Brenda's Birthday Surprise!

Sunday, June 17.

Since this was a surprise for Brenda, she had a different view of this occasion. If you want to read her side of the surprise click here.  It is really cute!

First, a little background info on this surprise... Around the first or second week of our internship Brenda had mentioned that she had started a blog. I asked if I could read it, so she kindly gave me the link. As I read through the first couple of posts, I found out that Brenda's birthday had passed on May 28 (the day before our first day of work). I probably said something along the lines of, "Omg! How come you didn't tell us it was your birthday?" lol I proceeded to tell her that we were gonna have to celebrate her birthday at some point during the summer, and so the planning began. I wonder if she believed me though... haha

We had to do four things:

• Set the date
• Get the supplies
• Prepare the meal
• Execute the surprise

Step 1: Setting the date
We figured that the best way to disguise it was to choose a day that we were all gonna be there for, and that we had something else going on. It seems that Sunday night dinners were reserved for cooking with the roommates. So naturally, Sunday was the day of choice. :) I had a slick conversation with Brenda asking if she was going to be here this particular Sunday. She said that she would and we decided that tacos should be on the menu. I knew Brenda would be here and now just had to make sure that Lucy and Ishwarya would be too. The plan was a go!

Step 1 - CHECK!

Step 2: Getting the supplies
Brenda go to church on Sundays so we thought it would be the perfect time to get all of the food to make the tacos as well as anything we needed for the birthday surprise. Kojo wanted to go to Target to buy a pillow, so Lucy and I went with him and we bought Brenda's birthday card and an iTunes gift card. After Target, we dropped off Kojo and picked up Ishwarya to go to Safeway. Safeway had everything we needed: tortillas, meat, avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, tostadas, salsa, beans, a small cake, and birthday candles. When we came through the door, we saw Brenda's shoes by the door. Noooooo! Brenda wasn't supposed to be home yet! Soon she emerges from her bedroom and asks us if we needed any help with the groceries. Lucy went straight to her bedroom with the bag that had the card in it, and Ishwarya and I had to fight off Brenda from helping us so that she wouldn't see the cake or candle. I made a quick decision and put the cake and candles in a cupboard. Phew, that was a close one!

Step 2 - CHECK!

Step 3: Preparing the meal
We were all really excited for our taco night! Before we began cooking we all sat around the table and I texted Lucy that we should move the card into the bathroom so we could all sign it inconspicuously. Lucy stealthily moved the card. I signed the card and then placed some stickers on the card that spelled Brenda's name and placed a 'B' on the envelope.

Brenda really wanted to start cooking, so I told her that we could start by making the guacamole. She and I peeled the avocados and began smashing them (meanwhile, Lucy was signing the card). I started smashing them with a cup, which took the girls off guard. lol Then we added some lime juice and cilantro. It was delicious!

So tasty! :)

Next, Lucy made the taco meat, and I heated up the beans and tortillas. Ishwarya started to cut up the rest of the ingredients and Brenda was setting the table and taking lots of pictures. While they were setting the table, Ishwarya snuck away to sign the card. I thought she was gonna go into the bathroom, but she took it to our room instead. As she was away, Brenda asked, "where is Ishy?" "In the bathroom," I replied, assuming that she was signing the card in the bathroom. I was wrong of course, and Brenda looked at me like I was crazy since the bathroom door was open. This could have ruined the surprise, but luckily Brenda just dismissed this, and thought that Ishy was talking on the phone or something. 

Lucy and Ishwarya!

Brenda learned that these are called tostadas :)

I spy with my little eyes... Google twice in this picture lol

Everything looked so good! We had so much delicious food that it almost all didn't fit on the table. lol We had taco meat, tortillas, lettuce, tomatos, guacamole, cilantro, olives, beans, tostadas, salsa, sour cream, and slices of mango!

YUM!

Step 3 - CHECK!

Step 4: Executing the surprise
Alright, it was finally time to sit down and eat our wonderful dinner. We craftily constructed our soft tacos, piling on all of the ingredients. Lucy was a pro, and took a really good picture of her taco!

Doesn't this just make your mouth water?

We had an awesome time chatting about everything and anything. Once we began to feel really full, Ishwarya and I gave each other a subtle look (it was time to surprise Brenda)... There were no more tortillas, so my excuse to go into the kitchen area was to heat up a tortilla. It was actually a really good excuse since I had to turn on the stove to light the candles. We didn't have a lighter, so I had to use one of the candles to light the others. It was so hard, because the candles were melting really quickly. :( While I was in the middle of lighting the candles I hear Brenda saying, "Tasha look at my tostada!" followed by Ishwarya exclaiming, "that is so cute! Can I take a picture?" Apparently, Brenda and Lucy were making smaller versions of tacos on tostadas.

Brenda's exciting tostada

I was stressing out because the candles were melting and Brenda was trying to get my attention. Ishwarya did a really good job keeping Brenda from looking over to the kitchen and seeing me frantically light candles. When I was finished I motioned to Ishwarya and we turned off all of the lights. As I walked from the kitchen to the dining table we sung the Happy Birthday song. Brenda was sooo surprised! :)

Happy Birthday to Brenda!

The candles looked so sad afterward...

She blew out her candles and then we presented her with the card that we got for her.  She thought it was so funny that it was addressed/labeled to 'B'. By this point we were all hooked on the show, Gossip Girl, and so we call each other B (Brenda), L (Lucy), S (Ishwarya), and T (Tasha). We are nuts. lol

B :)

Even though we celebrated her birthday a few weeks late, I thought it was a success. Great food, great people, and a great surprise made for a great Sunday! In Brenda's blog post on this day she says, "best surprise ever. My face was literally like O____O"

Step 4 - CHECK! <3

I definitely think that our taco night was a success! Happy 20th (late) birthday, Brenda! :) You are one special chica. We love you! 

"Give us the fortitude to endure the things which cannot be changed, and the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know one from the other." - Oliver Hart