Today happens to be a celebration of birth… My birth! 🙂 Today I turn 35 years old. I have found that I love getting older. Some people long for their younger days. I look on those days and smile at how silly I was and then think in amazement how much I have grown as a person and how much more comfortable I am with myself. We should never yearn too much for the past, nor spend all of our time wishing for the future. Live in the present and appreciate all of the little things around you from day to day!
In addition to my birthday, this weekend also brings quite a few other celebrations and events!
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It is the 139th Kentucky Derby! Wow, what a lot of tradition and history surrounding this event! And, of course, it is best –whether attending or not– to put on your best hat and sip on a Bourbon Mint Julep! Here are some other fun things to check out:
Need a hat? It might be too late for this year’s Derby…but get a head start for next year, or find that special hat for another fabulous occasion! Chimeric Millinery has very fun hats made by my friend Susannah.
And here are some fun Kentucky Derby Party Printables from Hostess with the Mostess to add a fun little touch to your viewing party this weekend! Printables
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It is also Cinco de Mayo on Sunday! Here are some great food recipes, margaritas, and tablescapes to get you in the festive spirit! But first, check out this article by Adam at The Unorthodox Epicure that talks about the Distinction Between Mexican and Tex Mex Food, as well as providing a really tasty nachos recipe!
Sweet Potato and Chard Enchiladas from Gourmet Veggie Mama
Avocado Enchiladas – Enchiladas Bandera from Hilah Cooking
Coconut Tres Leches cake with Mexican Vanilla from Cookie Madness
Grapefruit Margarita from Green Door Hospitality
Blackberry Margarita from Green Door Hospitality
Cinco de Mayo Tablescape from The Painted Apron
Cinco de Mayo Tablescape Roundup from Home Seasons
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Catch up with this week’s Green Door Hospitality posts!
Homemade Staples: Buttermilk Biscuits
Impromptu Entertaining: Savory Mashed Potato Bake
Ingredient Spotlight: Cilantro
Wordless Wednesday — Enchanted Paddling
Cocktail Corner: Bourbon Mint Julep
Lunchtime Hospitality: Meyer Lemon Granita
Happy birthday Kenley! I hope you have a wonderful day and a great birthday weekend (when your birthday falls on a Friday it’s totally acceptable to celebrate all weekend long!). Incidentally it’s my hubs’ birthday today too! 🙂
Oh heck yeah it is a whole weekend celebration!! 🙂 And Happy Birthday to your husband as well! Gotta say…it’s a great day to be born. 😉
Kenley
YAY! Happy Birthday Kenley! 35 years old YAY! glad you feel great today! I hope you will get to celebrate your birthday with family and friends ! Wish a great weekend Kenley, enjoy, have fun! 🙂
Thanks Ingrid! Yes…much celebrating to be had! 🙂 Appreciate the birthday wishes 🙂
Kenley
Happy birthday, dear Kenley! And your words show a LOT of wisdom for such a young woman! 🙂 Hugs, Katherine
Aw, Thanks Katherine! Every so often I try to be wise. 😉
Kenley
Happy Birthday. You’re still waaaaayy young so have a great time. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Thanks for the birthday wishes Jo! Oh, and I know I’m still young… just old enough to not be “too young”! 😉
Kenley
I hope your birthday is so fantastic! Enjoy this lovely cool weather! Cheers!
Thanks Sarah! Though I don’t want it to be as “cool” as yesterday! WOW! That was pretty crazy and at least where we are, the wind was something TERRIBLE! But yeah — it should be a fun and great weekend no matter what! 🙂
Happy Birthday Kenley! Thanks for mentioning my Cinco de Mayo table, I can’t wait to try your blackberry margaritas, heaven!
Thanks for the birthday wishes Jenna! And it was my pleasure to include your cinco de mayo table! Hope you had some fun celebrations with yummy margaritas 🙂
Happy birthday, Kenley!! Have a great time celebrating.
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!
Kenley
Happy Birthday!!!
Thanks Sarah!! 🙂
Happy Birthday Kenley!!! Have great time celebrating all weekend long!! Enjoy, enjoy.
Cynthia
Thanks Cynthia! Appreciate the birthday wishes! 🙂
Kenley
Happy Birthday, Kenley! May your birthday be filled with cheers and happiness! & thank you for including our Cinco de Mayo tablescape post 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! And it was my pleasure to include the Cinco de Mayo tablescape post! 🙂
Kenley
Happy Birthday!!! So exciting! I love when mine falls over a weekend for prime celebration. I was just thinking about this the other day, that I’m really enjoying getting older and looking forward to my thirties. Cheers to you, today!
Thanks so much Eileen!! And I really think that you’ll enjoy your thirties quite a bit! I think they are the best 🙂
HaPpY BirThDAy! I second your sentiments and can promise you (as I am just slightly ahead of you in) that life just keeps getting better and better! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much Danielle!
Thanks for the plug! And Happy 35th!
You’re quite welcome Adam! And thanks for the birthday wishes!
Happy Birthday!! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much!
Kenley
Happy Birthday Weekend Kenley! 35 is a fabulous age!
Thanks Bernice!!
Happy birthday Kenley. May the next thirty five keep you young at heart and mind too.
Thanks so much! Appreciate that 🙂
Happy Birthday to You, dear Kenley! 😀
Wish you the best! Be happy! 😀
Hugs, Cristina
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes Cristina!!! 🙂
Dear Kenley, wish you the best! Smile and be happy! 😀
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Happy Birthday Kenley! You have the “secret ingredient’ to a happy life at any age. A good attitude! 🙂
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! And yes — a good attitude will get you far 🙂
Kenley
Happy belated birthday…I hope you had a great day.
Thanks so much Karen!
Happy (belated) birthday Kenley!
xo
lindy
Thanks so much Lindy!
Kenley
Hope you had a great birthday!
Thanks!! Appreciate the birthday wishes 🙂
Kenley
Happy Birthday Kenley! Every day is a kind of birth day “if you think about it” because each day is a new day in your life! Love this post. And I’m rooting for Rosie Napravnik and Mylute of course! Have a great weekend my friend! 🙂
Thanks so much Penny! 🙂
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Kenley! And I totally agree with you- I am MUCH more comfortable in my own skin now than I have ever been before (despite the fact that this skin has been stretched, shrunk and stretched again to accomodate 2 babies in 2 years! 😉 ) and do not mourn my younger days. Congrats to you on 35 great years! All the very best to you! xx
Thank you so much!! Appreciate the happiest of birthday wishes 😉
Kenley
Happy belated birthday to you, Kenley! I hope you had a wonderful day…and that you spread out the celebration a bit–all month even. You deserve it, girl! And after all of the encouragement I received when turning 30 (from yourself included), like you, I feel more and more excited about what lies ahead. Here’s to growing older and hopefully wiser. To life!
Thanks Lauren!! Oh yes — a month of celebrating is definitely in order!! 🙂
To Life!!
Kenley
I am so sorry I missed your birthday…I was in Seattle. Well Happy Belated my friend and I hope for you a great year ahead!
Oh no problem Laurie! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! 🙂
Happy Birthday – late ! We all remember May 3 around these parts. The reason is because the largest tornado ever recorded – ever – hit our area, about mile from my house, in 1999. So, would people call YOU a tornado? 🙂 Hope you had a lovely day!
Thanks Kelli!
Oh wow!! May does bring some crazy, crazy weather. I like to think of myself more as a good breeze. 😉
Kenley
🙂
Belated Happy Birthday, dear Kenley! Many Happy Returns of the Day! xxxx
Thanks Lena! Really appreciate it!
Kenley xxxx
Catching up as fsat as I can seems to be a little turtle-like. Sorry, I missed wishing you a happy birthday …. getting the drums out and banging loudly so you can hear my BIRTHDAY SONG …. hope it was a great one and may you have many, many more. I love your attitude about aging. It is a very psoitive and wonderful one to have.
WOW … you have covered every Cinco de Mayo requirement. I think there is something for everyone.
My friend hosted Kentucky Derby parties for years before she became ill. They were grand. We were required to wear hats and the men wore vests. The mint julep – not my favorite – was in every glass. It was always fun.
Toodles,
Isadora
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. 🙂
Both Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby parties — as well as just all parties in general — can be so much fun! I actually want to do a Derby party sometime just for the excuse to wear outrageous and fun hats! 🙂
Kenley