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Thursday, March 31, 2016

Birthday Love

Maybe I should tell you about my birthday, now that my birthday month is practically over. Clearly, as a blogger, I am just on top of things! (Insert eye roll emoji here.)

I had a TERRIFIC birthday.

I mean, you would think I was turning 28, not 38, with the amount of celebrating we did. Or maybe 18. It may have been out of control. But I loved every minute of it.


My birthday was Wednesday, March 2nd, and we managed to extend it all the way to that Saturday.

Random fact about me. I love birthdays. Not just mine. Everyone's. I have a crazy memory when it comes to random people's birthdays too. I still remember the birthday of kids I babysat decades ago, and I still remember the birthday of people I was friends with in elementary school, even if I haven't seen them in person since then. I wish I had that kind of memory about other things, but I generally have a terrible memory.

Even though I always love birthdays, and I (normally) love and celebrate getting older (because that's a good thing, since there is only one alternative!), the older I get without kids the harder it is. I thought I would be depressed on or around my birthday, because here I am another year, and now in my late thirties, childless. And that is just not making me happy. I am not where I wanted to be at this point in my life. If life were up to me, I would have 3 kids by now. At this point, I am just praying and hoping that God blesses us with one.

Another reason I wasn't sure of how much fun my birthday would be is because I had to work on my birthday. I realize that this is called adulting and that I am an adult and that working on your birthday is just a part of life. However, this was the first year in several years that I had to work. Last year on my birthday, my friend Laura was in town, and I had taken off of work for her visit. The year before that and the year before that, it was a weekend on my birthday. The year before that, Brad & I took the day off and spent it together. So it has been years since I have worked on my birthday. I thought I would continue that tradition and take the day off, but I really need to save my vacation hours. I just didn't think working on my birthday would be that much fun! I was wrong. It was a fantastic day.

All of that to say, I am so thankful that God gave me a wonderful birthday this year. I didn't feel an ounce of depression that week, and that is saying something these days. I felt so loved and so celebrated. It was nice. And I am grateful.

So here is the rundown, and picture overload!

March 2 (my actual birthday):


I got to work to find a bunch of balloons at my desk. At lunch time, my besties Mandy & Billy came to my work to have lunch with me! It was a beautiful day, so they grabbed a table outside and waited for me to join them. They had pizza from Grimaldi's, a mini bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes (cinnamon, my favorite!), a bouquet of daisies (another favorite!), a card, and balloons! So sweet!



When my break was almost over, the door opened and ALL of my coworkers came out singing happy birthday to me! They had a gift for me & a cookie cake. It was so sweet and I didn't expect it at all!

Back row: My bestie Mandy (I made her get in the pic with us!), mammo techs Jackie, Morgan & Jena, receptionist Frankie, & mammo tech Cheryl. Front row: mammo tech Joel, me, Dr. Roberts (radiologist), & Julie (xray/mammo tech).

Now you know most of my work peeps! I love these people.



After work, Brad & I went and had dinner, just the two of us, at J. Alexander's. SO GOOD.


I must show you Brad's plate, because it really was quite impressive!

I mean, if that had been all the celebrating we did, that would have been more than enough! It was an awesome day. But that wasn't all!


Friday, March 4th:
Months before, I had decided that since opening night of Into the Woods was my birthday weekend, I had to get a few girlfriends and go! Mandy, Betsy & Sarah were happy to join. They met me at Bistro Byronz after work. We ate on the patio. I love eating outside if it is an option, it's just that there aren't too many days in Louisiana that feel good enough to eat outside! It's usually so hot and humid. Or rainy! But my birthday week, the weather was perfection!

Betsy, Mandy, Sarah & me. Love these girls, and so glad they are in my life!!

After dinner, we headed to the theatre to see Into the Woods! Several of my friends were in it, and it was so well done. It was such a fun night!

With my girls!

My dear friend Brittany played Rapunzel, and she was awesome!
With Lizzy & Brittany! It was like a Beauty & the Beast reunion!
 
Me and Stage Manager Caty. This girl is amazing!


Side note: David is one of my favorite people on the entire planet. I mean, seriously. He is awesome. I met him during Beauty & the Beast. He wasn't in it, but would stand in the wings & try to make me laugh...while I was actually on stage...I mean not where I would mess up or anything like that! It was funny. And I didn't even know him then... that's how we met! We ended up playing in Christmas Carol together, and also did an elementary school theatre tour together one semester, which was a blast, and where i really got to know him. This guy is one of the nicest, sweetest, most talented & most hilarious guys you will ever meet. He is not on social media, and our paths just don't cross often enough. So it basically made my whole year to see his face. Sorry for the long tangent, but I had to express to you how great it was to see him! He was there to see the show the same night!

Moving on!


Saturday, March 5th:


On Saturday, family got together to celebrate my birthday at Willie's a fairly new restaurant in town that we had never been to. It was delish! Another gorgeous day there, so we sat on the patio again! The food was delicious, and mom ordered a cake which she brought for dessert. Never ever has there been a more "me" cake! Haha! My favorite color & daisies! :) My parents, my sister & brother-in-law, Brad's parents, and Billy & Mandy were all able to join us!
 
 me & my dad!

Billy & Mandy
This picture makes me so happy! So thankful for my family!
After lunch, all ten of us went to the movies to see RISEN. It was so good, and fun seeing it at Movie Tavern with the fam! Hello, recliners! Loved it.
 
I didn't mention gifts, but I got a ton. Not that that is what matters, but thought I would share! Some of these came from long-distance friends (hello, Laura & Belinda!). Such thoughtful people! And this isn't even all of it! (Obviously I love mugs, in case you missed that somehow. And yes, my husband got me a fitbit and i am obsessed!)



It was such a great day and week. And y'all, I didn't even mention the countless posts, texts, & calls! A couple of friends took me to dinner, too. So sweet. I am so thankful for the people God has put in my life! 38 isn't looking too bad after all! ;)

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Catching up on my 52 Lists

I mean, the one blog idea I was going to keep up with was 52 Lists. I love making lists. It's not that hard. It's simple. So, what is my problem? Not even to List #10, and I have fallen by the wayside. Oops. Well, I'm just going to catch up real quick!

List #10 - Ways to Cleanse for Spring

I think this is where I went wrong. I thought, seriously? What a boring list! I think I'll skip this week! Then I skipped another week & another. So. I don't have much to say about spring cleaning. Because I don't really clean as much as I should. I definitely wouldn't be winning any housekeeper of the month awards, I'll tell you that.


Then, I organized two things around my house that had been bugging me. And I thought, HEY! Maybe I DO occasionally do a little bit of cleaning. Ha. I also dusted the nasty house. I would really like to plant some pretty flowers out front, but I have yet to do that. I have no green thumb. And kneeling for hours while planting things just doesn't sound like my idea of fun. But maybe I will make that happen.


Anyway, the gift wrap situation was out of control. I had all of it in one of those under-the-bed bins. Whenever I needed to wrap something, it would be forever digging through that thing. Or not. It drove me nuts. I ended up buying one of those over the door organizers and got it all under control. It didn't have a place for gift bags, so I just organized them by theme, and put them in a larger bag. I told Brad, I shouldn't have to buy another gift bag for a very long time. I have been buying them, but unnecessarily, as I have birthday, baby, wedding, and Christmas bags in there!



please excuse all other clutter and focus on the wonderful gift wrap organization :)


The other recent organizing I did was inspired by a picture in a magazine I got in the mail. It had a nice basket on top of the fridge, and immediately I knew what I needed to do with the clutter on top of our fridge. I picked up the basket at Home Goods, and wah-lah!


please excuse the crooked magnets :)


So there you go. Spring cleaning. Done. (Other things that need to be done... probably won't happen!)

Moving on!

List #11 - My Essentials

Brad hugs
Coffee the way Brad makes it
Netflix
my iPhone & charger
my fitbit
a good pen
chapstick
cozy blankets
a space heater (because I'm always freezing when Brad isn't)
my yeti cup
friend time
quiet time
my support group
a paycheck
my camera


List #12 - Things that feel like Home

Our actual home. (I mean...)
My parent's house
Theatre Baton Rouge
the smell of fresh laundry
being around my church family
Mandy & Billy's couch! Haha!
Um... that's all I got.

List #13 - Things I want to Make

Can I rename this to "Things i want someone to make for me"? Please? Because I am not crafty, and I don't like making things. I want to pay someone to make these things for me. Except the photo books. I can handle that.

more photo books
a coffee mug rack!!!!
a wreath for every season
a garden in the backyard
pretty flowers in the front yard
Um...that's good enough. :)

So there you go. Caught up! And I have so much more to blog about. I will do better! ;)



Thursday, March 3, 2016

52 Lists | Places I Want to Go

Ooh, the places I would go! There are lots of places on my bucket list. However, we really don't travel that much. I would love to, though... someday! I love to explore, I am curious by nature, and new adventures are exciting to me. I just need some money and time off work. Ha!


List #9 - Places I want to Go


Hawaii
Germany
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Savannah, Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
New York City (again but longer this time!)
Cozumel (again)
Any of the tropical islands
London, England
the coast of Maine
Seattle, Washington
Monterrey, California
Santa Monica, California (again)
Butler, Pennsylvania (to visit Laura again)
Tonawanda, New York (to visit my friend Rebecca)
Blue Ridge, Georgia (again)
Natchitoches, Louisiana (during the Christmas festival)


There are more... but these are the first to come to mind, and places I have always wanted to visit! :)

What places do you want to visit!?  

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Currently | March 2016

Thought I would copy off some favorite bloggers by doing a little post about my current thoughts/favorites/feelings. :) Here we go.


CURRENTLY

Anticipating... an amazing weekend! Going to dinner and to see Into the Woods at the theatre with some of my favorite girls this Friday, and having lunch with my family on Saturday for my birthday!

Cooking... Honestly, I could and should be doing a lot more cooking. I am a bit lazy about doing that regularly. I did make my favorite chicken pot pie for a family this past Saturday, though. That counts for something, right?!

Enjoying... American Idol this year. I haven't watched it the last 3 seasons because I was just OVER IT, but I decided to tune in for the final season, and I am so glad I did. I only disliked two of the top 14, but those are now gone, so... I am LOVING the entire top ten! YAY! (This never happens. Usually I only love 1 or 2, and I like 3 or 4, but dislike the rest, and those are the ones they keep week after week! Not this time! I love them all!)



I mean, really. I would post a picture of my favorites, but THESE ARE MY FAVORITES. Ha. If I HAD to pick a favorite, I would probably say Sonika. But I love Olivia too. And Dalton. And LaPorsha! And Lee. And Mackenzie. See my problem? I really like them all. So I don't think I will get disappointed this year.

ALSO, Kelly Clarkson's song, y'all!!! Oh my goodness! Beautiful! And I loved the duets with past idols. Wish they'd done that every year.

So anyway... moving on!

Feeling... Pretty good today, actually. I get the feeling somebody (or somebodies) have been praying for me, since my last post. Feels like that heavy weight sitting on my heart has been lifted. Thank you, Lord. And thank you, friends. Please don't stop. Love y'all!

Learning...to trust Him. He is trustworthy... so I can trust Him. Why is that so hard when it comes to infertility? When has He ever proven himself unfaithful to me?! Never. So yeah... more about this later. :)

Reading... The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant.

Wanting... pizza, okay?!!
.
Watching... My favorite shows: Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Law & Order SVU, Grey's Anatomy, American Idol & The Walking Dead. I am caught up on all of these except The Walking Dead, so no spoilers, okay!? Also, The Voice starts back up tonight!


What are you watching/reading/enjoying lately?!