My Birthday

It began in the sweetest way. My 12 year old woke me up to breakfast in bed. She made a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, cheese, and ham on buttered, toasted bread. She even remembered to bring me chocolate milk (one of my weaknesses). Happy start to a happy day! I wish I had a picture of her doing this.

Hubby came home at 11. He takes an early lunch. He made everyone come downstairs for presents. He (and all the kids) bought me a Cricut cartridge (awesome!) and some makeup items that I had asked for as well as a bottle of Clinique Happy Heart cologne. My son and daughter gave me a box filled with things to pamper myself with. Two homemade (by her) bath fizzies, Bath and Body Works hand gel, Bath and Body Works Spray, and Bath and Body Works Foaming Antibacterial Soap, and some Precious Momemts scrapbooking items. She had also painted a bear for my desk at work.

Then they brought out an adorable cake and sang to me. We couldn't decide if the cake was a cat or a lion,but it's cute nonetheless. Different view of the cake here. During the afternoon, I got to take a nap (although I did sneak in one load of laundry between snoozes.) Everyone chipped in to help, clean the kitchen, clean the bathroom, take trash out, unload the dishwasher, etc.
Hubby and I had some alone time. I may be 43, but I still got it! We went to eat at a local eatery called Frenchy's Italian Restaurant that has the best baked lasagna that I have ever eaten. It's a little taste of heaven in every bite.

I got to come home and take an hour long soak in the tub with my new bath products while reading my book. This day was absolutely fabulous!

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If you enjoyed this post, try these:

My daughter's 12th birthday party

My son's baseball party

Current Giveaway - Bob the Builder Can-Do-Zoo CD-ROM for Win or Mac.

Heads or Tails

The prompt this week is "Royal." Here's my take:

My Anniversary Dinner

It was a night that Royalty would envy. My husband whisked me away to an intimate dinner at a local romantic restaurant called Signature Bistro. This is where the elite gather for their evening meals. The wait staff lavishes personal attention on each guest. The tables are set with cloth tablecloths, crystal, and romantic candlelight, and the waiter places your napkin in your lap as you sit down to look at the menu.

The meal was splendid. We began with some wine and bread. After savoring that, we ordered an appetizer, something I wouldn’t have thought would look or taste as lovely as it did: A crab cake drizzled with a lemon beurre blanc sauce and lump crabmeat on top. It was a little bit of Heaven. When we finished that, our entrees were ordered. I had chicken bistro, a grilled marinated breast of chicken topped with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, green onions, and mushrooms, in a chardonnay sauce. My husband ordered chicken Marsala with portobella mushrooms. I got a Caesar salad with mine as well. The lettuce was crisp, and the dressing was just the desired consistency. The entrees were served with yellow rice, steamed carrots, and steamed string beans. And, of course, the entrees were not served until my salad plate was first cleared. We did not have room for dessert.

What was so splendid was not being rushed. Each course was served independently from the others instead of bringing the appetizer, salad, and entrée out together, which happens all the time in “chain” restaurants. We were given more than ample time to peruse the menu and listen to the specials that weren’t on the menu. Wine, water, and iced tea glasses were generously refilled. When I got up to use the ladies room, the waiter stopped what he was doing and escorted me to the door. When I came back, my napkin was once again neatly folded on the table. Any tiny piece of trash, such as a sweet-n-low packet, was hurried away within a minute’s time or less. The check was not brought to the table until we asked for it, and not until he scraped the table free of crumbs. They were not in a hurry to get us out of there.

They treated us in the most regal manner, as if we were the only guests of the evening or as if we were royalty, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

To read more heads or tails, click here, and visit our host, Skittles.

Menu Plan Monday

Thank you, Organizing Junkie, for letting us link up to you for Menu Plan Monday. I get meal ideas, and since we get to see how others are planning their meals, it prompts new ideas. Most important, it forces us to plan ahead and organize our week. Thanks!

Monday - Large pasta shells stuffed with cheese and swimming in Classico Vodka Marinara Sauce with a sprinkling of grated mozarella on top; tossed salad.

Tuesday - Busy day chicken rice casserole served with green beans and bread and butter. (click name of dish for simple recipe.)

Wednesday - Light chicken stuffed with cheese and brocolli, angel hair pasta, and corn.

Thursday - Guys night out. This week, the kids and I will probably go to The Fish Place.

Friday - Traditional New York style pizza, baked fresh, flash frozen, and shipped to us in Texas. It'll be our first try with this.

Saturday - "Date" night for me and hubby. Who knows where we'll end up?

Have a great week everyone!

For more Menu Plan Monday, click here!