Funny how dessert seems to be a theme every time SJ and I get together-- Happy birthday, my friend!

To mark this very special day-- the anniversary of SJ's birth-- I thought about doing something similar to last year, where I broke into SJ's house and left dessert in her fridge. The only problem I foresaw with the plan was the fact that SJ doesn't actually own that house anymore, which would have been weird not only for me to be walking around in it, but probably a little unnerving for the new owner when SJ walked in to get her dessert out of the fridge.

So, in the interest of not getting either of us arrested (and since she gave me a key to her new house, but not the alarm code...), I guess I will have to trade in chocolate-covered break-ins for one of those traditional birthday letters SJ and I have become so good at.

So, SJ, this is it. The last birthday either of us gets to celebrate without kids to distract us from the partying that should go on not only on our birthdays, but whenever we feel like it. Somehow, I have a feeling that your best gift next year won't be a blog post from little ol' me, but the fingerprint-covered card that gets handed to you by a drooling, grinning kiddo. But that's how it should be.

What a year this has been. You moved, I painted, I got knocked up, you got knocked up, J painted... I think that about sums it up. But it leaves out the important parts, like our "Pregnant Woman Support Group" on Thursday when we made fruity "mocktails" and talked about symptoms that probably would have had our husbands abandon us if they had ever heard about them. Or the Saturdays spent going to tag sales and spending hours in the car talking about everything from what life was like to what it's going to be like later this year. Or the many, many hours of dinners and Setback now that we live only 4.2 miles apart.

It's been quite the journey, SJ. From poor reporters at a local newspaper (one of us who wore clothing with funny patterns and the other a snob who "knew" she could never be friends with someone who dressed like that) spending Friday and Saturday nights hanging out at bars (you were dating and then engaged, but never had a problem being my wing man), to moms-to-be who consider it a wild night out when the Setback games last beyond 10 p.m. I have a feeling that self-imposed curfew is going to be getting even earlier, but I'm not worried. We'll just have to pack the fun into a shorter amount of time.

And it has been fun. I can't imagine what my late twenties and early thirties would have looked like without you in them to listen to me, to keep me grounded, to cry with me, to make me laugh time and time again, to tell me when I'm wrong, to understand what I'm going through, to be such a good friend you went and got knocked up so I would have someone to go through pregnancy with and to always be willing to help me finish the extra ice cream in my freezer.

Speaking of which, when are we going out for ice cream to celebrate? Happy Birthday, SJ!

Every good breakfast includes whipped cream...

Waffles with brownies, mint chocolate chip ice cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce and whipped cream... the breakfast of champions!

I found the cord for my camera and you people are in trouble now! I hope everyone who asked me to hurry up and find that cord realized just how many ridiculous faces, weird costumes and strange poses SJ and I can come up with.

We have to do something about this naked blog

Blogs that have a lot of photos are cool. There, I said it. And you agree, right? And this lil ol' blog of ours isn't so cool because we rarely have photos. It's something that's been eating at me to the point where I am ready to do something about it.

On Saturday, the Pretend Husband and I slept late and then decided to make a big breakfast for ourselves. It started as waffles, which evolved to Belgian waffles when I realized we had strawberries in the fridge. But it did not stop there... in fact, it kept going until we had to call SJ and J to come over for Mimosas (when I realized we had champagne in the fridge and SJ was willing to pick up the OJ on her way) and waffles with... wait for it... brownies, mint chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate sauce. Cereal and eggs don't even compare to that kind of breakfast.

And, in light of my intention to post more photos on this blog, I took multiple shots of our creations. Because it's not enough to talk about ice cream for breakfast, you have to draw your readers in with photos of your delectable meal, right? And the photos turned out pretty good. You're going to love seeing them.... just as soon as I find the freakin' cord for my camera to move the photos over to my computer. The cord that was misplaced in the move. The cord that I haven't quite had the time to search for. Yeah, that cord.

I am going to dress up this blog and add photos of my day and the stupid outfits SJ and I are known to wear and the crazy things we do... just as soon as I find that stupid cord.

Did I mention how good the ice cream is?

If there is one sport I absolutely cannot tolerate, even for a few minutes, on TV or in person, it's baseball. And golf. Yeah, I said "one sport" but I hate them both. Except I probably hate baseball more because there's a chance of being asked to go to a game, while no one has ever asked me to a golf... match? tournament? game? extravaganza? Whatever you call it, I've never been invited.

And now I am faced with what I'm calling a "very important decision" (but only because work is slow and life is boring and this decision is about as important as it gets right now. don't worry, I realize it doesn't really rank in the grander scheme of things...)

But anyway. The Pretend Husband was given tickets to a baseball game this weekend. And he's peer pressuring me into going with him. The good part? It's in the city I went to college in, a city I love, love, love and haven't been to in way too long and it's home to the best ice cream I've ever had. But. I would have to go to the stupid baseball game.

So, on the one hand, city I love, best ice cream ever, a night away from home, the best ice cream ever, hanging out with the PH, the best ice cream ever... And, on the other stupid hand, stupid baseball. I'm a fan of football and I will willingly watch basketball games with the PH, but I cannot stand baseball. It's long, it's boring and it's long.

Let's hear what you think? Do I suck it up with the best ice cream ever as my sweet, sweet reward? Or do I skip it purely for health reasons (i.e. there's a strong possibility I would die of boredom if forced to sit through an entire game...)?

More love letters from SJ

I know, right? How freaking lazy can I be? I post like once a week, make a mad dash for your blogs, comment and then abandon the blogosphere? In truth, I have not. I'm a little busy lately with stuff, including a number of freelance consulting projects.... and that's the last work word I vow to use in this post.

Instead, I give you:

Dear Mother Nature,

Seriously? What? Have you had a really bad period for the past 3 months and we all should suffer? How else can you explain the Minnesota weather in Connecticut? I understand that it's winter and I live in New England. But cool it with the commuting-time piss poor weather. I drive a Volkswagen, Mom. I don't have the fortitude to crush large snow banks in it.

Thanks!

Love,
sj

***
Dear Manufacturers of my awesome rubber boots,

You, sirs and madams, deserve heaps of praise. I can't believe that I can wear rubber boots with cute little cherries on them in New York and no one points and laughs. It's awesome. You're awesome. You and your pretty patterned boots are all super.

Granted, when I was on the Metro North train from Darien to GCT, I was getting some funny looks from the super trendy girl in the 4 inch stiletto boots. And I was alarmed that she may have snapped my picture to show up on Don't Spotting and therefore stalked that site everyday for fear of public derision. But no. As it turns out, my boots *were* super-cute and totally appropriate for the weather.

So thanks!

Hugs and kisses,
Warmfooted SJ

***
Dear KAT,

It was awesome to hang with you guys on Friday night. I laughed so hard, as I always do when I'm with you -- it was truly good times. And do you like how I pretended I couldn't possibly eat that entire chocolate chip cookie sandwich and then wolfed the entire thing down? Yeah. That was convincing. I thought so too.

You are super fantastic friends and I'm so glad I share a blog with you. I'm glad for other things too -- like how we can go outlet mall shopping together, or go to the casino together and play penny slots while the boys play poker... like maybe next Sunday? What are your thoughts?

Sincerely,
SJ

Hey, I believe too!

I'm going to follow SJ's lead and list the 10 things I believe in (soooo not stealing her idea, that's why they call it a writing "prompt" because it "prompted" me to think about it too...) Oh, and she took a couple of the things I truly believe (like living with no regrets), but I'm challenging myself to come up with all original beliefs for this one.

Ok, so I believe...

1. I believe that life isn't always fair and sometimes bad things do happen to good people. And I believe in saying "That sucks" instead of some sugary "Into every life a little rain must fall" or "What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."

2. I believe in the power of a few kind words or some random compliments (cashiers everywhere have been recipients of this...)

3. I believe I'm turning into my mother and I also believe that it's an awesome thing.

4. I believe I married the nicest guy I ever dated (and I believe that trumps being taller than him!)

5. I believe in laughter, that it is a greater unifier and healer. And I believe no one should pass on the chance to make someone laugh.

6. I believe I will never feel the age on my birthday cake, but will always feel like a teenager in an adult's body.

7. I believe in cranking up the radio and singing at the top of your lungs, regardless of who stares from the next car over.

8. I believe in the beauty of nature, in a star-filled night sky, the sun scattered arounded a wooded area and the view from the top of a mountain.

9. I believe in the kind of friends who will share the same amount of tears as laughter with you, and still send you home feeling like you still had the best time ever.

10. I believe a bowl of ice cream can cure just about anything.

red wine and ben and jerry's makes everything better.

i had ben and jerry's for breakfast.

in a chocolate sprinkled sugar cone.

nothing fixes a red wine hangover better than premium ice cream for breakfast and shopping for fall clothes.