Sunday, September 20, 2020

Birthday Giveaway

 



Today is my birthday! 

Some people may look at me and think, "Aren't you a little...um...seasoned to still be celebrating birthdays?" To that I say, "No! Any birthday spent on this side of the grass is worth celebrating." So, since I'm still on the right side of the grass, let's celebrate!


Gifts from my neighbor (she knows me well) and my out-of-state bestie. I'll open those during our FaceTime call today.

I kicked off my birthday weekend yesterday with a lovely, cool day that allowed me to open my windows and embrace the crisp freshness that fall air brings. It's my favorite season of the year.

A trip to the new bakery in the neighborhood elicited sighs of delight and a box of goodies to bring home. One should always have cake on their birthday. This year, I chose two gluten-free cupcakes: carrot and toasted coconut. Plus, a few macarons for a yummy bonus. ;-)



With treats in hand, I then stopped by the grocery for my weekly bouquet of flowers, a small kindness I began giving myself in May that I've continued through the summer and now, into the fall. They add a burst of color to my days and bring me so much joy. 




I was saving the bakery goodies for today but I needed something sweet for football watching Saturday, right? I mean, it is my birthday weekend. What's better for a crisp fall afternoon than fresh from the oven Apple Crisp with my favorite organic vanilla ice cream? Nothing! It was mmmm....mmmm...good.



This morning, I awoke to full-on fall: bright blue sky, 48 degree temperature, and the return of Canadian Geese. They're gathered right outside my patio, squawking (singing?) as if they had returned just to help me celebrate. ;-) 



Now, I'm back from a brisk, rejuvenating walk - honestly, I feel so much better when I walk in the morning - and ready to whip up a birthday breakfast. Have you noticed that my birthday tends to be centered around food? 😂 I'm thinking a ham and cheese omelet with sliced avocado and roasted tomatoes. That, plus a steaming mug of coffee, should keep my tummy happy and set the tone for the day.

That's how I'm celebrating in these weird times. Not exactly the norm but I'm finding the joy and grateful for the opportunity to greet another new year. 

How do you celebrate your birthday?

Do you have to have cake or is another dessert your go-to? 

Are you ready to embrace fall or hanging on to summer for all you're worth?

Are you looking forward to hot chocolate, snuggly blankets, and a good book? I am!

Because I believe birthday joy should be shared, two randomly chosen people who leave a comment on this post before 11:00 PM, September 21, will each receive a birthday box of books and swag from me. 




*Must be 18

*U.S. addresses only



52 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday. I'm not a big celebrator of birthdays as I get older but love when my husband makes me my favorite meal.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am very much looking forward to cooler weather !!! Unfortunately here in Southern California I’ll be waiting at least a couple more months ðŸĪŠ Happy Birthday !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Anne! Hope you stay safe from fires in your area.

      Delete
  3. Happy Birthday! Apple crisp is one of my favorites - what a perfect way to usher in Fall weather. I’m loving the crispness in the air and smell of leaves and apples. I believe in a well-celebrated birthday, for a day, a weekend, or even a month!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy birthday!!! You should always celebrate your B-day! I could never understand why you shouldn't as you get older... I love buying myself presents, cooking something decadent, a door going to a bakery with family or friends...

    Our tradition is to bake something that the person who is celebrating wants be it cake, muffins, tarte, mousse, fruit salad or whatever


    PS: not entering

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happiest of birthdays 🎂💐🎉🎈 I am ready for fall this year. Snuggly blankets, cats, books.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy birthday! My mom started the tradition and I'm happy to continue it. We celebrate Birthday Month all month long. She celebrated the entire month of February and would remind you ... it's my birthday month, you know. And we all let her have all the goodies she wanted (and get her way) all month long!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy birthday PJ!!! Lots of love and hugs and i hope you have a great day! I normally go for a mini vacation during my birthday in the spring. Cakes, balloons and a teeny tiny bit of liquor is a must lol 😆

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happiest of birthdays, my friend! I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day full of great reading.

    I'm a "celebrate my birthday all month" kinda gal and this pandemic is really putting a damper on that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I celebrate with my hubs, son and daughter and their families.

    My daughter always gets me an amazing cake from a Brazilian bakery that is filled with fresh fruit, custard and sponge, topped with fresh whipped cream with more fresh fruit on top. It is delicious.

    I'm looking forward to cooler weather down here in Southern Florida, but sadly, that means our temps only get down into the higher 70's or low 80's.

    We're still celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. My cards are still up three weeks later. LOL

    Happy Birthday, PJ. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Birthday! I had a big one 9/6 - hooray for September Birthdays. My family go me a smartphone and was able to assign it my home phone# that I've had for over 50 years (that makes things easier). They sent me flowers and we had a Zoom. One of my great-nephews is having his 6th Birthday today too and his brother will be 8 on Wednesday. It has turned much cooler, so time to wear socks and pull
    out the blankies.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy birthday, PJ!
    For my birthday, I have some type of chocolate cake. I may need to consider something with apples for my next birthday since I do enjoy apple pie. My family usually comes over to celebrate. I will also get together with a friend for dinner and a movie.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Apple Crisp -for one- in a Remekin! Brilliant! My hubby and I wanted weekend getaways for our Birthdays, but Coronavirus ended that idea. So we just went out for lunch at Applebees for my birthday this year (Bummer.) His birthday is coming up, so I like your ideas. He likes flowers but I don't think I've ever bought him any. Could be fun... If course, he wants Tuxedo cake.

    Susan in AZ

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy birthday!, My husband and I go out for a nice dinner and the girls get me flowers.
    Penney

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday PJ! Sounds like a fantastic weekend...great weather, good food, good friends, gifts, cake! What more could a body ask for on a birthday? I don't care how old I get (going on 77 in Nov), I still enjoy getting gifts, having dinner out with my kids and coming back to my apartment for dessert of fancy cupcakes and ice cream. We try to do the same for everyone's birthday and since there are only 4 of us, it works out OK...until we hit November. My daughter's birthday is the week after mine so it kind of jams things up a bit. But we work it out.

    Stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. First of all, Happy Happy Bday to you and many more. I like that you treat yourself to flowers every week. We all should take care of ourselves. Those desserts look yummy. For my bday which is end of Oct, we go out to eat with friends and also with my daughter and her family either to her house or another restaurant trip. I know, but I grin and bear it. Before the Covid, myself and 2 girlfriends would go to lunch or breakfast, so that was 3 different celebrations with the bday girl being treated by the other 2. And thank you very much for giving a few people a chance to get a surprise pack of books, nothing much better than getting a box of books and the anticipation of waiting to see what is inside.

    Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Birthday! Cake of some sort is a must! Glad you treated yourself. Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy Birthday! I am so glad that you got to do and EAT the things that bring you joy. :-)

    Fall is my favorite season. I enjoy the changing colors, cooler temperatures, and college football. I know that you are glad that your teams decided to play this year.

    I usually celebrate my birthday with my growing family. Just being all together is the best gift for me. We like to eat out at a nice restaurant too. Fortunately, my most recent birthday came right before the Covid restrictions.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy Birthday PJ! I am with you in feeling that birthdays are meant to be celebrated. In answer to your questions:
    How do you celebrate your birthday?
    We tend to center our celebrating around food, drink and chatting (lots of facetime, zoom, and skype this year). My husband's birthday is coming up and I will try to do an herb and breadcrumb crusted rack of lamb, mashed potatoes, overlapped slices of tomato, zucchini, onion and eggplant baked with lots of olive oil, and a big green salad. This may seem detailed, but the dinner is happening on Tuesday and I have all of the ingredients.
    Do you have to have cake or is another dessert your go-to?
    We are flexible on this, Tiramisu is a favorite dessert, but also, cheesecake is till a cake, right?
    Are you ready to embrace fall or hanging on to summer for all you're worth?
    I have really loved summer but am ready for the cooler weather and the beautiful colors and foods of fall.
    Are you looking forward to hot chocolate, snuggly blankets, and a good book?
    I am ready for hot chocolate, hot apple cider, snuggly blankets, and a good book. But really, when is a good book not in season?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy Birthday!🎉 I celebrate with my family and homemade pie and ice cream. I love hot chocolate all year!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Birthday!

    I love all things fall!

    Lately, I've been getting cupcakes from the local bakery for my birthday.

    Bringing our the snugglies today!

    denise

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy, happy birthday!!! I usually don't do any thing special for my birthday. My best friend always tries to take me out for birthday lunch so that is very special! Not a big cake eater, so don't bother with it. Looking forward to cooler temps.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh my goodness, Happy Birthday PJ!🎉🎁🎈🎂 I dont celebrate my birthday anymore but we usually get cupcakes from Publix or my family will bake me a cake.

    I'm more than ready for fall after a long hot summer. I'm ready for my recliner, a cup of Joe, and a book and a blanket!!

    Happy Birthday!!💜💗💜

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy birthday!! My birthday is actually next week. I agree that birthdays should be celebrated, EXCEPT the "0" birthdays. That throws me into a whole new age bracket. LOL. I'm not really a sweets person, but a warm cookie and a cup of coffee hit the spot. I live in Florida so we don't get too cold, but we do get snuggley weather occasionally. Enjoy your birthday week!! I'll be celebrating next week.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Birthday to you.....Happy Birthday to you.....No, I will quit now because if I continued to sing, your ears would bleed. I wish you joy, peace and love.

    Unfortunately, I live alone and my dog seldom is in the mood to celebrate a birthday. If I get the chance, I make a cake for me with lots of frosting.

    I am a huge fan of Autumn. The light changes and it as though we are all living in a Woody Allen film.

    I have had the luxury of realizing that I am in charge of me and I get to do what I like - I love
    to read and I have been doing a lot of it. And that is a huge gift to me from me. It appears that you have learned about gifts to you too. I knew you were brilliant.

    I love your post. I love the pictures of all the GOOD FOOD....love good food. I love the geese. In fact, everything you have said made me smile.

    I think that we all need to celebrate - who we are - where we are - and things that give us happiness.

    I thank you for all you have shared with us on a regular basis.

    Hope everyone is taking care and staying safe.

    ReplyDelete
  25. W0w--Happy Birthday!!! You made your day sound so good, I wished it was my birthday ; ) I believe everyone should do something for themselves for their birthday. One of my favorite traditions is a birthday butterscoth-dipped soft-serve cone from the Dairy Queen--a classic!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love hearing how you celebrated your special day!! Yes, I do celebrate my birthday, any way I want to!!After losing our sister when she was 53, my brother reminded me that each birthday you celebrate means another year you are alive. So enjoy everyday you are given. Happy Birthday PJ!! Thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy Birthday! What a wonderful celebration. Your photos are beautiful and the treats so special. Birthday should be celebrated. An important and extremely beautiful date. I love to have a marble cake, and a lovely dinner with family. Fall is here after an extremely long, hot summer and I welcome it with my daily walks in the sunshine. The temps are ideal and comfortable.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your birthday sounds perfect. Happy Birthday! Everyone should be happy and celebrate their birthday. Why not? We deserve happiness and birthdays are meaningful. When I celebrate I enjoy a walk in the foothills, a lemon cake, tart or scone, books and something unique and just for me which I can enjoy. I love fall where I live as it is the most delightful season. Walks are the best ever in the cooler air and the skies are deep blue. What else would I need in life?

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am looking forward to Fall. Unfortunately my and my husband's birthday are close to Christmas so we usually lump the birthdays together and go out to eat. We sometimes have a big holiday party that we lump in as well. This year will be very quiet.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Happy September birthday! The majority of the people on my dad's side of the family were born in September including my Mom! My daughter-in-law was also born in September! My favorite time of year is Fall! I am ready to wear jeans, sweaters, and my tennis shoes and socks!! For my birthday in November, we'll have chocolate cake!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Happy Birthday PJ!! I usually have cake but my niece was sick. So hubby tried to find a cake that I would like. Instead he was in Sam's Club and saw these chocolate, chocolate chip muffins. They were so yummy! I agree your birthday should be surrounded by food. So it was ribs, salad and corn on the cob. So glad to see you are enjoying your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I lost my first post - gosh I hate that, it's never the same. Can't imagine what an author would go through. Happy Birthday!! I like to have a nice dinner out (not this year) or a quiet get together with my immediate family is nice and, yes, cake please lol. And if i'm lucky, maybe a GC or some books as a nice present. Sounds like your birthday weekend is off to a good start!! Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Happy birthday of course I celebrate. I love birthdays. And I always have cake. My favorite dessert is birthday cake. It is the best. Hope you have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Happy birthday!
    I usually go out with family for my birthday.
    I usually get a cake small enough for three people.
    I'm kind of sad to see summer go but ready for fall weather
    Definitely not ready for hot chocolate yet.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Happy birthday!!!
    This year on my birthday, my daughter and I went on a road trip!!and always cake... And I am ready for sweater weather :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Happy Birthday!!! And I agree, always a birthday cake. This year on my birthday, my daughter and I went on a road trip and had fun!!
    And I'm ready for sweater weather!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy Birthday and thank you for giving us a chance for a gift. Sorry to see Summer go, and for my bday, hubby takes me to dinner and then we also celebrate with a family dinner. Always love to snuggle with a good book
    Karen T. (Natty's MamaP)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy Birthday, my sister Virgo! My big day is on Tuesday (22nd)! We've already had a dinner get-together this weekend as both my children were able to be here then...German cuisine (one of my favorites). And yes, I am planning on cake for my birthday from a local bakery...usually something chocolate...my weakness! I love the fall, it's my favorite season and here in Alabama we're having a little cooler days currently and less humidity (which is a blessing!). Your birthday treats sound wonderful, and apple crisp is one of my favorite desserts! In fact, I made one just a few weeks ago.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Happy Birthday! To say the older we get, the less we should acknowledge the passing years is so wrong. With each of those years we have more to celebrate and are happy to see them. You are right to treat yourself. If a bouquet brightens your week, go for it. At our age we have learned how important little things are. Special baked treats are just that - special and a treat. Another way to spoil ourselves every so often. Your apple crisp looks delicious. I have been avoiding baking, but just might have to break down.

    I love Fall. It is my favorite season. The cool, crisp days certainly lend themselves to comfort food. I grew up in apple country and always looked forward to going across the street to the orchard and picking an apple to eat. Apple pies and apple crisp soon followed. I have since found many other good recipes for apples and other Fall produce. I don't have a special cake or treat I want for my birthday. We were a military family for nearly 25 years and learned to celebrate special days when we could, not when the calendar indicated. We usually plan something special around the time. Some times, we will combine our birthday celebrations (mine is Jan. and his March) and do something special. I booked a trip to New Orleans one year for his birthday. I couldn't get him to go and I really wanted to. We had a great time and have been back twice since. I really think sharing it in a special way with others is the best gift of all.

    I am looking forward to cooler days so I can get back out and work in my gardens and clean them up for the winter. Curling up with a hot drink and a good book will be my reward for making progress and hopefully finishing.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Happy Birthday PJ. I think every birthday should be celebrated, especially the older we get. Like you said, every birthday on this side is a great day. My birthday hit at the beginning of the lockdown. So it was a lot of zoom, texts & face time wishes. Love Fall. Thank you for the giveaway chance as well.
    Carol Luciano
    Lucky4750 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Happy Birthday 🎊🎂🎉🎈🎁ðŸŒŧðŸ‘Đ‍❤️‍ðŸ‘Ļ

    ReplyDelete
  42. Not ready to embrace the colder weather. I celebrate my bday with my girls and their families with dinner and some kind of cake. Yes to hot chocolate and a good book snuggled under a cozy blanket.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Forgot to say Happy Bday, me bad, so glad you treated yourself to some things special. Food is special to me as well. Enjoy the rest of your bday month.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Happy Belated Birthday!! That apple crisp looks delicious.

    I like birthday cake with whipped cream frosting and custard filling.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Sounds like a wonderful Birthday weekend to me! We normally have the Birthday person choose their choice of dinner, anything they want. I personally love a nice relaxing trip to the local beach for my Birthday, whether it's still too chilly for the water or not, just because my Birthday is on June 1st. I wish I would have cake on every Birthday, as I absolutely love cake, but being the Mom, it's usually up to me to make them, and my Hubby just doesn't order one. I think I've had a cake on three Birthdays since we've been married(24 years in November.) I am ready for the fall, but it's a bittersweet goodbye to Summer since we didn't get to enjoy the Boardwalk this year, due to social distancing and people not following guidelines for it. I can't wait to curl up on the couch with a good book and a nice cup of hot cocoa in hand! Who am I kidding, I can enjoy a good book almost anywhere! Hope your Birthday is filled with lots of love and laughter and all the little things that make it special!

    ReplyDelete
  46. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PJ!! 🎉🎈🎊🎉🎈🎊

    I am SO ready for fall! Texas summers can be brutal. Plus I miss being able to wear my boots without roasting.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks for sharing your birthday delights and treats!Love that you did fun stuff! My great aunt Anna ‘s birthday was Sept 18th. Loved picking apples and making her favorite apple pie. My birthday dinner was fried chicken and mashed potatoes and corn on the cob with chocolate angel food cake with chocolate whipped cream frosting. We also get a lot of Canadian geese here in central Wisconsin. I don ‘t live to far from Horicon Marsh where they gather together. My birthday is in January so a brisk walk is welcome. I prefer summer temps as summers are quite short here in Wisconsin. I do love fall color. We already have yellow birch leaves and red maple leaves. I like a fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate, a book or movie. PJ best wishes for a wonderful birthday and a healthy year to come!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'm also a September birthday (1st) and I celebrate the whole month :D
    I used to be all about chocolate but I'd take apple crisp over that any day.
    Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Happy birthday, PJ! I hope you had a wonderful day!!

    ReplyDelete