Remains of the Day

So yesterday was the big day. If you can't tell by the left-over decorations, birthday cake, themed gifts etc., I turned 3-0 yesterday! Weird. If there's a way to soften the blow of the big day, Corey is the biggest softy of them all j/k (kind of). He surprised me by first flying Ali out to Boston. She arrived on my door step Thursday night unannounced. I was so shocked it seriously took hours for the reality of her presence to sink in. Then Jamie & Lane came via the Fung Wah bus Friday afternoon. As if this wasn't enough, Corey masterminded a surprise party Saturday night too with our fun Boston friends. I about peed my pants. One of the party highlights was a triple layer chocolate cake from Finale. Finale gets props for making dessert the 'grand finale' of any dining experience. Yummy to look at and to eat.

The best part of it all was hanging out with the girls with my boys by my side. Corey was a trooper to do all the planning and put up with all the women under his roof. We had a great time out and about in the chilly Boston temps but best of all, just hanging out watching the O.C. eating Jamie's C.C. cookies. Thanks to that delicious crystallized, brown sugar! Okay, maybe not that, but thanks to all for a stunning weekend.

Yesterday after everyone had been shipped off to the airport or bus depot, Corey and I had a nice romantic dinner for two at the Top of the Hub restaurant overlooking all of the greater Boston area. It was the first 'alone' date we have had in a long while. I was so spoiled for the big day- thanks to Corey for helping me celebrate 3 decades in true Anderson style!

Not the O.C. We Know and Love

Over the break Corey stayed up every night watching season 3 of the O.C. - as a good wife, naturally I joined him. Although we may have caught the O.C bug a little late in the game, we are more than a little disappointed with the last few episodes. The clever but kooky characters and script that we grew to love are no longer. What has replaced it you ask? Hokiness. Yes, hokiness in the form of a convenience store teddy bear holding a mug of gummies w/ a mini mylar balloon. Seriously? The only thing dumber than Ryan taking Kaitlin's advice to woo Taylor back with this cheap convenience store nick-knack is the poem he read at the poetry reading. Not dumb fun, just dumb... dumb.

It's like they know the end is coming and they have given up completely. Did all the writers jump ship already? Where is the strong finish? Come on! This is the end, all we get- at least let us savor the last few episodes. The only thing redeeming about the last episode is that Seth's animal spirit is an otter. Strangely enough, it seems fitting. We'll see what tomorrow's episode brings but I'm not going to keep my fingers crossed.

Up Close & Personal

This is life with Max. He grabs everything- including my nose!

My Big 100

1. Halloween is my favorite holiday. 2. I am a night owl but am trying to change that. 3. I'm an ophidiophobe 'one who has an irrational fear of snakes.' 4. I kiss my baby's cheeks every chance I get. 5.I love long, hot showers. 6. Spring is my favorite season, but I love Autumn too. 7. I get cold easily. 8. I am terrible at corresponding and keeping in touch- funny it is one of my husband's greatest strengths. 9. My handwriting can look really good or really bad. 10. I make really good salads. 10. I'm so indecisive....its maddening! 11. I love watching TLC's 'What Not to Wear.' 12. I'm an okay cook but my husband prefers cereal & Mac N' Cheese. 13. Twizzlers or Red Vines? Red Vines all the way! 14. The best 2 weeks ever- Europe with Corey last year. 15. I am always a little bit afraid when I fly. 16. I like live plants; I often kill them though. 17. I love to travel. 18. I love strawberry shortcake (with real whipped cream). 19. I am continually growing out my hair and then chopping it off. 20. I love waking up to Max in the morning. 21. Pillow talk with Corey before we go to bed is the best part of the day. 22. I take out my contacts before I locate my glasses frequently. 23. I quit my job 6 months ago to be with Max. I miss my co-workers, not my job. 24. I am really good at Clue (the game). 25. I sometimes gag when cleaning the toilet. 26. I'm not good at Math. 27. I'm kind of wimpy...physically not emotionally. 28. I love to tickle Corey (pure glee). 29. I trust my instincts; when I don't, I regret it. 30. I believe Corey and I are an amazing match. 31. I prefer the West to the East. 32. I love back rubs and am constantly trying to talk Corey into taking massage therapy classes. 33. I like Mexican food a lot. 34. My finger nails grow at an alarming rate. 35. I am a slow reader. 36. I miss our little house in Austin- good beginnings. 37. I don't like too much attention. 38. I am pretty good at entertaining myself. 39. I like to dance, in a studio or at a party. 40. I think shoes say a lot about a person. 41. I'm afraid of heights. 42. Max giggling is the best sound in the universe. 43. I still wear a retainer- the permanent kind. 44. I am particular about almost everything. 45. I appreciate good design and prefer things that are understated. I believe they say the most. 46. I heart cheese. 47. There are very few pictures of myself that I like. 48. I almost always wear earrings. 49. I like getting a little bit scared. 50. My sisters are my closest friends but when you are friends with one of us you are usually friends with the whole family. We're tight. 51. I like to go out and stay in. 52. I love North Shore Hawaii. 53. I'm at war with Corey's heater fan. 54. My favorite color is blue. 55. When I get tired or angry I can be short and snappy. 56. I'm bad at parallel parking. 57. I'm soooo glad Corey doesn't watch sports. 58. I like being in nature but sleeping in my own bed. 59. I love fresh fruit. 60. Haribo twin cherries are one of my greatest discoveries. 61. I love shaved ice. 62. I still can't believe Max was inside of me- amazing. 63. I have a passion for passion fruit. 64. Utah summer nights are divine. 65. I love to sleep. 66. I love having my hair washed at the salon. 67. Home grown tomatoes are one of life's little pleasures. 68. I like my tea with a little cream. 69. Almost all the bottles in our medicine cabinets have my name on them. 70. I like to watch Max sleep. 71. I love to snuggle up in a soft blanket with a book. 72. Leaving the toilet seat up is a bug! 73. I can easily detect when people are insincere and it makes me uneasy. 74. Sometimes I can know exactly what Corey is thinking just by looking at him. 75. I'm pretty no nonsense. 76. I could have Italian gelato for every meal (and have). 77. I love the smell and feel of clean sheets. 78. I am constantly in need of chap stick. 79. I lament that my favorite pink heels Corey gave me are worn out. 80. Lately I am into bar soap. 81. I hold Max in my left arm. Consequently, my left shoulder is usually wet or has dry slobber mark. I don't mind though. 82. I would rather have a few nice things than lots of mediocre stuff. 83. I bite my lips terribly. 84. I had an awesome hippie stage in 8th grade- it was hot. 85. I sometimes have a hard time remembering where I know people from. 86. I'm gonzo about recycling. 87. My first car was a Buick, Park Avenue, navy blue. 88. I miss our Old Jeep. I loved riding in it and talking to Corey. It was a comfortable car. 89. I am often 10-15 minutes late. Not on purpose. 90. We often have a shoe collection under our coffee table. 91. My favorite part of grocery shopping is the produce section. 92. I love almost anything lime. 93. I mowed our lawn growing up. 94. Wool sweaters make me itchy. 95. I enjoy shopping in open air markets. 96. I hate Walmart but love Target. 97. I hang up decorative hand towels for each holiday or season, I think I get that from Pam. 98. Most of my friends I've had for a really long time. New ones are always welcome though. 99. I will eat fast food but don't like to eat at the fast food joint (except In n'Out). 100. I have very few enemies (that I know of).

It Still Hurts

I know it has been a long time now that Brangelina have been out and about in public but seeing them at the Golden Globes together still hurt. Anyone feel the same? I know I am just old fashioned but you can't help but feel for Jenn. That's all.

The beginning....kind of

I was trying to feel out this whole blog thing after being assaulted by my family to do so (and post recent pics of my baby son, Max) so I set up a "test run" for myself just to see how difficult and committed I would feel- just for myself. Well being the novice blogger that I am within hours of my beta blog I was discovered. Jamie, of course, was the first to catch me in my incognito efforts. You can't get much past that one but then Ali found me too. I guess I'm in whether or not I'm ready. So here it is the beginning of Darling Blue- and my life as a blogger. Wish me luck-