Birthday and Valentine Delight

Let me just talk about my birthday for a minute.

Today is my birthday.

I am now 24 years old.

I'm old.

Don't jump down my throat, I know most of you are older than I am. But for the first time, I actually feel like I'm an adult. Sure, you're technically an adult when you hit 18  or 19, but....not really. I mean, I graduate from COLLEGE in a little over 60 days (but who's counting...), I have bank accounts, cars, insurance, medical bills, I buy my own toilet paper, and whats more, I am 24. Which seems like an age where I have come to accept myself as an adult.

*shrugs*

Today was great. I woke up, yet again, to the wonderful Andrew James Keele busting into my room with red velvet cupcakes and a candle to blow out, with my present. (Note: this is the second time he has woken me up with food--for Valentines day, he came over early in the morning while I was still sleeping and made omelets, waking me up with a bouquet of yellow roses.) He knows me all too well. Red Velvet and Carrot Cake are possibly the two greatest things ever invented. Andy didn't want to wrap my present (he's terrible at it), but part of the excitement for me is unwrapping it, so I made him. I wasn't surprised when the wrapping job looked like a 4 year old did it, but its endearing all the same. I had no idea what he had gotten me, and to my excitement, this is what I pulled out of the box.

New running shoes! And BRIGHT ONES TOO! I had always wanted a pair of bright running/gym shoes, and Andy sure took that to heart. He's such a great listening--he remembers everything that I say, even when I don't quite remember when I would have said it. Mine look a LITTLE bit different than this, but these ones are pretty dang close. They fit perfectly, and it rejuvenated my desire to start working out again. Now that 39 steps is over, I don't really have much of a choice--otherwise, I will balloon up!

Andy left to go to class, and I got up and got ready for my class. I love my Tuesday and Thursday class, because we just spend three hours rehearsing a show, and my peers in the show with me are some of my favorite people. Mmmm. And I just love working with Barta. What an absolute light in my life.

After getting out of class, I checked me phone and my mom had called/texted wondering if I was available for lunch. She was already at Costa Vida (one of my favorites), and I had some spare time (crazy!) so I had a wonderful lunch with my mom, discussing things like children and psychology to shoes and other things. I sure love that lady. And a small Costa Vida Salad? Yes please!

Lunch was cut short because I had to pick up and Andy and take my car to Midas to get a new starter, and my mom had to go too. But before she left, she gave me my only present I had really asked for: this.

Now, I know what you're thinking: Why did you ask for a 3 day emergency pack from Emergency Essentials? Well, I don't really know! But I live in Orem, and my family lives in Springville. I can't really explain it, but I haven't been able to shake the feeling that I need to be prepared and get something like this in all possible locations. So...I packed a duffle bag in my trunk with old sweats and jackets, shirts, sweaters. blankets, and flashlights for if I ever get stranded during the winter somewhere. I plan to keep this present at my house in Orem, and my family has an emergency pack at their house in Springville. Aside from getting some granola bars for my car and spare water bottles for my house, I feel pretty prepared. Though it seems like such a silly thing to ask for for a birthday present, I am grateful I have it, and thankful that my parents took me seriously enough to get it for me.

I said bye to my mom, and picked up Andy and dropped my car off to Midas. I sure love Vernon and Lenny. They knew it was my birthday, wished me happy birthday, and took my car in give it a new started. They always take such good care of me and my car. While that was happening, Andy and I went to the mall to get a few things. One of my favorite things to do is walk around the mall, and lucky for me, Andy doesn't mind it at all. And even if he did mind, it was my birthday today, and he promised I could do ANYTHING I wanted and he wouldn't complain. And we did, and he didn't. We stopped at the Verizon store where Andy finally switched over and bought an iPhone 4s. His old iPhone had been breaking for months, and it finally became time for him to buy himself something nice. I want to own an iPhone someday. We then walked to Bath and Body works to exchange my SECOND Present from Andy, which was a bag of lotions and things that I had wanted but could not afford. A while back I had a gift card to Bath and Body Works and didn't know what to get with it. I found a new scent that I LOVED, but couldn't decide--lotion, body cream, body wash, body scrub, body spray--the options were endless. I picked one after much debate, and left. Little did I know, Andy had memorized what I was considering, and purchased the rest for me for my birthday (unfortunately, he got the wrong scent. BUT! The thought was there, and we went in and exchanged it for exactly what I wanted! I am so grateful that he is so thoughtful and giving and understanding. What a lucky girl I am.

We then went to Forever 21 (a must), and I found this adorable little dress to buy myself for my birthday--its so cute. I wonder if I could find a picture of it online? Aha! Here it is!

Now, I know what you're thinking: "that dress is so short!"


Never fear.


I am considerably shorter than this model, so the dress is a pretty good length for me.


Bahahah. But do you want to know a secret?


I went home and put this dress on for dinner, and after looking at this picture, realized I had worn the dress backwards. But I think both ways work just fine.

Don't judge. I'm endearing, alright?


After I came home from the mall to put my new dress on, what did I find? A RED VELVET cake that my mom had dropped off for me. (Do you see a theme in cakes now?) I am so excited about it. However, I can't eat it myself, which means I will probably take it to school tomorrow and share with my class. Anyway, my roommates had also made me a little cake, and sang me a little happy birthday. They are so funny.

Andy and I then went to Happy Sumo because I had a free birthday meal, but the wait was an hour long, so we decided to bag it and go to our usual Sushi place, the Shabu Shabu House in Orem. Usually we have really great Sushi there, but tonight was a little disappointing. The Vegas roll that I normally order didn't taste like it usually does, so we left feeling a little bummed. Our waiter was also super chatty--very nice, and a theater major/costume design emphasis at BYU, but very chatty. He looked familiar to me, and after he mentioned his major, it all clicked. Nice guy.

Since it was my birthday and I could do anything I wanted, I chose to go home, put on my sweat pants, buy something online with my gift card Lucienne had given me for Christmas (which is where the Toms purchase came into play-->see post below), and watch Young Frankenstein with Andy. We were so tired, and even though I could have done anything I wanted, that was what I wanted most. Its so nice to have my evenings somewhat free, and to just relax a little bit.

All in all, it was a wonderful birthday. The only person I didn't hear from in my family was my little brother Hootie. Nope, that's a lie--he did send me  a text at 7:41am this morning asking when I was going to give him my P90X. *shrugs* Oh well. He's young. I will wish myself a happy birthday on his behalf I suppose. "Happy Birthday Kelly! I love you!"

I am so grateful to have had such a great day on my birthday, and to feel so much love from friends and family. Tomorrow is another normal and boring day, but...I have wonderful friends, a wonderful boyfriend, and wonderful parents. Love.