BIRTHDAY.

I'm always reading that blogs should have pictures. This blog is bad at it.

Sorry.

I always mean to take them, but see... if you're taking pictures, you are NOT in the middle of the action, and frankly, that's where I like to be.

Especially at my own birthday.

Wait. I did take one picture. Here are the unbaked cupcakes I made.

Oh yeah. Got my hair did.

Played with Niecey.

Long story short.

On Wednesday, I got asked for my number by a guy who wants to take me Latin dancing. Haven't heard from him. On Thursday I cashed in on my free crepes. On Friday we had a party. My besties came up from Springville and Provo, and my boys came down from Salt Lake. We ate, danced a little bit, I was made fun of as per usual...

"So how are you adjusting to life in America?"

"Your American accent is coming along so great, Chess!"

"Don't come sit next to me! You've sat next to everybody! It doesn't MEAN anything anymore!"

And sorry. No pictures. I forgot. It's too bad. I likes the action and taking pictures too often means standing on the outside looking in. Nope. I'd rather have the memories.

But yesterday, on Sunday, my actual birthday, I got to read the letter I wrote to myself ten years ago when I turned fourteen. Yeesh. That girl had so many expectations for me. It's simultaneously gratifying and humiliating. And hilarious.

I am happy to say that I have a college degree. I have pierced ears and contacts. I am not fat. I can answer "Negatory" to her blunt query "Are you still a zit-face? Please, no!" I am not married with children, thank goodness. I'm even more blessed that I'm not with my eighth-grade crush. However, I hung my head in shame when she asked me what kind of car I have. (Read: I. Don't. Have. One.)

But all vanity and self-esteem aside, that little 14-year-old baby girl was wise. She asked me to be the same. To not to forget my standards and values. She told me to be thankful. She told me to remember my goals. To remember my friends. To marry a man who has the same standards and values I have. To make sure that my future daughter has a sister.

To laugh every day.

And then she told me in capital letters to remember how I broke into James Belliston's locker and dumped Cheetos all over the bottom of it.

Good girl.

BIIIIIIIIRTH MOOOOOOONTH!!!!!

Clearly, I have not been my usual blogging self.

Otherwise, I would've announced in March that Birth Month was approaching. On April first, I would had announced that Birth Month had officially begun. I would've started planning my birthday party right then, instead of leaving it until four this morning.

What do you think of a game called "Pin the peace sign on the Asian"?

Because at 4:15 this morning, it sounded pretty awesome. So did a carrot cake with maple-cream-cheese frosting, jalapeno popper stuffed pretzels, and my own cupcakes (which reportedly taste like a Snickers, although they contain not a whit of that candy bar).

Just sayin'.

I'm already nervous about trying to get people to come to this since I'm not up in Logan anymore. But that's what Facebook is for!!! A mass invitation two and a half weeks in advance! YAY!

Look what HAPPENED to me. It's a Birth Month miracle!!!

But first on my activity list for Birth Month is dinner with a friend tonight. A gypsy photo shoot tomorrow. Then a 10-mile race on Saturday. Maybe I will make a t-shirt that blares "BIRTH MONTH" to everybody. Just so no one is confused.

What else should happen at my birthday shindig?

How should I decorate?

What should we do?

Blogger Idol!!

Guys, I am in the Top Four. This is so close to being over. I promise. I just need you for the next three weeks. Please, please stay with me. You are so awesome!

This week, I'm writing about a little family tradition.

To find out what it is and to watch me demonstrate it (this marks my online singing debut--which is way embarrassing for me), head on over to Blogger Idol, read my post, and vote for me into the Top Three!!!

Things you should know...

In case you didn't know them already. I don't think you do, which is why I'm telling you:

• I watched the last fifteen minutes of a really stupid movie called Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus the other night. I'm still embarrassed about it.
• I made a birthday cake and candle out of construction paper and I'm going to record myself singing a birthday song for somebody. I'm embarrassed in advance. More on that later. 
• I just woke up from a two hour nap. What am I, a teenager?
• I am avoiding packing up my stuff to go home. 
• There are a lot of clothes I just need to get rid of. 
• I wore leopard print high heels to church yesterday.
• I finished watching the last episode of Arrested Development on Saturday night. My friend and I rewatched the entire series this summer. Which means we stretched it out a lot, considering I watched the entire series last summer in less than two weeks. 
• My ringtone is now "It's Not Easy Bein' White." If you know, you understand. I will not explain myself on this one.  
• I have a black graduation cap and gown (for short people) that I would be happy to sell at a discounted price. Interested? Email me.
• You have the rest of today and tomorrow to enter my GIVEAWAYYYYYY! Do it, you have a pretty good chance of winning something, as not a huge number of people have entered. :)

Happy Birthday, Kate!!

It's my roommate's birthday today!! Unfortunately, she is working on her MBA this summer, so she currently has classes from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. She usually wants to die by 10:00 am. Also, she has a test tomorrow, so she gets to study all evening. Sadface.

She asked for lots of links to blogs posts that will be fun for her to read, so maybe you could help me out? Leave a "Happy birthday!" for her and a couple links to your favorite posts in the comments section and you'll help her get through the day!

Happy birthday, Kate!

Things to read:

• Love and Sugar and How to Impress a Boy with Baking by Joy the Baker.
• Lindsay Lohan Hot Mess Cake on Bittersweet.
• Anything on The Dalai Llama.
• Captain Planet, He's Our Hero and Preserves on Maeven.
• By Popular Demand on Paper Badge.

Leave Kate something fun to read!!