Today is my birthday lucky me!

OK, technically it was yesterday but I was far too busy celebrating to blog. Sorry, it’s the truth.

Celebrations began on Friday night, with my first trip to the Quarter as a New Orleanian. We dined at Crescent City Brewhouse, which was a great mix of New Orleans cuisine at a decent price. After the meal, our group, of about 17 or 18, headed to Pat O’Brien’s, because you haven’t had a trip to the Quarter without going to Pat O’s, so I have been told.

Anne bought me my very first hurricane, which was tasty but a little too sweet. But I could totally see why those are dangerous drinks!

Two smiling women in coats standing at a dim bar, each holding a plastic cup with a drink and a straw. — Anne also doubles as my baseball roadtrip roomie

Three women holding drinks at Pat O'Briens in New Orleans — Leeann, me and Marley at Pat O's

Two women smiling and holding drinks at night; one in a purple patterned top, the other in a dark coat and red scarf. — Wendy and me holdin down the Pat O's patio

Group of five people in a dim bar, smiling and holding plastic cups, wearing coats and scarves. — Nothing says 'happy birthday' like yeager- blech!

Two smiling young adults in a bar; woman with brown hair and red scarf holding a drink, man in a navy jacket with a white stripe. — Mike is my baseball team yoda

After we hung around the patio area for a bit, the cold got to us and we headed inside to the Piano Bar, where they had two pianos going and they were singing/playing songs everyone could sing along with, which is always eventful in an establishment that serves adult beverages!

two women seated with arms around each other — Nancy and me at Piano Bar

woman in a red dress next to a man with glasses — Kevin was also kind enough to serve as my driver for the evening

Two smiling people close together in a dim, crowded setting; left in a red sleeveless top, right in a black turtleneck. — Me and Bean

man and woman seated at a bar smiling — TCG and MCL- it's an initial thing

woman sitting down with a server leaning in next to her — Caitlin and the man who plays the silver platter at Piano Bar. (yes I said silver platter)

After our crazy week, JP and me totally earned our drinks Friday night

Since it was only Friday night, I had to wait until midnight to officially turn 26, and as it crept closer and closer, we all kept checking our watches. Finally, with 10 seconds left, the countdown to midnight (and 26) began.

Woman in sleeveless red dress cheering with arms raised, mouth open, surrounded by laughing people at an indoor party. — The moment the clock struck midnight, after we all counted down

Two women at a dim bar sharing a cocktail with straws, one wide-eyed as the other leans in, orange garnish visible. — Wendy and I sharing a hurricane, which is a much better idea than having one all to yourself

Two smiling women in a crowded bar, one in a red sleeveless dress leaning toward seated woman wearing a green top and tan vest. — So glad Lisa rallied on Friday

Post-Piano Bar, our group headed to Goldmine to dance up a storm, which Nancy and I did quite well. I also learned that I tend to dance with my middle finger down. Who knew?

Young woman in a red halter top smiling and raising her arms while dancing with a friend in a dimly lit crowd. — Nancy and I rockin out at Goldmine

It was definitely a top night!

I followed it up with whipping up a snackin cake for myself on Saturday. The only thing is that it totally goes against my whole trying to eat healthy, because I’m left with a giant sheet cake and I live by myself. And to make matters worse, it’s called snackin’ cake because we all just cut off a little piece as we go, thinking it’s not that much, when really we should have just had one whole piece, because after you realize how many “small pieces” you hacked off as a snack so many times, it’s way more than one piece anyway.

{sigh} It’s ok. I’ll just have to take one for the team and eat it. No sense in wasting perfectly good chocolate cake!

Tra-la, tra-lee!