Tomorrow (Thursday – when most of you will be reading this!) is my birthday! I will be 28 although I had someone at work today guess that I was 24. I just had a moment of weakness and thought that maybe I would post a baby picture but I’m going to save that for a later date! 😉 Read to the end of the post for a fun birthday giveaway!
I slept in this morning. I considered getting up early to run or go to yoga but I reset my alarm for 7 instead. The eight hours of sleep were far more beneficial for my body than any workout would have been.
I was in the mood for something different for breakfast. I decided on a cinnamon raisin English muffin with peanut butter, honey and mashed banana.
Nothing really sounded good for lunch so I ended up making a Green Brown Monster.
Enjoyed outside because I have to be warm when I’m drinking cold smoothies. In the mix today…banana, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, milk, vanilla protein powder, chia seeds and spinach.
I needed a snack this afternoon so I had a Coconut Cream Pie Larabar around 4.
After work I ran three miles with Sullie. It’s been too hot to run her lately but it was overcast and cool so I took her with me. Someone is a little out of running shape. We were definitely running 10 minute miles! After the run, I taught a hot vinyasa yoga class at Y2.
I was starving after running and teaching. I made a grilled cheese on Ezekiel bread with provolone, spinach and peach pepper jelly. A big salad on the side.
Now for that giveaway! Last year on my birthday I hosted my very first giveaway on Peanut Butter Runner so I thought it would be fun to make it a tradition.
The Lululemon Cool Racerback Tank! This is one of my favorite basic Lululemon tops. I love the longer length tank and the fabric is so soft and lightweight. It’s perfect for everything from running to yoga to errands!
The winner will get to pick your color and size! I’ll ship you the tank along with…
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars! Because it wouldn’t be a PBR givewaway without them! 😉
Leave a comment telling me about one of your favorite birthdays. I think mine would be turning 13 in Paris on a trip with my grandmother!
The contest ends Friday at noon (EST). I’ll post the winner Friday afternoon! I will ship anywhere in the U.S. Please note that this contest is sponsored by yours truly!
My favorite birthday was 13 1/2. LOL. I grew up (and still live) at the Jersey Shore. Many of my friends were not home during the summer months. I am a summer baby. So most years my best friends were not at my party. So my parents surprised me with party at the end of January. I was so shocked I walked back out of the house!
yay for half birthdays! fun! 😉
My favorite birthday was my first with my then boyfriend now husband. He took me to dinner at the same place as our first date. Happy Birthday!
One of my favorite birthdays? Well, my mom always made unique cakes — I loved the butterfly cake she made for me when I was…maybe 8 or so? Then she threw me a crazy sleepover party for all of my girl classmates. Fifteen screaming little girls kept my parents up half the night!
those were the days!
My favorite birthday was my 21st birthday. I was pregnant with my son who was due the 29th of that month so I spent the day celebrating my life and preparing for the new life that awaited me — with yummy cake and a bonfire!! If only we could have shared the day (as an aside, he ended up being a week late) 🙂
that is so cool! and i’m sure that birthday cake is EXTRA delicious when you’re 9 months pregnant!
Happy Birthday! I hope this is the best year yet! 😉
Hmm, birthdays used to not mean much to me, however because of my husband, I look forward to it every year now. He takes two weeks off work; I’m a SAHM & our twins are just 3, so it’s a blast. I get breakfast in bed, his family (his sisters are two of my best friends) gets together & makes dinner for me, & even though we don’t do gifts, he always does grand gestures that are so romantic & thoughtful. I just love all the quality family time. 😉
how sweet of him! twins – fun!
Happy Birthday!
I love all birthdays but even more so now that I get to celebrate them with my kids. It is so wonderful to see how excited they are.
For my sweet 16, I got to fly out to LA (I live in TN) and visit my 8-years-older cousin who threw me a pool party. I felt so cool getting to live her swanky lifestyle for a week!
Happy birthday! My favorite birthday was last year. The hubs & I went to the Steamboat Springs, CO wine festival. However, we’re going to Vegas in August for my 30th, so I have a feeling that will be my new favorite birthday!
a wine festival sounds amazing and i’m sure vegas will be incredible for your 30th! so fun!
My favorite birthday was two year ago, as I turned 27. It was my first birthday while dating my (then) boyfriend (now husband). I’m a teacher of a sixth grade classroom. When I got to work, I was called to the office and waiting for me was a dozen roses. Attached to each rose was a separate note. At this point in our relationship we hadn’t shared our true feelings for each other yet, so this was a big deal. I read “I love…how you teach, I love…how you cook. all the way to “I love… You.” Accompanying the roses was a hand beaded picture frame (I later learned it took him hours to spell out my last name with tiny little beads!) The girls in my class ooooed and aaaah over the roses, which made me feel all the more special! The day at school wrapped up beautifully and I met him at his house later that evening. He blindfolded me and drove me to the beach where he had a picnic dinner and candles waiting for me. My final gift was a very generous gift card to my favorite store, Anthropologie, so I could pick out a new leather coat. 🙂 We fell asleep under the stars and accidentally got locked in the park, so we had to curb jump over a large median in a Camry to get out and home.
Needless to say this birthday was incredible and goes down in my history as the best birthday so far.
that is such a great birthday story. thank you so much for sharing!
On my 18th birthday, my parents surprised me with a flying lesson! They asked all of my friends to meet us after for dinner, so as I was landing on the runway, I saw my friends waving and jumping up and down waiting for me. I was in shock the whole night!
oh my gosh! how cool! i think i would freak out if i were flying an airplane! 😉
I am ALL about traditions. My birthday is on Halloween and so growing up it became a tradition to order pizza (to have ample time for trick-or-treating, of course) each year as my birthday dinner. Fast forward to freshman year of college and Halloween rolls around. I remember feeling homesicky and longing to be with my family, eating pizza, and celebrating another year. That evening, one of my best friends nonchalantly came to my dorm room and told me people were meeting in the cafeteria (such a lame birthday!) for dinner before going out. I put on a happy face and acted like the cafeteria was a great option. She led me on a detour, saying we needed to run by another dorm to grab something. Like the obedient best friend I am, I followed in oblivion. Little did I know, a huge group of my sweet friends were crowded into a tiny dorm room, waiting to surprise me! I have never been so shocked! They knew how much I loved my birthday tradition and even ordered pizzas 🙂 BUT the cherry on top of that sweet birthday is that my life long best friend RODE A GREYHOUND BUS (she went to Vanderbilt and cars weren’t allowed there freshman year) to be with me. That 19th birthday was the first year I cried tears of joy! Phenomenal friends, irreplaceable memories, and a birthday pizza! Life is good 🙂
ahh! such a fun story. how sweet of your friends to surprise you and how AWESOME of your best friend to ride a bus to see you! that is love!
I don’t know if I could pick a favorite. So long as I have my friends & family (and some sort of chocolate cake) they are all my favorite. Though I would have to say being kidnapped by friends in high school (17?) and being taken to breakfast in puff-painted clothes was pretty memorable.
woohoo! puff paint!!! 😛
Happy Birthday, birthday twin! (Mine is tomorrow, too!) Tasty looking eats! My most memorable birthday was my 21st – but not for the expected reasons. That summer week, I happened to be at Brigham Young University – a dry Mormon campus in a dry Utah town – for a ballroom dance camp. Didn’t drink a drop. Celebrated my 21st birthday with a day and week full of dancing, which I love, and went out for ice cream on my birthday. An odd but awesome 21st.
grace – happy birthday to you too! hope you had a wonderful day!
Happy birthday!! My favorite birthday memory is when I turned 16 and my parents took me on a trip to New Orleans. It was all about eating delicious food and spending quality time with my parents!
mmm…nola has the best food!
One of my favorite birthdays was when my boyfriend (now husband) set up the dinner table very simply in our apartment’s backyard and ordered our favorite subs from the local pizza joint. It was so fun and surprising!
Happy Birthday! I think my favorite Birthday was my 20th birthday! My mom had the most amazing cake made for my birthday and then I also had an amazing party where ALL of my friends and family were able to attend! I could not ask for a better birthday! 😀
What an awesome giveaway! I love that tank!!
Probably my favorite birthday was my 23rd birthday. My friend, at the time, and I have birthday’s that are 4 days apart so to celebrate we flew out to Vegas. My birthday is right after St. Patrick’s day so there was a whole lotta drinkin’ and eating wings at 3 in the morning. It was so much fun! 🙂
And Happy Birthday!!
SO FUN! i have never been to vegas. i bet it’s a perfect bday celebration spot!
My favorite birthday was definitely my 21st! I was away at school in Boston and got to celebrate it with so many of my favorite friends that all made me feel really special…from what I remember of it 😉
haha!
Happy Birthday! My favorite birthday was my 16th birthday, where my family totally surprised me with a party of all my closest girlfriends : )
Happy Birthday! All of my childhood birthdays were great! The best was probably when I turned 11. We went on a neighborhood scavenger hunt and then ran in the sprinklers at my house.
birthdays were so fun growing up! always a big deal!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 16 and my best friend threw me a surprise bday party that I was SO not expecting!! I LOVE surprise parties!
Happy Birthday Jen! You look gorgeous in your picture!
My favorite birthday was my 21st. Not because of finally being legal, but I remember it as the night all my favorite people were around me. It is rare (since I am always moving) that I get to be around all of my friends at once. But that night they all came together to celebrate with me and it was awesome.
thanks jennifer! hope your travels to dc are going well!
Happy birthday – I hope it’s a wonderful day! My most memorable birthday was just over 2 years ago when I turned 26. My boyfriend (now husband) surprised me when I got home from work with a clean apartment from top to bottom, dinner reservations at our favorite restaurant, and once we got home from dinner he gave me my gift…an engagement ring! I can’t help but joke that with that trifecta he set the bar awfully high for future birthdays 🙂
ahh! best birthday ever! he sure did set the bar high 😉
Happy Birthday!! I think one of my favorite/strange birthdays was when I was 10 years old and ended up spending the birthday evening in the hospital with my family eating cake and getting a cast for a broken arm! I had a bunch of friends over and we decided to make a fort in my bunk bed. Well, someone accidentally pushed me and I fell off the bed and broke my arm. My mom drove me to the hospital and my dad and brother arrived a bit later with my princess birthday cake in tow. Despite the circumstances, it was still a good birthday 🙂
Happy birthday! I found your blog one day when I was looking on the internet for healthy recipes, and I have followed it ever since! My favorite birthday was probably my 30th birthday last year. 30 was a really hard birthday for me to deal with. I think I was having a midlife crises or something! I signed up for a full marathon and completed it, and also ran in the Wasatch back, a Ragnar race in Utah. It was a great birthday year knowing that I accomplished something so big in my life!
janelle – thank you for commenting. i’m happy you found me! 😉
it sounds like you had an amazing 30th year! congratulations on turning it around and finishing a marathon and the other races. incredible!
I spent my 23rd birthday in Paris, and my neighbor/friend there (my family lived there) took me to the restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. The only reason I got to go was that abclient of his canceled at the last minute for dinner and I was the lucky replacement. That was quite a memory!! I also loved a my 10th birthday which was a bowling party.:)
Happy birthday to you! love your blog.
so cool cailin!
and yes, bowling is fun! 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank you for such an inspirational blog! 🙂 My favorite birthday was when I turned 20 and spent with my family while touring San Francisco!
My 10th birthday still comes to mind when I try to think of a favorite. It was the day that I got my ears pierced (SO cool) and my parents gave me my first American GIrl doll – do you remember them? Mine was Kirsten.
Happy Birthday!!! (How great that someone told you that you look 24!)
of course i remember american girls! i used to love them too! i also remember getting my ears pierced. big deal!
My favorite birthday so far is actually my daughter’s 5th birthday. I threw her a fairy garden party and we spent lots of time together making decorations and cookies and planning. It was a lot of fun and so special.
so sweet! 🙂
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was my last one in January. It was my first here in the US. I invited a few people I knew from university (I couldn’t call them “friends” yet – Europeans seem to have another attitude in these terms) for a large pot of homemade sweet potatoe-peanut-soup. It was the first day since I came here that I felt I start to adjust and to settle down! It is all about the people, you know? (and the peanuts ^^)
you can never go wrong with peanuts.
what a fun and unique birthday!
Happy Birthday!
My favorite was last year turning 30. It was the happiest I’d ever been in my life and I celebrated it with my hubby and closest friends.
Happy belated birthday!!!
13 and Paris, I am jealous.
My favorite birthday, is any birthday since my husband and I have been together, his birthday is the day before mine which makes my birthday extra special since I get to celebrate with him.
aw, sweet! my husband is the best at making my birthdays special too!
My favorite birthday memory was definitely my birthdays when I was younger. They always seemed so so special back then!
My favoirte birthdays was my 21st! I spent it in Puerto Rico with my family, nothing better than beautiful beaches and mojitos 😀
mmmm mojitos! haven’t had one yet this summer, i need to remedy that.
Happy birthday Jen!
My favorite birthday was my special day this year -25 years. All my favorite friends came in from out of town to celebrate.
My favorite was my 26 in Thailand!
Happppy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 13 and my parents rented out the pool for the night for me and all of my friends
nice! since i’m a summer baby i had many pool parties at the neighborhood pool growing up. fun!
My favorite birthday was last year when I turned 40! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Jen! Cute dress!
What an awesome giveaway! My favorite birthday was when I turned 26. My husband threw me a surprise party that I completely didn’t see coming…at all! I’m pretty hard to surprise so I was stunned to see all my friends and family gathered in 1 room wishing me a happy birthday! I was so touched and in shock! It was a great night 🙂
thanks kristy!
that’s awesome! i’ve never had a surprise party. i bet it was so much fun!
My favorite birthday was my 16th… My parents threw the most beautiful Sweet 16 birthday party for me! Happy birthday, PB Runner! Hope you have the best day!
thank you jennie! it was a wonderful day! 🙂
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday would have to be 16th one- I got to spend it with my grandparents who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary… and I saw snow for the first time! =)
soooo sweet!
Favorite birthday = 21! Spent it whitewater canoeing on a NOLS course in Alaska. Unconventional for a 21st birthday but adventuresome and true to myself, nonetheless. Oh, and someone packed an inflatable Orca whale for me to tow behind my birthday canoe. It’s the little things.
Happy Birthday to you!
i think that sounds so cool. i always thought that those NOLS trips sounded awesome.
My favorite birthday…hmmm… is it bad that I don’t really have one?? I tend to keep my birthdays low key, spent with my husband and family. I love all of them because they are simple, which is what I like!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Jen!
My favorite birthday was 12 – first pool party with our new inground pool. I was the cool kid in school just for that week, which is of course a 12 yr old’s dream.
Happy birthday! My birthdays are pretty low key. My birthday is in the middle of January when I’m still recovering from Christmas gluttony, so I never want to do anything big. The first year I was married and couldn’t be with my parents for my birthday, my mom got someone in my new town to make me a cake using her recipe–that was sweet!
aw, that’s so sweet of your mom!
My favorite birthday was probably my 17th when my parents gave both my brother and I (we have close birthdays) tickets for a cruise! We went over spring break with the whole family and it was such a great memory.
Happy birthday! One year I flew to Hawaii on my birthday and had a picnic on the beach. The time change added another 6 hours to my day so it was the longest birthday ever!!
nice!!!!
My favorite birthday was my 21st & not just because of the obvious. Since my birthday is late May, I couldn’t celebrate on my actual birthday with my college friends so they threw me a surprise birthday party a month earlier. It was so sweet, & I was really surprised!
Happy Birthday!!!
Turning 18 and getting whipped creamed by my friends!
Happy, happy Birthday! My favorite birthday was my last one. I turned 26 the day after I got married in Mexico. I got to spend my birthday surrounded by my new husband and closest friends and family in paradise. It was absolutely perfect!
that does sound perfect!
Happy birthday!!!
One of my favorite birthdays was my 16th when my parents surprised me with a car 🙂
YES!!! that was a good one for me too!
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was turning 6 and I had a Strawberry Shortcake birthday theme. My mom made a strawberry shortcake cake (from the shaped pan). I don’t really remember it much but I can look at the pictures and see the smile on my face. I also know that it was a lot of work and time for a single mother of 4 to put together. You suddenly value things a lot more when you have your own kids (and realize what effort/cost goes into themed parties).
whoa – blast from the past! so fun!
and i totally hear you on appreciating all the things that our parents did for us.
Wow! What a generous giveaway! And, you don’t look 28 at all. You age very well, Jen. 🙂
My favorite birthday was my tenth birthday when I FINALLY got a kitten of my very own. I was SO excited. 🙂
thank you katie! 😉
a kitten is a fun birthday present!
I think my favorite birthday would be my 16th birthday. It was my first party where I had boys and girls (maybe I’m a late bloomer with that?) but it was just lots of fun. We just all hung out at my house but sometimes it’s the simple parties that are the best.
Happy Birthday!!
My favorite birthday was my 28th (? – I’m so old I lose track of what happened which year). I was living in Boone/Blowing Rock and had just met Joe. He fixed dinner and had baked me a 2-layer chocolate cake (!!!!!) which we consumed amongst many of my closest friends…then we all went out and the night ended in the Twigs parking lot with duct tape and whipped cream and lots of my favorite people. Yeah. Interesting night. But SO fun.
sounds awesome! 🙂
Happy Birthday! My favorite bithday was my 24th, my boyfriend at the time and I shared our birthday and we threw a huge party with all of our friends. It was fun to share my bday with someone I cared about.
my favorite birthday was definitely my 25th, when my boyfriend (now fiance!) gave me a beautiful david yurman necklace-the best piece of jewelry i had ever owned! but now i have a diamond 🙂 haha
nice! happy engagement! 🙂
My first married birthday was the best simply b/c my husband tried to do little things throughout the day for me… Like having my favorite breakfast waiting for me after my morning workout (homemadee pumpkin pancakes!) he didn’t grow up in a family that had big birthday celebrations so it was neat to see the little things all day.
Happy birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday!!! I would loveeee to try out one of those tanks! I would go with this past year’s birthday when I got to spend it with my bf 🙂
Happy Birthday Jen!! I share my birthday with my mom. Now that I am older and we live in different states my favorite birthdays are when we get to celebrate together.
oh that’s so cool that you share a birthday! i’m sure it is special when you get to celebrate together!
Happy Birthday!! Birthdays are such a big deal in our family!! My birthday is right around Christmastime. On my 20th birthday, my family was in New York for vacation and just happened to be there on my birthday, so I got to pick what we did for my birthday. We spent the morning ice skating in central park, ate lunch at tavern on the green, had dessert at Macy’s and finished the evening with the Rockettes show! What an amazing day!!
that does sound amazing. i am dying to visit NYC during the holidays.
Turning 21…that is everyone’s real favorite birthday!
My favorite birthday was the one I just had! I turned 26 in May and my boyfriend surprised me by having my entire family and some friends meet at a restaurant in Philadelphia where we live – I had noooo idea! I felt very loved that night 🙂
Happy Birthday Jen! My favorite birthday was my 18th. It was spent in Belize with my two older siblings. They surprised me with a cruise vacation as a HS graduation present and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken!
what an incredible graduation present! how fun that you were on it during your birthday!
I think one of my favorite birthdays was when I turned 10 – my mom wrapped 10 presents of ten things.. think headbands, quarters, socks, etc.. It was so fun to go through those packages. I love my mom!
Happy Birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday Jen! I triple heart my birthday every year but my 21 was pretty great. I turned 21 on spring break in Panama City Beach (amazing), and then came home to my boyfriend who surprised me with great seats at a Red Sox game. My birthday is the day before St. Patty’s day so I like to milk my special time as long as I can.
My most memorable birthday was my 16th birthday- my mom gave me 16 different wrapped gifts and pink glittery roses. I just remember being so excited to drive! Funny thing- I almost got in a car accident that day lol opps!
yeah, i’m not 100% convinced that 16 year olds should be on the road! 😉
fun birthday!
My 22nd birthday was very memorable to me. It fell on Easter weekend so us kids (my brother, myself, my fiance at the time, his brother and sister-in-law) were all home for the holiday weekend. We all got together along with both my parents and my fiance’s parents, my grandmother, and my aunt from out of town. We all had an Easter meal together then celebrated with birthday cake from the cake lady that was going to be making our wedding cake just a few short months later. I loved having all of my family and my soon-to-be family together. Now that we all live so far away I doubt I will have that big of a family gathering for my birthday again and will be a memory I will always cherish and be grateful for! Happy Birthday, Jen!
My favorite birthday was a surprise party with my best friend who has a birthday in the same month!!
This year for my birthday I saw Glee Live, and it was great!
My favorite birthday was my 21st! My core group of best friends from college consists of 12 girls. Even now, at 32, we still get together for an annual beach trip. When we were in college, we decided that we would all put in a certain amount of money and purchase the same diamond band ring that we would each receive at our 21st birthday dinner. To this day, all 12 of us still wear the ring on our right ring finger. I share a birthday with one of the other girls and we just had an absolute ball at our birthday dinner. Mexican food and margaritas! The restaurant takes a polaroid of the “birthday person” when they bring you a birthday tequila shot…the picture is priceless…all 12 of us with the birthday girls in sombreros. It was my most favorite birthday ever!
i love the ring idea. how cool! it’s really special that you are all still close friends and have so much fun together!
This year for the b day I saw glee, it was amazing!!
My favorite birthday was my 21st! It was the first “real” birthday party I had. Past birthdays have included staying up all night to finish papers and study. My friends all got together and decorated my apartment with funny pictures of us. I had just gotten back from studying abroad in Spain, so we went to a tapas bar for dinner. It was so nice to have all of my friends with me!
Happy Birthday! I would have to say my favorite birthday was my 13th! My mom took me to get glamour shots 🙂
ahhh glamour shots! i remember those!
One of my favorite birthday’s was this year when my friends spent all day baking different baked goods that they gave me throughout the day. It was so sweet that they baked for me even though they had so much other work to do!
P.S. I bought those Lulemon running shorts you recommended the other day, and I love them! They make me feel extra speedy :).
glad you love the shorts…and feel extra speedy! 😉
My favorite birthday was going to visit my sister in Pittsburgh last year for my 29th birthday(she lives 6 hours away so I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like) we had girls weekend- shopping, eating sushi, trying new beers, hiking, and getting Rita’s. It was so nice to spend sister-time and we enjoyed every moment together!
Happy Birthday, Jen!! I hope you have an awesome day today! One of my favorite birthdays was my 28th. I spent it in NYC over 4th of July weekend (since my bday is on July 3). My husband and I were with my two best friends and their husbands. We spent that evening at my favorite karaoke bar and it was such a blast!
My favorite birthday was probably my most recent (25!). It fell on a Friday so all my friends and I went out to dinner to celebrate, and I had wayyyy to much wine with my girlfriends. Which was evidenced by the fact that when I woke up the next morning, I had a receipt in my pocket for a pimento cheese sandwich that I’d purchased at 1:56 AM (according to the timestamp on my receipt). Gotta love celebrating birthdays in the South :)!
Have a great birthday, Jen!
hahahaha – love it!
Happy birthday, Jen! My favorite birthday would have to be my 21st birthday. My sister came from Savannah and my brother and sister-in-law came from Cartersville to spend the day/night with me in Athens. We all went to dinner and met my friends downtown afterwards. It was so much fun!
that sounds like a perfect 21st carrie!
Happy birthday!
thanks matt – if you win i’ll find something manly to give you! 😉
I would say my fav birthday to date would be my 25th and most recent.
My family from alaska came to visit me in NY and spend my birthday week with me. They took me to the city to see wicked and out to sushi to celebrate!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
wow! that’s so cool that they traveled to be with you. sounds like a fun night!
Hi Jen, this is my first time posting on your blog. I just wanted to let you know how much I love reading it! I’m new to blogs and I am totally hooked. Thank you for sharing about your life, its very inspiring. As far as my favorite birthday, I can’t really choose. All of my birthdays are my favorite since I am so blessed to have my family and friends to celebrate my life with every year. I hope you had a great birthday!
colleen – thank you so much for your comment. it really means a lot to me to hear that people are enjoying my blog.
it was a wonderful day!
happy early birthday!! my 16th birthday is pretty memorable because it was my “golden birthday” as well. my mom bought me a nechlace that i still wear to this day!
My favorite birthday was my 13th birthday–I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary but that year was such a milestone for me!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I don’t know if I had my favorite birthday in particular, but when I was younger my parents would decorate a birthday chair for my sister and my birthday’s.. this was an all day thing. It would be decorated in the morning and stay like that allll day. We would also be able to have special birthday dinner of our choice! It really made me love birthdays and now birthdays just don’t feel as special as a result.
Also since my birthday was in the winter (and the rest of my family had their birthdays during the summer, and my sister was always able to have cool pool parties!– I was stuck at the skate rink), one year I had my birthday party during the summer. everyone was a bit confused but I didnt care!
what a fun birthday tradition!
Hi! I can’t pick a favorite because all of my birthdays have been so special because I have been blessed with a loving family and amazing husband! But every birthday is extremely special because my brother was born a day before my first birthday so we always celebrate our bithdays together (and have been for 24 years now)…and he loves that we’re the same age for one day. I love him and he makes my birthdays fabulous 🙂
fun that you get to celebrate together!
Happy, happy birthday! I have a summer birthday as well, and growing up it was always just perfect for a pool party! Hope you have a great day!
My favorite birthday was this past one (turning 28). The year prior was extremely challenging as I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in January of 2010. I made the hard decision to go through with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemo before surgery). After 4 months of chemotherapy, I had a right mastectomy and reconstruction. This was such a challenging time in my life. Running, yoga, and healthy eating were instrumental in getting me back to being healthy (in addition to support from family and friends!). My 28th birthday this past MAarch I was cancer-free!!!!! I am back into marathon training now and I love reading your blog for inspiration and healthy recipes.
Happy Birthday!!!
caroline – congratulations on being CANCER FREE!!!
thank you so much for your comment and sharing your story. inspirational!!!!!!
My 10th birthday my parents gave me a puzzle of Disney world. I didn’t get it at first but the I got I new travel bag, sunscreen, etc and finally plane tickets to orlando. My aunt lived there but i had never been and I was so excited. I had never been on a plane before and I went by myself. I was so scared but felt so grown up.
Happy birthday!
oh fun!
Happy Birthday! The year I turned 25, my now-husband took me out to dinner and a play. What I didn’t know was that he had plans to take me to an overlook so we could see the Pittsburgh city lights, and he asked me to marry him. It was the best birthday ever 🙂
i don’t think anything can top getting engaged on your birthday…except maybe getting married or having a baby!!!!!
My favorite birthday was my 30th! I’m from Mississippi and my husband sent myself, my mom, his mom (whom I love dearly) and my best girlfriend to NYC for 5 days!!! We shopped, ate, hit up comedy clubs and had the best girls trip ever!!! I don’t think he realized how stressed he’d be sending all the women he loved best on a trip to a crazy city, all together! Needless to say, he was glad that we all arrived home safely!!! It was the BEST!
go husband!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday! My birthday’s actually on Saturday – Geminis rock! 🙂
My favorite birthday was last year – my 25th. It ended up being my surprise bridal shower and it was the best birthday I’ve ever had because I had so many friends and family around for it as a result of it being my shower as well. I felt so much love that weekend!
yes! i love being a Gemini!
One of my favorite birthday was 3 years ago when i was backpacker Thailand. It was my first time celebrating it in the summer weather. (My birthday Is in January.) Everything seems so much better when it’s warm outside!
agreed! i love warm weather. i am glad i have a summer birthday.
cool that you spent your bday in thailand!
23 was my favorite birthday because my best friend threw me a surprise luau party complete with kosher food (I’m not Jewish but he is), a kosher cake, and a 6-foot light-up palm tree (picture that in a Boston apartment!). He wore a grass skirt and coconut bra all night, making a fool of himself in front of about 15 of my friends, many of whom he had just met! What a guy!
One of my favorite birthdays was when I turned 25. My friends had a surprise party for me
Happy birthday!
One of my favorite birthdays was my 29th. I got married 3 days before my birthday, so I spent that birthday on the beach for our honeymoon.
Happy Birthday Jen! Hope you have a wonderful day, thanks so much for being your true, honest self day in and day out…you’re truly inspiring! My favorite birthday was actually this past one, my 24th! I was diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy 4 days before my birthday…my son (at the time he was 22 months) decided he wanted to get me something extra special for my birthday and to cheer me up. My husband took him to the store and told him to pick what he wanted to get me. He came home and begged me to open the present…he had gotten me a Hot Wheels convertible car, he thought it was the most amazing gift in the world! He told me that it was for when my feet hurt (one of the side effects of the neuropathy), so I could drive instead of walk/run. How sweet was that!
Hope your days is filled with many wonderful things!
oh soooo sweet!
thank you for reading and sharing your story!
Favorite birthday so far was my 28th one – when I got engaged! 🙂 Happy Birthday to you!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!
My 16th birthday was awesome because my parents surprised me with a lua(?) party. Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was actually this year. Normally every year on my birthday, we are out of town for work. However, this year we got to stay in town. We spent the morning with friends, the entire afternoon shopping, and then went out to dinner for where I indulged on drinks and oysters (one of my favorite foods)…it was so relaxed and enjoyable!
mmm i love oysters too!
Happy Birthday! I love reading your blog!
My favorite birthday was my 21st (and not for the obvious reasons!). My long distance boyfriend had gotten a job and was able to move to my college town (go ga bulldogs!) for the summer so we got to celebrate it together!
happy birthday!!
my favorite birthday was my 18th birthday. i was born on my grandparents wedding anniversary, so my 18th birthday was also their 50th anniversary. my parents had a big party for me and my friends, and my grandparents and their friends to celebrate the occasions. it was a lot of fun and cute to see the young people having fun with the old people 🙂
that is SO cool! what an amazing celebration of life and love!
My favorite birthday was my 23rd birthday. I had my daughter one week to the day before that birthday and it was just so special to me.
Happy Birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday Jen – I hope you have a wonderful day! One of my most memorable birthdays was 28 (in 2008). My birthday is in August and I had just made the move from Boston to Charlottesville to start business school later that month. Through various online message boards affiliated with the school, it came out that two other classmates shared my exact birthday, so we decided to throw a “birthday trifecta” party and invite all 330 members of our class – most of whom we hadn’t met yet as this was before orientation and classes starting. Over 100 of our classmates attended the party and I never thought I would have such a blast celebrating my birthday with a few new friends that I had made in the week or so since arriving in C-ville plus a whole lot of strangers! After struggling through two years of business school together, those “strangers” have become some of my closest friends in the world, and I love looking back on pictures from my 28th birthday. The fun we had that night really set the tone for our next two years in business school.
what a great idea and a fun way to bring everyone together!
Happy Birthday PBR!
I’d have to say my favorite was 31st birthday. I had run my very first marathon 2 days prior and was basking in the glory of not only running a marathon for my birthday, but having a fantastic race and finish time too!!
a close 2nd is my 30th birthday spent in Vegas w/ my mom, mother in-law and sister in-law.
awesome! i’d have to say that finishing your first marathon is a pretty great birthday present to yourself!
My favorite birthday had to be this last one on May 15th! I ran my second half marathon and PR’d (1:54)! Afterwards my husband and best friend took me to my favorite French cafe in downtown Omaha (Nebraska…I know) and we had wine and little appetizers on the patio. So lovely!
awesome! congrats on your half marathon pr! 🙂
I can’t remember the “number” I was turning, but me and and my Pawpaw (grandfather) had a joint birthday bast in Ocean Isle Beach. We cooked a pig, even had a keg and my friends AND family were all there. Too bad his friends got more rowdy than mine. haha. I love that my birthday falls very close to Labor Day so I’m able to extend the celebrations a day or two longer. 🙂
Happppppppppppy Birthday!!!!!!!!!
Happy birthday!! I think my favorite birthday was my 16th when my grandparents threw a big party for me and about 20 of my friends at a really good Italian restaurant.
Definitely my 24th! I was finally adjusting to life in Charlotte after moving from KY and had a group of 10 girls togethernfor a fabulous dinner at Sole ( which is now closed booooo) and lots of sangria! Fun times! Happy birthday to you!
i agree! boo that sole closed!
thanks for the comment emilie!
My favorite birthday was 2 years ago. All my birthdays are special because I get to spend them with family. The one 2 years ago was the last one that I got to spend with my daddy so it will always be special.
Happy birthday! When I was 16 my mom and best friend threw a surprise party for me. That is one of my favorite birthdays bc of the party and then the next day I got to get my drivers permit!
Happy Birthday! My favorite birthday was when I was 7, and my birthday party was a girls trip to get our nails and hair done!! That was such a big deal at 7! I had the best mom and the most creative birthdays!
Happy Birthday! I hope Brandon and Sullie spoil you and you have a wonderful relaxing day.
I love love love these lululemon tanks, and also your peanut butter bars, it’s definitely the Best giveaway. maybe it will be my lucky day 🙂
My best birthday was in college, I had some girls bullying me about celebrating someone else’s birthday instead, and I was so upset, and my parents went to tiffanys and overnighted me a necklace to remind me it was my birthday too! It was a wonderful treat, and they were so thoughtful, even when I was far from home.
nice!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday from a fellow Bulldog!
As for favorite birthdays go, it’s a pretty strong tie between my 19th and 20th, both of which were spent in Athens…but I think my 19th was the best, just because it was my last year as a teenager. My sorority sisters did a fantastic job of surprising me with poster-board cards and taking me to Transmet for dinner before we scrambled across town to get to ‘Dear John’ on time. There, I sat next to a hilarious middle-aged man who kept wishing me Happy Birthday and making silly jokes throughout the film (I mean, I couldn’t even take that movie seriously). The night ended at Caledonia Lounge where my boyfriend’s old band was playing (he wasn’t my boyfriend then) and stopped in the middle of his set to get the crowd to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. So it’s safe to say my 19th was my favorite…so far.
Hope you have a wonderful, wonderful day tomorrow!
thanks christian! always LOVE hearing from fellow UGA grads! i especially love your athens birthday stories. good memories! 🙂
love caledonia lounge!
Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a great day! 🙂
My fave birthday so far was last year- my 34th. I participated in a big local relay race called Market to Market- 86 miles total, 7 person team. It was one of the coolest and hardest things i’ve ever done! And the best part was that my twin sis was one of my teammates- such a great thing to do together on our birthday!
that’s awesome! i would love to run a fun race on my birthday. hopefully i can next time it falls on a saturday!
Happy Birthday! Hope your day is great, just like you.
As for favorite birthday, I love them all. I celebrate for a whole month ha ha BUT when I was younger, I LOVED rollerskating parties and hope to do that for my 40th next April.
i went to MANY, MANY rollerskating parties growing up too! 🙂
My very favorite birthday happened two weeks after I met Brad. We were pretty serious right at the get-go so he flew me down to Tampa, where he was living. He wined and dined me the whole weekend, made me French toast with strawberries, we sunned on the beach all day, went to the best tapas restaurant of my life, and the nicest brunch of my life overlooking the bay. It was incredible and definitely one I will never forget.
I hope you have such a wonderful birthday, Jen! Welcome to 28! 🙂
kelly – that is so sweet! what a perfect day!
Happy Birthday, Jen! I absolutely love your blog. I discovered it a few weeks back and it’s been my new favorite morning read ever since. I’ve happily incorporated overnight oats into my diet and am thrilled to have a summer oatmeal option. I’m also so inspired by your workout schedule, it’s definitely helping me challenge myself during my workouts.
So now to your actual question- I think my favorite birthday was my 21st. I had a huge elegant dinner with my close girlfriends, it was a blast. Lastly, you look gorgeous in that dress!
thank you so much clara! i’m happy that you found me and discovered overnight oats! 😛
Happy Birthday! My favorite birthday has to be my most recent when I turned 27. My fiance bought me a dog that I had previously fallen in love with and we spent the night at home playing with the new pup, drinking champagne and eating pad thai.
yay puppies!!! and champagne! 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 13th as well. We went to Chi-Chi’s and I got to wear the big sombrero. It was also my last birthday with my dad!
Happy Birthday Jen! My favorite birthday would probably be my 26th. I had just gotten engaged and my family came up to celebrate and wedding dress shop. It was such a happy time!!
My favorite birthday was definitely my 20th. I took a trip to NYC with my mom and brother and we saw “Moving Out” and “The Boy from Oz” with Hugh Jackman. Since I am obsessed with Billy Joel and Hugh Jackman…it was really just fabulous.
Happy Birthday babe! Love you so much!! xoxox
Happy birthday, Jen! I hope this year brings you everything you dream of 🙂
My favorite birthday was turning 18. Two of my BFFs birthdays are the day before and day after mine so we just did a bunch of crazy things with all our friends one weekend to celebrate. It definitely involved getting tattoos and eating way too much cake!
thanks jen, i hope it brings great things too! 😉
tatoos!!!! how fun!
Happy Birthday! Nothing like a fun LuluLemon giveaway to inspire me to post a comment! 😉
My favorite birthday memory may be my 13th. My mom organized a surprise party for me. All my friends were there. I got a new outfit to wear – red & white striped top with white parachute-like pants, to go with my new perm. Dreadful!
Although my 36th birthday back in April when I completed my first 5k with my husband & friends as part of my new company’s team (Charlotte Fitness) wasn’t too shabby either!
not dreadful, truly awesome! i bet the pictures are great! 😉
Happy birthday! My favorite was this year (32)! Just a little less than a month ago on my birthday, I found out we were having a baby boy. Most importantly, we saw on the ultrasound it appears to be a healthy baby, which was the best birthday present ever. I baked blue cake pops all afternoon. Then my husband organized a party for our friends at Big Daddy’s to celebrate replete with ice cream cake and cupcakes. I hope this is your best birthday yet too.
that is AWESOME! congratulations on your pregnancy!!!
My 18th – I went to a concert and just had the best time. Happy Birthday!!!
Happy, happy birthday Jen! I just celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago and it was one of my favorites. My husband surprised me with a day trip to Chicago. We leisurely strolled through cool neighborhoods, checked out unique shops, enjoyed a beer on a patio and tried a new to us vegitarian restaurant. We capped off the night with my first experience at a self serve fro yo place. It was pure bliss!
that sounds like my perfect day! i love wandering around cool cities. and yum to your first fro-yo experience! 🙂
Happy Birthday Jen!
My favorite birthday memory is my 20th birthday. It was a weekend long celebration with great friends and three different parties!
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a fantabulous day.
I would have to say that my favorite birthday was my 16th. I had just started dating this wonderful boy and he gave me the most beautiful ring that I wear to this day, and his love. Five years later we’re still together. <3
bonus points for the use of fantabulous!
and what a sweet story!
Have a wonderful day, and make it especially relaxing. This past May my honey took me on a dinner cruise on Lake Norman. He knows I love anything water related. It was a unique experience and so peaceful.
Hmm…I would have to say my 16th birthday when my mom picked me up from school to go get my drivers license and our mini van said “Look who’s driving now!”. Slightly embarassing when you’re 16 at high school, but looking back now, it was perfect. 🙂
hahahaha – this is AWESOME!
Happy Birthday!!!!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 4! My family and my best friend’s family (we were born a day apart and have been BFFs since birth) took us to Disney World for a week and I remember us having a joint luai birthday party (we stayed at the Polynesian)! It became a tradition and we went every year growing up.
I absolutely LOVE your sundress! I’ve been looking for something similar like that to wear to my bridal shower in July:) A very happy birthday to you Jen!
My favorite birthday thus far was my 21st! My long-distance boyfriend I had met while going to school in Lynchburg, VA flew out to see me in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for my birthday week. After 2 years of dating and flying back and forth visiting across the country to visit, he proposed! I had not a clue he had already asked my dad for my hand in marriage. I am marrying my best friend this August 20th in Temecula, California!
funny – i got the dress several years ago at anthropologie to wear to my bridesmaids brunch!
congratulations on your enagagement!!!!!
Happy Birthday Jen!
My favorite birthday was probably when I turned 20. It was the first time I was living in an apartment with all my girlfriends and it was the first time I was comfortable with who I was. Then my parents came to surprise me with a hello kitty themed birthday dinner (I’m still obsessed with Hello Kitty, even though that probably sounds a little lame). We went to my favorite restaurant in Columbus and had a Hello Kitty quiz, gift favors, and cake.
Hope your birthday is just as good as my 20th was!!
i don’t think that’s lame at all! 🙂
fun birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
My favorite birthday was when I went back home to San Diego, I hadn’t seen my parents or any of my family in about 7 months. It was sooo hard for me during that time. When I landed my parents took me out to dinner. Little did I know it was to kill sometime. We were heading home and my mom asked if I wanted to stop by my aunts house to say hi. “Sure, why not!” as I walked in through the door everyone yelled “surprise”!!! My WHOLE family was there!! Not only was that my FIRST surprise bday party ever, I got to see my entire family I missed so much! Best bday ever 🙂
oh that’s so sweet of your parents!
My favorite birthday memory would be when I turned 25 and spent the early morning hours and the rest of the day in London. I worked a flight from the east coast to London, turned 25 somewhere in the air, landed and was able to sight-see in London the rest of the day.
The following year it happened again! Considering I never had a “schedule” it was pure coincidence that it happened on my birthday.
My favorite birthday was my last – 27! I spent it with my immediate family having a quiet dinner filled nummy food, delicious wine, and lots of laughter going down memory lane! Have a wonderful day!!!
My favorite birthday was the first year I was a mother. I took the day off and spent it with my son… talking a walk and just enjoying his company. I will always remember it.
so sweet and memorable. big milestone!
My favorite birthday ever would probably be my 26th because it was the last one I got to spend with both my Grandparents. I lost them both (one year apart) last year and loved them very much. I am a twin and we always had our birthday cookout at their house for as long as I can remember. I sat on the porch and talked to Gramp’s and Gram’s for a while about politics, love, and life. I have no idea what presents I got that year but i’ll never forget spending that time with my grandparents.
by the way, I am turning 28 in less than a month, WE ARE ALMOST 30 YIKES!!!
first, thank you so much for sharing that story. it is really touching. fun that you are a twin!
second, don’t remind me about 30! eek!
My favorite birthday would probably be turning 30 a couple years ago. My husband organized 20 of my closest friends to go up to Santa Barbara for a day of wine tasting. It was a blast!
(Also – great choice for the giveaway…I looooove the Cool Racerback Tank!)
sounds so fun! i love wine tasting!
Happy Birthday Jen! One of my favorite birthdays was probably my 16th. My parents did a huge bbq outside for all my friends and my mom truly outdid herself with decorations (she’s a mini martha stewart!). The icing on the cake? A black vw bug convertible with a huge pink bow on top!
Hope your birthday is wonderful! 🙂
SUCH a cute cake idea!
Happy Birthday Jen!! Hope it’s a great one!
My fav birthday was my 21st. I had just studied abroad in Australia for the semester and finished out my time there with a trip to Fiji with friends on my 21st. It was such a great time and a great way to end my semester. I doubt I’ll be going to Fiji again…at least on someone else’s dime 🙂
uh….fiji for your birthday pretty much sounds like a dream come true!
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Second of all, I love your blog. So creative and inspiring and beautiful, both the blog and you.
Thirdly, my favorite birthday was this past year. My sister surprised me by getting together all of my closest friends for a brunch, and then we later shopped and went to a movie. It was perfection.
Enjoy your day!
hanna – thank you for the kind words! 🙂
Happy Birthday! (This is my first time commenting on your blog, but birthdays are a great reason to step into commenting!) How great that you were asked if you were 24 – that’s awesome! I think one of my favorite birthdays was when I was younger – maybe 5 or 6 and my Grandpa and I used to fight over who’s birthday it was – I was lucky enough to share my birthday with him. And since we shared birthday’s on St. Patrick’s Day, his gift to me every year was the downtown parade! Or so I thought….
caitlin – thank you so much for commenting! love, love hearing from readers!
I think my favorite birthday is a tie between my 13th birthday and my 22nd. My 13th wasn’t exactly the best at the time, but looking back on it is pretty funny. My parents took me and my 2 best friends to my favorite steakhouse (the one where you can eat peanuts from buckets and throw the shells on the floor). I was outside in the backyard telling my dad, who was working in the garden, that we were getting ready to leave. As i’m running towards him, I step on a rake and the handle flies up and smashes into my face (just like in cartoons). I had a huge black eye for a couple weeks and had to explain to the (cute) waiter at the steakhouse why I was sitting with my hand over my eye the entire dinner haha.
My 22nd birthday was just awesome bc my best friend scored us FRONT ROW tickets to see the one and only love of my life, Justin Timberlake!! I’m pretty sure he sang to me and only me the entire concert!
OH NO!!! to the 13th!!!!
and SO fun to the 22nd! 😀
Happy Birthday, Jen!
My favorite birthday was my 17th birthday – I was studying abroad in Spain, and my best friends planned a surprise birthday party for me – they even “kidnapped” me at my host family’s house, took me to dinner, and hosted a party at my favorite bar! Nothing like being around friends on your special day.
I hope the rest of your day is amazing! Great seeing you at Y2 this morning 🙂
a birthday is spain with friends sounds pretty awesome!
happy birthday!!!!!! my fav bday was my 21st – my parents took me to vegas and when we got there both sets of grandparents were there as a surprise! so fun 🙂
my husband went to vegas for his 21st too!
Happy birthday!!!! My favorite birthday was my 21st… cliche but so fun 🙂
I would have to say my 30th, a surprise trip to Savannah with thanks to my sweet hubby! Happy birthday!!!
First off, happy birthday!!!
My favorite birthday memory is when i turned 22, my whole family (of 8) went to Newport and chartered a sailboat. It was a perfect day with my favorite people.
Happy birthday! I hope it’s fabulous!
My fave birthday was, oh geez, maybe 26. My husband got me the entire “Sex and the City” series on DVD and it was the last time I made a big deal of my birthday.
P.S. I love your dress!
It didn’t happen on my actual birthday, but when I was in college and studying in Paris, my hubby (then boyfriend) surprised me by randomly showing up at my hotel and staying for a long weekend. He’s such a great birthday celebrator… we celebrate birthdays the entire birthday week.
My favorite birthday was my 4th birthday. My Grandma was having surgery and couldn’t be at my party so she surprised me by sending over a clown. Happy Birthday!
Probably 13 as well! We hired a DJ and had a dance in my basement, it was so amazingly awkward and hilarious. I broke my arm right before the party and I remember distinctly wearing jean shorts and a white t-shirt and that was my “amazing” outfit. HAAA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
XOXO
S
oh the awkwardness of being 13! 😉 love it!
Happy Birthday!
My fav birthday was just this past Dec because we got our basset hound Marty 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 10th – I had a huge party/sleepover planned but I wound up with a terrible case of poison ivy! I was miserable, but my friends came over anyway and made me feel better. It was definitely the most memorable!
I LOVE LULU!!!
My favorite birthday was my 18th! My family, my boyfriend at the time and my best friends went out to dinner at this really nice italian restaurant and the pizza oven in casual part of the restaurant downstairs caught on fire. We had to evacuate the restaurant just as our dinner was being served. The firetrucks blocked the exit of the parking lot so we celebrated with the firefighters downstairs. Once everything was ok, we were allowed to get out belongings from the restaurant and took home our food in to-go boxes. We celebrated at my house with our reheating food. While things did not go according to plan, it was still one of the most memorable birthdays ever! And I have photos with the firefighters to prove it!!
oh my gosh!!!!!! i’ll bet that is memorable!
I think my favorite birthday was when I turned 22 in college, my two best friends and I flew to Vegas to celebrate (had to wait for them to turn 21 first!!). It was a blast, we still talk about it 5 years later!
Happy Birthday!!!
My favorite birthday was this past year…spent at the beach and a Red Sox spring training game!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 18. All my friends suprised me with a big party!! It was something I never expected. 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 29th when my boyfriend bought me a day at the spa and took me out to my favorite restaurant.
My favorite birthday was my most recent one when I turned 23! We had a big group dinner at my favorite restaurant here in Charleston! 🙂
i LOVE charleston!
Hi Jenn!
Happy Birthday!! You do not look 28 at all!! I would have to say my favorite birthday was my 20th birthday because I had been bummed that my dad would not get to celebrate with me. (i’ve always celebrated with my parents,even in college, they would drive the 2 hours just to have dinner or lunch with me)This would be because he would still be in Afghanistan. I felt selfish because there are so many children who never get to see their mom/dad again after they go to iraq/afghanistan but as my luck would have it my dad was able to come home and surprise me for my birthday and stay for 2 weeks. It truly was a special birthday I will never forget 🙂 Hope you have a great one!!p.s. sully is by far the cutest golden ever
lainey – that is such a sweet story about your dad. thank you for sharing it!
and sullie says thank you! 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 30th, when I had a special birthday dinner with all my favorite people (friends and family). Perfect!
Happy Birthday!!!
My birthday has always been a bit disappointing for me – It’s on December 30th, so no one is ever around (my boyfriend has been away with his family on my birthday for the past two years!) I never got to celebrate with my friends while i was in college because we were out on vacation, nobody wants to have a real party the night before new years eve…
But because I’ve always been a bit down about the date of my birthday and the lack of friends around me, I don’t normally plan anything big on the day of – maybe a small dinner party, but nothing more than that. Two years ago, for my 23rd birthday, though, my boyfriend (who would be leaving on a vacation with his family a few days before my birthday and wouldn’t be around the day of) surprised me with “emily day” about a week before my actual birthday. He woke me up with gifts and breakfast in bed and I got to choose what I wanted to do all day. We walked around New York City and had a great day, and then went out to a fabulous birthday dinner. It was my best non-birthday ever 🙂
love that idea! i do always feel bad for people with bdays right around the holidays 🙁
Happy Birthday!! You look beautiful and happy; I hope your birthday is relaxing and fun! I have two favorite birthdays: When I turned 13, we lived out in the country. I took a walk with my mom, and we discovered a birds nest with brand new babies 🙂 Last year (my 26th), I was 37 weeks pregnant. My sister left her son and hubby at home and came down to hang out with us. We went with my hubby out to Italian, shopping at Target, and came home for dessert and “Emperor’s New Groove”. It was a blast! It definitely made up for the last years birthday, when I sprained my ankle so badly while running I could barely hobble around; an my birthday gift was a Garmin 405, too! I just measured distances around my house 😉 I’m so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life to celebrate with!
Happy happy birthday!
My favorite birthday was last year–my 30th. My family and friends showered me with SO much love and affection…I didn’t mind getting older and passing that milestone one bit!
My favorite birthday was my 29th—last year—just a low-key cookout with good friends. It was great! I’m a low-key birthday kind of girl.
Happy happy birthday to YOU! Wishing you the best year yet.
my 21st birthday 🙂 my whole family flew in and took me and my friends out to an amazing dinner. that weekend is one that I will never forget! It was also the first time my parents got to meet my current boyfriend
My one and only surprise birthday was my 16th. Friends and family gathered at our lakehouse to surprise me and my best friend (who has the same birthday!), and we had an awesome cookout and day on the water. Fond memories even 10 years later!
Happy Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day today!
My favorite Birthday, so far, was probably my 21st because I was able to spend it with my best friends and family! We went all out and it was just FUN!
Happy Birthday!
I think my favorite birthday was this past birthday – my 32nd. I started off the day with a hot yoga class, then had a massage, then spent some quality time with my 10 month old daughter. It was all topped off with a surprise night out planned by my hubby. He and I, along with my sister and brother-in-law had a great dinner at Vivace and went to see my favorite musician, Martin Sexton, at the Visualite Theater. It was absolutely AMAZING!
That sounds like my kind of day! Hot yoga, a massage, dinner out and an awesome concert!? YES!
My mom and I both love our Scottish heritage (maiden name is McKendrick)! So for my 24th birthday, we celebrated in Scotland. I woke up on a train going to Inverness, Scotland where we picked up a car for our Scottish journeys. We toured a castle and then had a birthday dinner at a quaint restaurant nearby. It was truly special and a memory I will always cherish.
AWESOME! i’ve been to ireland but dying to go to scotland too. fun birthday!
My favorite birthday was probably last year! I ran my first race ever in my favorite city! (Astoria, OR)
My favorite birthday was probably my 24th. We had a great party at my house with friends and family, set up with amazing appetizers that my cousin and I spent the entire day making, along with a bellini bar and white sangria compliments of my bf. It was the perfect mix of friends and fun.
My favorite birthday was probably my 18th. My best friends planned a surprise birthday party but I found out about it. Someone left an away message up on AOL Instant Messenger. Yes, those were the days! So, I knew but I didn’t tell them I knew until after I got there. It was great day/night. I still love the fact that my best friends were kind enough to plan a surprise party for me.
Happy Birthday To You!
oh no! glad it was still a fun party! you were sweet not to tell them!
Happy Happy Birthday! I hope it is wonderful!
As for my favorite birthday, I would have to say that it was a year and a half ago when I was turning 27. It was my first year of residency and I was “stuck” in Augusta, GA on call. To make things worse, I’m a new year’s day baby, so all of my friends and family were celebrating in Atlanta while I pouted at home. (I didn’t even stay up to ring in the new year!) However, my then boyfriend, now husband, came in town early the next morning and completely suprised me! It was such a special and unexpected moment that I’ll never forget. 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 23rd birthday! My boyfriend at the time took me to my favorite restaurant for dinner, and I was totally surprised when we walked in to see all of my best friends there to celebrate with us!
My favorite birthday hasn’t happened yet. I turn 24 on in November and am signed up for a trail 10k on the very day. I’ve only been running for a month and can’t believe the progress I’ve already made. It’s going to be a challenge, but I can’t think of a better way to celebrate.
Happy Birthday!
awesome amy!!!!!!! good luck! you will kill that trail race! 😀
Happy Birthday!
One of my favorites was when I got hired for my current job on my 24th birthday, 2 years ago.
My favorite birthday was my 30th. My husband took me to Ft. Lauderdale and we got to celebrate for a whole week just hanging on the beach and going out to nice, fun dinners!
Happy Birthday!
my favorite birthday was my 21st! at the time i was studying abroad in london and it was just magical! i was surrounded by good friends and was so thankful to be there 🙂
My 16th…i was so excited to get my license!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Turning 13 in Paris sounds so cool. For my 22nd birthday I went to San Diego with my college friends. It was awesome.
A fun dinner and game night with my family. My birthday is around the holidays so time spent with family is so special.
Happy Birthday!! My favorite birthday was when I turned 12 and my parents threw me a little surprise party. My dad gave me a silver bangle bracelet that I still wear to this day. It’s so special to me.
Hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Melissa
oh so sweet! i love father presents!
Happy Birthday!!
My favorite birthday memory was when I turned 21! My mom threw me a surprise birthday party with about 60 of my closest friends and family. I was so touched by seeing all of those people together celebrating my birthday that I literally started crying as soon as I walked in the door.
Happy Birthday!!! My favorite birthday was turning 18 and getting a surprise birthday party from all my college swim team members!
Happy birthday Jen!!
I think my favorite birthday will definitely be my upcoming 36th birthday (in January). Why? My husband and I are expecting our first child right around my birthday! 🙂 Talk about the best birthday present ever!
congratulations on your pregnancy, christina! i think that sounds like a pretty awesome birthday too!
Favorite birthday was 30! I just had my first child 2 months before. I was so happy to be a mom. We went out with friends in Charlotte and had the best time. Then I got to come home to my baby girl! Awesome give-away Jen!
so sweet! thank you for the comment!
Happy birthday!
My favorite birthday so far (I hope to surpass it) was when I turned eight. I just had my whole 4th grade class over to my house and we just played some games. It was really simple, but it was the only birthday I can remember where my mom, dad, and brother were also there. That doesn’t happen very often. I totally miss birthdays where the whole school class was invited.
My favorite birthday was my 22nd birthday. My younger sister threw me a “pink princess party” complete with a 3 tier cake, tiaras, disney princess paper cups and plates, and plenty of pink streamers, balloons, and party favors. I felt like a little girl again! (Except I was drinking champagne and not koolaide!)
so fun!
My 21st birthday was definitely the most memorable. I was in Kenya with my church on a 2-week long mission trip, and I didn’t expect much in terms of a birthday celebration. I was just happy to be in Africa with amazing people, spreading hope and love to those who feel like they have none. On the day of my birthday, we visited a prison to bring much needed supplies, and all of a sudden, 100 prisoners were singing happy birthday to me! My pastor had secretly told them it was my birthday and they all sang it on cue. I was so shocked! I will never forget that moment. Definitely not your typical 21st, but memorable nonetheless! 🙂
wow, what a cool birthday story megan. thank you so much for sharing!
My favorite birthday would have to be when I turned 25 and celebrated with the Twelve Days of Tara. I celebrated with a different person or group of people for 12 days. It was fantastic.
Happy Birthday Jen! I am excited to see how well your blog is doing! And regardless of if I win, can you just send a batch of those Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bars to Luckie? :).
tara – i pretty much love 12 days of tara. awesome.
thank you for the kind words about my blog. and YES i will totally send a batch of the bars to luckie – attn: tara! miss you guys TONS!!!
Happy Birthday Jen!
Although my Mom always gave me the best kids birthday parties, my favorite was my 11th birthday pool party….I was very interested in swimming at that age and everyone had a great time.
Happy Birthday to you! My most memorable birthday was my 21st birthday because it was spent with my entire family and now-husband enjoying my favorite meal. The gift of 21 kitchen gadgets/apartment necessities from my parents stands out because I remember being so excited to move into my own apartment and start law school the following summer!
what a fun gift idea!!!
Happy birthday Jenn! Hope your day is fabulous!
My favourite birthday was probably my 7th, I remember my parents taking me and a couple of girl friends out of town to go swimming and out to eat. I don’t know why, but that birthday really stands out to me! I don’t usually do a lot to celebrate haha, maybe that’s why!
my favorite birthday was when i turned 20. some friends from college took me ice skating, shopping, and to dinner later that night. it was just a fun day with all of my friends. since my birthday is in january, it’s normally snowed out, so i appreciated their efforts to make a fun day for me to share with them!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 20, I celebrated in the nightclub with friends, fun fun night 🙂
my favorite birthday was when my boyfriend took me on a romantic dinner date and made me a sweet card! it was so thoughtful, and he sang me happy birthday (which was a huge deal since he NEVER sings) 🙂
hope your birthday is wonderful, jen!
happy, happy birthday! i’ve had so many birthdays now that it’s hard to keep them straight (i mean, c’mon, i’ve had 32 of them!)… it’s funny how now of them really stick out in my head, but i can’t remember ever having had a bad one, so maybe they’ve all just been tremendous 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My favorite birthday is definitely when I turned 18. My Mom and I spent the weekend in NYC, and she even let me have a glass of wine at dinner! It was my first time in the city and I felt very adult-like 🙂
a mother-daughter NYC trip sounds like so much fun!
Happy Birthday! I think my favorite birthday was my 16th! My parents rented a beach house for me and some of my close friends. We played games, watched movies, and just had a great time together! Then of course I got to get my driver’s license!
Hope your 28th is a great one!
You do look 24, happy birthday!
I would have to say my favorite birthday was this year. I turned 21 and like any big 21 year old I went wine tasting with my boyfriend in Sonoma. We hit up more wineries than I can count, and they sure are accommodating and charitable to a new legal drinker;) Beautiful city, even in pouring rain. Great vegan restaurants too!
sounds perfect – i can’t WAIT to do a cali wine tasting trip!
sounds perfect – i can’t WAIT to do a cali wine tasting trip! it’s high on the list!
Happy Birthday Jen! Turning 13 in Paris sounds pretty fabulous!
My favorite birthday would have to be my 30th. My husband surprised me with a long weekend in Chicago (my favorite city) for shopping and celebrating.
Just made the PBCC bars last night to take to a family reuion this weekend. Those babies are on a biweekly rotation in our house. DELISH!
yay! glad you love them. they are my favorite!!!
Happy Birthday to you, PBR!
My favorite birthday was my 40th. It was so nice, I celebrated twice! My husband surprised me by flying my girlfriend and her husband to Charlotte for a long weekend visit. And on a separate weekend, its tradition that my 3 sisters and I celebrate milestone birthdays together, so everyone traveled to NC (from Indianapolis, Boston and Dallas) to spend a weekend in Asheville. Fantastic!
I’m looking forward to celebrating my 50th in a few years. Did I really just say that?
how sweet of your husband and what a fun tradition!
Happy birthday! Enjoy your 28th!
My favorite bday so far was my 21st, sharing one of the best fancy restaurant dinners I’ve ever had with my family, and then celebrating 21 in the typical fashion with family and friends. Simple, but great!
My best birthday was 21st spent in Jackson Hole followed by a road trip to Vegas.
i LOVE jackson hole!
Happy birthday! I love that dress. It looks very Anthropologie.
that’s because it is very anthropologie! got it a few years ago for my bridesmaids brunch! 😉
Happy Birthday, Jen! Hope you are having a great day! This is my first time commenting and I just found your blog and I must say I love it! You have inspired me to do yoga again! My best birthday was when I turned 24. It was during spring break in my first year of law school. My dad came up for the week and we spent it at the Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach (I just grad to law school in Miami) doing yoga and going running on the beach, and it was just the best! I am a huge daddy’s girl and being able to spend time with him was just the best. Plus, I was super stressed out with school and it was just what I needed! I’m currently studying for the bar (ugh) and we’re going to CR again after and I just can’t wait! Anyways, thanks for making me think of that bday again, hope all your bday wishes come true! 🙂
alexandra – thank you for your comment! glad you found me! 😉
that sounds like a great birthday! my husband is an attorney so i can sympathize with the bar studying. GOOD LUCK!
Happy birthday to you! I do love my birthday, it’s more of a birthday week the way my family does things. However, I am not big into parties for myself, which is weird because I do enjoy being the center of attention. Apparently just not when attention is expected. I am trying to pinpoint a favorite birthday. I think it might be my “Sweet 16” My friends surprised me with a weekend out of town, I was not even allowed to pack my own bag, because it would be too obvious. They ended up taking me to a teen dance club! Ha, it sounds silly now, but I was beyond excited. I love to dance, and there’s nothing like teen clubs where the boys are not gutsy enough to grab your behind. I hope you have a fabulous day!
hahaha – love this!
Happy, Happy Birthday! Hope you have a GREAT day 🙂 My favorite birthday to date was last year when I spent the day off from work, had a great lunch with my parents, and then flew to Las Vegas with a group of friends and family. Plus, with the time difference, my birthday was 2 hours longer than normal :)!
My favorite birthday was last year when I celebrated my birthday along with Easter! Even though I was 26, my mother made me a bunny cake and made me look for my basket. It was fun!
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was last year, my 34th. I was 8 months pregnant with my first baby and it was more about the excitement of her birth than my birthday.
aw, that is a special birthday! congrats on becoming a mom!
Happy Birthday! I just love birthdays 🙂 I’ve had 31 on them and my favorite has been my 30th. My mom and sister took me for pedicures, shopping, out to eat, a couple drinks and then ended the night by getting my 4th tattoo. It wasn’t so much as to what we did but they just really made me feel special that day.
ahh tatoos! fun!
When I turned 16, I was so busy with my summer job that I didn’t plan anything for my birthday. Plus, I hadn’t seen my friends much as they too were busy with their own summer jobs. So it was a huge surprise when my Mom took me out to dinner, and I found my closest friends there. We then returned to my house for a sleepover, and it was wonderful to catch up with them.
Happy Birthday!! My favorite birthday was my 23rd because it was really the first one I had been able to celebrate in many years! As a swimmer through high school and college, I always had a swim meet (or was in “dry season”) for my January birthday, and thus could never really celebrate it with my friends! For my 23rd–my first post-college birthday–my friends made me feel so special, it was perfect! (and bonus, I didn’t have to wake up at 5:00am for a swim practice!)
Have a great day, dear! It was lovely seeing you this morning!
i didn’t know you were a swimmer!
One of my favorite birthdays was a couple of years ago. I was pregnant with my second child and we were in London and my husband bought us tickets to Wicked. Best show ever!!
oh fun! i bet it was awesome to see wicked in london!
My sister’s and my birthday are just 2 years and 3 days apart. To make celebrating a little easier our mom would always fix 2 ice cream cakes (sponge cake roll with ice cream in the middle) for us. Chocolate for me and strawberry for her. My sister passed away 5 years ago and we still have 2 birthday cakes each year. Every birthday with my sister was my favorite.
And…Happy Birthday!!!!!!! A day to celebrate!
oh, thank you for sharing and for the birthday wishes. that is a touching story!
Happy birthday, Jen!! I can relate to people thinking you’re way younger than you are. Someone close to my age who was serving me other day thought I was in high school (I am 25 ha).
My best birthday was probably this past year. It involved my neighbors pole dancing on street signs. ’nuff said. ENJOY YOUR DAY!! 🙂
love it!
Happy Birthday!! I recently celebrated my 28th birthday on June 12th.
My favorite birthday was my 25th because that was the day I got engaged to my husband. He took me to a nice dinner and then for a moonlit boat ride. Once we reached our destination, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He also had a great bottle of champagne hidden on the boat to celebrate. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in April and I look forward to celebrating many more!
i LOVE all of these birthday engagements!
My most favorite birthday was turning 30 – I went to Vegas!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!!
So hard to pick a favorite! Going to see the movie Prancer for my 10th birthday was a memorable one! 🙂
One of my favorite birthdays was when I was officially invited into the “Birthday Girls group” that my grandmother and her girlfriends started some 60 years ago! The group started off 25+ strong and has since dwindled to 8, my Maw Maw just turned 90 so its been a great way for me to get to know her best friends and hear all their great stories! Its moments like these that I will always cherish!
I forgot to specify, it was my 25th birthday!
this is so cool! thank you so much for sharing this.
happy happy birthday!! i think my most favorite birthday was sometime in elementary school- birthdays always seemed so magical then 🙂
Happiest of Birthday’s too you!
I loved my 30th birthday (kinda weird, yet true, lol!) It was spent with our family and our brand new 3 month baby girl, truly the BEST birthday gift (‘s) (since we now have two little ones)ever!
Love your blog!!
My favorite birthdays were the ones I spent in New Orleans watching UGA in the Sugar Bowl! Such a fun city and my birthday is January 1, so it’s perfect.
Happy birthday!!!
gooooooo dawgs! 😀
I loved my birthday when my boyfriend, now husband, set up a surprise party for me. Of course it totally got leaked. But I loved the effort!
It’s really hard to pick my favorite birthday. I’d have to say this last year. I was born on Christmas Eve… so in a way I am really lucky… I get to spend my birthday with a lot of my family around and in town for the holidays. I love it. Each year I get to spend with my family is a year to be thankful for! I’m sure this year I will again say it’s the best birthday yet!!!
PS Those tanks rock! I have one and I am in LOVE with it. 🙂
Happy Birthday!! My favorite birthday was 16, cause it is my favorite number and I got to go to Saint Thomas!
Happy birthday! My favorite birthday was my 25th. A couple of my girlfriends from home drove up to law school to surprise me and we had the best time dancing the night away.
Great giveaway!
Happy Birthday love!!!
My favorite birthday was when i turned 17 and my bestfriend and parents threw me a HUGE surprise party!! I’ll never forget it!
Happy Birthday! It’s tough to chose a favorite birthday, but I am super excited about my upcoming 28th birthday that I will spend in NYC with my boyfriend! So far we have planned to go to the Today Show (my favorite morning show) where Journey (Don’t Stop Believin’!) will be a part of their Friday concert series. I also want to go to the Strip House Steak House & indulge in their famous 24 layer chocolate cake for my birthday dessert!
p.s. I enjoy your blog because I’m a fanatic runner who grew up in Birmingham, went to grad school in Charleston, and now live in Atlanta.
sound like so much fun!
and 24 layers of chocolate cake? YUM!
thank you for reading! great to hear from you! 🙂
Happy Birthday. I just discovered your blog today so perfect timing! I’ll definitely be back to get some good, healthy recipes as I’m currently training for my first triathlon.
Anyways, I would say (one of) my favorite birthdays was this last year. I started the day with yoga, a massage, a little shopping and lunch with my brother and then a small party at my best friends house that lastest into the wee hours. Simple and fantastic.
happy birthday!
my favorite birthday (so far.. 🙂 ) was my 16th birthday. i spent it with my family on vacation in mexico! my birthday is in december in the middle of winter so it was nice to be able to relax and tan on the beach.
Happy Birthday!! I hope your day has been fab!!
I love birthday’s and I’m coming up on 40 this year which I’m actually looking forward to! However I have to say my favorite was my daughter’s first birthday celebration with family and friends in 2008. Seeing our families come together in Charlotte from many different states to celebrate our beautiful daughter was overwhelming! Even though she had no clue what the fuss was about, for my husband and I to feel all the love was amazing and something I’ll never forget!
this is so sweet! i can’t even imagine what it must feel like to start celebrating your children’s birthdays!
My favorite birthday was this last one when I got to spend it with my brand spankin new daughter and go for my first postpartum run:)
YES!!!!
My favorite birthday was my 18th- it was my first in college and my friends were so thoughtful and surprised me with decorations, a nice dinner, and the works!
Happy birthday! I just turned 28 last month!
My favorite birthday was my ninth birthday. I had a slumber party!
Happy Birthday!! I would love to have a birthday in Paris! I think my favorite birthday was last year when I turned 30. My husband surprised me with a basket of 30 of my favorite things. 🙂 It was so fun!
cute idea!
Happy Birthday!
My favorite birthday was this past years. It was my 21st 🙂 Mexican food, margaritas, friends and family.
My favorite birthday was the year I turned 30. It was also the day I got engaged! My birthday is exactly one month after yours – 7/15!
I’ve been reading for a long time, my first comment!
PS – Happy Birthday too! I was so excited about commenting I forgot the well wishes! 🙂
haha thanks!
i love all of these birthday engagements!
Happy Birthday Jen!! Hope you have a great year!!!
Hmm… best birthday. I think my best birthday was my sweet 16. We had a huge party (talking 200 people) with two of my best friends who I am still close with today : )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
My favorite was definitely my 21st; sushi, limos, champagne, clubs..my friends made it so memorable and SO FUN!
Happy birthday! My favorite birthday was when I turned 21 — my first time at a drive-in theater with my best friend. It was really fun despite the rain!
Happy birthday! My favorite bday was when i turned 21 while studying abroad in London…it was awesome and crazy and hilarious and i’ll never forget it!
My favorite birthday was my 7th…my parents surprised me with a trip to DISNEY WORLD!! What could be better than that!
I would love to win!! The tank is so cute and those Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars look AMAZING!!!
My favorite birthday was my 25th. My sister was studying in Peru and I went to visit her. We hiked to Machu Picchu. What an amazing experience to share with my only sister AND what an amazing start to 25!
Happy Birthday!!
very cool! i would love to travel to SA!
Happy Birthday! All the best to you!
My fave birthday was my 30th, and you still have it ahead of you, lucky girl… I just felt really good about myself, where I was in my life and where I was going. And there was a good dinner with a good friend—who could ask for anything more? 🙂
sounds perfect! 🙂
Happy Birthday!!! My favorite bday was right after my husband and I started dating, when I turned 25. He flew me in a private plane to Vegas (he’s a pilot) and we had an amazing relaxing weekend with pool time, gambling, and lots of champagne. Yay for birthdays!!! I hope this is your best year yet. You are such an inspiration with all that you do!! 🙂
soooo nice!
Ok … so there are already nearly 300 entries! I am holding out hope that I win 🙂
Happy B-Day to you!
My 5th birthday was when I had a pinata so I always remember that one!
Other than that my 21st birthday also sticks out because I went to dinner with two of my BFFs in my college town and had a strawberry daiquiri.
I know there are other birthdays in there. It’s so silly how I can’t remember them though! Poo!
Happy Birthday! I have to say that now every year is my favorite birthday. I have 2 little boys and each year they make these awesome cards that get better and better. Have an AWESOME day! Love your dress in the photo!
xoxo
Ummm first of all, the picture of your breakfast just totally sucked me right in. I want one of those. STAT.
And as for b-days, my fave was probably my 21st as I had a big party and got to enjoy not only my college roomies and buddies but also my high school friendsters – its always magical when you can bring friends from different periods of your life together 🙂
I’m a twin, and my favorite birthday was going out to visit my sis when she moved so we would never miss a birthday together. 🙂
My favorite birthday was this past December. I was in New Zealand, so it was the first time I celebrated my birthday in my favorite season, summer! It also didn’t hurt that I was getting birthday wishes for a solid 2 days 🙂
I hope you have an awesome birthday!
i’m grateful for my summer birthday!
love that you got to celebrate in NZ. it’s definitely on my list of places to travel to!
My favorite birthday was my 22nd birthday. It was 1987 and I was teaching aerobics (yep, “step” aerobics was the “new” craze!) My mom showed up during the last part of class with a big birthday cake for me and the aerobics class to share;that simple gesture was a delight I can’t describe. It taught me two important lessons: 1.Being healthy is important, but never pass up one of mom’s cakes! 2. No matter how old you are, moms ALWAYS know how to make a birthday special. My mom is 86 now, and even though she is in poor health, she still goes to great lengths to make each birthday a treat (all 44 of them). She is my biggest fan.
I hope you have a stellar birthday — continue to live, love and laugh daily!
Ginger
what a fun story, ginger! LOVE it!!!!!
thank you for sharing!
Happy Birthday! Aren’t you supposed to be getting gifts instead of giving them?! So nice of you! 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 21st- I went to a wedding and it was extra special because it was my first birthday with my (now) fiance. I remember exactly what he got me- a pink Charger’s jersey- number 21 for my 21st- hehe! We stayed at the host hotel and there was a shuttle from the wedding site, so I didn’t even have to worry about finding a designated driver! The best part was when the bride called ME up on stage for EVERYONE to sing to me and even had a personalized cheesecake! That cheesecake was sooo memorable too– delish! The most ironic part is now that I’m looking at wedding dates- I might get married on this same friend’s birthday that got married on my birthday! haha!
that’s a really fun story – and crazy about the dates!
My favorite birthday was every birthday in grade school when my mom would send me to school with cupcake cones. I wish birthdays were that much fun as an adult!
My favorite birthday was my 16th when my mom threw a surprise party for me and had invited all my closet friends. All the details she put into it was so sweet!
I was ten, and I planned out and budgeted a trip for me, my parents, and a few friends to go to a local water park and then to Chuck E Cheese afterwards. So much fun! I plan on recreating it (minus the Chuck E Cheese) for my 25th next year!
Happy birthday!
My favorite birthday would have to be my 23rd. It was right after I met my now-husband and I was in Vegas with friends. He showed up and surprised me because “he had to wish me a happy birthday in person”. I think that’s when I realized he was the one and what a birthday treat that was! 🙂
Happy Birthday!!
My favorite birthday was this past year, it was great! It was my first birthday since I moved to NYC and was filled with great friends, drinking, dancing and just an overall amazing night!
Happy Birthday!! My most memorable birthday was my 27th birthday. I had recently began dating an incredible man after a terrible break up. We went away for my birthday and spent 5 amazing days on the beach in Mexico!
Happy Birthday! My favorite birthday was my 21st: my Mom sprung for a trip to Las Vegas for me and a few friends. It was amazing! I hope you enjoyed your special day! 🙂
My favorite birthday was also the date of my very first marathon. My whole life I had always been somewhat of a klutz, never athletically inclined. Although I gave a fair shot to youth soccer and softball, I always ended up as a benchwarmer. When I met my (now) husband, he was into running and I had negative interest (not even zero interest, it was definitely negative! ;)). I had never run even a mile in my life: in HS gym class, I preferred to walk it slowly with my girlfriends. He convinced me I could run a mile with him, which I somehow did. Over the course of the next several months it increased – my first 5K, 10K, into a half marathon. I said “I’ll never run a marathon – the human body is not meant to torture itself like that!” then the next thing you know I got a charity entry into the Boston Marathon and was in training. Several months of intense training through a harsh New England winter culminated in the big day. I pushed through that last turn up Hereford Street with tears in my eyes, overcome with emotion at what I was just about to prove to myself. After I crossed the finish line, my then-boyfriend was there with all our friends and family he had brought in from out of town, where he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. No birthday will ever top that!
this is an inspiring story that brought tears to my eyes! thank you so much for sharing it melissa. an amazing birthday, indeed!
Hope you had a wonderful Birthday!!
My kids make my birthday special every year. It’s so fun to watch them get so excited about giving someone else a gift. I have 4 amazing children and they put so much time and effort into making me feel so special, along with my husband of course. We like to go all out for the kids on their birthday with decorations, I always make them a cake or whatever dessert they want, and we do something fun. Since we have 4 kids we don’t spend a lot of money but we definitely make them feel special on their day. My youngest daughter just had her 3rd Birthday on June 13th! She has declared it birthday week. I made cupcakes and we’re still eating them and each night after dinner the kids get a cupcake and my youngest makes us sing “her song” as she’s been calling it this week, which is Happy Birthday.
sherry – i can only imagine how fun birthdays are with kids. thank you for sharing this – it sounds like you have a wonderful and happy family! 🙂
My favorite birthday memory is when my parents took me and my cousin to Disneyland for my 16th birthday and we went all out and stayed in a Disneyland hotel and everything!!! So much fun 🙂
My favorite birthday was my 22nd. A group of girlfriends from college went to Vegas for Spring Break. We met some of the nicest people, who had too much money I guess. They treated us to the nicest dinner where I found myself eating gold flakes and drinking $300 bottles of champagne, and then going VIP to some of the best clubs. Probably the most memorable because all of that is so not me. Happy Birthday Jen!
SO much fun!
My favorite birthday was probably my 18th birthday…it was the first day of college at UGA. 🙂 My girlfriends and I went to Red Lobster for dinner after classes. This was back when they had all-you-can-eat crab legs on Mondays…yum!!
goooo dawgs! 🙂
I’m 4 minutes before the deadline… I hope I make it! My favorite birthday would have to be this years, it was just 4 days ago on the 13th! Happy birthday fellow Gemini! I had a wonderful day Monday filled with love and laughter, delicious meals, teaching boot camp (which I love!) and some wonderful gifts from my hubby & son! Laid back, relaxing and happy!
you made it, you made it! 🙂
happy belated birthday to you too!
I have loved all of my birthdays and it is hard to just pick one! When I was younger, I spent most of them at camp. So I always enjoyed being with all of my friends and getting a special cake for my cabin. I also enjoyed my last birthday, which was my first birthday being married. My husband cooked dinner and we got to use our china for the first time! Hope you had a great day!
i loved summers at camp! i celebrated birthdays there too! 🙂
My favorite birthday is still on it’s way 😉 In August of 2012 I will turn 30 [gasp]! One week after my b-day, I WILL run Ironman Canada!
My favorite birthday was the one I just had in May (27 years old!) – I decided to bite the bullet and signed up for a half-marathon on that day! The race is in November and I can’t wait!