Shenanigans might be too strong (and misleading) a word to describe my birthday celebrations this year. That is, unless you too, consider family dinner, Denny’s, and a hotel stay shenanigans.
Since there are no alternative words synonymous to shenanigans while you’ve been “adulting” for a long time now, I’ll just leave it be. Even though my birthdays are no longer all-out dusk to dawn affairs (it’s been years!), that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them – in a more subdued, reflective way.
Anytime I get down about the lines on my face or getting squidgy around the edges, I always remind myself that aging is a privilege. And that we’re all in the same boat.
This year’s birthday had me hitting up Denny’s for a free birthday breakfast – just like last year. Because free. And I’m an old lady.
Hung a wish on a Chinese New Year wishing tree.
Following our tradition of forgoing gifts for experiences, Sean and I celebrated my birthday with an overnight stay at a fancy hotel. In past years, we stayed at the Shangri-la, L’Hermitage, and Rosewood Hotel Georgia. This year, we decided on the Hyatt Regency Vancouver and it was a lovely stay on a cold, windy winter night. Dig on the decor.
Don’t get me wrong – we’re not Rockefellers or Vanderbilts (even as we forgo gifts) with all our chi-chi stays in hotels for special occasions. I just take advantage of a special hotel promo that comes around during low and sometimes shoulder season, where you could save up to 50% off regular hotel prices.
PRO TIP: Follow StayVancouver Hotels to get notices of their AMEX promotions. Take your pick from 35 Vancouver hotels (from budget to 5 stars) and receive AMEX gift cards valued up to $125. Each additional night you stay, gets you another $50 per night. You can use the GCs for anything: shopping, restaurants or apply it to your room stay – which we always do.
You’d be surprised at how many people don’t know about this promotion. It’s totes legit and we partake every year.
The biggest surprise this year came via delivery from Hong Kong. The bestie had a basket delivered to the house, chock-full of chocolate treats. A complete surprise and totally unexpected! Thanks, Peggy! Now I’ll have chocolate in the house for months.
So will we also have low-key shenanigans for our upcoming anniversary next month? Yes. And the reason why is because we’ve been saving up for a 10 year anniversary trip to Japan. #Japanfor10! Here we come!
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