Rep. Loretta Sanchez celebrates her 50th birthday with a fiesta

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) turned 50 on Thursday, and she has a lofty goal for the half-century mark: "My biggest [personal] goal is to learn to play the piano," she told ITK in an email. 

Learning a new instrument is tough enough, but Sanchez intends to do it while maintaining a bi-coastal lifestyle, chairing the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, and getting re-elected this fall. Phew!

With all this, somehow Sanchez still has the energy to throw a rocking birthday party this Friday night in the Golden State, where the entertainment will include legendary Puerto Rican singer Rita Moreno, Mexican actor and performer Fernando Allende, and award-winning DJ Tony Moran.

Revelers will dance the night away at an auspiciously named Anaheim, Calif. restaurant: White House.

Also on the birthday agenda is a hike with her girlfriends, which is likely to include her sister and fellow congresswoman, Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)