The Big 3-0: Happy Birthday to Me!

On Tuesday, I left my twenties behind and celebrated the milestone birthday of the big 3-0.  Many of my friends have approached this birthday with dread, and hearing 30 come out when asked how old you are does have a significantly older ring to it than 20-anything, but I honestly am looking forward to my thirties.  Everyone keeps telling me that their thirties have been their favorite season of life, so I am hopeful that will also be true in my own life.

Thanks to my thoughtful husband, the birthday fun extended over several days of celebration!

Over the weekend, we went out for a special dinner date downtown and enjoyed one of our absolute favorites for celebrating any special occasion....steak!  We had a delicious dinner and great conversation, reminiscing about what the Lord has done in my life for the past 10 years, and dreaming about what the next 10 may hold.

On Saturday, Tru said that he had somewhere he wanted to take me for lunch.  We pulled up at this super cute cafe, Duo, that I had never even heard of...

And these fun friends were waiting for me!  We laughed and talked and enjoyed a surprise (for me) brunch together.  The french toast was delicious and the spot that Truman chose was just perfect and so very me, from the colorful print napkins and mismatched tea cups to the old chippy window "wall" that hung down the middle of the restaurant.

My mom made the trip from Ohio to visit for my birthday, so it was special to spend my birthday day with her!  Thanks, mom!  On Tuesday, my actual birthday day started off with a pancake breakfast in bed made with love by my mom.  Then we headed off for the morning showing of The Last Song.  I rarely have company to see the girly movies with, so this was a fun treat.
 

Then lunch at Carino's for their awesome roasted garlic potato soup and all-you-can-eat soup, salad and bread.  They have the best crusty bread with the herb and roasted garlic dipping oil, and I won't even go for lunch if they don't have the potato soup!  It's my favorite.  It was my lucky day that it was on the menu for my birthday!

Then we were off to check out some local antique shops that I've been wanting to stop into for months!
I even found 2 of the items on my wish list that I've been keeping my eye out for!  Fun little treasures to remember my 30th.  I'll share photos of them this week...

After antique hunting, it was time to go home for presents!  I felt very loved when I saw all of these fun packages waiting for me. 

My sweet husband had put together such a meaningful surprise for me!  He had requested and collected e-mails & cards from many of my friends over the years, from all of the seasons of my life, and compiled them into one big birthday encouragement extravaganza!  It was such a special blessing to read note after note from people I love, sharing the things they appreciate about me, fun memories we've shared as friends, and the unique ways God has used me in their life.  What could possibly make a girl feel better about turning 30?

This is the evite my hubby sent out to my friends.  But, wait, the surprise didn't end there....

Notice the look of shock on my face as I unwrapped my first gift....a new camera!  I was so incredibly surprised!  Not only had I thought there was no way we were going to be able financially to get me a new camera this year as we had hoped, which made the surprise that much more fun and unexpected, but Tru went on to tell me that all of my friends had contributed and came together to get this special gift for me to bless me!  The Lord has blessed me with some fabulous friends and enduring friendships.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all of the dear friends who helped to make this day extra special and memorable! 

I can't wait to practice and explore and learn the ins-and-outs of my new camera!  As much as I love our DSLR, I like to have a smaller high quality camera that I can carry in my purse and keep easily accessible with me at all times...you never know when an unexpected moment will pop up!

There were beautiful roses from my mom (love them!) and time with my mom and the handsome love of my life.

And how did we end this fabulous birthday?  Well, with Chipotle, of course.  One of my other absolute favorites. Mmmm.  It was a tasty ending to a fun, relaxing and memorable birthday celebration.

Bring it on, 30!  What is it that they say?  Thirty, flirty and thriving. (wink)

Food For Friday: Magnolia Banana Pudding

I love cake and cupcakes, so during our time in New York, I was on a mission to try both Crumbs and The Magnolia Cafe.  A friend of mine who lives in the City said that Magnolia's cupcakes were overrated (I highly agree, they were dry and the icing was too sugary), but the banana pudding was the best he had ever had and not to miss it.  We loved the banana pudding and I looked online to try and find a recipe for it when we got home.  I was successful and I made it for our Easter Brunch dessert.  It was close to the original at The Magnolia Cafe and a delicious version of an old favorite.


Ingredients:
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups ice cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers
4-5 ripe bananas

In a medium mixing bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute.  Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more.  Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing.  It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity.  I used a trifle pedestal, which makes for a pretty presentation.  Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, layer in one-third of the pudding, and cover with one layer of banana slices. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator overnight.

(Adapted from The Magnolia Bakery)

Food For Friday: NYC Favorite Eats

We like to eat.  New York has a lot of amazing food.  A long list of our to-do's in the Big Apple involved sampling eats at many of the restaurants around the city.  We hung out with some friends of ours one of our last nights in NYC and they said, "Wow.  You ate your way through the City."  Yes, yes we did.  And here is a rundown of our favorites and recommended don't miss spots if you ever find yourself in the Big Apple.

Crumbs hit my sweet spot.  It far outshined the more famous cupcake shop in the city in my book (and my husband’s.)  In town for 2 weeks, a combination of business and pleasure, I won’t divulge how many visits I made to this charming cupcake shop, just blocks from Central Station.  Moist, delicious, giant cupcakes with piles of perfect icing.  Don't miss the Fluffernutter, a vanilla cupcake filled with peanut butter cream and topped with cream cheese frosting. 

As big fans of a good burger, and fairly frequent travelers, my husband and I often find ourselves seeking out the best local burgers (not excluding regional chains) as we travel around the country. Always in search of a new favorite burger, we find ourselves sometimes disappointed, but often satisfied. But rarely do we come out of a burger joint having found a patty that tops our previous favorite. After 2 stops at Shake Shack in the Upper West Side during our recent visit to NYC, we agreed that we think we’ve found our new favorite burger!

And don’t forget to save room for dessert! The shakes are top notch, holding their own beside the burgers, with rich flavor and the perfect thickness that even requires a larger-than-usual straw. I ordered a combination of peanut butter and chocolate (possible though not listed on the menu) and it was like liquid Reeses in a cup.

Five Guys, I still love you, but Shake Shack has stolen this girls’ burger heart!

I adore mac ‘n cheese, so when I heard there was an entire restaurant devoted to this American favorite, I knew we had to try it.  S’mac is gourmet mac ‘n cheese at its best. The menu provides both a list of suggested favorites, or the option to create your own unique combination from their extensive list of ingredients.  The mac ‘n cheese is rich and pleasingly gooey with just the right amount of cheesy goodness.  Try the Alpine, it was our favorite and Tru is still talking about it!

Made famous by the movie “Serendipity,” this café is quirky and full of personality.  Go for dessert.  Order their famous giant Frozen Hot Chocolate, and make it a Peanut Butter or Mint one.  Chocolatey goodness.

There may or may not have been some slurping noises at the finale of this dessert experience that made my hubby roll his eyes.  Ehem.  Moving right along...

The Doughnut Plant is known for their innovative flavors, and the doughy goodness did not disappoint. The crème brulee doughnut had an intriguing slight sugary crunch to it’s exterior and a thick, rich crème filling that reminded me of a smooth custard. The peanut butter glazed doughnut filled with blackberry jam was another favorite.  They just might be the most interesting doughnuts you’ve ever tasted.

My hubby loves, loves, loves doughnuts.  This face is the face of pure delight and followed by, "mmmmmm."

The Popover Cafe is known for its namesake popovers, which are similar to a croissant in flaky, buttery texture, but shaped like a giant muffin. By giant, I mean 6-8 inches tall!  Many of their entrees feature popovers, and nearly all of the sandwiches can be ordered on one.

I was so nervous to get on the scale after our food adventures in NYC, but lucky for me, you also do a LOT of walking, so the needle actually tipped the other way.  And we had very happy, and full, stomachs!

(You can find my complete NYC review complete with tips & hints at Trip Advisor here:  http://is.gd/bfOoA )

Celebrating New Life on Good Friday

Peaking out from under the recent snowfall, I noticed when we returned from our trip to New York City, that the bulbs we planted in our empty front flower bed in the fall had begun popping through the soil.  Every day, as I see these beautiful, vibrant blooms opening up one by one, I am reminded of the new life that I have in Christ.  How perfect that God planned for spring, the season that we celebrate Easter and the death and resurrection of Christ, to be the season that we are surrounded by new life in His creation as well.  I adore this time of year when the snow melts, the grass is greener, flowers begin blooming after the cold winter, and signs of life are all around us, replacing the death and cold of winter with warmth and life.  It is a sweet reminder of the life that I have been freely given in Christ. John 11:25-26

Why is this Friday so good?  When Jesus said "It is finished," He was saying, I've "Paid in Full" the penalty for us all.  Because Christ loved us, He who was perfect and without sin, paid for our sins so that we could have new life in Him.  Are you celebrating new life this Easter weekend?

 

"Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the grave!"   

 

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing Love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As Grace flows down and covers me 

(Grace Flows Down, Christy Nockels)

I am reminded of these lyrics today that we sang during our wedding ceremony.  You can listen here.
 

I also wanted to share the wonderful ideas I found on Faithful Provisions for celebrating the true meaning of Easter with children in creative ways.  If you don't yet have plans to talk about the death and resurrection of our Savior with your little ones this Easter weekend, you still have time to check out these two activities that are a perfect way to share in this holiday as a family.  They are planned out for you, including recipes, scripture to read together, and conversation prompters.  Get in the kitchen tomorrow and make Empty Tomb Cookies or Resurrection Rolls together!  Because we desire to have meaningful family traditions some day with our own children, I have these activities bookmarked for the day when we have a family of our own.

I would love for you leave comments or link to posts where you have shared about special traditions that you have in your family to teach your children about the death and resurrection of Christ.  How do you mark Easter weekend with your children?

Amy + Adam = In Love

A friend of ours from our Campus Crusade for Christ staff team here in Denver recently got engaged, and on Monday, Truman and I did an engagement shoot for them at Wash Park near downtown.  Amy and Adam are a fun-loving, vibrant and adventurous couple, and we wanted to capture that in their photos.  They were such good sports and we had a lot of fun at their shoot.  Here are a few of my favorites:

 

I have loved having a hobby that Truman and I can share in and enjoy together, especially a creative one.  I have always appreciated good photos (and preserving them in scrapbooks), and with his interest in photography (that existed before there was an "us") and quest to continue to develop new skills, we've discovered we make a good team.  His technical knowledge combined with my creative eye and directing skills is a perfect combination.

It has been a lot of fun and a blessing to us to be able to use photography to bless others.  As much as we've enjoyed these photo shoots for friends, I'm sure there will be more in the months to come! 

P.S. More NYC photos are on the way!  But, my sorting and editing got sidetracked by this fun project.  Coming up at the end of this week, I'll share a special Food for Friday post, featuring our favorite spots to get our eat on and the restaurants you shouldn't miss if you ever find yourself in the Big Apple!