Birthday Days are the Best!

thanks all for your birthday love, it was truly the best ever (they get better each year)! at one point after brunch i looked down at my phone and saw like 7 texts and 3 voicemails and at first was a little stressed out but then remembered….UM THESE PEOPLE LOVE YOU AND WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY….HOW LUCKY ARE YOU?! very lucky. so i’m going to do a quick recap of my pre-birthday and actual birthday because it’s been spectacular.

after i picked my mom up from the airport on thursday, we ate at petite provence (which is always spectacular) and poked around the super cute streets in NE along alberta. she even bought us each an air plant (i’m still learning about this so if you know how to keep them alive…let me know). she also absolutely took pictures of me with my coworkers when we visited my office. it was slightly embarrassing and then i got over it and found it very sweet that my mom is interested in where i sit every day.

since ravery would be leaving the next day (my birthday) to go play in vegas, we opted for a birthday eve celebration the night before at brix tavern. this place always has delectable, interesting food but i have to say waiting 23 minutes past our reservation time was a tad on the irritating side especially because i was getting hAngry (hungry, which leads to angry). we still had a great time and a super cute server who made it better! please look at the ‘brix chips’= verde roasted pork shoulder, baked cheddar, with chips and cilantro sour cream. out. of. this. world.

birthday eve picture of the amazing woman who brought me into this world (isn’t she pretty), my great friend alison (isn’t she pretty) and moi (i clean up okay). we also cheers-ed my mom for all the hard work she put in on that superbowl sunday (broncos vs giants) 26 years ago!

at one point during dinner, matt (not pictured but alison’s boyfriend and our other great friend) leaned over, pointed at my mom and alison and said “have they met before?” because they were giggling and having a great time. i love when important people in my life get along and laugh together. it’s truly the best. and no, first time meeting! they brought me a heath brownie with a candle in it (no picture, i ate it way too fast) and then we ordered blackberry buttermilk pie. talk about indulgence  the birthday eve was indicative of how great the actual birthday was going to be, i just knew it.

on my birthday morning, we all woke up earrrrly and we were out the door by 7:33am because ravery had to be at work but i also needed a birthday brunch (duh). we of course ventured to mother’s bistro because it’s my favorite and you know this (please reference ‘the biscuit that changed my life’ post if you are unaware).

as we were walking to the restaurant i said “man, i sure wish i could have tried their gingerbread pancakes during the holidays, they seemed amazing,” (remember this, because it’s important). i feel the need to show you both pictures of me with my favorite mom and my favorite husband because i couldn’t decided which one to put up. yes, i already know i look asleep in both pictures.

our great waiter jason told us the specials and then said (here’s where you remember) “…but my personal favorite is our gingerbread pancakes.” i straight up almost flipped the table over i got so excited that they still had them!!! as we finished ordering, our great waiter jason said “and i’m going to buy you gingerbread pancakes for your birthday” and HE DID!

i am not kidding when i tell you that they were seriously the best pancakes i’ve ever had. it was kind of like a fluffy gingerbread cookie but they weren’t overly sweet and just perfect. yes i proceeded to eat potatoes, eggs and a biscuit in addition to this and then felt too full for too long afterwards. that’s what birthdays are about though, right?! right.

after we dropped ravery off at work (and after we may or may not have sat on the couch and took a short nap) we ventured to the fun shops along NW 23rd. we walked into a super cute store called papersource and they were offering up the chance to make valentines. i instantly accepted. but instead of a valentine i made ravery a “have so much fun in vegas, good luck with your workshop, tell lady gaga hi” card and hid it in his suitcase (ravery if you’re reading this, check the outside pocket of your luggage)!

then my mom asked where i wanted to get birthday cake from and um duhhhh papa haydn’s right across the street (i planned this outing well). if you live or within a 5 hour drive of portland…you need to go here. best desserts ever. just look at all the choices!

i opted for the cassata (the white one in the middle) which contains kahlua and espresso-soaked sponge cake, layered with sweetened ricotta and bittersweet chocolate chunks. as well as some sort of magical fairy dust because it’s the best cake ever. we got it to go because we had to pick ravery up and take him to the airport.

oh, does that above picture look like it’s been ‘instagramed’ (follow me at chelseata) and taken in the car?! yes on all accounts.

we literally sat in the cell phone waiting area for 10 minutes while my mom and ravery sang happy birthday to me and we almost all passed out from the smoke of the candle after i blew it out. first birthday cake in the car and i couldn’t have been happier! we sent ravery off, grabbed a cocktail and then went to see a movie (les miserable). seriously, such a fun birthday and SO very special that i got to spend it with my mom too! you should also know that birthdays in my family usually last quite actively for at least a week but we celebrate all month so stay tuned for the rest of my birthday adventures with my mom.

life lesson: anytime someone takes the time to text/call/email/send you a card, be sure to thank them and truly appreciate it because it means someone cares about you.

questions:

1) do you watch what you eat on your birthday and how much do you usually over-eat on this day? (never and always waaaay too much)

2) do you have knowledge on how to care for an air plant (no- it doesn’t just live on air but water every few days or weeks or a month i don’t know)

3) strangest place you’ve had birthday cake or celebrated your birthday?

4) what’s your favorite flavor of cake?