Birthday # 33
Last weekend I turned the ripe old age of 33. Yay!
I’m not the type to throw a big birthday party. I did when I turned 21, and I had a smallish dinner out with friends when we first moved to Amsterdam. But nothing makes me happier than to curl up in a cozy, quiet little bubble of love with Marlon and Tala. Over the years, Marlon has become such an expert at making me feel cherished that I hardly feel the need to seek birthday adoration from other people.
I woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sight of this beautiful chocolate ganache cake from Patisserie Holtkamp. Holtkamp is known for the best cakes in Amsterdam, and supplies their desserts to some of my favorite cafes. Tip: call ahead to order a birthday cake, because the ones in the bakery go fast!
Then it was time to address the elephant in the room, which you might have seen on Instagram.
Few things can awaken your inner child like seeing a giant birthday present sitting in your living room. If you want to make someone feel younger, not older, on their birthday, this is definitely how you should do it. So let’s unwrap it, shall we?
Marlon’s gift came in three parts. First was something I’ve been wanting for a long time: a rubber plant!
All that Urban Jungle Bloggers action I’ve been watching from the sidelines has awakened my desire for green life in our apartment. With my criminal track record, any houseplant of mine must be virtually indestructible, so the hardy rubber tree is a good choice. It looks so formal and upright that I named it Carson, after Downton Abbey’s formidable butler.
Next, inside the big box was the perfect gift for the season: a beautifully knit blanket and matching cushions from Bodie and Fou. All those long winter nights ahead just got a whole lot cozier!
Our evenings alone together after Tala goes to bed are so precious to me, whether it’s Friday movie and cocktail night or just curling up together on the couch and talking about our day. This present makes that time feel even more luxurious and special.
I may have held back a sniffle while arranging the new blanket and pillows, but the dam well and truly broke with Marlon’s third and final present. “I started out with 33, but I realized that was too few,” he said.
As a mom and wife, so much of me goes into the thousand and one details that complete a home and family. Some of them come naturally to me, while others take considerable effort. Marlon’s handwritten cards made me feel rewarded for caring for all the little things that I do care about, for being who I am and doing what I do. You can’t imagine how full my heart feels to know that the person who is closest to me appreciates those little things too.
And that, friends, was Birthday #33. Thank you for all the greetings on Facebook, Instagram, email and Twitter. I really couldn’t ask for more.
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