Address Me as "Your Majesty"

I'm the Birthday Princess! Today was such a simple, such a LOVELY day.

You know how people say that as they get older, they don't really care about doing it big for birthdays anymore? All they really care about is being with the ones they love? I get that. For some reason, there's all this pressure to have a good time on your birthday, making it incredible, and that's too much to live up to. I'd rather be close to the ones that I cherish, eat some good comfort food, then eat again. And take lots of pictures. So that's what I did. I took pictures, ate, laughed, ate, took more pictures, went in search of more food. And it was the best birthday yet.

I feel like Gourmet Dumpling House is one of Boston's best kept secrets. Tucked away in the heart of Chinatown, you'll pass by a lot of delicious options before you find this place. But there's a reason that the line runs out the door most nights. I can say without a doubt that those are the best dumplings in Boston. HANDS DOWN. And I have had many, many dumplings. I don't know what they do, but they do it well. It has been a staple dinner place in my friend group for many years, and those I take there know how sacred it is. And don't you dare leave until you've had an order of scallion pancakes. Good gracious, now I want some.

I also brought a disposable camera that I picked up from the pharmacy. I miss the days of using film, so I'm trying to get myself back into it. So far so good. Anna was kind enough to put up with me taking "artistic" shots from the crosswalk.

I know I'm so late to the macaron trend, but I can't believe how much one of these can change my entire day. We went in search of the Cameo Macaron truck and found it parked by Prudential. I memorized the walk because I think I'll be making it rather often this summer. We ate our cookies by the water and waxed nostalgic about how much we've grown and changed in seven years. She's graduating and going home soon, so being with her today made this  birthday so much better.

What am I going to do without my beautiful best friend? Ah well, we'll manage. We always do.

It's my birthday, and I'm drinking a mini bottle of Pink Moscato bubbly. This is the life.

Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum!

Okay, let me start this off by saying that I didn't actually get any pictures of the lilacs... BUT, I did get a sunburn! Yeah!

Honestly, I head out to the Arboretum every single chance I get, but this Sunday was ESPECIALLY special because in addition to it being Lilac Sunday (a celebration of some sweet smellin' floret), it was also a special edition of the New England Food Truck Festival! Where there is food truck, you will find Sydney.

The "Hub" Burger from Boston's Baddest Burgers, with provolone cheese and special garlic aioli.

Ahem...So...A couple things:

1. We waited for an hour and half for food because the lines were BEYOND anything I've ever seen. Beyond.

2. The lines were so long that the trucks actually ran out of food!

3. I saw more dogs than you can ever imagine, and it took absolutely everything I had not to burst out of line every other minute to scratch each one under the chin.

4. Next time around, a little organization will go a long way.

The entirety of Boston will crowd an area if there is even the hint of a possibility that food will be prepared then distributed from a truck. It's a fact. I know this because I am right there with everyone else throwing my money into someone's hands and telling them I'll take one of everything. When you mix a mob of hungry people pushing strollers and obsessively reapplying sunscreen with a fleet of massive mobile resturants both hogging up walking paths that are quite wide, but not wide enough, you're spelling trouble. And though my arms now bear resemblance to our little lobster friends from standing in one spot for a little too long, today and today only, I got to have my picnic at the Arnold Arboretum. And I will cherish the memory, as well as the heap of macarons I brought home.

Here are few macaroon flavors that I'd like to introduce you to:

-Rose Petal

-Honey Lavender

-Earl Grey

-Creme Brûlée.

Oh yeah.  And we got those babies first, after only waiting in a five minute line. Why couldn't they have all been like that? You rock, Cameo Macaron!

We had fun. Do I think the Arboretum maybe wasn't a good choice for this kind of event? Kind of.  But you just can't beat beautiful days like today, and what better way to celebrate a clear blue sky than with piles of food?

Exactly.

BRING ON THE SOMERVILLE FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL, JUNE 7TH.

Happy Mother's Day, my babies.