All posts in: Birthdays

04 Apr 2020

Celebrating A Birthday in Quarantine

In February, one of my stressors was deciding how I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday. I was deciding between a get together at a brewery nearby or at a park – both of which included McDonalds. That train of thought feels so long ago even though it was just a little over a month. As for what occupies my mind on a daily basis now, that feels so minuscule and distant.

The date was picked and the invites were out, but the day I landed back in San Francisco from Thailand it took me less than 24 hours to cancel. I love gathering all of my favorite people together, but a group from all different circles and sharing food didn’t seem like the safest decision. With everything going on and the number of cases rising, I personally didn’t feel good about hosting a celebration.

Instead, I settled for a birthday in quarantine (like we had a choice!) It was a work day like any other, but I felt the love from my network from all over. Coworkers delivered a Panda Express lunch to my doorstep. My two girlfriends ordered McDonalds for dinner and we ate it over a virtual hangout. To my surprise the day felt excessive!

It reminded me of a Berenstain Bears book I read when I was little called, “Too Much Birthday.” I’ve always loved my birthday celebrations, but there are some memories of my previous birthdays that I have buried deep. I’m reminded of the birthdays where I end up in tears. And it wasn’t just me – growing up, friends of mine in elementary school also ended up in tears. I read a [post] recently from The Cut that sums this up perfectly.

This isn’t an emotion that’s often spoken about, so into my adult life, I still describe the feeling as having “too much birthday.” It’s the sensation of feeling so much joy at once that you almost feel lonely, or like you can’t really enjoy the happiness surrounding you.

This year’s “too much birthday” symbolism came in a couple ways. The physical was a nasty stomach ache from all the fast food. Emotionally, it was how annoyed I felt when asked “how I was celebrating that day.” This would have been a perfectly normal question any other time. However, that frustration was met with my internal response of “don’t you know what I’m doing? Staying inside of course!” At the end of the day, I’m lucky to have polite friends who will ask even if it’s merely to extend the conversation beyond “happy birthday.” Mentally, I was equal parts scattered and lonely.

One thing is for certain. It’s a birthday that I won’t ever forget – one in isolation, but still celebrated despite distance.

19 Aug 2015

Happiest of Birthdays

My older brother is celebrating his birthday tomorrow and this weekend I found a video that completely describes our relationship. What’s amazing about this video is that this guy knows such a vast library of music in different genres! Kevin used to drive me around. A lot. And almost always, you’d find me in the car singing loudly and horribly with dance moves to all of my favorite songs and Kevin just had to sit through it knowing that other drivers could see me. Yeah, can you believe it? I was worse than what this guy did to his sister on their road trip. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN! You’re so lucky to have a sister like me.

13 Jun 2014

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! My favorite twins turn 28 today and everyone seems to be celebrating their birthday all over the internet. Growing up, I always hoped I would be as cute as Michelle Tanner. I wanted to be the Asian Michelle Tanner, if you will. I felt like I was growing up with the twins. When they left Full House they become detectives that were solving crime before dinner time. I, too, wanted to be a detective. Then they graduated into another sitcom called Two of a Kind and then So Little Time. That one was kind of a bust so we don’t need to talk about that. Their careers and how they got there is kind of incredible. They were hits on the television and then became iconic in the fashion industry. Happy birthday ladies!

Here is a round-up of some of my favorite MK & A posts from today:

06 Nov 2013

Happy Belated Birthday!

We usually never do this, but for Alexa Chung, it’s a MUST.

Alexa celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday and continues to pave the way as an inspiring style icon for girls everywhere. We’re so excited for everything that is to come for her and especially her new book.

Happy Birthday A!

19 Sep 2013

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our favorite late night host Jimmy Fallon! The comedian and recent father turns 39 today!

29 Aug 2013

A Child’s Happiness And Birthdays

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFsDnn9FjOQ]

The next time it is one of your friend’s birthdays, just send them this video…because a child’s happiness is priceless – especially on a birthday.

What does this even mean, really? And why are there so many news anchors recycling this line?

20 Aug 2013

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Andrew Garfield!

Our Hollywood hunk turns 30 today! We can’t wait to see him in the next Spiderman movie and we’re still pumped that he’s dating Emma stone. We couldn’t ask for a better pair, really. Happy birthday to you and here’s hoping for a longer-lasting and even more successful career than you have already built up for yourself.

15 Aug 2013

Happy Birthday SuChin!

Happy Birthday SuChin Pak! Our favorite former MTV VJ, Daily Candy correspondent, and previous Yow Yow! interviewee celebrated her special today. From Yow Yow! we’d like to wish her an especially happy birthday!

14 Aug 2013

Happy Birthday Mila!

Happy Birthday to our favorite swan!

Mila Kunis turns 30 today! Hard to believe that she was just a little pre-teen when she started on That 70’s Show.

Friends With Benefits will forever be one of my favorite movies and … takes the credit for getting me started on my career.

12 Aug 2013

Happy Birthday Cara D!

Today our favorite model and HBIC Cara Delevingne turns 21! 21. This girl doesn’t always make the most positive headlines, but she’s done more at her age than a lot of other people we know, right? Cough Cough Harry Styles’ gf. Regardless, we kind of love her and can’t wait to see more of her in our fashion editorials and on the runway. Do you Cara D.