Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to meeee, Happy Birthday to me! I had a wonderful birthday celebration this past weekend at Macao Trading Co., a new restaurant in Tribeca. First was a dinner with Nicki, Heather and Lori, then drinks downstairs in the lounge with more friends. Thanks to my amazing friends for venturing out on a snowy night to party with me!

Nicki and me

Heather and Lori

Birthday flan (would you believe they ran out of cake at 8:30pm?)

Me, Nicki, Heather and Lori

Me and Bay

Heather, Nicole and Bulent

Nicki, looking sassy in her legwarmers, drinking a Mr. Funk cocktail.

Lori, me and Bay

Heather, Nicole and Nicki

Naughty artwork everywhere in the lounge, including the bathrooms.

Nicki and Kristen

Me and Nicole

Heather and Nicki making friends at the bar.

Let’s do the bartender boogy!

Michelle and me

Heather and Nicki diggin’ the music!

The night ended at The (snowy) Pig.

Every year around this time, we get some major winter freeze. Not quite as bad as in other parts of the country (or world, for that matter), but for this California girl, it’s pretty brutal. Check out the forecast for this week, particularly Friday (click on the image for full-size).

*Image and painfully miserable forecast courtesy of Accuweather.com

Yes, you read that right, a High of 9 with a Real Feel of 0. Who wants to come and celebrate my upcoming birthday in NY this week!

While I was in CA for the holidays, my mom, Deirdre (my sis-in-law) and I started a new tradition: the Louie ladies’ afternoon tea. It was a lovely sunny day, so we spent a couple hours wandering around the shops of Union Square, including a little hunt for the ugliest or weirdest yet most expensive clothing item at Neiman Marcus. We spent some serious quality time over tea, mini sandwiches, scones and a large assortment of sweets. Can’t wait to do this again next year!

The spread

Fancy open-faced sandwiches

Scones, tarts, cakes and other sweets

The Louie ladies

I rang in the new year in San Francisco with some of my favorite people in the world, and a few new friends. Dinner at Little Thai and then a party at a friend’s house was a great way to say hello to 2009!

Dinner for 20!

Nik and me, all dressed up and ready to party.

Beautiful Ashe - 5 months prego!

My new friend Emily

Marisa and Todd

The bar - let the party begin!

Todd and Chris dressed as twins for the party

Lara and Nik, getting ready for their dance off

Lovely ladies

The great Nik-Lara dance off!

Go Lara! Go Lara!

Nik was ready for the challenge.

Lucky Peter!

Cheers to a fabulous 2009!