Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The 10th Anniversary of my 21st Birthday!


Flowers hand-delivered by my dad
On Saturday, April 2nd I celebrated the tenth anniversary of my 21st birthday, also known as my 31st birthday!  I'm really loving being in my 30s.  I enjoy and appreciate every birthday, but there's definitely a sense of confidence and self-assurance in my 30s that I didn't always feel in my 20s.  I may not have the "perfect" body or the biggest house or the largest paycheck, but I'm surrounded by a loving family.  We've been through a lot together, which is why I'm so happy that this birthday celebration was just family.

My mom and I went outlet shopping in Rehoboth Beach.  I picked up a few new items to add to my spring wardrobe, including my first pair of Cole Haan shoes...


This is the second year in a row that we've opted for a family lunch at a restaurant instead of a birthday dinner.  I'm loving the lunch idea because it leaves my birthday evening free to enjoy a special dinner with my husband.  This year we took advantage of Restaurant Week in Wilmington and headed to The Green Room at the Hotel DuPont.  It's a fancy, old-fashioned dining room at one of the swankiest hotels in Delaware (of course, this is Delaware, the second smallest state in the country, so it's swanky to us).  I felt like Michelle Obama!


My mom, brother, aunt, and husband joined me for a gourmet birthday lunch.  We enjoyed shrimp ceviche, a deconstructed salad with a citrus dressing, salmon and risotto, and my mom had a panini with broccoli rabe.


For dessert we shared raspberry creme brulee and chocolate cake...

And since it's the Green Room, I didn't need to worry about anyone disturbing the peace by singing Happy Birthday.  It was an relaxing and classy birthday lunch.

I spent the afternoon watching the Travel Channel on my mom's couch with a heated blanket and then I took a nap at home before heading to dinner with E.  Just the two of us... perfect.

We had dinner at The Blue Parrot Grille in Wilmington.  It's a New Orleans-themed bar and restaurant in the city.  It was our first visit ever and we enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.  I haven't traveled to New Orleans yet, but the ambiance in this restaurant seemed authentic.  There was live music, New Orleans-style drinks (I had a Hurricane), plenty of seafood, and lots of blackened and spicy menu choices.

E and I shared the Mississippi Delta Nachos (topped with shrimp, crabmeat, red beans, jalapenos and cheese) and I had the blackened tilapia for dinner.  I loved the nachos, but the tilapia was almost too spicy for my taste, especially after 8:00 p.m.  I'm gettin' old, you know. 

Overall I had a fantastic birthday weekend (followed by flowers and singing at work the following week).  I tried two new restaurants and had plenty of time to relax.  E bought me a pressure cooker and I've been experimenting with it, so stay tuned for some new recipes and a full review.

Anyone else out there celebrating a birthday soon?

11 comments:

  1. Mrs. Obama has nothing on you. So glad you enjoyed your birthday, you deserve it!

    Mine is coming up in June! The 3rd anniversary of my 21st birthday!

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  2. I hear you! The older I get, the less I seem to sweat the little things. I feel the happiest and most confident I've ever felt and I know it will get better with age. The size of my paycheck and my waistline have nothing to do with it either ;o)

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  3. Oh happy belated!!! So i know I only met you once but you were so warm and open and self assured that if that's what happens in your 30s then im welcoming it with open arms. Glad you had a great day and make sure to post a pic of the shoes (I own two pair of cole haans, the boots i've mentioned and the pumps that they made with the nike inserts, soles, or something)

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  4. Happy Birthday! Now you know you can't show the shopping bags without showing the goods! I can only imagine how great you Colehaan shoes look. I've talked myself out of pairs on numerous occasions. I may splurge for my bday. We'll see!

    I might have to add those restaurants on my must try list. (If you approve, then I know it's good.) The hubby need to find spots for our last dinner for baby and/or night out without baby.

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  5. Happy birthday! That sounds like an amazing day! Good food, family, and drinks!

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  6. You can't just show us the shopping bags and not the shoes! :)

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  7. happy belated!! looks like you had a wonderful birthday and the food looks diiiiviiiine!

    www.pretty-girl-rock.com

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  8. Happy Birthday!!! Your birthday celebration looks like it was a lot of fun :)

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  9. What a great way to spend your birthday! Oh how I dream of owning a pair of Cole Haan shoes! I actually worked in the Dupont Hotel one summer, there were always delicious smells coming out of the Tea Room. The meal looks wonderful. Yay for April babies :)

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  10. Happy Birthday! Looking forward to the new recipes.

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  11. Sounds like a perfect day. I like the idea of birthday lunch too- that way you have have two fabulous meals in one day :-)

    Happy birthday Keeley!

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