Some More Birthday Business

Linds posted some pictures on her blog, so I thought I'd steal them (Thanks, Linds and Julia) and post them here. Just because the party was THAT good:

The Big Birthday

I turned 30.

I am now 30.

I have to keep telling myself this every day because it still seems so... unreal. Like I can't possibly be that old or have arrived at 30... and still be single and without kids and everything else that is happening in my life.

But here I am.

So, here's how the birthday thing went down.

I told my friend, Linds, that I wanted to do a hot chocolate themed birthday party. I love my hot chocolate and for someone with a birthday smack dab in the middle of winter, a good party with a warm beverage just seems to hit the right spot.

Well, Linds does what she does best—she orchestrated the best birthday party ever. First, there were the invitations:

Yep. She made me pose for the picture.

And she designed it too!

So I was definitely excited. My only rule to her was that I didn't want to plan anything. I would answer her questions, but I wanted nothing to do with planning. 

Don't worry... she decorated my house to look so adorable and made the experience just fantastic.

 Why yes... those are mugs that people got to use chalk to write their name and then take home as their party favor. Unfortunately, a lot of my friends couldn't make it so I have extra mugs...

Four flavors of hot chocolate. Plus, Linds asked if I would make my Mom's special recipe. 

I couldn't say no.

And plenty of treats. 

Snowflakes and pretty decorations. It was perfect!

Julia even made the chocolate cake with my mom's caramel frosting. It was PERFECT.

(And yes... perfect is the only adjective I can use to describe that evening.)

I truly felt loved by how many friends showed up:

College friend, Laura.

Ward friends Star and Maz.

Ward friend, Melinda. Sorry for the goofy smile.

Rachel.

Julie and Anthony.

Bri and Will.

Amy and Jason.

I was showered with a lot of love that made me feel a little bit better about turning 30. And not so ornery about having a birthday.

Linds may get mad that I didn't get her approval for this picture, but here she is. The mastermind behind the perfect birthday party. I just wish I knew how to return the favor. She really did make my birthday a success.

But that was Saturday night.

So, Monday, my boss and a few co-workers took me out to lunch. We had sushi.

And that night, Julia and Linds and I went to Rubio's. I had a free meal coupon (Hurray for being on Rubio's email list!!)

That's me... with my HUGE burrito. Don't worry, I went to the gym right after.

And my real birthday? Well, I did get flowers:

Heidi was kind enough to bring them to me and now my office smells like fresh flowers.

That night, I met up with Julia and Linds again for birthday dinner at Asian Star.

I had Walnut Shrimp and shared some sweet and sour chicken and cashew chicken. It was pretty divine.

However, we got our fortune cookies and the fortunes were not fortunes. So Julia left a note:

And we took a picture.

And then I realized that in 7 days the three of us will be in California and at Disneyland.

Maybe 30 won't be SOOO bad, after all.

Month in Review

This seems to be how I can update people about my life. A month in review post on my blog every once in awhile. 

I fear it's because there is a lack of stories in my current life. I'm pretty boring, what with work and then school (which started this week) and maybe spending a lot of time at the gym (and obsessing over counting calories. But at least I'm down 5 lbs.).

So, here's a quick snapshot and the only other thing I've been doing around here:

Crafting.

I know. It's a bit of a shock, really. This was the first part. I did it by myself.

Halfway through...

Completed. Just in time for my birthday party... and my birthday. My 30th birthday. That birthday when I start to realize I'm old and still really haven't accomplished much.

And lastly, some conversation hearts for Valentine's Day. My friend, Jules, and I bought the hearts and painted them. But then we used her cricut to cut the vinyl that goes on the hearts. Beautiful. I am in love with them. I chose the sayings and I'm pretty pleased. 

The sayings are:

Be Mine

You & Me

Oh Boy!

Hug

For You

So, I'm prepped for my holidays. So there's my good news 15 seconds.

Favorite Quotes from 2012

I must be brilliant.

Because I totally have kept a log of my favorite quotes from this past year. 

And now I want to share them with you:

Dating advice:

My friend told me what to say when I can't find a man:

"If I hold the monetary weight in this relationship, then we're done."

Commentary on my dating life: 

"Your life is a Jane Austen novel." (co-worker)

"Are you writing this all down? Because this doesn't happen in real life." (sister-in-law)

Warnings:

"If I ever get married, you and my husband shall never meet." (friend was very concerned about me attempting to curb her spending habits.)

"You must carry a lightning storm with you." (co-worker. Static electricity was a little crazy that day.)

Realizations: (Also known as the category where I show just how dramatic I can be.

 Me: "I'm going to be thirty."
Co-worker: "Yes, thirty generally comes after twenty-nine."
Me: "But I'm going to be thirty."
Co-worker: "Yes."

"Ridiculous is just personality. People who aren't ridiculous don't have personality." (Co-worker)

Writing advice:

"Be Seussical but not whimsical."

Journal Entry Moment:

"The Lord will hasten His work in His time." (David A. Bednar - don't know if I can publish that but he said it in a meeting I attended at work. It was kind of an answer to a prayer.)

Adventures in Process

Big adventures for this year are bound to happen. 

Currently on the docket:

1. 30th birthday (heaven help me... I'm in denial, really. In fact, I'm having anxiety and don't want to do anything for my birthday but pretend like it isn't happening). There's a party planned for the Saturday before my birthday, but nothing on my birthday. I'm tempted to call in sick to work and go up to Park City and hide out in my brother's cabin for the day and pretend... like I'm still 29).

2. Going to Disneyland in February. (Bought my plane ticket and my ticket into the park. I'm going with two friends and am THRILLED! It's going to be AWESOME!)

3. Family Reunion (at some point during the summer. Unsure of when... But it will happen)

4. The purchasing of a new car (yep. It's time to be a grown up).

5. Two steps closer to graduation. (that's right. By the end of this year I will either have 1 or 2 classes—depending on how summer classes go—until I graduate. WAHOO!!)

And that's all for now. I'm hoping for a trip to the Grand Canyon somewhere in there. We'll see.

If you have any other ideas on what I should add to my list this year... feel free to comment below. 

Christmas

So... Christmas Eve. 

We had fondue. I thought it was a success. 

Before we started the festivities, my sister-in-law and I had a little photo shoot with my niece and nephew:

She's so stinking adorable, right? RIGHT?

I'm so glad I got to meet her this year.

I love my nephews. 

But I ADORE my nieces.

There were 18 people in my parents' house for Christmas. I can't remember the last time there were that many people. It was so much fun but there was a mound of presents!

That afternoon we watched The Polar Express and Muppet Christmas Carol and just relaxed.

I was sure to send this picture off to various people to remind them that I was in a better place... what with all of their snow.

Two days after Christmas was the run to VGs and lots of donuts.

There were trips to the science museum, and hot tub visits, and Les Miserables.

And also a cold that got passed around. 

My siblings all left by New Years' Day. I had an extra day so I made the most of it by hanging out with my parents and relaxing.

I took this picture on my last evening there. I'm pretty proud of it. I didn't even have to put a filter on it. 

Although... I wish I would've used my REAL camera to take it.

My parents during that last night. They both were so tired. I sent them off to bed after taking this picture. I'm so grateful to the both of them for hosting all of us for Christmas. I'm grateful for EVERY holiday I get to spend with them and realize that THAT's the most important part of the holiday.

Life Via Instagram

Yes.
It's really been a month. So... to catch everyone up:

I grabbed some friends and we went to see Christmas Around the World by the BYU Folk Dance ensemble. It was so fun. Before we went to Malawi's pizza and had more pizzas on the table than people there. Yep. We pigged out. 

Me, Lindsey, Julia

For the record, this is my roommate, Meagan. Before the pizzas arrived.

I got crafty when it came to Christmas presents because I wanted to do something unique slash.... I am trying to learn to be crafty (so hard for me). 

These cubes ended up being a part of the family yahtzee game I gave to my brother. Each side of the cube had a picture of one of the members of their family. I hope they liked it.

Lindsey and I actually attended a family home evening. But ONLY because they had Texas Roadhouse cater the event. We went for the rolls.

I convinced my boss that I deserved treats for surviving various forms of punishment at work.

However, during the break he said that he felt that the reward was far to generous, so he was going to have to downgrade. I'm a little sad about that.

One evening, I met my friend Derry and her husband and kids at Temple Square to see the lights. It was the only time I saw the lights on Temple Square this year. I missed seeing City Creek Center at night during Christmas, but maybe next year?

The Choir Christmas Concert happened. As always, it was a mad house making it happen, but after it did, we all enjoyed it. I loved the artist this year, Alfie Boe, and can't wait to get the CD next year. He was AMAZING. And Tom Brokaw did a wonderful job. 

Oh yeah... and the Candy Bomber gave me a little gift.

The stage crew had parachutes that floated down and the Candy Bomber signed a few extras that were given to team members. I'll definitely treasure this.

The night before I left town for San Diego. A pretty spectacular sunset.

Also got a Christmas gift. Perhaps my favorite. 

I don't know what possessed my to schedule my yearly review with my boss an hour before leaving the office to catch my flight home, but I did. This was my view... 

He was late.

But it was a good chat. It reminded me of talks I had with my mission president.

And the truth is... I do my job well. So I'm pretty pleased with that.

Then I headed to California.

Saturday was spent trying to navigate the crowds at the mall with Emily to get last minute Christmas gifts.

Most of the crowd arrived by Sunday. And Monday morning looked like this:

The two littlest Teuschers. They were dolls. I could hold both all day!

Christmas Eve turned out to be wet... and rainy.

But it definitely beats being snowy.