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.
Vicki Skonieczny says
Hi Mary,
One of my favorite things is Jasmine tea pearls that my soon to be daughter-in-law, who is half Japanese, introduced me to.
Michelle J. says
I love eating peanut butter M7Ms while reading a good book!
Lisa Evans says
I love cookware and cookbooks
Jan R says
I would like to win something I could re-gift or spend on Xmas presents.
Chiska says
My very favorite thing is books. Especially picture books.
Wehaf says
Ginger tea, rose-scented soap, pumpkin pie, and libraries are some of my favorite things.
MaryB says
Favorite things – sitting by a fire with a glass of wine and my sweetie!
Shari Hart says
Besides food, my favorite thing is my Monet coffee mug with a lid. I picked it up after touring his home in France. Oh the memories.
Sharon says
One of my favorite things is to carry my own lunch bag. It has saved many $ over the 42 years I’ve been working. Not a thing, but to be a grandma is the best.
Hope Hill says
A few of my favorite things are soft fuzzy socks (silly!), cooking and baking (since I became disabled it became my hobby and escape), waking up and enjoying another dawn and day, children’s laughter (It makes me feel young on the inside) and spending some time with my cat (she is my one and only child). Overall I would say that living life to the fullest, being generous and kind, and being grateful for each and everything would be the most precious of my favorite things.
Kelly D says
One of my favorite things right now is Catawba lollipops. Happy Birthday!
Tracie Cooper says
One of my most favorite things is soft, comfy pjs with fun prints!
Ruth Roberts says
My favorite thing is reading. You can go anywhere or learn anything. It’s the greatest gift I was ever given…..learning to read.
Debbie Mulhall says
My favorite thing to munch on right now is goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in Bacon! Mmmm!
Helen says
One of my favorite things is recipe collecting. Occasionally I use one…
Debra says
My favorite thing is cooking a new recipe that my husband of 20 years and my teenage son devour! Cooking makes me happy!
Elizabeth Tackes says
I love, more than anything cuddling with my son, after a long day at the office. I come home to him, and the outside world just melts away!
Christine fIelds says
Happy belated birthday. A few of my favorite things ….. coffee, lovely coffee, candlelight, red wine in beautiful glass and chocolates for dessert.
Margaret says
My favorite things are first and foremost, my family – hubby, kids, and grandkids. My next favorite thing is for hubby and I to wake up in my happy place – Kaanapali Beach – and know we are on vacation for at least a week.
Julie Owen says
One of my favorite things are Yankee Candles. Lord help I want to buy all of them. Another thing is Christmas and all things Christmas.