37
Today I turn 37.
As per my husband, “Your birthday crept up on me this year.”
I realize this is code for, “I currently have no plan for celebrating your birthday and I don’t know what else to say,” but I have to agree that yes Ali, it did creep up this year.
As a matter of fact, the last few birthdays have crept up on me too. As has the arthritis in my right knee, the sun spots on my forehead, and my fondness for saying, “I just don’t get this younger generation.”
But as much as I like to give Ali a hard time, the truth is that I don’t particularly care about my birthday. Mostly because I just don’t like to be the center of attention.
(And for convenience sake, we’ll blame this on my severe case of the middle child syndrome.)
At an early birthday lunch at True Food Kitchen…one of my favorite restaurants in LA.
Obviously this is ridiculous, especially seeing as I splash my life all over the Internet. But somehow I fear the awkwardness of people I know staring at me while they sing me Happy Birthday far more than sharing my many shortcomings with complete strangers on Twitter.
It makes no sense. But today, on my birthday? I’m hoping you’ll let it slide.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
Not only will I let it slide, I would like to say you look beautiful Ameena! I love this picture! 37 huh? You are young. I’m 34, I feel like I’m still 18. All of these young couples have been moving into our ward (church) and I think, “great, new friends!” But, no. They don’t gravitate toward me at all. And, even though I”m not much older than they, it’s the seven kids, ya know? Seven kids ages you big time. I’m thinking those girls are seeing me somewhere around fifty? Hahahahaha, seriously though, maybe forty five? Oh well, this is life.
Happy Birthday to a fabulous young woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I adore you Ameena, thinking of you this week!
Shauna xoxoxoxxoxoo
Since I know how much one kid has aged me I can’t even imagine how you do it! 7 kids and you still have time to comment on my posts? Amazing Shauna.
PS: You look way younger than 34!
37 is a great age…haven’t you noticed that movie stars are always 37?! There must be a good reason for it so make sure you enjoy your 37th, no matter how many times you may end up having it!
Are movie stars 37? How funny…well then I suddenly don’t feel so bad! 🙂
Well, you know, once they get to 37 they stay there. I am sure the pop princesses are younger but they will all eventually be 37!
happy birthday ameena! to think…we have known each other since we were in our early-to-mid thirties…
I’m lucky to you have met you Lynn! I feel like I’ve known you forever.
Happy birthday! Being shy about being the center of attention when it is people you know makes perfect sense to me. I get way more nervous acting in front of friends than I do strangers…perhaps because I actually care about what my friends think?
Enough about me, go forth and celebrate!
So true…I do care what my friends think. But then again I care too much what most people think! 🙂
I could never be an actress though…ever! Such hard work.
You don’t look a day over 20! 🙂
Well thank you! Best comment ever. 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday Ameena!.. Big fat kiss!
37 and you look radiant!!
Thank you Anita!
Wishing you a very happy birthday, Ameena!
( I understand now why u remind me of my sister so much : u both are aquarians! )
PS : Her name is Maya too! 🙂
What a nice coincidence…I hope your sister has a fantastic birthday as well!
Happy birthday Ameena!! You look amazing and beautifully happy 🙂 Hope that your day was as fabulous as you.
Thank you Sig for the very sweet comment. I appreciate it!
Happy Birthday, Ameena!! Love the picture of you and Ali. They do keep creeping up on us, so watch out they’re coming to get you! 😉 My niece used to hate if we sang Happy Birthday, we kept trying to come up with alternatives. One year we all hummed. Hope you enjoy your day, whatever you decide to do!
No humming or singing yet…let’s see if I can get through the rest of the day without it! Your niece and I would get along great. 🙂
Happy Birthday Ameena ! I hope it’s a wonderful day and a great year !
Thank you Ayala!
It will be comforting to you that I didn’t know you were in your late 30’s – honestly – I had you down in your very early 30’s (like 30, 31 or 32). You have surprised me.
Wow…I love that so many people think I’m younger. Thanks for the comment my friend!
Happy birthday, Ameena!
Thank you Mama D!
I hate the birthday song. HATE it. No one can sing it well. And they stare. And you have to sit there enduring the whole thing. It’s like a punishment for celebrating. I hear ya.
However, I will wish you a wonderful birthday and hope you have a day of celebrating with your fam… and a lil’ cake… obviously. 🙂
See Amy…I knew that at least one person would totally get it. So glad you do!!
Ha! I totally get that. The Internet is like a veil you can hide behind, except you aren’t really hiding. Or something like that.
Anyway, Happy Birthday!!
Something like that is right! Thank you Maryea! 🙂
Happy Birthday Ameena! If you look like you do right now at 37… I want to skip to 37 too! (I hope that made sense!) You look great!
Happy Birthday! Hope Ali makes it extra special for you (minus the birthday song) as it’s your birthday today and Valentine’s day tomorrow! Have a great day. 🙂
Such a nice comment….thank you so very much!
Have a fantastic Valentine’s Day my friend…
Happy Birthday Ameena. Hope your day is lots of fun. Ali you should treat your wife like a queen everyday not just on her birthday. 😉
Absolutely. But it just seems a little more likely it’ll happen on my birthday.
Thanks for the comment Erika!
I’m the exact opposite of you when it comes to birthdays. I love my birthday. In fact, my brother jokes that my birthday lasts an entire week and actually deemed it “The Feast of Liz”. Whenever he says this is usually the point in the conversation where I slap him. Anyhoo, I hope you have a fantastic day! Also, side note, you do NOT look 37. Like, at all 🙂
I’m 37 and I still slap my brother too…some things never change!
Thank you for the comment Liz!
Happiest happy happy happy birthday, Ameena! You look amazing! I love reasons to celebrate- birthdays included. Have the best day! Eat cake.
Thanks Heather…for the comment and the compliment. I appreciate it!
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite bloggers! I hope today is extra special. 🙂
Thanks Parita!
Happy Birthday Ameena!
Thank you Samantha!
There’s always so much hype around birthdays. It’s crazy. I wanted to kill my husband when he threw a surprise party for my 40th. I walked into a room full of 40 some people and turned around and walked out.(while mumbling some expletives). I eventually went in. I couldn’t believe he could plan it let alone me not having any clue.
I like you, prefer for people not to know 🙂
On a diff note, Valentine’s Day is coming up- we don’t do anything major. We had dinner Sat night instead of on the actual day (my husband teaches a night class on Thurs). I do however expect a card. I have been telling him for days he’d better get one soon or there will be slim pickings left. I anticipate he will stop at the market after teaching Thurs and get me a leftover 🙂 I even offered to pick out one for him to give to me.
Enjoy your day!
A surprise party would send me straight to therapy. Seriously, I could never handle it! But I have to comment your husband for planning and following through on a party without you knowing about it. Amazing.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy birthday! Hope you have a fabulous day devoid of singing friends. That is my worst nightmare as well followed closely by opening gifts in front of people while I am stressing on the inside about whether I seem appreciative enough.
I’m always stressing that people will think I don’t like their gifts! That’s why I tell people not to get me gifts.
Why do the dumbest things stress me out?
Love that I’m not the only one here…
Happy Birthday Ameena! Looking great 🙂
Totally agree with you…don’t like been centre of attention in public, but don’t mind sharing all on the Internet. Less confronting!
Hope you had a great day .
Agreed. I hate confrontation. Although I do get some scary emails sometimes…
Happy Birthday to a fellow 37 year old middle child with sun spots. 🙂
Hope it’s a good one Ameena!
Why thank you Heather! Sorry you have the sun spots too though… 😦
Happy Birthday!!! I don’t like to make a big ordeal of my birthday, but I love using it as an excuse to spoil myself, or buy something i normally can’t justify. so do something for yourself today! 😉
I did nothing for myself yesterday…although I did force Ali to help Maya with her homework. And that’s better than any gift!
Happy birthday Ameena. May God bless you and your loved ones in everything you do and with everything you need. That is another great picture of you (& your hair) and Ali!
Thank you Lydia…such a nice comment! I really appreciate it!
happy bday! you don’t look a day over 30 dear! i beg everyone i know NOT to embarrass me in public haha. i don’t care what happens behind closed doors but yeah…in dining out? now way! we’re ironic aren’t we?
Ironic is right. I’m going to give you a pass as well though, because of your nice comment. 🙂
Happy birthday Ameena!
I’m with you, I hate the Happy Birthday song thing and feel physically ill if I have to open gifts in front of people. But then I blog about my entire life for millions of strangers.
Totally makes sense.
Thank you Kacy! So glad someone else can understand my flawed logic.
Happy Birthday! I’m with you on feeling awkward during the singing. This is also one of the reasons why I had only 20 people at my wedding ceremony (and wish it could have been smaller) – I don’t like people watching me!
Hope you have a fantastic day 🙂
I had 420 so you can imagine my state of mind. I love small weddings! I’m glad at least one of us had one. 🙂
Happiest Birthday my dear! Lovely lovely pic of you and Ali. Please celebrate with some vino, a cupcake (or 2), and a clean house (cleaned by someone else..ha!).
I had no vino, no cupcakes, but I did have a clean house! And that right there is the best gift ever. 🙂
Happy Birthday Ameena. 🙂
Great pictures!
Thank you Z!
Happy Birthday! We often don’t make a big deal, especially if it’s the middle of the week. Hope you had fun 😉
Thanks Stacie!
Happy Birthday Ameena!!
I’m not a big fan of my birthday either. There’s so much pressure to celebrate and do something fun with all the people you know, when what I really want to do is sit around in yoga pants and pretend I’m not really getting older and older all the time.
Anyhow, rant aside, I hope you have a wonderful day. 🙂
Yoga pants = most enjoyable birthday ever. I didn’t get into mine yesterday, unfortunately. But I have big plans to make up for it this weekend!
Happy birthday! Personally I feel ridiculous celebrating my birthday also. But I hope you get to have a special day today!
Thank you Sam!
Happy Birthday Ameena!! You look fab for 37!!
Thank you Piya for your very nice comment. 🙂
I turned 37 a few weeks ago. My husband went away for work and the past few years we have either traveled on my birthday or one of the kids is sick. Feels anti-climactic.
Happy Birthday, darling. You look beautiful.
Thank you Masala Chica…and a belated Happy 37th to you!
You look gorgeous and Ali is a lucky man. Happy Birthday, friend!
Thank you A! I appreciate your very kind compliment. 🙂
Heres wishing you a fantastic birthday Ameena!!! Age is but a number, so lets stop counting 😀
Thank you Anu!
Happy Birthday Ameena!
I hate to have the attention put on me too. 🙂 A speaker I am not. lol
A speaker I am not either! 🙂
Happy Birthday! You blog always makes me smile, thank you for being so awesome!
Thank you IP for the great comment!
Happy Birthday! Ali didn’t plan anything and you aren’t interested in it so I guess it works for the both of you.
Yes, it did work! I still complain though…that’s what I do. 🙂
Happy Birthday Ameena!!!
Middle children always want to be the center of attention.
Or maybe that’s just me.
I never did want to be the center of attention, even as a kid!
Happy Birthday Ameena! Hope you enjoy a beautiful birthday with the family. You’re looking prettier and prettier with each stalk….haha. Seriously though, you’re looking great, my dear! Have a great birthday!!!
Thank you LeQuan! I appreciate the compliment and the comment!
Happy birthday, Ameena! Ali should get you a week free from worrying about taking care of anything in the house.
That would be the best gift ever…that’s why I know it’ll never, ever happen. 🙂
Happy birthday to you!! Valentines day similarly crept up on me this year… hoping my husband is as forgiving as you were 🙂 Enjoy the day!
Thank you E! I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day today!
you DONT look 37. you look quite a few years younger, methinks. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVELY!!!
Thanks Daisy…I appreciate it!
Sun spots only mean you get out and enjoy life! (Can’t see ’em, either way.) Happy birthday. You look fabulous! And my husband and I are not even 5 years into marriage and he already gets all ‘Huh? so you still want to actually do something on your birthday? I thought that was for kids!’
Love your view on the sun spots Meenakshi! Thank you for the great comment.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
You look beautiful! Happy birthday!!!
Thank you Anna!
Happy Birthday Ameena! I picked a good day to show back up. 🙂
It’s nice to see a comment from you Julie! It’s been a while. 🙂
Happy Birthday Ameena!!!
Thank you Jolene! I appreciate it.
37? You’ve GOTTA be kidding me. You look like you are in your twenties (I honestly thought that until this post) Age is really just a number so here is to you and the next fifty years of family, love, laughter and amusing all of us on the blogosphere. Happy Birthday! 🙂
Thank you V! This may be the most sincere comment ever. It made my day!
Happy Birthday Ameena!!!! You do NOT look 37 I’ll tell you that. Aww.. your bday is so close to Valentine’s, is it a 2 in 1, although I’m not big on Valentine’s at all. You deserve to be spoiled and I hope your hubby spoiled you today.. at the end it’s nice to feel special by 1 or 2 ppl. Hope you had a great one. 🙂
It’s not a 2 in 1 at all. Trust me! It’s a 0 and a 0. 🙂 Especially if it’s during the week.
Happy birthday, Ameena!! You look fantastic!! I love birthdays but other people’s. I don’t necessarily like the attention on me but I don’t want it for myself. I totally get you.
I’m glad you get me O…and thanks for the great comment!
Happy, happy Birthday, Ameena!! You look amazing in that pic!!! And I completely get you about sharing everything with the internet – same reason I hesitate mentioning my blog to people I know personally :-). You go and have a great day with that lovely family of yours!!!
Thank you Fab!
I hesitate to mention my blog to people I know too…but somehow word spreads. And all you can do it hope that you don’t offend. 🙂
Happy birthday, Ameena!!! I don’t know why you say that you look awkward in photos, because you look gorgeous! And I’m not saying this just because it’s your birthday 😛
Well thank you Asuma. 🙂 I appreciate it!
A very very happy birthday to you, Ameena!…My birthday is in March but I look forward to it right from January…:)
Maya’s birthday is in March and she starts talking about it in December. LOL
Wish you a very happy birthday. Hope you had a wonderful day. 30s is the new 20s.. So have fun:)
Thank you ELB…I love your view on getting older. 🙂
It’s clearly a typo. 27. Tops. Busted.
Happy birthday m’lady. And I totally get what you’re saying about sharing with the Internet and yet in real life you can’t bear the attention. I’m with you on that one.
Another person who gets me! I love that I’m not the only one who thinks this way.
And thanks for the compliment. 🙂
Happy birthday ameena 🙂
Thank you Saira!
Wishing you the Happies Ameena!! Hope you had a rockin’ time 🙂
Thank you MWAD! I appreciate it.
Love that number 13, happy birthday. I selfishly hope to celebrate you in my neck of the woods next year. I will not sing. We can eat sea buckthorn berries, it’ll be fun. Wishing you a year filled with travel, great meals and maybe a big change…
Lauren…I hope to celebrate with you next year too. That would be the best gift ever. For so many reasons!
Happy Birthday Ameena! You are looking fab as usual. Hope this year has many good things in store for you. Looks like Ali and my husband share the same geek gene 🙂
Thank you HM! I appreciate the nice comment.
And the geek gene…it’s almost like a disease. 🙂
yum! i love that place but don’t go nearly enough! happy birthday 🙂
Thanks Kate!!
Happy Birthday to a smart, witty, beautiful, charming and caring friend. You are most definitely my friend even though we’ve never met face to face. I will never forget your generosity when my husband lost his job and all the help you were willing to give.
I understand about not wanting to be the center of attention. When it’s just close friends it’s super fun but when they’re all just kinda friends it can be awkward, and we wouldn’t want that 🙂 And what’s this about a day, it’s a month, birthday month! Didn’t you know?
Marie…you are unbelievably kind with your compliments. Thank you so, so much. I do hope that we meet face to face at some point! We live way too close not to.
Happy happy birthday to someone who barely looks 30! Hope you had a fabulous day, Ameena! And that pic of you and Ali is lovely :)!
Thank you for the compliment…it made my day! 🙂
A belated happy birthday from one aquarian to another! Sometimes the most casual and unplanned celebrations are the best 😉
I totally agree. And a happy belated birthday to you too Alissa!
My husband said the same thing about valentines day.
Happy birthday, dear Ameena. I hope you at least got some chocolate cake out of the deal.
No chocolate cake but mostly because I am not a huge cake person. Instead I had a whole bunch of chocolate. 🙂
Many Many Happy Belated Birthday 🙂 This is obviously not the first time you have heard this but I want to say it again- YOU DO NOT LOOK 37 gorgeous woman. you are just too awesome and Ali and you look cute in the pic. I feel same way about the birthday too – i just want to ignore the fact that I am getting old. Just want to eat lots cake and enjoy the day just because ..:P
Thank you Dixya!! Really, you are just too awesome yourself. I love your comment. 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :))))) hope you celebrate all year.
Thank you! I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!
Well, Happy Birthday! And just so you know, they creep up faster every year.
Something to look forward to? 🙂
Your spirit is worth celebrating with open intention and grace. Happy Birthday
Thank you Special K!
Happy 37th birthday! I must say you look younger than 37 though ;)!
I never tell restaurant staff it’s my birthday if I’m eating out on my b-day…I find the singing at the table all too awkward 😛
Thank you P! I appreciate the compliment. 🙂
I am a bit late, but Happy Birthday! We have a True Foods right near us and we have yet to visit it!
Thank you Rhonda! And please check out True Food…you are going to love it.
Hey Ameena…. i somehow landed on your blog …and read all your blogs in 2 days … :)) ..
Just loved it ! ….and Belated Happy Birthday .
-PS
Wow…Thank you PS for the sweet comment and for reading! I appreciate it. 🙂
This is super belated but wish you a very very happy birthday, Ameena!!!!
Thank you Priyanka! I appreciate it. 🙂
Ugh, I am SO late to the party but Happy Birthday Ameena!
You aren’t late at all! Thank you so much. 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday, my friend!! xo
ps: Hope to meet you while I’m here — for god knows, how long 😉
Thanks Kiran! I hope to see you while you are here too.
Happy, happy belated birthday! You look fantastic and always brighten my day with your humor!
Thank you Megan! I appreciate the very kind words. 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday Ameena!! Gorgeous photo. 37!!! Wise beyond your years already. 😉
Thank you Rufina…I appreciate the compliment. 🙂
Happy birthday Ameena. I am sorry I have been late in wishing you your birthday. I have been away from the blogsphere for a while. I hope you had a great day and congratulations on turning 37 and still not at all looking like a 37 year old. Cheers.
PS: 3 bulbs for a gift (eco friendly mind you) rofl. I feel for you.
Please don’t apologize! Thank you Eddie…I appreciate the kind compliments. 🙂