Birthday.

The fact that I love birthday's as much as I do really surprises even myself that I haven't made my post about my actual birthday celebrations. But since it's been almost a month since the big 2-1 celebration...I'll make this "quick."

I woke up and had my favorite drink (diet coke with vanilla) and muffin (double chocolate chip, heated) from JD's ((I'm drooling all over again))

I had lunch with two of my favorite ladies, Erin and Ashley, at my favorite lunch spot- the Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus. Their tortilla soup is so major I can't even begin to describe. 

I came home and my other favorite lady, Savannah, came over and surprised me with the most darling of gifts- a Tory Burch wine bottle carrier! What a FAB gift to give!

Then my family and I ventured over to my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Mi Cocina, for some margs and DE-LICIOUS food! Their margs are much stronger than I anticipated (and I don't hate it) and by the end of the evening EVERYONE was merry with laughter. Even dad. 

I came home to find presents addressed to me just begging to be opened. Fabulous wine glasses from my sister, much needed riding boots from my grandparents and one more large box to open. 

As I tore open the wrapping paper I saw that it was a Steve Madden box. 

YES! The black riding boots I had been asking for! (I even blogged about them in my post about my go-to outfit!) 

I opened the box to find tissue paper. You can imagine my confusion.

My mom told me to try the other end. So I opened that end to find a little Neiman Marcus box. 

My heart began to flutter as I opened the box to find a David Yurman jewelry sack. 

Inside awaited the most beautiful ring I have EVER put on my finger. 

Wearing it makes me feel like such a diva-princess, which is how I think all girls should feel on a regular basis. 

It will look even more major (as if that's possible) when I get my mani/pedi Hayden gave to me for my birthday! 

So thanks mom and dad, for helping me feel fabulous for all the days of my life. 

Needless to say: I LOVE BIRTHDAY'S. 

-Lo. 

Beside Myself.

For those friends and loyal readers out there, you know that birthday's are serious business to me. 
It took me many, many years to decide why it is that I love them to the extent that I do. Because contrary to popular belief, it's not because of the attention people give me. In fact it's not even my birthday that I particularly love. It's anyones. 


I think there is something really cool about the fact that cultures celebrate the day you came into this world. I mean think about it. Your mother birthed you and people give YOU gifts, make YOU a cake, sing a special song to you even!


And then there is that unspoken rule that people have to be nice to you on your birthday. Regardless of how much you suck, everyone is nice to you on your birthday. 


Anyhow, my birthday comes at an odd time either during or right before finals. Everyone, including myself, are usually too stressed out to do much--which honest to blog (sorry I had to) is fine with me... (Like I said the attention is not the attraction for me)


Which is why I was so excited when my 2 roommates from last year, Kat and Kacey, texted me telling me they wanted to take me to dinner to have a pre-celebration! We've done a roomie dinner a couple of times where we dine and wine/movie at someone's house but this time they wouldn't tell me where we were eating...


Well as soon as they told me it was a surprise location I knew we were going to ZaZu's because I die for their pulled-pork nacho's! 


En route to dinner Kacey had to stop at home to grab some antibiotics because she had been sick all week. We get to her apartment, she unlocks and opens the door, flips on the light and 

SURPRISE!!! 

Friends, food, drinks and balloons (which later ended up outside) FILLED Kacey's apartment!!! I absolutely hate surprises because well, I don't like to be surprised...but this was amazing. 

It turns out that Kacey had created a facebook group over Thanksgiving break and invited all of my friends! As if her snacks weren't enough, she made spaghetti and salad and garlic bread!! 


Fun fact: I usually request some type of Italian food for my birthday when my mom makes dinner. Kacey had no idea but it made me feel like my family was there too :) 


And then I was surprised a 2nd time with a homemade birthday cake AND a personalized cookie-cake!   

I was absolutely beside myself. It was one of the only times in my life that I have been truly speechless and I have never felt so loved and blessed. I even teared up on the phone with my mom when I told her about it the next day! 


That right there, the feeling that Kacey and the rest of my friends gave me by simply showing up and doing something nice just for me, is exactly why I love birthday's. 


The night was fabulous...and it was a great reminder of how lucky I am to live the life I lead. 


For now that's the LoDown...but stay tuned for updates on the real big 2-1!


-Lo

P.S. I love you, Kacey! You're the best!

Rewind.

Let me take you back to Thanksgiving...


Coming home and seeing your family for the first time since August is really an indescribable feeling. I have never not wanted to go anywhere more in my life than I did once I got home for the break. The week went by too fast (don't they all?) but it was filled with AMAZING food (my mom cooked this year) and lots of laughter.


My grandparents (the ones who feed the chipmunk) came in for the holiday. I haven't seen them since last spring and it's always a treat to get to visit with them. They have been married for a little over 50 years and I can only hope and pray that I have a marriage as fitting, loving and caring as theirs. They truly are perfect for each other.


I left Dallas the day after Thanksgiving to venture back to Auburn for the Iron Bowl game. I hate leaving Dallas any earlier than I have to. But as I explained to my dad, if I graduated from Auburn never having gone to what is accurately described as the greatest rivalry in football (not just college, but all of football) I would feel like I wasn't a true Auburn fan.


We lost the game, surprise surprise...not. But the experience was worth leaving early for.


However, isn't it ironic that everyone left a holiday all about giving thanks and being grateful for one another, to attend a game filled with hatred and pure loath for the other team? Just something to think about.


I would say it's silly how crazy the fans get, but I must admit I am one of them from time to time. It's in my blood now. Nothing good comes from the other team... I'll be real mature here and say: sorry I'm not sorry...


I couldn't have been more thankful for my friends this semester. I have never been busier and at times I have never been so stressed, but my friends were always there to remind me that I'm doing what I love, so I need to love what I'm doing.


I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life...but you'll see for yourself in my next post ;)


For now, that's the LoDown


Xx,
-Lo.

Acorns

Thanksgiving is coming up and if you're anything like me you always want to find some way to contribute to the cooking going on in the kitchen... Obviously without being held responsible if it turns out burned or tasting like cardboard...

Have I got the treat for you!

I'm going to show you how to make tasty treats that look like acorns. It sounds weird but it's the perfect snack for fall!

It's the easiest thing to make and it only requires 3 ingredients.  

1 bag of snack size Nutter Butter Bites
1 bag of Hersey Kisses
1 bag of Nestle chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

Poor a handful of chocolate chips into a pot on the stove and let it melt.
Keep the stove setting on low so the chocolate won't burn!

While the chocolate is melting, unwrap your hershey kisses, poor out some Nutter Butter's and chocolate chips. 

Now that you've prepared everything, you're going to use the melted chocolate as a sort of paste to stick everything together.

Take a Kiss and turn it on the flat (bottom) side, spread a little bit of melted chocolate on it. Then, take a Nutter Butter and stick it to the Kiss.
Lastly, take a chocolate chip, put melted chocolate on the underside, and stick it on top of the Nutter Butter!

Voila! Acorns

These are great by themselves but they would also look adorable on top of a pumpkin pie or cake!

I wish I could take credit for this but I saw a picture of them on Pinterest and I just had to make them myself!

But like I said, quick and easy and oh so delicious! Enjoy :)

-Lo.