Sunday, August 2

It's my birthday! Let's PARTY!

This is my actual birthday cake. Looks yummy, doesn't it? Mmm. Coconut cake, cookies & cream ice cream, and toasted coconut on top. It was quite yummy. And I have plenty left over, so come on in and have a slice! Let the party begin!!

(Thanks, mom. It is a delicious cake. You did a great job!)

If you weren't around for last year's festivities, you can check out what we did last year and some of our party games (look and laugh, that is) And while you're laughing, you can look at the MULTITUDE of candles on this cake! Good thing I had a helper!

I'm boring in some ways - more ways than I'm exciting, that is, so...I'm asking you for the same gift I asked for last year - leave me a comment, would you? I am so happy that you are here and that you read my blog, and I'd love to know who you lurkers are! You can say anything you like - if it's nice, that is! But if you need some ideas, tell me your most embarrassing birthday memory. I dare not tell mine in mixed company, believe you me. So please, help my thirtieth be a happier one with YOU as a vocal party guest!

Since I'm marking the end of my third decade, I'm giving a really stellar birthday goody bag away to one commenter! (One commenter who lives in the continental US or has a US address I can send this to, that is.) I am so grateful to have passed another milestone birthday! Hurray for birthdays!!

So you want to know what's in the goody bag this year? Well, there will be some surprises, because I'm all about surprises. But I'll tell you some of the items (most are some of my favorite things)

And you should know me well enough to know that any gift bag of mine would need to be frugal, right? Well, there ya go.

- my almost-favorite shade of toenail polish, Elf's Light Red. My real favorite is opi's "I'm Not Really a Waitress" but if I'm going to spend $8, I'd rather spend it on something else. So Elf's Light Red is pretty close to opi's shade - with 2 coats - and it's only $1.

- Some Avon lip gloss, spice and plum. I got a boatload of freebies and these two shades were multiples, so I'm passing them to you.

- A neat little green and cream print zippered cloth bag, which you can use for makeup touch up kit or pencils or crayons or whatever strikes your fancy.

- Mini body butters from the Body Shop. I have Strawberry and Cranberry to give away today.

- some Pampered Chef goodies, of course. Surprises, of course.

And who knows what else could be in there. It's my birthday, and I'm liable to run out and get a gift card as well, I'm feeling so sprightly in my middle years. I haven't decided how much or where yet, but there will be something in there like that.

So, comment away! I will be drawing a winner next Sunday afternoon, so don't miss your chance! Just make sure I know how to contact you in the event that you win!

I didn't get a disco ball this year, (rats! rats!) but we can go right ahead and play a rousing round of Memory, or Hi Ho Cherry-O. Or Hungry Hippos, if you really want to live on the edge. At any rate, let the party begin!!!

37 comments:

Stephens said...

Well Happy, happy 30th, my friend!!! It was soooo good to see you today and talk with you guys again, at least live via webcam. :-) I think we might just pull out some of those games you mentioned at the end of your post and play them in your honor. We have them all! Partying with you all the way from CA, girl! Too bad we couldn't take you to one of our fantastic beaches on your big day. Anyway, you are loved and missed very much! I pray this is your best year ever and that we can sometime actually see each other in person before you're 31. :-)

Tracy said...

Happy 30th Birthday Jenny! Hope you have had a wonderful day. The cake looks delicious. Enjoy your family and all the party games with Aaron

Shelldell said...

Happy 30th birthday and I know you won't burn you hair like I did.
The cake looks yummy!

Abby said...

Happy 30th Jenny! It's really not all that bad! I had a hard time turning 30, but then when 31 came along, I forgot all about it :-) Glad you had a great day!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Jenny!!! I really enjoy seeing your family growing up. Your boys are precious!! I also am benefiting from your great coupons advice. Please post more money saving tips that you find. By the way, I am planning to win all the great stuff. :) My email is kvanhols@greenville.k12.sc.us. Thanks!!! :)

Katie Luttrell

Momto5 RachelJoy Photography said...

aw. Happy Birthday!! The cake does look delish :) I want to start cooking more.. I miss it...

NewEveryMorning said...

Happy Birthday! My 30th birthday was a tough day. My parents and Danielle's family came to visit as a surprise, it was great to see them, but I was due with baby number 3 and not feeling well. My husband forgot to get a sitter so we could go out without the kids, so we ended up at Chuck E Cheese and Danielle who was in charge of taking pictures, forgot to get any of me, just her kids. My husband also forgot about a cake, so stopped at the store at the way home, and he chose a cherry pie, the only problem is I'm allergic to cherries. It was fun to be with everyone, but they had to leave four days later on Wednesday morning, I went into labor and had Elijah on Thursday morning. None of them had a chance to meet Elijah until he was six months old.

Ann said...

"Happy Birthday, my friend," said the figure lurking in the background. I hope your day and next year are more joyful than ever. I'm not very good at hiding with my name in bold blue on top. So much for suspense.

Karen said...

Happy 30th, Jenny! Your goody bag sounds lovely... I hope you're getting some fun stuff for yourself today!

Carrie said...

Do you realize that we are halfway to 60! Awful way to look at birthdays isn't it. Hope you have a very happy 30th birthday. I love hungry hippos!!! Mike and I are funny about birthdays, his dream would be stay home and do nothing, my ideal would be a party...I also would like to plan him a big 30 party for a month from today but I know he wouldn't like it. Whatever you do I hope its happy, it looks like you guys make anything fun.

marybeth brown said...

happy birthday Jenny! welcome to the 30's...it is a great decade!! i should know, i've been in it for a while..hehehe... looks like you had a great day with family, and both cakes do look yummy! (hope i win, too...your goody bags sounds excellent--who wouldn't want to get it?) hope the rest of your special day is special...

Carrie said...

Happy birthday Jenny!! Thanks for having such a generous giveaway in honor of your special day!

That cake looks and sounds AWESOME!! I love coconut, and cookies and cream ice cream is one of my faves, too. YUM!

Hope this year is your best ever! :)

Karis said...

You know, even though I've now had 31 birthdays, I don't feel "that old". 30 used to sound so grown up but now... I just don't feel that grown up.

I'm curious about your embarrassing birthday memory, but I know we won't get that story on here. I don't think I have an embarrassing birthday story so I guess I'm boring in that way.

Happy Birthday.

Tricia said...

Looks like you had a wonderful day Jenny! The cake looks delicious. I'm afraid I can't think of any embarrassing birthday memories either...although I can imagine there's something that I'm just missing. =)

Kelly Glupker said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny! It's so hard to believe we are all entering our thirties already!

Amanda Irene said...

Ahhhh to be 30 again. The good old days! okay so maybe I am only 34. You are living it up and thats what I love about you! You love the lord, your family and quilts. : )

Unknown said...

Happy happy 30th, dear friend! I love your enthusiasm at turning 30. I think that was the most exclamation points I've ever seen you use in one single post! Party hearty!

Like previous commenters here I can't think of an embarrassing birthday memory. Though I have an embarrassing party memory . . . an old friend of my mom's came to my highschool grad party. We hadn't seen her in years and I assumed because of her weight gain in her tummy region that she was pregnant. Yup, you guessed it. I congratulated her on her expected baby and she wasn't expecting. VERY embarrassing.

Mary Ann said...

Happy birthday, Jenny! I'm celebrating with you today, but I am two years your senior :-) My most embarrassing birthday memory (that I can think of right now) would have to be from high school. We always had band camp the week of my b-day & our band director would feel obliged to make me lead calisthenics or do something with the megaphone - enough to mortify me, for sure! I hope you had a fabulous celebration & here's to many, many more!

Rachel said...

Happy 30th Birthday, Jenny! My most embarrassing birthday moment happened when I turned 18. I went to my friends house to a surprise birthday party and ended up falling on her shoe rack when everyone yelled surprise. THAT was fun;).

Autum said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny! Hope you and your family had as nice of a day as we had with my mom yesterday. My birthday this year was a bust on the day (labor day for Toi and Russ still out of town), but we did have a nice pizza dinner the night before.

ruth said...

Happy birthday Jenny!!! I meant to tell you happy birthday on the phone the other night, but somehow I missed it. So sorry. :(

I wish I could have had some of that cake with you... it looks awesome. My most embarrasing birthday memory is when John took me to lunch at Red Robin and had the people sing to me. Apparently there were some of my co-workers there at the same time, so when I got back to work, the rumor mill had spread and all kinds of people were coming up to me and wishing me happy birthday. I was a bit sheepish.

(It's not that bad, I know, but you did ask for most embarassing BIRTHDAY moment. *grins*)

Curt and Sarah said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful day.

Mama Mia said...

Happy 30th Birthday, Jenny! Hope your day was full of happy memories!

Diana said...

Happy 30th Birthday! I hope it is a very memorable (happy things only!) one. My 30th birthday was probably one of my favs, but also a bit embarrassing. It was a rather hot and humid day in June. My husband dropped me off at the spa for a whole bunch of pampering. Of course after a facial you don't go anywhere or have pics taken, but thinking this was my gift since it was rather extravagant, I agreed to the one my husband had booked. Then I had my hair washed and styled, but with my long hair and the Mr. Comedy of Errors known as the stylist trying to curl every lock of hair, I didn't get out til late. Meanwhile back at the ranch, my husband is working on my surprise party and the guests are about ready to pass out in the sauna of a garage. By the time he brings me back, my face is a bright shade of red and my hair is completely flat and frizzy. You have to realize that my husband is terrible at surprises so for the fact he even pulled off a surprise was amazing. To add the cherry on the top, he secretly ordered and installed my new fancy microwave that I had been eyeing. I was having a hard time with turning 30 but after that day, it was seen as a day of blessings :)

Don & Katrina Hines said...

Happy Happy Birthday Jenny! Yes, I'm a lurker with an occasional comment! =) Sorry, no funny stories here, other than my birthday's were pretty boring until I met my man. He ALWAYS has something up his sleeve designed specially for me for that year. I love it! One of the last real memorable thing he did was make me a CD with all the Number 1 hits (all the decent ones that is) on my birthday from the year of my birth until present. So now I know that the #1 hit on the day I was born was "Celebration". Couldn't be more appropriate! =) Well, in the eyes of my Mom that is!

Don's big 3-0 is Wednesday . . . I'm gearing up for it! Have good one!

Mom and Dad Muth said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

You are now half the age of your father-in-law, for his birthday is today, Monday.

We love you very much,

Mom and Dad Muth

Kara said...

Happy Belated Birthday! My birthday is in Feb, so if you're mom feels like baking she can send one of those coconut cakes over.

christina said...

happy birthday! summer birthdays are super cool! ;)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!! Let me know how the 30's feel. I'm right behind you in September. Rebecca Townsend

The Barkers said...

Happy Happy birthday! 30 isn't bad at all...promise. I hope you had a great day with your family!

kellyH said...

I don't think I've been on your blog before...but I was enticed on fb!
I love your idea of giving away something for your bday. I may steal that idea. :) hope you had a special birthday!

-kelly

Rachel said...

Your goodie bags sound wonderful. I do hope I win it ;) happy belated B-day! You don't look a day over 25!!!

Julie said...

Happy birthday! I've been reading your blog for the past year now, and find it most enjoyable and often edifying. :) I actually went to Northland at the same time you and Michael were there (he was my campus bro. for one semester, go figure), but didn't really know you all. Anyhow, I thought I'd come out of the wood-work! Hope the joy of another birthday continues on at least for the rest of the month! Blessings! ~Julie (Ball) McClung

The Two of Us said...

Happy Birthday to you! Wish I could have been there to celebrate it with you. My favorite birthday memory is coming to your birthday party with the doll cake. Should I post a picture of that for everyone to smile over? Was that 16? :)

Love ya, friend!

Jenny said...

Sandra, I had TWO doll cakes - 5 years old AND 16, so there. Hee hee.

Richelle Wright said...

if you aren't sharing your most embarassing birthday moment, i don't think i'll share mine, either. I hope you had an awesome day, though... it sounds like it.

and i AM looking forward to a cup of coffee one of these days soon!

Unknown said...

Hope you had a happy birthday!! :) Just thought I'd sign up before it was too late... sounds like a bunch of great stuff.

JennilynDay@yahoo.com