Love Day + Birthday Recap

Happy Saturday!! Thank you guys so much for all your love and birthday wishes. It really means a lot to me guys. And keep those giveaway entries coming!! Winner will be chosen Monday!!

I had such a great birthday, and really wanted to share it all with you, so here’s a quick recap!

My birthday was actually pretty low key. I started the day off right with a killer kettlebell session followed by a quick Love Day breakfast. After breakfast I headed over to my mom’s to walk her dog, and then we went out for lunch.

ww toast topped with PB + strawberry jam with a naner and berries, Lazy Dog Cafe tex mex salad and veggie pita split with mom, Lava cake and ice cream

My mom ended up getting me something really special for my birthday this year. She gave me a set of earrings that my daddy had bought her when they were still married. I actually wore the earrings on my wedding day, but she took them back so that she could have them re-set for me. She finally got around to it this year, and gave them to me for my birthday. The earrings are diamonds and used to be set in gold, but since I’m not a big fan of the gold color, mom got them re-set in white gold. They are really special to me, so I’m only planning on wearing them on special occasions, but it really means a lot to me to have them. My parents may not be together anymore, but these earrings makes me feel like we are all somehow still connected.

Dinner was just Ninja and I at home. We avoid the huge Valentine’s Day craze every year by just going out the day after, so Thursday night I just threw something into the crockpot and we had a little romantic dinner at home.

 teriyaki chicken, brown rice and asparagus along with homemade chocolate covered strawberries

Friday night Ninja and I decided to go out, 1 because I didn’t want to cook and because 2 I was craving this one dish that I’m absolutely in love with. Meet my other love, the fire roasted veggie pita!

Veggie pita with feta cheese from Daphne’s 

There are no words to describe this deliciousness. A super soft pita stuffed to the brim with bell peppers, zucchini, green beans, carrots and cabbage. Holy yum. I want another one.

My birthday celebration continued into Saturday with a day with Bestie!! We went out to see Safe Haven and then hit up The Cheesecake Factory for our birthday tradition.

Side note, while the movie was cute and romantic, it was NOTHING like the book. Like, at all. So if you are a fan of the book, don’t go to this movie expecting to see the book brought to life. I will however watch this movie again, and will totally buy it when it comes out. Josh Duhamel is enough to get me to watch it again, and Julianne did really well too!

After our movie, Bestie and I headed to The Cheesecake Factory to gorge ourselves.

We split the Cobb Salad (minus bacon) and devoured some warm bread

After our salad, the fun began. I typically go for the traditional since I’m such a cheesecake lover, but since it was for my birthday and all, I decided to get a little crazy.

coffee with a bit of cream 

Chocolate coconut cream cheesecake for me – Pina colada cheesecake for Bestie

So this cheesecake was literally a Samoa girl scout cookie in cheesecake form. Holy moly. And boy was it RICH!! Bestie and I were both doubled over in pain after these huge babies, but there wasn’t one ounce of guilt!! We only do this twice a year, once for her birthday and once for mine, so why should we feel bad for getting sick over cheesecake?!

So basically, I’m spoiled rotten, and got more than I deserved for my birthday. I loved every minute of it though!! Here’s to another year of getting to grow, learn, and love in this crazy thing called life.

P.S. Don’t forget about my giveaway!! Go get those entries in!

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What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Are you a big birthday celebration person or do you prefer something small and personal?