From now on, B doesn't have to lend me his black helmet anymore and ride without something to protect his head. We need not worry about falling down and cracking our heads. Because on my 25th birthday, B got me the perfect gift from Motoworld. It's the white helmet I've always wanted. This is my first and only helmet. Today, I am officially a biker babe!

Isn't it sweet when friends call you out of the blue and invite you out for your birthday? Isn't it sweeter when they have agreed to foot the bill as a gift for you? I refused at first but when I saw that Fran was seriously set on treating me out on my own birthday, I gave in. Well, after she agreed that I will treat Gelato ice cream for desserts!

K and I both chose to have our favorite Chilean seabass. The slice of seabass rested on a bed of creamed and mashed potatoes and toppd with slender stalks of asparagus. I loved the fine tidbits of walnuts that were sprinkled on the seabass. I also loved how the creamy mashed potatoes complemented the tenderness of the seabass.

On the other hand, Eileen and V both wanted to try the Grandma's Crispy Duck Confit and Mushroom Risotto. But to their dismay, the server advised that they won't be able to serve that dish for the night. Instead, V chose the Pan-Roasted Gourmet Sausages while Eileen chose the Moroccan-Style Lamb Shank Tagine. The sausages were served with creamy mashed potatoes and German sauerkraut. V commented that the sausages were very compact that she was already full after finishing one sausage. Eileen's lamb shank was broiled with delicious tabbouleh sauce. Though intended for a personal meal, the serving of the lamb shank was big enough for us to share.

B & I were both born in the rainy month of July back in the 1980s. B on the 7th. While I was born on the 30th. Since we got married last 2006, we never really got the chance to celebrate our birthdays with our friends. Given, B & I were still on honeymoon last July 2006. Then Sophie & I were still in Vancouver last July 2007. This year is actually the first year that we get to celebrate our birthdays in Manila with our friends. And I was telling B that I'd like to make it a tradition for us to celebrate our July birthdays year after year until we have grown old. Except B should just leave it up to me to make all the birthday planning and preparations. :)

B's good friend, Vic, had suggested that we throw our party at Causeway. Apparently, Vic is well acquainted with the owners of the restaurant. And he promised that we will be taken care of there. B got a private room with 3 big tables for our friends. Dinner was served the lauriat style. I honestly felt like the evening was so formal. I thought people my age throw parties on restobars. And that only my dad would throw lauriat dinners with his 50 year old friends. But there I found myself as the host and celebrant in this formal dinner. Definitely not my kind of party. But the warm presence of B and my dear girlfriends loosened me up to the night!

I was really excited to be with my girlfriends. It's funny how we are all so different yet we all get along so well. One thing that we girls love the most is dressing up for the night. V wore a brown dress with a very low V-neck line. It obviously showed off her assets! E wore a black dress with her new pair of VNC's. K wore a sweetheart-cut tube dress and carried her favorite Chanel bag. D wore a lavender scoop-necked dress. And I wore my red floral flowy mini dress with a garter belt and my patent red pumps from Pazzion. We were all glam and fab. I noticed how B's bachelor friends have been stealing glances at my girlfriends every so often. :)

B invited quite a lot of his friends from Xavier and DLSU. Richmond came with his girlfriend, Audrey. Audrey broke to me the news that they are finally getting married next year. I was ecstatic! But they were not the only engaged couples in the party. Brian's good friend, Vincent, together with his fiancee Hazel, were also there. Vincent actually flew all the way from New York to marry Hazel in Manila. Their wedding is on the next Sunday. When everyone else came with colorful boxes of cake, Raymond and Vivian came with a very special gift. It was a towel set with personalized embroidery. What made it more special was that Sophie also got a mini towel with her name embroidered on it. Inky came and gave me a tube of strawberries and cream body shimmer. It was so sweet of her coz she knew I love strawberries so much! After dinner, the guys were all drinking beers and whiskeys. I left B with his friends to enjoy the night coz Sophie was waiting for me still. That night, I brought home a whole lot of cakes. Strawberries, chocolates, mangoes... Name it. We've got it! I had a hard time fitting them all in our fridge. Seriously, I am going to get fat with all these sweet and yummy cakes. I guess this is what birthdays are all about. :)

Unlike most babies that are born bald, Sophie was blessed with so much hair. When she came out of my womb, the doctor and all the nurses were surprised by how much hair she has in her little head. What's more amazing was that Sophie's hair has a natural curl and her bangs are naturally side-swept. One nurse even said that Sophie seemed to have a hairdresser in heaven before she was delivered into this world!

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