Hi and happy Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend. Mine was pretty wonderful and full of birthday celebrations and happy birthday texts filled with ice cream emojis and puppy memes, which I think means people know me too well…
Midnight Birthday
My 20th birthday started off in the best way possible when a group of friends showed up outside my door at midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning. A group of friends started the “midnight birthday” tradition last year, but I’d honestly forgotten all about it. I remembered about it briefly around 11:30 pm when I was getting ready for bed, but since it was raining outside and I live farther from all of them this year, I didn’t give it a second thought. I put on some non-cute PJs, took out my contacts, put my retainers in, the whole nine yards, and hopped in bed.
As I was scrolling through my phone in bed, I heard hushed laughing in the hallway around 11:58 and assumed it was some residents…and then I heard a soft knock on the door. Surprise! There were about 10 residents + friends outside my door who sang happy birthday (I couldn’t see anything without my contacts in!), and then friends came inside my messy, unprepared room and stayed till 1:30. It was such a fun way to start the day, even in my very unglamorous state…and everyone knows the best way to do birthdays is to spend as many hours as possible awake, right?
Around midnight, some of my fellow RAs sneakily decorated my door, too. They’re the best! They even included dog pictures, which I love. (The “Olivia” door decorations are always there– each RA makes door decorations for their residents at the beginning of the year and then makes extras for the other RAs in their community, too).
Friday
I slept in until around 9 on Friday morning and met my friend, Kristen, for a run. Unfortunately, it rained all day Friday, but there was no way I was going to miss a birthday run. We did about 6 miles at a conversational pace and she kept me laughing the whole time.
After the run, I quickly showered off before my sister took me to one of my favorite spots for lunch. Chipotle’s rice bowls never let me down. 
I met up with a friend for the afternoon, and then we walked to dinner at the best local spot, Mediterranean Deli, with a group of my favorite girls. Asking strangers to take pictures with a DSLR camera usually doesn’t turn out so well, but I love this picture anyway since I love all of the people in it.
I got the Greek salad trio, which included a Greek chicken salad and a choice of two sides. I picked some kind of spicy roasted cauliflower and sun-dried tomato pasta salad. So yummy, and so much for leftovers!
My friend, Riley, gave me a “jogs, blogs, & dogs” themed collage, which so perfectly captures the things I love. 
Afterwards, we went back to my room (it was still raining outside!), ate ice cream, and hung out for a bit longer. 
Saturday & Sunday
On Saturday morning, my sister and I hopped in the car and drove home for the rest of the weekend. My sister and I were actually born just one day apart, so Saturday was her 22nd birthday! (Some Taylor Swift-listening may have occurred..)
It was raining again on Saturday morning, so instead of toughing out another wet run, I took a spin and bosu class at the gym when we got home.
My family has started following a pretty strict clean-eating plan at home, so no birthday cake or ice cream was to be found this past weekend. We did have some great meals, though.
A birthday weekend wouldn’t be complete without pasta for this Italian-loving girl! I sautéed chopped mushrooms, green pepper, and onions with about 1/2 lb bison and then added a jar of my favorite organic, no-sugar added marinara sauce with some extra Italian spices. I served the sauce over whole wheat angel hair pasta and it was pretty delicious, and I can bring the extra sauce back to school with me. Conquering bison: check!
Another meal we had was taco salads. I had my salad on the side and made a deconstructed taco plate with refried beans, taco meat, guacamole, steamed broccoli, and roasted cauliflower. Super yummy!
While I was at home, I was thinking about how quickly I fall back into old habits. For example, I used to study in bed back in high school instead of at my desk, and even though I never study in bed in college, I always do when I come home. And, just like in high school, my sister likes to crash my study sessions.
My not-so-little brother was busy working on his college applications for a lot of the weekend, but he took a break to make me one of his famous cards. He’s made the cutest stick figure drawing birthday cards ever since I can remember and I look forward to his funny pictures every year. What a cutie. 
My sister and I drove back to Chapel Hill late Sunday night after spending two days with our family, and now on Monday morning, I’m feeling a bit more rested and ready to face the week. Hope your week is off to a great start!
Questions for you:
Do you prefer to run in the rain or on a treadmill?
I’d prefer to run in just about any weather over running on the treadmill. I love spending my running time outdoors, and I really like getting to see the scenery change while I run, too.
Have you tried bison? What’s the strangest meat you’ve tried?
I’ve tried octopus and escargot, but both were definitely once-and-done foods for me.
What would your ideal birthday include?
I love running in the rain if it is not toooooo cold. I hate running in really bad wind though. I love Bison and another weird meat- Venison! My home stay family declared yesterday that they are going to try to make me a gelato cake for my birthday .I am pretty picky and don’t really love cake, I would always rather have ice cream, gelato or fro-yo but they are pretty stuck on the cake thing so I may just be having my first ever gelato cake this year (: Happy you had a happy birthday, Liv!
I’ve never tried venison but don’t know if I could make myself do it…totally just a weird Liv-thing, though.
Your home stay family sounds so sweet- a gelato cake might be super delicious?! You’ll have to let us know how it is 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It looks like you have some pretty great people in your life who made it special for you. Oh and happy birthday to your sister too! Y’all are so close to being Mary-Kate and Ashley : )
I feel really blessed! And my sister and I definitely wanted to be Mary Kate & Ashley for years when we we’re younger 😉
If I didn’t say Happy Birthday yet…HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLIE! I am so glad to hear that your weekend was fabulous – it’s being surrounded by those that love us that make the memories so much more beautiful!
I am in the same boat as you with stepping out of the box and trying new things – it can be scary yet fascinating at the same time! In my journey these last few months I have come across some really great tasting food…Bison is something I have yet to try!
I hope you have an amazing week, love!
XO,
Kat
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Katerina! Hope you have a really great week, too!
Sounds like such a great birthday weekend…full of everything you love! You’re family seems super close too:)
What a wonderful weekend! Happy birthday to your sister too! I really don’t love starting a run in the rain, but I don’t mind if it sprinkles during it. I’m a baby though and will probably choose the treadmill.
Haha I kind of feel like I’m a baby for refusing to run on the treadmill! Maybe we can agree that we’re both just really tough 🙂
Sounds like you had a great weekend! I’ve never tried bison, but I’d definitely be willing to. The strangest meats I’ve ever had were probably alligator and frog… and both taste vaguely like chicken.
AHHH I don’t know if I could do alligator or frog! I guess I can try anything once..?
This sounds like such a wonderful birthday weekend. Also “jogs, blogs, & dogs” should definitely be the name of your memoir
I’ll get started on that memoir ASAP! 😉
What a perfect birthday weekend. From residents + friends surprising you at midnight to your time home with family, you were truly showered with love from everyone.
Happy Birthday Liv! It looks like it was really wonderful. I think that’s so neat that you have sweet friends that will do everything with you from eating pasta to running in the rain. I would definitely always rather run in the rain than on the treadmill, unless there is a lot of lightning.
Such a fun weekend!! Happy birthday to your sister as well!! You guys are like twins! I am a big fan of running in a light rain, but downpours no thank you… I’ll take the treadmill and Netflix any day 🙂 Ideal birthday = lots of time with friends and family, but in a low-key environment… days of celebrating out at bars are done for me. Maybe I’ll revisit when I turn the dirty 30 🙂
If I could get a treadmill + Netflix situation going, I think I could make the treadmill work for me! What are you currently watching on Netflix?
And your ideal birthday sounds a lot like mine 🙂
I’ve totally gotten into Blue Bloods! I like that, as well as Bloodline if you haven’t checked that out and House of Cards!
Happy birthday, Liv! It sounds like an awesome birthday! Hope you have an amazing year!
I haven’t ever tried bison before, or any other non-traditional meat that I can remember. I’m not very adventurous, but I will try almost anything once. 🙂
I’m not sure what my ideal birthday would look like, because as I get older I’ve enjoyed my birthdays less and less, but I don’t know what I would change because they are already low-key. I just don’t like being the center of attention, I guess. I always wanted to have a big birthday party, but now that seems like that would be worse. 😀 So yeah, I don’t really know right now. 🙂
Thanks so much, Abbie! You’re the sweetest. And I agree, I’ll try *almost* anything once, but in my day-to-day eats, I’m usually not super adventurous…at least not when it comes to meat!
Ahh Happy Birthday!!! Your weekend sounded like so much fun! I loved seeing all those Olivia door decorations, my college had it too and I couldn’t help but stick them all on my door. I can’t believe you didn’t like octopus, you need to come to Spain because I can attest that we make one of the best octopus dishes. 🙂
Thanks so much, Elsie! I think it’s mostly just the mental aspect of eating octopus that I couldn’t get past…but I’m sure it can taste delicious!
Ahh Happy Birthday! Your weekend looks like so much fun! I also had my college RA stick name decorations on my door. I loved the holiday themed ones! I can’t believe you didn’t like octopus! You must come to Spain we make one of the best octopus dishes. 🙂
Ahh Happy Birthday! Your weekend looks like so much fun! I also had my college RA stick name decorations on my door. I loved the holiday themed ones! I can’t believe you didn’t like octopus! You must come to Spain we make one of the best octopus dishes! 🙂
Gah aren’t surprises the best?! I love people who think ahead to plan surprises like that. I’m sure that made your birthday incredible (happy birthday by the way! Haha). Your friends are adorable — what a hilariously-themed collage, and so you!
I am so happy you had such a great birthday weekend! It is so nice when you are able to celebrate it with both family and friends!
Sounds like a wonderful birthday weekend! The best ones are always spent doing what you enjoy the most with the people you like the most 🙂
I actually really enjoy running in the rain (we get a lot in the UK so I’ve adapted!) and would much rather head out than face a long run on the treadmill. That being said though, I do find the treadmill quite good fun for shorter sessions or for alleviating boredom!
I’ve never tried bison and as much as I love fish and prawns, octopus was also a ‘try once but never (EVER) again’ experience for me too xx
You’ll have to share your treadmill secrets with me! And if you do ever feel like trying bison, I promise it’s 100x better than octopus 😉
I will run in the rain if it’s warm out, but not if it’s cold. My hands freeze and I don’t like that too much. The best birthday is low key. I don’t like big parties, but seeing a few people is nice. I also like to have a cupcake, not because I love them in any special way, but because it seems right on the birthday.
I agree, running in cold rain is really tough. I’m sure there will be a few of those runs this winter… ? And cupcakes most definitely feel right on birthdays!
I agree, running in cold rain is really tough. I’m sure there will be a few of those runs this winter… ? And cupcakes most definitely feel right on birthdays!
That sounds like such a great birthday! I actually love running in the rain, I find it so relaxing!
That greek plate looks delicious!! I’d happily follow the Mediterranean diet any day. Happy birthday, by the way!! Cheers to 20!
Thanks, Dani! I agree, I think the mediterranean diet is one I could actually do 🙂
It sounds like you had a great weekend! I tried bison for the first time when I was in Montana this summer (my body was screaming for iron from all the hiking, so I didn’t even think about it being “different”), and I loved it. I guess the way to get me to try new foods is to make sure I’m starving first!
Haha YES everything tastes better when I’m super hungry! And hiking in Montana sounds like an awesome way to spend part of your summer 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday!!! It looks like you had a wonderful weekend with all the important people in your life! I love that the other RAs decorated your door and added some flare. If I were you, I would keep it up for a while. 🙂 Enjoy your 20’s – they pass by in a flash!!!
Looks like a super fun birthday weekend! How fun that you are your sister have such close birthdays- I would love doing combined celebrations with my sisters! Also the midnight birthday idea is so cute! A though I am usually fast asleep by midnight so my friends would have to wake me up lol. Also, I’m a total baby when it comes to running in the rain- I can handle the heat or cold/ snow, but if its raining I’m inside on the treadmill.
I’m glad you had a good birthday!! And now I’m craving chipotle haha 🙂
Happy that I came across your corner of the web. Happy Birthday, first off! Looks like you (and your sister) had a great weekend 🙂 I am with you on running in the rain, I find it kind of refreshing actually… as long as it isn’t absolutely downpouring!
Thanks, Sarah! I agree- I’m a little ready for the rain to go away at this point since it’s been raining for over a week straight..but at the same time, it almost feels like the new normal for running now haha.
Happy Belated Birthday!!!!
Happy Late Birthday, Liv!! I have tried bison, actually and I LOVE it! I’ve eaten a whole lot of venison in my life because my dad was an avid hunter. It was nice to know where the meat we were eating came from and it made me respect the idea of knowing the source of my food.
Thanks so much, Kaylin! And yeah, talk about knowing where your food comes from! 🙂
i never was a huge red meat fan, but ate bison for a few years in 9th/10th grade. my fam still loves it!
and i’m normally the same way with tread(dread!)mills! this weekend though, it was so COLD and rainy and i had to go on it.. i usd to hate running in the rain, but if the weather is right, i love it!