I seriously had the best week ever, so much appreciation to all of my lovely friends who made me feel extra special on my birthday. I was surprised by the most gorgeous flowers delivered from my sweet friend Mara (of Hook, Thread and Tinker) – the only way I would have been more excited about the delivery would have been if she had been at my doorstep instead of thousands of miles away in chilly Chicago! I also got beautiful flowers from my three close friends from high school, and have them spread around the house, bringing happiness to various corners! It’s incredible the joy that florals can bring.
In addition to birthday festivities (more details below), one of my best friends, Kirby, was in town with her husband, Brett, and daughter, Lillian (more about this tiny little angel here!). I am so incredibly grateful for the time we were able to spend together (as they live in Oklahoma City), and Sasha is too, as he loves Brett.
We had dinner at her brother and sister-in-law’s house on Friday, then went to her parent’s house during the day on Saturday and celebrated Mardi Gras together at our mutual friend’s parents house on Saturday night. I wish they lived here so badly, but I’ll take action packed visits as a second best option any day!
Some other exciting things that took place this week include:
- Getting treated to birthday lunch by my best friend, McKenzie, and her wonderful boyfriend, Bryan – we ate at True Food Kitchen, and I’m officially obsessed
- Eating birthday dinner with Sasha and Isla at Rosie Carrabba’s, which is one of our favorite spots in the city (and his ‘Holy Ship, it’s your birthday!’ card still has be laughing)
- Celebrating my birthday with my family at Benjy’s on Washington on Saturday for lunch – their beet hummus and Brussels sprouts are phenomenal
- Meeting Sasha during his lunch break at Zoe’s Kitchen on Monday – his office is only 15 minutes away, so getting to see him for a bit during the day is such a treat
- Going to lunch with two co-worker friends on Friday at none other than Ruggles Green – so much fun to chat with them, especially since the main topic of conversation was blogging!
- Feeding Isla restaurant food – she had a chicken skewer at Zoe’s Kitchen, a grilled chicken breast at Benjy’s and Carrabba’s, and guacamole and quinoa from A Moveable Feast – it makes our meals a smidgen more expensive, but we love watching her feed herself like a tiny human (and these stick-on mats are necessary now!)
- Sleeping – although Sasha and I both feel exhausted from the busy week, Isla has slept from 6:30 pm – 7:30am every night this week, and I’m praying it’s not just a fluke… I want to get used to that!
- Planning the final wedding details with Amanda, who surprised me with gorgeous tulips, delicious vegan cookies from Whole Foods and an amazing card on my birthday!
- Getting a manicure and pedicure at Paradise Nails while Isla’s Baba (Sasha’s mom) babysat – it was such a treat, and I’m definitely going to try to keep it up (typically terrible at this…)
- Going to Sephora and being surprised by my birthday gift, which was two NARS lipsticks – my favorite gift they’ve ever given!
- Catching up with one of my best friends, Paola, who moved to Honduras after their wedding in Mexico City last fall and I miss her so much it’s insane! I did not want to get off the phone!
- Spending way too much money at The Monogram Shop – that place is dangerous (if you live in Houston, you need to go)
- Spending the night at my parent’s house after the Mardi Gras party and waking up with the entire family there – my two sisters had spent the night too!
- Buying and setting up new furniture for our bedroom as gifts from my parents – they also got me the Audrey Lamp, which has been on my birthday and Christmas lists for years!
- Heading to Memorial Park during a patch of sunshine on Sunday and doing the 3-mile loop together (and Isla’s straw hat does me in every time!)
You can also follow along during the week by following on Instagram! How was your week? What were the highlights?
18 Comments
I’m so glad you had a good birthday week with lots of celebrations. As always, I love all of the Isla photos. Hope this week is as good as last!
Thank you so much, Angela! I hope you have a great week too!!
Ailee, what sweet photos! I love Isla’s straw hat and her little jeans. And the bike. And her pouf. And the ship card. It looks like the perfect birthday week.
Thank you, Jenna!! I like the hat a lot too 🙂 I want it for myself!!!
Firstly, your photos are the cutest!!! Isla is a doll!!
Sounds like you did a lot of great eating to celebrate your birthday! Always the best! Happy Birthday!
And, here’s to hoping Isla’s sleeping is a new thing! Yay for a sleeping child!!!!
Thank you so much, Alycia! Yes – I strongly believe calories do not count during one’s birthday week (this is fact, not fiction – right???). Thank you so much! I am definitely praying the sleeping continues!!
yay for birthday celebrations! all week, as it should be!
a) isla is adorable as always (is her sweater from baby gap? i think simon has it too :)).
b) your house is GORGEOUS. I want a HOUSE……….
xx.
Thank you so much, Mara!! Made all the more special because of YOU! Yes, her sweater is Baby Gap! TWINS. I love it!!!! And I wish that was our house in the picture of Brett and Sasha – that is Kirby’s brother’s house. It is gorgeous!!!
Aren’t birthday weeks the best?! Looks like you had a fabulous week surrounded by all the people you love 🙂 Isla is just the sweetest little thing and great pictures! Love your side braid… I can’t wait until my hair is long enough to do them again!
Yes, they really are!! Thank you so much – I agree, but am totally biased 🙂 Braids are definitely my go-to right now as I am way too lazy to do anything fancier with my hair (i.e. blow dry…). xoxo
Isla’s hair is getting so long! Sounds like a perfect birthday week (mail me Zoe’s!!).
I would love to mail you Zoes!!! I would miss it so much too! What is your go-to order? And her hair really is getting long so quickly – I forget that it was ever much shorter until I see pictures from a few months ago!
I am inspired by your week in review posts…I love hearing about what you did and what things you loved. It sounds like we eat REALLY similar too haha. Everything you wrote about sounds amazing (love Brussles sprouts and beet hummus sounds incredible) AND True Food Kitchen is one of my favorite spots! Their veggies and dip on the kids menu are reallllly good, FYI. Sounds like such a wonderful birthday! I love seeing all of your pictures, and your beautiful smiling face. Something about you seems so….familiar…like I already have known you for years. You are so blessed, your little fam is just gorgeous and you all seem so totally happy. Love this!!!!! MUAH!
xox, Maya Beth
mylifeasmaya.com
Sweet friend, I feel EXACTLY the same – like I’ve known you forever and ever. How strange, but perfectly mysterious. I do think we are probably very similar in our eating habits, although your workout ones must be a lot better than mine – I’ve seen that bod! I didn’t even know True Food Kitchen was a big chain until I just Googled it! How fun! Isn’t it amazing. I keep having their Harvest Salad on repeat. Kids veggies and dip – duly noted! Biggest hugs being sent to you!!!! xoxoxoxo
I love that I made it into your list! I did not want to get off the phone either!! Loved catching up. I keep thinking about things that we did not talk about, we need another catch soon! Loved Isla’s photo on the basket! So adorable 🙂 I miss her so much!! I am glad you got a nice card from Mr. Daddy Pants. Also, I am so glad you had a great birthday week!
Of course you did – I was like a kid in a candy shop after our conversation!!!! I use the basket to contain her while I’m putting my shoes on… these little tips I’ll be sharing with you one day! 😉 And yes, a card and a Paper Source gift card!!! No the most romantic, but I was ecstatic!!! LOVE YOU! xox
What a weekend…I’m still trying to recover!
aw!!! I’m so glad to hear you had a GREAT birthday! My husband and I were talking about birthdays the other day and how they’ve become the biggest celebrations in our family. (As they should be, right?!) Hope you’re having a great week, Ailee!