Pretty Awesome Birthday Week

Monday night I met a BFF to see Eat Pray Love at 10:10 pm. This was the only time we could both go. We got ready for bed BEFORE the movie. This was quite strategic because the hairs and faces were already clean and all we had to do after the movie was go home, kick off the flip flops, and climb into bed. It hurt a little bit waking up Tuesday morning but who cares because it was my birthday!

Tuesday, my birthday, was a pretty awesome day. My mom showed up after work with the best thing on earth – Lemon Passion Cake. It is so delicious and I don’t even want to know the kilograms of sugar and butter involved in it’s making..



And rain boots after I expressed concern about having to walk to work in the rain!



I was the recipient of a phone call marathon and enjoyed a wonderful sushi dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant, Mt. Fuji in Brightleaf Square. I had fun with eye shadows in my new makeup mirror. This thing provides such great lighting but there is so much geometry involved in taking pictures in it. Anyway, what I’m getting at is that I have learned that wearing lip color does SO MUCH for my face.



Wednesday after work I stopped by Old Navy and bought these flats for $9.99. They are so comfortable, match a lot of things I have, and will get worn the hell out.



Then I recovered from staying up so late Monday and Tuesday by watching tv and sleeping.

Thursday evening I met another BFF for a post-birthday dinner at Pei Wei Asian Diner.

At Target on Friday I found this bag that was $26.99 for $6.74. It’s big enough for my notebooks..



This morning I had such a fun Saturday morning clean up, then I went to Burlington Coat Factory with my mom. I was so skeptical at first but I could get down with some things in there. It’s so cheap. I got these flats..



And these, which I am going to LOVE this Fall..





I love dark purple. And the flower and small wedge.

Next week I will be a normal adult and partake in after-work activities such as trips to the gym, preparing dinner, and taking Ebi to the dog park. I will still study Big Brother, though.

Loved

I’m so glad that so many people care about how my first day at my new job went. And that they are happy that I am now free from the burdens that plagued me before. I feel like I need to do a conference call tonight and tell everyone that my first day was wonderful and that I think I am going to be very happy in my new environment.
I get to wear flats, “ballet slippers,” and things of that sort to work now. Right up my alley. Today I wore black pants and Vans and it was too hot for this.



I don’t know why I own these? I mean, I bought them for myself but I think I should have opted for a more feminine black flat sneaker shoe. So, any time I can get my money’s worth out of these I’ll take it. I remembered seeing people in jeans and flats when I interviewed but I wanted to be safe and wait until I was “invited” to. You never know how strict the rules can be in a lab and these were a good choice in case because they cover the whole foot.

Tonight I am going to see Eat Pray Love with my soul-mate/old-work-BFF. We have been anticipating this forever. I wasn’t able to finish the book first. I only made it into Bali (Love). Julia Roberts probably plays this “self discovery” role so well.

And just to balance all that black with something pretty here are some flowers. They were $1.00 because no one wanted to take them and their green dye home.

Let the celebrations begin!

I have a lot to celebrate. Thursday was my last day at my former job. Celebration-worthy event #1 – Check! My BFF from there brought me this pretty cake..



It was Oreo. If an Oreo were a cake, it would be this. We were so sad because we were each the best thing about the other’s workday, and you rarely ever get to work alongside someone so amazing. I tasted but didn’t do any emotional eating with this cake. I made all of my Co-workers eat eat eat.

Celebration #2 – haircut! It was SOOO long…



And a major pain in the ass so I just pretty much wore a BUN every day. How awful. This is after..



I have a neat flat iron that can also produce wavey waves..



Friday was a glorious day and I even stood at the DMV for 2 hours so you know it was awesome. Celebration #3 – Patio table I’ve been wanting for 50% off! It was the display and the only one left so I bought it up without any regard for how we were going to get home. I knew it wouldn’t fit in my tiny little car so I called my mom to come rescue us.



And now for the most amazing grown-up lady, early birthday present EVER. Something really awesome to Celebrate #4 – Makeup mirror and stool. I had been sitting on the counter every day to put my makeup on in the medicine cabinet mirror.



But this small little improvement has opened up my entire world! I sat up last night until 3am practicing/playing in the beautiful and helpful glowing light. I am going to be able to learn and do things that I wasn’t able to do before. Here I was practicing with dark/smoky eyes. I am going to want to spend so much money now…

No more sulking!

I start my new job on August 16, the day before my birthday, and I am certain that my entire life is going to be happier now. Where you work has that kind of effect on you.

This summer is flying by. I finally replaced my iPhone with a 3GS. My old one is in such terrible condition and I have been really embarrassed by it because I never treat electronics like this. I dropped it in the grocery store one day (not its first fall) and it hit right on the corner and shattered. I carried it around in all of its scotch-taped glory for 5 months. The guy at the Apple store swore to me that a computer geek will buy it for $100 and put a new screen on it but I don’t think that he knows that it actually squeals instead of vibrating.



My dog already ate the $30 ear phones that my new phone came with. He rarely chews things up, but when he does it’s always something that will just tear up your entire day.



I am ready for Fall. It’s the best time of year and everything is always right with the world during that time. It is just so beautiful and cool like life is set to a John Mayer soundtrack. I got a $19 dress from the freaking Junior’s section of Macy’s that I can wear as we transition into Fall..



Although it’s not even that bad here, my mom would fuss about my posture in this picture. She is 5’10” and wears it proudly and always talks to me about my shoulders being back. She is right and I am working on it.

I always have intentions of not spending money when I go shopping with Jamie but I know it’s not going to happen so I set myself a $40 or $50 limit. I do really good. I never spend more than $35. Like Friday when I got the dress, some earrings, and a 20 eye shadow collection all for just $33. I should have known better about the eye shadow, though. It made my eyes itchy and I’m trying to think of something better to do with it instead of throwing it away. It’s pretty, but toxic.



We went in every store trying to find a necklace for Jamie to wear with a dress. We found nothing but back home in my apartment we discovered a perfect match in the form of a bronzey-golden, ribboned, and beaded necklace. Problem solved. For free.



A couple weeks ago I found this Tiki planter for cheap. He is supposed to be outside with a flower in him but he is a giant candle holder instead.