The Birthday Edition
Posted: August 24, 2011 at 8:00 amA little birdie told me today is the last day to enter the Love Grown Foods prize pack giveaway! But for now, some What I Ate Wednesday fun thanks to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons. This week = The Birthday Edition!
I had such a great day yesterday for my birthday! And it wasn’t even my full blown “celebration day”! That’s coming on Saturday with whatever Peter has planned. 
The day rocked regardless! I even got greeted with a special package first thing in the morning. Peter snuck up on me as I was writing a blog post before the kiddies awoke with a little gift for me.
What was inside? None other than some Mama Pea!!!
I have wanted her cookbook since it came out but kept holding off to see if it showed up on my birthday. I can’t wait to make some goodies from her book. Love me some Mama Pea! And apparently so does little M. She keeps looking through the book telling me “I like this food” and “These are my friends” (talking about Gigi and Lulu). Sarah – wouldn’t it be so fun to get the girls together? I think we would have a cuteness explosion!
After that, my day kicked off with that insane full body weights workout I shared with you yesterday afternoon. Followed by a bowl of magic. Chocolate oats for the win!!
And Barney Butter loves me so much they gave me a birthday present too…
Or I just used my sample from my HLS swag bag. I can pretend, though. PS – Barney Butter = as fabulous as people say it is. Y to the U to the M.
The rest of the day went by as any other since I did have two little munchkins to care for and blogging to do. Good thing I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE both of my jobs. You know what they say – work doesn’t feel like work if you love what you do. And that is certainly the case for me.
I managed to get a lot done, which is a gift in itself. Productivity makes me happy. I took a break for a scrumptious lunch – black bean/sweet potato/BBQ sauce wrap and a pineapple Chobani.
With an Adora calcium disc as a sweet ending. Adora had samples in the swag bags loves me and gave me a birthday present too.
I was thrilled to get these samples because I had always wanted to try the Adora chocolate calcium discs and with good reason. They actually taste like really good chocolate! And a calcium boost doesn’t hurt either.
When Peter arrived home, I took some additional time to myself to fit in a quick cardio workout. I did 40 minutes of a Turbo kickboxing workout and loved every sweaty minute. I followed that with a shower and some more time relaxing with my little family before I had some special visitors!
Hello to my mom and my sister!!! They came to hang out for the night and help me eat some sushi. A birthday calls for one of my favorite foods, wouldn’t you agree?
We shared a version of a spicy tuna roll, a salmon and avocado roll, steamed dumplings, and a pile of steamed veggies.
I love how easily you can order healthier dishes from Chinese/Japanese restaurants. And somehow their steamed veggies taste so much better. The perfect crispness!
The good food didn’t end there, though. Oh, not at all. No birthday would be complete without some form of dessert. It’s a law. I foresee a big birthday treat coming my way this weekend, so decided to go the simpler route and opted for some creamy Blue Bell chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream from the freezer.
Blue Bell makes the creamiest ice cream you can get at the store. And their cookie dough bits taste like real dough! Heaven.
So, as you can see, I had a GREAT birthday! And once again I thank you tremendously for adding value to my special day. The plethora of birthday wishes, overwhelming excitement of the Love Grown Foods giveaway (have you entered?!), and just your smiling faces visiting here regularly leaves me speechless. I will forever find myself thankful for God placing me in this stellar community. It blows me away. Muah!
- What cuisine do you find easiest to order healthier options?
- What is your favorite ice-cream to buy from the store?
Tags: breakfast, dinner, family, lunch, what i ate wednesday
I’m so glad you had such a wonderful birthday! 🙂
That sushi looked so good to me… it won’t be long until I can enjoy it again.
And yes, I agree- if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work!
Oh, my fav ice cream is cookies and cream- it never disappoints! …but then again, what ice cream does?
I am so glad you had a great birthday! Your dinner looks so good- I love steamed dumplings! Yum!
My favorite cuisine to get healthier is probably also Chinese also. It’s so easy to get steamed veggies and also easier to make gluten free too!!
And my favorite store ice cream is this new gelato I found on Monday – it’s called Talenti Gelato and it is fabulous! Too. Die. For. and all natural too!
Looks like you had a great birthday filled with a lot of love 🙂 I need to find me some Blue Bell ice cream! Hope you have a great time on Saturday too!
Healthydiaries just posted from Italy! http://healthydiaries.com/2011/08/24/greetings-from-italy/
Oh I want that cookbook too. Maybe for my bday…. Looks like you had a very nice birthday my dear – especially topped off with mom and sis time!
Aww what an amazing celebration 🙂 So glad you had a great birthday.
Easiest healthy cuisine–Chinese, I love all of the stir fry options mmm
and favorite ice cream is DEFINITELY Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla, especially with fresh raspberries added to it–literally heaven in your mouth!
What a great bday! Yum, I still need to try Barney butter. I think every cuisine has healthy options! Happy WIAW 🙂
Tina, glad you had a wonderful day!
My favorite ice cream from the store is anything mint chocolate chip! I also love Ben and Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie.
I have yet to find the Ben & Jerry’s oatmeal cookie flavor. I know I would LOVE it!
oh girl you know i am OBSESSED WITH BLUE BELL. if i could type that in a larger font i would 🙂
see also i am SO jealous of your sushi! it looks sooooo good…our favorite sushi place is closed for a remodel right now and i can’t wait til they open again!
Sounds like you had a fabulous birthday! I love Blue Bell as well!! I visited one of their manufacturing facilities once and ate Cookies ‘N Cream right off the line. It was, hands down, the best ice cream I have EVER had. Ever.
Um, your meals for your birthday look so amazing to me today for some reason! So tasty, simple and perfect. That wrap is something I MUST TRY! Looks divine! Happy birthday (again) 🙂
I’m glad you had a great birthday! What better way than to celebrate with Mama Pea & Barney Butter? 😉
I am happy you had a good birthday! Mine was good too. 🙂 Though it would have been better with some cookie dough ice cream (my favorite flavor!)
I’m so glad you had a great (and delicious birthday)! I am so replicating your lunch btw! My favorite ice cream is either choc chip cookie dough or plain ol vanilla (so i can go crazy with toppings)!
I agree that steamed veggies at restaurants always taste so much better than when I make it at home!
I’m glad you had a nice birthday!
(I didn’t like Barney Butter AB much, I think I might be the only one who doesn’t like it!)
I’m glad you had a fun birthday! So I just got back from the gym and I based my strength routine on the superset workout you posted yesterday. Holy jello arms! It was great!! You’re going to make one tough trainer! 🙂
My arms are super sore today! When I was running and holding my little water bottle I actually thought “my this water bottle feels heavy”. Guess it worked! 😉
Looks like you had a wonderful birthday Tina! And I’m 100% on board with you for chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. It is unbeatable!
I love (veggie) sushi and Thai food (except coconut curries) as healthier take-out options. Chinese dishes tend to be too greasy.
Fav ice cream? Tough question! I do love Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia, but I often stick with the cheaper German brands, like Langnese Cremissimo. Generally I prefer either fruit or chocolate flavoured ice cream variations. Or a combination of both!
Happy belated Birthday Tina!! Glad you had a great day and have more fun coming this weekend! I have been dying to get Mama Pea’s book also. Maybe I will get lucky and find it for my b-day in Nov. 😉
My my, Tina, your photos are looking mighty bright and vibrant! 😉
My favorite ice cream to buy from the store is Edy’s Slow Churned. I love the cookie dough, caramel delight, cookies and cream, and vanilla bean flavors (can you tell I love it?) 😉
Even though it’s light, it’s still super creamy. We also have Stewart’s Shops around us, who make some AMAZING ice cream, but I’m not sure if they’re located where you are?
Hehehehe. I’m in love. Thank you my friend! 😉
And never heard of Stewart’s Shops. I guess that just means I will have to visit and make you take me. LOL
Looks like a great birthday!! I looove spicy tuna rolls… soo good! Favorite ice cream? either mint chocolate chip or pistachio. I can’t choose. 🙂
Greek is easy to order healthy…Chicken shwarma and hummus. Just have to be careful not to overindulge in that darn pita bread.
I agree that blue bell is the creamiest ice cream EVER! My favorite flavor is the pralines & cream!
Glad you had a good birthday!
Before I discovered all my food allergies, I absolutely adored Coffee Heath Bar by Ben & Jerry’s. I adored it even more when it was B1G1 at Publix or Harris Teeter!
Deals always make everything better! 🙂
What a nice birthday-happy birthday!! I definitely find it easiest to order healthy options when I am out for sushi… sashimi and seaweed salad are no-fail options 🙂
It’s all about the Cookies ‘n Cream in the Shoup household 🙂 we loooove our ice cream! 🙂
SO FUN reading your WIAW post, birthday style. But what I loved even better? Just how much you love your jobs – makes me a little bit envious that you found something you love and its your JOB. I need a little more of that in my life…ok a LOT more of that in my life.
Glad to hear you had a great birthday!
Happy Belated Birthday! Blue Bell is the BEST!! I love that it still comes in the 1/2 gallon too!
Sounds like the perfect birthday!
Sounds like a great day! My favorite is Breyers because they only have a few ingredients in their ice cream.
Sounds like a wonderful birthday. I have a quick question. Do you eat anything before your morning workout and do you have snacks too? I wasnt sure for WIAW if you just showed your main meals or if that is everything you eat for the day?
I just showed my main meals for this one. I usually also have a quick something before my workout – fruit, granola bar, etc – and also always have a pretty large afternoon snack as well. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful day Tina! Glad it was a good one – you deserved it!!
I’m with you — I like healthifying Chinese food — who needs all that greasy sauce when you get all the flava through spices and veggies. Yum!
Glad you had a fabulous day =)
So jealous of all the food you ate, it all looks so delicious!
Happy Birthday (again!) Sounds like a great day. That ice cream looked great. I love cookie dough 😉
I love plain ole Bluebell Cookies and Cream…best ice cream ever!!!
Looks like such a great day!
Happy belated Birthday!! 🙂
Im glad you had a good day – you are going to LOVE that cookbook!
What a fantastic way to spend your birthday! Sounded perfect and I can’t wait to hear about the weekend celebration.
Japanese is hands down the easiest restaurant to find healthier options, for me at least. Since I love sashimi, it’s always low in calories and high in healthy fats. I could eat it every day!
What a lovely birthday you had! So glad too, you definitely deserve to have the best time 🙂
I agree, Chinese and Japanese are my favorites and I find the healthiest to order! Bring on the sushi please 🙂 and sashimi now that I think of it!
Happy happy birthday to one of my favorite bloggers!! I am so glad you had a lovely day! Can’t wait to see what Saturday has in store!
Looks like you a fantastic birthday!! 🙂
I am a huge sushi fan as well. I also love peruvian (CEVICHE!) As far as ice cream goes, I LOVE SoCo creamery and Jeni’s. MMMMM
So glad you had a great b-day! On a random note I always think you look like a celeb but could never pin point it, bu i totally think you look like Emma Stone. Who I think it super gorgeous.
Oh, cool! That’s the first time I have heard that one but thanks! 🙂
I’m glad you had a great birthday!
My favorite ice cream from the store is Breyer’s Natural Butter Pecan. Shh! Don’t tell my husband that he’s converted me to HIS favorite flavor, but it has happened. That stuff is delicious!!
So glad you finally got Mama Pea’s book!! I LOVE IT.
Sounds like a fantastic birthday — and YUM sushi!!
my fav ice cream is mint chocolate chip! I think mexican can be healthy as well! all of those beans and veggies! But I do agree that japanese/chinese is tops!
Happy Belated Birthday, Tina! I’m so glad that it was such a nice day for you!! 🙂
Love that you got Mama Peas book! I can’t wait to get it myself. Your bowl of oats looks to die for! I need to get more creative with my meals. As for the steamed veggies, I completely agree. I don’t know why, but they always seem better from the restaurant. Perfectly crips every time! I look forward to seeing what Peter has planned for you this weekend!
Happy Belated Birthday! I’m so sorry I missed it yesterday… my laptop is broken, so I’m not able to get on the computer very often these days and didn’t know it was your birthday! I’m so glad you had a wonderful day!! Can’t wait to get together again and hear all about the HLS!! 🙂 Love ya!! xoxo
Ciao Bella makes a chocolate hazelnut gelato that I crave about once a month. They don’t always carry it in my regular grocery store, though, and it’s definitely a bit more expensive, so if I’m not splurging I go with Edy’s Mint Chocolate Chip.
As for healthy food, I definitely love sushi, too. There is also a local Mexican place where I can get some roasted veggies, guac and beans in a plate (and rice if I want, too) without all the added cheese, chips, and tortillas. It’s really fresh and authentic and also super cheap!