At 27 years old, I still get excited about growing up and getting older. I’m the only adult I know who celebrates every added year with the enthusiasm and anticipation of a child still counting the years on one hand. I make sure all of my friends are seriously aware of my continued aging.
![Save the Date](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Save-the-Date-1024x725.png)
These go out in January, by the way.
I plan a party with enough food, games and long-distance guests to get my friends out of their homes and into mine on a cold night in the middle of February, when there’s almost always some sort of weather advisory (this year it was an extreme cold warning, what fun!).
![Pink and Orange Macarons](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0129_DxO-1024x678.jpg)
![Brother and Sister](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0115_DxO-678x1024.jpg)
My brother drove up from back home.
![Party Oreos](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0127-1024x678.jpg)
I found birthday cake flavoured Oreos while browsing the liquidation sales at the ill-fated Target Canada. I bought a whole bunch and made these not-so-quick but very easy Party Oreos. I only decorated half of the cookie, my friends thought I was being lazy, I thought I was being artistic.
![Valentine's Day Birthday Party](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0146_DxO-678x1024.jpg)
Dress: Modcloth // Cardigan: H&M (old) // Tights: Target // Slippers: White Noise Maker // Necklace: Modcloth (old) // Earrings: gift, received them for my 5th birthday // Ring: a family heirloom
![Party Food](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0163_DxO-1024x678.jpg)
Because I was unofficially elected to be the party food maker of my friend group, I knew that if I wanted anything fancier than a bag of chips, I would have to make it myself. I decided to not overwork myself, for once, and only make easy stuff, hence the charmingly campy pigs in a blanket. My friend told me, with three days’ notice, that he would be very upset if someone didn’t make my famous steak & egg devilled eggs, so I whipped some up along with some dirty martini devilled eggs, for good measure.
![Birthday Cake](http://sophstertoaster.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_0182_DxO-1024x678.jpg)
My friend Sarah has made my birthday cake every year since I moved to the Niagara Region. This year I asked for either citrus or a tangy chocolate. She brought this happy yellow cake that I discovered, when I plunged my 9″ chef knife into it, was actually chocolate! I blew out all the candles on my first try.