26 reasons my 26th ROCKED!

Reason #1--I took the day off Friday for some pre-bday weekend fun and got my back "adjusted" and worked on at the chiropractor's (not my favorite thing since it hurts a lot, but it feels better in the end and thus the weekend was NOT plagued by spastic muscles!)

Reason #2--I also got to spend some quality time with my mom as I treated her to lovely lunch and a pedicure for Mother's day (a bonus with this is that I enjoyed these myself--yay pampering)

Reason #3--Friday night fun continued at the FOX with my "family favorites" + KEANE playing the show!
This was a bday gift for Danners, a going-away gift for Stem, a sibling substitution for Jodee, and definitely a rockin bday gift for myself! Such an amazing night for us all with the a soul-rockin British boys whose music is so inspiring and full of feeling and musicality that I just can't get enough! If you can believe it, Tom Chaplin sounds even better live than he does on the albums! My favorite moments of the night would have to include the shout-out to San Francisco (see my posted clip below) and "Sunshine" where the lighting crew worked wonders coordinating golden lights to the incandescent lyrics!

Reason #4--What else? How about sharing Dan's first experience with Fenton's (fabulous!) Creamery sundaes after the concert--yummers!
Reason #5--On Saturday, I also happened to take a long and lovely bike ride on the Iron Horse Trail from Walnut Creek to Danville/San Ramon with the parentals :) We may have biked 15 miles and while it was hot, we definitely got a good workout and enjoyed the journey. One minor hitch (which in some ways was lucky since I was tired) is that my bike got a flat tire and Em had to come rescue me + my bike at the Walnut Creek Safeway--oh well!

Reason #6--Since it was Em's last weekend before her Study Abroad to Vienna (sniff sniff), Jode and I threw a "Vienna Sausage Party" for Em with friends in the Cabana. We roasted hot-dogs and even a few of the Vienna sausages, plus I made everyone play a far-too-difficult Austrian trivia game! Hilarious.Reason #7--Going Away Ice Cream Cake with Austrian Flag for Em=Awesome--'nuff said!

Reason #8--Super sweet surprise gourmet cake from Jode (it tasted divine--like rich, chocolately, tiramisu inside! To die for!)

Reason #9--An even crazier bday surprise: the CR-ASIAN Pinata Girl that appeared at the party thanks to Em and Jode. It was QUITE a hit (literally) since most of us hadn't whopped one of these since elementary school.
Reason #10--And of course, the only thing more crazy and fun then beating the pinata is...watching your friends dress up in the pieces of the pinata (oh Sarini-Pepper!)
Reason #11--Cuddling with Archibald Malvolio Baldeagie Rumpledearkins--when does this not make my day?! Boy, do I miss seeing my doggie daily :(
Reason #12--la bella butterfly cake Mom decorated for me--complete with sparkles! Oh yeah, more cake :)
Reason #13--Fabulous gifts from my family including a massage gift certificate, $cash money$, a You Being Beautiful Book, a begonia plant for my porch, eco-friendly reusable grocery bags (so stylin), free Sephora bday gifts (x2), and a lovely little Juicy perfume!

Reason #14-Getting home after a crazy fun weekend only to find that my tax return had arrived in the mail, plus dividends from one of my investments--woot!

Reason #15--Monday AM (my actual bday): Arriving at the office to a bouquet of bright yellow sunflowers, roses, and more. It was so sweet and the bouquet brightened my desk all week and then home all weekend!
Reason #16--Bday treats from my boss: an almond and raspberry torte from a fabulous bakery in the Mission (thanks Liz!) plus cupcake fun at my check-in with the managers (wow sugar!)

Reason #17--Getting Birthday cards in the mail from thoughtful friends and family and then taking my nerdiness to a whole new level by taking all my cards into work and displaying them throughout my cubicle so I could see them all week--that's right, this is how I roll!

Reason #18--Sweet messages (and calls) from friends and loved ones all week (even ones I haven't heard from in a while!) I feel so loved and grateful for the wonderful people I am lucky to have in my life, whether near or far!

Reason #19--A delicious Thai dinner with Soni downtown, plus a beautiful "peas and carrots" bracelet and amethyst rock from Banff
Reason #20--"Scoops for Steph" Ghirardelli Square ice creme festa! Tons of happy friends showed up from all my favorite places, we enjoyed tasty ice cream, a lovely location, a very "San Francisco" setting, and the best part was that there was no major planning or clean-up involved on my part so it was easy as well as fun--so happy!
Reason #21--More pretty presents: Jode gave me an awesome patent leather nude billfold that's compact and perfect for going out, plus a B&N gift card for my next book club pick! :)

Reason #22--Just the overall awesome-ness of my birthday--I can't remember when I had such a fun-filled, great birthday! It was seriously wonderful and again, feel so lucky and happy with how the celebrations went. I thought about what a birthday is really meant to celebrate and it's the fact that you are alive and a part of someone's life and I really like that notion--that we celebrate the chance we have to share our lives with each other and find joy in someone's existence on the earth!

Reason #23--When you get older, the bday celebrations go for longer! Instead of one day, you get multiple celebrations (as I've been noting above :) What's not to love there? (Although this was definitely not a week to start any sort of healthful-eating--oy!)

Reason #24--Lucking out with AH-MAZING San Francisco sunshine on our joint "Taurus" birthday picnic at Golden Gate park. We scouted out the same lucky spot by Stow Lake and basked in the sunshine on blankets eating, drinking, and enjoying the day and great company of lasting friends! It was a perfect day for it!
Reason #25--Me (sans GPS) driving to and from the Golden Gate Park picnic without making one wrong turn or getting lost, and having the satisfaction of feeling like I actually knew where I was driving in the city! (seriously, this is a big deal for me, it kinda made a "great day" move up to "awesome day" status!)
Reason #26--People always put so much hype on "25" but I really think 26 where the awesomeness is at--the number itself is special. Did you know that 26 is the only number between a square number and a cube number? Which means, it's one of a kind and pretty darn cool. Yup, 26, I'm happy to be here.