The Big 3-0

I guess turning 30 is a devastating event for some people (my mom included).  I'm supposed to officially be OLD now, right?  Whatever - I still feel young, so I say 30 is the new 20! 

We did lots of celebrating - mostly eating - for some "turning 30" fun.  My birthday fell on a Saturday, but the eating (and shopping) started Thursday evening with a trip to the Plaza and Westport.

I have heard a lot of talk about these fancy Baldwin jeans made with raw denim that are from right here in KC.  Of course I'm all for supporting the local economy, but these have always been waaaay out of my price range.  Matt has seriously been asking to get a pair for a solid year at least, so we finally decided to pop in the store and just try some on.  For fun.

They are not soft and stretchy like my cheap Old Navy jeans.  They're stiff and skin tight -- because they supposedly stretch and mold to your body.  And you aren't supposed to wash them.  Like, ever.  Gross. 

The trying them on "just for fun" turned in to Matt shelling out some serious dough for two pairs of them.  The deal has always been he could get a pair as long as he bought me a pair, too.  Happy Birthday to me!  I officially own a ridiculously priced article of clothing. ;)

 After the shopping extravaganza (which also included a trip to H&M), we went to Westport for dinner at Beer Kitchen.  Their short ribs and polenta might be my favorite meal in KC.  (I think I was still too excited over the jeans and forgot to take any pictures!)

 On, Friday, Matt took me to Jun's sushi - my favorite sushi in KC - for lunch, and then to Port Fonda in Westport for dinner.  Yum. 

   

Sushi for lunch.                                     Mexican for dinner.

We talked about going to a movie after that, but since I'm officially in full swing training for my first marathon, a nice long run was in store bright and early on Saturday.  We went home and went to bed before 10pm.  My kind of Friday night! 

This is how I started my first day in my 30's: 

My mom provided me with all the necessary equipment for that:  an awesome watch, comfy running shoes (never mind that they're actually old-man shoes - they're the only ones that fit my super wide foot), and a running belt...all for my birthday!  Oh, and then she mowed my yard for me while I was running...and gave me an absurd amount of cards to come home to.  She's the best.  :) 

After that 10 mile run, I needed some food.  My mom and I met my favorite little guy for some lunch at Jason's Deli.

Hunter had a card for me, too!

He experienced - and loved - his first ice cream cone! 

Click HERE for the YouTube video.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing some yard-work and napping.  Just a nice, relaxing day. 

That night, there was more eating out, of course.  I had planned on going around KC to different spots - my favorite drink, my favorite appetizer, my favorite entree, and my favorite dessert - but that seemed like too much work.  So we decided on dinner at a new spot called Collection near downtown.  And I wore my new jeans for the first time!  (I actually tried to wear them to work on Friday, but when I went to pull them up, the zipper broke.  That's how tight they are.)

My card from Matt.  I used to collect Unicorns when I was little. : )



Heading to dinner



Collection - from the outside



Our entrees were seriously SO good

On to dessert.  I had been craving some creme brulee from Fogo de Chao ever since we went there for Christmas.  So we drove down to the Plaza and just ordered that.  It was just as good as I remembered.  So good, in fact, that I felt it necessary to lick the bowl.  And help Matt finish his.

 The sky was crazy when we left the restaurant.  (Oh did I mention that we totally lucked out all weekend with awesome parking on the Plaza?  That's some birthday luck.) 


No filter.  It was that cool!

The final birthday celebration was with my whole family.  Dinner at Will Jenny's on Sunday night.  They have big enough tables for all of us, and there is something that everyone can eat there. 

Hadley brought down my birthday card and present...and then proceeded to open it for me.  It was too cute. 



Hadley still just adores Hunter and always want to play with him.  He usually isn't as interested, but I got a couple cute pictures of them together.

Obligatory family pictures galore after dinner.  My mom tracked some random guy down who was walking to his car to snap one of the whole fam.  


I love my big, crazy family



 

 A few of the presents I got:





A purple, sparkly scarf from Christa that I wore to work the next day 



An awesome original drawing by Allie.  I seriously love it (all colors of kids holding hands around a heart-shaped drawing of the world).  It's framed and in my bathroom now.



 

A new mouse pad for work from Christa/Tony.  It now includes all my nieces and nephews and has new pictures on it.  (The old one was a birthday present two years ago.)

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So here's to my 30's.  I'm really looking forward to this decade.  It might be the best one yet! :) 

Dog 'N Jog

Just like last year, Matt and I were participants in the annual Dog 'n Jog benefiting the KC Humane Society.   The whole event is just too much fun to pass up...

So we got up early and loaded up the dogs for the plaza.  They were excited.  I wonder if they knew where we were going or just pumped for a car ride?

It was a beautiful morning, and I couldn't help but smile as Willow and Cricket pulled us up to the dog block party.



Blue skies + lots of happy dogs = perfect morning

The streets were lined with stalls and booths passing out everything from informational fliers to free dog treats.  We walked along and ooohed and aaahed at all the adorable dogs.  I think we're going to end up with a pug and/or french bull dog at some point...



And when we got to the end of the street...there it was.  Just what my dogs had been waiting for.  THE BABY POOL.  Oh were they happy...

While all of the other dogs just drank out of the pool, my dogs BOTH got in and tried to swim.  No joke.  They squeezed in there, laid down, and started clawing/splashing at the water.  And just like last year, everyone loved it - snapping pictures and laughing at my crazy dogs.

We didn't get there too early, and we hadn't registered yet, so by the time we did all of that, it was time to head to the start line for our 1 mile run.  But not before Willow did "her business" and took a #2 right in front of the registration stand.  No shame.  I guess it's better than in the middle of the street during the race like last year? 

(I honestly think it's nerves/anxiousness.  Maybe I shouldn't take her next year?)

The best pic I could get.  It's impossible to get two dogs to look at the camera with so many distractions (IE other dog butts to sniff).

 

Waiting at the starting line

And we're off!

The race very slow jog went pretty smoothly for the first half-mile.  I think Willow and Cricket enjoyed trotting along and looking at all the other dogs, and they were keeping up with the pack for the most part.


(Photo from the event photographer)

 

(Photo from the event photographer)

But the second half-mile was another story.  Apparently my very out-of-shape Willow is just not a runner.  I literally drug her (gently!) for the last part of the race.

(Can I just say here that I got dogs in the first place to run with  me?  Willow had hip surgery before she was a year old - so she's out - and Cricket is just awful on a leash and too distracted.  So much for that brilliant idea.) 



See the leash(me) pulling her collar  up over her head in the pic?   Yea, she was done.



I thought she was going to trip on her own tongue it was hanging so far out.



I don't remember what we were doing here?  Waiving for the camera maybe??

Their tongues.  Seriously.

Matt had a little better luck with Cricket.  She didn't seem to literally be dying anyways...

Cricket still going strong coming up on the finish line!

We were all excited to be done with that...        (Photos from event photographer)

After the race, it was straight to the first water bowl they could find.  Willow eventually just collapsed around it and laid her head in it. 

Come on...it was only a mile!  Maybe I should walk them a little more??

Once Willow could pull herself away from the water bowl, they headed straight back to the baby pool for another dip.  Seriously.  You'd think they just ran a marathon...

I still had a lot of fun.  Not sure the same can be said for the dogs, haha.  Actually, I think they enjoyed getting out and about and socializing with the other dogs, but would have been happier with just a half mile jog.

Next year, I think I'll either have to get them in a little better shape, or just bring Cricket!

 

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My Instagram pics from the #dognjog: