Thursday, August 6, 2009

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, that dreaded day of the year has come along for me! Today I can no longer say that I am just 40, as I am now in the above 40 category! I am officially 41 years old today and I do not feel a bit dreadful at all about it! A very good and wise friend of mine says the following about birthdays "It's better than the alternative!" How right you are Cheryl, and thank you for those words of wisdom.

I must admit that I really no longer have that fear of "another birthday". I just want to share a little bit of how I seemed to be able to gain a better perception and acceptance of birthdays. Five years ago on my 36th birthday, I happened to realize that my mom was 36 when she passed away. The day my mom turned 36 years old, already a widow and two kids at home, she knew she didn't have much time left in this world. Just a couple of months later she passed away.

Many of you also remember that my 32 year old sister passed away earlier this year, also leaving two young children at home. Luckily they do have their father to take care of them. I didn't bring this up to sound depressing in any way, but more as a way to express my gratitude and praise God for being able to live the life that I have lived so far. I am sad to not be able to make more memories with my mom and sister, but I am so happy to reflect on the times that we did share together. Fortunately I do have my Grandma here with me yet, as she will be turning 87 years old next month. So I think I have inherited her genes and if I am lucky I will be able to live as long and colorful as a life as she has.

So to celebrate I am going out to lunch with my co-workers today, which I have deemed as a "lava lunch". If you are wondering what lava lunch is, it means that I will have maybe a small salad for a meal and indulge in a molten chocolate lava cake for dessert! Yummy. For dinner this evening my husband will be taking me to my favorite Mexican restaurant so I can consume my birthday margarita. More yummy!

Speaking of margarita's...I know that many of you read Beach Trip by Cathy Holton. I just loved this book and you can see my review here. The ladies in this book whipped together a drink that was called a Margarona. Although this recipe seemed a bit strong for my taste, my friend Miranda shared a similar recipe that I thoroughly enjoyed! I wanted to share it with you so here it is:

Miranda's Margarona's

1 bottle of Corona
1 can of sprite, 7Up whatever
6 oz of tequila
1 can of frozen Raspberry Lemonade, Lemonade, Limeade etc…

Mix and serve over ice

These are just amazing on a hot day--especially if you are relaxing at the lake with your girlfriends. My personal favorite is with the raspberry lemonade but they are all tasty! Thanks for revealing this recipe to me Miranda!

Every day that I receive with my friends and family is all the gifts that I need. But I still hope I get that squirrel-proof bird feeder! lol

If you feel like helping me celebrate this special day, feel free to indulge in one of Miranda's Margarona's!

30 comments:

Lezlie said...

Hey! Your friend stole my line! :-) Happy Birthday, Jo-Jo!!

Lezlie

bermudaonion said...

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Blodeuedd said...

Happy Birthday :D
i hope you will have a great day

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful birthday! Enjoy your lunch and dinner.

Missy B. said...

Mmmm, I am going to try the Margarona recipe..sounds like my kind of drink!
Have a very Happy Birthday, Jo-Jo...you have a wonderful outlook on life. And just bask in this thought today.....I am three years older than you. :)
*I will be 45 in November.....

Esme said...

Happy Birthday to you. Have a wonderful day.

lol

E.

Anna said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Have a wonderful day! I'm jealous about the chocolate cake. I could use some chocolate right about now.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Kaye said...

Well, well, young lady, have a fabulous day! Enjoy the festivities.

Serena said...

Happy Birthday!

I'm with you in spirit, if only for the celebration and the molten chocolate lava cake for dessert!

My two favorite things in this list are the chocolate lava cake and the margarhitas!

Have a great day! I love your outlook.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Jo-Jo - here's an award for you.

avisannschild said...

Happy birthday, Jo-Jo! Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! And thank you for sharing your healthy aging perspective with us. We all need to be reminded of what we have, not what we're missing.

Kathy said...

Happy Birthday!
Enjoy your day.

Julie P. said...

Happy Birthday. I turned 40 this year too -- ACK! And, today is my son's fifth birthday!

Desert Rose said...

A very Happy Birthday to you.. may your day and whole years be filled with happiness and free of sorrow :)

Passages to the Past said...

Happy Birthday Jo Jo! Have a great day and nice big fat margarita!

Jill said...

Happy Birthday :)

BurtonReview said...

Very touching about your family... I am still trying to move past the loss part with my father dying.. Someday it will happen.
You have a great attitude about it, and I commend you!
I hope your Lava Lunch was lusciously sinful.. and I'd love the mexican dinner too, have a special night!
Happy Birthday, Jo-Jo!

Alyce said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!! The lava cake sounds wonderful - enjoy your day.

Lizzie said...

Happy happy birthday to you on your special day!

I just have to say I lost my brother to cancer 2 years ago. I know your sister and mother are with you today on your special day.

Like Robin Maxwell said "that what you left behind was not what was engraved in stone monuments, but what was woven into the lives of others"

Book Bird Dog said...

Happy birthday!! And many more to come!!

Would love the drink but have to go get the Corona and the tequila. Instead I'm having rum and coke in your honor! Cheers!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday girl! I love your attitude to life, it's very uplifting and we all should live by it. Have a blast with your coworkers and your husband sipping the yummy margarita. Have one for me as I won't be able to have any for many moths to come :)

Luanne said...

Happy Birthday J0-JO!! What a wonderful outlook you have. Yes - everyb day is a gift and we can't waste them! Let us know if you get that birdfeeder and I hope lunch was fun!

Becca said...

Happy Birthday, Jo-Jo! I love your outlook on life. Very inspiring.

♔ jessica.marie said...

Happy belated birthday! :)

Jem said...

Happy Birthday Jo-Jo. I hope you enjoyed it! (I am behind in my google reader)

Ti said...

Happy Birthday!! I will be the same age as you in a little less than a month. You are so right...now that 40 has come and gone, age doesn't seem to loom over me as it once did.

Unknown said...

Hi Jo-Jo! I'm rather new in the blog arena and have only recently discovered your blog. I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday Year! I hope you had a lovely birthday day! Welcome to your 41st year!! I am halfway through mine and finding it pretty wonderful. I'm sorry I missed your actual day. You have a wonderful outlook on life.

Best wishes Jo-Jo =O)

Amy

Darlene said...

Sorry I'm late Jo-Jo but Happy Belated Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day and I understand what you mean by feeling lucky to have more birthdays.