Rudi and I threw my birthday party tonight. This was the first birthday party I’ve had since we moved down to D.C. four years ago and I definitely think we’ll have to do it again.

For once, we were actually sort of ready when the party start time came around, but our friends gave us a sufficient buffer so we could do things like frost the heart cakes and cupcakes (with lavender-colored buttercream icing) and turn on the party lights.

Rudi cranked the 80s party music early in the afternoon to keep us bopping until the Police kicked off the Grammys in high style.

We’d originally suggested board games when we invited folks over, but I don’t think anyone missed them when we opted not to pull them out in what was otherwise a low-key evening. It just means that we will have to have folks over again in a few weeks for a few rounds of Mille Bourne and Trivial Pursuit.

Rudi’s chili was tasty and the new cake recipe I tried out was quite successful. We had a full house squeezed around the coffee table and insufficient seating, although we seemed to make do.

I came away from the evening with chocolate, wine, a book, a kitschy-cool shell lamp, and the warm fuzzies from spending time with friends.

It was a good night.