My Birthday

My birthday was Monday, July 2.  It was a low key kind of day.  I don't mean for this to sound negative, but because my birthday is so close to July 4, it has been hard for me to plan parties in the past.  Most people are out of town or have holiday plans that seem to begin on or before July 2.

My mother's birthday is on June 30, so in an effort to keep from having two birthday cakes, we usually got my mother a cake.  I've whined about not having a birthday cake for years.  To end this vicious cycle, Justin got a birthday cake for me.  I ran an errand and when I returned home, this cake was waiting for me.  He's really sweet like that!

Later that night, Justin took me to TWO Urban Licks.  TWO Urban Licks is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta.  We began with cocktails.  They have these liquor infusions.  I'm not sure how they're made, but they're potent.  My favorite is the key lime infusion.  It has rum infused with something, coconut milk, lime, and brown sugar.  Justin had a sangria infusion.  They were both quite tasty!

We also began our meal with the watermelon and yellow tomato salad.  It has watermelon, yellow tomato, feta cheese, mint, and a chili sauce.  It doesn't sound all that appealing, but it is fabulous.  We had it the last time we were there and it is wonderful.  So refreshing!

For my entree, I had the scallops.  Justin and I have eaten at TWO Urban Licks five or six times and I've gotten the scallops each visit.  They're that good.  The three perfectly cooked scallops are served atop Gouda grits surrounded by a tomato sauce and topped with a tomato salsa.  The blend of flavors is perfect.  You wouldn't think three scallops would be satisfying, but it is the perfect amount of food.

Because it was my birthday and the waitress noticed this while checking my ID (Woohoo for looking like a teenager!), she offered a free dessert.  Justin and I planned to have a drink after dinner, so I got the carrot cake without the ice cream so we wouldn't have to rush home.  I love carrot cake, so it was a win win situation.


We visited Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium (It's a bar.).  It is a local bar that has tasty drinks.  I had my usual cosmo and we headed home.

As I said, it was a low key day, but a great day.  Justin got me a recumbent exercise bike, which we put together on July 4.  I haven't used it, yet, but I'm planning to get on it later today.  It's gonna make me skinny!  While we met my family in Macon on June 30, I got my birthday presents from my family.  My mother and Larry gave me a pair of gold hoop earrings.  They're really pretty and I know I'll wear them often.  My sister and niece gave me a pretty blue ring.  I'm not sure if it's topaz or aquamarine, but it's very pretty.  Justin's parents sent a check which was used to purchase some clothes at my favorite store, The Limited.  Shhh...don't tell Justin I went there!  I also treated myself to a much needed pedicure.