Monday, April 21, 2008

The First Week

My first week of being twenty four went fabulously. Monday, my actual birthday, I was surprised by this lovely bouquet at lunchtime and with an ice cream cake later on that night. Of course Monday and Tuesday both were a bit hectic with last minute tax returns and extensions to help with, but I did a happy dance at 5pm Tuesday evening when I headed out to my car. I picked Justin up at the house and we drove back downtown to meet my coworkers for our annual tax party, which I consider my day late birthday present, complete with an open bar. The food was divine (our whole table ordered tenderloin medallions that came with the best mashed potatoes I've ever eaten and my cheesecake for dessert was simply heaven), the paid entertainment soft in the background and the real entertainment (Carrie's husband Johnathon) hilarious. He's never met a stranger and I think everything that comes out of that man's mouth makes me laugh.

Wednesday night I met up with one of Justin's friends for supper in Georgetown. It'd been a while since I'd given in to half price appetizers at Applebees and she and I both like to eat cheap, so it was the best choice. Her fiance had been out of town for almost two weeks and I wanted to help get her out of the house. We talked about a lot of random things, enjoyed food that was so not healthy for us and parted in time for me to get home to Justin a little early and be lazy with him on our two month anniversary :)

Thursday night, Justin took me out to Hibachi for my birthday dinner just the two of us. The food was wonderful (the chef made a 'volcano' out of rings of onions for us) and of course getting dressed up to go somewhere with the boy is always fun. I'd also gotten my hair cut the day before and was super excited to show off the new do (better pictures to come below)



I took a vacation day on Friday as my birthday gift and to get away from the office I'd spent so much time in the past three months. I got to laze around that morning and play with my new hair style, eat lunch with Justin and then run some errands in the afternoon. We met up with several of the friends around 7 at a quaint little Mexican restaurant in downtown and had kinda meh service, but great food.















After dinner (and Cassie's 44 ounce maragarita), we headed back to Justin's house for some drinks and conversation. The night went well, everyone had a good time and of course the boys broke out Guitar Hero :)
















It was all good fun and I'm so thankful for everyone that came out to celebrate! Here's to another year of love, friends and fun!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Too Young to Be This Gray

Today marks the beginning of my 24th year of life. I went to bed last night not really thinking about the fact that I would indeed be turning another year older at the strike of 7:04am. But when I woke up with my alarm at 7, I couldn't help but be excited for my day.

Apparently though when I was sorting through careers that interested me, I failed to make the connection that in accounting, I would spend the rest of my pre-retirement days not only working on my birthday, but working late and be surrounded by stress levels through the roof co-workers. The joys of Tax Day.

So far, my day has been a decent one. I've been busy at work, but nothing too stressful. I was surprised at lunchtime of a delivery of a dozen roses from my Justin. They were completely unexpected and so very beautiful and have turned into aroma therapy :) He really shouldn't have, but I won't deny the appreciation and smiles that I have for him for doing so.

The week is goign to be a busy one though. Saturday night kicked the festivities off with a great Hibachi dinner wtih Justin's friends to celebrate the group's April birthdays. Good food, good fun, good company. Tuesday night will be the annual office Tax Party, which offers an enjoyable evening to start winding down from the four months of stress, a free meal that's usually amazing and an open bar. Happy Birthday to me! I consider it my birthday gift from the owners :) Wednesday night I'm meeting Justin's friends Brittany in Georgetown for cheap appetizers at Applebee's. Her fiance is out of town for another week and I want to help get her out of their apartment for one night. Thursday night Justin and I are having our couple birthday dinner for me. And Friday we are gathering with my friends for food and drinks at Justin's house afterwards. Sunday will be birthday dinner at my mamaw's for me, my dad and uncle. There's goign to be so much food in the next seven days- ten pounds will be added to my ever expanding thighs :)

It's odd for me to think that I've already been here for 24 years. It's already been six years since I finished high school, two since I finished college. I've been at my "big girl" job for two years this June, my Rav will be a year old on the 21st. Two years since I completely moved away from home. My how time goes so quickly.

Pictures from the busy week to come- I promise :)

Friday, April 4, 2008

It's a Date Night, Baby!

Although Justin and I spend almost every night together (and by almost I mean I may go to see the girls after work then come back to his house to sleep), I still get excited when we decide to have a date night for just the two of us. Most of our activities revolve around the company of our friends, which is a wonderful thing to me. It's an almost amazing feeling that we do so much with his close friends and mine considering the last chap hardly ever made the effort. Still, knowing that I'm going to have Justin all to myself tonight, sharing longing looks across the table and maybe a bottle of wine later makes my heart happy.

We veered off on every tangent imaginable last night trying to come up with a plan of what to do. We discussed wanted to try something different in the way of food, and since I asked to be taken to a Hibachi place for my birthday, Justin suggested BD's Mongolian Grill. He and the guys from work go there sometimes for lunch and apparently it's very tasty.

I had orginally wanted to something outdoors since the weather has been spring-like temperature wise, but in true spring fashion, it's been raining the past two days. I take credit though in being a good enough Muse that Justin came up with the idea of checking out Comedy Off Broadway, a small comedy club nestled in Lexington Green out by the mall here in Lexington. I've been there once, on the eve of what was the initial decline in mine and Kent's relationship (and it was for Cassie's douchebag of an ex-bf's birthday so of course it was a recipe for disaster). Tonight though, I know will prove to be a much better time from the start. We watched a clip of the comedian that's going to be performing, and he's true to his "good 'ol Southern boy" description. It should be loads of laughs.

The night will wind down with us at the house, probably lazing on the couch or playing Guitar Hero while sharing a bottle of wine. I'll wear my jeans a little longer than I normally do in order to fully get my fill of being cute for the night. I asked him last night what he was wearing and he laughed when he said "I don't think that far ahead" whereas I had just spent part of my work day pondering upon which shirt to wear. I settled on a new retro-ish style shirt I bought a few weeks back and my trusty jeans. It was the reaction to me saying I was going to wear my heels for him that really made my night though: "Well, I think I might really like that." Pictures to come later :)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Wedding Wonderings

I could tell story after story about how I've dreamed of a gorgeous wedding all my life. And though I have to admit there have been a few people in the past to fill the groom's role in my make believe world, I also have to say in the same breath that I now realize it was more about the actual wedding than what would come after. However, I say with conviction (and pure love) that every moment during my day that I dream of when I'll wear white, it's because of the fact that I want to hurry up and get to that happily ever after with my love :)

With that being said, there are far too many bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, flower options, colors and themes to ponder than there are hours in a day, month or year but I have so much fun finding new treasures between my own stumblings and some well placed links in the emails from Flo :) That billing code that I need for not doing actual work at my job really should be for wedding research.

I like the idea of an outdoor ceremony, late spring or early fall so the wonderful Kentucky humidity doesn't cause any of the guests to pass out or sweat off ten pounds during the vows. I hope that I would be blessed with a very subtle, cool breeze as well as a blue sky. Bridesmaids in flowy dresses with small bouquets. The little flower girls standing pretty in their ribbons. A reception designed around our favorite things and a cake that is to die for. So many intricacies that are going to be perfect for us. I cannot wait :)

Well, I suppose an engagement at some point would be a good first step in the process though, lol.