27 and counting; a birthday.

So as I discussed here, it’s been an annual birthday tradition for me to pick up a new something to wear to the festivities (a ritual that started when I began celebrating away from home), and this year I’d already mentioned the dress I’d picked out; a color-faded Corey Lynn Calter strapless ensemble that I love love love love, and that a very lovely and generous friend* offered to treat me to as a joint birthday-Christmas present. (To be fair, I did knit him a scarf.) (Also, a scarf for his dog.)(Yes, he’s a very well-dressed canine.)

So here was this wonderful dress in my closet, all ready to go, when I suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, came across the perfect audition frock; simple, pretty, flatteringly cute, and with beautiful detailing that didn’t overwhelm or distract, and in one of my very favorite shades of blue. I snapped it up immediately, intending to bust it out at my next major general audition** . . . and then I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

For the relaxed day I had planned . . . it just felt like the right fit.

So I woke on my birthday morning to a snowy sky and a simple blue frock, and the age of twenty-seven.

birthday dress(es), guest appearance by petticoat

I spent the morning with my girlfriends and mimosas, and the evening sweating over this unbelievably delicious bread*** (which actually came out just fine, despite my ignorance and subsequent nervousness about my first time baking with yeast)(Phones calls to Annie P may or may not have included phrases like “It says a warm place away from drafts – what about noise? Light? Height?” – apparently, in my mind, yeast is like a migraine, or a colicky child).

My lovely girlfriend Courtney R. snapped this great photo to showcase my outfit (and my birthday bubbly habit).

anthropologie dress & sweater, urban outfitters tights and flats

And here’s a couple of detail shots:

UO ring****, anthro clutch and headband

you're gonna see a lot of these tights/flats. (I'm in love)

Don’t worry, CLC dress – I have something special planned for you too. (And thanks to all my awesome friends who made the transition into twenty-seven such a completely delightful one . . . I’m an enormously lucky gal (with some pretty wonderfully fun and generous people around.))

*Thanks, Tom!

**which is to say, an audition for a theatre company without a specific role in mind, not an audition to be the very model of a modern Major General.

***henceforth to be known in this house as Birthday Bread. Or possibly, “oh my god what a day all I need is an enormous pile of cheesy, carby, buttery goodness won’t you join me” bread.

****removed for baking, so it didn’t turn into a Christmas pudding prize and break someone’s teeth.