i had a pretty marvelous day. i wasn't expecting anything at all, so when i received a multitude of surprises and presents and happy birthdays from across the entire world (jeff from japan, alex from india!!) it just made the entire day so much sweeter. at work, nate brought in a steaming pot of green chili and homemade tortillas; he told me to open up the foil pack and on top was an 's' tortilla, s for summer, how sweet! we also had a lot of pastries and starbucks coffee from greg, and though i was wholly unproductive for most of the night, i happened to be watching at 6:59 when adam, jenn, and craig all gave me a shout-out on air :').

i met claire and daren for a late breakfast at snooze, and was a little bit of a grumpy bitch when we first got there, complaining about people being late (ha! like i'm one to talk) and how i didn't want to share a gluten-free pancake but i guess i would - but by the time our server gave me a special cinnamon pancake (non-gluten free!) with a little blue candle on top and said she didn't want to make me something i didn't want to eat on my birthday, i was completely melted. claire gave me the sweetest, most hilarious card and her and daren paid for my breakfast. i was joking about wanting to get early-morning drunk but i managed not to. the cinnamon pancake, btw, was absolutely orgasmic. i've never had anything that amazing. i think i tuned out whatever the conversation was at the time because i was just happy chewing.

at home, i showered and mom brought up my package in the mail - all the way from korea, missha bb cream, yay! we talked for a while sitting on the landing of the stairs and it was really nice, and then i took a three hour nap - the most sleep i got the entire day, haha!

when i woke up, there was a hongbao by my bed from my mom ;___; and then we had a sichuan feast and i've never heard mom laugh that hard over stories about when she threw away my grandpa/grandma's hoarder things and their reactions. and then my sister surprised me with her present and a small cake she bought with her own allowance ;u; and then i fell asleep for 30 minutes on the couch during the movie and now i'm just happy.

so i'm 23 (or, like i've been telling people all day, 21 for the third time). securely in denial about my age - i think this is the year i'll start lying about it. but i'm #content and #happy and #allgoodthings, to say the least. :)

mood_ happy
music_ happy birthday, as serenaded by jenn and adam!
crave_ nothing

Labels: birthday, family, food, friends, good things, job, life, love

boston.

day one/friday feb 4

- brunch at trident bookstore & cafe
  ; smoked salmon scramble & thai chai with tapioca
- shopping on newbury street
  ; zara, h&m, thom brown, forever 21, marc jacobs, johnny cupcake
- cupcakes at sweet
  ; sweet cream w chocolate icing
- light dinner at alicia's apt
- world-famous violinist joshua bell concert at symphony hall
  ; schubert, grieg, chopin
- dinner & drinks w joshua bell!!! at top of the hub in prudential tower
  ; pomegranate martini, classic mojito, appetizers +10, all complimentary of josh

day two/saturday feb 5

- lunch at pho pasteur, chinatown
  ; rare steak pho & thai tea
- exploring, theatre district & boston commons park
- shopping & snacking, franieul place
  ; chocolate covered strawberries, owl necklace, sequined bow headband
- coffee at cafe vittoria, little italy
  ; iced latte macchiato & pistachio gelato
- snacking at alicia's apt
- pick up alex at train station, south end
- howl at the moon live music club, downtown
  ; $50 buckets of cocktail, dancing, bachelorette parties, etc.
- late dinner/drunk munchies at brunowski's bar & pub
  ; barbeque bacon burger & fries
- drunk munchies $2 pizza slices, back bay

day three/sunday feb 6

- brunch at leo's, harvard square
  ; bagel w lox, tomato, red onion & orange juice & oatmeal w blueberries
- shopping, harvard square
  ; cute japanese stores, little boutiques, candy stores
- dropping alex off at red line
- bubble tea at tealine, harvard square
  ; jasmine milk tea w tapioca
- shopping, harvard square
  ; urban outfitters, more boutiques ie. alo
- exploring, m.i.t & m.i.t bridge
- dinner at giacomo's, little italy
  ; calamari & mussels/clam fettuccini in la diavolo sauce extra spicy
- famous canoles at mike's pastry, little italy
  ; turtle florentino canole

day four/monday feb 7

- lunch at barada, cambridge
  ; lamb kebab w rice & pita w cucumber/mint yogurt
- starbucks break, cambridge
- espresso royale, back bay
  ; crimson berry iced tea
- light dinner at au bon pain
  ; tuscan chicken on raisin ciabatta & orange mango nectar

shopping spoils

- steve madden combat boots, black
- high-waisted highwater pants w belt, khaki
- translucent crocheted oversize cropped sweater, gold & purple
- cropped rolling stones graphic tee, black
- nautical striped v-neck sweater, heather & navy
- slouch crocheted socks, cream
- armor ring, silver
- animal ring set of five, gold
- marc jacobs heart necklace, red w gold chain
- oversize wayfarers, tortoiseshell
- owl necklace, pewter & black
- pikachu beret (for qin2)
- peacock feather stretch belt
- cropped striped graphic tee, blue & white
- oxfords, sparkly black
- factory by erik hart strapless sweetheart structured dress, rainbow print

Labels: birthday, friends, holidays, life, love, weekly sum-up

i think birthdays are only important as the people who genuinely wish you well, who are there to celebrate with you even if it's only for a moment, and remind you, be it verbally or physically or just by being there, that you are still loved, and alive, and well.

to that, i had an incredible day. thank you for the constant love. cheers to 22.

Labels: birthday, holidays