27

Yesterday I celebrated my 27th birthday!

It was a lovely day - and I was lucky enough to be able to spend it with people who are very near and dear to me.

The day got off to a great start. Cindy took me to brunch at one of our favorite local joints, Gaia Cafe. It's a vegetarian place and we pretty much always order the same thing. I had the "Jim White." It's black beans, brown rice, eggs, tomato, lettuce, and avocado. Delicious!


Cindy got me a gift bag filled with some handmade goodies from Etsy. So sweet!


Thanks for brunch, Cindy!


After Cindy dropped me off I laid down for a quick nap. Hey! Don't judge me! It was my birthday and I was entitled to that nap! : )

Later in the afternoon, Heather picked me up and we headed to the Olive Garden for a late lunch. It's kind of a tradition of ours to lunch there with their delicious soup, salad and breadsticks.



Because it was a special occasion though, we had festive drinks as well! I had some sangria, while Heather enjoyed a margarita.



After a quick stop at JoAnn Fabrics (hey - we like to craft!) we headed back to my place, where I got to open Heather's gift. Thanks Travis for the candid shots of my looking like a big dork!




She got me some fabulous cupcake making supplies. Yeah cupcakes! We got to work right away making some birthday mini cupcakes. They are so cute!


Thanks Heather, for all the birthday goodness!


That evening, I got to spend some time with my husband. He came home with flowers for me. Aw...


His gift to me was a gift certificate to the spa at the fancy-schmancy new JW Marriott hotel downtown. He said he knew I'd been stressed and sad lately and thought I'd enjoy it. Will I ever?! I am excited! I could totally go for some pampering right about now!

Then we headed out to dinner at Roses, our all-around favorite restaruant in town. It's become a tradition to go there on my birthday every year.


While we waited for our table I snapped a few photos. The restaraunt is right on the lake.






Once inside and seated we enjoyed spinach and artichoke dip for a starter...


I had the margerita pizza for my entree, and Travis had a burger...



And of course we HAD to get creme brulee to split for dessert. DELICIOUS!


Thanks Trav, for the wonderful gift and birthday dinner!


All in all, it was an absolutely wonderful birthday. Thanks to Cindy, Heather and Travis for the great food and even better company. And thanks to all of you who sent cards, gifts, facebook messages, and phonecalls. I appreciate it more than you know, and feel very loved.

Have a wonderful weekend!

National Night Out Eastown

In case you're unfamiliar, National Night Out is... (text taken directly from website...)

It's America's Night Out Against Crime!

The "26th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009 (Texas will celebrate on October 6th, 2009). We cordially invite you and your community to be a part of our NIGHT OUT 2009 team.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods 'celebrate' NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:

• block parties,
• cookouts,
• visits from local police and sheriff departments
• parades, exhibits,
• flashlight walks,
• contests, and
• youth programs.

NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Plus, the benefits your community will derive from NNO will most certainly extend well beyond the one night.

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Travis and I serve as block captains for our neighborhood, and are active in the Eastown Community Association. We're members of the Public Safety Committee, and helped plan our local National Night Event.

It was kind of a last minute deal, and a smallish event, but we had free hotdogs and ice cream, a smoke house, the American Red Cross, Grand Rapids Police Department with cars, a SWAT vehicle, and K9 team, a fire truck, free bike helmets and school supplies, kids activities, and more.

Travis and I manned one of the kids tables - complete with coloring, sidewalk chalk, and free balloons and tattoos.

This is a silly picture - but it's my favorite from the night!

Yup, I made those signs...

You know I love me some sidewalk chalk...

Naturally I had to get into the spirit and proudly sport a NNO tattoo!

Although I've been feeling under the weather, it was great fun to get out into the community and work on an event that's all about engaging our Eastown youth! I've already got all kinds of ideas churning for next year's event! : )

PS) Want to keep up with how the kittens are doing? Head over HERE!

Check it out...

CLICK HERE

Kitten Video Update - August 3

What a Peach!

After Heather and I's visit to the farmer's market yesterday, we had lots of beautiful fresh produce we were anxious to sample. Once Travis got out of work we headed over to the Hills' place to grill.

As you know, I love to take photos of our niece Lily. She has all kinds of fun faces these days. Such a little peach!

(We got her that shirt from Austin, Texas when we went to visit my brother!)

(Lily and Aunt Joanne on the swing!)

(Me and two of my favorite ladies)

For dessert, Travis grilled peach halves, and we ate them with vanilla ice cream on top. They were delicious! He added something to them - brown sugar maybe? - to caramelize them a little bit. Yum! Peaches!

Today and tomorrow Heather and Anthony are out of town at Anthony's high school reuinion. That means that I'm taking care of my husband, our dog, two cats, four kittens, and Lily. Quite the brood! Check back tomorrow to check out pictures and stories of Lily's weekend with Aunt Joanne and Uncle Travis!