What’s 3 Moms, 3 Kitchens, 31 Days? Click below if you’re new to the series.
Alert – Break in our normal programming…
I admit, this is not a good time to have a birthday – smack dab at the beginning of my 31 day kitchen experiment, but it has happened. Frankly, as much as I would like to turn back the clock, it is now 7 minutes past my birthday, and I just didn’t want to much cooking on my birthday.
Breakfast began with breakfast in bed made completely by my daughters. It was so sweet. They brought up their specialty – strawberry smoothies, bagels and reheated coffee…(it’s the thought that counts). I chuckled when my daughter exclaimed that she really wanted to make me cheesy eggs but she didn’t know how to turn on the new oven. (Guess the teaching tutorial I gave shortly after that comment?) 🙂
Birthdays just aren’t the same as an adult, especially on a weekday, but this home school mom took a teacher “work” day while my boys brought up my lap top (making amends for missing out on the prep of breakfast.)
(Do you feel like you really know me now? No fashionista here... just real life, this is what I look like before I get out of bed. 🙂 )
Lunch was “fend for yourself.” Yes, I told you I’d share the reality. This is one of those times that my old adage holds true. Train them while they’re young – it really comes in handy.
You may have realized that I am not really a high maintenance kind of girl. Earlier today I shared that french fries are my favorite food, so is it a surprise that I would desire them for my birthday meal?
Rarely do we eat out as a family. It’s not part of our food budget, rather it comes from our entertainment fund. One of our family’s birthday traditions is that the birthday blessing gets to choose where they want to go out to eat. Eating out is a really special treat.
Ever since we found out Red Robin offers a free gourmet burger ($9.99) for birthdays, that has been a choice hit. (Go to the link and sign up for your birthday burger. They will send you a coupon via email.) People know I love fries, and friends have been telling me about this new restaurant that had unlimited, all you can eat fries – it happened to be Red Robin. YUM! I actually got a salad (and fries) and my hubby ate the burger. Our sweet waitress said that was fine, and I enjoyed my fries even more.
So, that was my big day…sorry it was anti climatic, but if any of you has a Red Robin Restaurant, go sign up now. Trust me, that will make this post worth it.
Need some real inspiration? Go see what Toni and Kate are doing in their kitchens.
Happy Birthday, Jen! I hope it was a wonderful day!
We love Red Robin’s birthday burgers too. 🙂
Happy Birthday. Sounds like you had a great day. My daughter works for Red Robin here in British Columbia. I haven’t been there in years though. I too had my birthday February 25. unlike you I had no money to go out to eat. My daughter did take me to Tim Horton’s for lunch. Supper was late and easy–Haystacks–Doritos or corn type chips, pinto beans with tomato sauce (I used garlic pasta sauce), salsa, sour cream or plain yogurt, lettuce, green onions, tomatoes, green or red peppers, olives and whatever salad vegetables you like. top with grated cheese. I had an apple pie in the freezer that someone gave me at Christmas. We had this with Vanilla strawberry swirl frozen yogurt. We all enjoyed the meal. Best to you in the year ahead.
@Glenda, oh Glenda – it sounds like you had a wonderful day as well. Did your daughter tell you about the amazing coupon they send you for your birthday? There’s no purchase necessary (although we did purchase as well.). They are so generous and will give you one of their gourmet burgers for free (they even brought me a sundae as well which the kids ate). It sure is a special treat. Hope you had a wonderful week.
@Jens, No she did not tell me about the free birthday burger. She tried to tell me they didn’t do that here; but the web site for Canada said they do. I signed up today for the birthday burger. I don’t think it will be good for this year since my birthday just past.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!!!!
Happy Happy Birthday Jen! I know what you mean about them not being the same, but I hope you had a great day! How sweet your kids are! And we do have a Red Robin close by too! And dh’s birthday is March 13th, so we’ll have to go there!! Do you have to go to their website ahead of time? Or just flash your license while your there?
Oh and did you get a new fridge? I was reading your post the other day and got interupted (what’s new, LOL) and saw that you had stuff on your island and something stainless+steel!!! Exciting! 🙂
Kristi
@Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy, hi Kristi – glad you mentioned that. I will update my post so people know. You need to go that link and sign up. They’ll send you a email coupon to print. Just add in everyone at the same time or honestly, I would have forgotten. I did it over 9 months ago and it was a special reminder when it came through. 🙂 And yes, I got my fridge. 🙂 Yea!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Jen… I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. You have brought me hope for my family.. I am a Full Time working mom with 3 kids and my wonderful hubby is starting on night shift at the end of March so I have been reading up on all of your older blogs about cooking in bulk and shopping at the goodwill and etc. You have gave me hope I can be super mom while I work full time and be a full time parent at night by myself… Thanks so much for this ministry and yes it is a ministry cause you are helping so many people out there by being yourself and sharing all the talents god has gave you… Thanks so much… I hope one day I can meet you and give you a big hug…. Have a great and blessed day… YOU ROCK…:>)
Happy Birthday! And I just have to add that we share the same birthday! I had to work, of course, but I did pick up some Steak n Shake (a diner type restaurant chain in the midwest) on the way home and my boys and I enjoyed a chocolate shake (Hubby had school 🙁 ). But I luuuurve Red Robin and immediately clicked on the link and signed up. Their burgers are divine and I, like you, LOVE french fries. Must be a March birthday thing, because my kids and hubby aren’t as crazy about them as I.
Love your blog – you inspired me to shop the clothes at Goodwill/thrift shops (usually I only browse the knickknack aisle). I did have time to swing by the Salvation Army thrift on the way to get the boys from school yesterday and I scored a Vera Bradley purse for $1, yes, only $1! I literally danced around the store and wanted to show everybody what I got! And the whole time I’m thinking, wow, if I had a blog, I would definitely be posting this. But I don’t, so I experience the blog scene vicariously through you.
This post is way too long, but I just wanted to share with you, because you are so kind to share with us. I don’t comment often, but I do read your blog everyday and you’re doing a great job.
@Meand3boyz, N O YOU DID NOT!!! YOU did NOT get a Vera Bradly purse for $1. Oh my goodness, girl, so glad you shared it with me cuz I am doing the happy thrifting dance with you. I can completely picture your reaction in the store because I would have been the same way although I would have picked some poor stranger to tell and then would have felt bad because I found it and they didn’t. 🙂
So happy for you. What fun! And Happy Birthday as well….love Steak and Shake. 🙂
Here’s wishing you the Happiest of Happy Birthdays, my friend! It’s just so wonderful to be surrounded by our loved ones, isn’t it? Glad you had a relaxing, fun day & enjoyed your yummy dinner out, fries and all!!
Blessings,
Stacey
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for the Red Robin link! I love their Blue Cheese burger and the fries with campfire sauce!
Really? I knew something before you??? RR also has a kid’s birthday club. I have been known to take my child on a late night “date” when they had a birthday coupon. I ordered a pop and got free fries!
It also helps if your favorite sister in law is the general manager!!!
Oh yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
You look great (in your pj’s).
LOVE the Red Robin birthday burger. Other good birthday freebies (depending on what’s available in your area) are Baskin-Robbins, Culver’s, and Sonic.
You look GREAT first thing in the morning. And your kids are precious too. Thanks for sharing your special day with us.
Happy Birthday!
And I agree with you…Red Robin Rocks for birthday meals! 🙂 We have 3 September birthdays here and so we save the coupons and go in one trip so we can get usually get a dinner for 7 at Red Robin for around $20! 🙂
For my birthday (last week), I got a treat that no one else in my family will touch: DH brought me home my very own ANCHOVY pizza.
(and he brought home a veggie pizza for the rest of the family.)
Well I got my Red Robin birthday burger gift certificate yesterday. I printed it off; as well as a $3 off coupon. I hope to go this week to get my burger.
I went out last night and used my Birthday burger gift certificate. I had a Salmon burger and a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette. I thought I was still hungry and ordered apple crisp and ice cream. I only ate a bit of the crisp and the ice cream and felt stuffed. I brought the rest of the crisp home. It was still great for breakfast.