Today I turn 20!
There’s no better way to start off your birthday than with some grueling workouts at boot camp. And as an added bonus it was too cold for the mosquitoes this morning!
I celebrated my birthday last Saturday in conjunction with my housewarming party. It was a great time; about 30 people were there in total between my sisters friends and my friends, and there was much eating and drinking and catching up. Devin made me 2 kinds of cupcakes! White cakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate cakes with icing sugar sprinkled on top:
And because my sister works at a fine dining restaurant, her boss (the owner and chef of the restaurant) stopped by with 3 pizzas he had made and he also made creme brulee in our apartment. So that was very cool! At one point we had a little fireworks display outside as well that some of the guys put on for us- all around good times.
One of my friends brought me homemade wine- a fruity sangria wine! Normally I like classic reds but this wine was amazing. I love it. And my parents gift to me was boot camp for the next month (happiness!).
Last night my sister gave me an assortment of fancy teas (20 of them, of course!), and she also made me dinner using some spices I’d brought back for her from Italy. Unfortunately the spices were so darn spicy that no amount of water, milk, or wine could comfort our burning mouths so instead we put it away in the fridge with the hopes that we’ll come up with an idea over the next couple days of how to dilute the spiciness. It’s really delicious; just too hot for our taste buds! Luckily I was making a big batch of my special split pea soup so we had some of that instead (after eating a cupcake each, that is). If you have any ideas at all about how we can fix our penne arrabiata it would be very much appreciated!
This afternoon I’m picking my parents up from the airport- now that the father’s retired he can accompany my mum on her business trips and read Plato/go hiking while she goes to seminars- so I expect we’ll have a nice family dinner tonight.
Hope you all have a wonderful day and have some fun for me:)
*Update: Just read this wonderful post about blogging over at a great blog which I think we’re all very familiar with, Cranky Fitness. Anyhow, I’m feeling the love today and so you should take a break from your workday, click on the link and enjoy a good read!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sagan!
You are exactly one year older than my niece! She turns 19 today.
It sounds like you are being showered with all manner of good things for your birthday.
Sorry – no suggestions about cooling down your penne, unless perhaps you could add sour cream…??
Happy birthday, Sagan! 20 was a good year for me, I’m hoping it is for you, too!
Let’s see, to cool down the pasta, I would suggest one of the following:
1. the addition of a creamy cheese like mozzarella
2. throwing in a handful of dried bread crumbs
3. adding more tomato sauce.
Personally, I’d go with the cheese.
Bag Lady- tell your niece I say happy birthday! Am having quite a good birthday indeed- the sky is even clear and blue:)
Gena- thanks! I do love cheese…
Happy birthday Sagan! Your party sounds like a riot, hope you had fun.
I’m always overspicing things because I LOVE the burn but it makes my boyfriend weep. In a curry I would chuck in soy milk or yoghurt to chill it out. Pasta is harder – I would suggest expanding the bulk of everything else in the dish to spread out your spice. So add more pasta and tomatoes. And cheese is a great idea to cool down the palate!
Ohhh I want pasta now… (and cupcakes)
TA x
Happy Birthday!!
Sangria – good stuff! I’m wanting a glass now…
Happy Birthday! those cupcakes look DELISH!!
Happy Birthday Sagan!!! it sounds like a perfectly lovely day. I have no suggestions about your pasta but Gena’s a whiz with those things so I’d listen to her!
Happy Birthday!!
I am always amazed when I see how young you are. You are so insightful, grounded and well spoken. Have a great day. 🙂
What an awesome birthday! Chef-made pizza, multiple types of cupcakes, good friends, fireworks…you can’t get much better than that. 🙂
I saw the pics of your new place…it looks great!
Happy Birthday to yoooooou! 🙂
Sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful day; I’m so glad.
Yes, on the above suggestions for toning down the heat of the pasta! 🙂 Something with milk will help cool the burn, that’s why I like the cheese idea. I also like the “spreading it out” idea too… make the sauce larger by adding more water, tomatoes, pasta, etc… but then don’t forget to add more herbs to keep the taste up too.
And hopefully the sauce will mellow out over time. Tomato sauces always taste better and less acidic the next day. 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday!
TA- good idea! We’ve got a bunch of cherry tomatoes too so those might be tasty in it…
Lance- Sangria is absolutely my fav. alcoholic drink. So delicious!
Workout Mommy- they were! She’s a super baker.
Charlotte- thanks! Gena does probably have the most experience out of all of us:)
Robin- you’re so sweet! And I had a really great day.
Zandria- it really doesn’t get a whole lot better:)
Susan- I never thought about time mellowing out the spices… that would be nice if just leaving it for a day or two helped!
Running Knitter- thank you!
Happy Happy HAPPY first day outta teens.
You are so ahead of the game (& ahead of where I was @ 20) with health balance and living with AWARENESS.
MizFit
Happy birthday young ‘un! hehe Funny to think I am probably your parents’ age…
Yummy looking cupcakes!
Happy Birthday!
happy birthday! those choc cupcakes look great – lucy you 🙂 I’d add some cheese, yoghurt or sour cream into the sauce to round out the spice.
Oops, I’m late. Happy Birthday, anyway! Sounds like a great one!
MizFt- aw thanks:)
Missicat- well I won’t give away all my parents secrets… but I can assure you that you’re not hehe.
Meghann- thank you!
Dee- good ideas, thanks!
Cammy- its all good- thank you:)
Happy Birthday!!! I’m sure the earth was smiling the day you graced us with your entrance 🙂
Happy Late Bday! Hope it was a good one! I am guessing with all those cupcakes..no way it couldnt have been! ;0)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
You deserve it!
I think its funny to say that to people on their birthdays.
Im usually the only one that laughs.
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Dr. J- hehe (giggles is the sound of my ego being fed:)).
Angie- indeed… cupcakes complete birthdays!
Kelly- oh you always makes me laugh:)
Happy Birthday! Wow, 20 years old…that brings me back. Sounds like you had a great time bringing in the big 2-0. Life only gets better now 🙂
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :0)
Congratulations!
Wow! Is it not the bomb to be surrounded by all this love and those cupcakes! Happy birthday!
Crystal- thank you. I'm looking forward to the 20's:)
Veggiegirl & Mark- thanks!
Nazarina A- oh it certainly is! Thanks for stopping by and commenting:)