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Wednesday 29 May 2013

The Big 3-0!

Hi, everyone! This past Monday was my 30th birthday (eek!), so I thought I'd put together a quick post to show you a few shots from the day. Milestone birthdays can be both exciting and depressing (I realized I'm technically entering into my fourth decade on this earth, yikes!), but my friends stepped in and made the day incredibly special. Who knew turning 30 could feel so good?!


Here's a shot of me at the end of the day with my candle-lit birthday dessert, wearing my brand new Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress (a birthday gift to myself. I love it!). But let's start at the beginning...


The birthday festivities actually started the day before, when my lovely mother took me out for a ladies brunch. I was in my hometown over the weekend for a friends' wedding, so it was wonderful to spend some time with my family pre-birthday and have a delicious meal with my mum to celebrate!

On my actual birthday, the weather in Toronto cooperated in the most beautiful way. My friend planned a picnic on the beach, which was a heavenly way to spend the afternoon.


She's incredibly crafty in the kitchen and the picnic was clear proof of this. She prepared an almond quinoa salad, home-made hummus and chips, and peanut tofu wraps with cilantro pesto. Pair that with lemonade and a variety of trashy magazines, and you have the ultimate girly beach afternoon!


It didn't hurt that we had a beautiful view of the lake while we ate, chatted, and caught up on all the celebrity gossip!

And to my amazement, a swan swam by shortly after we arrived. I know swans aren't really that rare, but whenever I see one I feel like I'm witnessing some sort of mystical creature. So of course I had to take pictures!


The sky and water were blue and beautiful, which was so relaxing and lovely!


Then for the evening, I met up with some friends for dinner at one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the city. Can't go wrong with lots of carbs on your birthday!


I started off sharing a beautiful salad with one of my friends. It featured cambazola cheese, pine nuts, roasted red peppers, and kalamata olives over top of mixed greens, drizzled with honey. Heavenly!

Then onto my favourite pizza...


Roasted red peppers, roasted eggplant, mozzarella, and goat cheese on thin, oven-baked crust. Authentic Italian pizza with fresh, delicious toppings. Mmm....

And then my friends surprised me with an incredibly scrumptious dessert sampler plate!


It included panna cotta with strawberry sauce, custard with caramel, and a warm molten lava cake, surrounded with fresh fruit and biscotti. To-die-for!


I ended the day as an incredibly happy birthday girl! Luckily I'm not feeling any older yet, though maybe a few pounds heavier after that dinner! ;) Thanks to all of my friends who made the Big 3-0 incredibly special! xo

72 comments:

  1. happy happy birthday! love the beach picnic :) looks like you had fun!

    hashtagphoebe.blogspot.com
    hashtagphoebe on bloglovin

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    1. Thanks so much, Phoebe! The picnic was lovely. I had a really nice day! xo

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  2. Well Happy Birthday and btw NOOOO you don't look near the big 3-0! You look great :)

    http://a-hearts.blogspot.com/

    ♥Aley

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    1. Thanks so much, Aley! So sweet of you to say :)

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  3. Happy birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful time!

    Simple Charm Beauty

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    1. Thanks, Des! I really did have a great day :)

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  4. hope you enjoyed your bday.
    love your blog alot, check out our blog, if you like we can follow each other on gfc & bloglovin.let us know. kisses from Kenya

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    1. Thanks! Will check out your blog soon :)

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  5. Dear Jen, HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)! I'm so glad I've discovered your blog and "get to know you" a bit :). Oh, and by the way, you look gorgeous on these captures :)!

    xx
    http://gita-oddsandends.blogspot.com/

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    1. Aww, thanks so much, Gita! You are too sweet! I'm so glad to have discovered your blog too! xo

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  6. Happy birthday! I love love love that dress! xo

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  7. Sounds like the perfect birthday! I quite like the picnic in the beach idea (and the magazines!!!)... And that dinner, yum, sounds amazing! I'm actually celebrating a friend's 30th tomorrow, hopefully we'll make her day as good as yours was!

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    1. Thanks! It really was such a lovely day! Hope your friend's 30th was a blast!

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  8. Happy Birthday!!! Thank you for your comment;)
    I'm following you!!! Hope you can follow me if you like my blog!!!
    Btw, you don't look like 30, look younger!!!

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    1. Thanks so much for the kind words, and for following! So much appreciated :)

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  9. hello!

    I’m following your blog on GFC.

    Would you like to follow each other?

    I hope you’ll visit my blog too.

    xoxo
    Bea

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    1. Thanks for following! Will check out your blog soon :)

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  10. The picnic at the beaches is so adorable, good on your friend!!
    Happy belated birthday, you look great!
    xo
    http://polkadottedpearl.com

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    1. It really was a lovely picnic! Thanks so much! xo

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  11. Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a great day :)

    www.lornasfabulousfashion.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thanks, Lorna! I really did have a great day :)

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  12. Happy Birthday!
    Do I spot Hillside Festival mugs?!
    I'm from Guelph, have been going to the festival for the past five years now :)

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    1. Thanks! And those are Hillside mugs! I've never been, but my friend who put together the picnic goes every year. She's from Kitchener originally. Such a small world! :)

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  13. Happy birthday dear! I love all these pictures and your blog is really amazing! Glad I found it xx

    fashionvitae.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much for all the kind words and wishes, Becky! xo

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  14. Happy Birthday! Glad to see that you had an amazing day. And that new dress looks great on you!

    elliesvanitytable.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much, Danielle! I'm pretty obsessed with my new dress and I really did have a wonderful day :)

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  15. Happy Birthday!!!
    Loved this post and great that you took the milestone 30 with a smile! :)

    Christina xx
    http://christinathorup.com/

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    1. Thanks, Christina! It was a wonderful day, smiled the whole time :)

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  16. happy birthday, love the post , sounds like you had an amazing day and I don't feel so bad about turning the big 3-0 now, I'll have to post about my day now, thanks for the inspiration and making it less scary. :) x

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    1. Thanks so much! I did have an amazing day. Hope your birthday is fantastic! xo

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  17. Awww looks like you had an amazing day - Happy Birthday to you!!
    Can I just say though you look nowhere nearrrr 30! Your skin is flawless and so fresh looking :D

    Holly Mixtures
    xx

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    1. Aww, thanks so much! So sweet of you to say :)

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  18. Happy Birthday Jen! I`m glad to hear you had a nice birthday :)

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    1. Thanks, Christine! It really was a great day :)

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  19. Happy Birthday! Looks like you had an amazing celebration... your dress is so pretty!

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    1. Thanks, Ellie! I am pretty obsessed with my new dress and I had a lovely day :)

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  20. A belated happy birthday to you! This all looks so perfect, I'm happy for you! It looks amazing! That pizza looks divine!

    http://talisbury.blogpost.com/

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    1. Thanks so much! I did have a great day. And, yes, the pizza was incredible :)

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  21. WHAAATT I can't believe you're thirty!! Seriously give me the secret to your teenager-looking skin. Happy Birthday, gorgeous :) xx

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    1. Aww, thanks so much, Coco! So sweet of you to say :) I wish I had some incredible secret, but I think it's just a mixture of genetics and religious sunscreen use. Hope it's still working when I hit 40! ;)

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  22. Happy birthday, Jen! I would never have guessed you were 30, I thought you were in your early 20's. Sounds like you had a truly fabulous birthday, love. The dessert sampler plate... hello!

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    1. Aww, thanks so much! Yes, I had a wonderful day and the desserts were to-die-for :)

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  23. Happy birthday! I hope you had an amazing day and judging by your post it sure sounds like you did. You look absolutely radiant on your birthday. :)

    Laura
    www.lauraneuzeth.com

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    1. Thanks so much, Laura! I had a lovely day :)

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  24. Happy belated birthday! I honestly had to do a double-take when I read the "3-0". You look fab and I loooove that dress!

    Jillicious Cosmetics

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    1. Aww, thanks, Jillian! So sweet of you to say :)

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  25. Happy Birthday!!! Love this post, really feel good! Thanky ouf or all your support of my blogthis year and hope we will all continue enjoying reading your posts for the next year!
    www.b-e-a-u-t-y-t-u-t-o-r.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank so much! Have been enjoying your blog so much. Cheers! xo

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  26. Happy Birthday Jen!!! :D seems like you had a lovely birthday, everything looks delicious!!
    Loved the post!

    Kisses xx

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    1. Thanks, Rute! I really did have a great day- and everything was delicious! xo

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  27. Better late than never, Happy Birthday, Jen;}*
    have a nice year, full of beautiful memories x

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  28. cool :) !!

    follow each other?:)

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    1. Thanks! Will check out your blog soon :)

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  29. Looks like you had a great time, I can't believe your 30 jen, you look way younger!

    Btw, I cant help laughing everytime i see an amanda bynes picture, she is absolutely nuts !!!

    http://holaflo.blogspot.com/

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    1. Haha, she is nuts! Thanks so much for the kind words, Flo. So much appreciated! xo

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  30. great photos! looks like you had a fabulous bday!

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    1. Thanks! I really did have a fantastic day :)

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  31. Happy birthday, looks like you made it a good one! And you 20 instead of 30 by the way :-)

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    1. Aww, thanks so much. You are too sweet! :)

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  32. Happy belated birthday Jen! Sounds like you had a fantastic birthday celebration :D The food looks absolutely delicious.

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    1. Thanks, Louise! I really did have a fantastic day. Everything was scrumptious! xo

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  33. That salad looks so delicious! Happy birthday!
    Just recently came upon your blog- will follow!

    Maddy @ www.BeautyBanterBlog.com

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    1. Thanks so much for the birthday wishes and for stopping by! xo

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  34. Happy 30th!! you look beautiful in the wrap dress! and the food looks so yummy xx

    http://aztecdoll.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Aww, thanks so much, Zandra! Everything was delicious :)

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  35. Happy birthday. Nice and beautiful memories sharing here.
    Jobs in Karachi

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All of your lovely comments make my day! Thanks for taking the time to share your musings, ideas, and opinions. Feel free to leave a link to your blog- I'd be happy to check it out :)