It was my birthday, so I made you a gift!

Thoughts, gifts, and a day I take to breathe

In case you’re new to my musings, for the past few years, I’ve taken the day of my birthday off from work for rare hours all to myself. While this isn’t common for a part-time working wife and mom of three, I’m thinking it’s not at all a bad thing since I’m invited to cherish the brevity of these quiet moments.

So far, these have been my past adventures:

Mother’s Day Came Early – Grace + Common Sense

It Was a Pretty Perfect Day – Grace + Common Sense

Today I’m sharing what I did this year, Hello, 2026, and 37 zips around the sun. How can this be? Haha. For I don’t know how long now, I’ve been relying on math to figure out how many years I’ve been around. Nineteen eighty-nine minus [the current year] and there it is.

Also! At the end of this conversation, I’m sharing a free list of all the places (at least the ones I went to!) that give out birthday treats, and what they are! So if you happen to go on a crawl when it’s your day of the year, you’ll have some ideas to run with! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

My day started with washing my hair. This was a new tube I cracked open, and I do not exaggerate when I say my hair was so buttery soft and didn’t frizz one bit all day. Oh, and smelled insane.

I got sunburnt. But! My hair remained svelte.

First up, was Parlour Doughnuts downtown. Me and just a few other people were up and at ‘em that morning. Was I complaining? No siree! I took a Sandy Beach layered donut to go.

My go-to Starbucks order is usually a hot cappuccino, but this time around I asked for a venti iced latte. By the time I’m writing this, I’ve honestly forgotten what flavor I had asked to add in… it was very likely vanilla or caramel.

It’s the old age already, I tell ya.

Okay guys. Did you know Panera’s has *macaroons*??

They come three for $5. Two are the regular kind, and one is chocolate. Seriously, so good.

This stunning view is where I parked my bottom on a bench to read and sip and simply savor. The birdsong and breeze were unreal. Maybe the picture isn’t super clear at this angle, but there is a whole body of water behind those trees, adding a calming rhythm of water sloshing.

Every once in a while, I love capturing a moment with the FujiFilm app. It’s such a throwback, reminiscent of how picture-taking used to be: rolls of film protected in plastic containers (and reusable for storage) and then waiting for the prints to be processed–but once all the film was used up. It was quite an era.

That little blue dot with the radar-looking beam is where I was parked. Trace down to the southern portion of the map, and you’ll see the Naval Air Station pin, then slightly cut off on the left side, the Naval Air Museum. Made sense when I zoomed out why they recommended this park.

If you want my two cents, this is the place to be for practices. There was barely anyone there. And anyone who was was far enough away to not feel bothersome. (But I may have ruined that now…)

What a sweet swing! It actually hangs over the water, so you’ll propel yourself up from gnarly tree roots. It wasn’t hard for me to talk myself out of taking the risk of dropping book or phone into the deep.

Outside the frame to the right, one of those rope-saucer swings hangs as well. This one, not over the water. *But where would I place my coffee* *without* *spilling it?* remained an unanswered question I didn’t try to solve. Got to think of the essentials…

While the website I mentioned earlier informed civilians their practice schedule I almost gave up. Ten thirty, it had said, and I’m convinced the Navy runs a tight ship (ha, see what I did there? Airships in this case … no? K). I had been sitting and reading for about an hour and was about ready to head out for my next stop (and maybe a little AC), and literally as I was walking back to my van, I heard that familiar buzzing getting louder and louder . . . and **voila**!

I may not have gotten the best footage that day. Although I totally could have at one incredible moment but my fingers fumbled uselessly with my phone (couldn’t swipe left fast enough to get the camera on) so awe won out. Two of the airships were doing a stunt above, air screaming behind them, and I was *not* tearing up—it was the sun in my eyes, of course.

Oh my. So, not pictured, I had gotten myself a pair of egg bites from Bagelheads. They’re under construction again, so I had to do the drive-through. Which worked in my favor as the girl at the window asked me which places I had hit so far. And you may have guessed from the picture that she recommended 7 Brew, a place I had only sampled once before from a friend’s drink. Now was my chance.

I usually get the same old thing from any coffee shop, but lately I’ve been asking baristas for their suggestions, and I have had no regrets! The lovely girl who actually sang “Happy Birthday” to me at 7 Brew conjured up this toothache—but it was fabulous! She asked me if I preferred chocolate or caramel, and based on my answer, had a masterpiece prepared for me at the register. The end result was a white chocolate something-or-other with tons of caramel and whipped cream. Honestly, so good. The girl was as delightful as her creation. (She mentioned usually being the one making the drinks. So sister knew what she was doing!)

I drove by the library from there to pick up a book I had had on hold. What a gift. Then headed to Bruce Beach (where I got roasted by the sun). But I finished the book I was reading and absorbed a bit of paradise.

Sadly, I was not alone. The palm tree was great. And it was not at all because of the six children playing on the beach. No, it was their mom who was sitting at the farthest blue Adirondack chair from me. When I chucked some trash I had into the receptacle on her end, the lady’s companion apologized (on behalf of the children) for taking away from my peace and quiet. I was genuinely unbothered at that point and responded that it was no worry since I, too, am a mom.

Between you, me, and the palm tree, I was missing my little people, so the kiddos simply existing within a stone’s throw was actually bringing some normalcy to my day.

Then the conversation started–or shall I say monologue?–as I never heard the other lady get to comment. I guess the wind carried and upped the volume so I got an earful of insurance money, a house fire, huge dollar amounts, details related to adding to a house build, and such and what have you. Thankfully, my book did hold my interest, and I was able to tune it out. But man oh man. That may have been the lowest part of the day–and it really wasn’t that bad.

Chicken dinner with my people at the end of the day. Just look at that little cheese ball!!

Redeemed this lovely latte after attending second-grade parent day!! Absolutely *loved* seeing my son in his classroom. My favorite part of having kids in school.

A most intriguing book chosen by some sweet friends. I’m about mind-blown how perfect this book has been for this season of life. I’m only like 8% in, but feel my soul expanding already. It’s like they know me so well or something 😜

Birthday coffee from you-know-where. Tried a hot latte with cupcake flavoring, which I don’t recommend actually. But I’m in love with their branding. But I should have asked the nice guy taking my order for a recommendation.

Me with my birthday books!!
Books + coffee = 🤍

Cookies from The Fresh Market! Little mans helped me choose which flavor.

Oh look! There’s that pretty book again. It goes so well with this uncommon candy, amiright? (Those were bought to share with a lovely group of ladies).

Hello, you crafty latte. Another suggestion I received from a barista: brown sugar iced latte with a delectable white chocolate cold foam. Yes. *Puh*-lease.

Me and the chickadee got our Wawa on at one of the newest locations in our area. I tried the banana bread drip coffee, but made a slight mistake in adding French vanilla creamer. Made it a bit overpowering and heavy on the unnaturally sweet for me. But just look at the rosy posy with her blue raspberry icee!

Guys, I look forward to this year every year since I’ve made it the adventure that it is. I do actually start planning in advance once the new year hits and then refine specifics as the day approaches. I highly recommend taking days like this for sanity.

Well, here is the list of some birthday treats to gather on your birthday!!

CLICK HERE!