Wheee!
First, a 3.1 mile run. All I had time for was a 5K. And I knew I could do it in about 25 minutes.
You can measure my level of stress by the speed of my runs. The faster I run, the more adrenaline is already in my system. I ran FAST today – 8:34, 8:08 and 8:24 – INLUCDING HILLS!
Shower –-> Sweaty walk to Faith’s. Matt had to run back to the bakery for a few last minute things, so I put on a dress and walked to the party. Had some honeysuckle on the way for nourishment!
HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY!
Time for a cocktail!
I tasted “Faith’s Fantastic Hibiscus Highball” which was more gin than hibiscus! I mixed it with lots of seltzer and it was yum. I had waaaay too much gin one time when I was, er, not of drinking age yet and don’t think I’ve recovered yet!
Faith and I played
And then I nibbled.
Go bug her for her Minty Pea Pesto! It was fantastic. She promises a recipe soon on her blog!
Also, her homemade crackers were beautiful and awesome!
Mealtime! They had kebabs and beans and salads – food is ALWAYS good there!!
Same with wine!
I had some watermelon for dessert, plus a taste of a delicious lavender cupcake that I split with Matt and some of Andrea’s Swedish Visiting Cake. It was lemony and almondy and fabulous!
But the real party started when Tate brought out the Albemarle Baking Company cake!!! Choa-o-lot!
Perfect ending for the birthday girl. And for me!
We talked and talked and just got home. Ready for bed after this long day!
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says
What a beautiful cake and celebration for a wonderful woman!
Happy Birthday to Faith! 🙂
faith says
Thanks Jenny, that’s so sweet of you!
Molly @ RDexposed says
My eyes bulged a little when I finally got to the cake picture!!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
What a lovely birthday dinner!
Happy Birthday Faith!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset says
Mmm both the almond/lemon cake and chocolate cake caught my attention in this post 🙂 Kath, I also love your dress, the colors work so well together! Happy Birthday to Faith!
Gina @Runningtothekitchen says
8:08! Nice job!
All that food looks delicious! Happy Birthday Faith 🙂
Abby says
Both of you ladies are wearing great dresses! 🙂 All of the desserts look fab!
Katie says
You both looked lovely! And that cake looks delicious! Mmmm 🙂
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Wowza! I want to pretend tomorrow is my birthday :). I could use some chocolate cake right about now. These are some of the best food photos…ever.
faith says
Allie, there will still be leftover cake by the time you get to town!
Kaitlyn @ 7 Plates says
Looks yummy. Btw, cute dress! 🙂
Lea @ Healthy Coconut says
Happy Birthday to Faith! Her party looks so pretty, homey and rustic.
Baking 'n' Books says
Your both beautiful! Happy B-Day. The title of the post just made me absolutely smile. Where there’s cake – there shall be me 😉
Love the positivity, the vibrancy – Kath you truly are just an inspiration for being you and doing it your way. Living life to your fullest – and just being happy. All emitted through your smiling pictures.
Morgan @ moments of mmm says
You ladies look gorgeous!
And the food looks amazing…mint and peas is a perfect combo!
Now I am craving chocolate! Thanks 😀
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
Cake is the perfect ending to any meal 🙂
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
Ohh lavendar cupcakes and hibiscus highballs – such wonderful, flowery desserts!! The cake looks AWESOME too!
Ella says
hee hee, doesn’t the little card attached to the cocktail say “vodka,” not “gin”? sounds delicious either way!
KathEats says
Yes, but you didn’t see Faith alter the recipe by dumping in a few cups of Bombay Sapphire!
Ella says
Wow, a girl after my own heart. Love it!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
you and faith are both total knockouts in your dresses…you both clean up super well, obviously 🙂
the more stress i am under, the faster i run too!
i only wish i had some cake waiting right about now 🙂
KathEats says
🙂 Thanks!
faith says
Yeah, thanks!!
Hannah says
Happy birthday to Faith! And hurrah for cake!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
Happy Birthday to Faith!
I feel you on the gin… there was a very unfortunate NYE that involved gin and juice. I was 19… don’t judge. 😉
That cake looks insanely good!
Namaste Gurl says
Can I be friends with Faith now? 😉
Khushboo says
Wowie, now that’s how to end your day with a bang!
Laurie says
Yeah, unless there was another highball that was made with gin, the label for that one says vodka! Two veeeerrrry different tastes!
KathEats says
You didn’t see Faith alter the recipe by dumping in a few cups of Bombay Sapphire!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
Nice job on the run!
Wow! So much delicious-looking food!!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) says
I love that you two are friends, since I love both of your blogs! What a lovely party!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Happy birthday to Faith! Her dress is GORGEOUS!
All of the food looks amazing, especially the last cake. YUM!
faith says
Thanks! I may be 30 but I’ve had that dress since I was a teenager!
Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East says
Looks like a fabulous time! Happy Birthday Faith!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Looks like a delicious and fun time! Happy Birthday to Faith:-)
cathy says
two things good for the soul: a quick, energizing + stress-depleting run then laughs and good times with friends. a winning one-two punch!
new favourite dress, kath! (before this it was your pink-themed one from mahi gold!)
good luck with the bakery/video tasks today!!!
Christine @ Burning It Off says
Looks like an amazing meal… especially the chocolate cake!!
Lori says
Wow! I want to be invited to that party! What a beautiful setting and you ladies look gorgeous! It’s so sweet to see your friendship grow. That cake looks to die for!
Christina says
I had the same cake when I graduated from UVA in 2008…delicious. I loved it so much I had Albemarle Baking Co. make my wedding cake last summer. All your posts make me miss C’ville. I hope you love it as much as I did!
Lauren says
Happy Birthday to Faith! Such a lovely way to celebrate. 🙂
Katie says
Happy Birthday to Faith! She is so beautiful! And her crispy homemade crackers look amazing, i love crispy!!! Everything actually looks amazing!!!
The cake, wow, yeah that looks so good! What a great cake for a birthday !
Hope you and Matt got sleep!!!
The Teenage Taste says
Happy Birthday to Faith! She sure knows how to host a party. Homemade crackers, Pea Hummus, and homemade cake?! YUM! 😀
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
I LOVE your dress. It is so adorable!
Samantha says
What a fun time! And that drink sounds delish! But I’m curious as to whether it was made with gin or vodka, as I’d love to try and replicate it for a party this weekend!
KathEats says
It was both! She added the gin later. And other things. I don’t know if she even knows the recipe.
faith says
I guess I should have updated the tag…it was a work-in-progress. It was boring with just the posted ingredients so I added a little gin (not much Kath, I swear!) and a pinch of cinnamon to the vodka, hibiscus flowers in syrup, lemon slices, and sparkling water that was already in the carafe. It was only alright, nothing to special.
Beth@naturallyyoursbeth says
This cake looks super decadent and delish! Ugh so jealous you got to eat that lol
kaila @ healthy helper! says
I hope faith had a wonderful birthday! It certainly looks like the party was a success! Especially with all that good grub…..hello lemony cake!?!?!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Wow – the birthday girl put on a great spread! Happy birthday to Faith!
Vanessa says
Happy Birthday to Faith! That looks like quite the spread! Love your spiffy dresses! 🙂
Sarah@The Flying ONION says
Haha…love the pictures of you and Faith. You gals are so stunning and I love your dresses! 😀
(p.s. love the cake too! 😀 )
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Happy birthday to Faith! It looks like a wonderful celebration. 🙂
I had the exact same experience as you with gin when I was younger and I haven’t touched a drop since haha!
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
Those homemade crackers look like floppy bunny ears:)
Lee @ Fit Foodie Finds says
Woo Faith happy bday! What is her blog URL? How come I never knew she had one!
Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey says
http://gracefulfitnessblog.com/
🙂
~
KathEats says
Every time I write “Faith” her name links to her blog!
Ash @ Good Taste. Healthy Me says
What an awesome fun birthday! Any time I see your get-togethers I always wish my friends liked awesome healthy food like me!
Amy says
Happy birthday, Faith! Looks like a great party and I am definitely making that Swedish visiting cake ASAP. It reminds me of Princess Cake!
And you are SPEEDY – I ran hills the other day and huffed and puffed my way to an 11:00 mile. Nice work!
Amy says
BIG ditto on the speed of my runs in relation to my stress level! That food looks soooooooo good. And I finally made your Know Your Roots salad — today’s lunch— can’t wait, looks and smells crazy good. Your site is awesome! Thanks.
Tori (Fresh Fruition) says
Those crackers are not only delicious looking, but absolutely beautiful! A decoration AND a snack 🙂
katie says
Those crackers are so great, I love the rustic look. Faith puts on a great party! Looks like you had a really fun night, hopefully relaxing after such a stressful week for you.
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet says
You both look so gorgeous! And I love the food spread 🙂 So Mediterranean inspired and fresh!
But oh, that chocolate cake is screaming my name…
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
That cake looks INCREDIBLE!
Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey says
Everything looks WONDERFUL!
Glad that everyone had such a great night!
~
Anastasia says
That’s some fast running! Especially with hills- whew!
All the food looks incredible. That cake is amazing!
Wanda says
Looks like a fun night! Could we please have the recipe for the crackers. Thanks
Jess says
I want to be friends with you guys!!!
becca (bellebottoms) says
what a beautiful spread!! those crackers looked SOOOO gorg in that vase….very creative….and the cake? oohhhhh the cake 🙂 yum!
Jackie says
I need a little Faith in my life! 😉
lynn @ the actor's diet says
look at all that cake! i hope my day ends with some too!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
WOW, looks like a fab party!!
Charise says
Your gin is my tequila. Too much of it the first time I drank it senior year, and to this day (10 years later!), just the smell of tequila still has my stomach turning.
Happy birthday to Faith!
Charise says
Your gin is my tequila. Too much of it the first time I drank it senior year of high school, and to this day (10 years later!), just the smell of tequila still has my stomach turning.
Happy birthday to Faith!
Mary Frances says
Still making you see double and hiccup too? Just kidding… seemed funny on your double post 🙂
Charise says
Hahaha … my work computer gets wonky when I try to comment on blogs sometimes and tells me it didn’t work so I hit enter again. Whoops!
Heidi - apples under my bed says
wow, the food all looks so delicious!! And you all look stunning 🙂 what a fun night, happy birthday faith!
Heidi xo
seana says
Love love love the dresses!
Jessica says
Ove the dresses!! Where did you but them?
Andrea [bella eats] says
Playing catch-up…so glad you enjoyed the cake! It was fun seeing you guys…I wish we could have stayed longer! We’re WAY overdue for a party at our place. 🙂
KathEats says
Hopefully we can fill the summer with parties 🙂