A Very Merry Un-Birthday

Birthdays are a big deal for me.  They always have been, and probably always will be!  Since birthdays are such a special occasion and only come around once a year, I am a firm believer that no one should have to work on their birthday.

Unfortunately this year, I did have to work on my actual birthday, so I decided not to acknowledge my 31st on the 28th of June, but rather pretend like the 29th was my birthday!  I rationalized it by keeping in mind that I was born in the US, therefore I should always recognize my birthday during US time, or at least when it's convenient!

I started my unbirthday celebration with breakfast at Cafe du Monde.  I happened to have a coupon for 1 beignet, which I added to the usual order of 2.  Silly me thought they would combine them and put the 3 beignets on a single plate - no sirree!  They delivered 2 plates to my table in order to make me feel extra silly!  Oh well, I wasn't washing the dishes!

After breakfast I started wandering in the direction of Paul, a French bakery cafe that was quite popular in the UAE.  On Friday I had seen someone carrying a Paul bag, so I Googled it on my handy-dandy iPhone and learned that there are actually three stores in Osaka!  And, one just happens to be a direct train ride from my house (I sense an expensive habit!  Not really...)  Anyways, I wandered semi-aimlessly, but in the right direction until I found it, right where the map said it would be.  I'll tell you what, I would be lost (literally) without my iPhone sometimes!

After a nice Niscoise salad, I got myself a "fancy" half-loaf of bread and I walked a bit more before heading to Dean & Deluca.  I figured since it was my unbirthday and all, I should splurge on some yummy jam to go with my yummy bread.  It just so happened I passed all the fancy shops on my walk!  I particularly liked the Fendi window, a gold horse carrying a bag - I love it!

 

From there it was over and down the stairs to Pierre Herme for my unbirthday "cake", in the form of French macarons!

I had every intention of going straight home after that, but Starbucks was calling my name (after all, it was HOT and I had been walking a lot!)  Unfortunately, sitting down for 20 minutes made me realize that my feet were killing me...I guess my sandals aren't really walking sandals.  So, since it was my unbirthday and all, I popped into a shop and got some flip flops.  Turns out they weren't much more comfortable than the sandals, but oh well, they weren't expensive!

I really did come home after that, and whipped up some bruschetta to have with some ham on my fancy bread.  It was delicious...I'll have to post the recipe, if you can actually call it a recipe!

My unbirthday was really nice.  The only thing that might have made it better was being able to spend it with someone, but B and I will celebrate again in less than two weeks when he gets here :)

(I know.  These pictures are so UNexciting.  All of these pictures were taken with my iPhone.  I did have my camera with me and I did use it, but for whatever reason the card reader on the computer isn't working.  If I can figure it out, I'll update again with those pictures, but don't worry, I'll let you know when I do.)

(*The card reader is working again!  I guess it wanted a day off?  Oh well, I was able to add the pictures I wanted to.  I took all of them on manual setting.  I think I am getting better at it, but they are still far from perfect.  I am learning that the biggest problem with my camera isn't the lens, it's the lack of a view finder.  In bright sunlight, its impossible to see the little screen to get everything set up right and in focus!! I'm working on it though!  What do you think?)