26.

i think last year i had said that 26 would be my "scary age" but so far it hasn't seemed so bad! the day started off with breakfast at liberty market in gilbert with my sister and lacy.  i'd never been before but the free food on your birthday was sure enticing.  i definitely recommend. my biscuits and gravy were amazing (hey, calories don't count on your birthday!).

  cody only worked a half day so when he got off we went to la grande orange for lunch (again, more free birthday food).  i was hardly even hungry after my huge breakfast but i managed to get in a few bites of my favorite "mushroom party" pizza.

after a little shopping and walking around fashion square mall we celebrated the weekend by going on a staycation in scottsdale. we booked a room through priceline for practically nothing and scored the hyatt regency gainey ranch!   at check-in we were greeted with complimentary non-alcoholic prickly pear margaritas and these gorgeous views of the pool/mountains/sunset from our room...

i've always loved this hotel for the gondola rides they offer on the lake around the hotel/golf course and was so excited to show cody.  our gondola driver serenaded us with some italian love songs and even an italian rendition of 'happy birthday'.

for dinner we splurged and ate at the hotel's italian restaurant, alto.  some of the best food of my life.
why yes...i did take pictures of each course!

duck prosciutto, 3 kinds of sheep cheeses, and fig/apricot jam

clams in spicy white wine, garlic sauce.

cody: crab angel hair pasta in a fresh basil cream sauce
me: homeade gnocchi in a porcini cream sauce.
to. die. for.

and for dessert we had complimentary coconut cake with gelato.

saturday was spent lounging at the hotel pool, with its very own "beach"!
the weather was absolutely perfect.

it's definitely gonna be hard to top this birthday but seriously, staycations are the way to go!