Tag Archives: family

Aug27

How To Revamp A Boring Backyard

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How To Revamp A Boring Backyard

With summer still going strong, we all want to spend as much time as possible outside. This means that you need to take the necessary measures to revamp your backyard. In the past, the backyard was a space for hanging laundry to dry and a playground for the kids. Nowadays, it is one of the top three areas that need to be renovated to improve the value of your property as well as your lifestyle. Here are some ideas that will help you to give your backyard the boost it needs:

Remodel Your Deck:

You need to remodel your deck if you want your backyard to look tasteful. An outdoor deck will benefit almost any home, whether you use it for entertainment or as a retreat. According to Deck Remodelers, an up-to-date deck will raise the value of your property significantly, which means that you should remodel yours if you are looking to sell your property in the future.

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Lush Greenery: 

Your backyard should be a bright, inviting space where you can play with the kiddos or chill with friends. Liven things up with beautiful blooms, a veggie garden, or maybe even a few fruit trees. Remember, the secret to picture book perfect grass is adequate hydration. For this reason, you might want to consider having an irrigation system installed to keep your grass healthy and looking its best. A well maintained yard is an instant curb appeal booster!

If you struggle to maintain your yard, a lawn service can be invaluable. This is especially great for older folks or people with no green thumb whatsoever! If you are interested in help for your yard, simply search online for a “lawn service Abilene TX” (or your local area) to find a team of pros to keep the outside of your property looking its best.

Add a Fire Pit:

If you want a space where you and your family members can cook and bond, you should add a fire pit to your backyard. You can use a shovel to dig a hole, then line its outer edge to make the fire pit look better. However, if you do not want to dig into your yard, you should buy a metal fire pit that will allow you to burn wood for your bonfire. Portable fire pits like the ones from Go Live Outdoor could also be a great option as you can move it anywhere on your property or even bring it on a camping trip!

Add Lawn Accents and Decorations:

You should opt for accents and decorations that will show off your personal style, such as ceramic animals and an outdoor gas lantern. You can also add wind chimes to tree branches if you want to include an element of music to your backyard. For some nighttime fun, you can place tiki torches to your newly renovated deck.

Cut Around Stones with an Edge Trimmer:

You should use an edge trimmer to cut the grass around stone pathways or walkways to end up with flat edges on your lawn that are uniform in size. To trim, you just have to place your edge trimmer on the side of the walkway before you start pushing it forward slowly. Just make sure that you keep your edge trimmer at the same height all the way to ensure uniformity.

Dive In:

There is no way you will have a boring backyard when you find a team of local professionals for inground pool installation. A swimming pool is synonymous with fun whether you’re taking a dip with your family or hosting a huge pool party. Prior to your installation, be sure to address any requirements from the city that might be needed as a lot of locations require your pool to be fenced in for safety. Dive in and have a blast!

Place Lawn Furniture in Your Backyard:

You should place several pieces of furniture in your backyard to create a calm and inviting atmosphere where people can talk and relax. You will find a wide range of lawn furniture at garden stores and lawn stores, including swings, chairs, and tables. If you have enough space, you should consider adding a retractable pergola system – a roofed structure that gives you an outdoor room and allows you to sit in the backyard on rainy and sunny days no bugs required!

Add a Water Fountain:

You should consider installing a small water fountain next to your flowerbed. This will add some ambient water noises that will have a calming effect on you. If you have the funds, you could hire a company to create a full water fountain in your backyard. You will have many water-feature choices to pick from, so your personal style will not be sacrificed.

If you are thinking about revamping your backyard, the above ideas will help you to get started. An updated backyard will not only increase the value of your home, but it will also make your outdoor space more appealing and fun to spend time in with family and friends.

Aug27

The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

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The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

Parents usually see the world a bit differently when their kids are young. They choose areas that are affordable, safe, and comfortable with enough storage space, while things like proximity to bars and restaurants take a back seat. Here are the top places that you can stay in the US if you want to raise a family:

Wylie, Texas:

This is one of the fastest-growing areas of Texas, and it has a good community spirit. Thanks to the city’s proximity to Ray Hubbard and Lavon lakes, your family can enjoy a day out in the swimming spots and hiking trails in the area. The crime rate in Wylie is well below the national crime rate, which makes it a great place to raise your children. If you move to this city, you are likely to find a job because it has a low rate of unemployment as well as a booming economy.

North Arlington, New Jersey:

If you want to enjoy the perks of a big town in a small one, North Arlington is the place to be. Situated just fifteen miles from the financial district in NYC, this location will give you an ideal home base with low crime rates and great schools. The town boasts a high academic record and a very high graduation rate. In good weather, you can head to the 85 acre Riverside County Park with your kids. And, on cold and wet days, you can head to Secaucus outlets to enjoy some shopping.

Fishers, Indiana:

This small city of about 86,000 people is located sixteen miles from Indianapolis. Redevelopment projects that total 90 million dollars have made this city an attractive location for entrepreneurs who are looking to relocate.

But, if you are moving to Fishers, you should not expect all work and no play. The recently developed downtown has a number of boutiques and restaurants, which makes it a perfect weekend spot. Moreover, this city has 104 miles of multi use trails and nature as well as 24 parks. During the winter, you can head to Flat Fork Creek Park, which is an ideal spot for sledding because of its high peaks.

Lone Tree, Colorado:

This Denver suburb is a quick light-rail ride or drive into the city, which makes it the ideal location for people who commute to work. Despite its small size, this town is home to a huge shopping center called Park Meadows Mall and an art center that hosts regular dance performances.

With high school graduation rates at more than 90%, you will not have to send your children to schools outside of the town. There are also low crime rates in Lone Tree, making it great for bringing up children. If you are browsing homes using a website like this, you should always ensure that they are in a relatively safe area first.

Monterey Park, California:

This location is just a few miles from downtown L.A, which makes it easier to commute through the expensive Los Angeles area. Within the borders of this small city, your children can enjoy recreational activities in a dozen parks. The high graduation rates in Monterey Park don’t hurt either! This region is a foodie heaven, thanks to its ethnically diverse population. Monterey Park also honors the different cultures in the area by holding several special events throughout the year.

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Whether you want to live in a premiere destination in the Bay Area or a rural area, you should make sure that the place has low crime rates and good schools before anything else.

Aug27

Providing Your Family With The Best Medical Awareness

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Providing Your Family With The Best Medical Awareness

Keeping Everybody Healthy:

The best way to fully flourish in terms of health is proper diet and exercise. You need to keep the right foods available in your household, and strive to facilitate regular opportunities for working out. Walks. Bike rides. Sports. General calisthenics and anaerobic workouts, all of these can be good strategies. But they’re not going to be fully comprehensive.

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You need to additionally have medical solutions available should you need them, in a variety of different disciplines. You’ll need some dentistry solution, you’ll want general checkups, and you’ll want medical assistance to help account for the worst-case scenario. For example, a broken leg or arm may require physical therapy after the fact. This is actually quite likely. You’ll want to have options available that can render the best possible physical therapy in your vicinity.

A good option for physical therapy in Jersey City, NJ is Riverside Medical Group, who offers the best physical therapy sessions in Jersey City, NJ, at affordable fees. PT rehab centers are well equipped to help you in your therapy sessions with well trained and highly experienced staff.

Cosmetic Considerations:

Your family might also be in situations where a disease, injury, or mental illness condition predicates some level of cosmetic surgery. Certainly cosmetic augmentation has become an increasingly popular form of medical procedure in the modern age. It’s even gotten to the point where certain augmentations are sought specifically to make people look different, just consider those who try to look like a literal doll or an animal.

Sometimes these things are for reasons of health, sometimes they are merely for aesthetic appeal. Either way, surgeries like those are required when installing breast implants. You can find out more at LVCosmeticSurgery.com, a purveyor of breast augmentation in Las Vegas. Breast implants aren’t always just one dimensional. Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery procedure that gives you a fuller, more balanced breast size.

In the wake of breast cancer, such cosmetic solutions can be integral to maintaining personal mental health. Other times, this augmentation is necessary in a reductive capacity after high quantities of weight are lost. Burns or other accidents could also make certain cosmetic procedures a necessary reality for your family. Remember that there is a risk involved with any kind of surgery and it is imperative that you choose your surgeon wisely. To get started, simply enter a search for “leading Houston breast augmentation surgeon” (or your local area) and read plenty of reviews. If you are having trouble choosing, schedule several consultations with different surgeons until you find the best fit for you.

If you are choosing surgery for your breasts for reconstructive purposes, there is one other thing to consider. After your surgery with Southwest Breast & Aesthetics Breast Reconstruction (or a similar reputable practice in your local area), you can also think about areola tattooing to give your breasts a natural look once more. This procedure is often covered by insurance and can make the results of your surgery even better. Talk to your doctor before scheduling with a tattoo artist that specializes in this to ensure that your breasts are fully healed post-op.

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Implications:

The bottom line, is that if you want to keep yourself and your family healthy, it will require the understanding of multiple areas of medical provision in addition to ensuring the best kinds of diet and exercise are central to your family’s lifestyle. If this sounds like a bit of a tall order, it is.

Not only are there many areas to research, but there is bound to be expense involved. You need to be strategic in determining means of covering these costs, unless money is no object for your family; which is unlikely. Thankfully, there are a variety of programs out there that you can use to help reduce medical costs, or even cover them entirely.

On the internet, you can look up various situations for which funds exist. It’s sometimes just a matter of approaching the issue from the right angle. Additionally, in the wake of the insurance difficulties resulting from the ACA, there are increasing insurance solutions at decreasing expense available. This trend is expected to continue as ACA is entirely dissolved in the fullness of time.

Look at benefits packages where you work and, additionally, seek employment where there are more comprehensive solutions. The attitude you need to have is that there is a way to fix whatever problems you have. A solution is out there, it may just not be what you expected.

Aug1

How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

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How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

Weddings are a two-way street, and not just between the bride and groom. They are a balance of your own personal enjoyment and that of your guests. For that reason, many couples aim to make their special day one of the largest parties possible.

Ensuring that everyone has a good time is easier said than done, though, especially with the number of guests in attendance. What your best friend since college and your parents find entertaining are vastly different, right? So, how can you keep your roughly 50 to 250 guests happy over the course of several hours?

Believe it or not, there are a few simple ways to make your big day an event to remember in the minds of your guests. Check out these top wedding and reception tips that are sure to make your event a smash hit:

Comfort Is Key:

Nothing ruins a fun time like being uncomfortable. Summer weddings are notorious for sweat inducing heat and annoying bugs, while winter celebrations are often more about fighting off the cold. It’s impossible to enjoy a cocktail or dessert bar in either situation, let alone trying to deal with those uncomfortable conditions for hours on end.

Consider the conditions your guests will be subject to, then plan accordingly. If heat is the issue, you might want to serve ice cold glasses of lemonade. If the cold will be a concern, then hot chocolate might be in order. Picking the right bridesmaids dresses for either occasion is another essential factor. You can check here for summer and winter designs. Other considerations could be a basket of flip flops near the dance floor for tired feet, mints in the restrooms, or a sewing kit handy for emergencies.

Comfort doesn’t just apply to weather conditions but the venue itself. Is it large enough for all of your guests? Are there several bathroom facilities? Is it climate controlled? These are all excellent questions to consider as you ponder different venue options like an art museum, banquet center, or Pylewell Park (or something similar in your local area). The wrong venue for your wedding will certainly have an effect on both yourself and your guests so choose wisely.

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Destination Wedding:

If you really want to make guests happy, how about a destination wedding? Who doesn’t love a mini vacation paired with a celebration?! Of course, a destination wedding will mean putting your faith in people you aren’t meeting face to face for preparations. Wherever you choose to have your wedding, research your options carefully and opt for video chat as often as you can while communicating. You might find that popular destinations often have planners and professionals specific to the location like this Normanton Church wedding photographer. The people you pick to hire that are the most familiar with that particular place will often ensure the success of your wedding and comfort of guests too.

Avoid Stagnation:

Sitting around waiting for the next part of the main event can quickly kill the mood, not to mention highlight those uncomfortable factors mentioned above. Work with your planner to make sure that things happen in a timely fashion, to keep the day moving along. That includes the ceremony, meals, dancing, and when the bar opens. Speaking of wedding planners, enlisting the help of one could be a game changer. To begin finding the right person to make your day even more special, simply enter a search for “Puerto Vallarta Wedding Planner” (or your local area) and have your ideas ready to brainstorm together.

The Dance Floor:

Speaking of dancing, the idea is to get everyone on the dance floor ASAP. Take your time during your ceremony, but move things along quickly from there. Make sure everyone is fed and has a few drinks in them, then have your first dance and open up the floor. A grooving dance floor is the perfect opportunity for your photography and videography team to capture everyone having a blast together. Then, you can send the photos and videos to your guests afterwards as a keepsake. To begin researching the videography aspect of your wedding, simply enter a search for “Wedding Videographer in Miami” (or your local area). You could watch your wedding video together every anniversary!

The Food:

Quality food is great, but the key to happy guests outside of alcohol is having enough food for everyone. Outside of the main courses, you’ll want to have some sort of catering that allows guests to grab something to eat as they’re walking around.

Since neither food nor alcohol are cheap, many couples have turned to crowdfunding to help foot the bill. While most sites market themselves with a slogan like, “We will help your ideal honeymoon happen,” they’re also a great place to help pay for some of your wedding expenses.

Having guests chip in on the costs of both weddings and honeymoons in lieu of a gift is an excellent way to make them events to remember. While the idea might sound strange from a traditional standpoint, it happens to be trending in the wedding world.

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Everyone wants their big day to be something guests will remember for years to come. By following the advice above, you can do just that. These few key factors are all it takes to wow your guests and throw the wedding of your dreams.

Jul19

Backyard Beauty

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Backyard Beauty

Hi hi everyone and a happy Thursday to all of you! If you follow my page, then you know that my beloved dad, CHARLES, is a gardening extraordinaire. He can literally make something grow out of nothing, and every year the splendor in our front and back yards multiples tenfold from his hard work and amazing talent.

Not only does my dad boast two green thumbs, but he has also gotten quite good at using his camera and enjoys taking pictures of his handy work and the wildlife that basks in its glory. I love featuring talent on my page, and it’s even more special when something so beautiful comes from a family member or close friend. So, without further ado, take a look at some Backyard Beauty compliments of my dad:

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It always touches me so deeply when my dad wants to share one of the photos that he was proud of taking with me, and it makes me even more proud to show them off to all of you! I love you, dad! Your talent knows no bounds! ❤

What is your favorite picture from above? Who else has green thumbs that they’re proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

A Summer Bouquet

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A Summer Bouquet

Hey hey everyone and TGIF! I hope that you all have had a fabulous week and are looking forward to a fun weekend ahead. Us Mushenheims are a plant loving people. My mom’s mom and my dad have the greenest thumbs of literally anyone I know, and they can make something grow out of nothing. It really is amazing.

Because of my dad’s talent, our front and back yards are simply overflowing with beauty. From flowers and greenery to herbs and veggies, we have a little bit of everything and can appreciate it from any window that we look out of in our home. Our supply of flowers grown by my dad never seems to run low, and almost every week he will arrange a lovely summer bouquet for the kitchen table – like the one below:

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For as long as I can remember, my dad has always been a master flower arranger, whether it be with bouquets from the garden or store. He seems to know exactly which bloom should be placed where and every arrangement turns into a work of art. The wild flower bouquet seen above is a particularly inspired one and it’s so lovely that I just had to share it with all of you!

What is your favorite flower? Who else has a green thumb? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Five Tips To Follow For Faster Cooking

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Five Tips To Follow For Faster Cooking

Cooking at home is always better than ordering take out or getting a pizza delivered for the third time this week. You can always find more taste and more nutrition when you cook the food at home. However, there are occasions when you need to make cooking easier so that you spend less time in the kitchen when you’re hosting a party or family dinner. Apart from using the best vegetables and other ingredients, you must use the best cooking methods that are not only safe for the food but also make your cooking effortless. You can use some great tips and blend them together with your knowledge and experience to make cooking easier and less time consuming. Remember, most of these are devised by the great chefs and are tried and tested by the homemakers. Here they go:

Plan your recipe:

One might say that this is the most important step, because the recipe that you choose is what will be on your dinner plate. Make sure you pick something that you feel capable of being able to make well – especially if guests are coming over. And, of course, plan the order you are cooking in too. Perhaps you will want to prepare delicious side dishes the day before so you can fully focus on the main dish when it comes time to cook. Breaking up the order can be especially helpful if you are trying your hand at new recipes because we all know how frazzling that can be!

Get your ingredients ready:

Very often, people feel the pressure when they do not plan their recipes. If you plan what to cook and how to cook, then it becomes easier for you to get the ingredients ready and within your reach. While planning a shopping list do some research too so that you are always satisfied with what you’re buying. Look up what the best peppers for salsa are, enter a search for Best Pancake Mix for your breakfast, and so on. This prior preparation keeps you ahead of your time as you start cooking right at the moment when you get the stove ready.

Set up appliances and ignite the stove:

After getting the ingredients out, you should get the appliances ready and ignite the stove. Make sure you have the best appliances right in front of you and you know how to use them so an unexpected fire doesn’t ruin your meal!

Use a pressure cooker and smoker:

It goes without saying that the use of pressure cookers can ease the task of cooking. Since boiling the ingredients is an important step of cooking, you can use these appliances to shorten your cooking time because they boil the food in a reduced manner. You should make sure to boil your veggies before you cook them. This preserves the nutrients and reduces the time for cooking, as well. Also, if you have a smoker, you can cook a number of recipes quickly. To learn more about smokers, visit review websites like Hvacify.Com.

Go for multitasking:

This is an efficient way to reduce the time for cooking. While you boil the ingredients in a cooker, you should do some other task on the oven so that you can finish another item off of your check list till your vegetables are ready. In a similar manner, you can prepare the spices for a particular dish till something else is being done on the stove.

Though these are some of the top tips that you can follow to make cooking faster, you can apply some more from your own experience. Also, the internet is loaded with a lot more innovative tips that you can always learn and apply to make cooking an enjoyable necessity.

Jun21

Cleveland Zoo Fun

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Cleveland Zoo Fun

Hello! Last week, I got to enjoy some time at the Cleveland Zoo and it was such a blast. This zoo offers at least five major exhibits including the Asian Highlands, Australian Outback, African Savannah, and so much more. There is also a separate building that mimics a tropical rain forest for you to explore. It’s so cool! Here are some of the pictures that I snapped throughout the day for your viewing pleasure:

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It is always so amazing to take a trip to the zoo, especially a big one like the Cleveland Zoo, so that you can see all of your favorite animals up close and personal. I am a lover of all creatures big and small, but when I am at the zoo, I am incredibly partial to the monkeys because they all have such distinct personalities. It was a hoot to see one of the monkeys passed out in a cat nap and the tiny black one licking his fingers after a yummy treat. But, the orangutans will always be my number one favorite.

Orangutans are such fascinating creatures to me, and I could seriously watch them all day. You can genuinely see such human like traits in their eyes like empathy and humor and I would give anything to be able to interact with them. The baby orangutan seen in the last two pictures above definitely stole the show, though. You could tell that he or she was having the time of its life just monkeying around and making us humans laugh. He was doing yoga-like poses, snuggling with his mom and dad, and playing dress up with the burlap sack. It doesn’t get much cuter than that!

What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo? Do you have a zoo that you like to frequent in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

24th Birthday Haul

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24th Birthday Haul

Hiiiii! Despite not being thrilled about turning the big 2-4, I did get to ring my birthday in with some super fun outings and beautiful presents from friends and family – like the following:

  1. Tickets to X-Fest from my parents: The best gift I’ve received in years. I got to spend an entire day in Pennsylvania with my sister enjoying the sunshine, drinks, and music of lovelytheband, Sir Sly, AWOLNATION, Cold War Kids, and Jack White. And did I mention that it was all from the view of the front row? It doesn’t get much better than that!

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2. An in theater showing of The Room and dinner with my sister: I have been trying to get Kristen to come see The Room with me at the Cedar Lee theater in Cleveland for literal years. And, for my birthday, she finally agreed to join me. We went to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Barrio, and were in hysterics the entire time at the movies. It was SO fun!

3. A boxed wine hang out and goodies from the BFF: My best friend, Lea, and I have been celebrating our birthdays together for ten years now, so we were definitely due for a hang out! I received wine, coffee grounds, a Starbucks gift card, and a new mug all while enjoying out boxed moscato together. It was all of my favorite things! And, we are going to plan a weekend trip in July to celebrate both of our summer birthdays – I can’t wait! :*)

4. Bath bombs galore from my sister and other BFF: The beautiful Kate of Ankhor You and my sister both treated me to some products from Lush, which was so incredibly kind because I normally don’t buy that type of stuff for myself. It was such a wonderful surprise to receive a package from my Gemini twin, Kate, in the mail and I was so touched by her generosity and how she knows exactly what I am going to like every time. I love you, darling! ❤

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5. Cash flow and gift cards from my brothers: My two older brothers, Peter and Andrew, played it simple and effective with some cash money and a gift card to TJMaxx. Obviously, it was just the right gift for their favorite shopaholic and it fit like a glove! 😉

6. Foley + Corinna purse from my mom: When it gets closer to my birthday, my mom will let me pick out something special for myself during one of our shopping trips together. This year, I chose a beautiful Foley + Corinna purse that I am completely in love with and have already got amazing use out of!

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Thank you so much to all of my amazing friends and family for their generosity and for making 24 start off with a bang! I love you all! ❤

What was your favorite gift that you received this year for your birthday? How do you like to celebrate your big day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

Sweet Birthday Surprises

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Sweet Birthday Surprises

Hi everyone! My 24th birthday was exactly one week ago as of today. I still have yet to write a birthday haul post because of late arriving gifts from my siblings, but I did receive some really sweet surprises from my parents on my big day. Take a look:

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When I woke up on my big day, I was surprised with a freshly picked bouquet from my dad’s garden. I don’t know what the vibrant purple flowers are, but they sure are pretty! And then, even though I told my mom no birthday cake, she brought home a vanilla torte with a layer of strawberry filling that was to die for. I’m really not a huge fan of any type of cake, but this one with the white chocolate shavings and buttercream frosting was the exception! So delicious!

Flowers and cake might be the norm on one’s birthday, but being treated to such beautiful surprises never gets old! I had a wonderful birthday filled with my favorite people, food, and PRESENTS!! 😀

How do you like to celebrate a loved one’s birthday? What is your favorite thing to gift someone with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah