Hallmark'd.

  Today was Bek's 23rd birthday. She got stuck with a birthday on a Tuesday. Everyone gets these in their lives, the birthdays where you pay your dues, you go to work,  you feel entitled to something but you don't know what, and the world isn't sure of it either, so it goes unnoticed. Which you don't mind... much.... Okay maybe it bothers you a little, but you'd never say anything or make trouble. You know who minds? Your best friend.
 SO, in order to try and upset this, I took up my mama's banner of trying to make the day as special as I could within the limits of the dreaded day after Monday. (Also, the banner of dirtying every dish in the kitchen, although I imagine she's less proud of that one.) I put up decorations, made her homemade cupcakes, special pizza, a disney Princess birthday card (AW YEAH) and over all, everything went off smashingly well. We ate (lots), watched Bronson, laughed our asses off and to top it all off, we get to go out this weekend to celebrate MORE!
She said, at the end of it all, that I was going to make a good mom some day... because I had done a good job at making her day special. The moment was decidedly Hallmark, and I was decidedly touched by it.

21

It was my birthday on Tuesday! I had an excellent but low key birthday DAY. Rebekah and a friend of ours went out to Chez Cora's for brunch. Then my sisters and I made chocolate cupcakes filled with marshmallow cream, using a recipe from my dessert homegirl Martha Stewart.

Then after that, we all got ready and headed out to one of my favourite local restaurants to celebrate in style. I'm just gonna say there was chèvre (goat cheese), risotto, and a little sangria by way of celebration. At the end of the meal instead of bringing a huge cake or sundae like other restaurants, they brought out a miniature creme brulée. I'd never had it before (somehow) but it was AMAZING. AMAAAAZING. My yoga and 10K training were out the window as I found true love with caramelized sugar and smooth vanilla filling.

At home we sipped champagne (champagne birthday 21 on the 21st!) and I got to open my gifts. I got some workout gear, some yoga classes, some pieces from Forever 21 & H&M and some bling bling! Then we lit the candles and I made the twenty-first birthday wish I've ever made. I can't tell you what it is though...;D