A celebration recap...

...cause it was my birthday on Saturday! :-) This weekend was pure happiness. Here's a little recap...

My dad arrived at my place Friday night. The King of Crisp and I made apple crisp together - his specialty.

Saturday morning, Dad and I chatted over some coffee until Christopher arrived with flowers and cake! This was the second cake he made me this year! Christopher made a cake for my class for a birthday treat on Friday. (Forgetful Angela left the remaining cake at school, so he made me another one. My kids enjoyed an extra birthday treat on Monday.)

I turned 72... obviously.

The three of us went to my students' first basketball game of the year. They won! I was so proud of the kids! My dad was so excited to meet my students and their families.

Dad, Christopher, and I went out to brunch at the local bagel shop. I told Christopher that all I wanted for my birthday was for him to drink coffee with me. I think it's romantic, but he doesn't usually drink coffee. He obliged my birthday wish.

Then we picked up Lula and headed to the dog park.

My eyes aren't closed! Promise. They're just squinty because I thought my eyeballs were going to freeze.

It was fun, but it was frigid. After a lap of my dad walking in silence (very unusual for him!), we knew it was time to head back inside and eat cake.

Christopher sang to me while my dad snapped pictures.

We ate (my favorite) funfetti cake.

I opened presents from my family.

Dad's card almost made me cry.

We took pictures before my dad left.

Christopher tangoed with Telula.

He posed for a cute butt shot... later, I realized I somehow snapped three butts in this pic, one including my father's. Awkward. :)

After Dad left, we headed to the gym to get a good workout in, got ready for a night out, and opened more presents.

Christopher brought me out to dinner.

Christopher's (pasta) dinner was 23984987234x better than mine (whitefish). Being the sweetheart he is, he offered to switch with me. I chose to keep mine and steal every other bite of his.

We shared my green beans with our fingers...classy.

Christopher's a master at mixing prints. Love the checkered shirt with the paisley tie. He's good!

It was a lovely birthday. I was so blessed to have my dad in town, and I am so happy with the fun day Christopher planned for me. Ah, love. xoxo

On Sunday, HJ came to visit for the day! She took me out to lunch. Delicious. Personal pizzas and waffle fries. We caught up on Grey's and life. One thing we did not do was take a picture. So this is us. Years ago.

HJ, Angel (nope, not Telula!), and me (our snowpeople are based on my brother and his curly fro and JLo in her low cut dress)

Home

Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

This song makes my heart smile. Christopher and I love it. We'll have it played sometime during our wedding day... I'd love it to be the exit song (is that recessional?) at the wedding, but I'm not sure if our priest will allow a non-church song to be played.

This cover of the song is too adorable for words:

It's my birthday...

...so I shall celebrate.

My dad came up to visit me! We've got a fun day planned with Christopher (& Telula)!

First off, we're going to watch my students play basketball. And yes, I think this is fun. :-)

Two best friends & pup with much patience

This is what happens when two silly friends get together and a beautiful dog lets us play....

(P.S. Telula loved this... not even kidding. She'll put up with anything for a little lovin' and attention.)

Telula is smiling! See her grin?! She loves Auntie Holli.

And this is when the silliness begins...

Holli thinking, "Is this wrong? Should we take the paper off the pup?"

Ang & Holli in agreement, "Nah, let's keep going."

Telula, "Zzz....Do what you want. I am le tired."

"Who's the cutest puppy in the world?!"

Poor Telula... spoiled rotten with love... but has to play dress up with her ma.

My man earned 50+ bonus points today

Christopher is the best. Obviously. I'm marrying his socks off, aren't I? (I'll let him keep his socks on though.)

Today, we went to the Bridal Expo. It was at the local University. Hundreds of ladies were there, checking out wedding vendors of every sort. Christopher was one of about three men there (not including vendors, of course). He agreed to go when we saw the flyer at our gym. There was no bribing (or bickering for that matter). Just, "Hey, wanna go to this wedding thing with me on Sunday?" and he agreed. Ladies were commenting the whole time on what a sport he was to be there. I agree. I felt lucky.

I get the fact that usually ladies care more about the details of the wedding than the guys do... but at the same time, I don't. Doesn't the guy care which DJ is there? The transportation that's involved in the day? The photographer? Whatev. Christopher encourages me to choose what I want, but he's been incredibly involved in everything. Maybe it's because I have never been one of those girls that plans their wedding since age six. I need his help and his opinions in this whole planning business.

Anyway, we tasted some incredible food, checked out some sweet photobooths, and learned a bit more about what else we need to get done before the big day. And! Christopher got compared to Ryan Gosling (score! Usually it's Josh Groban).

Best quote of the day, "Ang, there's no guys here. Everyone probably thinks I'm your gay best friend here for support." Then he burst out laughing, not caring what anyone thought. I love this man.

The other best quote of Christopher's, "Bud Light? Why yes, I'd like a sample. I have to make sure we're only getting the best for our guests." This was during the bridal fashion show. Needless to say, there were no complaints then either. ;)

What I wore...

It's a project!

Yesterday, I "reworked" a necklace in the style of Elaine. I love her necklace. It's pink and it's really full. It looks like she used two original necklaces to create it. I found mine at JCPenney on clearance for $4.77 (originally $24). There was only one left and it was in blue.

 Before (bleh...the beading is not cute at all):

After:

The golds are not perfect matches, but I like to think this is unnoticeable when I'm wearing it. Or it adds character. Or both.

 I should have worn a color that contrasted more, but this was my first day wearing my "new" necklace (and new shirt and skirt!).

May you live all the days of your life.

I've been thinking hard about resolutions this year. I tried to remember what I resolved to do last year. No luck. I decided that I blogged about my resolutions, at least I could search my archives when I forgot them this year. Silly.

New Years Eve posing 

There's a million things I want to do, be better at, stop doing.... I'm really struggling with narrowing down my resolutions.

The infamous ball drop on New Years Eve - we ended up going out for a fancy dinner with friends at a restaurant right below the drop. We were lucky to sneak out and watch it, then go back inside and be warm!

May you live all the days of your life. That is a saying I have hanging in my kitchen. (It's actually meant to be a St. Patrick's Day decoration, but since I'm mostly Irish, I feel I can hang it the whole year 'round.) That quote keeps popping into my head when I think about resolutions. I waste a lot of time in life. This year, I want to live. Everyday. Seize each day and live out its potential. Make new memories everyday. Be a yes girl (um, but not to the extent of the Yes Man*).

Christopher and I started the new year by making homemade pizza (and memories!) together. I like lots o' veggies. He likes sausage (barf).

Other resolutions include, but are not limited to:

- be a fabulous fiance (and wife (!!!!!) come April) to Christopher

- simplify (get rid of stuff I don't use and organize what I have... especially since honey will be moving in after the wedding! I don't think he'll fit right now.)

- be a fabulous friend and stay in better touch with people (especially in person, on phone, and/or snail mail)

- buy less clothes (still debating on the specifics of this one... should I completely stop buying new clothes this year? Probably! Hmm...)

And...to jump on the weight loss bandwagon:

- get skinnier before the wedding (but not too much because my dress fits perfectly now - I just want to be more toned and lose a few lbs)

- get skinnier before the honeymoon (here's where the lbs need to be dropped. what honeymoon is complete without a hot lil bikini? right??)

So... what are your resolutions?

*Seriously, Jim Carrey took "yes" to a whole new level in Yes Man. One time, Benji (my little bro) and I wanted to watch a movie with Nonie. We asked Holli, the queen of movies, for a suggestion. She raved about what a great movie Yes Man was and how it would be perfect to watch with Nonie. In.ap.pro.pri.ate. Never watch it with your grandmother. Holli "claims" she forgot that part. Ugh! :)