I started my birthday with my free Starbucks birthday drink (<– side note: I hate how you are only eligible for this drink on your birthday – it should be available all month long!) I enjoyed some egg bites and my book.
After Starbucks, it was time for a massage! This massage felt soooo good. She really worked on my hips/IT band/glutes, which is what I needed. It really helped!
I took a side trip to TJ Maxx after my massage because I needed some gift tags and wanted to poke around and see if there was anything I could add to my Secret SANta package. It was a successful trip!
A nap is a requirement on my birthday! It’s my favorite activity! Eloise lay on me for this nap, and I promise she’s happier than she looks in this photo.
When I got up for my nap, it was time for a shower and get all Christmassy for my evening activities. I wore a “merry” sweatshirt and my cat Christmas earrings!
MY BABIESSSS. Gosh, I love them so much. They had on sweatshirts since it was a cold day, and I lost my shit at how cute they looked.
In the evening, it was time for Christmastown at Busch Gardens! I’d been to this event a few times, but it had been many years since I’d visited, and honestly, it was a bit underwhelming. They didn’t have nearly as many cool things to do as in years past. Case in point: I noticed that one eatery had gingerbread cookie decorating. How fun! No, not fun. It was at a small kiosk where they basically just shoved a gingerbread cookie, a small container of buttercream frosting, and a small container of sprinkles at you, and then you had to find a place to sit to decorate. There weren’t any tables or chairs near the kiosk to decorate! Get it together, Busch Gardens.
Even though it was underwhelming (and even though my hips were screaming at me by the end of the night from all the walking), it was still fun to be surrounded by all the Christmas decorations and hear Christmas music. And my 17-year-old nephew wasn’t too cool to hang out with us!
At the end of the night, I made myself a warm cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows, of course) and settled on my couch with a heating pad and my book. My hips were so stiff by the end of the night and the heat definitely helped!
What is a non-negotiable for you on your birthday?
I also am annoyed about the SBUX drink only being available on your birthday. Caribou lets you have a week. That’s what I prefer!
I am glad your birthday didn’t fall on Thanksgiving today! It looks like a very fun day overall! Yay for a massage! I am getting one on Friday!
A Starbucks coffee is a non-negotiable on my birthday. Besides that I don’t have any must haves. Birthdays are so different when you have kids. I need to take mine off this year and make it a shoudlless day. It falls on a Friday so it’s the perfect day to take off!!
I didn’t know that Starbucks gave out a free birthday coffee! I love your Christmas kitty earrings, the doggie sweaters, and all the festive things! I guess I don’t have any non-negotiable birthday requirements. What have I been doing? A nap is definitely a good thing to put on my list!
Ooh, you’re lucky your birthday falls near Christmas! I would love to spend my birthday at a Christmas Wonderland (even a lame one) but since it’s in March, that doesn’t work.
I would do most of the things you did- a nap, a massage, cat cuddles. Add in a run and my favorite Earl Grey tea and it’s a perfect birthday.
Get it together, Busch Gardens. That made me laugh and laugh.
My non-negotiable is that I take the day off work on my birthday. I will NOT work on my birthday!!
Sigh. Starbucks used to give us a few days! I am often away in an area nowhere near a Starbucks on my birthday and don’t get to use it. Glad you got to!
I love your outfit! I have those earrings too! Do you feel like your earring collection is complete? I remember a while ago you were working on growing it!
I don’t feel like I have a consistent non-negotiable on my birthday, but yours is great. Lately I’ve enjoyed going to a museum and lunch, and then home for dinner. My birthday is NYE, which can be a pain in the ass at restaurants, so we mostly stay home and watch movies, which is fine by me.
I hope you had a great birthday! It looks like a winner.
2025 (actually just a few months ago) was the first time I EVER HAD STARBUCKS IN MY LIFE. So, needless to say, I have never made good on their free birthday drink but will plan to do so this year.
Actually…I won’t be home for my birthday so maybe not. Womp, womp.
I don’t have anything that I do every year on my birthday but I do always prefer for it to include some of my beloved unbaked cherry cheesecake!
Ah it does sound ¥øu hd a great day. Sorry the Christmastown was underwhelming.
A non negotiable on my birthday… mhm not sure. But I hate when people tell me happy birthday at midnight when I am not in bed yet. I don’t want to start my birthday and then need to go to sleep and basically sleep away on my birthday. I guess I would also not take a nap on my birthday then… not sure.
Happy birthday! LOVE your red lips and that sweatshirt– adorable
Sounds like a great day! You rocked the bold red lip!
What a delightful day. A Starbucks treat, a massage, a nap and time with family. What else could you ask for?
My non-negotiable would be a morning run, I think.