Best Birthday Ever
I can honestly say that this was the best birthday ever. It has even trumped my 10th birthday when I got my first stereo and trust me when I tell you that was an exciting birthday for me, not so much for my parents whose bedroom was right beside mine. I actually still have that stereo.
On Friday, I got a couple cards in the mail. One was from my aunt who always sends me scratch-off lottery tickets. I won $100. I also received several other thoughtful cards (one from Marguerite-thank you!), many of them mentioning my "29th" birthday. Sweet.
Yesterday, I slept in. When I woke up, Mr. BBM made me breakfast. The girls gave me cards they had made themselves and they also gave me that Live Strong t-shirt I saw a couple weeks ago. It says, "100% Back" on it. I'm wearing it today.
At noon, I had a manicure appointment thanks to Renovation Girl and her called in gift certificate. I came home, showered, packed and we were off. We dropped the girls off at my parents house and headed to the hotel. Right after we arrived, one of my friends arrived at the hotel to drive with us to dinner. He brought with him a beautifully wrapped gift and wished me a happy 29th birthday in Japanese (He's a friend from karate). Inside I found a gift card for Ann Taylor Loft. Does he have good blog reading comprehension skills or what? Although I did not at all expect gifts, I was elated. Thank you E!
We drove over to Bahama Breeze for dinner and while we waited for our table, I drank a mojito (ok, actually two mojitos). I nursed the second one all through dinner because it was STRONG and I had some dancing to do later. We had a lovely dinner. I had almond crusted salmon in a lemon butter sauce with tropical rice. It was delicious.
So was the spinach dip which is why my friend Stacey is covering her mouth and we are cracking up. Ok, the cracking up part may be due to the mojito.
We headed back to the hotel and the nightclub afterward. First, I did a quick wardrobe change. I couldn't decide what to wear so Mr. BBM told me I should be like a celebrity hosting an awards show and switch tops, so that's just what I did. He was apparently kidding, but it was a suggestion I couldn't ignore.
I wasn't the only one with a wardrobe change. Ikigai ended up having to borrow one of Mr. BBM's shirts since t-shirts, even nice ones, were not allowed. Yep, that's right, no t-shirts allowed but bring on the leggings, cheesy hot-pants, fishnet stockings and bikinis. Oh, how I wish I were kidding about that part.
Here's Ikigai playing the role of Mr. BBM.
We arrived at the club and were shown to our VIP room. The VIP room was a bunch of comfy couches, six televisions that looked like a kaleidoscope, and a great big comfy ottoman. This was surrounded by long white flowing pieces of fabric. It was like our own little cocoon.
That's my sister and her boyfriend in the background. He was googling himself, like usual.
The VIP room came with a specialty drink for all of us to share. It was quite good and didn't last very long.
I'm just thankful I had some good help getting rid of it. That's Stacey's husband Richard. You may recall him from this post.
Here's another picture of me and my sister. I never really thought we looked anything alike until I saw this picture today. Clearly though, we're leaving the chest area out of this comparison. One of these things is certainly, and sadly, not like the other.
Ikigai (seen below) dared me to go out onto the dance floor to get the party started and I told him I haven't met a (reasonable) dare I haven't liked. So, out I went. Ikigai's girlfriend, "Foxy Citrus" (also seen below and also celebrating her birthday), joined me after a lonely minute and things started rolling. Someone has to start the party right?
We had an unsolicited dance partner who didn't smell that great, so we decided we'd go sit back in the VIP room to let him cool his engines.
The club had a stage where only ladies could dance and at some point, they called me up there. I went and took a posse of girls with me. We truly had a blast.
I believe that's me doing my best impersonation of nai hanchi stance. Actually, on second thought, I think I was just getting low and stuff.
When my friend told me this club was cheesy, she neglected to tell me that there were "cages." That would be my sister leaning way back there while holding the bar and that would be me standing in the cage laughing. No one can say we weren't adding to the entertainment value at the club.
With the exception of one party pooper (see "google" image above), everyone from my party got out on the dance floor at some point, even those who swore they were like T.I. as in "alright, ok, I don't dance, no way."
Of course, my sister and I don't use that type of logic. We're always ready to dance.
My knee held up quite well all night long, and although none of us made it to the 2 a.m. closing time, I didn't mind because they started playing really craptastic music. See my face expression reflecting this below. And for those who only tolerated last nights music in honor of me and my birthday, zip it, I already know what you're going to say about the music that preceded the end of the night's craptastic music.
My friends all put in a good amount of time at the club. I had a great group of people, a great group of friends, and a really fantastic time.
Tonight I went to my Mom's for dinner and cake. My Mom and the girls made me a cake. The girls decorated it almost completely by themselves and they did a fantastic job.
I've learned that one of the keys to having a good birthday is having it fall on a weekend. This was definitely one for the memory books! Thank you to everyone who made this birthday special by sending me something sweet, typing me birthday wishes, or getting your groove on. I truly have the best friends in the world.
Karl is Hired and Avitable Rocks
Yesterday, Karl found the secret BBM lair with his GPS. I think we had a great time. I know my kids did for sure. I'm not so sure about how much Karl liked being a jungle gym, but he was a good sport even if he wasn't digging it.
Lil C made fast friends with Karl. She fed him chocolate chips while he taught her to say "Whoa Jack." Within 30 minutes, she was climbing on his lap, and forcing him to play with Barbie dolls and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toys. Think Mary Poppins in pants. Yes, he was that good.
When Lil C tired of that, she climbed onto Karl's back and told him he was her horse. He happily obliged. Later, she held up two play hamburger buns to his face and told him he was her Prince. She was playing the part of Ariel and apparently she thinks that Prince Eric looks like Princess Leia.
At some point, she had a "wardrobe change" and morphed into Cinderella. She told Karl they were getting married and she kissed him. He told her she was the best girlfriend he ever had. It was a match made in heaven.
I seriously think I need to convince him to buy the lot beside me. I could really use another babysitter and Lil C would like to see her "husband" more than once a year or so. Plus, I think I only had about 20 minutes of talk time with Karl. My kids totally monopolized him. If he moved in, we could have drinks on the lawn all summer long.
Thanks for coming to visit me Karl! What fun!!!
Right after Karl arrived, the doorbell rang. Arriving was a birthday present from Avitable. His site may be a little wild at times but the man has a heart of gold. He sent me this shirt after he read this post.
If you look closely you'll see that the shirt is covered with little pictures of gi'd up me. I have to say that this was the most unique present I've ever received. Thank you Adam!
Tomorrow is the birthday bash and I am so looking forward to it. I'm sure someone will take pictures. My knee is feeling great and I am looking forward to getting my groove on.
Musical Memories
We've been listening to a lot of music around the house lately. Having an IPod Touch makes it all the more enjoyable. I'm totally loving their Genius feature. Anyway, as I was listening to music today, I started to mentally compile a list of some of my favorite songs. My favorite songs are almost always linked to good or fun memories and I thought I'd share a fun one with you today.
My best guy friend got married a couple years after I did. He met his girlfriend in college and had been with her for years before they got married. Unlike most couples who get married, they had actually waited if you know where I'm going with this. For my friend, this had been especially rough and frustrating at times.
While at his reception, music was playing. It was all classy stuff, dinner type music that anyone could enjoy. And then my friend made a request.
The DJ announced over the microphone that my friend had made a request and was dedicating it to his new bride. There were collective ooh's and ah's and a lot of aw's. My friend led his new bride out to the dance floor and the music started; except it wasn't at all what anyone was expecting.
It was this. . . (You can watch the video and hear the song here.)
This thing right here
Is lettin all the ladies know
What guys talk about
You know
The finer things in life
Hahaha
Check it out
Ooh dat dress so scandalous
And ya know another n couldn't handle it
See ya shakin that thang like who's da ish
With a look in ya eye so devilish
Uh
Ya like to dance at all the hip hop spots
And ya cruise to the crews like connect da dots
Not just urban she likes the pop
Cuz she was livin la vida loca
[BRIDGE]
She had dumps like a truck truck truck
Thighs like what what what
Baby move your butt butt butt
Uh
I think to sing it again
She had dumps like a truck truck truck
Thighs like what what what
All night long
Let me see that thong
[CHORUS]
I like it when the beat goes da na da na
Baby make your booty go da na da na
Girl I know you wanna show da na da na
That thong th thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes da na da na
Baby make your booty go da na da na
Girl I know you wanna show da na da na
That thong th thong thong thong
Lyrics thanks to: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sisqo/thongsong.html
As soon as the music started, my friend started going nuts, dancing all around her and right up to her. There she stood in her bridal gown, completely dumbstruck. She was a good sport throughout and it was absolutely hysterical. Every time I hear that song, I just crack up. The look on her face, the look on his face as he danced like a maniac, the look on everyone's faces at the reception. . . it was priceless.
What's one of your best musical memories?
Clothes and Earrings and Lunch
Warning: Male readers should prepare to be confused by this post.
Yesterday was like a little slice of heaven, actually more like a big slice of heaven. My Mom took me out for a day of shopping for my birthday. We went without the girls.
While I love shopping with the little ones, being asked for a "soft pretzel and flushie (Lil C for slushie)" every other minute can get exhausting. Most shopping trips usually end with buying something little for the girls and nothing for me. It's difficult to determine if your butt looks bit when you're busy in the dressing room, trying to entertain little anti-shoppers.
I left my house at 10 a.m. yesterday and didn't come home until almost 7 p.m. It was fantastic.
We first went to a little boutique in the area of town where people usually look at us like we don't belong. I found a fabulous new purse for only $39, some really cool crystal earrings, a shirt that will work nicely for my night at the nightclub next weekend and a really different sweater that will work for casual, work, or whatever. My Mom also found something nice. It was so much fun to try things on that were different and fun.
Next we headed to a restaurant called "Bensi" for lunch. We had some fantastic eggplant parm with salad and were actually able to talk about something other than princesses. I didn't have to cut up anyone's food either. I almost didn't know what to do with myself.
After lunch, we headed to a big outlet area and found some total steals. I got a pair of Ann Taylor Loft pants for $10 and some shirts for $2.50 and less. When all was said and done, I had two new pairs of pants (totally necessary since I've been hard at work reshaping my butt and legs), two new sweaters, three cami's, two shirts, a new purse and new earrings. It was an absolutely blissful day.
Top that with the fact that I came home to two happy kids and dinner on the table. . . it doesn't get any better than that people.
Add to that my Friday evening. I had a hair appointment and upon arriving the receptionist was being extra cheery. "You want to know why I'm so great?" she asked. "Sure," I told her.
Then she went on to tell me how she had just spent 15 minutes on the phone with a friend of mine who had called in a gift certificate for a manicure for me.
I left the salon with a slightly different cut, lighter blonde streaks (which always make me feel better) and an appointment for a manicure next weekend.
This leading-up-to-the-birthday-week is off to a great start.
Internal Dramalogue
This morning I was talking on the phone with my Mom when my Dad had a little outburst. He went from perfectly quiet to "Damn woman, why do you have so many towels?"
He was folding laundry for my Mom.
He then went on this whole conservation lecture kick, telling her that she uses too many towels (dish rags, drying towels, cleaning rags) and socks (work socks, work-out socks, etc.). So much for saving the world by not using paper towels to clean.
"I don't know what his problem is," my Mom said laughing.
This type of outburst is not unusual for my Dad. He can spend 15 minutes not saying anything and then completely freak out. I've just learned to expect this type of behavior from him.
"You know what's wrong with him?" I said. "He has these internal conversations in his head like this: 'I'm a big bad man. Why am I folding laundry? Why am I folding all these towels? Why are there so many damn socks? What does this woman do, use 15 towels and four pairs of socks a day?'"
And then it's all too much and he says something like, "Damn woman, why do you have so many towels?" I told my Mom he's having an internal debate, a dramalogue if you will, with himself. She lost it, and we were completely cracking up because it is so obviously what he does.
"Your daughter has you all figured out," she told him laughing.
Earlier in the conversation we had been talking about my grandfather. He got a bill in the mail today and instead of calling because he had a question about it, he got in his car and drove there. It's New Years Eve. I'm betting no one is even there. We were talking about how stubborn he can be and my Mom went on to say that if anything ever happens to my grandmother, she'd probably have to take my Pop-Pop in and she thinks she would go nuts.
"Remember what you said about your dad?" I asked her. "Ditto that for me," I told her.
They both must have been put on this Earth to provide humor for the women in their lives. It's the only explanation.
Copyright
© Copyright 2006-2019 blackbeltmama dot com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Follow Me
Blog Designed By
My Creations
Things You Could Care Less About
