I’m trying to keep things a bit lighter this month because it is my birthday month, which is why I haven’t talked about my plans or a-has around my get healthy journey. Those aren’t always the easiest posts for me write, although very necessary and ultimately cathartic. Plus, in all honestly, my get healthy plans were put on the back-burner this month because I plan to eat cake, folks. I will not apologize for this. 😀
Getting to Know the Birthday Girl
You know I love me some “Prompts” posts. To be fair, I really, really love it when I can “borrow” them from other people, but here I dug deep and came up with my own prompts. Feel free to borrow them when your birthday rolls around!
What is Your Favorite Birthday Gift?
Well, when I was a kid it would have been Barbie or anything Barbie-related. I loved Barbie very, very much. She probably screwed me up a bit (cuz I was never going to be a tall, white blond woman) but she was precious to me and fueled hours of fun and my imagination.
Now, it’s not so much a tangible gift but the chance to get together with friends. Life is so busy that sometimes it’s hard to get everyone together. Birthdays often give me a chance to catch-up with friends and let us break bread together, which means the world to me.
What is Your Favorite Birthday Meal?
Let me tell you a secret … I think about what I’ll eat as my birthday celebration meal all year long. First, I should explain what I mean by birthday meal. Most of my birthday celebrations involve dining out because eating at favorite or new-to-me restaurants is a real treat for me. But I also always make a special meal just for me. One where I can eat whatever I want without worrying about calories or pleasing anyone but me.
I know what I’m going to make for myself this year (assuming it lives up to the hype, will share the recipe with y’all next week) but some of my all-time favorite birthday meals have included Chicken Parmesan and a Mediterranean feast. The latter one involved less cooking by me as I picked up hummus, grape leaves and a rotisserie chicken at the store. This year is going to be pasta because I am a carb-o-holic after all.
Who are Your 5 Dream Birthday Party Guests?
People you don’t know but admire (or would possibly stalk if stalking wasn’t wrong).
Whomever thought of this question is a genius. Oh wait, that’s me. And yes, I am a genius. LOL! I would invite the following:
- Sandra Oh
- Lizzo
- Michelle Obama (I’d request that she bring her hubby as her plus one, who doesn’t count towards my five guests. My question; my rules.)
- J.K. Rowling
- Ina Garten (and ummm … maybe she can also cook dinner too.)
What is Your Favorite Birthday Memory?
I’m going to be honest – I don’t recollect much about my childhood birthdays, although I do remember celebrating with my family and my Mom making my birthday cake. The one birthday I remember quite vividly was when I was living in Austin, MN and working at the local TV station.
I was very well-liked, which meant lots of ego-boosting birthday cards, balloons, gifts and cake. I literally had a stream of people, – anchors, reporters, photogs, engineers, PAs, management – stop by the control booth throughout my shift to wish me happy birthday. I felt so loved. 😀 And one of my production assistant’s had his mother bake me a peach pie. It was so damn good. He got the recipe from her, which I misplaced and makes me so sad because it was truly one of the best pies I’ve ever eaten.
What is Your Birthday Wish for This Year?
I swear sharing won’t make your wish ineligible with the Wishing Gods.
That love wins. People stop leaning into their hate and instead celebrate our shared dreams, like wanting to create a better life for ourselves and for our children. To recognize those who fear-monger often profit from spreading discord and making “others” the enemy. To stop fearing our differences and simply know that people can and should be different from one another. It’s not wrong or bad or scary. It just is.
And lastly, a world where people sing in Church …
Jesus loves the little children. All the little children of the world. Red or yellow, black or white; they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.
And it not be sung in hypocrisy.
Tanya
I’m with you on that Birthday wish my friend!!!!
Funny – I never thought of it but I tend to do all the carbs for birthday too!!! Carbs dont really count on a birthday, right???
I hope this next year is full of surprises, blessings, JOY & Happiness!!!! The best one yet!
Carbs most definitely DO NOT count on birthday!!!! Thanks for the birthday wishes – much appreciated!!
Fact: cake and treats dont count during birthday month (or during periods, if we’re being honest here).
happy birthday month! treat yourself to anything you want; you deserve it 😉
Thanks, Kathy!! And agree wholeheartedly! Carbs, sugar – all that stuff is fine, just fine during your birthday!
We used to sing that in church/Sunday school when I was a kid! Definitely the Jesus I grew up believing it 🙂
OF COURSE that entire station loved you!! What’s not to love? I’m so glad they spoiled you and brought you all the treats and goodies! You deserve it!
Happy Birthday, pretty lady!!
We sang it too. In fact, I know kids still sing it at my Church because my Mom and Grandma teach Sunday School. Ah, you flatter me! 😀 Thanks, Audrey!
Happy Birthday Tanya! I hope you have a great day! I love the idea of not only going to eat but cooking a delicious birthday meal as well….although honestly, when it’s my birthday, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking. I’m all about the pasta and can’t wait to see what you make – fellow carb-lover here!
I don’t always cook the meal on my birthday – it depends on how I’m celebrating. But I do always make a special meal to celebrate my birthday – all the goodies that I want without guilt! 😀 Okay, I might have a few regrets the next day but I don’t care!
Happy Birthday my friend! Hope your day is awesome 😀
Thanks, Mackenzie!
I love these prompts and will definitely be borrowing when my birthday rolls around- thanks for sharing! I love the idea of a bday meal with friends but have given up on the idea as years go by because my birthday is 2 weeks from Christmas and as my friend’s families grows, it’s become nearly impossible, and I don’t want to make it a stressful occasion, ya know? But my favorite birthday meal is same as you- chicken parmesan at my favorite little BYOB restaurant around the corner from my apt 🙂 And obviously, I love your wish and wish for the same! Happy birthday month!
Go for it, I always love seeing everyone’s answers to these prompts posts. When I was younger, I was a little fussy about celebrating with friends on my actual birthday but now that I’m older and so many of my friends have families – I’m fine with whenever people can get together. And I can imagine it’s even more difficult when your birthday is close to a major holiday. Chicken Parmesan is soooooo yummy but there isn’t a place near me that makes a version that I love, which may be a good thing. 😀