This year my birthday extended over three weeks (three weeks!) and I must confess, I’m not complaining.
My girlfriends and I (a new group of girls I was introduced to less than a year ago by a dear friend) try to have girls’ nights once per month, but we hadn’t seen each other since our Christmas Party in December! Anyways, we decided to plan a get together a week prior to my birthday and I mentioned to my friend (the introducer) that it’d be nice to go out and in a way celebrate my birthday with those girls and since this girls’ night was so close, we could roll it into one. I figured we might say a, ‘Cheers! Happy Birthday Amanda!’ over drinks at dinner. Boy was I wrong. My girlfriend made it her personal mission that we celebrate my birthday that night and she made that very clear when she showed up at my apartment before dinner with the amazing, custom cake above. Yes, that is a big chocolate shoe. It brought tears to my eyes!
From there, we got ready and met up with the other four girls and had an amazing Italian dinner complete with complimentary shots from our server. Afterwards, we went back to my place and cut the cake, had some drinks and laughs. It was one of the best nights of my life (that sounds pretty bold, but it was).
I have spent three birthdays in Florida: five to six, eleven to twelve and this year, twenty-seven to twenty-eight. Pretty lucky, right? I’d say so.
I flew down to to Florida the day before my birthday so was there to celebrate and it played out perfectly. In the morning, my mom, step-grandmother and her niece all went to get pedicures at a Cosmetology school. It was interesting and fun. The pedicures were only $14, which is a steal (I know I mentioned $8 before but the numbers were mixed up) and everyone was very nice. I picked out an orangey-red colour but cannot remember the OPI name.
F21 top, American Apparel bandeau, Almost Famous shorts, Bamboo sandals, H&M bangle & Dollarama ring
We hit up Target after our pedicures and I must have tried on half the store. I walked away with some new skinny pants (in magenta!), a bikini top, some Elf make-up brushes and the brightest pink blush you have ever seen. I certainly didn’t buy a lot, but it was our first day of shopping so I didn’t want to go too crazy.
On that note, I had four more things in my cart that I was planning on buying (cat-eye sunglasses, a white bf cardi, a coral pencil skirt and some jewellery) but put them back at the last minute. Do you ever do that?
Ashley B jacket (last seen here), Rachel Roy pashmina, Charles Jourdan purse & Diva Lounge wedges (last seen here)
That night, my whole family (seven of us) went to my favourite US chain, Chili’s, for dinner. We had two-for-one drinks (love this concept as we don’t have that in Canada!) and I got my favourite: the buffalo chicken sandwich with coleslaw. Mmmm.
Our server got wind that it was my birthday and came along after dinner with some others, sang to me and presented me with the most delicious brownie you’ve ever had. I shared.
Edit: Forida recap HERE.
Jacob Connexion button-down, thrifted leather skirt (last seen here), Joey heels (last seen here), Suzy belt & Dollarama ring
Once I returned home, I was taken out for a very special dinner to a favourite restaurant of mine. Since the weather was so mild, I took advantage and went bare-legged with highly uncomfortable shoes and rocked some extensions.
What you didn’t see:
My work friends (which includes one of my besties) surprised me by taking me to lunch at one of my favourite lunch spots.
I thought it was just going to be me and my girlfriend and I was saying how I really shouldn’t go and spend money since I was leaving for Florida the following week. She said she would treat me for my birthday and little did I know; we showed up and the other three were there (one of whom is on mat-leave currently!) and they had already ordered (my favourite dish) and were waiting.
It was so kind. They also gifted me with the sweetest card and a gift card to one of my favourite stores, Winners!
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Sometimes I get a craving for something sweet, even though I'm not hungry.
Okay, who am I kidding? I frequently get sweet cravings.
Tonight was no different but I knew if I tore open the bag of mini-eggs I have stashed in my purse, imense guilt would set in immediately after especially since I induldged enough this weekend. So, the alternative? A make-shift 'healthy' apple crisp.
It's has fruit, that's healthy, right?
It's simple. Go!
You will need:
* 1 apple
* 1 tsp. butter
* 1 heaping spoon of whole wheat flour
* cinnamon
* vanilla frozen yoghurt (optional and personally, I like the option)
With a fork, mix your melted butter and flour together until it forms a pebble-like consistency. Peel the apple (remove the skin) and slice into flat-ish pieces into a bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Sprinkle with flour/butter mixture. Add more apple pieces, repeat & microwave for about four minutes (or until it looks cooked). Enjoy.
Another shot of the beach. Your thoughts: Yawn. Snore. Boring! I'm on holidays though and not doing full fledged outfit picture taking and all that jazz... Is it Tuesday or Wednesday? I can't keep up. That's what true holidays feel like, right?
Shopping purchases post coming soon. Two days of vacation left.
Have you ever met someone you felt you knew for a long, long time, but really only knew them online? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hang out with another blogger? Have you ever Skyped, emailed and bonded simply through today's technology yet never physically been in the presence of someone you consider your 'friend'?
Jamie from Glam Latte and I 'met' over two years ago after discovering each others blogs. We became Internet friends fast and blog comments turned to emails and emails turned to Skyping and last week that turned into meeting in person. She tells the story so much better than I, but I have to say it was so great finally meeting my BBFF (best blogger friend for-evah; yes, we are that cheesy and we love it). It was a fluke and the stars aligned or something, but it happened. We had lunch, chatted for hours, and got one picture (ha!).
Have you ever met a blog friend?
You guys I'm in Florida! I'm having such a great time and am finally unwinding and relaxing. You know when you first arrive on vacation and you're all go-go-go!? Well, I am, and it takes me a few days to come down from the regular pace of life and just simply enjoy doing nothing, basically. I think I'm almost there.
Today I spent all day at the beach, which was glorious. It was over 80 degrees, sunny and breezy (we are staying in Cocoa Beach, Florida so the wind off the ocean is great as you can lie on the beach all day and not sweat, but it's still uber warm). I finished reading my book, I swam in the ocean (I body surfed & boogie boarded), I walked down to the pier and I sat out in the sun and relaxed (wearing SPF 30, of course). My spray tan is slowly fading and the albino in me is slowly showing her face (ha), but that's okay. People often comment when I come back from vacation that I 'didn't get much colour', but that's because I'm so fair skinned that one week in the sun isn't going to render me much colour, on top of that, I do tend to stay out of the sun (save today) as I try to be preventative (pre-mature aging) and I know I won't get much colour anyways!
I just finished dinner with my family and we ate at the condo for the first time since I've been here. Last night we went to this little pizzaria on the main street where you can get a pasta dish, salad and garlic bread for $5.99. What?! Where I'm from, that would be at least $15 and it was good, and there was a lot of food. I love eating down here, it's cheap and the portions are huge.
So I have five more days left in my holiday and then it's home time. So far the weather has been amazing, sunny and beautiful. Yesterday, my mom and I hit up Ross, Payless Shoes & Bealls. Although I tried on a ton of stuff at Ross, I only walked away with a couple items. The day before that was more successful at Target where I found a couple bikini tops, some new skinny pants (in magenta!) and some awesome Elf make-up products (we don't have Elf in Canada) including a super bright pink blush. We still need to hit TJ Maxx and maybe a few other places and I really hope I can go to a favourite: Bijoux Terner, which is at the Orlando outlet, before I head home.
Hope you are all having a great weekend & fabulous St. Patty's day!
Not my favourite photo, but for blog purposes, I'm letting you guys see it!
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