Happy Birthday Mel!

So, today our friend Melanie turned the big 3-0. We went to a party in honor of the occasion at her friend Kiera's house in Seattle. It was lots of fun (Thanks Kiera for hosting!). Friends, family, food...what more could you want? Maybe a birthday present that arrived on time? Yeah, that's right, the birthday present that we got Mel, didn't make it. That however is a whole different post where I rant about my post office, and their incompetence. We'll save that for another day.

If you know Mel, you know what a remarkable woman she is. Melanie and I weren't friends in school, even though we went to Jr High and High School together. It wasn't that we didn't like one another. It was more like we didn't have many of the same interests and shared no classes. We just never had the opportunity to connect. So ten years later, we get an "invite" on myspace to be friends with "the Class of '97 Reunion page." Not knowing who was running it, I offered that Tom and I would be happy to help in any way they needed. Yup--Tom was REAL pleased with me! Very quickly we were asked to be on the committee, and we happily accepted. So began our journey to a FABULOUS reunion!!! Melanie is an event planner for a MAJOR company...you would have to be living under a rock to not know this company. The awesomeness of our reunion is a tribute to her skills at organization and delegation. All of our vendors commented that they had never been to a 10 year reunion that ran so well, and where people had such a good time. Our fearless leader led us through the planning while we battled many obstacles, including three of us (Melanie, Jill, and me) becoming pregnant during planning! It was hilarious seeing the three of us reunion night, in our varying stages of pregnancy. Me--waddling around having contractions, Melanie with a cute little round belly, and Jill barely showing!

Anyway...Mel is the epitome of AWESOME. She has pretty much always been an athlete. She played college basketball at Gonzaga, even! And now, just after she turns 30, she is running her first MARATHON. Yes, a marathon...And this girl works full time, and has two cute little boys and a great hubby at home. She is an inspiration to so many of us. So for her birthday I wanted to get her something SUPER special to commemorate not only her birthday, but her first marathon. I got on ETSY, of course! I started looking around, and found an amazing artist who makes custom jewelry. So, this is what I contracted for her to make for Mel.....

(This is the actual necklace that is waiting at the post office.)

I got on the computer at Kiera's house, and showed her. I am happy to say that she loved it! The artist is my3gemz, and her ETSY shop is: www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=29634. Please go visit her shop!!!

Anyway...I am so lucky to have Melanie in my life now. She is a wonderful, caring, grounded, amazing woman. And she is my friend!! Happy Birthday to You, Mel!! To 30 more wonderful years!