30 year bash

This past weekend my sister threw me a 30th bday fete. I got so spoiled during this party that I wished that all my family lived closer so we could have parties like this all the time. But first, let's back up so I can tell you why it was so wonderful.

This party has been in the works for a while. Maybe since I turned 29. I wanted a party when I turned 30, dammit. That's a big number! And for some reason, maybe chalk it up to all my life experience (I have more in my pinky toe than most people), I've felt 30 for a very long time. Now my age and insides would match!

When my sister asked what I wanted to do to celebrate, I think I might have said something like, "Let's put some cheese and chocolate on it." I'm talking fondue. I'm talking the creme de la creme of fondue. The one and only Melting Pot. Ever been? If you love cheese, chocolate, and sharing your food with other people, it's your thing. Watch out though; it's expensive.

Mmm. Cheese!

My sister insisted that I had to get a fun drink. A Bourbon Berry Bramble it was. Whew! It was strong!

On Saturday, after I packed up my little teething, grouchy sweet bambino to go spend the night with his grandparents (Daddy went too) so I could enjoy a day, night, and morning to myself, my entourage consisting of three sisters, two sister in laws, two friends, and three nieces headed to the Plaza to partake in melty goodness. That's a whole lot of people dipping! Oh, and a total surprise to me: I was lavished with jewels. Since I talked up the first jewelry hanger in this post, my sister's mind must have went crazy into overdrive on party planning because not only did she get me a jewelry hanger, she had everyone gift me with new jewelry! Ain't no bare hanger here. Getting ready lately isn't so much a question of what I will wear that day, but rather what jewelry to put on. It's a horrible problem to have.

My new jewelry hanger! Look at all those new baubles!

After stuffing ourselves, we were off to the Legends to get pedicures. I heart me some painted toenails and message chairs. I really need to get pedicures more often. I was really tempted to do gray toes with maybe yellow tips, but then the 80s came calling. Neon yellow it was! For a fun twist, my pedicurist (is that what they're called?) put tiger stripes on them. Meow! Happy, sassy toes for this 30 year old.

My sweet and beautiful niece Tabytha and I getting pedicures. She opted for sparkly toes that alternated every other toe. Loved it.

My toes are the ones with the flower flip flops. Hard to see, but they're sassy!

After that we headed to Charming Charlie's, not that I needed anything since I was basically handed the store in a gift bag earlier. But it was still fun to peruse. There are still some items I want, of course. I think buying jewelry might be my new thing—and dresses.

After we got our fill of baubles, those still partying vegged out with hot dogs, Mr. Pibb, pretzel bites, and popcorn in front of the big screen. I hadn't seen Hunger Games yet, and though most of my family had, they were sweet enough to go see it again with me. Spoiled I tell you! The movie was amazing. Unlike the horrible acting in Twilight, Hunger Games really got it right, sticking close enough to the book that I didn't notice the things that were left out.

The night ended back out my house. I would like to say that we stayed up and partied all night, maybe drinking Oklahoma Sparks wine and eating snacks, but that would be lie. This Mommy was tired since I usually am in bed by 9, and it was pushing midnight after a brief period of time where my sister Tami introduced us to Ed Bassmaster on YouTube. We still did knock back some raspberry iced tea in milk bottles and fun straws, courtesy of the party planner and the little snacks I did have in the house (cheddar bunnies and M&Ms).

The night ended in a delicious put-the-baby-to-bed reprieve. My king-size bed has never felt more relaxing. And waking up without the bambino was a gift in and of itself.

It was a wonderful party. Not sure why anyone would be afraid to turn the big three oh when it's a great excuse to party.

West elm wish list

Because it's my birthday (oy. 30.), I decided I would put together a wish list post of eye candy that's taken my hazel peepers and kept them. In my window shopping, I realized that really I spend most of my time over at West Elm. So here's my my wish list a la West Elm. If I had a few grand to spend. Wouldn't that be nice?

1. This Chunky Tassel Throw in silver gray ($79)

One of my real-life birthday presents was a snow white Cracker Barrel rocker. It was a complete surprise, and one that I'm still figuring out how to arrange in our living room since our sectional eats up most of the real estate (she probably will end up on the front porch; the rocker, not the sectional). But right now I'm enjoying her even if she is a little in the way and thought she could use throw and possibly a pillow. I think this number would cozy up the chair a little bit because really, rocking chairs are not that comfy.

2. I've had my eye on this Organic Carved Circles Duvet forever (originally $109 and currently on sale...I might have to buy her)

I think the gold would pair nicely with the ocean blue of my bedroom. It's not too feminine and it's not too masculine and has a beachy quality to it that always seems to call my name.

3. Globe Pendant ($99)

One of the things high up on my to-do list is replace some of the builder grade lighting, especially the ones that look like boobs. I would love to hang this over our island, and because it's so neutral, I could still do something fun over the dining table and hand another pendant over the sink without it clashing. Maybe this capiz chandelier for over the table?

4. Boerum dresser ($799)

I love the reclaimed, distressed look of this dresser. Like it's been adrift to sea.

5. Window daybed ($449)

Working from home means my office is my guest bedroom. Complete with a bed. I try my best to ignore it on my just-wanna-go-back-to-bed-days. A daybed would still provide a guest a spot to rest a noggin but provide a little more real estate and function (another place to sit and edit). But who am I kidding?! I'd still want to curl up there most days.

6. Turned Foot Dining Vitrine ($799...on sale for $499)

Small kitchen=not enough storage for all my lovely Pampered Chef serving pieces. This vitrine is new on my list, but I love that I could still show off my white lovelies and have a drawer for napkins and other serving items. The legs also would match our dining table legs. Nothing like a nice pair of legs.

Well, no one died on my birthday

Yesterday, on Friday the 13th, I celebrated my 27th birthday. Yes, that's right. On Friday the 13th. I took the day off to limit any catastrophes. I knocked on wood. Threw salt over my shoulder. Anything I could think of to keep all my loved ones and myself safe. And just as a precaution, Jonathan also took the day off.

My birthdays are usually really big letdowns. Maybe it's my high expectations. This year, I had no expectations and tons of fun. Maybe at 27, I've learned to let go.

I went to two yoga classes in the morning, wearing my poser shirt. At my yoga studio, I bought myself a $60 Jade yoga mat as a birthday present to myself. If you're serious about yoga like I am, you need this mat. I got my in orange and, should I ever need it anymore, it matches my yoga towel. I also got myself a birthday chai latte from Starbucks. Mmmmm. The perfect birthday morning.

When I got home, there was a FedEx box waiting for me from my sister Capricious. A while back she had a 100th blog-post giveaway for a really fun and funky tote. She had given me one of her very first tote creations, and I love it. It's a sophisticated, yet fun, black and white tote. I use it primarily to carry my knitting or magazines. So when she posted about her 100th blog-post giveaway being a tote made out of fun and funky pink and green material, I had to have it. So try as I might, I didn't win. Apparently, my excitement and want for the tote resonated with my sister, because I got my very own for my birthday. She spoils me so.

Jonathan gave me an auxilirary cord so I can listen to my iPhone in my car. Yay! I can even listen to Pandora radio too. He also made me my favorite chocolate cupcakes with rainbow chip frosting , which basically meant I had to be in the kitchen directing traffic.

To cap the evening, we ate dinner at The Bristol. I had the salmon and Jonathan had the trout. We both had the lobster mac 'n' cheese, which was heavenly. I decided that since it was my b-day, a drink was in order. So wished my early and mid twenties adieu with a berry caipiroska.

All in all, a good birthday. Hello 27. Nice to meet you.

A poser in the best way

Yesterday I got quite the surprise upon arriving to yoga. I had the case of the Mondays. It had been a rough and long day in my mind, and I wasn't sure yoga was even going to do the trick. When I entered the studio, not too much crossed my mind when Emily (one of the owners of Darling Yoga) popped up from behind the counter with a big grin on her face. I didn't think too much about it, except: She's in a very good mood for a Monday. This is why I need to be a yoga teacher! Instant bliss! So grinned back. I didn't catch on that she was hiding something: "I have a present for you!"

At first I was taken back and confused. "Your sister called, and I know it's going to be your birthday soon. So I have present from your sister and one from me and Victor."

Suddenly, Monday was looking a lot better. Presents! From some of the most amazing and inspiring people in my little circle of life. And then it got better. Check it out:


That's the poster t-shirt I've been eyeing, oh, I'd say half a year. Capricious kept trying to talk me into buying it, but [gulp] it was too pricey for my fugal mindedness—$45! Now it's mine, thanks to her! Now I have something to wear to my yoga workshop on Friday night. I hope "poser" really sets the mood for a candlelight vinyasa class.

Oh, and should you want to pop on by to my apartment, you'll be greeted with some beautiful-smelling incense that Emily and Victor gave me along with a incense holder. Ode to inspiration.

I just hope Jonathan likes it. It's already going to be a great 27th birthday, and it's still more than a week away.

Smart pinky toe

I rang in my 26th birthday on March 13th. The days wasn't too fun-filled because work was cra-zee, as was the freelance editing gig I've got going on. I did, however, receive flowers at work. Not from hubby. From my aunt (a.k.a. M.O.M.—my other mother). It was the sweetest thing ever. I've never received flowers at work before. And the compliments I received. I felt like Ms. Popularity for the day. My co-workers let me go at decent time despite our being over burden with work (it's tradeshow season and we're one man down). So I headed home quite happy and excited to make tortilla soup from a recipe my sister had passed along. It was so yummy. Combine that with my favorite show Lost, I considered it a good birthday.

Currently, I'm spending the weekend at the Dad's digs. Figured it was time to get his Christmas present to him and see my nieces before they turned into teenagers. As they're just a little more than year old, they're running all over the places and jibber jabbering up a storm. It's so cute how shy they started out at the beginning of the afternoon, clinging to their parents like a koala to a eucalyptus tree, but by the end of the evening, they're more than eager to play and laugh with you.

My sister in laws shared stories, while I borrowed stories of the most recent adventure of my almost two-year-old nephew that my sister had told me. I told my sis-in-law Stacey (Hey Stacey; see, I told you I'd put you on my blog!) that I need to have a kid just so I can join the conversation. I even feel trumped up from old school friends; one in particular I had just recently emailed to see how she was liking her new job; her reply was that she was 10-weeks pregnant with her second child! It's email like that makes you want to take your top 10 list of the things that you must get accomplished before starting a family, crumple it up, and throw it out a window (no, not trash can, where you can retrieve post-insanity moment) and the wind will sweep it along.

Mantra to self: you're in no rush, you're in no rush; you're in no rush; you're in no rush. House, trips abroad, two or three pay raises, those are just a few things I need to get checked off that list. Plus, I don't know how my life would even work right now with a kid. My job is ever consuming. If you could see me right now, you would see that I'm writing with my pinky toe—all that is left of me. It's a very smart pinky toe.