how does one celebrate a birthday?

“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.”

― Ruth Ann Schabacker

Ok, gang. It's officially February. And I don't mind tellin' ya that it's my birthday this month...a particularly painful one, at that.

(deep breath) I'm turning thirty.

Now, I've always loved my birth-month. Celebrating my birthday so close to Valentine's Day has meant lots of chocolate, flowers and pink surrounds me each year--and I love it! I usually know exactly how I want to celebrate. Last year, it was champagne and pizza with Jake on the day, and then a special date to see the Merce Cunningham performance at the Power Center.

This year, everyone keeps asking me what I want to do. And I have no idea. It feels momentous, important, to be acknowledging this milestone. I'm not quite sure exactly how I'll decide to commemorate it, but I was hoping you all wouldn't mind if I used this space (the blog) to work through some ideas. I may actually end up celebrating in July...or maybe I'll just spread it out over the whole month of Feb. Either way, wish me well as I muse on all things celebratory!

Also, I could really use your help. You guys are all smart and classy and have great taste. Any ideas for fabulous (and budget-friendly~we're on teachers' salaries here!) ways to fete? Do tell!

old lady tricks~hot chocolate

Hey all! I hope that you're having a splendid day so far. Today, it is bitter cold in the Mitten. BIT-TER.I mean, I've been sitting in my office, hunched over my desk, with my stocking hat on all afternoon. (still chilled through.) I guess walking around to all of my classes today didn't help. I think I got the cold down in my bones, somewhere between teaching my first class, and walking back to my office for lunch.

All this cold makes me feel like an old lady. [doesn't help that there's a certain old lady birthday approaching.] Seems like as good a time as any to kick off my presentation of "old lady tricks"...or the little things that I love or do that make me smirk and feel like a crotchety old lady.

And today, this old lady wants to hunch over a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

You might have thought to yourself, "hmm, doesn't sound very 'old ladyish' to me." But, wait for it. My hot chocolate of choice, these days, is this glamorous powerhouse:

That's right. Ovaltine. I mean, if I'm going to have a chocolatey, delicious beverage, I certainly want it to contain 12 vitamins and minerals. It's like drinking a treat, that is also a multi-vitamin. 

(I know, I know. Jake mocks me endlessly for this! Old. Lady.)

However, here are some hot chocolate factoids that I was previously unaware of. For instance, did you know there was such a thing as a hot chocolate 5K? Also, Miss B. posted about these delicious-sounding scones that are also very much on theme.

Here's hoping you are keeping warm and toasty today!