Twice Makes Tradition

Today is not my birthday, but last month, when it was my birthday, the kids had a day off from school. I made myself a cake, which had to be held together with bamboo skewers because the top layer kept sliding off (but the apricot filling was delish, so totally worth the mess) and there was nary a scrap of wrapping paper in sight.

But it was okay because 1) I'm a low maintenance kind of gal and don't need a big to-do 2) because my kids were sweet to me the whole day and even unloaded the dishwasher and 3) because Robert told me my gift was Jim Gaffigan tickets (I just have to wait until September to go). So I'm not complaining at all.

However, last year on my birthday I had an amazing day doing fun Portland things by myself. So I scheduled myself another Portland day this year.

I started off with a cut and color (my first professional hair color) with highlights at Yamane Salon. I had a groupon, so I could justify the cost. I think I got the fresh-out-of-beauty-school gal, because while her skills were a-okay, she was s-u-p-e-r-s-l-o-w. Does it normally take 2 and a half hours for a cut and color?

Slow was okay because the whole day was mine. Well, the whole day until 3:15.

After the cut and color and highlights, I walked over to my new favorite clothing store, Sloan Boutique. It's boutique clothes, without boutique prices. I found an awesome shawl sweater on sale, and a short sleeved mustard colored layering top. I almost bought a crazy, owl cuff bracelet, but talked myself out of it at the last minute. Now I'm having second thoughts.

In order to be awesome, I had to wear my purple flats and so my feet were freezing as I walked the streets of NW Portland. Actually, all of me was freezing. So there was really no question when I passed Moonstruck Chocolate that I had to step in and get a dark Mayan hot chocolate.

I sipped the chocolate while I made my way over to Ken's Artisan Bakery. I was going to get a treat to-go, but at the last minute, decided I would get lunch. I ordered a croque monsieur and sat down and read Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale while I ate and finished my hot chocolate. And, I might add, Midnight in Austenland was nearly as yummy as the croque monsieur.

Ken's croque monsieur

I finished the awesome morning slash afternoon with a drive home through Forest Park and over the West Hills. There was plenty of snow on the ground up on Skyline and the white snow, green fern and mossy trees were so beautiful. The drive was the perfect ending to a perfectly lovely day.

I love Portland.