Burfday Gurl

"All I want for my birthday is a day by myself with my friends, and to not feel guilty about it".

"Also, I want a new camera and a new lens"

And to Lindsey's request on what kind of cake I wanted...

All I wanted was her fresh warm wheat bread, mmmmm!

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First, we left the house at 8am, which was a requirement, because really if you don't leave before breakfast then you get roped into all kinds of things.

We had not a single plan in mind.  It was a glorious feeling. 

I didn't care what we did, so long as it was different from the normal humdrum mom life.

Actually, strike that.  

I had made the assignment that Kelly map out our food establishments.

We picked Mrs. Olsen's Kitchen, it's on the sandy Oxnard Shores.

It was good ole comfort food and it was a LOT of food.

I told them we can't visit a restaurant that has sand in the parking lot, and not run across the street and dip our toes in.  They were so kind to oblige.

I think it's technically illegal to sit on the lifeguard stands?  Who knows.

We sat for a good hour or two.  No kids asking for snacks.  No sand-in-my-eye emergencies.

Just an empty beach and a clear day.

 Kelly and Lindsey, those little stinkers, tried to get back at me for the beautiful birthday photo text that I blitzed to our 25 person text chain on their own birthdays (featuring some blackmailed archived photos)...too bad, jokes on you ladies, that is one cute little bowl headed child right thar:

Anywho.

We kept driving to Santa Barbara, to our favorite lounge place.

It's BETTER than a spa because it's FREE and it comes with a side of KAREN.

She made me my favorite cookies and left us to behave ourselves. 

Of course, it isn't a party until Kelly brings out the big grocery bag of goodies she stuffed into the trunk all sly.

We chillaxed for a few hours, had some dinner, saw a movie, and headed back home after hours.

It was exactly how I didn't plan it to go.

And you know what? 

As I'm sitting here typing this, I'm realizing I'm so blessed/lucky/glad I have the kind of chill low maintenance friends who you can just lounge about with.  We just talked, read, slept, rested, laughed, ate, and everything in between and it was quite lovely.

And I'm thankful our hubbys are so obliging :)