The official day is more than a month gone, but given the theme of the month for the Silver Bloggers, perhaps the timing is just right to share about my own birthday celebration. It was a "big" year, so worthy of multiple celebrations. Usually just dinner with a few friends and time with family is all I need, but this year called for a few extra events.
First up...a concert in a cave!
After missing out on a number of shows in 2020, a lot of the bands I enjoy seeing have finally started touring again. I was so excited at the beginning of the year when I saw two of my favorites not only playing together, but also playing in the coolest venue I've ever seen (The Caverns). That weekend deserves a post all its own, so I'll leave it that the show was even better than I expected. Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional were just as amazing as I remembered. Well worth the drive to Tennessee. I would gladly go back for another show!
Though I think we would prefer later in the spring, since we woke up to a few inches of snow the morning after the concert! Living in Atlanta, it's not often you see snow a few weeks into March. It sure was gorgeous. @dksart and I ventured out into the woods of the tiny home community we were staying in to get some photos. A memorable beginning to birthday month!
The evening before my actual birthday, my girlfriends decided to treat me to a night out at a delicious Greek restaurant nearby. One of my sisters joined us for a wonderful meal and even better company. It is sometimes challenging to find time to get together, so birthdays are always a good excuse to make it happen!
Plus getting dressed in non-workout attire and made up is equally rare, deserving of a selfie for posterity. For finishing out my fourth decade of life, I'm feeling quite vibrant and healthy. Hoping for much the same going forward!
Since my actual birthday fell on a Saturday, how could we not throw a party? We contemplated a different venue, but ultimately an intimate gathering at home is much more my speed. Of course, as with most celebrations, it was all about the food!
My dear friend insisted on helping cater from one of my favorite local businesses, Strive. All plant-based, and all amazing! The enchilada quesadillas were probably the favorite of the evening.
Though the Buffalo cauliflower was gobbled up almost as quickly. One of her signature "pizzas" also featured the cauliflower on top, though she also made mushroom, margherita and ratatouille pizzas, as well.
Despite everyone eating plenty, we still had leftovers for days! Luckily there wasn't a bad thing in the bunch, so very little got wasted. She added in some vegan dessert bites, but the real star of the dessert show was the cake...
My girlfriends knocked it out of the park! They went to a local baker who usually doesn't do vegan cakes, but she made the most delicious chocolate cake that was so realistic some of my other friends thought it was a piece of art! It truly was. Those leftovers didn't last long either. 😂
I was so grateful for time with people I'm blessed to call friends and family. Though the food ranks high up on the list, the time with loved ones is what it's really about. I hardly took any photos that evening because I was just enjoying the moment, but so many parts of the event are etched in my memory.
Cheers to the new decade and all that is to come!
