Birthday Eve

On Birthday Eve Day I snuggled on the couch and watched Pitch Perfect for the billionth time while it snowed pretty, pretty snow outside. Then I headed to the outlets to buy myself some birthday presents (new polka dot scarves and a necklace) and stopped for gas. I snapped a photo of the gas prices for 2 reasons. 1) I take iPhone pictures of everything and 2) I've been having REALLY weird dreams lately and last night I had a dream that I accidentally pushed the mid grade button instead of the regular button and couldn't stop from loading up on more expensive gas.

I headed to my parent's house and immediately dressed up my puppy in my Stink Week shirt. She willingly let me put it on but then REFUSED to look at me while I took a photo. Don't worry I gave her doggy treats afterwards!

There were purple birthday flowers...

Everyday Aunt, Uncle and niece/cousin came over for dinner. We built some structurally unsound bridges and FaceTimed with Everyday Brother and his now live-in girlfriend.

After a yummy dinner I let Everyday niece/cousin decorate my carrot cake birthday cupcakes with flowers and mustaches.

We watched Beyonce shake her thing and while I was excited about hearing some Destiny's Child I kept waiting for Tina Turner or Aretha Franklin or some other surprise guest to come out. I headed home in the fluffiest snow I have EVER seen. Big fat flakes that were so light they built up like bubbles instead of snow.

Happy Birthday Eve to me!

In 1 week I will be 29+2.

That is all.

   

Local Field Trip: Apple Picking

This has been a busy birthday week! On the 13th Baby E joined the world. On the 14th Baby M turned into Toddler M and yesterday O-town and Everyday Brother turned old! For O-town's birthday (part 1) we met up at a local apple orchard to pick all the apples...pounds and pounds of apples.

Of course the best part of apple picking is sampling the merchandise. By the time we left, I had eaten probably 2.5 apples, a pint of cider, and 2 cider donuts and I thought I was going to throw up.

The orchard was only picking Macintosh and Cortland apples and we had a hard time telling which was which because they are both red and green and round. After consulting some signage, we determined that Cortlands were for lovers because they grew up hugging.

O-town spent most of the time picking at flower pods for seeds to plant while simultaneously picking entire apple trees.

I was telling D about a YouTube video where a guy breaks an apple in half with his bare hands and before I could finish my explanation D had already cracked his apple in half like a boss.

I was sad to learn that they were only picking Macintosh and Cortland apples because gala apples are my favorite. I saw a sign pointing me to the roped off direction of my favorite apples and I had to make it happen. I quickly ducked under a rope and scored myself a giant gala apple. Trespassing FTW!

We saw lots of pumpkins and gourds. There were GIANT pumpkins and small pumpkins...

There were crazy pumpkins with candy corn-like exteriors and nubs that looked like ginger root.

After checking out the mutant pumpkins, we hit up the farm stand for some cider and cinnamon and sugar tossed cider donuts. Nom!

We enjoyed our treats to the sounds of a three-man jazz band...a trio I suppose would be the correct term. The sousaphone oomph pa pa'd while the other two seemed to play their own tunes. I kept thinking I recognized songs, but only a select few bars sounded familiar.

 Fun times were had by all. I'm so exited for more fall adventures!

Wednesday Was...

• Awesome...because I got the BEST belated birthday present ever from my best red headed Michigander friend.

FYI: I have ZERO recollection of trying to climb that pole. I couldn't even tell you what country it was in.

There could not be a more perfect quote for me. This speaks to my souuuuul.

• Stuffy...because I have a cold and can barely breathe. But I did decide it was better to suffer through  the day with a cold then take nighttime cold medicine at work.
• Busy...because I covered for lots of different teachers during my down time and finished two kid books during the day.
• Snowy...because it snowed.

Guess who lives in that purple circle? #Please don't stalk me.

• Cozy...because I was wrapped up in a scarf all day.
• Festive...because I made heart shamrocks.
• Relieving...because I am no longer a slave to the unemployment Gods. (It went in my favor BTW.)

Leap Day (Leap Year Day?) is like a free space on the 2012 calendar; an extra day to do whatever your heart desires. So on that note, I will be using this extra day to snuggle on the couch, write to some friends, cook a delicious dinner and make the following wish:

I hope tomorrow is a snow day. 

I hope tomorrow is a snow day. 

I hope tomorrow is a snow day.

I hope tomorrow is a snow day.

*New list coming later tonight!

    

Birthday Recap: Episode 3

After making the trek home from Mohegan Sun, I took a quick nap to supplement the 2.5 hours of sleep that I got on birthday eve. That afternoon, I headed to my parent's house for a family birthday party.

There were more flowers:

a delicious dinner, big presents for a big birthday, lots of Superbowl watching and an awesome birthday cake:

The birthday cake from Everyday Auntie was an homage to The List on my blog. There were 56 books including The Secret Garden, there was a pile of golf balls, a Rubik's Cube, all the new foods I tried, the mountain/dune that I climbed, and me writing my memoir.  <---I told you it was amazing!

Turning 30 was not the heinous experience that I expected. Instead, I celebrated with colleagues, friends, and family and it turned out to be an exhausting yet awesome weekend.

 

Birthday Recap: Episode 2

Now that it's been a week since my birthday, I thought I should get around to recapping the rest of birthday weekend.

Saturday was my actual birthday (and ironically, the only day there was no birthday cake consumed). I tried to sleep in, lounged on the couch for a bit, did some laundry then got to packing for the big trip. My friends and I trekked to Mohegan Sun for a night of fun. 

The girls surprised me with a 29+1 shirt and matching Team Amy shirts! We had some wine, ate some snacks, put on fake eyelashes and headed out. We ate at the always classy Bubba's BBQ then hit the slots. I had received a generous donation to my gambling fund from the teachers at work so when K suggested that I try the Amazon penny slot, I was game. The slots confused me! They were all computerized and you had to bet on a number of lines then place a bet per line. With the guidance of the nice gentleman next to me, I randomly hit some buttons. Eight dollars in, I hit the jackpot and earned 15 bonus games. From there my winnings multiplied and after only 3 minutes, I cashed out with $96.90!

We bet a bit more after that but only proceeded to lose money. But I still walked out with more than I walked in with!

Before heading home, we hit up a bar with REALLY loud r&b music. We had a few drinks, people watched, judged the youth of America, and participated in our own Whip Your Hair music video. You see, there was this...person who at first glance I totally thought was a woman (I was not the only one to think this) but actually turned out to be a man with a really long pony tail. And he whipped his pony tail back and forth and back and forth. His pony tail whipped me in the face at one point and I thought M was going to punch him. (She wanted to.)

Mid-whip. And yes, we took like 6 pictures trying to capture the pony tail in all its glory.

It was a fun night. I tried something new and although there was lots of smoking, babies awake at midnight and neck tattoos it was a good time. We didn't hit up the felt table games but that just gives us a reason to go back. 

Thanks to K for planning a wonderful night and to S, O, M and all those who were there in spirit!

 

Birthday Recap: Episode 1

Birthday weekend began early Friday morning. There was an impromptu stop at Dunks for a hot chocolate then arrived at school to these beauties. 

The teachers I work with planned an early birthday party for me! There were flowers. There was cake:

Which was delicious...like a brownie with frosting! There were so many cards. Cards from the principal, cards from the class, and cards from every single student. These are some of my favorites:

A dinosaur card
A card for Mr. (instead of Ms.)
A card that opened backwards and said, "Dear [Student Name]
A card that says it's awesome to be 22. <---The kids started singing "are you 1, are you 2, are you 3..." so I stopped them before they started hyperventilating so according to my class I'm officially 22 years old!

And yes...I covered incriminating details with Starburst wrappers.

 

I Am in the Twilight of My Youth*

It's Birthday Eve! My last night as a twenty-something. <---That is kind of a BIG DEAL! Although what is even more of a bigger deal is that by turning 29+1, I am actually beginning my 4th decade on this planet!

In case you were not aware, I've been anticipating freaking out about this birthday for the past year 10 years of my life. I always assumed that by 29+1 I would be settled in a career, married, a property owner and possibly thinking about having kids. Instead, I find myself still figuring things out...on all fronts. And...this may surprise you...but I think I'm okay with that.

I've always done things at my own pace, in my own convoluted way so why would I think major life decisions/milestones would be any different? I'm slowly coming to accept the fact that I should not compare my life circumstances to others and certainly not against a number. <---Evidence of me growing up!

Tomorrow, I officially become a grownup. Remember that Britney Spears song, "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman"? Well tomorrow, I move from the girl side to the lady side of that equation.

As Dirty Thirty weekend is about to commence I would like to summarize the last 10 years...bullet style.

• Transferred from UVM to UMASS.
• Studied abroad in England.
• Traveled to Spain, Italy, Scotland and Ireland.
• Spent a final summer at camp.
• Earned a Bachelor's Degree.
• Moved home.
• Worked retail for the first time.
• Realized I wanted to be a teacher.
• Earned a Master's Degree.
• Got my first "real" job.
• Got my second "real" job.
• Moved out of my parent's house.
• Lived alone for the first time.
• Spent 6 short months as a 4th grade teacher.
• Started a blog.
• Spent 12 long months unemployed.
• Made The List.
• Returned to my second "real" job.
• Made some new amazing friends.

Here's to the next 10 years being even more awesome!

Read last year's birthday post here.

* Ryan Adams sang this.

Cooking with Amy: Mom's Birthday Edition

Today my mom turned XVILCM years old.  (Don't freak out mom...remember that I don't know how to use Roman Numerals!)

For dinner I revived the homemade ravioli from Dad's birthday.  They were a bit over-spinached and under-cheesed and I cooked them longer that I should have so they grew and grew and grew.



After the ravioli course came the cake course...which was a hot mess as per usual.



Typical.

First, I made a mess.  Then I broke the cake in half.  The top of the cake sunk a bit a lot (so I filled it in with frosting obviously) which meant there wasn't quite enough frosting for the sides of the cake.  Oh well.  It tasted 4000 times better than it looked.  Be jealous that you couldn't try it. 

FYI: I used this recipe for the cake and this recipe for the frosting.  The cake is probably the best chocolate cake I've ever made/eaten.  Make it...now.

   

Lots of Cupcakes

A cupcake for baby ONE YEAR OLD M!

A cupcake for Everyday Brother who is never going to leave Virginia ever again.

And a cupcake for my ginger friend O who is now almost 40 just like me.

Most people's morning routine:  Shower, coffee, read the paper, go to work.

My morning routine:  Shower, cereal, read blogs, go to work.

Except this morning I skipped the shower step (don't judge...I'm taking second graders hiking today and will shower before I go out tonight to celebrate the aforementioned ginger.)

So I had a few extra minutes this morning to throw together a blog that masquerades as a belated birthday celebration but is actually a long winded and public justification of my personal hygiene habits.

OH!  AND!  With my extra minutes I watched Lady Gaga's You and I video because the song has been stuck in my head (stop laughing at me).  And OMG she just gets more and more strange.  If you want to ruin your day see the video click here.  Now I have to go hike with second graders with visions of mermaid Lady Gaga stuck in Texas Chain Saw Massacre while her child-of-the-corn self makes out with her dude self on the piano.  Seriously.

Also...now I'm late for work.  Oops!

    

HBBFFL!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE!



Mmmm...I want to lick my screen.

Today is my favorite Ronald McDonald (but less creepy and with better makeup) look-a-like's birthday.  Her name is Summer and she writes a blog about birthing and parenting the cutest baby ever!  And this birthday is kind of a big deal as she is joining a NEW DECADE!

She is trying it out for me so that when my time comes in February I know that everything will be okay.

If you are asking yourself, "What is the best birthday present for someone I don't know?" the answer is simple: a Happy Birthday donation.

Summer is participating in the March for Babies which raises money for the March of Dimes to fund research and help prevent premature births.  If you would like to donate to a wonderful person and a wonderful cause, please visit her donation page to make a Happy Birthday donation.  In making a Happy Birthday donation you can help celebrate Summer's special day and help babies everywhere have healthy and happy birthdays.*

Thanks! 

* Plus you get 10 awesome points.

FF - Birthday Edition

*I wish I could locate the pictures for this story Here is a photo of a photo.  Notice the balloon, the outfit, and the neon encased Stiff-uns. 

On February 4, 2004 I celebrated my 22nd birthday in England.  It was a Wednesday night. 

My university had student night out at the Carleton Club every Wednesday night.  You bought a ticket on campus on Monday, took the free bus on Wednesday, and had to show your library card to get in.  Because it was my birthday, I got in for free, was given a yellow balloon to tie around my wrist so everyone knew it was my birthday, and two free drinks...at the same time.

The Stiff-un was the Carleton signature drink.  It was only vodka and Red Bull in a neon plastic cup but it was notorious.  So there I was double-fisting two neon cups dancing to Shut Up by the Black Eyed Peas dressed as a lady gangster.  Let me back up...

In England it was not unusual for a group of girls to dress up like it was Halloween (in a month that was not October) to celebrate birthdays.  My friends and I rocked an all black outfit, white tie, and pink fedora.

It was such a fun night and A.P. and R.D. joined in the festivities.  We danced.  We drank.  We flirted with boys.  There are pictures from the evening that I have no recollection of how they got onto my camera.

But the best part was the next morning.  I woke up in my bed, still in my gangster outfit with a helium balloon floating above my bed because it was still tied to my wrist. 

I did not make it to my first class that Thursday morning.

_______________

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes as I embark on the final year of my youth.  I have spent the last month mentally preparing myself for today and am surprisingly feeling good about 29....unlike last years scene.

February 2010

I frantically call S:

A:  I can't believe it's almost my birthday!

S:  I know.

A:  I've just been so busy with work.  I can't believe I'm going to be 27!

S:  pause

A:  OH MY GOD!  I'M ALREADY 27!

I was in fact turning 28 but forgot.  So this year I made sure that wasn't going to happen again.