mad for mad men

 

are you nerds watching mad men? because if you're not riding that train, you better hop on. three solid reasons: 

1. i'm watching it and it will strengthen our bond if we're consuming the same programming & discussing it regularly. 

2. stunning costumes. 

3. gripping, character-driven stories. 

it took me a couple tries to get into the show, i'll admit. but day-um. worth it. i blew through the first five seasons in two and a half weeks. these people are nuts! my jaw was dropping so frequently i started to just let it hang open! the first four seasons are on netflix so you're in luck - the fifth season is on demand or you can watch it online or you might be so hooked at that point, you'll just commit to the dvds. (though i'm not sure if they're out yet. i have no time to fact check this post! my passion for mad men is taking over!) and we're currently only 3 episodes in to this season, so you haven't missed much! 

i watched the two hour season premiere with some homies and this was the spread - pb&j ritz crackers, unpictured mac'n'cheese, full size pigs in a blanket with an american single squashed in there, and of course, some whiskey sours with homemade sours mix and tiny umbrellas to wash it all down. because this show seriously makes you want to drink. all the time. if you watch this show, i promise i will buy you a glass of bourbon at our next meeting. 

a gathering of wizards

 

i threw my friend jonah a surprise party a few weeks ago. i constantly keep a notebook of lists (it's with me at all times) and i had made a note to throw him a surprise party. which means he probably mentioned wanting one or never having one or something like that. he also likes wizards so it seemed like a logical conclusion to make it a wizard themed surprise party.

so people came over. they dressed up. some were very creative in their interpretations of the term 'wizard'. we hid and surprised jonah and sang over a cake i made to look like a replica of the cake hagrid gives harry in sorcerer's stone. he claimed he knew it was coming, but i still seriously doubt it. and also, for everyone out there who may have a surprise party thrown in their honor one day, who may be on the receiving end of a celebration planned and executed for you by 30 some odd friends, where even your distant friends skype in to be a part of it, just friggin pretend. just act surprised and excited and happy. it's really crummy to act like you knew, even if you actually did know. just play along for that brief moment. because if you don't, it's going to make the party planner want to dump the cake on your head. and not in a fun crazy party way.

then we drank beers and taped them together to play wizard staff. this resulted in pretty hilarious morning-after scenes in our house. just huge columns of cans all over the place. we also did flaming french toast shots with a harry potter twist - just throwing cinnamon on top of the flame and making them dance. i trashed our counter. so sticky. our floor was also wrecked. but it was terrific.

the best thing about parties is the costumes.
the second best thing is having a huge group of people you love all in one place.

sips

 

are you in philly? if you are in philly, and you aren't attending sips every wednesday, you are a dummy.

every wednesday, in center city, a butt ton (offical number) of restaurants offer cheap-o drinks and half price appetizers and people go nuts. and by people, i mean my friends and i went nuts. it's only from 5-7 but we shun all limitations. we laugh at time and order more rounds. or the previous rounds take control of our bodies and order for us. and next thing you know, you're coming home at one thirty in the morning after singing karaoke and setting people up to sleep in your teepee.

sips is the bomb.

harrisburg house tour

 

 harrisburg house tour does not disappoint. especially when you combine all your philly roommates with your parents friends and allow them to day drink over an eight hour period of time. beautiful, magical things happen.