I think I may be cursed. The last few birthdays I've had have been anything but steller. I don't expect much and maybe it is just what happens as get older. But I don't think that is the case here. Last year, I failed my drivers test because I messed up the parallel parking by hitting the back cone. I basically cried the whole day which also lead to a horrible long summer of practicing that damn parking multiple times a week in a sweltering car with no AC. This year...well, I don't really know what to say. So I put together a list of do's and don'ts to having a better birthday than I.
It could have been worse, don't get me wrong. There were some highlights, but ultimately, this 18th birthday is not one for the memory books. You know, it is kind of like Christmas. The build up can be exciting, but then the actual day end up being pretty hum-drum. Ah well, there is always next year right? π
Do wake up with the sun and enjoy the fact that you don't have to get ready for school. Savor the silence and stillness. Anticipate the warm sunny day to come.
Don't leave your bedroom only to find your mom getting ready to go to the hospital. (P.S. She is okay!)
Do make some celebratory pancakes. Write a botched 18 with chocolate stevia syrup and post it to instagram. Plus add some candles in just for fun! (Recipe at the end of the post!)
Don't go on Facebook to find out that your room assignment was posted earlier then 12pm. Then don't proceed to check you college email and literally die on the spot because you were assignments to your last possible choice of dorm. And don't proceed to break out in to uncontrollable tears.
Do take some time to enjoy your old hobby of reading a book. Enjoy the escape and the wonderful story unfolding before your eyes and in your head.
Don't just wander around the house all day waiting for texts, planning how you will be switching your dorm somehow, completing loan counseling online for college, thinking about how you won't ever have the experience of senior prom.
Do get a smile on you face when you get 3 mail deliveries from Frieda's, My TaT, and Skoop. (Get ready for some Honest reviews in the next few weeks!) plus, feel special when Frieda's tweets to all their followers that everyone should wish you a happy birthday.
Everyone, say happy birthday to our friend @RebeccaGF666. π
β Frieda's Produce (@FriedasProduce) June 6, 2014
Don't get sad when you go on instagram and see everyone at Blend while your at home...
Do lift some weights to get all you anger and frustration form the day out. Make yourself feel like a beast and things start to look a bit better π
Don't keep obsessively checking your college email since you activated Room Swap and are waiting to see what dorms open, only to find those options are equally as bad.
Do make a delicious dinner, ambient nothing interesting, but still tastes good.
Don't agree to having your mom and brother awkwardly stand and sing you happy birthday. (This is the worst...thank god they didn't do it!)
Do go to bed by 9 after reading a few more pages of your book and hope that the weekend will be a bit better (it was!). Reassure yourself that turning 18 means a lot more then just this one day.
Chocolate Frosted Peppermint Monster Pancakes
Ingredients: (serves 1 birthday girl!)
+ β Cup Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour
+ Β½ Tsp Baking Powder
+ ΒΌ Cup Grated Zucchini
+ Β½ Tsp Peppermint Extract
+ Β½ Cup Spinach
+ 5 Drops Liquid Stevia
+ β Cup Water
Chocolate Frosting:
+ 2TB Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
+ 4-5 Drops Liquid Stevia
+ 1-2 TB Water (it needs to be thick, so add slowly!)
Directions:
+ In a small food processor, add all dry ingredients, give it a whirl. Then all the wet and the veggies. Blend until you have batter, then pour out into a bowl.
+ Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium heat. Pour batter (either Β½ or β ) on the center of the pan. Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes, flip, and cook an additional 3 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
+ For the frosting, just mix everything together. Slowly add the water though so it stays thick and easily spreadable. Then just top each cake with the frosting and Bam!
So why are these called "Monster" pancakes? Well anytime anyone adds in greens to a recipe like a smoothie or pancakes, they call it a green monster. So yea, I just went with it. But these pancakes are like Junior Mint cake pancakes π Remember we spoke of old candy favorites last week? Mint and chocolate are a good combo. And they make a perfect 18th birthday "cake". Although sadly I didn't even light the candles, just took a few pictures (alone at 6am in the kitchen), then proceeded to eat my birthday pancakes alone. Damn, I should have made a wish π Next time, right? Next time π
So tell me:
+ What is you ideal birthday, or what do you wish you could do on your birthday?
+ If it just me or does anyone else have bad luck birthdays?
*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, #Foodie Friday, Real Food Recipe Roundup, Gluten-Free Tuesdays!*
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eat good 4 life
What a great fun post!! Happy birthday. I am glad everything turned out ok π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, thanks, but I hope you know this post is form last year π
The Frugal Exerciser
Did you come up with this recipe on your own? How does it tastes with the greens added? It looks delicious. Visiting from the #wowlinkup
Strength and Sunshine
All my my recipes I come up with on my own, haha!?
And it is just like a green smoothie. Add in the greens and you don't taste it!
Femme Fitale Fit Club
Happy belated birthday!!!! When you wake up EVERY day is a GREAT day. Have an awesome weekend. #wowlinkup
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks love! Haha, it is! Always be grateful for life!
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife}
LOL, Happy {late} birthday and sorry it wasn't as good as you hoped. The good news is, there's always next year... lol.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks love! Yup, just gotta keep making pancakes every year and it will be okay π
Raia Torn
I think birthday pancakes are a great idea! π Thank for sharing these at Savoring Saturdays. π
Strength and Sunshine
The only way to celebrate π
cassidl
chocolate and pancakes, my two fav things
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, same here girl! π
Amanda H
Aww sorry your birthday wasn't the best. Having experienced some less than awesome bdays myself, I would add one more tip: schedule something awesome as a present to yourself so you don't depend on other people to make it special. Hope you still have a great year! #wowlinkup
Strength and Sunshine
I had wanted to go to a yoga studio, but that never panned out. I was happy just at home, just wish some things didn't have to happen on that day!
Deborah Smikle-Davis
Hi Rebecca,
What better way to celebrate your special day than with Chocolate Frosted Peppermint Monster Pancakes! I am so glad you shared this delicious recipe at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Blog Hop! I appreciate it!
Strength and Sunshine
It is the perfect way to celebrate π
Diane (@SimpleLivingEat)
Happy Birthday and you will have many more... many much better, just keep making monster pancakes and you'll live forever. Thanks for sharing them on foodie friday.
Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha thank you and I will for sure π They are the power elixer!
Aubree Cherie
These are such a cool idea! And I love how you've tucked in some extra healthy ingredients too. Happy [late] birthday π Thanks for sharing this with Naturally Sweet Tuesday - the linkup for this week is live, if you are interested. Thanks!!! ~Aubree
http://livingfree.aubreecherie.com/2014/06/naturally-sweet-tuesday-june-17-2014/
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Aubree! It is a sneaky power house breakfast!
Stephanie
Those pancakes looks delicious! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Stephanie!
balmtomysoul
Yummy pancakes!! I would like that for my birthday breakfast!! Isn't it funny how birthdays change the older we get?? Happy, happy!!
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes, but the one thing that will never change is the pancake lovin!
Emily @amummytoo
Mint chocolate pancakes sound dreamy! I've never tried that combination but I really want to. Thanks for linking up to #recipeoftheweek - I have pinned this post to my food boards and scheduled in a tweet for this evening π
Strength and Sunshine
Mint and Chocolate is a must!
marie
You had me at mint. Happy bday- yea you for making your own celebration.
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks Marie! The pancakes really helped π
Amberly
Happy birthday!!! I'm sorry it wasn't as perfect as you might have wanted it to be! Birthdays are the best though.
Strength and Sunshine
Yup I'm still 18! So there is always a plus right π Haha, Thanks!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
My birthday is coming up June 26! I try not to anticipate it being the BEST DAY EVER because that always sets you up for disappointment! Ha! I just love getting up early, feeling good, going to my favorite lunch and dinner spots, hanging out with my closest friends and just lots of smiling and laughing! π
I'm sorry your birthday wasn't the best - HOWEVER - I am THRILLED your mother is okay!
Strength and Sunshine
Yay June baby π Birthdays are just not meant to be the best kind of days anyway π But you know what the 26th is? My blogs Birthday! Woohoo! You guys are twins π Hahahaha!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
AH HA HA HA! Your blog and I look so much alike π
Miss Angie
Some of these Don'ts seem a little out of your control... lol HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Strength and Sunshine
Hsha they were, so not much I could have done, just some bad luck!
Thank you π XOXO
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa
Happy belated birthday! 18 is a big one! Enjoy π
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Melissa! XOXO
itsemmaelise
Thanks for linking up with Manic Mondays!
β₯Emma, of It’s Emma Elise
Strength and Sunshine
π
Nichole Josey
I'm so sorry to hear that you didn't have a great birthday π I've had some that don't turned out as planned for sure and I find myself looking to those things that did go right - your do list - and trying to forget the parts that went badβ¦ That's not always 100% possible though depending on what it may be. I'm also sorry to hear your mom had to go to the hospital but Im glad she is okay! We're warm birthday twins! π Mines in July. I do love that there is always a great chance to wake up on my birthday to sunshine, warmth and a beautiful day!
Strength and Sunshine
The sunshine always makes thing better. If it was a rainy day...it would have been all down hill even sooner, haha!
But we all just try to make the most of it no matter what right?
kgirll13
My ideal birthday is just hanging out with friends! I'm sorry your day wasn't the greatest, but happy birthday anyway!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you love!
That seems like a doable "not asking to much" birthday to me π
Kristy @ Southern In Law
I think my biggest do and don't for birthdays is;
DO be realistic and realise that whilst your birthday is special, it is just another day and like with every day, anything can happen.
DON'T get too wrapped up in the whole "birthday" thing and have a melt down as soon as a tiny little thing goes wrong.
I know way too many people who disappoint themselves year after year because they feel like EVERYTHING needs to go perfectly on their birthday - everyone needs to treat them like a queen, they have to get their way with everything, they need to be spoilt and everyone needs to pay attention to them - but they end up becoming birthday monsters! (My sister is one of THE WORST for this haha)
And that, is why I don't fuss over my birthday haha ;P
Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, very strong feelings Kristy π
I definitely don't want a big to-do, maybe no crying would be good π
Farrah
Happy belated birthday! :] Glad that your mom ended up being okay!
That pancake recipe looks amazing. π I recently got a spatula so I'm rather curious (also a little scared) to see if my pancake failures were because of my lack of spatula, or just because I fail at the art of making pretty pancakes. π‘
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Farrah! π
If you have trouble mastering the flip, just make your pancakes no bigger than the size or your spatula. Make them small until you get the hang of it!
Farrah
I'm definitely gonna start with that. Thanks for the tip! π
Orly
happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day
xo
Orly
coffeebeansandhighheels.weebly.com
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks! It wasn't great, but I'll take it π
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon
Happy belated birthday! I got last dorm choice and switched out a few months later- and met a fab new roommate my freshman year! Everything is for a reason and hopefully it goes smoothly!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Marisa!
That's great! I know no matter what I'll be changing out of that dorm though...to where, I have no idea yet!
fitfoodiemama
Happy Belated Birthday!!! Sorry it was less than stellar...your recipes look amazing as always though π
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you friend! At least I have the whole Summer to make up for it!
fitfoodiemama
You will!! Ps. I am in desperate need of Pinterest advice! You rock at it!!
Strength and Sunshine
Pin food.....lots of it!
fitfoodiemama
I just pinned pics from your blog π I'm gonna go on a pinning frenzy now, haha! Thank you π
Heather @ PrettyHealthyMostoftheTime
My birthday is in the middle of August which means it usually falls on the first day of school – boo! Now that I’m a teacher I still have his problem! I usually try to plan something simple and fun on the weekend before or after (like target and froyo – nothing fancy)
The dorm situation sounds like a bummer but you will love college no matter what! I’m excited to hear about everything already!
Strength and Sunshine
O man! Well at least there I'd still beautiful weather in August!
I know, no matter what happens it will be an adventure I will make the most of!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
Ooh, those pancakes! Happy birthday! Glad things turned out okay.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Laura! The pancakes made things better π
Nikki vergakes
Happy belated birthday! You made the best of it
Strength and Sunshine
Haha thank you Nikki! The weekend ended up being a tad better at least!
Lindsay L, RD (@LeanGrnBeanBlog)
those pancakes look phenomenal! i feel ya on the last choice of dorm. been there!
Strength and Sunshine
Hopefully I'll be getting it changed though due to my dietary needs! Haha!
Tina Muir
Hehe! Glad you had a great day.....love the dos and donts....my birthday is less than 2 months so I may need to keep this in mind π Only my second birthday ever away from home....so hopefully I enjoy! Have a lovely week π
Strength and Sunshine
At least we are both blessed with warm weather birthdays π Those are the best!
Carla
hmmm Im 45 soon and all all all I wannnnt is a nap π
just an hour...
silence π
Strength and Sunshine
Hey, that's not bad! Silence and rest is good π
Heidi (@idlehide)
aww, sorry you didn't have a stellar birthday! I think getting up with the sun is a good idea:) I love the silence before everyone is awake! Happy Birthday! xo
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Heidi π Yes, I could never start my day off right if I DONT get up with the sun. It is a must!