Weekend recap: a birth!

Okay so when I say "a birth" I actually  mean celebrating my birth. Same thing.

Thank you again everyone for your kind birthday wishes and comments on my baby pictures. I hate to say it, but I agree with you all, I was absolutely adorable. I mean look at those eyes and that face! To this day, my dad loves that second picture, drool and all. Sadly that hasn't changed as I've gotten older too.

Anyhow, here's a full weekend recap, scary lesbian bar and all.

Thursday

Yes, I started celebrating my birthday weekend on Thursday (because I was off of work on Friday!)

We had our company outing at DeLaCosta downtown and it was a stellar time. The food was amazing (prosciutto! salmon! blackberry flan!) and I had my new favorite drink - move over Cherry Bomb.

My new drink obsession is a "muddle." It's like a fresh fruit mojito actually. The watermelon one had fresh watermelon chunks, vodka, another unknown little mix, crushed ice and a splash of club soda or Sprite. This amazing concoction is shaken together and served in a tall glass. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I would go back for the muddle and flan any day of the week - and twice on Sunday.

Friday - Party time!

My actual birthday evening is always reserved for dinner with dad so I decided to channel my very well hidden inner Martha Stewart and throw a party! After a painful, humid morning of cleaning, I decided to shock the sh*t out of my friends more and cook (I'm not a cook - at all).

Sarah was a total lifesaver and came over early to a) calm my frantic nerves and b) help me get things ready for the party. I owe her a big, inappropriate hug. Then my real-life and some bloggy friends showed up and the party really got rolling. I have to say, I'm really fortunate to have so many great friends. Not everyone could make it but the group that did was so much fun and everyone got along! The plan was to go to the bar after awhile but everyone was having so much fun, we just stayed in. Yay! Now I could have done better moving the food out but everyone said they had fun and I had helpers to clean up too! 

And I can't forget to mention Mega being the first person to wish me happy birthday - he even cleaned up the red wine that spilled too. What a guy! And all the booze was gone at the end of the night - apparently I have friends who LOVE to drink :)

Saturday - the big day

So despite going to bed at 2:30 a.m. the previous night, I got up in time to meet Liz and Sarah for mani/pedi's near my house and everyone was on time. Maybe this weekend existed as a Twilight Zone? My nails look fab - even though the manicurist nicked my cuticles several times and then didn't apologize. She got a very low tip.

Ann Sather's was next for brunch and Sarah got them to put a candle in its famous cinnamon rolls and had them sing to me. That was awesome. And I got extra cinnamon rolls to go - score!

Dad came in and with both of us dressed up, we went to Brasserie Ruhlmann - a French steakhouse - in River North. I'm pleased to say that I got dad (who is a notoriously picky eater) to try a Frisee salad with poached egg, bacon and sausage (heaven - plus dad liked it!) and my steak au poivre was incredible. And I have leftovers!

Then came the ceremonial cutting of my insanely delicious cake before dad took Ryan, Liz and me up to the Brauhaus in Lincoln Sqaure for Mike's belated birthday celebration (and a little more celebrating for me too). The Brauhaus was solid, German fun and the night ended with karoke at a scary lesbian bar in the neighborhood - from which Liz and I were nearly kidnapped by a scary car of guys while waiting for a cab. Normally I don't get creeped out like that but honestly, I had a flash where I thought, "this is it. I'm on a milk carton." Time to get bear mace.

My birthday cake with purses - dad knows me too well :)

So that's my weekend. Thank you all again for your kind wishes and come on back for my "list" tomorrow.

How was everyone else's weekend?