Yes, today is my birthday.
I really didn’t intend to post about it because as a mom, I’d rather talk about my child’s birthday festivities, but you all forced my hand.
I want to thank everyone who has wished me a Happy Birthday on my personal Facebook page, my blog Facebook Page, on Twitter, on my last post in the comments, in text messages, in voicemails, and on email. Whew. I have never felt so loved!
Once again, I am blown away by all my wonderful friends and your kind words and well wishes. Thank you!
Ironically, and this is such a cruel twist, I feel like total crap today. I am sick. I have a super sore throat, I have a fever, my body aches, I am tired but can’t sleep.
Scott took these pictures and said, “But you don’t look sick.” Trust me, I am. Fake it til you make it, right?
And fake that this picture is in focus, right?
So what’s a sick birthday girl to do?
Just tell myself I am not sick, carry on as usual, and try to make the best of the day which is what I’ve done!
I went on a photo shoot bonanza at the farmer’s market today.
Here are a few of the images I captured that I have edited (of the 150 I took in about 45 minutes) that are early favorites.
I hope you like looking at produce and plants because I have a whole post of pictures coming up in the next day or two from my birthday photo shoot bonanza. And I don’t mean this photo shoot.
Scott didn’t buy me any presents. I buy my own. After the farmer’s market as I was walking home, I stopped in a thrift store and went “all out” and for $5 bucks scored two pink bowls and two plates. Last weekend it was a new computer but this weekend I kept it very thrifty.
I love little thrills and cute ‘n cheap dishes. It makes picture making time so much more fun with a few new props.
I didn’t make myself a birthday cake.
I ate No Bake Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting. They are so easy to make and you too will enter a sugar coma and nut butter heaven all at once when you try these.
And honestly, one of the best presents of the day was having FoodGakwer and Tasteologie like my images. Photography is so important to me now and if I am judged well by the Food Photography Gods, then it’s a happy day for me.
Questions:
1. Have you ever been sick on your birthday or any other important day or holiday?
Growing up I would invariably get sick over holidays or when school was on break. It’s like I would take my final exams and my body said, ok, the stress of that big event is over now you can relax. And then my body would let out a big sigh and proceed to get sick.
I think after the running-on-adrenaline phase is over or the stress of a big event has passed, our bodies relax, including our immune systems, and that’s when sickness happens.
Not to mention, it’s no surprise, now that we’re home from Aruba and Skylar is back in preschool, she is bringing home tons of germs from all the other (sick) kids so it’s like going through my own childhood all over again with being exposed to every imaginable germ and virus out there!
Kids are little germ incubators. But I love her anyway.
Honestly, as a mom, being sick with a cold, fever, a headache, or anything else is just like any other day. You just smile, carry on, hug your kid, and pray to God the razor blades in your throat go away soon. No rest for the weary. I couldn’t imagine just laying around. Not when there’s pictures to make and snacks to fix!
Chugging vanilla iced coffees has felt good on my throat, though!
2. Best birthday memory or celebration you’ve ever had?
25th birthday comes to mind. We were living on the beach in North Carolina and I did a sunset yoga class on the beach with a dozen or so awesome free spirits, we carried on with a vegan potluck, Scott had me a hot pink cake made in the shape of a high heel, we drank all night long, went skinny dipping in the ocean, and watched the sun rise the next morning. Fun times!
Today’s festivities are just a wee bit different. Plus, I have to work later.
3. Best thing you’ve ate or done over the weekend?
The farmer’s market and taking pictures rocked for me. Sickness and all.
Ok and the Nutella & PB Bars rocked too.
And if you’re just catching up on posts since Friday, here are mine:
- Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting
- Aruba Vacation Highlights
- Health & Beauty Mall Trip
- A First Time For Everything
- Rising Food & Grocery Prices
- Eating the Rainbow Recipes
Have a wonderful week and although I can’t thank everyone personally for all the birthday wishes, each and every email notification that I opened brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you so much!
A few years ago I got strep on vacation on my birthday. The doctor I went to said it was the worst case he’d seen in a long time. It was brutal. I think I must have had a runny nose/cold/something too because I remember sleeping with a box of Kleenex at that time. Oh well. I lived :) Happy birthday/belated birthday, Averie!
Belated happy birthday! Glad you decided to post it, anyway :-). I know, I want to ignore my birthday too, it just doesn’t seem…important. But maybe it’s a good occassion for some things? Maybe I’m ignoring it out of some strange spite – yes, I was sick all the time as a kid, including birthdays, hehe. I might celebrate mine somehow next year. I’m turning thirty, gasp! Hahaha…
Hope you had a great day. Lots of hugs and good wishes for the next year.
Happy birthday, Averie! I hope you feel better, soon. I just had a conversation with my mom about how, when I was much younger, she had to do the same – fake it till she felt better, keep preparing my meals, watch me as close as ever, etc., even when feeling crap, and it just gives me so much respect for all mothers and motherhood.
Did you know you and Kendra Wilkinson share the same birthday?! I know you’re a fan and I know she had a birthday around this time, I just looked it up and it’s today! What a coincidence :)
Happy Birthday, Averie! Hope it was a sweet one ;)
Even though I said Happy birthday on your facebook page, I want to say it again here! Happy Birthday! I am sorry you are sick, though! :-( I hope you feel better soon. Like so many people have already said, you really do look beautiful in the photos Scott took!
I was sick on Christmas of last year. I was in my Victoria Secret cozy black pjs all day long and couldn’t even eat or drink anything yummy at all. I just huddled in our big leather chair next to the Christmas tree and watched everyone open gifts while I sipped on tea. Then I went to bed and watched a movie. It passed though, but still, it was Christmas and therefore hard to miss out on the festivities. Get well soon! :-)
Happy birthday! I didn’t know it was your birthday. I’m sorry you’re sick though, that sucks. I don’t know if I’ve ever been sick on my birthday. I can remember being sick one halloween when I was about 4 or 5. I was SO bummed.
Happy Birthday! I hope you feel better, and don’t forget to celebrate. Everyone deserves their one day of the year to celebrate you :-)
Happy Birthday! I’ve never posted on here before – just wanted to say thank you for your recipes! I have only been able to try a few of the desserts so far, but I’m looking forward to trying one of your tofu recipes tomorrow. We tried your chocolate mousse, the cookie dough and the banana avocado “ice-cream”. It has been so nice to find recipes that me (vegetarian) and my husband (meat-eater) can both enjoy. Coincidentally, his name is Scott too :)
Hope you feel better!
Happy birthday girlie! SO sorry you’re sick — that’s the worst! I was sick one year on Valentine’s Day. My BF was living three hours away at the time so I drove there and back, all while tired and cranky and sore and sick! It wasn’t the best decision of my life. I’ve also been sick during exam time in college, but I’m pretty sure that just comes with the territory. Your 25th birthday sounds SO fun! Can’t wait ’til my 25th!
Happy, happy, happiest of days!!!!!
Happy birthday again and congrats and I had no idea you were sick on top of everything! UGH. I’d rather be sick and have someone tell me I don’t look it than the other way around. I get sick after long stressful events too – my post defense sickness comes to mind.
I had a great weekend full of fun friends and family time. I went thrift store shopping today also, but I got clothes. :)
I am wishing you all the best, Averie! Hopefully this year will be full of love, laughter, pleasure, health and happiness!! And I really hope you will get well soon. Not only does a sore throat sucks, like, totally sucks, but also, on one´s birthday, it is something you do not wish on your enemies!
Your 25th birthday sounded fab :) I don´t have a favorite one, to be honest. But hey, I am still young ;)
happy birthday!! sorry to hear that you were sick but you’d never know it looking at the pictures of u and skylar, u both look super cute and happy! hope you’re feeling better soon. :)
invariably it always seemed like i’d get the flu over christmas vacation when i was still in school! it would stink, i’d be sick for the two weeks we were off of school but then be good as new as soon as school started back up again! oh well, such is the way of life.
take care over there!!
Happy birthday! I hope you feel better soon. I usually get sick around christmas because it is right after exams and the stress finally catches up to me. My birthday is usually right around exam time or right after (so I often get sick then too).
Happy birthday my love! I hope you feel better though :) I know with all of the love you are getting today it will help you feel better, and I’m sending feel good vibes your way.
1. Mmm not that I can distinctly remember, but for some reason my trip to California when I was 12 comes to mind. I was 12 and my second period ever happened to be at the same time, and I remember being so upset about it. Lol that’s not really being “sick” but in the mind of a 12 year old it sure felt like I was.
2. Your 25th birthday sounds absolutely incredible! Being nude in the ocean is such an incredible feeling–so freeing. I remember for my seventh birthday all of my friends came over and we had so much fun! We hit the pinata, egg toss, pin the tail on the donkey, bobbing for apples, and lots of other fun birthday games :)
3. Drove down to Florida! Since I’m down in Florida I was able to go to my favorite Saturday yoga class and boy was it incredible. I also went on a couple awesome nighttime runs. Best thing I ate? I baked some maple cornmeal muffins this weekend and topped them off with the Greek God’s honey Greek yogurt (best ever), some fresh raspberries, and sliced almonds… WOW!
XO, so much love!
p.s. love the thrift store finds! I found an adorable teapot and Asian tea mugs with lids the other week at the thrift store :)