Saturday: July 20, 2013:
~Cool in the morning, Hot in the late afternoon, Nearly perfect by evening.~
09:35am: Quad americano and cherry danish at Fremont Coffee, in perfect solitude
10:13am: Wandering the aisles of Fred Meyer, looking for camping gear, in perfect solitude
11:00am: Eye exam and new contacts, in perfect solitude
12:15am: Spa treatments, in perfect solitude
01:20pm: Shopping at University Village with Bowie and Joel. New brassiere, new edition of "Jane Eyre" to add to my collection - my gift to me.
02:00pm: Jess and Kelly over to cook a few meals (ended up just being cheesecake, not to my disappointment) for Jess's upcoming maternity leave (she's being induced as I type this!).
03:00pm: Nap, in glorious solitude. After two glasses of Vino Verde
05:47pm: Niki comes over to watch Bowie
07:12pm: Joel and I leave for my birthday dinner at Spinasse (in our new-to-us VW Passat!)
07:43pm: Sipping Campari at the bar, waiting for a table, dishing on the style choices around me
08:00pm: The Clark's decide to spontaneously join us!
08:29pm: Sat outside at a table for four, ordering the pasta tasting menu and pouring over the Piedmont region's (our favorite!) wines. Joel chose a Barolo, the table bought a bottle of Barbara.
09:49pm: Impassioned conversation wherein I became overly emboldened by said Barbara.
12:06am: We walk to our cars, full of pasta and wine and ease.
12:30am: Cheesecake and tea
01:07am: Blissful slumber
Sunday: July 21, 2013:
~Cloudy until noon, a perfect 72 degrees from then on~
08:00am: Cuddle with Bowie in bed, pretend to sleep while she wiggles around
09:30am: Waffles and coffee
10:12am: Inordinately long shower, nursing a painful post-wine headache
10:45am: Sit on couch, leafing through August's VOGUE while Joel researches car stereos
12:00am: Head to Mom and Dad's, stop for a hot dog along the way
01:20pm: Arrive at Mom and Dad's
03:37pm: Lounge outside in the sun, reading, dozing
04:00pm: Bloody Mary and phone call with little sis
05:45pm: Bday dinner in the Orchard
08:00pm: Ice cream pie and presents from family
09:24pm: Leave for home
10:20pm: BED.
Oh, and then THIS light.
Glory Be. Happy 35th Bday to me,
Friday night Joel's parents came to hang out with Bowie while Joel and I celebrated my birthday with an amazing dinner out. If you live in Seattle, go to Altura. Though not a connoisseur myself, Joel said that the fois gras there ruined him for anywhere else. The food was excellent, but I was swimming on a sea of prosecco and campari and may have thought anything was good.
On my actual birthday, I got up early to go get my hair did. Afterward, I came home and held my baby. Joel went and got us burgers for dinner and I spent the majority of the day with more Prosecco and Campari. It's my new favorite. If you are inclined:
In a champagne flute, combine:
1oz Gin
1-2 drops blood orange bitters
Fill 3/4 of the way with Campari
Top with Prosecco (or champagne of any kind, but the dryer the better).
I love that just below a picture of my sweet baby girl is a recipe for one boozing cocktail.
Sunday is for pancakes.
And Mass Effect 3.
And holding grandbabies.
And classy wine chillin' techniques.
And birthday gifts.
And hanging out with Grandpa.
And Angel Food bday cake!
And Trees.
And admiring our daughter.
And hot baths.
_______________________
Joel heads back to work tomorrow. May gods have mercy on my souls.
Please forgive this. I usually have several birthday celebrations to report.
Age 5 bday party
Please note my sister's awesome outfit to the left, my brother's relaxed posed in front, my mom's sexy shoulders, and well as the macrame planter in the back. I love 1982.
There exists a common adult sentiment that bemoans how birthdays are never as they were during childhood. There was usually one big party with friends and relatives and if you were lucky enough to have a "school year" birthday, you may have enjoyed a cupcake party with your classmates.
I think childhood birthdays are bullocks.
I mean my mom did a great job, don't get me wrong...but adult birthdays are WAY better.
- Booze.
- More money to spend on yourself.
- Mainly booze.
But the very best reason why adult birthdays are superior is how many times I get to celebrate - the upside to having such extended friends and family. Last night, I doe-eyed asked my loving husband to take me for ice cream as the beginning of such celebrations. Nice that we live less than a mile from some of the best ice cream in the city!
So...look what I did for (1 of) my birthday(s)!
Joel got the Scout Mint (girl-scout mint cookies in mint!)
I debated between my favorite Strawberry-Balsamic, but I settled on the Cherry Chunk (think Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, only fresher!). DELISH.
If you live in Seattle, you no doubt know the
Molly Moon's craze...but if you don't and are planning on visiting Seattle and like ice cream, do it. All the cool kids are.
Today so far (which is the actual day) I've:
worn more eye-liner than necessary
indulged in half a maple bar
received lovely white roses from my awesome coworker (and friend), Stacy
and looking forward to several tasty pints tonight.
Bday posts to come:
Spa Day
Picnic
Family Party
Joel's mysterious gift.
Packages and letter to arrive.
I'd been wanting. Boy oh boy...do I love it. It creates the depth of field that my other lens just doesn't quite have the unique power to do. It's sooooo perfect for shooting portraits - as it focuses soley on the subject and blurs the background so dramatically, making the person just pop out at you! 
