Two of my favorite gifts for my 35th

Gifts mean different things to different people. We are all fine with gift cards (as I am for someone who has everything-itunes are awesome!) or a check and I love it when a gift comes in the form of a dinner date with the giver for a proper one on one catch up and cocktail. But there are those gifts that can truly touch one to the core because of the thought and effort involved.

Two of those sorts of gifts landed in my lap for my 35th birthday so I thought I would share them here.

My best friend from college, Claire sent me a box from Charleston. In it was the most amazing pink and gold package and inside I discovered glass vials filled with powders saturated in a vivid array of colors. Scattered through were metal stamps with Hindu designs on them.

Her card read, " The enclosed pink box is something I purchased from a little girl on the banks of the Ganges River-there is a bag of metal stamps in the box and you use them to make decorative bindis."

She sent them for me to use at my Indian themed party, but I wanted to keep them for myself for a little while and just gaze at them! I figured 100 drunk people would end up throwing the powder around the room like Holi and use the stamps for cocktail stirrers. I know I would!

So I let people look but not touch. Next Indian dinner party I host I will pull them out and decorate everyone before we start drinking. Thanks Claire!

The other gift that bowled me over was the sherwani Soumanjoy surprised me with. We went to Jackson Heights a month ago to go costume shopping. I bought a sequined kurta for $50 for my party. Sherwani's were out of the question at $400-$600 a piece.

On my actual birthday when we met up with friends at Tiny's for drinks he had a big bag in tow and a huge grin on his face. It didn't take long for me to grab that bag and dig in. Inside was a dazzling golden sherwani his sister had sent from India. I pulled it out of it's plastic bag with shakey hands and tried it on. Perfect fit!

Now I knew why he had been up at 4am several nights on the phone with his sister. Simontica and her boyfriend Skyped Soumanjoy from the store to pick out the right one.

                                        (Soumanjoy joked that the designer must have a lisp
                                                                   after we read the label)

It was a huge success at my party and went unscathed. I was petrified of cigarette burns or wine spills. I want to wear it every day! Sherwani chicness can be the new look for men I'm sure. Isn't the lumber prepster look about done?

Thank you my Maharajah.

My 35th

Tuesday I turned the big 3-5.
I love birthdays. It's kind of like New Year's except you wake up on the actual day with no hangover. For the most part.

                                               (My cake at the Trustees Dining Room)

I was up at 7:30 and had the morning routine of playing with Mabel with my eyes half shut while she makes the figure eight around my hand to get the most contact possible. Then I roll over and stare at my wall of pictures, follow them to the windows perched 20 feet above the ground in the turret and gauge the weather of the day. Then I usually hear a little whimper. That would be Fergus ready for his morning tinkle.

I give Mabel one last hearty pat and roll out of bed, open the blinds, stare out at the wide street of 122nd and watch the clouds in the sky until Fergus reminds me he still needs to wizz. I dress in my gym clothes, open his crate and carry him downstairs to the garden terrace. He bounds around for a while then remembers to tinkle, gets a treat (Good Potty Fergus!) and continues playing.

I then pick him up, bring him inside, plop him on my chest on the chesterfield, pull out my Nikky Haslam book and read a chapter while he passes out and cuddles. 35 ain't so bad so far!

That afternoon Rod and I took a car down to the Met for lunch in the Trustees Dining Room. It was a madhouse! Everyone was there to see the McQueen show, open only to members that day. We waited so long for a table the host brought out champagne for everyone. Hoorah. We had a lovely meal and commented on just about every table in the room, "Ooooh look at her hair! That dress? Who is that man in pink?"

The exhibit was great to see again although packed to the gills with people. I spied several things I had missed on press day and watched the entire Kate Moss hologram installation.

(My gift to myself on the big day- a pair of McQueen Armadillo pump tree decorations!)

Afterward I had to rush home to finish a story due that day (damn deadlines!) and at 5:30 headed down to Chelsea for a meeting with the Citizens Committee of New York City. I applied for a grant for tree guards for the block and was approved! So I had to go meet the team. From community service to champagne, I headed to Olivia's for a bottle before heading out for the night. Lovely!

We headed to Tiny's for a round of drinks. It was great to see Jack, our old bartender from the Beatrice who now manages this new spot. Fay, Lucy, Javas and Soumanjoy joined us.
Soumnajoy was carrying an awfully big bag in his hand and a smile on his face. HAND IT OVER.

I unpacked it to find a jewel encrusted Sherwani his sister sent from India for me to wear at my party. It is beyond handsome, over the top and a major moment for my closet! I had to try it on then and there and it fits like a glove. Thanks babe!

From there we walked to Bubby's in Tribeca for piles of mac & cheese, short ribs, nachos and cocktails. Fay and Olivia surprised me with a little carrot cake cupcake and a candle and song. We all split the wee cupcake after such a massive meal.

And that was that! A perfect day with fantastic friends whose presence always mean more than any presents.