The goal today was to surround my self with my favorite things. It was a huge success!!
#1 Family. Obviously gets the first spot!
This morning we spent some time watching #2: Lord of the Rings! Best movie ever.
#3 Running!!! After some movie and lounging, we decided to go running. Yes, I love running so much I wanted to be sure I got to do it on my birthday! I thought the appropriate distance today would be a 10K, 6.2 miles!! (Gotta get in 26 where ever I can! Did you all realized we got married on 6.2?) We went on a GLORIOUS morning run. Despite my mild hangover, I had so much energy and of course the fact that it was a gorgeous day helped. Favorite thing #4 = blue sky, autumn days.
We ended up running to the bike shop to pick up the husband’s bike, so I ran the last 4 miles or so solo. Time to reflect and listen to #5 Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the 3 trumpet version = my favorite song.
After our run and a shower, it was 1:00 and we decided to go out to lunch. Lunch at home just seemed too boring! So we hopped on our bikes (#6) and headed to a new French cafe that opened this summer – Cafe Monte.
We were really impressed by the delicious food. I ordered a Spinach + Arugula Salad to start, which came with a divine cranberry-walnut dressing and favorite thing #7: goat cheese!
The husband got a delicious turkey veggie soup –
We also munched on #8: bread.
And for our main course……#9 – PIZZA!!
Mushrooms, Goat Cheese (#7) and Arugula. This pizza was A.Mazing!!! So aromatic and full of flavor. Might hold the spot for top pizza of the year?
Slice 1, 2 + 1/2
After lunch we went shopping
I went to Aveda and redeemed my birthday fragrance blend coupon for a body wash (I believe I was scent #5?) and then hit Bath and Body Works with my second coupon for some Black Amethyst, pillow spray and Lime Coconut Shampoo. Lastly, I had a $10 coupon card at Banana Republic and got a mini perfume there for free. Which leads me to favorite thing #10: good smells.
After the smell shops, we hit up #11: Pottery Barn for #12: beautiful dishes.
I got ALL of this for only $1.88 – thanks to a $20 gift card I had. But all the black dishes are 50% off!
I am absolutely in LOVE with this plate:
We biked back home and unfortunately I had to do some unpleasant Organic Chem before dinner 👿 because I have a quiz tomorrow. I need to study more at the gym in the morning!
Then came favorite thing #13: vino!
This was a bottle we got at a wine blending barrel tasting seminar for my 24th birthday. We decided it had aged enough! It’s quite a nice wine and BOY could you tell. I love all of St. Supery’s wines.
Glass #1
Karen came over to join us for my birthday dinner. She brought me to awesome shirts from favorite thing #14: Ann Taylor LOFT! One is gold and shimmery and the other is a ruffled button down. She’s so stylish! Family = #15. I wish my parents and Larbs and Matt could have been here too!
The husband and I have a tradition of cooking special dinners on each other’s birthdays. It’s usually a surprise but this year I just said I would love to have a simple meal of my very favorite foods. So I’m giving him spot #16 as my favorite chef 🙂
My requests? #17 Sweet Potatoes and #18 Kale. Along with a lovely sunburst trout. The kale was in a maple-vinaigrette and the sweet potatoes were baked according a special technique in Cooks Illustrated involving slow-roasting and tin foil. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect selection of foods!
More wine –
Seconds!
Then came the grande finale: #19 Cake! (x2!!! I couldn’t get enough!)
The whole cake is now gone. A piece went home with Karen and there’s one more 6″ square that I am pretending does not exist in the fridge that the husband says will be gone within a day or so 🙂 The ganache layer of cake was a bit too dry, but the milk-soaked layer was FABULOUS!!
Since I had #20, Oatmeal, for breakfast, I’d consider it to be a perfect birthday! Thanks also for all of your wonderful blog comments and birthday wishes, always a joy to read, and #21 of my favorite things.
I am off now to take a bubble bath (#22) with my new spa products and read (#23) my book before cozying up for a nice night’s sleep in my comfy bed. I’m actually really excited about eating healthy (#24!!) for the rest of this week. I sure am fulled-out. I didn’t really eat unhealthy this weekend (sans the square foot of cake!) but I most definitely ate too much. A few days of feeling bloated and retaining water sure make me realize how wonderful eating healthy makes me feel.
Here’s to #25, raindrops on roses and #26, whiskers on kittens!
And to 26 years!!!!
Heather says
such a great post! glad you had such a wonderful day– you deserve it!
jenner says
oh Kath you look so pretty in the picture outside Cafe Monte. You have such a glow!
Lida says
happy birthday once again! i’m so jealous of you, and inspired to do something like that on my birthday. i always feel like i have to DO something, but now i realize that it’s really all the little things that count.
Nicole says
Happy birthday!!!!! This is such a fabulous day, it seems. Good luck on your quiz!
Meredith says
happy birthday, hope that its a great one!
if you ever wanted to do a 26.2 (marathon), this is the perfect year 🙂
Emily says
Happy Birthday!
It sounds like you had a very nice birthday 🙂 and I bet being in a good mood made it that much better!
Justy2003 says
What a fun post of your favorite things 🙂 Glad you had a great 26th birthday!
The fall trees are gorgeous! That’s one thing I do miss about living in Ohio…the palm trees here in Houston don’t change colors…
And I didn’t realize you were a Lord of the Rings fan! Unfortunately I’m not, but the boyfriend is and I sat through all 3 of those movies with him in theaters and have watched them numerous times on DVD. However, I often end up napping through them…
Enjoy the last few hours of your birthday!
Megan says
What a wonderful day! Sounds like you had a fantastic birthday! Love the new dishes!
bobbi says
What a perfect little birthday:) I am so with you on that plate, where did you ever find it!!! Hope you enjoy your evening, good luck on the test!
Amy says
what a creative and cute post for your birthday! looks like you definitely had the perfect day. yay 😀
and i bought those bowls from pottery barn, too! i wanted the orange ones, but decided to skip it. at least ill get to admire them on your blog !
have a nice bday evening
zestycook says
Kath – This maybe the best post I have ever read!! WOW you had an awesome day! You guys are so great and full of energy. It is so glad to see.
Glad to see you had a great day!!
zesty
coco says
It seems like a perfect day!! good idea to just do your favorite things in your birthday! I should begin to write them down so I can do it in my next birthday!
have a nice evening~~~ and enjoy your bubble bath!
polly says
Kath, what a great day. You and husband are so cute. Loved the favorite things post… creative and sweet!
Bridget says
I missed commenting this morning…but…Happy Birthday!!! So fun, we’re less than 2 weeks apart…I’m 26 on Nov 7 🙂
Well it sounds like you had a PERFECT day! The cake, the party, the Pottery Barn plates!! Have a great rest of your bday
Kel says
Wow! I thought I was crazy about birthdays! I’ve got nothing on you! You’re a nerd, in a good way! So am I! 🙂 Happy birthday!
mh says
aww such a cute post! I’m so glad you had a great b day Kath and props to the hubby! Y’all are so cute
Katherine says
I am in love with your new plates! Glad to see you had such a wonderful day.
Tiffany says
Looks like you had a fabulous birthday!
Fleur says
Very cute post. I’m glad your birthday was so wonderful!
Brynn says
Happy 26th Kath!! I love that you had a whole birthday weekend instead of only celebrating today. 🙂 Thanks for the fun, thoughtful posts, even on your special day!
Lillian says
Kath,
I can’t believe that whiskers and kittens was NUMBER TWENTY-SIX. Hooray for all the cats who, like me, read this blog!
Love,
Lillian, your sister and cat in Hillsborough
Say hey to the husband. He’s the best, even if he is allergic to me. Tell him to come visit and we can chase birds together!
HangryPants says
This was such fun to read! I am glad you had a great day. Here’s to a healthy week!
Heather
jenner says
lol Lillian!
Meghann says
Looks like you had a fabulous birthday! I love all of your favorite things!
Once again Happy 26th Birthday and here’s to another fabulous 26 years! 🙂
Eliza says
reading that = joy
Kelsey says
Your day seems like it was so much fun. I love baked sweet potatoes and I cut them just like that!
KatieTX says
Birthdays with good food are the best! Instead of wine I celebrate with a good pina colada..not quite as classy as wine! I would find it hard to find 26 of my favorite things, thank goodness Sound of Music could round it out for you! Now the song is stuck in my head!
Hil says
That sounds like an amazing day! It was a joy to read this post. And I love that orange plate!
Madison (FollowMyWeigh) says
aw what a wonderful day you had =) i’m sure it was worht a couple days bloat 😀
Krista says
Sounds like you had an absolutely fabulous day! You deserve it! 🙂
Abby says
Happy Birthday, Kath! Looks like you had a great day!
Ryane Murray says
Oh my gosh, you are so cute. I’m glad your 26th was such a great day!!
Cyclist Kate says
Yay for wonderful birthdays! The joy you find in life is so inspiring!
Roxana says
I loveeeee arugula, ESPECIALLY on pizza. YUM
Biz319 says
What a great day! Hands down, the pizza was my favorite of your day!
Teddy says
what a fantastic 26!!
Teddy
Fancy says
Happy Birthday, Kath!!! 🙂
sharon says
Such a cute post 🙂 I am so glad to hear you had such a fun & special day. It is so important to surround ourselves with the things we love! You are such an upbeat & positive person. You have such a love of life and it’s wonderful to see! Enjoy the last few hours of your birthday, Kath!
Cat says
Sounds like the perfect day! Happy birthday again, Kath. You truly are an inspiration 🙂
Katrina says
What a wonderful day! Happy for you. And many more.
Jenn (eating bender) says
You are such a talented writer 🙂 I am so glad you enjoyed your day and were able to have so many of your favorite things! You really deserve it – especially on your “golden” birthday!! There’s about 18 minutes left…make the most of it!!
Jenny says
Glad to see that you had such an amazing birthday Kath! LOVE those plates, beautiful!! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your evening 🙂
S says
Haha, how did I know you would list 26 of your favorite things?
Happy birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful day (and I’m so jealous of that cake!).
magpie says
aw what a wonderful day 🙂 yay for 26.
Lara (Thinspired) says
Pachelbel’s Canon in D is one of my favorites, too! I had it played twice at my wedding!
What a day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, once again 😉
Mara says
It sounds like you had a fantastic day! Happy birthday!
I totally agree about LOTR too 🙂
beth says
your husband is a doll! and he can sure cook! that cake is to die for and he put so much work into it.
what are your other 2 fav movies? beth
VeggieGirl says
You made me want to get up and sing, “These are a few of my faaaavorite things” from Sound of Music, haha 😀 Your birthday was so delightful!! Hooray!!
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
Woot! What a fantastically awesome day! We do the special dinners as well. A few years ago, I have also started doing the “birthday week” thing. Why celebrate for one day when you can have a whole week? 😀
Jess says
What a perfect day! Happy birthday (although it is technically Monday now)! Glad you made the most of it!
Kath says
Thank you to everyone for the sweet comments!!
Lillis Billis,
Glad mom is allowing you to use her computer. I am guessing you posted during the night since you seem to have insomnia around 4am each night? Say hello to Ropie for me!
beth ,
Tough call!!!
-Moulin Rouge
-The Notebook
-Father of the Bride
Kath
beth says
I love the Notebook too; love that the 2 main characters are a couple again in real life..they broke up for a while but now they’re back. that scene after the boat ride is HOT!
Alexia says
What an great birthday! Looked like you enjoyed yourself. Cute dishes! I love Canon in D! That’s what I walked down the asile to and knew I would since I was a little girl! YAY!
Casey says
Kath, I love your orange plate! It’s on the cover of the current Pottery Barn catalog…so pretty!
Rose says
Happy Birthday! I’m a little late in posting due to lack of internet over the weekend – it looks like you had a great birthday celebration! Love that you centered it around things you enjoy – best way to do it!
Rebecca says
That was the cutest post ever. Happy birthday!
melissa says
Computer problems over the weekend makes this a late post but just wanted to wish you a belated Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful, special celebratory weekend. 🙂
Holly says
Happy (Belated) Birthday! Such a great post. 🙂
Cat says
Adorable post… I’m so happy you had such a fun-filled birthday! I love the Pottery Barn goodies too… as well as the cake for breakfast on your oats. How could you not??
Gina says
Happy belated birthday, Kath! It looks like you had an awesome day 🙂