Last year, my birthday went by in such a 38-weeks-pregnant haze that for the entire year, I thought I was still 40 years old. This year, in a half-effort to pay more attention to myself, I’m acknowledging my birthday 1. in advance, which I rarely do and 2. buying myself stuff, which: always.

How did this happen? Eddie Murphy is a front-runner for an Academy award for his supporting actor role in Dreamgirls. Eddie. Murphy. Wow.