Birthday Celebration!

If you're wondering how to celebrate turning 29, I can't tell you the perfect way but I will tell you what I think worked. I spent eight hours working (like normal), and I took my lunch break with Sabrina & Brenda.

We all met up at Cabaret in downtown Buffalo. We had a great lunch, and they gave me a great gift card for White House, Black Market- that I can't wait to use!



After lunch it was back to work, but it wasn't too bad because quitting time came quickly. And shortly after lunch Matt sent me a text with a clue that something sweet was hidden in the kitchen- and I found a bag of dark chocolate!


I did have to do some dishes after work that had been piling up, (which will hopefully one of the last few times!) While doing the dishes I managed to cut myself on a cup that had gotten chipped. It was in the worst spot- between my pinkie and ring finger! Can you say ouch? So after that happened I quit washing dishes and walked away.

After the incident Matt called and told me to get ready because he'd be picking me up in 20 minutes- though he wouldn't tell me where we were headed. I selected a dress and then patiently awaited his arrival.

He took me to a restaurant that we've both been wanting to try, but found the place empty and with the doors locked. We don't think they went out of business, so we'll try again another time. We decided to head further down Elmwood Ave. and decided on Toro Tapas Bar.

A Glass of Malbec for me...


Breads & Spreads with a fresh salad...


Grilled Flat Iron Steak


Since it is a tapas bar we shared all the dishes, and everything was great! At the end of dinner Matt passed me this envelop...



Inside the envelop I found a gift certificate to Capello's Salon & Day Spa. Matt's suggestion is a haircut; first because I'm always saying I should get one and secondly because my hair is always the same. He also suggests I go into the stylist and say "Do whatever you want- just make me look young." That's a scary thought, but maybe I'll just do it!


After a lovely dinner we did what we always seem to end up doing on my birthday- we went to Home Depot. Home improvements are summer projects so I guess I have to share my day with the house, and I'm okay with that because we are so close to having a new kitchen! We picked up the supplies to tile the back splash and a garbage disposal.

Today, Saturday, my family is coming to check out the kitchen, take me to lunch to celebrate my birthday, and we are going to go on the Maid of Mist at Niagara Falls- hopefully I'll get some great pictures. After they leave we will be tiling the back splash! Today will be very interesting, so stay tuned for the fun to come.

Twenty-nine and doing fine....

So Twenty-Nine years ago today, bright and early in the morning in Orlando, two parent welcomed a baby girl into the world. That girl was me!



Well twenty-nine years later here I am living a pretty nice life in Buffalo. I've got many things to be thankful for and feel like I'm in a pretty good point in my life.

#1- I'm the healthiest I've ever been in my adult life. Shedding seventy pounds was probably the best decision I made in the last two years, it's given me the chance to do so many more things (and do even more shopping!).

BEFORE PICTURE


AFTER PICTURE


#2- On September 25, 2004 on met my now husband when I was least expecting it, (Yes it really does happen when you aren't looking.) And this past year on September 4, 2009 I married him in a beautiful ceremony with an absolutely perfect party to celebrate.

Our first picture:

The Wedding:


#3- I have a great family that has always supported me and my choices, and when I married Matt I got an even bigger family. We always have a great time when we get a chance to visit family! I regularly get updates from home and frequent pictures of my newest nephew and niece.

Brionna-


Austin-


#4- My awesome friends that have been there for me throughout the years! I love how with all my friends we don't have to speak everyday, but we pick up where we left off. And I'm ashamed to say it but sometime it can be over a year between meeting up. Life gets busy, but we're always there for each other.

(Sorry no picture here, but I can't seem to find a good one- guess we need to do more group shots.)

#5- Matt and I purchased our first house three years ago, which has given us a great place to call home and equity in our future. We've taken a diamond in the rough and each year make improvements that will give us a great return on investment when we decide it is time to move on.



#6- My new love is almost finished. Yes, I love my kitchen! Or should I say our kitchen since Matt is the one who designed it and has done all the installation over the last three months! This is certainly the largest investment on our house so far, but personally if I would looking for a house I'd buy this one just for the kitchen! And some of family/friend connections have contributed to this remodel.





#7- Being able to set the goal of completing a half-marathon, and then doing what needed to get done to prepare myself for 13.1 miles of my feet hitting the pavement to cross the finish line! I completed it on May 1, 2010 in 2 hours 47 minutes, which isn't fast but I fulfilled my goal of doing it.



#8- I've been looking forward to my kitchen so I can get back to baking and creating. I've had no access to a stove for three months, therefore no new cake creations or cookies! So those of you that know me personally can be looking forward to some goodies when I visit you in the future.




#9- In December 2009 I decided to start a blog, and by January 2010 I was actually blogging. It started out as a place for me to write about half-marathon training, and has evolved to a way to give the idea of life here in Buffalo. Family and friends seem to enjoy knowing what is going on in our lives, and a few readers appear to enjoy hearing what I have to say or what we're doing. In the future I may also be doing some giveaways- and everyone loves free stuff!

So after completing twenty-nine years of life, I'd say that overall I'm doing very well. I have a great life and I'm sure many opportunities coming in the future. So for this coming year I have a few things I'd like to accomplish before the big birthday. (We all know what number comes after 29!)

So in the next year I plan to:
-Successfully complete the Warrior Dash (details to come)
-Find other exciting events to do with friends
-Purchase of Digital SLR camera and actually learn how to use it
-Do some major baking- trying new recipes and creating my own
-Setting new healthy goals and accomplishing them
-Continuing the house remodel of our two untouched rooms

And adding new things as the year progresses. Happy New Year to Me!

Matt's Birthday

It was Matt's Birthday Yesterday!!!

So in celebration I had little gifts and clues for him to find all day, ending with a clue of where to meet me after work. I had to do some planning to get all the gifts and clues hidden in his car or lunch bag.

For dinner I gave him the clue needed to lead him to SAMPLE! If you're not from Buffalo, it is a small restaurant in Allentown that is based around serving miniture sized foods to give you a sample of many tastes. We got the Chef's choice, which means we got a taste of the specialities on the menu served in small courses. The food is small but when eaten over a span of time it is definitely filling. Here are some pictures we took:

First a picture of the Birthday Boy!


Our Main Entrees:


Clearing the plates was not an issue!


This was our dessert sampler:


Alright off to the gym for our Friday lifting and a 2 mile run! Maybe I'll be inspired later and write another post- we'll see!