A Birthday Party

Another one bites the big 2-7!  It was one of my best friends’ birthday today (Kate, who you met here), and luckily a good number of my girlfriends were free to get together for dinner tonight.

Although I had been going-going-going since 5AM, I definitely wanted to be sure to celebrate with her tonight.  Thanks to a restful weekend, it didn’t feel too much like a Monday, and barre class immediately after work helped to wake me up.

Fast-forwarding through my day (as it was nothing special):

• Workout = 4 mile run this morning; barre class after work
• Breakfast = a blueberry-banana-flax protein pancake (yea, you’ve seen it before)
• numerous snacks throughout the day (I think 4 in counting?)
• Lunch = Ellwood-made salad with grilled chicken, lots of veggies, 1/2 avocado, O&V

 

**OK, as a detour, please stay tuned for a post about how I am going to wean myself off of Ellwood’s and try to cook more.  I have yet to calculate how much I spent at this money-trap local, organic haven in the month of July, and I’m scared.  It’s got to stop.  The occasional splurge is OK, but every day!? It’s just so fresh and convenient…but no, just you wait.  I might even give myself a budget!

***Please note that I budget my money in almost every other aspect of my life, but tend to put no price tag on eating clean/local/organic/healthy, whichever way you want to put it.  I do know that one can easily eat healthy without spending a lot of money, so if anyone knows tips/tricks, they are greatly appreciated!

Back to the birthday!

We all gathered at Kate’s mom’s house; she had a lovely spread of drinks, food, and dessert.

I drank many “mocktails” throughout the evening (Perrier and Diet Ginger Ale)

 

 

Birthday girl (young at heart)

 

 

 

 

 

I filled my plate with some green salad, shrimp pasta salad (with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, feta), and an appeteazer cracker that I didn’t get to try because I was talking too much (uncharacteristic)

 

I kept my dinner light to save room for dessert (this is a lie; I never have to “save room” for dessert.  I swear I have a separate dessert stomach…I guess I just wasn’t too hungry.  See “snacks” above).

But no one needs hunger for cake!

 

Yes, we forgot the birthday candles.  It did the trick though!

 

 

 

Her facial expression makes me wonder what she wished for…never up to any good, this one.

 

 

 

 

 

A short but sweet night.  It reminded me that I need to get together with friends more often, as these are the times that make me happy.  Do you feel that as you get older,  finding “friend” time is more difficult?  How do you make time amidst a busy schedule?