I apologize for my absence yesterday. This weekend was jam packed and I just couldn’t keep my eyes open to recap the whirlwind. Let me tell you something, I really love my job……which one you ask? My Nurse Practitioner job. However, driving into work yesterday….I just wasn’t ready to go back into my adult life again. It ended up being a great day and then I was off to teach my two barre classes at night. So now we are back into the swing of life again. I wanted to thank everyone for all your sweet texts, Facebook, twitter, instagram, smoke signals etc social media shout outs on my birthday. I felt beyond loved. This blogging world is something else I tell you. I think I had equal blogger friends to IRL friends posts on Facebook. Love all you gals! Okay sappy moment over, let’s move onto the fun!
First off. Don’t you love when you order things online and they all ship separately? I have all my goodies sent to Mark’s office because UPS won’t leave packages outside of businesses. It’s a good thing and a bad thing…..if you catch my drift. Seriously Bloomingdale’s shipped every single one of my things separately. It looked a lot more dramatic than it needed to be. At least that is what I told Mark….everything fit perfectly! Yeah for no returns. Stay tuned to see how it can all be styled.
shorts on sale! here | helmut lang dress (runs very small) sold out similar here | obsessed with these black booties | david yurman cuffs here and here | ysl lip stain here
All birthday weekends should start off with beautiful flowers.
I kicked off my birthday weekend early by heading down to my parents for dinner and spoiling. It involved a fantastic dinner, presents, and my fabulous Aunt in her own birthday tiara inspired by my birthdays past post. Fabulous just runs in my family….can’t help it. My parents as well as Mark both got me cupcakes by the bakery who did our wedding. I swear between all of us we are helping pay the rent for Cakes by Ron. Locals to Sarasota, have you tried them before? I will tell you. I am a cupcake connoisseur. They are hands down the best.
I also got my car washed and waxed by my dad. Nothing better in the world then getting into a clean black car am I right? Also, my mother helped polish off my registry. The things we get excited about nowadays. Hooray for our calphalon pots and pans. My set is complete!
My birthday is on the 5th and Mark’s is on the 11th. Every year we go out of town and take advantage of the long weekend. The past few years running Chicago has been the winner but with our Greece trip this year we cooled it with the Summer travels. p.s didn’t I plan that trip perfectly? Just a little bit of unrest going on over there right?…..I told Mark I wanted to get out of town and it was his job to figure out where to. I was very happy with his choice.
Except wouldn’t you guess I picked the weekend to go to Orlando the same time all my Orlando loves left to go to Key West. We really need to plan better! Call me a dork but I really wanted to see the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios. Plus, I have a total love for roller coasters. The scarier the better. Can I even begin to tell you how darn cute Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is? The attention to detail is impeccable.
I have an entire post on how to see the parks and avoid all the lines but I will warn you it does involve waking up early. Like see the sunrise kind of early.
I also did cave and get a frozen butter beer. I was worth every single calorie, especially because it was blazing hot out. Even though the wands were adorable, the price tag wasn’t. Let’s talk about that scam. $44.95 for an “interactive wand“. I watched how many people wave that wand around the park and about half of the time it worked. My theory is the command is on a minute loop so you will happen to catch it at some point. Every single person bought one. Times like that you shake your head and go…..why didn’t I think of that.
Since we got so much done on Saturday, we decided to sleep in on Sunday and then hit up some quality 4th of July shopping. Adding to the stack.
We headed home and then over to our favorite sushi place Nori Thai on St. Pete beach. Mark is really good friends with the owner and clearly he called ahead. Every single person in there….”happy birthday Amanda”. It was so sweet and thoughtful.
Even caught a little bit of the sunset before the FL Summer nights rain came in.
Dress Amanda Uprichard old similar here and on sale! | Nude heels (told you on major repeat so comfortable) here on sale | sunglasses here | clutch LV old here
Those are just a few of the snaps from the weekend. There were so many more but I didn’t want you to glaze over. I had such a wonderful birthday weekend being able to hang out with Mark and just enjoying each others company. We seriously can make each other laugh over the littlest things. I really did marry my best friend even if he believes that every plate/bowl should be “soaked” even though we all really know that means he is just allergic to opening the dishwasher. Anyone else know someone like that in their life?……Anyways, I hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend and are settling back into their adult lives. Thank you all for your birthday love and wishes! xoxoxo
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I’m so happy you had a wonderful birthday weekend with your family and Mark!! That you were spoiled because you deserve it!!! Hope you have an easy Tuesday! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Ah! Looks like you had a great birthday weekend! My husband and I have been dying to go to the park so I may have to hit up your posts soon. I don’t know about the wand tho, that’s insane!
It looks like such a wonderful birthday weekend, happy birthday girl!
So glad you were so well taken care of on your birthday – you deserve it!! It looks like a fabulous weekend! I don’t care what anyone says, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the coolest things to experience!
It looks like you had the most fantastic birthday weekend!!! Love that you guys had a little Orlando time (even if your friends weren’t there) and the Harry Potter stuff! I still haven’t gone but have heard it’s all pretty cool. Looks like you made out like a bandit this birthday ;)
Love those nude heels! Happy Birthday! I have the same pans and love them! They have a great guarantee!
looks like a great birthday weekend! love the haul
Happy belated lady!! It sounds like y’all had a wonderful weekend and you got some seriously good gifts! Those booties are fab!
What an amazing birthday weekend!! I want to go to Harry Potter World so badly! And I am in love with your bracelets!
Happy Belated Birthday! I went to Harry Potter Land (my nickname for it) a week ago and it was a dream come true. You’re so right. The attention to detail! Jo Rowling approved every bit and it shows. It was like the books came to life.
That blue dress is stunning on you girl! And booooo for me missing you in Orlando and of all places at Harry Potter at Universal! Loving your birthday goodies, especially those jeans! Glad you had a fabulous birthday weekend <3
Yay, so glad you had a great weekend! Disney, sushi and cupcakes would make any weekend great! I don’t even like Harry Potter but I want to check that out! I was just asking Kirk when he thought the bebes would be old enough to go so that we don’t want to pull our hair out AND spend $5000 on park tix/food/crap… We’re gonna be all over that family vacay! And wouldn’t you know, we registered for (nearly!) the same pots and pans. I got the all stainless steel Calphalon (you got the black ones, no? It’s hard to tell in the pic!) Great choice, they’re awesome pans and those glass lids do NOT break. I’ve dropped them many times.
omg look at that amazing birthday weekened! and more YSLs yessss. and you know i love those black heels! so super cute. i cannot believe you were here and we were gone! of course :) but we’ll meet up soon! love u girly! xoxo
cheshirekatblog.com
Sounds like you had a great birthday weekend! I would love to go on the Harry Patter ride lol! Love your blue dress! Happy belated birthday love!
This sounds like the perfect birthday weekend! It’s so fun that your birthdays are close together and close to the holiday weekend so you can plan a getaway. And I’m so happy you went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I love that place. I just watched one of the movies over the weekend and now it feels like I’ve been there. It was such a fun experience! The butterbeer is SO worth it.
Love all of the beautiful gifts that you got!! :-) Those cupcakes look incredible too. I’m so glad that you enjoyed your birthday weekend and your time with Mark and your family. Come to Chicago again so that we can meet up and discuss the dishwasher thing! Haha. :-)
Yes, getting up and to the parks early really makes for better lines and I love their attention to detail. Even though I haven’t read the books, all of my Potter friends have been amazed! Yay to a clean car and getting spoiled for your Birthday!
Sounds like you had an amazing birthday! Those goodies from Bloomies are swoon worthy! Stopping by from TBB! xx
Audrey Adair | http://www.happilyaudrey.com (formerly Key Gypsy)
I’m so glad that you had a great birthday, friend! It sounds/looks like you sure got spoiled. I’m cracking up about the Harry Potter wands – guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the price tag is a total scam. You look SO gorgeous in that last photo – what camera/lens/editing are you using these days? Share your secrets. :) Happy Tuesday!
What a great birthday weekend! My favorite is that your parents AND hubby got you cupcakes from such a special bakery! Your time in Orlando looks fabulous!
I’m glad you had such an awesome birthday weekend! I am so jealous that you got to experience the Harry Potter stuff and that you had a butterbeer!
Looks like a fabulous birthday weekend! I love the nude heels and blue dress. The dish soaking comment totally cracks me up…definitely heard that one before :)
Traci
waltzmetoheaven.com
Sounds like a PERFECT birthday weekend.
I am so chomping at the bit to go to Harry Potter world :) But I wont be buying a wand :)
What a fun birthday weekend! I’m still trying to being myself back to reality. Thank god I have today off.
That wand sounds like a rip off!… But that butter beer sounds amazing. Mmmm.
Happy belated birthday! Sorry I missed it girl.
So happy you had a great birthday–you deserve it! I’m a huge Disney fan too and big believer that it can be just as fun for adults. Love those bangles!
That looks like the perfect birthday weekend! I really REALLY want to go to Harry Potter World. It’s on my to visit list.
So jealous of your weekend- I’ve been dying to go to Harry Potter world! I feel like such a loser, but it looks so awesome. We have a trip planned to St. Augustine this month, I might sneak away and hit up Orlando for a day.
what an awesome birthday weekend! so so much fun! I love the harry potter stuff- i want to go! and i’d love to try a butter beer now that you said it’s so awesome!
Waahhhhh! How did I not know you were going to be in Orlando this weekend?! We never plan accordingly I swear. I haven’t seen you in way too long now, so we need to fix that ASAP! Although I guess we will be going out of town together in less than a month… :) Glad you had such an amazing birthday weekend! Yay for Harry Potter! So fun! And love your pretty bracelets!!
Im glad you enjoyed your birthday weekend! It looked like a lot of fun. Can not even believe the price of the wand!! lol Oh and at least Mark soaks the dishes, because Marc just puts them in the sink… lol xo
Sounds like you had an amazing birthday and 4th July weekend! I don’t blame you for not wanting to be an adult again and work! Getting back into a routine is always hard after a long weekend/vacation.
Happy Birthday!!! Late:) Looks like a fab weekend! Love love love the blue dress and nude heels. Mmmm that sushi looks absolutely gorgeous!
This sounds heavenly! I’m dying to go to Harry Potter world!! Plus, all your new goodies you got look fantastic and so does that sushi! Target ships separately a lot too and I love it. it’s like Christmas! :)
I hope you had an amazing birthday pretty lady! You sure did get spoiled! Xoxoxo
I’m glad you had a wonderful birthday weekend!
Sounds like the perfect birthday weekend! I struggled getting back to work yesterday as well.
And almost $50 for a wand that doesn’t even do real magic?! Total scam.
OMG. I ordered some bikinis from VS last week and almost every single piece shipped separately! So irritating!
Yay for getting just as spoiled rotten as I hoped (knew) you would by your good man! HP World is a fabulous topping to any bday hah – I love that place, but sadly never got the wand ;) Love all your fun new goodies, girl. Cheers to another year!
Sounds like you had an amazing birthday weekend!! So jealous of your Harry Potter visit! I would totally have a butter beer! And that is crazy about the price of those wands. Just wow! I love the bracelets and shoes you got! How awesome that everything fit perfectly! Happy Birthday again, dear!
What a lovely birthday weekend! Yay birthday shopping! Those booties are to die for. I have a similar pair in tan. (: Ah the Harry Potter world. Me there would be a maxed out credit card in a heart beat. “Gimme all the wands.” haha. Btw is your cobalt top from Target? If so, I have the exact same one. (;
Ah I am so happy you had such a great birthday weekend!! So many amazing goodies and I LOVE that you went to Harry Potter for it!!! Girl after my own heart ;)
I hate when companies ship things separately… especially when it all still arrives on the same day! so annoying!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Happy belated again pretty lady! Your weekend was definitely jam packed but sounds like you spent it perfectly packed ~ with family, the hubs, shopping, amusement park fun (I can only imagine how hot it was) and sushi!
Sounds like an AMAZING weekend!! We have that huge Calphalon pan and just LOVE it. We’ve cooked so many good things in it. Those sweets and blooms look perfect, too :)
So glad you had a great birthday! Lots of gorgeous presents! LOVE the Harry Potter world pictures – I’m dying to get there!!
Happy belated Birthday gorgeous! Looks like you had a fantastic weekend :)
Cupcakes are just the best and those look divine. Such a fabulous way to spend your birthday weekend, glad you and Mark were able to take a getaway to Orlando. I definitely want to head to Universal Studios again and check out the Harry Potter area again, last time I went was the year they opened and I’m sure so much has changed. I wanted a wand when I went, but almost $50 for one, bye Felicia to that!! Sorry that you have to adult again, but luckily we are halfway to the weekend!!!
What an awesome birthday celebration! You can’t beat a weekend of fun, presents and good food! Xo, Stephanie
ooooh yay! can’t wait for your HP post. Did you do both parks in one day? We are planning on going in November. $45 for the wand?!!!!! wtf! sounds like a perfect weekend girl.
What a great birthday weekend but $45 for a wand? That’s crazy!
Allergic to the dishwasher…yes!!! I will be using that for my man from now on!! You’re hilarious
I went to Universal last weekend too. I even sampled the Butter Beer myself for the first time. Glad you enjoyed your weekend and Happy Birthday to you both.
What an amazing birthday you had! Love all your goodies! xo