Birthday Bonanza

Happy birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! woohoo! today has has been a fantastic day. I know if I was home I would have a fun birthday with my parents and grandma! I just can't imagine if I stayed in the Ipswich job (August) what my birthday would be like - probably all alone.  I am very grateful that Craig has celebrated with me today.  Though he couldn't take the day off work - I did :D and spent a big chunk of the day at Lime Spa - at Radisson Hotel - I purchased my own spa package a week ago (as a treat to myself) which included back/neck/shoulder massage, 30 minute facial and foot massage.  This also included a light lunch and unlimited access of the pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and locker room facilities.  I had a turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich with water :D for lunch.  I did some reading of a book I purchased last weekend and took a 30 minute nap on a sun lounger at the pool.  I checked out at 2pm and decided to head home to drop off my bag - as I didn't really want to lug it around town.  Took the bus home and stayed home for an hour and watched some TV and relaxed.  Apparently I have a birthday package waiting for me to collect on Saturday - though to my disgust I have to pay over 35 pounds because of stupid customs and VAT blah blah! so who knows. Headed back into Durham at 4 - I stopped first at Superdrug to get my upper lip threaded - if you don't know what threading is - its less painful than waxing and lasts longer.  Stopped into Fat Face - a new favorite store of mine thanks to Craig to see if they had anymore dresses on sale - which they did but didn't have my size.  I then headed to Starbucks where I enjoyed a marshmallow treat along with a Venti Chai Latte.  Once Craig came to meet me he ordered a nice cup of coffee - we chatted for awhile before heading off for dinner at Mrs. Mustard Totally Scrumptious Food - Emporium - we had no problem getting a table as we made reservations last weekend (Sunday) when we had Sunday Lunch there as well. 

Dinner
 * Once we sat down we ordered drinks and opened up my birthday cards.  Very nice how many friends and family have remembered my special day.
* Looked over the menu and ordered
*Craig had: Maple Mustard Glazed Pork Belly & King Scallops with Celeriac Pure
* I had: Chunky Cod Loin with Harissa Pepper & Rose Petal, Creamy Grain Mustard Mash with Lemon & Caper Berry Butter Sauce
(photos will be included at bottom)
* had an order of Eton Mess for dessert- meringue with fruits and cream.  

Came home - put on PJs and watched TV.

Craig's dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My yummy dinner

Durham at night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week recap

Another week has flown by! Not much new to report.

• On Wednesday night saw Kevin James film on orange Wednesday - very funny
• Also the kinect arrived on Wednesday eve :) I so love it! Craig bought me just dance 3 as an early birthday gift 
• Thursday night we went to Craig's friends house, watched tv and chatted the night away
• And tonight we stayed in watching tv
• Called Nina via Skype (my grandma) to wish her a happy 95th birthday. I also got to chat with 2 of my uncles and aunt :)
• 1 month til I fly home 
• 4 days til my birthday

Week Recap

Hey friends ::waves:: what a week it has been! A little twitter friend mentioned I should blog more as I now have a fan-base so I will try to blog more frequently.  I still can't believe November is already here! The weather in Durham isn't as cold as Minnesota winters but I am still wearing earmuffs & mittens + scarf every day.

As of Tuesday of this week was big ELECTION day back home.  I voted for Obama back in September thru absentee but I continued to listen to coverage the WHOLE day. While I was at work - I had my iPad tuned into CNN radio (which was really cool but I am so used to be able to watch it on the TV) - when I got home I tried to see if there was TV  coverage but there wasn't til later on in the evening so I went to Zumba class.  For the rest of the evening I was glued to cnn.com on my iPad reading the results - waking up at various times in the night to peek at the website - where around 1am UK time Romney was ahead and I felt sad but drifted off. Woke up and he won! I listened to his victory speech live on the Today Show.

On Wednesday I got to go to Queens Campus (Durham Uni other campus) for a focus group with 2 international students, which was really fun. We (along with Ashleigh my coworker) talked about why they didn't take the opportunity to study abroad, what would they have wanted to do etc. REally helpful! then we took the bus back into Durham (45 minute ride) my eyes were so tired and I fell asleep on the 2nd bus home.   Once I got back to Craig's I just crashed on the couch as I was so tired from staying up on Tuesday - so I slept over 12 hours.

Thursday night Craig and I went to the outlet to find some workout pants :D - had dinner at Starbucks

Friday - isn't over yet but work has been good. Tonight I am going to a VIP free spa event with Ashleigh in the city centre.

Recap week October 29 2012

Good evening friends! I hope all is well with you. This post is a recap of my week.

• Joined the gym in town on Tuesday - it's only here til mid December but its free - mobile gym on wheels (think rv with gym equipment) 
• Wednesday was the study abroad fair at Durham uni - so I helped out all afternoon setting up tables etc - really fun when the event started as I got to talk about my study abroad experience. Really enriching :)
• Craig & I saw Skyfall - James Bond film (2 thumbs up!) 
• Thursday and Friday at work was mainly entering in registration details in a spreadsheet, filing and putting extra materials/boxes from the fair 
• Saturday - worked out in the morning. Then we headed in town for some xmas shopping. Made a pit stop at Starbucks as it was buy 1 get 1 on holiday drinks
• Sunday - we woke up early to have breakfast at Starbucks (they have yummy porridge)
• came home and watched F1
• Skyped w parents
• Had yummy sweet corn and chicken soup