15 Apr
Happy 26th To Me!
Yes! Another year where I am still unashamed of my age. I hope it stays that way because my birthday is AWESOME and I always want to get excited about it.
On Monday of this week I went to Carnivale (a place which I would love to return to for a date night with TH) with Anni and LatteLove. We mentioned it was my birthday and they brought us a free dessert. It was very delicious and, in the midst of all of this restricting I’m doing, felt sinfully indulgent.
I laughed at this picture because in the shot above, where the cake is in front of me and I’m about to eat, I look ecstatic! But then we pushed the cake aside to take this picture together and I look a little sad. Certainly not an accurate portrayal of the fun time I was having with LatteLove. I just really wanted to eat that cake.
The three of us together. Thanks for doing some celebrating with me girls, and thanks to Anni for picking such a great place!
26 Amazingly Awesome Things About My Life Right Now
1. My husband agreed to gift me, among other things, a day free of housewife responsibilities. No dishes! No cleaning! I’m going to respond to no emails, read a book, and do whatever else I want the whole day.
2. The Weddingbee Writer Biggest Loser challenge ends tomorrow and (as of this writing on Thursday afternoon) I’m in first place! There is a cash prize for the winner and if I win it all I’m going to take a class at the French Pastry school and cross off one of my 101 in 1001 goals.
3. Having a baby made my period so much lighter, and my cramps right beforehand almost non-existent (on my mind as I am experiencing said monthly visitor at the moment). What a nice childbirth bonus!
4. I found a new lipgloss I love, and as all my friends and family know I am the queen of lipgloss.
5. I’m running my first 5k tomorrow morning!
6. I didn’t meet my goal of being in the 150s by my birthday, but I’m less than 10lbs shy of my pre-baby weight!
7. Lately, I stop running and I feel like I could have gone longer. Even though it’s still hard while I’m doing it, I feel like I can finally call myself an “in shape” person.
8. I just booked my tickets, and I’m going to be in Washington from June 15th-August 31st. I’m going to show you through pictures what living on a farm is REALLY like.
9. I am loving my hair lately.
10. I’ve made the same recipe three times in a row. That must mean I really, really love it (I do!)
11. I completed the FrancyPants Academy Mentoring, and though I’m sad that my time working with Kelli France is done, I’m happy I don’t have any more homework.
12. I’ve started reading The Economist when it comes each week. That Husband deems this an incredibly sexy quality to have in a wife.
13. My husband thinks I’m sexy. 
14. My favorite show as of late is American’s Next Great Restaurant. I’m sad they made the Mediterranean Sol girl change her concept, but I hope she wins!
15. I’m getting better at feeding T1. We are developing a routine. It’s not perfect, but better.
16. We leave for Europe in 138 days. I think about it ALL THE TIME.
17. I started emailing back and forth with someone who is basically acting as my travel agent, planning a trip in Italy that’s absolutely perfect for us as a couple.
18. My two favorite blogs of late are Word of Wisdom Living and Moment Junkie.
19. I am able to witness absolutely stunning sunsets out my window each evening.
20. I finally finished Henrietta Lacks. The book was so fascinating, one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read.
21. The song “Hello” by Martin Solveig makes me feel like dancing every single time I listen to it (which is a lot of times, I can’t get enough).
22. There is a small chance I will pay off Jenna Cole this year. That is amazing.
23. Our Spring CSA started which means we have a delicious box of fresh vegetables coming our way bi-weekly.
24. Only two more months until the Hyde Park Farmer’s Market will be running again!
25. I’ve been practicing my Italian on the website Livemocha. L’automobile è giallo. I actually remember some of it!
26. I go to bed each night wishing I had time to do more, but happy with where I’m headed in life. I love where I am at 26.
My little family at the park this week. I feel so blessed!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Happy birthday Jenna! You look beautiful! Have a fantastic day celebrating you.
1Jenna you look amazing! Your skin looks so lovely and healthy. Happy birthday to you. Much love to you and your sweet little family.
2Happy Birthday. I wish I could say my life is as happy/blessed as yours (I’m also 26). I guess we just lead very different lives. Maybe by the time I’m 36 and hopefully (finally) done with school, I’ll be as happy as you are!
3Happy birthday! Your happiness is contagious-cheers to your 26th year! You are looking great and I am so proud of your dedication to well, everything!
4Happy 26th!
5I’ve been digging momentjunkie too - the chick was our engagement photographer in chile!
Girl—-you look AMAZING. I almost cannot believe how great you look. You are glowing and look so healthy. Congrats!!!! And Happy Birthday!
6Happy Birthday Jenna! Thank you for your beautiful, intelligent, thought-provoking and entertaining presence in so many people’s lives! I wish you a life-time of inspiration, happiness, love, joy and wisdom. Have a fantastic weekend celebrating you!
7Happy birthday, Jenna! I am really happy for you. Loved this post!
8Happy Birhtday Jenna! You look amazing, so beautiful, like others said, glowing!
9I hardly ever comment but I gotta today! You look sensational!! Really truly, you look rockin’ and that big happy smile only further increases your inner and outer beauty! Meow! Happy Birthday
10So happy for you! I’m happy to see that you’re another woman who isn’t ashamed of her age! Aging is beautiful and so many people don’t get to experience it, which is just sad.
You look AMAZING in your pictures! I hope you take the lesson at the school, I want to see some of the recipes and try them.
Also looking forward to your posts about the 5k and hopefully your summary of your experience in the mentorship program!
11Your enthusiasm is contagious! I’m so happy for you and now I’m almost looking forward to being 26 (7 months).
Good luck with your 5K! Races are really fun.
12Happy Birthday Jenna!
13Happy Birthday, Jenna! Glad to hear you have so much to enjoy about your life.
14Happy birthday! All the best for your first 5k race - C25K is so awesome, isn’t it?!
15Happy Birthday, Jenna! I hope you have a great day - you deserve it!
16I love this post! You seem so happy, and you look AWESOME. Happy birthday!!
17Happy birthday! I am a perpetual lurker but I love coming here to read what you have to say every day! I appreciate your candor and ability to eloquently put into words thoughts and ideas that might make people squirm. I love that you challenge me but in a growing kind of a way. I hope that this year is another amazing one for you and your family!
18Happy Birthday! You have so much going for you, 26 sounds like it will be a great year
Your happiness is contagious!
19Bonne Fete! Don’t often comment but your weight loss is really noticeable and you are simply glowing and gorgeous. Congratulations and cheers to your 26th year!
20Happy Birthday, and good luck with the 5K!
21Happy Birthday Jenna! What a great list!
22Happy Birthday! GOOD LUCK on the 5k! I’m sure it will be GREAT!
23Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love your list - I might have to start that tradition too!
24Woo! We have the same birthday - I’m just five years older than you. Tanti auguri a te! (I’m also studying Italian to keep up with MY international husband). We’re like twinsies! Good luck tomorrow.
25Happy Birthday! So far I’m loving 26 :). Hope it’s totally amazing for you too!
26Happy birthday, Jenna! What a happy list! I hope this year is an amazing one for you, and by all appearances it will be!
27Happy Birthday Jenna!!
28Jenna, I am absolutely stealing your birthday list idea! I think it would be really fun to start my list this year, when I turn 26 and see how those things change over the years! Thanks for the idea!
29Happy Birthday Jenna! I hope 26 is full of lots of happiness - it already looks like you have a lot of great things going for you! Good luck on the 5k tomorrow, I’m planning to do the C25k after baby comes!
30Happy Birthday, pretty lady!
31I never comment but I had to tell you that you are looking fantastic!
32YOUR FACE!!!!!! So skinny and glowy and dewey and bright! You look incredible. Happy happy birthday!
331. You are looking very thin in those birthday dinner photos. Congrats!
2. Does that cake have French Fries on it? I think I am in love.
34Happy birthday!! Is it today? Mine’s tomorrow. Yay!
35Happy Birthday Jenna!
36Happy Birthday Jenna!!!!
37I must say your energy is terrific. You look happy and glowing, full of life and love. I hope you continue this way forever, or at least a super way long time. ; )
Happy Birthday Jenna!!!
I think you really have convinced me that I need to take a trip to Carnivale. Maybe I’ll hint it to the husband for our 2 year anniversary next month. I’ve lived in Chicago for about 8 years now and have driven by it too many times, I think I finally need to make the trip.
And such a cute pic of your little family. Very lovely.
38Happy Birthday Jenna. You look amazing and I’m glad your husband sees it
39That first picture makes me think of your high school pictures except better.
So many great and exciting things in your life. I hope your 26th year brings you amazing things. I hope you win the challenge because I want to hear about a french pastry school experience.
Oh and I would have done the same face in front of that dessert, it looks delish!
Jenna, you look so fabulous! I love tone of this blog.. so positive. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
40Happy Birthday! You look incredible, such a motivation!!
41Happy Birthday! You have the most beautiful family.
Good luck on your 5k tomorrow! Remember not to get wrapped up in the excitement and start out too fast (which was my mistake on my first 5k). Better to start out too slow and then have the energy to push it at the end!
42Looking & feeling so beautiful has got to be a great way to spend your birthday! HBD!
Thanks for continuously inspiring us to be our best.
43Happy Birthday! and good luck on that 5k!
44Happy Birthday! A day without housewife duties is the BEST
45You look amazing in those pictures Jenna. You are absolutely glowing, and your happiness is oozing out of every single (perfect, almost invisible, luck you for having perfect skin) pore
The weight you have lost is really noticeable, not just from the way you look, but from the confidence you exude as a result. You rock.
And I, too, finally finished Henrietta Lacks and totally agree with your assessment- incredible book.
Good luck on your first 5K! I’m inspired by your progress, and I can’t wait to be to the end of C25K so I can run my own 5K! Happy, happy birthday!
46Happy birthday! You look fantastic!!
47Happy Birthday! I’m glad that your birthday is such an awesome event for you!
P.S. you look fantastic!
48Happy Birthday and congrats… you’ve accomplished so much and you look amazing!!
49Happy birthday! Have a spectacular day! You are looking fabulous!!! I love the family picture as well. I’m happy that you’re incredibly happy with life
Keep up the good work! You’re very inspirational.
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