Today was a good day...

Fact: sister is an avid photographer/semi-famous blogger

Fact: she likes to shop for new toys

Fact: first two facts combined mean she was hip to buying a fancy, new, top-of-the-line Nikon D5100 (it takes video, has a flip out screen for selfies and a 2500-noiseless ISO people! I'd buy one too, if I had a sugar daddy...)

Fact: She ultimately had no use for her "old" camera

Fact: I'm less hip to making independent tech upgrades

Unavoidable outcome:

I bought my sister's old camera. Which is about three years newer than my 2007 model, higher mega pixels and came with a brand new freakin' lens. 

Yep. 

You could say I'm a pretty happy lady (see fig. 1).

Especially since I was even able to sell my old camera, so buying my sister's didn't even break the bank too much.

I'm also happy because my new camera called for a new handmade strap (see fig. 2) and allowed me to take an adorable picture of two of my favorite females (see fig. 3).

It's only a coincidence that those two females happen to be my semi-famous blogging, toy-upgrading, camera-selling, camera-strap-making sister and her semi-famous blogging, extremely talented and adorable daughter (aka my favorite niece). 

fig. 1

fig. 2

fig. 3 

For the record, Grace is not actually taller than Rachel. As you can clearly see, Rachel is sitting down, hiding her true, impressive height.

And on top of all that, I got to enjoy a totally delicious and fully-satisfying vegan meal with my family tonight at my big bro's birthday party. 

Granted, I was the only one who enjoyed the vegan items, but it was quite the step-up from last week's family dinner where my mom told me that she made the "special trip to get fish" to accommodate my vegan diet. 

Tonight, she offered to leave the butter out of the chicken-broth-infused Stove Top dressing,
Seriously, so sweet of her to try!

Anyways, check these beauties out:

Stuffed baby 'bellas with a mixture of about 1/4 cup vegan cream cheese, 1/8 cup vegan Blue Cheese, 1/2 cup finely chopped spinach, removed mushroom stems diced, green onions, minced garlic, salt n' pepa and some fresh thyme (bake for about 10 mins at 400 then broil for a few to crisp 'em up just right).

Add to that dog snuggling and more red wine drinking, and you could safely quote  Ice Cube when reffering to my feelings about the day.
I didn't even have to use my AK.

(explicit lyrics disclaimer)