29 Reasons To Be Thankful:
- Pumpkin, Biscoff, beer, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, kale and buttercream frosting
- A [knock on wood] healthy body
- Endless parties and reasons to celebrate
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- A career path even better than I could have dreamed of
- Biking, walking, running
- A supportive and super fun family
- Our beautiful new house
- Stunning mountain hikes, complete with picnics
- Wonderful friends, real and virtual
- Mother Earth
- Delicious foods to be eaten all the time
- Grandparents, antiques and other things appreciated with time
- Great Harvest Bread Co. and our ability to feed others both for profit and through giving
- The ability to walk everywhere, thanks to legs and location
- Living in the locavore capital
- My laundry room
- Hillsborough, North Carolina
- Nut butters and their sticky goodness
- 4 years at Davidson College, plus 2.5 more spend on a subject I love
- Our entertaining and endearing employees
- Mountains + ocean
- Gossip Girl and House Hunters
- 6.2.07
- El Tigre, El Lion and Lillis Billis
- Fancy dinners and 10-minute pantry suppers
- Four seasons
- My talk, dark and handsome husband who keeps me entertained and happy everyday
- And you, my dear friends, for making my life happier every day
Today was jam-packed with fun!! At times I felt a little stressed, but I fit in tons of things that I love! Lots of reasons to be thankful today.
Matt and I set out on a simple hike on the Monticello Trail today. LOVE that trail! We talked about only fun subjects: beer brewing equipment of our future and the Meyers Briggs personality test.
We finished our hike at 12:15 – and had a lunch date at 12:30 with some friends. Mind you I had still not showered!!!
MY OTHER RECIPES
20 SPEEDY minutes later, I had showered and we biked over to Feast for lunch.
I had the soup/salad combo: Polyface chicken salad with a farro + mushroom soup on the side
SO GOOD!
Excellent lunch because it was shared with so many great friends!! M, G, S, S, M and Karen, who is back from a 10-day bike trip in Italy!
After lunch most had to go back to work, but Sara was up for a little shopping!
We headed to Roxie Daisy, a new store downtown that always catches my eye on the way home from the gym.
SO many gorgeous vintagey things!!
I ended up chatting with the owner for a while [who gave me permission to photograph the store]
and I bought this AMAZING candle that I am describing as the smell “Handsome Man’s Neck” because it smells just like a cologne! Officially called Leather Mahogany!
I also couldn’t resist buying a twin pair of numbered votive holders – a 2 + 6! Left the amazing preserved boxwood balls at the store, as they were a bit over budget, but still love them.
Next stop was Sweet Frog for a little sweet dessert and a stroll along the mall!! Thanks to Sara for treating – the total was 6.62!
On my tour de birthday, I booked a mani/pedi at Cville’s “Best Of” spa – Oasis.
This was a bit of a splurge, but I definitely felt it was worth it. It was the most “attention to detail” pedi I’ve ever gotten and I very much appreciated that! Also, very very clean.
I chose muted fall colors by Essie – Bangle Jangle and something on the rocks?
My appointment lasted most of the afternoon and I raced home to greet Matt and Amanda, from Great Harvest, who is here tomorrow to check in hang out.
Matt gave me my birthday gift – this gorgeous pair of earrings!!! His gift speech reported eyeing these earrings since last Christmas and waiting for a good enough reason to buy them. I guess 29 years is pretty important! I love their funky design!
We gussied up and headed out to dinner
To Fleurie, a very fancy French restaurant we had yet to try. The night was extra sweet because our wonderful realtor, Karan Ball, gave us a generous gift certificate as a house warming gift!!
Our night was celebrated with glasses of red and cheers to another year of wisdom.
We started our eating adventure with an amuse bouche of Cod in a potato cream sauce – yum! A preview of my main course to come!
We shared a starter that caught my eye when I previewed the menu this morning – Gnocchi with Arugula and Spiced Pecans in a BLUE D’AUVERGNE SAUCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! [If you’re not familiar, I am obsessed with that bleu cheese!] The dish was incredible – the bleu plus the pillows of gnocchi plus the spiced pecans were just amazing.
We contemplated another glass of wine and in the discussion of Matt possibly getting another glass we ended up doing a 3 tasting wine flight that ended with each of us getting a glass of an amazing buttery chardonnay that went perfectly with our fish entrees.
Cod with a Parsley and Lemon sauce and gnocchetti for me. This was really good – the cod flaked perfectly with a fork and the gnocchetti were just the right level of browness and pillows
But Matt’s lobster over lentils stole the show. Really buttery outstanding!!
For dessert we shared Dacquoise with cardamom buttercream and espresso ice cream. Maybe my favorite bite of the night!?
And then………dessert bites compliments of the chef!! I had watched two other tables receive these and was really crossing my fingers every table got to taste them. We were lucky – my wish came true!
Cherry Almond cake, lemon meringue and chocolate ganache. Yum!!
And beautiful birthday to spend in love!
Thanks so much to you all for the well wishes today – it meant so much to me!
Love the pumpkin on the fro yo!
You for sure have a lot to be thankful for and it looks like you had a wonderful day to do just that 🙂
I love how you did exactly what you wanted on your b-day. So perfect and so you 🙂
enjoy the last year of your twenties, kath!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATH! Sorry I’m a little late! I’m so glad that you had such a wonderful day with Matt and friends! All the best to you! You’re wonderful!
Looks amazing, Kath (Eeeehhh, FIRST COMMENT!!!). So glad you had a lovely KERFday, despite any stressful bits! 🙂
Looks amazing! Happy Birthday!
Bahahaha – “First comment”. Not. Go, Kaila!
Happy Birthday Kath!!! Perfect birthday dinner!
Happy Birthday, K!! FUN day!
happy birthday, kath! what a wonderful, fun day! to happy times and many more 🙂
Love This post!! 🙂
What an amazing looking day! Happy birthday! 🙂
You are so blessed! Happy Birthday Kath!
Happy Birthday Kath! Am a new follower of your blog and really enjoy your posts. Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday with the perfect birthday dinner!
Happy Birthday Kath! Congrats on another great year and look forward to seeing what lays ahead this year.
happy, happy birthday, kath! it looks like your birthday adventures were lots of fun! 🙂
What an AWESOME birthday Kath. You’re one lucky lady!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!
What an awesome and beautiful day! Glad you had a great birthday Kath!
Happy Birthday Kath!! You are glowing! I believe 29 agrees with you! 😉
Gosh, what an amazing and beautiful birthday. 🙂 Too bad my birthday is in June. 😉
Happy Birthday, looks like you had a good one! I hope Karen didn’t get herself caught in any of the nasty weather Italy’s been having lately (although if it was a cycling tour I assume she was either east or south of it all).
P.S. that purple dress looks fabulous! 🙂
Happy Birthday Kath! That mushroom soup in a glass looking amazing. I like the idea of putting soup in a glass, its so pretty.
Gnocchetti? I need some of this in my future!
And love the birthday dress! …and are Matt’s pants glowing? hahah
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATH! looks like you had a perfect day celebrating! thanks for making all of our days so much brighter! 🙂
Happy birthday!!! I just turned 29 a couple months ago. Takes some getting used to lol… I liked 26 too 😉
I’m old enough to be you mother, but you inspire me every day. Have a great 29th year. Love the earrings and that purple tunic. You rock, sista.
Hi Kath!
A little late, but happy birthday from California! I hope it was as lovely as it seemed. I can’t believe the C-ville classic was a year ago already. Wishing you the best!
Lani
Did you move to CA!? Can’t believe it’s been a year!
Yep, we moved back to LA in May. I wish we were still closeby!
Maybe I’ll come back to do a race in Cville sometime!;)
Happy Birthday! Hope all your wishes came true! 🙂
Looks like an amazing birthday to me! Then again, any day with shopping, spa, and good food all in one is pretty great.
I think I’m taking you from 26 comments to 27. My apologies. But Happy Birthday Kath!!
🙂
Savor everyday girl, it is a gift. Rockstar earrings & purple IS your color.
It looks like you had such a perfect day! You looked so happy and just radiant in all of the photos. I love the earrings Matt gave you, and good choice on the pumpkin on top of your froyo – love those things! 😉
Looks like an awesome way to spend your birthday- and love the price of the fro yos!
Happy Birthday Kath! I never have time to comment but I am an avid reader and fellow writer who has lost 25 pounds since finding your blog forever ago. I tell all my friends who need help with healthy eating to read “the real food girl”! And my dad is very ill, so for me it is great to see that Karen is doing so well…your list of things that you are grateful for has reminded me that I have a lot to be thankful for as well. Thank you for being so much fun to read, you are a great writer. XO.
Thanks Karyn! Congrats on 25 lbs! Also, very sorry to hear your father is ill
Kath what a great post and great birthday you had. Thanks for sharing it with us!
The earrings are super cool, love how artsy and one of a kind they are.
Congrats on the most attentive pedi ever. Love it when spa trips exceed expectations.
And love those complimentary desserts at the restaurants, too. Yum 🙂
Happy Bday!!
Happy Birthday Kath! Sounds and looks like you had an amazing day… even if the pumpkin did act funky this a.m. Cheers!
This post is making me so hungry! The gnocchi looks absolutely amazing. So glad you had such a great special day!!
What a lovely way to spend your birthday. Happy twenty-upside down six!
Gorgeous earrings. Matt has great taste.
It sounds like you had a great birthday!! And I love that you and Matt talked about your Myers-Briggs types! That’s one of my favorite personality tests. Just curious…what is yours? Mine is ENFJ!
I’m an ESTJ – as of Freshman year of college – but I think I need to take it again!
Happy 29th again, Kath! It looks like a fabulous day – the earrings are beautiful, by the way, and your outfit for the birthday dinner is really cute 🙂
I’ve taken the MB several times, and usually score as an INTJ, but have also scored as an ISTJ.
I’m an INTJ too. Kath, I’m glad you posted yours. I was reading the whole post going “But what is she??”
Ha! So was I 😉
Happy 29th Birthday, Kath!! Sounds like a fantastic day. I think fall birthdays are the best, since October is my favorite month. Sadly, my bday does not fall in the Fall 🙂
Happy Birthday Kath – looks like you ate well! The dinner looks delicious!!!!
Just curious, is there some significance to the numbers you chose for the pretty votive holders?
Because my birthday is the 26th!
Love your outfit and your dinner looks yummy! Hope you have had a wonderful birthday Kath!!
Happy Happy birthday! May you have a healthy, happy new year in your life. 😉
Happy birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful day. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!
Beautiful, Kath. Happy Birthday from NZ!!
GNOCCI!! is there anything better, especially on your birthday?
Happy Happy Birthday beautiful lady! I didn’t get a chance to check blogs yesterday (your actual bday because I am in the UK!). This was the perfect post to check first thing, because I woke up in a mega funk… and then reading your amazing list about all the things you are grateful for totally put stuff into perspective. I’ve been freaking out about the dirty kitchen all morning… when really life is ever so sweet! Congratulations too on all your success – definitely worked hard for. xox ps I, too, LOVE blue cheese. Could anyone not!?
happy birthday kath! looks like you had a fabulous day!!!!
love the earrings!
Happy Birthday and keep the healthy living spirit firing for the next 30, 40, 50 years and on of your life. Enjoy your day bcos you deserve it!!!
I love the tunic top you wore for dinner. It is a beautiful top and suits you. That dinner looked amazing. French food is the real deal for a special occasion.
Yay happy birthday!! sounds like a great night. Love that list!
What a wonderful birthday. 🙂 Those earrings are just beautiful and I absolutely LOVE your shirt that you wore to dinner. I’m glad you had a great day. 🙂
What a fun day. Love the earrings and the dress and of course, the free dessert!
So happy you had a great birthday Kath!
Love the list of 29 things you wrote too!
You deserved a wonderful day, and a mani/pedi is so nice to do! I have those 2 Essie colors! LOVE them! Great picks!
Have a wonderful day! xo
happy birthday! looks like you had a fantastic day 🙂
Looks like a great day Kath! Happy Birthday….I like the # 1 thing you are thankful for! Haha…I can say the same myself. Glad to see you enjoyed your day!
Shopping, mani-pedi, fro yo, and dinner?
Sounds like a good birthday to me!
Sounds like you had a great day! Happy Birthday! <3 I love those KOBO candles, we used to sell those in my store, we had them during our slow time so they didnt really sell so my boss just gave me a bunch to take home, they're so nice smelling!!
You sure know how to celebrate! 🙂 Looks like an amazing birthday…full of all the things and people you love! Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished in you 29 years and best wishes for a bright and happy future 🙂
PS — Matt can go jewelry shopping for me any day 😉
What a cute post- and an awesome day- I love every part of it and want to do EXACTLY the same thing(s) on my birthday!
Oh- and I know Sarah- I met her at the Farmers’ Market! Hi Sarah!!
Matt has great taste…your new earring suit you perfectly & look so beautiful with your outfit. Glad you had a great day.
Looks like an incredible birthday! I’m glad you had the time to really enjoy life and just being you.
It looks like it was a perfect birthday… or a KERFect birthday? 😉
What a fantastic day!! So glad you enjoyed every beautiful moment! 🙂
Happy birthday, Kath! Love your purple dress- looks great on you 🙂
Happy Birthday again, Kath! It looked like you had the most perfect day! 🙂 I love the colors you chose for your nail polish! I like the dress too! Purple is very flattering on you.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like a wonderful day.
Happy Birthday, Kath! Sorry, I’m a day late. Levi celebrated his 11 month yesterday too 🙂 I’m glad you had such a fabulous day. 29 is a good year. Best.
Happy 11 mos to Levi!! Hope to see y’all soon 🙂
Looks like a great birthday with friends! And what a fancy dinner! I love dessert samplers, I’m a big fan of tasting a little bit of everything!
I’m so happy that you had a wonderful birthday Kath! 😀
Lobster AND cardamom buttercream???? So many other amazing goodies, I’m sure, but those two make my knees weak!! On my birthday, I love to take the day off and treat myself to something special…looks like you have the same tradition 🙂 Glad you had a wonderful day. So much to be thankful for. Here’s to an amazing year to come!
What fun mani/pedi colors! I always go for the funky ones over traditional red or french manicure – boring! Happy belated! Looks like you had an awesome day.
It looks like you had a Wonderful Birthday! Well deserved! Keep celebrating!
Sounds like a great, fun day of birthday celebrating! Happy {belated} 29th, Kath! 🙂
What a wonderful day full of beautiful things. Did Karen take the bicycle trip with a group? Do you know who?
She did – I think it’s a company like “VBN” or something similar? I will ask her
it’s probably VBT, vermont bicycling vacations. they go all over the world–my parents love their trips!
What a great list of things to be thankful for. Sounds like you put a lot of thought into it. Next summer I’ll have to come up with 62 things to be thankful for. That’s 26 multiplied a couple of times. Better start thinking now… The first thing on my list will be my beautiful grandson, Ivan, who will be a year old by then.
Sounds like an excellent day!! Love the eats and presents haha 🙂
Wow, it seems you celebrated every minute of the day. That would be my perfect day too. Thanks for all the mouth watering pictures, heavenly. So glad you enjoyed your special day.
What a wonderful day! Your new earrings are beautiful (nice job, Matt!) and I got a kick out of the “Handsome Man’s Neck”. lol I love that – I know exactly what you’re talking about!
Happy 29th, Kath!
Sounds like a perfect day! It seems you have taken back your twenties (not that you ever didn’t have them) just in time for thirty:)
Haha – I real this without reading who it was from and was about to exclaim “TAKING BACK MY TWENTIES!” …then I saw it was you!
what a wonderful day, kath! i love your list of reasons to be thankful — we all should take time and make such a list. i am in love with those votives, and how funny about the fro yo total!?
Looks like a perfect day, feliz cumpleanos! 🙂
WHat a beautiful day!!! It sounds SO perfect. Love it.
When I saw your list of things that you are thankful for, it made me think of the book that I am currently reading. Since you like to read, I thought I would share the name of that book with you. It is called, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. Have you heard of or read it?
A 10-day bike trip in Italy… How cool is that!?!
I love your pretty purple outfit–great for a festive eve. 🙂
Okay… Please tell me where you got your necklace–located in the last pics. of you and Matt on this post. I have been looking for a dainty, pretty necklace like that that is about 15′ long.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I haven’t heard of that book yet!
The necklace was a gift from my cousin eons ago – I have no idea where she got it, but I love that it’s black with a little pressed rose inside
Looks like a fabulous way to bring in what I know is going to be another wonderful year for you Kath 🙂 Congrats on all you’ve accomplished and all you’ve become!! You should be SO proud of where you’re at!
Essie “School of Hard Rocks” from the “Cocktail Bling” collection! I love that dusty, muted teal – it’s on my fingers now!
a belated happy birthday hug from hillsborough! 🙂
Wow! Looks like an amazing birthday! I feel like birthdays that fall during the week usually aren’t as eventful during the work week, but you look like you had such a special day with the ones you love. Happy Belated B-day!
Love your list of things to be grateful for. 🙂 Glad you had such a happy birthday, Kath! Cheers to 29!
Looks like you had an amazing birthday! Happy belated 🙂
yaaay birthdays! and myers briggs test talk. happy [belated] 29th! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Kath! I think I’ve been reading your blog since you were 26, although you still are! 😉 Looks like you had a perfect day.
Looks like a fun day! We went to Fleurie for my birthday after we bought our house about a year and a half ago! (with a gift certificate from Karen) So nice to be able to splurge guilt-free!!
She must love to give that gift!! So sweet of her
Bleu D’Auvergne?? I live in Auvergne!!!! you’re invited whenever you want to come! You will find yourself in a cheesy paradise! And the macaron’s are good also…
by the way, Happy Birthday!
A cheese paradise for sure!
Where did you get your super cute dress?
It’s from Loehmann’s
Looks like you had such a fun, relaxing and tasty birthday! Happy Birthday!
Catching up today…and 1. Love that your bday was so special! The hike, the lunch, the dinner…ya’ll packed a lot into that time! 2. Those earrings are STUNNING! 3. I adore the store you visited, such a cute place:)