I turned another year wiser this month. ;)
It was a small party of three, but it was very nice.. I wanted to stay home and cook dinner that night, so Mike and Sophie decided to take me to my favorite place for lunch instead: Noodles & Company! If you have one within 400 miles of you, you need to drive there today. Order the Penne Rosa with Parmesan-crusted chicken and feta cheese. You won't be sorry! (Unless you're gluten-intolerant, like myself, and you'll pay for it for the following 3 days.)
Sophie always orders the same thing that I do, while Mike orders something a little more Asian. (I don't know what his is called because I'm never paying attention when he orders; I'm generally in a trance, waiting for my Penne Rosa to arrive at the table, hot and fresh and just spicy enough to make me exclaim every single time I eat it, "Wow, this has some kick to it!")
Sophie picked up my camera and turned it on Mike and I. She's quite good at photography, I must say... a little too good, I'm afraid, since this photo shows just how "wise" I really am. ;)
After lunch, we headed to Nebraska Furniture Mart, where Mike bought me a bright orange Le Creuset coffee mug. He didn't know this, however, as he was in the men's room, but I received it with joy, and told him thank you. I imagine he thought I was referring to lunch again, but that will be between me and thee.
And after The Mart, he and Sophie got me cake and cupcakes at Jones Brothers! Oh my, how I love their buttercream. The cake flavor was Sweet and Salty Chocolate Cake, and the salt the sprinkled between the layers was outstanding! But my favorite is a simple vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting. (Again with the gluten-filled delights! Woa is me, I added another 3 days onto my suffering!)
I suppose I may not actually be wiser after all, when you consider that I tend to go for the bent-over-in-agony, darnit-I-love-stuff-made-out-of-flour look. But it is oh, so worth it. :)
Happy Birthday, dear Paulette!!! All the best to you and more of your great designs for us :-)))
Posted by: Koala (Natalia) | January 14, 2013 at 09:29 PM
You are are beauty, inside and out. Your family is blessed to have you. Love your designs and I think you are the best!
Posted by: Penny | January 14, 2013 at 10:04 PM
Happy Birthday, Paulette. Wishing you all the best!!! Looking forward to all your wonderful designs this year!!!
Posted by: Linda | January 14, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Happy birthday Paulette! I hope your suffering is over now!
Posted by: Claulem | January 15, 2013 at 04:02 AM
Happy birthday dear Paulette! Hope you had a great day. (But it doesn't sound like you've become really much wiser this year, eating all those gluten...)
Betty
Posted by: Betty | January 15, 2013 at 05:12 AM
Looks like a delicious birthday -- too bad you had to suffer for it afterwards though. Happy belated birthday!
Posted by: Margaret | January 15, 2013 at 07:09 AM
Happy, happy belated birthday!!!!!!!! I don't think I've been to Noodles and Company, now I am going to have to try it :-).
Posted by: Katrina | January 15, 2013 at 07:19 AM
Happy Birthday! The pasta looks wonderful and so did the cupcakes - YUM!!
Posted by: LaDonna Snellbaker | January 15, 2013 at 07:41 AM
Happy Birthday Paulette! You are blessed in so many ways. May this birthday be your "wisest" one yet!
Diane
Silver Creek Samplers
Posted by: Diane Grick | January 15, 2013 at 07:54 AM
Happy Birthday! I wish you all that you wish for yourself! :o)
Cathi
Posted by: Cathi | January 15, 2013 at 08:23 AM
Happy Birthday to you! That is my favorite pasta dish there too. =)
Posted by: Vickie | January 15, 2013 at 09:31 AM
Happy Happy Birthday Sweetpea!!! Love the picture of you and Mike and those cakes look scrumptious!! Hope your day was ever so special, just like you!
I am in love with your Red Cottage by the way, it is GORGEOUS!!!! {{{{Paulette-y}}}}
Posted by: Jan | January 15, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Looks like your day was filled with many of your favorite things! Hope the year continues the same.
♫♪♫ Happy Birthday to you! ♫♪♫
Posted by: Charlene♥SC | January 15, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Happy Birthday!... looks like you had a wonderful day!! What a great picture of you and Mike :-)
Posted by: Tracey | January 15, 2013 at 10:44 AM
I love Noodles & Company and Jones Bros. and all the calories that go with them(well maybe not the calories.....)but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pasta...the cake....the frosting...but I HATE HATE HATE I missed your birthday!! So Happy Belated Cake and Candle day my friend!!
XOXO
Connie
Posted by: connie adrian | January 15, 2013 at 11:11 AM
I haven't tried that one!!! Guess where I'm having lunch this week? ;) You are so wise to enable me to go there.
What a lovely picture of you too - and how nice a gift from Mike. Good taste ... hehehe
Tanya who now will wipe the drool off the keyboard after seeing those cupcakes!
Posted by: Tanya | January 15, 2013 at 11:14 AM
So glad you had a nice birthday! It's always good to be another year wiser!
Posted by: Dona | January 15, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Looks like a wonderful birthday celebration. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Patti | January 15, 2013 at 05:34 PM
Happy Birthday, Miss Paulette! Everything looks and sounds yummy.
Don't you love it when your husband gets you exactly what you want? *wink* They're just so... intuitive.
Posted by: WendyMI | January 15, 2013 at 06:02 PM
What a great picture of you and Mike!!!
Posted by: Deborah Schroder | January 15, 2013 at 06:21 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Loretta O'Neill | January 15, 2013 at 07:22 PM
Belated Happy Birthday Paulette! It looks like it was the perfect celebration..... pasta and cake. Yummm!
Mike has perfect taste too, knowing exactly what to give you, lol!
Loved the pic of the two of you. Sophie did a great job!
Posted by: Lynn Jones | January 30, 2013 at 03:14 PM