"One political party closing out another from what should be a national solution..."

Increased government control.
Fewer choices.
Lower quality of care.
A set up for failure.
Welcome to our new health care plan, America.

Sea Salt & Vinegar

I just polished off half a bag... I'm going to give myself the benefit of the very little doubt I have... a quarter of a bag of Sea Salt & Vinegar potato chips. My tongue is raw; I might not be able to taste anything for a few days. But with The Help [Kathryn Stockett] in hand, I'd pretty much lost all sense of the world around me. Including those stinging, delicious chips I was shoveling into my mouth like there's no tomorrow.

What a fantastic book, I'm on such a great streak lately. You know how sometimes you read a bunch of books but you just keep thinking back to that one you read _______________ [last, five months, five years?] ago and thinking, "I wish I could find something that good again!". I every book I pick up is better than the last. I know it has to end soon, but oh how I love it.

Other things I'm loving right now:
The sixty degree weather we've had for the past few days.
The weather forecast for Saturday, ready for this? 68-70 degrees!
My trip to Philadelphia this weekend. First time. Philly Cheese steak here I come.
A fun birthday package from Regan that's on its way to me!
March 20, ONE DAY, until it's officially spring.
My new library card, how have I never had one of these? It’s soooo economical!
Just 27 more days and my Mama is coming to New York to visit me!!!! {happyhappyjoyjoy}. I'm so excited to run her into the ground {in a nice way} dragging her all over NY/CT to play with me. {biggest smile}.

Did you hear about the storm we had out here? We weathered a pretty intense storm in these here parts. It's was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Oodles of fallen trees, 500,000 people are on day SIX without electricity, and rain & winds you wouldn't believe. It's all over now, but for a while there I was having serious doubts about ever seeing the sunshine again. My friend Allison is one of those poor, poor dears living in Greenwich, CT [oxymoron] with no power. And I thought I was in bad shape being cut off from the internet/cable for a few days... "peace and blessings" Alli!

I’m fed up with Montessori preschool. Today baby A. came home in ugly pants that were most definitely not the cute denim mini-skirt I sent her in. They said it was “too constricting” and “hindering” her ability to move and play. PUh-lease lady. Put her in a cloth diaper and a bubble then, when she’s your baby [not that she’s mine]. But until she shows up in a straight jacket lets just keep her in those tight, hoochy baby clothes that “hinder” her ability to play, mmmkay?!

I have a March Madness bracket thingy that needs my attention...
I'm flying blind, having never watched a basketball game outside of a high school gymnasium, "ise for fun"! Also, the games are apparently divided into categories... "Round One, Round Two, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four & the Championship". When I read those I had to giggle. Does it not seem funny that they have such cutesy names for them? Really?? Elite Eight? I don't see why the Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 etc. was not sufficient. Maybe women were in charge of organizing the brackets. [Probably].

Is it bad that I’ve been driving with an expired license since my birthday? Could I get in a lot or just a little bit of trouble for that?

Oh! Another thing worth mentioning. This last weekend Alli and I drove up to New Haven, CT for Ingrid Michaelson's concert. That was her birthday present to me, I was so thrilled. It was a tiny venue, some random pub near Yale. It was... interesting. Such the [not] good ambiance for two sweet Mormon girls. But we had a blast. There was an extra large Urban Outfitters nearby so of course I got a cute pair of floral tennies. [& now that I have them home with me, I SWEAR they smell like bacon. Eww. I might be crazy, I know.] The music was splendid. She is so talented. She forgot to sing my favorite [silly Ingrid] Far Away. Every time I hear that song I'm ready to pick up and run off to Maine to find me a lobsterman. You should YouTube it and know why.

Should I apologize for the fact that this post is all over the place? I apologize.
The end.

PS- This is what life looked like for a few days over here. Not just in this one spot, all over. Not exaggerating.

Veintiuno!

Tuesday, March 2nd.

This is how my day started:

"Knock, Knock!" {So loud in my dreamy state}. I jump out of bed, a little shaken, to open a door. I'm not sure which one... I'm still half asleep... but someone is knocking on something. Not the bedroom door, not the living room door. Must be the UPS guy {at 7:30am?}. Nope, it's just Mckay, at my front door so handsome in his work clothes. What is he holding in his hands? Breakfast. For me. Because I am the birthday girl. OH MY. My eyes took a little bit to adjust slash open all the way. I'm sure he was a little nervous, or at least amused, at the disheveled & scary sight of me. We crawled into bed and had a yummy breakfast together. Then we snuggled before he drove back to work. That was probably the best part of my day. Trying not to be too mushy... but seriously, can you blame a girl?

After breakfast, I had a pretty easy day as far as work goes. Kelly and Ariana went to the Cheesecake factory and brought home some coconut cheesecake {favorite!} I even got to blow out 3 candles, with Ariana's help. I opened some presents from the Akrams and we all ate cheesecake together. It was really sweet. Ariana sang part of the "happy birthday song" to me, until the candles and "cupcakes" were too distracting to focus any longer. Please note my delectable, glitzy TOMS. Thanks Mama!

Birthday dinner at PF Chang's that night, the Mongolian Beef is to die for. Friends came and we laughed and stuffed ourselves and read fortunes. {Happier days are definitely ahead of you}
At dinner my friend Ethan asked me, "What are you going to accomplish this year? What new and exciting things will you do?" Food for thought. Maybe I'll bungee jump, or traipse around Europe, or go white water rafting. Maybe I'll bake a creme brulee all by myself, or finish a Sudoku, or send a love note in the mail. Those would all be new and exciting, stay tuned!
After dinner Alli had us all over to her house for cake and presents and games. Alli and Lindsay made me my special birthday cake and you better believe all 21 of those candles were extinguished on the first try... I really want my wish.

And don't worry that I now own every single episode of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman EVER MADE {YESSS!}, am going to Ingrid Michaelson's concert, and have a little bit of greenery to spend on a new JCrew swimsuit. Birthdays rock.

Credit where credit is due: The ones I love for making it such a perfect day. XO!