My dearest Nic, I hope you've had the happiest 21st birthday!
Yesterday, Nic, Dallas, Bubby and I hung out in Berkeley all day and into the night! My sweet, sweet girl has just been diagnosed with Celiac (she's allergic to wheat and gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley and rye mainly), so I researched and planned a whole day us around avoiding the little bugger.
We met up around noon and had a super AWESOME gluten-free, dairy free pizza from a place called Bobby G's! They use locally made, gluten-free pizza crusts from a gluten free bakery called Mariposa Baking Co. OMG. The pizza was divine. It had a house-made tofu cheese (I'm guessing it was soft tofu, olive oil, spices and salt and pepper, all blended and drizzled on top), mushrooms, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, onions, assorted olives, garlic and fresh herbs.
After lunch, we walked to the shops on Telegraph Avenue and browsed the racks at Rasputin's, a local, used music store. We spent a good hour there looking for hidden jems in the $2.95 bin and talking and wandering around. We got a few albums and then Nic wanted to head over to Buffalo Exchange (used clothes!) and Sway (a local girly store similar to Forever21).
On the way, we stopped at Pete's Coffee to use the loo and get a sip. We shared a kid's sized hot chocolate with espresso, soy milk and raspberry syrup. YUM! Gluten free, too!
We all headed over to the clothes stores and the boys hung out outside (and had a lengthy conversation with a cigarette smoking, slightly mental, ex-Navy street bum, while we shopped). I got a SUPER CUTE dress (Peter Pan collar for the win!) from Sway and a jacket and a crocheted cardigan thing from Buffalo. I love shopping!
By this time, it was about 6:30 and we were all super hungry, so we moseyed on over to Herbivore, a vegan, organic restaurant with a KILLER menu. Now, I had been wanting to try this place for a LONG time and Nic's birthday was the perfect occasion. I was super pumped and called ahead the day before to get us reservations and make sure that they had gluten free selections. I was told that I didn't need the reservations, that they wouldn't be busy and that they didn't even do them for a parties of four. LIES! When we got there, they were packed. Packed, I tell you! We had to wait about 30 minutes and Nic's blood sugar was drastically crashing, so I wheeled on up to the hostess and made a stink and we were seated soon afterward. When the waitress came over, we asked to see the gluten free menu and she was visably annoyed and said that they didn't have one. UMM. We had the head waitress come over and we were able to get the ingredient list and then made our choices. We ordered chili-lime almonds, Vietnamese spring rolls and fire roasted corn on the cob to start. Yum! We all got yummy salads with house made Dijon dressing. Droooool. Nic and I ordered the same thing, rice noodles with lemon "creme" sauce with portabella mushrooms, spinach & capers. Dustin got the Pad Thai and Dallas got a red curry dish. I liked the noodles a lot, Nic wasn't a huge fan and Dallas and Dustin were iffy on their meals. Hmmm... terrible service and decent food. They got our money this time, but next time? I don't know. Have any of you ever been to this place?
Ha! During dinner, we got on the subject of a little game called Chubby Bunny and how Miss Nic annihilated Dustin and his friends the last time they played. The object of the game is to be the last person to say "Chubby Bunny".. the catch? Each round, you put another marshmallow in your mouth. Last night, Dallas, Dustin and Nic decided to play a little game and I decided to record it... you know, for demonstration purposes. ;) Disregard Dallas' comment at the end... gross!
After rinsing their sticky, marshmallow-spit covered hands, we headed to a used book store, looked for a few minutes and then Nic and Dallas decided that it was time to head home.
Pretty much a perfect day!
Oh! "Who is this Dallas," you might asking? Well.. Dallas and Dustin have been friends since middle school. Dustin and I used to work at Dallas' Dads store (Amish Furniture, baby!) and we've been close to his family for many-a-years. Nic and I have been friends for the past three years (IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, MAMA!) and Dallas and Nic met each other through my Facebook page. After some deep talks and a visit and more talks and phone calls... they are in love! I had never seen them together before yesterday and OMG, it blew me away! Their love is AMAZING. I mean, it's the crazy kind of deep love that you see in movies. The cheezy Lifetime love movies where you walk away saying, "Nobody has a relationship like that!" Well, yes. Yes they do! And those people are Nic and Dallas.
We were sitting there at dinner last night and it hit me. It hit me hard... my best friend was kissing and cuddling with a guy that I call my Big Brother. WHOA. I mean, I LOVE these two people and somehow, the stars aligned and they met and it clicked and they now love each other so much. Nic now has what I have -- an amazing man who loves her! These two loves of mine are happy and being cared for and have found the most amazing thing... each other!
My heart has been on cloud nine since. I feel like a floaty little bluebird perched on Snow White's cottage window with sunshine and butterflies and puffy, gluten-free baked goods.
*swoon*
I love you so much, Nic (Mama Llama, Pita pocket, Nickle, Schmickey Mouse, Pretty Face) and I hope that your 21st year is the better than any you've ever had!
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