Um, hi. It’s me. Kate. Your long-lost food blogger friend. And guess what. It’s my birthday. The big 4-0. I am forty. It’s fine. I’m fine.
Actually, honestly, I really am. My thirties were a doozie of highs and lows. I’m not naïve enough to believe that will magically get better when I turn 40, kind of like I don’t think 2021 is just going to magically not be a dumpster fire of a year just because the clock changes. But. There’s something peaceful about a milestone that feels like it’s closure.
Because it’s my birthday and I get to do what I want, I’m giving away a box of my favorite things! Many of them are things I’ve talked about in recent posts, but instead of just telling you about them, I’m giving you them, too! In addition to everything here, I’ll throw in some of my favorite odds and ends. Excited? Mildly interested? I’ll take it.
2020 has been a year of redefining how I take care of my body. Getting my sensitive skin under control, embracing my natural wave/curls instead of fighting them, using more natural products, so this list includes a lot of those things.
- Like Stratia moisturizer. This is THE BEST moisturizer, especially daytime moisturizer, I’ve ever used. It’s lightweight, nourishing, soothing, and great for sensitive skin. It’s great during our humid summers and when my skin starts to dry out in the winter. I think very few face products are good for every skin type, but I think this is one that would probably be perfect for anyone regardless of age, race, skin type, skin sensitivities, etc. I. Love. It. I legitimately had a dream (no, nightmare) that I ran out of it and didn’t have a backup. ????
2. Yes, part of taking care of myself involves chocolate- and caramel-drizzled pretzel thins. I picked these up on a whim at the grocery store one day and now I have to get them every time I see them. They’re probably my favorite snack right now. These should go in every Christmas stocking this year, just saying.
3. This hand soap smells like Aveda products at a fraction of the cost and the green glass hand soap bottle is stunning. It’s a little luxurious comfort during this crazy year of hand-washing. If you use this link, you can get a free Mrs. Meyers cleaning kit–just look for the Jeremiah Brent collection.
4. If you had told me a year ago, I’d be giving away my favorite cloth face mask in a giveaway, I would have laughed at you. Alas, here we are. These masks come from my friend Candy’s Etsy shop and I’ve ordered a LOT of masks from her. They are double-sided, so you can have a little variety in your collection. They are soft, comfortable, breathable, and I always get compliments on them.
5. Sara was the one who converted me to Supergoop. It is THE BEST facial sunscreen ever. I have not always been great about wearing sunscreen, but once I learned that not wearing it was triggering my rosacea, I began wearing it religiously. I’m throwing a bottle of this into my birthday box!
6. This 10 in 1 spray for your hair is amazing–it reminds me a lot of It’s a 10 spray, but at a fraction of the cost (I have a bunch of Mane Club products and I love them all!)
7. I have been so in love with Sara’s wax melts! They’re low-commitment (I can melt one cube and then change my mind if I feel like it), easy to store, no smoke, I can melt them at school. I’m throwing in a Mulled Cider and Peppermint Icing!
8. I love this comb, which is also from Candy’s Etsy shop. I have this tortoiseshell one as well as her confetti comb and my whole family fights over them. It’s great for all hair types and would make an amazing stocking stuffer.
To enter, leave me a comment here and tell me a real moment you’ve had in 2020–happy, sad, something genuine that caught you off guard in the feels.
Kate, I turned 40 yesterday (12/03) too! Unfortunately this milestone has not (yet) brought me a sense of peace and transition as it has for you. It feels like another anxious moment in an extremely difficult year. I wish I could celebrate with friends in some kind of swanky cocktail party, but it’s not gonna happen and it makes me sad. But one thing this year has taught me is the importance of genuinely looking on the bright side and how it really can provide hope. So I want to end this comment on a positive note: I switched jobs a few months ago and my new position has been a wonderful change in so many ways. I routinely reflect on how grateful I am for this new job and how grateful I am for the timing — it has been a bright spot when almost every other aspect of life is often extremely stressful. Happy Birthday! I always look forward to your posts. Keep up the good work.
Homeschooling my kids was a REAL moment. Real good, mixed with REAL frustrating!
Happy Birthday! This year has been doozy for sure. I’m grateful for the clarity 2020 has brought. Relationships and connection with others matters more than anything else.
I’m an introvert and homebody so I have been training my whole life for 2020. As we are dealing with lots of canceled traditions and lifestyle changes I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal and I’m always looking for three new things to be thankful for each day. Writing down the little bright spots in each day has really helped me have a better perspective.
While skiing for the first time this season, my husband was hit by another skier. My husband landed hard on the packed snow, and as a result, suffered 9 broken ribs, a lacerated spleen, and a lung contusion. After four days in the hospital, including time in the ICU trauma unit, he was able to come home. He has a long road of recovery ahead of him, but, two weeks later, he is doing so much better! We are so thankful that these are injuries he can heal from completely. And we are so grateful that his injuries weren’t worse. No head, neck, or spinal injuries! And we are so grateful we have health insurance and for the many, many skilled medical personnel who cared for him!
Happy Birthday! I love your site! It’s the first one I go to when I’m looking for something yummy make, so thank you!!! I’ve had many ups and downs, just like everyone else, but my big moment is coming up this month when I get to celebrate 50 years with my wonderful husband. Sadly we will be celebrating alone rather than with our family. Maybe we can all celebrate in 2021.
I had a new beautiful baby 11/29!! What a great way to end this year!!:):) happy birthday!!????????
Happy birthday Kate!
Oh 2020. I’ve had to learn about better parenting this year. My son was diagnosed with autism last year, but couple that with being 11 next week and the hormones he’s gaining and we’ve had some unique challenges. One of the best moments was crying at his school and the behavior therapist telling me she’s got me, and she has. We have worked together closely to adapt our parenting to what our son needs that our older children didn’t. I’m just so thankful for finding someone to genuinely care and help.
Happy birthday, Kate! Welcome to your 40’s. I’m an 80’s baby, too, and turned 40 a couple months ago. I hope 2021 will be a great year for you! Thanks for doing the fun birthday giveaway. The highlight of my year has been my family. It’s a simple thing, but they make me the happiest.
In August my second grandson was born! I couldn’t be there in the hospital for this birth due to COVID regulations, but I did help my daughter breath during contractions over video call! My nine year old son is so happy to have two nephews now,as are my two older boys.
My daughter found her guy! They are both in their late thirties and sometimes in our church culture, it’s not always easy to feel like you fit in. They are both wonderful people and I am so grateful they found each other!
I finally realized what my struggling child needed was more one on one time with me. Judgement free time. The meltdowns have dramatically reduced and she is starting to excel academically. 2020 brought answers to 2 years of prayers, hopes,and dreams.
I also turned the Big 4-0 this ridiculous year. I had big plans to celebrate on a beach somewhere, but instead celebrated in my backyard, which was okay too.
Happy Birthday!! I am so glad you are you and that you are here!
My moment is when I am standing in my kitchen as the sun rises. It’s not quiet, because all five of us are here all the time, but it’s my little corner of the chaos and it makes me remember how much I really love my life, even the really screwed up bits. Then I breathe a little deeper and use all that extra air to tell everyone else to pipe down or so help me…
Happy birthday!! This year has been such a rollercoaster. Something that caught me off guard was how resilient my kids are. Are they struggling? Absolutely! They miss school and friends (we’re still distance learning). But they get up every day and just get it done. They’re all doing great in school and I’m so proud of all four of them for rolling with the punches. It seriously amazes me.
I had a new baby niece born. She is beautiful and has been a bright spot in an otherwise crappy year.
Happy Birthday Kate!! My moment is on-going, lol. I have loved teleworking while my daughter has been home for virtual school. It has definitely been hard, for sure, but this is time I never could have imagined that we’d get together, so I cherish it. She goes back to in-person school in January, and it will be weirdly bittersweet.
The day we were told that the kids wouldn’t be returning to school for the year was rough. I cried, then baked a cake. I figured it was the only thing that could make me feel better in that moment. It didn’t. But I had cake. So there’s that. PS Happy Birthday ????????
Happy Birthday! I need to find those pretzels!
Happy birthday! I love following you on IG and in my head we’d be great friends because I love your humor and we have similar likings. This year I really focused on working out to combat stress and anxiety. I’m proud of how strong I have become, not just physically but mentally as well.
Happy birthday! You are an amazing woman!
It might not be the popular opinion, but I have loved being home. My kids are entering the teen preteen years and things are just crazier than ever getting everyone to their different activities. I’ve loved the cancellations, and just having time to watch a family movie, eat a meal together, do a project. It’s not all a bed of roses, but having time to encourage my kids to develop hobbies and talents they can do at home has been ????. Happy birthday and welcome to your 40s!
So many moments, but one good one that happened recently was a couple nights ago. The family was all at home, a broadcast from Temple Square was playing on our TV, and I was just serving a big pot of corn chowder and rolls for the family. This moment made me pause and appreciate the blessings of family, home, food and hope.
Happy birthday! Hoping 40 is filled with joy!
I’ll be graduating from nurse practitioner school in a week. A bright spot to 2020. Looking forward to this new career!
I’m proud of my kids for navigating all the crazy, quarantining for a month this fall as Covid passed through the family, cancellations of plays and other events after a lot of time investments, etc. They are awesome and we’re learning flexibility and resilience!
I’m a teacher and I took a new job, at a new school, in a new district, at a new grade level, and…online this year. Even though it’s my 8th year teaching, it kind of felt like starting from scratch. There have been tears, but there has also been so, so much laughter, and a connection with my students that I didn’t expect to feel through a screen. Thanks for prompting me to think about this!
Taking our dog to the groomers is a bit of a feat. Making sure the children are ready to exit the vehicle and put the leash on the dog. The leash turns into some sort of magical string and the dog pulls me around like a kite.
When I enter the groomers, I take a few steps in and realize I am being watched and quickly encountered by managers. I become aware that in my “quick flight” I forgot to put my mask on. Thankfully they had free ones at the entry way. Phew, who knew that a dogs grooming appointment could be so stressful? 😉
I’ve been home so much I’m about 95% done with Christmas shopping (all online, of course). This leaves me with more time this month to enjoy doing things I want to do during December that I never have time to do. Does that sound selfish? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Crying coming home from the hospital with my newborn twins because the previous 6 months had just been SO MUCH and we were finally on the other side of their birth filled with so many uncertainties…
Happy birthday! ????
I’ve always said I’m not SAHM nor teacher material.. yet here I am in 2020 balancing both with working full time. And I did not die ????
Homeschooling. Went from excited about it to now dreading each day we have to do it. I am sending them back in January. ????
My neighbor and I have walked miles & miles during this mess of a year, so I guess one good thing has come out of this year!!
Happy birthday!
I’m going to have to go & try some of these things for sure