LAUGH

1) to express mirth or pleasure with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements
2) to experience the emotion so expressed

Wait, what? It's February already?! Even worse...Mid-February? I have so many verbs that I haven't even had the chance to share yet! Slow down life!

But, since it is February...you know what that means! MY BIRTHDAY! 

My birthday weekend was celebrated with many of my favorite things -- but my most favorite thing was definitely in abundance: laughter.  

Fridays are awesome on their own...but when you have a Friday birthday it is a double whammy! I was completely spoiled from the moment I woke up, with gifts from my sweet sister all set up in the kitchen. Then I get to work and a fantastic coworker decorated my desk with balloons! I was taken out to lunch and the "surprised" as an afternoon internal review turned into a Trophy Cupcake hour (complete with Macklemore cupcake toppers...they know me too well)! The surprise almost worked -- but either way the laughs were sweeter than the icing on the cupcakes. 

That evening was spent in outstanding company as we partook in one of my all-time favorite verbs: DANCING. We danced the night away at Ballroom in Fremont and there was no shortage of laughter here as we showed off (or showed up) our moves (or lack of moves?).

Saturday brought my first ever wine tasting (thank you Groupon!). I will admit, I did stick to the white wines (you can guess why) but I tasted some seriously good wines! Convergence Zone and Kaealla both provided delicious sips, complete with impeccable vino knowledge and enjoyable conversation. In fact, my group ended up purchasing one bottle of wine from each boutique. After our tasting was over, we did a mini driving tour of the "Woodinville Wine Country" (since I have never seen in the area). I will definitely head back up to Woodinville to do some more exploring!

Just when I thought there was no way to top by birthday weekend, Saturday night absolutely night blew my mind. 

My wonderful date (who did an outstanding job keeping the whole event a COMPLETE secret, only dropping hints that I knew were just to lead me off track...)  was due to arrive at 5:30pm. He asked me to dress nicely, but insisted I add a sequined flower in my hair...a little out of the of ordinary.... Once I was dolled up and a sequined out, we jumped in the car. But we didn't head out until my blindfold and seat belt were both securely fastened -- yes, I said blind fold. I was blind folded in the car and on the entire walk up to the building (where the strangers passing by continued the masquerade by saying things like "I cannot WAIT for this wrestling match..."). 

When my blindfold was FINALLY removed, I stood looking at the front doors of Teatro Zinzanni, an aerial arts, carnival, hula hoop lover's dream! Not to mention, a foodie's dream -- with a decadent five-course meal. There are not enough "praiseful" adjectives to do justice to this dinner theater -- even extraordinary falls short, as no detail went unnoticed. From the rich velvet walls of the Moulin Rouge Tent and "completely in character at all times" waitstaff to the jaw dropping aerial arts performances and the hilarious dialog of the show-- this night was one I absolutely will never forget. 

Here's to 24! Thank you all for making my birthday such a blast. Life is a gift that is meant to be celebrated, and you all gave me the best present of all -- memories in which I will look back on and not only smile fondly, but LAUGH wholeheartedly.


P.S. As a side note...I thought I should let you know that after two and a half years, I have started eating meat again. Maybe that will be a blog post for another day?