While we celebrated my 40ish birthday last week, along with plenty of laughter, in reality, this is 41 for me and I’m pretty happy about that. I still love my laugh lines and I’m claiming every single laughter filled year because I’ve earned them.
And really, the alternative to growing older wouldn’t be a lot of fun, right?
(Scroll to the bottom of this post for the giveaway details!)
In case you missed the backstory, you can read about it and go ahead and laugh at the fact that I missed my 40th birthday.
However, my sweet friends decided I still needed a 40th birthday celebration and they pulled it off beautifully (on my 41st birthday) to surprise me on our last day at sea.
I owe a huge thank you to Princess Cruises for helping make all of this happen and I am so grateful to have partnered with them to share this dream vacation with you!
We sailed around the British Isles, visiting ten cities in four countries over the course of two weeks.
Cruising gives you the best of both worlds. You have the convenience of staying in the same place (not changing hotels or figuring out transportation to and fro) while you also have the fun of exploring so many new places.
To start my birthday in style, we enjoyed the most amazing breakfast in our stateroom. Two waiters came to our room, set up a table with linens, and then served a truly amazing meal.
Smoked salmon, quiche, fresh fruit, and a selection of freshly made pastries were all served in style along with champagne, juices, coffee, and hot tea. I’ve never had a better birthday breakfast.
After that, I headed for the Lotus Spa on the ship for the ultimate massage, seaweed wrap, and a float bed (a.k.a. fancy-as-can-be) combination. I basically had a “pinch me, am I dreaming?” kind of morning.
As if that wasn’t special enough, when I returned to our room, I discovered that Sean had conspired with my friends to decorate our stateroom in full on birthday style.
They hung enormous birthday balloons, banners, and more all around the room. I don’t know when I’ve laughed so hard.
As it turned out, my birthday evening was also the balloon drop night on The Royal Princess. So after an amazing dinner, complete with a pretty spectacular birthday cake, we headed to the atrium for the drop.
For what it’s worth, the ship’s amazing pastry chef managed to top my former favorite Princess dessert, the Chocolate Lava Cake.
If you’ve never sailed with Princess, you may not be familiar with the party that happens on the last night at sea. It’s a whole lot of fun. There are hundreds of people dancing to the live music and watching the balloons drop.
There’s nothing better than the balloon drop for a level of people watching that is sure to make you grin.
Are you ready for the giveaway? To share the birthday fun with you all, I’m giving away a few of my favorite things!
This awesome Yeti coffee cup. (It’s also awesome for ice water or sodas.)
These cute and cozy socks, because I am so ready for cooler weather.
This candle. I’m not much of a candle person, but this one is pure heaven. A friend gifted it to me years ago and it’s still my favorite.
And last but not least, a $50 Amazon gift card, so that you can pick up a few more of your favorite things!
ENTER TO WIN by leaving a comment telling me one of your favorite things! Giveaway is sponsored by Barefeet In The Kitchen and will end on Tuesday, September 18th at 11:59pm EST. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S to enter. One winner will be randomly selected and notified by email. GIVEAWAY CLOSED
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Princess Cruises to share my travels with you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information about Princess Cruises and/or to book a cruise visit their website.
Sharon Herman says
One of my favorite things is the book called Grace it is a wonderful devotional book. I have gifted it to many people.
Leigh Copeland says
I loved the missed birthday story and loved even more the details of your cruise, when you said the part about getting to see so many places but having to switch hotels or find rides… genius. That’s what I’m using on my husband 😀
My favorite thing is a good book and a cozy spot!
Debbie says
One of my favorite (my all time favorite thing) is spending time with my grandchildren.
Marnie Nemcoff says
Hi Mary! I followed your bday trip on IG and loved all your posts. 🙂
My favorite thing is cooking for my family. For one, it relaxes me and it’s ME time, and allows me to get creative. And most importantly, watching the faces of my husband and son as they devour the food is priceless. One more reason – I”m teaching my son healthy eating habits and how to shop and cook for himself so he doesn’t overdose on ramen and mac n cheese in college. 🙂
Mary F Brown says
Oh Mary I love your newest cookbook and your family stories are special., Happy Birthday!
Lorrie Carey says
Your blog is such a blessing to me! I have used, and continue to use, many of your recipes and they have ALL been a success! That’s what I tell all my friends when they ask me for the recipe. Thanks for all you do. Blessings to you, a fellow September birthday gal!
Cathy Schiffman says
My cat curled up on my bed.
Karen Sue says
Happy Happy Birthday! Your cruise looks wonderful. I never really was interested in taking a cruise until now! You opened the door for me. Thank You!
Marnie says
Hi Mary! I followed your bday trip on IG and loved all your posts. 🙂
My favorite thing is cooking for my family. For one, it relaxes me and it’s ME time, and allows me to get creative. And most importantly, watching the faces of my husband and son as they devour the food is priceless. One more reason – I”m teaching my son healthy eating habits and how to shop and cook for himself so he doesn’t overdose on ramen and mac n cheese in college. 🙂
Pete Rhymes II says
I like this site because it has ideas on fun things to do and places to go for all the regular folks. It doesn’t just cater to those that have lots of money. And to think, I discovered it while looking for a recipe.
Ruth Ann Ryan says
My favorite things
The first snow of winter, the first green leaf in spring.
These are two of my favorite things.
The sweet smell of a baby and puppies too.
These must be favorites for you.
The Thanksgiving feast and Christmas too.
I’ll leave you with the aroma of baked apple pie.
These are some of my favorites, OH My.
Vicki says
When I want to indulge myself, I really like the ginger scented lotion made by Origins. It perks me up and makes me feel spicy! 🙂
Sounds like you had a fab birthday – many happy returns!
Rebecca Wright says
One of my favorite things is sitting in the woods,or by a pond with a cup of coffee, and a good book or my crocheting and to just listen to the birds and the sounds of nature.
Mayra Szlukier says
Since you didn’t specify which (specific) favorite things to tell you about I’ll tell you that I love food. When I was young I was very picky about what I would eat. If I didn’t like what I saw it would not go in my mouth.
It took me a long time (not until I was 17 years old) to start trying things I would not have tried before. It started with tomatoes. I used to gag when I saw tomatoes before but one day when I was in High School we went to get hamburgers and I forgot to say “no tomatoes, please” and was surprised to realize what a good combination it was. I loved it!
I told my parents and they were very happy about. They suggested I start trying other different foods little by little, Well, why not? – I thought.
That’s how my curiosity began and since then I have tried many kinds of different foods from different countries and developed a taste for different flavors I had never known in my early youth.
Susan Raddatz says
Hey….Happy Happy Birthday and Imust say, you certainly did spend your Birthday in the most and absolutely perfect way!!! And it TRULY did look like the most perfect Birthday ever. My Birthday is coming up next month although we certainly won’t be going anywhere nor definitely not on a cruise, but these yummy socks would be lovely as would the lovely coffee mug which I would love to give to my hubby. Anyways, I thorough enjoy reading your special column and keep them coming please. Good Luck to me.
Sue McNulty says
First of all, Happy Belated Birthday!
My favorite thing is a beautiful bouquet of flowers! I just love them, and try to have them in my home and office as often as I can. They just make my day happier whenever I see them. I read that if you’d like to start your day off right, place a pretty vase of flowers on your beside table so you may see them as soon as you wake up, it is guaranteed to start your day off right. I’ve tried this and it really helps – me anyway! Thanks for the giveaway and keep up your good work!
Sharon says
One of my favorite things — the smell of fresh cut grass in the spring.
Nicki Howerton says
Josie Maran’s foundation is one of my favorite things. It gives my face a glow that I don’t get from any other foundation. At 72 years old., you need all the glow you can get. 🙂
Cheryl Garcia says
One of my favorite things is going camping with friends and having a roaring fire, a few drinks and good company, with lots of laughs and great memories.
Bonnie says
I like to get up at 4:00Am for my quiet time with God.