26 was not a birthday I was looking forward to. But with the help of my lovely friends and family, my birthday was an amazing success. We went to some fantastic Boston places to celebrate and I got some of the best gifts in all my 26 years.
Basically, use this formula if you want to show one of your friends an awesome 26th birthday. Now I'm counting down the days till 27 (well, maybe not quite). Yay for birthdays.
Where We Celebrated-
Celebrating at Home:
Chicken Pot Pie
My dad made me one of my favorite meals- Chicken pot pie. It was so so good and I only had about 6 helpings. How delicious does this look??
Birthday Cupcakes
My mom made me special cupcakes, including a vanilla coconut cupcake that was amazing. Mmm and so pretty too!
Celebrating with Friends:
Upper Crust Pizza
We started the night off at my friends’ apartment where they ordered Upper Crust pizza (my absolute fave!), made some delicious appetizers and a salad, and served lots of wine. It was the perfect way to start off the evening!
Upper Crust is definitely some of the best pizza I’ve had anywhere. It’s consistently delicious and they offer so many different variations of toppings. Always the best way to start off a party!
Upper Crust is definitely some of the best pizza I’ve had anywhere. It’s consistently delicious and they offer so many different variations of toppings. Always the best way to start off a party!
Giant Cupcake Cake
Oh look, this is the giant cupcake cake my friends got me from Sweet. It was absolutely delicious with a vanilla cake and berry filling. The frosting was out of this world!
Sweet Cupcakes
49 Mass Ave. Boston, MA 02115
Love cupcakes? You must go to Sweet and try theirs. Some of the best cupcakes in Boston, they have tons of fun fall flavors (like pumpkin, obviously!).
Wanting to try something new for my birthday, my friends and I went to City Bar. It was a great scene. A nice older crowd (but not too old), decent music (but not so loud you couldn’t hear conversation), and a pretty amazing drink menu, including a blueberry lemonade- Yum! As cool as it was, it wasn’t really the crazy birthday party atmosphere you want on your birthday, so we stayed for a few drinks and went on our way.
Wanting to try something new for my birthday, my friends and I went to City Bar. It was a great scene. A nice older crowd (but not too old), decent music (but not so loud you couldn’t hear conversation), and a pretty amazing drink menu, including a blueberry lemonade- Yum! As cool as it was, it wasn’t really the crazy birthday party atmosphere you want on your birthday, so we stayed for a few drinks and went on our way.
One of our old stand-bys is Dillon’s. The perfect place to go for a birthday party or just a night of socializing and fun. I’m a fan and usually seem to have a pretty good time here. So after City Bar, we headed to Dillon’s for a couple beers. It would have been more fun if everyone wasn’t already tired from all the food we ate and partying we did earlier in the evening.
One of our old stand-bys is Dillon’s. The perfect place to go for a birthday party or just a night of socializing and fun. I’m a fan and usually seem to have a pretty good time here. So after City Bar, we headed to Dillon’s for a couple beers. It would have been more fun if everyone wasn’t already tired from all the food we ate and partying we did earlier in the evening.
Dinner at Helmand
On my actual birthday, Sara took me out to dinner and for drinks. It was great to have plans on the actual night, especially considering it was a random Monday.
Sara took me to Helmand, an afghani restaurant in Cambridge. She knew I would like it because I’m generally a fan of all Middle Eastern food, plus they specialize in pumpkin dishes. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, especially the bread pictured above. I would definitely go back to Helmand and encourage anyone who loves Middle Eastern/Indian food to give it a try!
Sara took me to Helmand, an afghani restaurant in Cambridge. She knew I would like it because I’m generally a fan of all Middle Eastern food, plus they specialize in pumpkin dishes. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, especially the bread pictured above. I would definitely go back to Helmand and encourage anyone who loves Middle Eastern/Indian food to give it a try!
After dinner, we took a trip up the elevator at the Prudential to go to the Top of the Hub for some drinks and desserts. We sat at the bar and had an amazing platter of cookies (with pumpkin whipped cream) and fabulous drinks that the bartender made just for us.
After dinner, we took a trip up the elevator at the Prudential to go to the Top of the Hub for some drinks and desserts. We sat at the bar and had an amazing platter of cookies (with pumpkin whipped cream) and fabulous drinks that the bartender made just for us.
Drinks at the Top of the Hub
I ordered the espresso martini and the bartender told me not to get it. When I asked him what he suggested I order, he said he could make anything I wanted. We finally settled on a mint chocolate chip martini (not on the menu) and oh my god, it was absolutely amazing. As was the pumpkin spice martini he made. And the birthday cake shots. Basically, the bartenders at the Top of the Hub were super nice and we had such a great evening.
What Fabulous Gifts I Received-
New Furniture
My new furniture looks absolutely amazing in my apartment! It is a million times better than my old stuff and I’m loving having so much space. Thanks to my mom and dad, my bedroom feels a little more like home (and I’m not living out of drawers that are falling out every 5 minutes).
Jordan’s Furniture makes some fantastic furniture and I’m pretty thrilled with mine. Plus, I love that the Jordan’s in Natick is located on “Underprice Way.” Doesn’t get much better than that!
Jordan’s Furniture makes some fantastic furniture and I’m pretty thrilled with mine. Plus, I love that the Jordan’s in Natick is located on “Underprice Way.” Doesn’t get much better than that!
North Face Zip-Up
Knowing what a North Face fan I am (and also a fan of all white clothing!) my friend Katie got me this fabulous North Face zip-up. I’ve already been wearing it non-stop and see a busy winter in its future!
North Face is only one of my very favorite stores and if I’m not browsing the Newbury St. location, I’m probably surfing around their website. I love staying warm in the winter and North Face is one of the only companies that really seems to understand that. Plus I think all their stuff is so cute, in a totally sporty fun way.
North Face is only one of my very favorite stores and if I’m not browsing the Newbury St. location, I’m probably surfing around their website. I love staying warm in the winter and North Face is one of the only companies that really seems to understand that. Plus I think all their stuff is so cute, in a totally sporty fun way.
Cooking Class at Stir
Being just as obsessed with cooking as I am, my friend Chelsee knew a cooking class would be the perfect gift. She got me a pasta making class at Stir in the South End. You can tell from the picture that Stir is a tiny kitchen meaning lots of opportunity for hands-on learning. Can’t wait!
Plum Produce is the little neighborhood produce shop where the Stir kitchen is located. Not only am I psyched to take the cooking class, I’m incredibly excited to browse Plum Produce!
Plum Produce is the little neighborhood produce shop where the Stir kitchen is located. Not only am I psyched to take the cooking class, I’m incredibly excited to browse Plum Produce!
Cupcake Fun
Clearly knowing me quite well, Missy got me a ton of various cupcake-related stuff (fun). The vanilla cupcake Yankee candle smells absolutely amazing and makes it seem like someone is baking cupcakes in my apartment at all times. She also got me icing tips and icing, cupcake papers, and the cutest cupcake box ever. My cupcake obsession is far from over!
Michael’s Arts & Crafts is surprisingly not only a store for arts and crafts supplies, but also a fabulous place to buy all things cupcakes. They absolutely love the cupcake trend and have every kind of decoration and accessory you’d need to decorate cupcakes, plus tons of fun cupcake related stuff!
Michael’s Arts & Crafts is surprisingly not only a store for arts and crafts supplies, but also a fabulous place to buy all things cupcakes. They absolutely love the cupcake trend and have every kind of decoration and accessory you’d need to decorate cupcakes, plus tons of fun cupcake related stuff!
Southern Tier Beer
For a gift, Sara got me an amazing gift bag full of fun stuff. Of course it included a couple bottles of our new favorite beer, Southern Tier’s Creme Brulee Stout and Pumpking Stout. They are so, so good and go down soo easy.
And I just discovered that the Southern Tier Brewery is located on the same lake (Chautauqua) where I vacation every summer with my family. They offer tours and tastings and I never knew this how??? I can’t believe how much I’ve complained about Lake Chautauqua, and all the time there was this amazing brewery just waiting for me to enter. Le sigh.
And I just discovered that the Southern Tier Brewery is located on the same lake (Chautauqua) where I vacation every summer with my family. They offer tours and tastings and I never knew this how??? I can’t believe how much I’ve complained about Lake Chautauqua, and all the time there was this amazing brewery just waiting for me to enter. Le sigh.
Cinnamon Rasin Peanut Butter
Sara knows I have a peanut butter obsession, but I’m pretty sure this cinnamon raisin swirl peanut butter just took it to a while new level. This peanut butter is so so so good. Not only on a sandwich or on crackers, but basically right out of the jar! Wow.
Next time I take a trip to NYC, this is one of the first places I’m going. And I might not ever come home. Especially if their cinnamon raisin swirl peanut butter is any indication of the rest of their products!
Next time I take a trip to NYC, this is one of the first places I’m going. And I might not ever come home. Especially if their cinnamon raisin swirl peanut butter is any indication of the rest of their products!
24-Pack of Sharpies
Sara knows me well enough to know a present like this will basically make my life.
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