Birthday "Week"

In the Kramer house, we don't just celebrate a birthday; we celebrate birthday week and birthday month.  It's just too much fun to only last one day out of the year, so we try to extend it as long as possible.  If you have a birthday coming up, you may want to sign up for some birthday club deals!  More info at the very bottom of this post. 

Stratford Saturday - We celebrated with my family and a few hometown friends.  I love it when mom makes the traditional white, funfetti birthday cake, and this year was no different.  Funniest birthday cake memory was when Matt attempted to make my 18th birthday cake.  He wasn't exactly sure how to grease a cake pan and decided to use a shortening of some sort.  Let's just say there were chunks all around (nasty!), but as the saying goes,  "it was the thought that counts."

Snowstorm Sunday - In all actuality, I absolutely love snowstorms.  We came back from WI, spent the afternoon and evening relaxing, and ventured out on our skis during the blizzard.  Late night neighborhood skiing was a little chilly and windy, but definitely worth it!

Snow Day Monday - Northwestern was closed Monday, which meant Snow Day for me!  Matt got lucky too.  Wells Fargo opened at 10am so we slept in for a bit before starting up the snowblower.  Actually watched The Bachelor with Amanda B. and Sam.  Wow, is all I have to say. haha.

Twenty Four Tuesday - I had a busy day all around, so busy in fact, that I forgot to stop at Caribou and get my free birthday drink.  Big bummer!  Matt picked up a Buffalo Chicken Pizza from our beloved fresh and natural pizza place and had some friends over for game night. 

Wild Wednesday - Combine Matt, Andrea, and myself, and it's always an adventure.  Trader Joes, Teavanna, Pottery Barn, Antropologie, and Benihana to top off the night.  No way to explain this night in words, so I'll let the pictures do it justice (thanks Andie!).  By the way, Benihana has a great birthday club - $30 off your total bill. More birthday club info at the bottom of this post! 

Teavanna Love

Love Japanese food and hibachi!



Let the fun and hibachi begin!



Yes, there were balloons on the back of the chair too.

Love my Asian big sis!

Matt the Asian

Andrea tells us this is how the Chinese eat their soup. 
We need to perfect our soup slurping for when we visit her!

Can't forget dessert.

Teaching Thursday - Finished training for teaching overnights at the Zoo.  This is actually something new.  I was hired as an Interpretive Naturalist to teach overnights for school groups that come to learn about and sleep by the dolphins and sharks.  Loving it so far!

Fun Friday - We paid a visit to Grand Avenue in St. Paul (Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn) and continued on to the tourist trap - Mall of America. We try to stay away from MOA, but once in a while, it is fun to go.  Happened to wander into Banana Republic (love this store), and they were handing out Oscar envelopes.  Proceeded to open mine, and it said 50% off entire purchase.  Yes, please!  Matt and I each got a new shirt and for a good price too.  The real reason for going though - two free movie tickets, so we saw Just Go With It.  We NEVER go to movies so this was a special treat (seriously the last movie we saw was Four Christmases two years ago).  We love Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, and it was a good movie.  Go see it if you get a chance! 

One of our favorite stops at MOA - Rybicki Cheese.  We love the cheese samples!

Settlers Saturday - Brittany is visiting from Arizona, so we hung out, caught up on life, and introduced her to Settlers. So good to see her again! I've missed her SO much.

And thus ends, birthday week.  It was busy and full of birthday blessings and love.  Seriously, it's just too much fun for one day! Try extending it to a week-long celebration.

Birthdays also mean birthday clubs which mean free things or deals on or around your birthday! Don't worry, I didn't use all of these this year. Sign up online.
Caribou - Free Birthday Drink
Noodles and Co. - Free dish of noodles
Coldstone - Free icecream
Benihana's - $30 off your total bill
Bruegger's - Free Cookie
Applebees - Free Dessert
Famous Daves - Free Sundae
Buffalo Wild Wings - Free Dessert
Buca di Beppo - Free Appetizer
The local ice cream shop - 50% off ice cream cone