Monday, August 2

Happy Birthday to meeeee! (a giveaway)

It's my birthday, something I like to celebrate because I am so thankful to be alive. I'm not sure when or why people started to get embarrassed about their age -it doesn't make any sense to me! With age comes so many benefits (and the sad reality of having much less energy you can fully appreciate when you have it, let's say at the age of, oh, FOUR or so) and there are so many blessings that come with each year, I say...there's always room for another party!!

This year's virutal cake is definitely going to be gluten free, and I daresay if you haven't tried a gluten free cake recently, it's about time you did. So pull up a seat and slice some flourless cake from this delicious chocolate creation. It is totally fat and calorie free, so make it a big slice. It is not, however, dairy free. Good thing it's virtual. (Click the photo if you want the actual recipe)

I *love* doing giveaways on birthdays. In fact, I love giving things away in general, so my birthday just provides an excellent excuse. Here is what I'm giving away this year (drumroll, please) because I'm so happy to be 31.

*A $5 gift card to....Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors (we can make other arrangements if you live somewhere that 31 Flavors does not, or if you are dairy intolerant)!
*a 3-pack of Pampered Chef Paring Knives (one for every decade)
*a coupon for a 31% discount on any one Pampered Chef product (coupon is only good with me), if you should choose to use it
*a SURPRISE! (because I love surprises)

This giveaway is open to anyone with a US address! To enter the giveaway, just leave a birthday memory or just a "Happy Birthday" but who doesn't love those funny/awkward preteen birthday stories! (you can leave a comment even if you don't want to win the giveaway, just mention that!) The giveaway will be open until NEXT Monday, August 9th. I'll draw a winner and let you know on Tuesday who wins!

Now let's get this party started!!! (anyone know where that disco ball went??) Oooh, oooh, ooh, ooh. . .stayin' alive, stayin' alive!

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do we enter the give-away?

By the way, I am so blessed every year I have a birthday too. When I got to be the age of 21, I started anticipating my birthdays, because my parents were told I wouldn't likely live to 21yrs old. God is still working miracles.

Happy Birthday Jenny.
~Dana W.

Jenny said...

Dana, just like that! You are entered!! Thanks for the birthday wishes! :-) It is so good to see you as a living miracle!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to YOU! Happy Birthday dear Jenny!!! Happy Birthday to you!
(By the way 31 is not old but having kids in their 30s now that is scary!!)

The Habing Crew said...

HAHA! Happy Birthday, Jenny! I have some pretty interesting birthday memories starting with the latex balloon filled office that sent me in to a lovely allergic reaction!
Here's hoping #31 is a very happy birthday. Some things get better with age...I think you are one of them. Love you.

Don & Katrina Hines said...

Happy Happy Birthday, Jenny! I'm all up for entering your fabulous give-away. Last year, Don turned the big 3-0 and I celebrated with 30 full days of surprises. It was super fun to do for him, this year, I also thought of the 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins as well . . . let me know if you are crafty enough to think of other 31 celebrations!

The Barkers said...

I'm with you, birthdays are a blessing! Embrace them and have fun in life!
i can't think of any big birthday memory worth sharing...Deb, wow, that one is crazy!
Happy birthday to you Jenny!!!

Mami2jcn said...

Happy birthday!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, Jenny, I don't have a birthday memory to share with you, but I do remember our car ride and conversation to Green Bay to judge for WACS! :) Here's wishing you a splendid day and many more!
Happy Birthday, Jenny!
Heather B.

Alexandrea Finney said...

Happy happy birthday Jenny! So much fun being your fb friend. :)

Christy said...

Happy Birthday Girl!!! Hope it's a great day for you!!!

Shannon said...

Yay! Happy Birthday, Jenny. I pray your day is amazing and beautiful and filled with so much laughter! :-)

Of course the best birthday memory I have is marrying Cory on my Golden Birthday almost 4 years ago! Woot woot. :)

Rebekah Shaver said...

Dear Jenny,
Happy Birthday to you!!!! I am glad that I read your post about Birthdays. I was one of those people that wasn't overly fond of my Birthdays after 21, but I agree with you. I am thankful to be alive, and for all that the Lord has blessed me with. I will now look forward to the coming birthdays without dread of being older. Hope your precious family spoils you ROTTEN! :~)
In Christ Alone,
Rebekah Shaver

NewEveryMorning said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

One of my favorite and least-how-I expected birthday memories is the year I turned 30. I was (over)due with Elijah. My parents and sister, her husband and two kids all came out to Washington to "surprise" me! I found out ahead of time (or guessed anyway) and frantically cleaned my house the day before. We couldn't find a sitter on short notice, so ended up going to Chuck-E-Cheese for my 30th birthday. My sister was going to take the pictures, so we ended up with only pictures of her kids at Chuck E. Cheese and none of my two or even me. My husband was in charge of the cake and decided on pie - which would have been fine, except he chose berry pies, which he forgot I was allergic to =). Everyone had to leave after a week, my dad drove crazy fast down a mountain side trying to force me into labor, which didn't work. They left on Wednesday morning. I had Elijah the next day =). He was born five days after my actual birthday! Despite the discomfort and everything going not-so-much-as-planned, we had a great time and I was thankful they all came out to be with me.

I hope your day is filled with family and friends and good memories being made!

Mary Ann said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny! I'm loving my birthdays, too. Tomorrow I will turn 33. I love double digits :-)
Thanks for the super fun give away & I hope you continue to enjoy your fabulous life - the Lord is SO GOOD!

Erin A. said...

Happy Birthday Jenny! My favorite birthday was 2005. I spent it in the hospital, because I had just given birth to our wonderful Grayson a few hours earlier!
Another great birthday was my 16th. My birthday was almost always during spirit week & I had a great party with lots of classmates & friends because we had stayed to work on our walls!
Hope you have a great birthday!

Abby said...

Happy Happy Birthday Jenny!! Hope it's a great day for you! I'd have to say that this year was my favorite birthday (despite turning 32!) because I had little man Ethan 2 days later! What a way to celebrate!

Busch family said...

Happy birthday, Jenny!! I turned 30 this year and I definitely think you're right about the energy-level thing! My four-year-old doesn't appreciate it either!! :) I hope your day is a wonderful one!!

kellyH said...

hope you have a great birthday!

Curt and Sarah said...

Happy birthday, Jenny! One of my favorite birthday memories is when we went to family camp one summer and my aunt (who worked in the kitchen that year) made me a RAINBOW cake! Everyone sang to me in the dining hall. I turned five; five was fun. :)

Mom and Dad Muth said...

Hi Jenny!

Happy 31st Birthday! May you have many more. One of my favorite birthdays was when I turned 18, that was when Richard proposed to me and gave me a beautiful ring which I still wear (more than 40 years later). I've had many birthdays since then, but can't seem to remember the days as being super special from other birthdays. My husband and all you kids and the church folk make sure that I receive many wishes.

And by the way, my mom had all of her babies in her 30's!

Love, Mom Muth

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday Jenny! I'll keep an eye out for that disco ball for you from the thrift store ;)

Richelle Wright said...

Happy birthday, my friend! Glad you celebrated in style! Hug those boys for me, too.

OK, I do have a US address, but don't live there... if I win, can I donate to someone???

Unknown said...

Happy 31st birthday, Jenny! So glad you're excited and not dreading getting older. I feel exactly the same way.

And for the record it's "Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, stayin' alive" and not "ooh, oooh, ooh, ooh". I'll forgive you the error though since it's your birthday and all. :)

My 16th bday was awesome because my mom rented a roller-rink! Super fun! 21 was interesting too. I was student-teaching at the time and the lady I lived with made me a yummy ice cream cake. And her grandkids made me cards and stuff. Not the typical 21st celebration but I liked it! Also my 30th was a good one because I had Clive 2 weeks prior. I made a HUGE effort to cook a nice meal for myself for my birthday but (we laughed about it later) ate it cold because of newborn crying and such. :)

Tracy said...

Happy 31st birthday Jenny! I just realized that we are a day apart, and our two youngest are a day apart. I love odd facts :) Anyways, I hope you had a wonderful birthday with your family.

One great birthday memory was my birthday right after Kara was born -- my mom and my brothers drove up for a visit and we went to Storheims where J.A. bought me the most delicious ice cream cake.

Carrie said...

maybe it's how you look at birthdays..I usually have the problem of thinking "I am halfway to 60..." Although I don't mind telling people my age (if I can remember it :).
On my 16th birthday my parents got me 16 red roses and I got a diamond necklace from my gdpa. It was pretty special. I almost always had strawberry shortcake for my birthday b/c they were in season. Hope you had a special birthday.

Shelldell said...

When I turned 29 I had long hair to my shoulders. Well my parents had 29 candles on the cake and when it came time for me to blow out the candles I forgot to hold my hair back and yes I caught my hair on fire. It's melted and smelt horrible. I locked myself in the bathroom and cried. The next day I went to get my hair cut and the lady who cut my hair said "ladies over 30 should have short hair any way." Well that didn't help at all. When I did turn 30 it wasn't dramatic as 29 in fact it was pleasant.

Karen said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny!
For my 13th birthday, my parents let me have a sleepover. In my excitement (I'd never had one before.),I had a totally blonde moment when the cake came out.

It was lovely--a 13x9 with cream frosting and decorated with a lovely semi-circle fan on it. Embarrassed for the baker, I sheepishly informed her that... "It's spelled wrong!"

It read, "FANally a teenager!"

ruth said...

Happy Birthday, dear friend!

I think my favorite childhood birthday memory is when my parents took me, my sisters (who also had birthdays that week) and all our friends to Thermopolis to swim in the hot springs park there. Good times.

Laura Railing said...

OOh giveaways are an even better reason to write and say happy birthday!!!! I hope it is a fabulous one! Probably one of my favorite birthday memories was when my best friend was able to fly out and surprise my friends for the birthday party I had when I was 15. Sure it was just for the weekend but it was so much fun!

Stephens said...

So glad you were born! :-)

Tricia said...

Hope you had a wonderful birthday! The only funny birthday memory that I can think is there is a picture of me blowing out a candle on a hot dog bun. We had so many birthdays in October and for some reason we all had to have our own cake...or in my case, hot dog bun. Strange, but I didn't think anything of it at the time...fun times!

Ann said...

Somehow birthdays go by and I don't feel much older. I guess I am stunted in maturity/old foegyism.

One of my favorite cakes was the one I bought for "MYself" :) It was a BR Blue's Clues cake about 10 years ago.

Emily Green said...

When I turned 10 my dad was making two cakes and he told me they were not for me. Later we went to a friends house and they put frosting on the cake and they still said it wasn't for me. Finally after dinner they gave me the cake and some presents. After that they asked if I was supprised....

Holley V said...

I hope you had a TERRIFIC birthday!!
I remember a birthday party I had where a friend wanting to be on broadway totally embarrassed me by singing a dramatic Happy Birthday solo in front of everyone. Scarred me for life! LOL

Janelle said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!!! I agree that birthdays should be a big deal no matter what age you are!!! If for no other reason but to praise the Lord for giving us life!!!!! Hope your day is extra wonderful!!!! :)

Carrie said...

Happy (belated) birthday, Jenny! One of my favorite birthdays was this past one (33) when Jim totally surprised me with dinner out--having lined up a babysitter for the kids and everything, ahead of time. I am VERY hard to surprise, but he pulled it off--I think it's maybe only the 2nd time he's actually been able to surprise me for my birthday! It was so much fun. :)

Thanks for the chance to win!! I love giveaways! :)

Kelly Glupker said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

Anonymous said...

happy birthday
- Ben Van Holstyn

Deb Booth said...

Happy Birthday, Jenny! I so love your positive attitude every day, it is a real pick me up! I can say that I remember you as a 5th and 6th grader at my Awana table. Those were great years, you have always been a cheerful and upbeat gal, even as a pre-teen. So no embarrassing stories here!

kimberly said...

Happy Birthday!!!! kimmymay03@yahoo.com

romig41281 said...

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