We remained friends through college, living only 45 minutes from each other. After we graduated, I promptly moved back to Chicago, while she stayed in Central Illinios…and I’ve never been happier than the day she called my cell phone to tell me “I got a job in Chicago and I’m moving back!” We had pizza and Top Model Wednesdays, adventures in the grocery store at midnight on Saturdays, and the occasional “grown-up dinner” when we went to a restaurant where a waiter actually served us.
I was there in the hospital a mere 3 hours after Lizz’s beautiful daughter, Skylar was born, and I’m hoping that someday, she’ll do the same for me… after she tells me all the gruesome stuff that none of the books tell (I’ve heard something about hair?).

Lizz will be standing beside me at my and Adam’s wedding in the fall, and I couldn’t imagine a day without at least knowing that my “heterosexual life mate” is somewhere, laughing uncontrollably if the “car song” comes on the radio (yeah right, like it ever does), or sharing my love of Yogen Früz.
We’ve done some really cool stuff together… including meeting Eddie Izzard and Gene Hackman:


Yes, I wore the same shirt in both these pictures…but I digress… Lizz was with me when I got my nose pierced, she helped me move into my first apartment by myself, and she was the first person I told when I met Adam and just “knew”.
Lizz, I really hope you read this because otherwise I’m blathering about you for no good reason, but I wanted to just let you know how much I appreciate you and your friendship over the past 15 years…and I hope that one day we’ll be those crazy old ladies at a bar trying to pick up the college guys because we don’t remember where our houses are.
Why the 7 1/4 th birthday?? Well, Lizz is a leap year baby… we’ve been friends since before she was 4! Tonight, we went out to celebrate. Technically, since there’s no actual day, we tend to celebrate the whole month of March! Lizz chose to go to Chevy’s for dinner, and it was so delicious! We started with pomegranate margaritas.
Mine's the little one... I'm a total lightweight!
There were seafood and shrimp quesadillas and chips and salsa that I didn’t photograph, mostly because I forgot! My entree was grilled chicken fajitas, and they did a REALLY good job of keeping the extra oil off the sizzle plate. I only had 2 tortillas and all the chicken and veggies:
There was rice and beans on the left, and guacamole and sour cream on the right
Since it was Lizz’s birthday, they brought her a sombrero and a small ice cream sundae. The sombrero promptly went on Skylar’s head:
She's such a ham for the camera!
After we finished eating, it was time for more pictures! Skylar insisted on taking photos of everyone, and for an almost-4-year-old, she takes some darn good pictures! I took this one of she and I:
Not bad for a self portrait!
Then Skylar took a great picture of Lizz and I:
We're the definition of BFF!
So happy birthday Lizz! You’re seriously the best friend anyone could wish for!
xoxo,









{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
You make me want to cry! You are so sweet, and I having you as my best friend too!! LOVE YOU!!!!
Those pictures are adorable! You can tell you two are really great friends. Gotta love girlfriends
Hallie´s last blog post..Blogger-inspired (and Supplied!) Lunch
Aw what a great post! I have a friend like that and she’s totally my “lifemate” too!
You look so cute and the food looks so great! i love Chevys!
Elizabeth (thelongweigh)´s last blog post..Discussions…
This is so sweet! I love hetero life mates! They are the best!!!
Erin´s last blog post..Warning: Long Post Ahead with Deliciousness
Happy Birthday to Liz!
Paul U´s last blog post..Don’t monetize your site?
Happy Birthday Lizz! What a fun night. Nothing beats Chevy’s margaritas + chips and salsa!!
Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog post..A Little Break
So beautiful!! Happy bday, Lizz!!
VeggieGirl´s last blog post..Spring Break Baking Bonanza: Blondies & Banana Bread
Girlfriends are the best! My BFF lives 3 hrs away now and that sucks!!! Glad you had a fun celebration!
Krista´s last blog post..Baking, Cleaning & Chilling
what a fun post!
brandi´s last blog post..Tropical Oats
awwww, sweet story and pictures!! looks like you girls had such a great time together
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)´s last blog post..Scrappy afternoon
Such a cute post!
What a great friend you have Mara! My sister and I have had best friends since third grade – we are going on 32 years of friendship!
Like your tiny drink too!
Happy Monday!
Biz´s last blog post..I need one more day of weekend please!
What a sweet tribute post! Oh my god! You guys are so lucky to have each other
And you know it!
Uhh…were we wearing the exact same outfit in high school?!?!?! I was so a deadhead!
I still got love for ‘em!
P.S. San Antonio is about 12 hours driving from where I live
Erin´s last blog post..Erin: Catch upalooza
Mara, you met Eddie Izzard?! Color me foaming-at-the-mouth-with-jealousy green! That man is hysterical and marvelous.
All of these pictures of you and your friend made me smile—you guys truly do have an awesome bond, and it shines through in each and every image!
Hilary´s last blog post..Structure, Deconstructed: Do You Need Structure to Lose Weight?
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