The Best Start to Another Year

Without a doubt, this has been the best birthday I've had in an incredibly long time.  I have never had anyone put so much care and detail into planning my birthday and it was fantastic. In fact, for the last several days, I have struggled with not having enough people I can tell how awesome my birthday was.  Because it was awesome.  So you all get to read about it. Yay, you :)

First, I woke up with white chocolate banana pancakes- my favorite :)- and a bottle of Starbuck's sugar free hazelnut syrup (my favorite.).  It's pitiful, but I loved playing barista again!

 And then we headed to Vintage Wine Fest 2012, which was incredible.  I baked, by the way, way sunburned, but it was a ton of fun.  If the wine fest comes around again next year, you should go.  You pay $22, get a tasting glass, and then walk around to a few dozen wineries and sample some 200-kinds of wine, eat some kettle corn, you know, the fair/festival deal. It was great!

Then it was back to the apartment to cool down and then surprise reservations at the Melting Pot. I hadn't been before, but all I can say is cheesy, chocolatey, gooey goodness- from start to finish!

the Melting Pot

When I was in school, my roommates and I turned Psych (from USA) into a tradition.  Nearly every Wednesday we set aside the hour, had people over, made snacks, and paused from school and stress and life to watch Psych. I love it. It's still one of my favorite shows- and it reminds me of my friends (especially the ones who are now far away.)  Anyway, all of that is to say that Mimi was not around for that the first time around, but... she bought me the seasons.  All of them :). So now she's in.  Seriously, an awesome present :)

Anyway, there's so much more to talk about. A Sunday full of relaxing, watching Psych, and sipping wine.  Flowers delivered to work on Monday, dinner with my best friends... The long and the short of it is, it was an incredible birthday.  Every day and every detail was thought out and made for me and... it was amazing :).   I don't know that I've ever had someone think through my birthday so completely.  And I feel really, really loved.

I'm a year older, and the way it's going so far... I think this could be the best year yet :).  I can't wait.

The Aftermath

Well, the much-anticipated 21st birthday of the beautiful Mimi is passed.  We started off a little shaky, working until 12 turned into1 turned into working until 4 (which left a swearing-like-a-sailor Heather Jo sitting on the couch bitching about the pointlessness of planning) but never fail! After I calmed the heck down, I reorganized, quite literally re-did my itinerary (yes... I had an itinerary... I would be ashamed, but on the whole it worked out :)  ) and pulled it off!

First stop was Easley winery.http://www.easleywinery.com/.  Strongly recommend it.  We had a very informative, but quite interesting tour of the winery and then tasted 14 wines between the two of us (on the cheap I might add... tour was free and it was only $3/person to sample 7 wines each!)  And then we came back to the apartment to pretty up for dinner and off to....

http://www.barcelonatapas.com/

Again-- first note: highly recommend it.  We ate all sorts of wonderful food, and more food.... and more food... we both had drinks and we got out of there in under $55 (tip included).  In fact, our favorite menu item, Queso de Cabra al Horno-- essentially baked goat cheese with spicy marinara sauce, with cute garlic breads to dip in it-- was so good we did our best to replicate it at home tonight.  I must say, I think we succeeded for the most part!  Our little garlic breads looked different, but they were still good.  I don't have a pic of ours, but here's what we ate last night:

So good.  After that, we headed back to the apartment for some champagne :).  It was a simple night, but a beautiful one, I think.  It isn't everything I planned, and probably a good lesson in the pointlessness of overplanning.... but what're you gonna do.  We toasted her 21st with love and bubbly.  Doesn't get much better than that.

JoJo

Hallmark Moment

Well, birthday part 1 has been a success.  Mimi has to work this morning, but she found a birthday card, a fresh pot of coffee (of course), and special 21st birthday cup with chocolate eclair desert in it in the fridge.  Given the tears and hug before she left, I think she found it all :).

Oh, but the card, I do love it, so I thought I'd share.

Having you to love is reason enough

to celebrate...

but now that it's your birthday,

there's all the more reason.

I could wish you

all kinds of happy things... 

 and you'd deserve them all...

 but since you're so special,

 I want to wish you 

all the happiness you've given me. 

You're a very warm and caring person, 

 and you've made

 such a difference in my life.

No matter where we go

or what we do,

you're the one

who makes those times wonderful.

That's why I hope

your birthday celebration

is especially wonderful for you...

After all, your birthday

only happens once a year... 

 and someone like you

 only happens

 once in a lifetime.

                            -Kay Andrew

Get it, Hallmark.

Card Shopping

You know something you don't think about?  Card shopping.  I was staring at rows of cards today because someone (I'll let you figure out who... :) ) has her 21st birthday this Saturday, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out which cards I was supposed to pick up.

The first few choices were logical- for her - birthday. Check. I can quickly eliminate "sister" and "mother." But then... she's not my "friend", but all the "wife" and "significant other" cards talk about how lucky of a man I am.  I don't feel like a lucky man.  Don't get me wrong-- I feel incredibly blessed, and incredibly lucky, but I can't claim that I feel even kind of manly.

I'm telling you, one of those things you just don't think about, lol.  But despite Hallmark's best intentions, love is love and I found my card, thank you :). I'll be happy to share more after the much-anticipated birthday is over.  Speaking of which, I think I have been planning this birthday for about a month... if possible I will update you throughout the day Saturday but let's just say... it's gonna be WONDERFUL :).

JoJo