Snapshot Saturday
Celebrating my birthday a week ago with the people I love best.
And don’t bother counting the candles. There’s 35 of those beauties. Age is a funny thing. When I was a young 19-year old, single college kid, I couldn’t even imagine life at 35. Would the world still be around then? Would I be sobbing incoherently because I would be nearing 40 which is basically the end of life? Now that I’m really, truly 35, I realize that life gets sweeter with time. At least for me. And to be honest, most days (except for when I’ve done too many squats trying to keep up with the youngsters on Turbo Jam), I still feel like I’m 19 and realistically probably act like a 19-year old more often than I should. I’ll take 35. It’s a good age.
My birthday was truly the best of all days. Church. Watching National Geographic specials on the couch snuggled with my kids (and gasping out loud together at the huge sharks). Eating a fabulous birthday meal Brian slaved over: skillet fish tacos, roasted cauliflower and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Now I get to dream all year of what meal I’ll request for my next birthday knowing full well it will probably change 1,452 times before I finally settle on The One (so grateful for a husband who refuses to let me cook on my birthday).
If you’d like to check out past Snapshot Saturdays, click HERE.
Happy happy birthday sweet girl! What a beautiful family you have! Love this picture! By the way, I LOVE that roasted Cauliflower. We’ve had it twice in the last couple weeks! Glad your day went well, and I’m jealous that your hubby cooks for you!
Happy birthday! You sure look fantastic for 35! Also, thanks so much for your wonderful website that saves me most nights. My family absolutely loves all the meals I make from your site. Glad you had a great day!
Happy Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing your life with us! And your food!
Happy Birthday! I turned the same just a few weeks ago. It is amazing how perspective changes. I still act and think I am 20 and am always surprised to see an older woman in the mirror. By the way, you look fabulous! And with such a cute crew. Kudos to your husband, I am sure he is nervous the whole year leading up to your birthday 🙂
I am just a year behind ya, and it seems like it doesn’t matter how many kids you have, how old you are, or what you have accomplished. I worry less and just enjoy life more. I think I am starting to get what life is all about. You look fabulous and your family is darling. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Mel! I love your recipe and your blog.
what a sweet picture and a sweet family! happy birthday to the best cook I know… be it through the internet or real life!
You are so dang cute! What a darling little family too! Keep up the great work!
Happy Birthday! It looks to me like you’ve got quite the perfect life 🙂 You are blessed 🙂 xo
Let me tell you having my birthday pushing 60—it does get sweeter…just think of all the fun times you get to have with all those grandchildren you’ll have!!! 🙂
Happy Birthday! I love love love the picture.
Happy birthday! Beautiful family!
What a sweet picture! (And you are LOVELY!)
WooHoo!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
It’s only going to get better…..more laughs, more fun, more silliness and loads of more LOVE to share! *^_^*
Another Happy Birthday wish from a friend who just turned 60. Life keeps getting better and better. It was fun raising my sons — now it’s awesome having grandkids. Blessings for a wonderful year . . . and thank you for all the delicious meals you’ve shared. I’ve cooked for years (of course) but I take my hat off to your awesome skills.
That is absolutely a wonderful picture!! Thanks so much for sharing . It is such a joy to see all the love in those precious & beautiful faces………….all six of them!!
So happy you had an awesome birthday!!!
Happy Birthday! I discovered your blog this past summer and have used several of your amazing recipes. Thanks for sharing! My Mom & mom-in-law now follow you too! We’re all big fans!
Looking good Mel! You have a beautiful family!
Wow, like the other lady said, this was the first time I had ever seen a picture of you and let me say, I pictured you quite differently! How in the world do you make food for a living (and a good portion of it sweet) and get away with that figure? You do look young too. I get away with a trim body too, just because of my good genes I think, and my set point being at a comfortable spot….anyway it’s trippy and fun to see what you really look like after following your blog for so long. Thanks for making my cooking life easy and fun.
It’s easy to see where your beautiful kids get their looks from! Glad you’re enjoying 35. I turn 30 this year and I am NOT excited about it! LOL!
Love it! Happy Birthday Mel!!
Happy belated Birthday, Mel! I was lucky to have a variety of older women in my life throughout my teen and early adult years that helped me realize that growing older is wonderful … always something more to see, do, and learn. I have come to believe that age is whatever you make of it. I love birthdays. I’ll turn 38 this summer and feel no hesitation nearing 40. Bring it on! Life is a joy if you make it joyful … challenges are rough but refine you into a better, wiser, and stronger person (if you let them!) … and adventures (a.k.a. changes) ahead can be embraced as more opportunities to learn and improve. Have a wonderful year, my friend!
Okay Mel. This is the first time I’ve seen a picture of you. How is it that you’re not 300 lbs. with all the delicious recipes you test? And eat.
Happy Birthday! You look so happy and your kids are so cute!!
Can I just say you look great!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m 31 and about to have our 4th baby. Our oldest is only 5.5 years old. Your kids look pretty close in age too. You don’t look tired or weary AT ALL!!!!!!!!!! I’m hoping I feel alot younger once I get rid of this 9 month baby belly. Happy Birthday!
I’m so glad your birthday was great and that your hubby cooked for you! Your kiddos are adorable, and you look so young and darling. Isn’t it crazy how the older you get, the more you realize it’s not that old? I’m pushing 40 (two years away!), but most of the time I still feel like I’m 22.
Hope this year is filled with joy for your sweet family!
Happy birthday! Glad you had such a wonderful day! You look FABULOUS by the way!!!!
Belated birthday wishes! I don’t care how old you get, I think you still feel much younger! (your body might not always feel that way.. ha..) I’ll be turning 68 in April but in my mind, I’m still much much younger! Enjoy your beautiful family and
all the birthdays yet to come. Each one is special! AHH, what a sweet hubby! Blessings to you always. Char in Northern IL.
Happy Birthday Mel!! You have a darling little family and you dont look a day over 20!! Have a great year filled with joy and wonderful food!!
Happy Belated Birthday, Mel. You are blessed with a lovely family. I enjoy reading your blog and have been trying out some of your recipes. Have another great year.
Best Wishes from Australia.
Happy belated birthday! I loved my 30’s and 40’s. Believe me, the best time of life is when your children are young.
Happy birthday, Mel! If 35 seems like it suits you (and from the looks of it, it clearly does!), just wait until 40. It only gets better. This, my 41st year, is no doubt more satisfying than the one before that, and the one before that… I find I care more about better things and less about worse things. What a relief!
xoxo Nicole
Happy Birthday, Mel! I’m so glad you had a wonderful birthday. My birthday is on the 24th, also on a Sunday this year, and I’m already looking forward to cheese fondue for dinner after church. Dessert will be white chocolate fondue. I lived in Switzerland for a summer during college and love cheese fondue so much. It’s not a favorite for my family, but they happily eat it every year for my birthday. Your birthday dinner sounds like it was fantastic. What a blessing to have such a wonderful family! Your daughter is darling, and your sons are all so handsome. You’re a beautiful woman. I don’t usually take photos on my birthday, but after seeing the beautiful one you posted, I’m going to this year! xoxo
Gosh, you have a cute family! Seriously Mel! I’m glad you had a happy birthday! It sounds perfect! I’m turning 29 in 2 weeks and the way you described your feelings about age in the first paragraph, is exactly how I feel. I would never have been able to picture my life the way it is and I just love growing and seeing what each new day brings! Thanks for sharing this glimpse into your life!
Happy belated bday! You have a beautiful family. Strawberry shortcake is my favorite dessert. 🙂
Sweet pic & post! Happy Birthday!
what a sweet sweet picture , you are blessed..happy birthday
I turned 35 last week too! Happy Birthday Mel!
What a beautiful picture. I’m not sure why I felt a little weepy eyed looking at it. Maybe it’s because I’ll be 35 this year and am watching my two boys play right now…. Oh wait, they just started fighting and one is crying. There goes the weepiness!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Mel! The kids are adorable and you look fantastic! I turned 40 last month and let me tell you, life is not over…it gets better 🙂 Thank you so much for all that you do, you are such a blessing to me and so many people. Can’t wait to share your 35th year with you!!
Mel – Happy Birthday. What a fabulous photo of you and the kids.
You probably think now that 65 is ancient, but in 2 months that’s what I’ll be…65! I’ll be on Medicare, I’m already on Social Security now (retired a little early) but except for the stiff joints and muscles on a daily basis, I don’t feel THAT different from 35… I just need the oil can a little more!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!! How nice to have such a sweet family. A good husband is a treasure.
Oh Mel, I´m so glad you had a perfect birthday! Looking back, 35 was one of my best years. And the husband that cooks for you on your b-day is eveyone´s dream. Have a great weekend!
A most Happy Birthday to you! The picture is beyond sweet and you do look 19…smile.
Happy birthday Melanie. Sounds like the perfect day.
Happy birthday and both you and your young charges are adorable. On the verge of being twice as old as you are, I can tell you that there is more to look forward to in the next 35 than to look back at. Enjoy.
Happy Birthday, Mel! Beautiful picture of your family.
Happy Birthday, Mel!! I’m 35 too and it’s quite a nice age — looks like it suits you well!
I’m glad you had a good birthday! I just turned 35, too, and it’s not bad…not bad at all 🙂