It’s HIGH FIVE FOR FRIDAY time! The past week was one of my
very favorites ever…FOR SURE my favorite of 2014! I had birthday celebrations galore as I
turned 29 on the 12th, got to spend time with my gorgeous nieces and
sister in law, and dove head-first into a friendship that has already made me a
deeper, richer, and more beautiful person. I am exhausted (like crazy tired and
need an intravenous drip of coffee to survive the day) but my heart is full.
My actual birthday was Wednesday, March 12 - a wonderful day. I started the day with breakfast at Kimmie’s Coffee Cup in Brea with my dear friend Mindy. I forgot to bring lipstick and failed to put on earrings before leaving the house (Mindy and I meet for breakfast at 7am – life is really hard for me at 7am) so after we ate I ran to target and got myself little treasures (#favorite). Fully dressed and ready for the day, I headed to the office. My coworkers took me to lunch (I had breakfast again) and Rachel sent me flowers all the way from down under! After work Carrie and Shannon took me to dinner at The Filling Station in Downtown Orange (where I had my 3rd breakfast of the day) – it was DELICIOUS and the company was bar none. LOVE ME SOME CARRIE AND SHANNON!
Saturday Megan came to town from Palm Springs and Kenz was
plan free so we spent the entire day together. We started with lunch at Olive
Pit – I had feta fries - one of my downfalls in life (#lovemesomefetafries).
Then we did some damage at Nordy’s Rack, TJ Maxx, and the Brea Mall
(#nordyscoffeeforthewin). Gan and I bought some stellar new shades at GAP with
our 40% off coupons (#praisetheLord) and of course we visited the puppies! Food
and shopping checked off the list, it was time for relaxation – so we headed
for happy feet – one of my very favorite places on earth. I really can’t even
explain it with words – but basically it is $15 for a 60 minute “foot massage”
which includes a lovely little head and neck massage a very long and
concentrated foot massage and ends with about 10 minutes on a standard massage
table where I am always shocked and surprised by a little butt grazing. It
really is absolutely fantastic and a really cheap little escape. With super
greasy everything, we headed to ChaChas for dinner and frozen mojitos
(#frozenmojitosareagifttotheworld) and then we grabbed a movie and planted on
the couch to finish the evening off. It was basically a perfect day.
Sunday was my birthday brunch at Chapter One – my very favorite breakfast spot in Downtown Santa Ana. Chapter One has bottomless mimosas (for only $6 I might add) – and that is JUST my style! I was overwhelmed with laughter and joy deep in my soul as I sat at that table and looked at the incredible women who have become such a treasured part of my life. Jenny outdid herself with a gorgeous cake a decorated table and party favors for all my guests! We ate and sipped and the bagpiper played and we laughed until there were tears in our eyes and it was everything I could have hoped for.
Tuesday I headed for San Diego to steal some time with my precious nieces Madeline and Charlotte and my sweet sister Jamie who are in town for Spring Break from Oahu. The last time I hugged Madeline was July of 2013, so my arms were aching and desperate to have my little close. I got to squeeze Charlotte in September, but since then she had started walking and really playing – so much changes in a short time when they’re small. I took Wednesday off work and we wasted the entire day together. We went out to breakfast and played at the park for hours (#mybodystillhurts) watched Frozen and grabbed chickfila for dinner. Very quickly it was time to say goodbye again and I just couldn’t stop the tears. There is absolutely nothing better than waking up in the morning to Madeline or hearing her sweet voice say, “I love you one-hundred-million times”. I have said it before but will say it again – there is nothing I love more than being Aunt Shell.
My final highlight of the week is perhaps the most profound of all. I drove back from San Diego Wednesday evening in the dark, with puffy eyes from saying goodbye to my favorite people on earth and headed straight for my friend R. She told me she would make it her mission to cheer me up and she did not disappoint. Rachel is a new friend – a new friend who is an awful lot like me (#thesimilaritiesareshocking). She was raised in AWANAs, ordered pintos and cheese at Taco Bell as a child, doesn’t sleep nearly enough, is a little loud and potentially embarrassing in the best possible ways, believes in coffee, cherry7up is her favorite soda, she loves TJMaxx, craves relationship and chooses to love people exactly where they are with complete abandon. She has an incredible heart and an amazing story. She is a passionate, dedicated, driven person with a true desire to live and love well. We connected initially at TLC (the foster kid camp that makes my heart beat) and we just reconnected and kicked off what promises to be one of the most incredible friendships of my life. In a ridiculously short period of time, she has completely captured my heart and I am pumped to see where God is going with us – I have a feeling she might wreck me – but I’m ready to dig deeper and grow in profound ways. I truly believe I am a richer person because we are living life together and for that I am overwhelmingly grateful.
It really was a fabulous week – a week of gratitude and countless reminders of how great this one wild and crazy life can really be…
My actual birthday was Wednesday, March 12 - a wonderful day. I started the day with breakfast at Kimmie’s Coffee Cup in Brea with my dear friend Mindy. I forgot to bring lipstick and failed to put on earrings before leaving the house (Mindy and I meet for breakfast at 7am – life is really hard for me at 7am) so after we ate I ran to target and got myself little treasures (#favorite). Fully dressed and ready for the day, I headed to the office. My coworkers took me to lunch (I had breakfast again) and Rachel sent me flowers all the way from down under! After work Carrie and Shannon took me to dinner at The Filling Station in Downtown Orange (where I had my 3rd breakfast of the day) – it was DELICIOUS and the company was bar none. LOVE ME SOME CARRIE AND SHANNON!
Saturday Megan came to town from Palm Springs and Kenz was
plan free so we spent the entire day together. We started with lunch at Olive
Pit – I had feta fries - one of my downfalls in life (#lovemesomefetafries).
Then we did some damage at Nordy’s Rack, TJ Maxx, and the Brea Mall
(#nordyscoffeeforthewin). Gan and I bought some stellar new shades at GAP with
our 40% off coupons (#praisetheLord) and of course we visited the puppies! Food
and shopping checked off the list, it was time for relaxation – so we headed
for happy feet – one of my very favorite places on earth. I really can’t even
explain it with words – but basically it is $15 for a 60 minute “foot massage”
which includes a lovely little head and neck massage a very long and
concentrated foot massage and ends with about 10 minutes on a standard massage
table where I am always shocked and surprised by a little butt grazing. It
really is absolutely fantastic and a really cheap little escape. With super
greasy everything, we headed to ChaChas for dinner and frozen mojitos
(#frozenmojitosareagifttotheworld) and then we grabbed a movie and planted on
the couch to finish the evening off. It was basically a perfect day.Sunday was my birthday brunch at Chapter One – my very favorite breakfast spot in Downtown Santa Ana. Chapter One has bottomless mimosas (for only $6 I might add) – and that is JUST my style! I was overwhelmed with laughter and joy deep in my soul as I sat at that table and looked at the incredible women who have become such a treasured part of my life. Jenny outdid herself with a gorgeous cake a decorated table and party favors for all my guests! We ate and sipped and the bagpiper played and we laughed until there were tears in our eyes and it was everything I could have hoped for.
Tuesday I headed for San Diego to steal some time with my precious nieces Madeline and Charlotte and my sweet sister Jamie who are in town for Spring Break from Oahu. The last time I hugged Madeline was July of 2013, so my arms were aching and desperate to have my little close. I got to squeeze Charlotte in September, but since then she had started walking and really playing – so much changes in a short time when they’re small. I took Wednesday off work and we wasted the entire day together. We went out to breakfast and played at the park for hours (#mybodystillhurts) watched Frozen and grabbed chickfila for dinner. Very quickly it was time to say goodbye again and I just couldn’t stop the tears. There is absolutely nothing better than waking up in the morning to Madeline or hearing her sweet voice say, “I love you one-hundred-million times”. I have said it before but will say it again – there is nothing I love more than being Aunt Shell.
My final highlight of the week is perhaps the most profound of all. I drove back from San Diego Wednesday evening in the dark, with puffy eyes from saying goodbye to my favorite people on earth and headed straight for my friend R. She told me she would make it her mission to cheer me up and she did not disappoint. Rachel is a new friend – a new friend who is an awful lot like me (#thesimilaritiesareshocking). She was raised in AWANAs, ordered pintos and cheese at Taco Bell as a child, doesn’t sleep nearly enough, is a little loud and potentially embarrassing in the best possible ways, believes in coffee, cherry7up is her favorite soda, she loves TJMaxx, craves relationship and chooses to love people exactly where they are with complete abandon. She has an incredible heart and an amazing story. She is a passionate, dedicated, driven person with a true desire to live and love well. We connected initially at TLC (the foster kid camp that makes my heart beat) and we just reconnected and kicked off what promises to be one of the most incredible friendships of my life. In a ridiculously short period of time, she has completely captured my heart and I am pumped to see where God is going with us – I have a feeling she might wreck me – but I’m ready to dig deeper and grow in profound ways. I truly believe I am a richer person because we are living life together and for that I am overwhelmingly grateful.
It really was a fabulous week – a week of gratitude and countless reminders of how great this one wild and crazy life can really be…
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#lovemesomebirthdaycelebrations
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