The Best Birthday Present Ever

on April 30, 2014
in All Posts

My mom wanted to get me a “super special and amazing gift” for my 30th birthday.  Side note:  Now that I’ve pushed a baby out of my body, I feel like I should send my mother a gift on my birthday, not the other way around.  But I digress.  She wanted to get me a nice present. I thought and thought and thought and could not think of any material things that I wanted.  And then – it hit me.   I wanted a gift certificate for a maid service!

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Oh man.  Now THAT is an awesome birthday gift.  To have someone else (well, two people) come to your home and make it sparkly and shining. I don’t want to touch a single surface and ruin the perfection.  This gift was a doubly awesome gift because it meant that I felt compelled to not do any cleaning at all the four days prior to the cleaning.  You know, so the difference would be very apparent.  Hah. 

 

Good thing I already did some cooking today – I am  not messing up my kitchen anytime soon!

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I’m going to tweak this recipe a bit more before sharing it with you – I think it could be better.  If you’ve got to smother something in mustard to make it delicious, something is wrong with the recipe.  I was aiming for black bean gluten free falafels.  It’s close – but not quite there yet. 

 

The batter included oatmeal, sunflower seeds, black beans, nutritional yeast, salsa, coconut oil, and spices.  It was good enough to eat – just not good enough to share!

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I also made Chocolate Covered Kate’s No Bake Coconut Crack Bars, which were SUPER easy.  When I made her recipe, I ended up using about twice or three times as much coconut.  She had hers listed by weight and measurement, so maybe my cup scoop just wasn’t packed enough.  I just eyeballed it until it was the right consistency. 

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If you love coconut, you’ll like these bars.  They are really addictive!

 

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Carly’s Bat Mitzvah Project: Operation Beautiful

 

What’s the best birthday present you’ve received?

{ 30 comments }

 

  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine April 30, 2014, 3:38 pm

    This is weird but the best birthday gift I received was my barbell a few years ago!

  • Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} April 30, 2014, 3:51 pm

    That is an awesome gift! I would have to say my first pair of running shoes! 🙂

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs April 30, 2014, 4:20 pm

    Maid service — what an AMAZING birthday gift! Such a treat! 🙂

  • Amanda April 30, 2014, 4:24 pm

    I was in between asking for a maid service and a gift card for a bunch of mani/pedis for my birthday because both are things I would love, but don’t want to pay for. I went for the nails and I’m loving it so far!!

  • Lyndsey April 30, 2014, 4:38 pm

    yes yes yes! I bought my husband and I a maid service for Christmas. Best, investment, EVER! I’m now on the hunt for a regular affordable one to come bi-weekly. Man would that save me such a headache, I hate cleaning!

  • Elizabeth April 30, 2014, 4:54 pm

    That’s what my parents got me last year and it was AMAZING. I’m pretty sure it’s the only thing I’m ever asking for again.

  • Betsy April 30, 2014, 5:08 pm

    That is such a great idea! Now I know what I’m asking for on my birthday!

  • Nancy April 30, 2014, 5:17 pm

    I’m not sure what my best birthday gift was, but I can imagine a maid cleaning service being up there if I had it.

    I think this year will be pretty special, my birthday is next week and all I want to do is just spend it at the beach, with my husband, eating an icecream cone.

  • Shelly April 30, 2014, 5:29 pm

    I loved the link about a kid getting lost on a field trip! Wow, that one really made me think. I think a whole series of posts could be written on that subject!

    • Caitlin April 30, 2014, 9:12 pm

      You should read that blog. It’s incredible!

  • Stacy April 30, 2014, 5:34 pm

    We have a maid service come every other week: best 120 dollars we spend all month!

  • Anne April 30, 2014, 5:41 pm

    It wasnt your scoop, chocolate covered katies recipes never seem to work, and I actually dont find too many that taste good.

    What a great gifT! One year, my mom knew I was stressed at work and actually came and cleaned my apartment top to bottom as a surprise. She is an amazing cleaner, i didnt want to touch anything for weeks!

  • sararm April 30, 2014, 5:57 pm

    I received the exact same thing for my birthday Sunday, a clean house. It was glorious!

  • jonelle April 30, 2014, 6:54 pm

    Love it! That was part of my birthday from the husband. He asked me what I wanted and I said there’s a group on for housecleaning. He thought I was kidding. Best gift ever :-). They came yesterday and I’m still in awe. Happy birthday!

  • Sandy April 30, 2014, 9:45 pm

    I have a friend who sent his mother flowers every year on HIS birthday. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever.

  • Kathy April 30, 2014, 10:52 pm

    Best present, hands down was my cat…he was my shadow for 14 years and pure love!

  • Abby April 30, 2014, 11:42 pm

    Best gift! We are using a cleaning servic this year, once a month. I find myself cleaning more often just to keep it looking that way. And I declutter a lot more too, it’s a great feeling!

  • Runner Girl Eats May 1, 2014, 6:06 am

    I agree, that’s the best gift ever. I love birthday gifts that are thoughtful and unique.

  • Stacey May 1, 2014, 8:09 am

    Well done, Carly, well done!

    Caitlin, I’m sure that makes your heart smile!

  • Rebecca May 1, 2014, 10:32 am

    My friend this year had her golden birthday, and her parents bought her a puppy! (She’s 25, but still!)
    Best birthday present I’ve ever gotten? Hmmmm… Probably the Harry Potter DVD set this year. 🙂

    Pretty sure the answer to that side note on giving your mom something is “Mother’s Day.” 😉

  • Aerevyn May 1, 2014, 10:40 am

    Best birthday gift ever:

    My boyfriend (later husband) told me that he would fan me from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. And he did! All day! In the house, at the store, at the Renaissance Festival, during a last moonlight walk. Made me feel like a goddess. : )

  • Chrissy May 1, 2014, 11:27 am

    No chickpeas in the falafel? That may be why they don’t taste right.

  • Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork May 1, 2014, 12:35 pm

    I haven’t even had a kid yet and I totally feel like I should be getting my parents gifts on my birthday! Without them, I wouldn’t be having a birthday!
    Yes, maid service would be great, and I’m sure it’s even more amazing when you’re a mom. And I totally advocate not cleaning before they come. I know people that clean up for their maid and I ask them what the heck the point is. They say they don’t want the maid to think they’re messy. 😉

  • heather May 1, 2014, 2:07 pm

    My best birthday present ever, was getting a positive pregnancy test for my 2nd daughter. It was really cool. We had been trying for quite a long time and to see the two lines first thing on my birthday was something I will never forget. 🙂

    • Caitlin May 1, 2014, 3:19 pm

      Congrats 🙂

  • Chocolate-Covered Katie May 1, 2014, 6:35 pm

    Aw happy birthday Caitlin, and thank you so much for making the coconut bars! I hope your birthday was wonderful and relaxing and that you are still enjoying the nice clean house. 🙂

  • Laura @ RunningJunkie May 1, 2014, 8:53 pm

    Oh my gosh, maid service would be GREAT. This past Monday was my birthday so I’m spoiling myself this weekend. Massage, hair cut, mani/pedi, facial. I cannot wait. I’ve never done this.

  • MomHTP May 2, 2014, 9:35 am

    I enjoyed Carly’s project video which was engaging as well as inspiring. Her use of the power of of Love was a creative idea for her Bat Matzvah Project and, of course, Operation Beautiful a perfect choice. Love can even trump money in helping some people through emotionally difficult times. Operation Beautiful is simple but effective,

  • jen May 2, 2014, 4:32 pm

    my engagement ring! one month ago!

  • Kath May 2, 2014, 8:31 pm

    That is an awesome idea for a gift!!

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