and listen to traditional Irish tunes at our favorite Irish pub, The Field.

There's an Irish saying, "May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future." Topping that day makes for a pretty fun-filled future!

Day 12
Date: January 5th
Celebration: Epiphany Eve & St. John Neumann
        First bishop in America
Gift: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Meaning: The twelve points of the Apostles' Creed

Day 4
Date: December 28th
Celebration: The Feast of the Holy Innocents
        When people remember the baby boys which King Herod
​        killed when he was trying to find and kill the Baby Jesus.
Gift: Four Calling Birds
Meaning: The Four Gospels

Day 2
Date: December 26th
Celebration: St Stephen’s Day (ie Boxing Day)
        He was the first Christian martyr.
Gift: Two Turtle Doves
Meaning: The Old and New Testiment

Day 1
Date: December 25th
Celebration: The birth of Jesus
Gift: A partridge in a pear tree

While many people were on-line this month attacking or defending (A), I have been wondering why, at the beginning of November, it has been so darn difficult to find (B).  All I wanted was a cute, festive Thanksgiving turkey to put on my new mantle; a single, simple decoration to get us amped for the holiday.  Surprisingly, I couldn’t find turkeys anywhere!  I finally found this goofy little gem tucked back behind some pumpkins on a clearance shelf (80% off!) at Hobby Lobby while on a mission to find gadgets and tools for working on my lion bones. Even stores whose main purpose is to aid in adorning your dining room tables with lavish tablescapes (where Thanksgiving takes place) had minimal fall décor and NO TURKEYS. Before we know it, Thanksgiving is going to be a forgotten holiday. Stores are already bypassing it going from Halloween directly to Christmas. I’m not asking for much.  Just some gobble gobble. I applaud stores like Nordstom and REI for not putting up any Christmas decorations until November 27th. One holiday at a time people. Maybe it will remind us to actually be thankful for things leading up to Thanksgiving rather than complaining about the color of the cup our $5 latte comes in.

Over the past few years, I am sure you have come to notice that Halloween is my jam!  Halloween has always been my jam.  And in 1995 (#tbtt) it was no different.  My best friends Markie, Kalista and I as the oldest (and therefore) coolest girls in school (at a school of approx. 70 kids grades 1-6, and the only three girls in the 6th grade, that wasn't a very taxing accomplishment) decided to attend the school Halloween parade dressed as Mickey, Minnie and Pluto.  Oh, but not just ANY standard version of little Disney friends, no, no, NO we went as Mickey, Minnie and Pluto from Rock Around the Mouse, an ever so bitchin’ cassette tape I had growing up and you better believe I had that song blasting in my bright yellow boombox all day.

We're in the middle.  Markie is Minnie, I'm Mickey and Kalista has the dog nose as Pluto rocking the Seau jersey.  Aren't we cute!
(And, yes, she's Pluto, not Goofy... I don't exactly remember why but that was a conscious decision.)

Throwback Third Thursday (#tbtt) is a tribute to the dude who's taught me the ways of the world.  This year I share turning 31 with the celebration of awesome dad's everywhere, which I am totally cool with because I have the awesomest dad of 'em all! 

Come Sunday, 
Happy Father's Day and 
Happy Birthday to Me!