Birthday Shenanigans

I love birthdays.

I love:
- getting excited about them
- celebrating them
- procuring/creating fantastic gifts and cards
- enjoying treats & festivities
- the chance to hang out with my favourite people

I enjoy celebrating my own birthday and reveling in the 'birth month' whenever possible. In the weeks leading up to my birthday this year, I wasn't sure that I was still going to feel the same way since it was a birthday that ended with a zero.

*gasp*

I lived to tell the tale and have to say that it was probably the best birthday I've had in recent memory. Maybe ever. 

It started over the weekend with Ethiopian food, wine and dancing with some of my very favourite people. Corbin captured some stellar photos of our dancing shenanigans with silly poses, photo bombs and some hilarious expressions from people in the background. I went to bed a very happy gal.

For my actual birthday, Corbin planned a whole day of fun for me. He did an amazing job planning an incredible day full of things that I love including great entertainment with a music theme (Twenty Feet From Stardom during breakfast, an adventure to see Frozen and front row tickets for Elegies in the evening), super delicious food (yummy breakfast bowls, sweet cupcakes from Urban Herbivore and a wonderful dinner at Khao San Road) and the most thoughtful gifts, all the while wearing birthday hats.

I had no idea what to expect from my gifts. I knew that he had been working on something for hours in the days leading up to my birthday, but really had no clue as to what "it" was. When the clock struck midnight on April 8th he presented me with a card and adorable happy owl stickers. In the morning before breakfast he gave me an adorable giraffe who I decided to name Winthrop (I felt an Old English name was appropriate and liked that it referenced The Music Man which is one of my favourite musicals!)



After breakfast Corbin presented me with the gift he had been working on for days.
Inside the bag I found two handcrafted pink and black, sparkly tickets to New York City.

I started bawling! They were beautiful and so thoughtful and I was so excited at the prospect of going back to my favourite city with my love! I don't know when we'll go just yet, but probably later in the year while the weather is still nice. So exciting!! Best. Gift. Ever.


It was certainly a birthday to remember and for the first time in a long time it felt like a really special day. I'm so thankful for my friends who made this month awesome and to Corbin who really went above and beyond in making my birthday truly fantastic by being incredibly thoughtful and wonderful. Being in love while surrounded by love is pretty much the best gift I could ask for.

Here's to a new decade!

Waffle Wednesday - Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Cupcake Waffles

Chocolate quinoa cupcake waffles? It's a bit of a tongue-twister, I know, but pretty delicious. Wednesdays are turning into my favourite food day.

The idea was born from Corbin's birthday cupcakes."Can we turn cupcakes into waffles?"

Yes lovie, I think we can.

We topped them with berries and bananas, but they'd be extra super delicious with cherries too. Or ice cream. But I think most things are made even better with ice cream! These guys are also full of quinoa which means they're packed with protein and don't require any fancy flours or ingredients, which is nice! We also threw everything into the Vitamix to mix things together which made for an easy peasy clean up. So many wins!

Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Cupcake Waffles
Gluten, dairy and soy free
Makes 4-5 waffles

2 cups cooked quinoa
1/3 c. almond milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. organic sugar
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 banana

Heat up your waffle iron

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender or food processor and mix until well combined

Once everything is combined, let the mixture rest for 10-15 minutes. It helps to thicken the waffle batter.

Lightly coat the waffle iron with coconut oil

Pour waffle batter onto the waffle iron so that it is about 3/4 full. This waffle doesn't rise or spread as much (and is a bit more of a denser waffle) so you don't have to worry as much about it going over the sides

Cook waffles to desired crispiness. We cooked ours for about 14 minutes. These waffles won't be crispy right away like other waffles, but will crisp up more if you let them rest after you remove them from the waffle iron.

Remove waffle and top as desired! I topped mine with sauteed bananas and melted peanut butter

while Corbin chose to top his with berries mixed with a bit of agave.

Both were delicious!!

More waffles are around the corner. Next up: savory waffles!