I trekked out to the Queenbee studio today & got the cutest bag known to man. Seriously, this bag is so cute I totally want to date it. It looks just like the picture only with teal flowers. Have I mentioned my love thing for teal? Because, yes.

In other news, we’re back from California, where it was unreasonably warm and also lots of fun and also also lots of work (since there is no rest for the small business owner), and I have bangs again. Bangs? you say. Didn’t you just finish growing out your bangs? To which I say Shut up, they’re cute. And yes.

It was my birthday last week. Yes. I am 35 now, a solid, respectable age. I would have posted about it sooner, but usually I loathe my birthday for reasons which have absolutely nothing to do with age and absolutely everything to do with that one time when I was 14 and no one came to my party, but this year? My birthday did not suck! In fact, it was as lovely as a birthday of mine can be (which, as it turns out? Pretty lovely). Not So took me out for a phenomenal dinner at bluehour, which is pretty much my favorite restaurant anywhere ever, and we partook of the cheese plate, about which sonnets could be written. I also had two lemon drops, and anyone who knows me will recognize that 2 lemon drops = 1 drunk me. (This picture illustrates, pre-inebriation, how ridiculously excited I was to go out on a date with my husband. Behold, the massive smile and flushed cheeks!)

So-o, I got my hair cut. All of them, in fact. Which is always a little nerve-wracking, especially since a) I’m a control freak and b) I go to the cheapest haircutting place in town. I know, right? But up until recently I’ve had really good luck there. It’s just the last few haircuts that have been somewhat, er, lacking. For example, I went in today saying I wanted a chunky A-line bob, and got…this weird gamine cut, instead.

Whatev. It’s cute, even if it isn’t what I wanted. Also (and you can’t see this in the photo) it’s still blue, which is happy-making. It’s fading in an entertaining way, and the bleachy bits mean that I can add fun colors without having to do any real work, and isn’t that what everyone wants from their hair?

After a week of ministering to my sick loved ones, I was so ready for some me time. It came in the form of a mama’s night out with my friends from the internet, who arranged to meet at the grand opening of Zenana Spa and Wellness Center. I even cut my hair and wore some makeup. I know – crazy talk. But that’s who I am. I live on the edge.

Zenana is a new spa in Portland that takes the novel approach of catering to parents. According to their website,

We offer a variety of spa and wellness services as well as lactation consultations, classes, support groups, childcare and a boutique offering unique mom and baby products.

Maternity Spa and Wellness Center in Portland Oregon

Awesome, no? Zenana’s space is huge and relaxing, and the staff was friendly and helpful. I didn’t get any of the freebies (aside from some delicious food from Vindalho) but I’m looking forward to getting one of the treatments (a mini facial, perhaps?) once we have a little bit of extra cash.

After that, we wandered over to a nearby pub for drinks and snacks. I had my first post-baby cocktail, a throat-searingly alcoholic Flirtini, as depicted in this high-quality cameraphone shot.

I’m not sure exactly what was in my drink, but it tasted vaguely of raspberry. It was quite good once the burning subsided. The company was good too, and that didn’t burn at all. We were out until – gasp! – 9:30pm, and I was home before 11. In my old life that would be an early night, but as it was I felt like I’d stayed out until dawn.

Happy Fun Baby was so glad to see me that he wouldn’t let go of me for an hour. He just kept looking at me and smiling and then burying his head in my shoulder. I had a fabulous time going out, but coming home to that? Best thing ever.

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