Green Day and a Very Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, yesterday (St. Patrick's Day) was the big 2 - 6 for me. Overall it was a really great day from start to finish. Probably one of the better birthdays. Mike took care of Vessel in the morning and let me sleep in until 8:30. Yes folks, sleeping until 8:30 is like a dream come true! So that was really nice. Then I got up and opened some birthday presents. Mike got me a Tempurpedic pillow because I've had some neck issues the past couple of years and no pillow ever seems to satisfy. I tried it out last night and it felt great. Though, I'll give it a few weeks before giving it my whole hearted stamp of approval. My sister got me a children's book that I wanted. Gotta love the children's books. My grandparents gave me some moolah to do with as I please. And my dad gave me a gift certificate to Sego Lily Spa in Midvale. I also got some handmade jewelry from friends in Japan. Oh, and the night before, Mike's parents made me dinner and a birthday cake (which was the best excuse for splurging on my diet) that I enjoyed eating along with some ice cream. (can't have one without the other, am I right?) They also gave me a couple of books. After opening my cards and gifts, Mike and I worked out and then had a light breakfast. We got ready for the day and went to Fairmont Park in Sugarhouse to feed the birds (ducks, geese, pigeons, seagulls.) It was a sunny, beautiful day, just perfect for going to the park. It was nice to spend time with my boys (my 2 favorite peeps in the world!) And I was cracking up so hard about Vessel's little experience with the birds. We've gone and fed them once before with no problem, but yesterday Vessel was especially nervous and apprehensive around them. I got some good video footage of him looking pretty scared. His facial expressions were just cracking me up! Later that day Mike watched Vessel so I could go to Sego Lily and be totally pampered. I have never been to a spa before so I didn't know what to expect. Can I just say, "HOLY FREAKIN' CRAP", it was like heaven. Pure heaven. I was treated like royalty in that place. To start, the inside is just gorgeous. I walked in and someone was ready to help me right away. They asked for my shoe size and gave me a pair of slippers. Then they escorted me to the women's locker room. This isn't your standard locker room. Don't picture junior high locker rooms people, okay? The first thing I saw was a beautiful vanity area with all the soaps, lotions and other toiletries I could ever ask for. The lockers were all made of solid wood and there were leather ottomans for sitting on. The lady who escorted me to my locker gave me this luxurious robe and then told me to go sit in the meditation room after I was finished getting undressed and put my robe on. The place wasn't crowded at all. There was only one other person in there while I was. So I took all my clothes and jewelry off and put on that soft, heavy robe and slippers and walked into the meditation room. That place was amazing. There was soft music playing and a fireplace. And there were huge, cushy chairs to sit on. And off to the side was a place for refreshments. So I went over there to see what was available. They had an assortment of teas and tonics and health bars. Plus, hot and cold water, water with lemon, and water with other things in it. So I got a cup with hot water and tried one of the mix ins from the Elixir brand. I think it was for relaxation. It tasted fabulous. So there I was sitting with my cup and saucer next to the fireplace in an enormous cushy, comfy chair waiting for my masseuse to come get me. I just thought "this is the life!" After enjoying my drink for a bit my masseuse finally came in. She had the softest, sweetest voice and was very friendly. She led me to the room we would be in and then left so I could disrobe and get on the massaging table/bed face down with some sheets over me. The bed was heated and very comfortable. The sheets were so soft against my skin. The room had soft lighting and soft tribal music playing. I could smell a variety of aromatherapy oils. My masseuse was amazing. She didn't try to talk to me or ask me a bunch of questions. She just did her thing and let me relax. I could just focus on that instead of trying to make conversation with this stranger, ya know? Oh, so when I called to make my appointment, the lady asked me if I wanted a man or a woman masseuse. I thought a man might have stronger hands (I like hard pressure massages) but I felt less uncomfortable having a woman touching my bare skin than some guy. So I was worried that she might not have strong enough hands for the massage I was hoping for, but I WAS WRONG. She was very well trained. So she asked me if I had any problem areas and I told her I was having a little shoulder and neck pain. So she worked on those, then all over my back, my legs and feet, arms and hands, neck again, and then my scalp. I swear I had died and gone to heaven. It was the coolest experience! I can't even describe it in a way that could possibly justify the awesomeness of it. So after an hour of that she asked me if I would like anything to drink and I told her I'd like a glass of water. As soon as I got my robe and slippers back on she was waiting for me on the other side of the door with a nice cold glass of lemon water. She escorted me back to the locker room and mentioned that there was a sauna and a steam room I could use if I would like. So the first thing I did was go wash off all the oil in their state of the art showers. They were completely private (not that it mattered since I was the only one there it seemed) and the walls looked like beautiful stone. There were only all-natural organic shampoos, conditioners and body washes. And huge white terry cloth towels. I could've wrapped myself up in one of them twice! So then I decided to try out the steam room. Holy hannah banana, did that feel good. I just sat there and let the steam work it's magic. Eventually I knew I had to leave this wonderful retreat, but I swear, I never wanted to leave! I think I could live there! Once I had gotten dressed again I went into the vanity area and applied several kinds of organic moisturizers and smell good potions. There was also a place to fill up on more Elixir, so I tried the energy kind that time. I felt relaxed and clean and warm and like a whole new person! If you've never gone to a spa, I highly recommend one! I can't wait for the next time I get to do something like that. I listened to Chill 35 on Sirius the whole drive home because I didn't want the vibe to go away.

At around 5:30 Mike and I dropped Vessel off at a babysitter since we had 6:00 dinner reservations at Tiburon. Some of you may remember Mike's post about his first experience there, but if not or if you'd just like a recap, click here. I was really stoked about eating there ever since Mike told me about it. The service was excellent and we had our own little private table secluded from everyone else. I brought my camera to take pictures of the food, but since I'm not real good at snapping photos, I'm don't think I'll post all of them because it would ruin the way the food ACTUALLY looked. They have an extensive wine menu but, alas, we could not partake of it, so we moved right on to the appetizers. We ordered baked Camembert that came with carameled onions and thin apple slices drizzled with some kind of fruity, tart sauce. We also got baguette style bread and some sort of topping-I don't even know-that tasted like it had fruit pieces in it. It was delicious. I think I could live in France just for the cheese and bread! I ordered pineapple juice which tasted really good with cheese. The salad was a spring mix with Braeburn apples, a slice of gourmet cheese, a roasted tomato and a spicy chili dressing. It was really unique, but very tasty. Then they brought out homemade lemon and raspberry sorbets for us to cleanse our palates. Then came the main course. Mike ordered New Zealand elk tenderloin and I got the Filet Mignon with some kind of wine sauce and mushrooms (sorry kids, no foie gras on mine.) It was melt in your mouth good. It also came with garlic mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash, asparagus and carrots. Then for dessert I got the Creme Brulee and Mike got the chocolate mouse. Both were incredibly rich and delectable. The whole experience was excellent from the food to the service to the candle-lit table to the conversation. And the meal was so filling I couldn't even eat cake and ice cream later that night for my birthday! We went and got Vessel and he fell asleep right when we got him home and in his pajamas. So Mike and I had some time to just hang out and talk and be together before calling it a day. It was such a good birthday and Mike made sure I felt really special the whole day. I didn't have to touch one dirty diaper or worry about anything the entire day. And thanks to all who called to wish me a happy day!

Here are a few pictures of our afternoon at the park. The big fat goose had it's eye on Vessel the whole time and ended up being in like every photo I took.

Some of the birds, including fatty here, came right up and ate out of our hands.

Mike enjoying a glass of cranberry juice at Tiburon.

Chocolate mousse.

Creme Brulee with a birthday candle. How sweet...

My sweet husband and myself taken by our awesome waiter.