my birthday with the barlows.

My birthday every year is so different and I just love it. Life is boring when it's all the same. I've had birthday parties in my backyard, at a waterpark, the pool, a bowling alley, Boston, Paris, and this year: Chicago. So perfect. The Barlow Family has done nothing but bless me since I've arrived! I find it so amazing that they welcome all of Sarah's interns into their home with just open arms and totally inconvenience themselves for us. The family really tried to make my birthday special and were so sweet about singing me happy birthday, even little two year old Julianna.

Nancy, Sarah's Mom, decorated the room Vicky and I are staying in: (It's called the Olivia Suite, even though five-year-old Olivia and two-year-old Julianna share it)

Just a quick birthday self-portrait before we left for dinner:




Natalie and I outside Grotto Restaurant.




Sarah and I outside the restaurant as well! Trying to catch the last bit of light before the sun went down:



Vicky, the other intern and I.




Blowing out the candle on my lemon sorbet: sooo good.

Pretty much one of the best gifts I have ever been given. Sarah was SO intent on finding out exactly what I liked oh-so-subtly for the days before. She got me a Banana Republic gift certificate (my favourite clothing store), the new Where the Light Is: John Mayer CD and Concert DVD (my favourite singer) and dark chocolate (my favourite dessert...well tied with lemon sorbet, but she had that covered) and then she went and wrapped it in a bag from Target. (They have the best stationary and wrapping stuff there!) And...we went to such a funky restaurant, but beforehand, we went to Target (which I love!) and then browsed through Pottery Barn and Crate&Barrel. Amazing. Seriously. I also got to wear the new pair of four-inch-heels I bought when I was in the city on Thursday. Fantastic.