I'm 30!!

It was my birthday yesterday, and let me tell you, in the grand scheme of birthdays, it was a great one. I had a birthday party while in Utah over the weekend and yesterday I received several birthday greetings, birthday balloons for the office (that advertised my age, yikes!!), a bouquet of flowers (including my new favorite flower...stock. They smell like cloves!!), a slice of my all time favorite cake from the tunnel, and an evening full of surprises from Brian, including dinner at a fancy restaurant with an arrangement of roses waiting for me on the table, a thoughtful card, a gift certificate for some spa treatments, Harry Potter on IMAX/3D and Blue Bell strawberry ice cream. He definitely spoiled me! What a great way to start life in my 30's. Thanks everybody!

My flowers and birthday cotton candy (complete with a sparkler on top)

Don't worry, we ate all of it!

Lookin hot in our 3D glasses!!

Happy Birthday indeed!!

It's not even my birthday yet (I turn the big THREE-OH tomorrow), but already it's shaping up to be a good one. I was able to fly home to Utah over the weekend to receive birthday wishes from my family in person, as opposed to this way; the flower shop in the tunnel is offering free orchids to anyone who has a flower plate (which I do...bought myself a plate arrangement last week); and I just learned I won a giveaway over at Design Mom for a gift certificate to DownEast Basics (my go-to for cami's and tee's). The only thing that would make this birthday even better would be a wheat grinder. (Just kidding mom...don't even think about it!)

It's a Mystery

In an effort to educate myself on what is going on in the world, I listen to NPR on my (very short...don't be too jealous) commute to and from the office. It seems that my drive coincides with the arts and entertainment segment each morning, which is just fine by me as I'd much rather listen to stories about books instead of bombings. The other day I listened to a piece entitled "Mysteries You Might Have Missed Along the Way" in which a book editor (?) and the radio host discuss several great mystery novels. For those of you who love to read, or are in a book club and looking for ideas, you should check it out here. I'm particularly excited to read 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.' The heroine sounds quite charming.

I'm also itching to read 'Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure' (which I also heard about on NPR) which follows Harry Truman and his wife's post-presidency road trip.

I need to get a library card STAT!

The Spot!

When Brian and I were in Galveston over the 4th of July visiting his family we attempted to eat at the local hot spot "The Spot" for burgers but the line was ridiculous. Luckily, we now live only 45 minutes away, and because his dad is down there we have good reason to go down for a visit, which is what we did last night. I wasn't sure we would go back to The Spot because Brian has been eating very healthy lately, but luckily we did! While we waited for his dad to join us, we added our mark to the graffiti covered tablecloths.

Here's mine:

Here's Brian's (isn't it cute??)

It's our initials in a tree if you can't decode the blur

We tried frickles (fried pickles), yummy burgers and had great conversation with his dad.

In related news, Brian started his big job today. I can't wait to see him tonight (in his suit with all of the special agent goodies on his belt...yum...) and hear all about it!

present ideas...

My mother has threatened to get me a wheat grinder for my birthday if I don't give her a birthday list this week. While a wheat grinder would be nice and functional, it's not exactly what I want for my big 30th birthday next week. The problem is that I'm drawing a complete blank as to what I might want, so I need your help. What things do you have your eye on these days??

Update

Since my last post I have (in chronological order):

-had several wedding planning and moving related meltdowns
-tried on wedding dresses
-celebrated my engagement
-packed up all of my belongings (with the help of my mom, Holly, Brian, dad, and Betsy)
-said goodbye to all of my amazing DC friends
-said goodbye to all of my fabulous co-workers
-Had my last meal at Lost Dog (YUM!!!)
-said goodbye (for now) to my beloved city
-written a list of things I never did in DC
-drove to Texas (with a pit stop in Memphis) with the help of my dad
-dropped my dad off at the airport
-seriously questioned my decision to move to TX all alone
-shopped my fears away
-drove around my new city to get my bearings
-started work with a new practice in a new office
-met some really great new co-workers
-discovered the Houston tunnel system
-got the keys to Brian's apartment (mine won't be ready until the end of this week)
-unloaded my car
-settled in for sleep practically on the floor because my stuff is still in my garage in Virginia
-saw and killed with my own bare hands (and a trash bag) my first (and hopefully last) tree roach (the BIG nasty kind)
-didn't sleep well as a result of the big nasty roaches I imagined were crawling all over me
-discovered I have the most amazing commute EVER (it's a straight shot, 17 minutes MAX door to desk)
-bought myself flowers
-bought myself an airbed so I don't have to sleep with cockroaches anymore
-cried to Brian mostly every night because living in a new place all alone without any stuff is HARD
-went to dinner with old friend Ali and her fiance Rob
-felt SO MUCH better about my move
-ate the best cake ever (yellow with chocolate frosting from Tree Beards in the tunnel)
-met the sweet Holly who made the most delicious brownies and introduced me to Febreeze dual scent thingies (which Brian's apartment desperately needed)
-saw Harry Potter (so great)
-three months left until I get MARRIED!!
-waited anxiously for Brian to arrive in TX
-did some shopping with Ali
-ate chips with creamy jalapeno dressing at Chuy's (something I've been craving ever since reading about it on Jenny's blog years ago) and discovered it truly is the best thing ever
-Had a movie marathon to distract myself from Brian's impending arrival (Last Chance Harvey is a total snoozefest)
-Got a call from Brian at 5:30 am on Sunday with a request to let him into the apartment complex
-a sweet reunion (you know...running in a field toward each other in slow motion until you meet in the middle with hugs and kisses...that kind)
-testing out our new tv and cable (250 channels complete with a DVR that can record 4 shows at once...I'm never leaving the house)
-Really excited to be here. Life is good.