Happy Birthday Mom!

Morning, kids! Sorry for the late post. I had a busy night last night and didn’t get home until almost 11.

First off, Happy Birthday Mom/Gina! And happy b-day to Britney Spears as well. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that you two share the same special day. Cut from the same cloth, I tell you.

Yesterday morning I attempted a 15 miler at the lake- but GOOD LORD was it windy. I felt like I was running in place. So I ended up cranking out a slow 7 miles and then heading home. No bueno.

For lunch our neighbor/adopted family member, Patty (Zach and I call her mom #2) and her mom took my mom and I out to lunch at this little tea room called Chocolate Angel. I’m cursing myself for not taking any photos. I just had some finger sandwiches and soup, but Patty ordered a grilled pimento cheese sandwich with candied jalapenos that was SO good, and her mom had a 4-cheese grilled cheese with bacon that was also yummy (yes, they both gave me a bite… probably to get me to stop drooling over their plates). We also split a side of this strawberry salad that had a pretzel crust on the bottom, a layer of cream cheese, and then strawberry gelatin on top. Pretty substantial food for a tea room, huh?

Class in the afternoon (my last Sanitation & Safety class, except for the final exam… woohoo!). I was itching to get out early- no such luck- because we were invited to a holiday open house featuring Sonya Renee jewelry, my favorite. I know I’ve talked about this stuff before. The lady who designs the jewelry, Gina Wright, actually lives only a few blocks away and has always been a GREAT resource for gifts. The open house did not disappoint. Some of the best finds were Christmas gifts for people who may or may not read the blog, but I can show you what I got my mom for her birthday. Because she picked it out.

I will be borrowing these.

And I also got to pick out one of my own Christmas gifts. I fell in love with these little stamped initial charms, so I put together a necklace with an H and a B (for Heather and Brian, awww) and a pearl (for June- the month we got married). Mom won’t hand over the goods until Christmas, but I did sneak a photo:

Dinner was fast and dirty. Takeout Thai- crazy noodles (drunken noodles to the less chaste Thai venues) with veggies and tofu.

And for dessert, a side of leftover cherry salad from Thanksgiving. Basically Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, cherries, and pineapple. Not the healthiest option but still a winner.

Survey Time!

Holiday decor up yet?

I ask this because apparently everyone in our freaking neighborhood put up the full lights/tree/nativity scene/ice skating penguins display in the past 5 days. I still have pumpkins on the fireplace.