<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743336/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4764743336_c1fc29424a.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="362" height="500" /></a></div>
If you're planning a birthday party at which:

-Kids will be in attendance;
-You'll need plenty of room;
-You'll need fun things to do built right into the venue; and
-You like the idea of being outside,

I'm going to tell you right now where you should have your shindig: Dilly Deli.

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<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105307/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4764105307_e733693d78.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
Check it out. For a party at <a href="http://dillydelitulsa.com/">Dilly Deli, downtown at 402 E. Second Street</a>, you get:
<ul>
	<li>A hip, funky, intimate, lovely enclosed patio (which rules for those of us with kids who can't seem to stay in one spot for longer than .35692 seconds - no spending the entire party running around chasing little ones to keep them safe when you could be socializing);</li>
	<li>A bocce ball court (fun for both adults and kids alike);</li>
	<li>Plenty of seating, including booth, picnic table, classic car (see it in the photo above? to the right) and four-top options;</li>
	<li>Shields from the Oklahoma sun and the chance of sprinkles that has been in the Tulsa forecast for the past several days;</li>
	<li>A venue right smack dab in the middle of the trendy, historic Blue Dome District, right next to tons of free as well as $5 parking;</li>
	<li>Excellent service;</li>
	<li>Yummy food made from as many locally sourced products as possible.</li>
</ul>
Can you say jackpot?
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104999/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4764104999_6229ea0813.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
That's what I said to myself a few weeks ago during a dinner at Dilly Deli. Actually, what I said to myself exactly was, "Gee, this sure would be a dandy place for my husband's 30th birthday party."

That's when I realized something. I met my husband just after his 24th birthday, six whole years ago.

You know, back before I used the words "gee" and "dandy" in everyday conversation.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740276/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4764740276_49798fc9c0.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
This weekend, we celebrated his turning 30. As in, the big 3-0.

I've been romantically involved with this man for six years. 2,190 days. More than 52,000 hours. That's, like, forever, man.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106637/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4764106637_8fdaf7efb5.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
And now, we have this.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105721/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764105721_664a18abe1.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
And these people.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104885/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764104885_40dd46f782.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
And these people.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104747/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4764104747_f900deed75.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
Look! It's <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hwall">@hwall</a>! And her son, Isaac. And my mom. And my Meme.

Isn't Meme pretty? It's really super-easy to tell in this picture.

We also have whoever this is.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104279/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4764104279_94189a08d3.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Actually, that's <a href="http://www.twitter.com/travelingspork">@travelingspork</a>. She and her husband recently traded their Miami, Okla. digs for a house in T-Town.

Their drive to my husband's birthday party from their old house in Miami: Approx. 1.5 hours.
Their drive to my husband's birthday party from their new house in Tulsa: Approx. 15 minutes.

Advantage: My dear friend's gasoline budget.

Also, her sanity. See what a few years of trying to live so far away can do to a person?
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740574/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4764740574_17c97f1404.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Plus, it's really nice to have that one friend back in town who likes to steal your camera and take photos of your parties so you don't have to.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740738/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4764740738_f731052244.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
That's @travelingspork's hubs. When my husband first met him, he pretty much couldn't stop talking about him for, like, a month. I think he was his first-ever man crush.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105119/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4764105119_e61fbc0d36.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
The studliness doesn't end there. Can you tell this was the guy in high school who made all the girls in math class swoon?

According to @travelingspork, his high school sweetheart, he was.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106043/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4764106043_9d545bf215.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
I'm not sure what this has to do with the birthday party, but...did you know I have a sideways pinkie toe?

And did you know that I have a little sister who really likes blue sno cones?
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105817/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4764105817_88aeba25f9.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
And did you know that if you gave my dad some blush, some lipstick, a red wig and a Bump It, we'd look pretty much like twins?
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764741726/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764741726_01236d1b42.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
It's true.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106759/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764106759_2fcbe6bcc0.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
It's pretty funny that the men's bathroom at Dilly Deli is labeled with my husband's name. He could claim it as his own private domain, if he wanted. I think he'd be well within his rights.

And, if the spelling of my sister's name conformed to the traditional spelling, the ladies' room, labeled Erin, could be her private domain. She could set up a partition outside the door and refuse to grant anyone access. I mean, it would be her private domain - it'd have her <em>name</em> on it, for goodness sake.

Or, she could give it to <a href="http://www.erinconrad.com/">Erin Conrad</a>. You know, whatever works in the politics of friendly public restroom takeovers.

This name, it's a recurring theme in my life.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107611/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4764107611_d259b86d56.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
And now for what you've all been waiting for.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764742912/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764742912_c57f625985.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
How to light a perfectly good and innocent birthday cupcake on fire.

<strong>Step 1:</strong> Tell the nice folks at <a href="http://www.annsbakery.com/">Ann's Bakery</a> that you're gonna order a birthday cake from them. Remember that you haven't done so at the last minute. Kick self.

Buy cupcake liners. Make cupcakes with cream cheese frosting from scratch with your two-year-old. Wear aprons.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Cupcakes! by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764805641/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4764805641_57eebd62db.jpg" alt="Cupcakes!" width="500" height="500" /></a></div>
Bribe a friend to clandestinely transport the cupcakes to the party venue.

Mark calendar two weeks before your own birthday to remind yourself to call Ann's and <a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs536.ash1/31416_405324464029_104710214029_4269954_6696851_n.jpg">order this</a>.

Forgive self.

<strong>Step 2:</strong> Load it up with the number of candles that would signify the new age of the birthday person.

So, in our case, 30. Or, two-and-a-quarter packs of $2 birthday candles.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743030/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4764743030_de5b574f34.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Step 3:</strong> Abscond with the birthday party venue's lighter. Don't mess with those sissy, thumb-powered things. Go all out with a trusty, burly charcoal lighter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743132/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4764743132_ff56ef2206.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
<strong>Step 4:</strong> After lighting candles on one side of the cupcake, determine the direction of the wind. Tip: If you watch the wild fire developing on your cupcake, this should be relatively easy to figure out.

<strong>Step 5:</strong> Turn cupcake so that the wind blows the fire onto the wicks of the other candles.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107183/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4764107183_835d02f24e.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743336/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4764743336_c1fc29424a.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="362" height="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Step 6:</strong> Blow out all candles in one breath.</div>
<a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764742436/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4764742436_6f76c0117d.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743448/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4764743448_0d8bd06427.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107491/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4764107491_2d135ac8a2.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a>
<div style="text-align: left;">And that's the way you do it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107611/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4764107611_d259b86d56.jpg" alt="Dilly Deli" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Tip: Do not attempt to eat stunt cupcake.

Tip: Smoky the Bear would want me to tell you that it's good fire safety to have a fire extinguisher handy when lighting this many candles in a small space.

And that only you can prevent cupcake fires.

</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Thanks again, Dilly Deli, for being such a great host to my sweet husband's 30th birthday party. We had a blast. You even helped my husband feel better about being a newly minted old fogey for awhile.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">And for that we're eternally grateful.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Dilly Deli</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Where: 402 E. Second Street</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">When: Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm; Friday-Saturday, 8am-10pm; Sunday, 8am-4pm</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Call: (918) 938-6382</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Web: <a href="http://www.dillydelitulsa.com/">DillyDeliTulsa.com</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Menu (PDF): <a href="http://dillydelitulsa.com/images/data/attachments/0000/0001/Dilly_Deli_Menu_As_of_Dec16_09.pdf">Click here</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/58/1435650/restaurant/Blue-Dome-District/Dilly-Deli-Tulsa"><img style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1435650/minilink.gif" alt="Dilly Deli on Urbanspoon" /></a></div>
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