28.

I turn 28 today and I go back to work on my birthday after 6 glorious days off enjoying the sand and surf in Myrtle Beach. It's a tough day. I don't even hate my job, but I was so depressed to leave the ocean. I woke up cranky this morning. I should have taken the day off. Going to work on your birthday after a vacation should be illegal.
I guess there are two types of people - those who feel refreshed and ready to get back to the grind (Garth falls into this category) and those who are depressed vacation is over (me). I know once I get back into the grind I will feel refreshed, but right now I'm just a little sad it's all over. And maybe a little sad I'm turning one year older.
It's been an eventful year at 27. I had my first flat tire. Celebrated 3 years of marriage. Had eye surgery. Bought my first house. Lost ten pounds. Spent a week on the beach with some of my favorite people in the world. Bought a new car. Started a new life in a new city. Met new friends. Learned how to take care of a house.
All in all, it was a pretty awesome year. I'm looking forward to what this year will bring!

Gift Giver.

I can't believe it has been over a month and I haven't talked about what I got Garth for his birthday. Garth is an amazing gift giver. He has surprised me with incredible trips up north to Lake Michigan...gorgeous diamond necklace...flowers...beautiful sweaters...I am spoiled!

I thought I was relatively good at giving gifts but during an episode of Modern Family (the one where Phil wants the iPad for his birthday) Garth informs me I am NOT a good gift giver.

Oh it was on!!! So this is year I made sure to get him unique gifts I knew he would appreciate. Garth adored this Manchester United t-shirt:

I know this is cruel because we don't have our grill yet, but this has gotten Garth excited for summer grillin'. He read the whole cookbook the first day!

These were on the top of Garth's list once we bought the house. I had to stop him from buying some on his own many times! I think this is his favorite gift. He wears them all the time and constantly says he can't imagine life without them (ha!):

And lastly, this was more of an anniversary present but I think this makes me a great gift giver now:

Birthday Weekend!

Garth and I had originally planned to go away for my birthday. But, in haste, I decided I wanted some new furniture and decor for our new place as a birthday present instead. As the month went on I slighly regretted my decision, but I kept telling myself the new decor was a great investment.
Fast forward to Friday. My office is closed on Fridays, so I was bumming around the house when Garth came home from work with this HUGE present. He is insisting I open it right then. So I do. It's the most beautiful 6-piece luggage set that I have wanted since we got engaged. Then Garth asks if I'm ready for the second half of my gift. I protest that my birthday isn't until tomorrow, but eventually cave. He says, "Go pack your bag." I'm so confused. I'm like "Don't you have to go back to work?" And he says, "No. I took a half day of vacation. Now go pack your bags!" After a few more moments of shock, I was so excited and started screetching and hugging him.

We both pack quickly and we're on the road. I still didn't know where we were going, but once I saw what highway we were on I knew we were going to the hotel we had originally planned on going. Oh boy, I was so excited.

Here is our room on the 20th floor:

The view:
Did I mention the package Garth chose included champagne and truffles?

The pool:
Tennis courts on the 4th floor:
The hotel lobby:
About to go eat on the 27th floor:
It's my birthday:
Sipping a martini:
Our sushi appetizer:
I ate raw eel!!

The pri-pri African Chicken. Yummo:
Our dessert with 24K edible gold:


Eating 24K gold!!
Then the restaurant brought out a birthday fondue:
Birthday dinner @ Cygnus:
A sunset walk after dinner:

I want to live in those condos behind me:
Our hotel is the tower closest to me:
Garth spotted the South African flag and had to represent:@ the art museum:



So the art museum is a really pretty building, but the art was not impressive. We wanted to be sophisticated, but all we kept saying was "We could paint that!" At least we tried:
Downtown Grand Rapids:



There was a free concert going on outside our hotel:
We dug the band:
Rocking out:


I told Garth to mimic the astronaut and this is what I got. Hilarious:



Mmmm my spinach and eggplant pasta:View from the restaurant:
We found another concert in the park, though this was much more like a rave:
I have never felt so disconnected to our culture:


The end:Whew, that was a lot of pictures. Sorry about that. The moral of the weekend is - I have the best husband in the whole wide world. Thanks baby for a weekend I will NEVER forget!