If I could sum up my 26th birthday in one word it would be “sweet!”
Not only did I enjoy copious amounts of cake and cookies throughout the day while I was at work, but Ryan greeted me with a slice of lemon cake from Cheeser’s Palace (and some gorgeous tulips) when I arrived home from work this evening.
I know I’ve professed my love for the cakes from Cheeser’s Palace on this blog before, but they really are amazing!
I’ve only ever tried their cakes at home and have never actually been to the restaurant location in Clermont, Florida but I whole-heartedly recommend their cakes to anyone in the Orlando area. They’re seriously unbelievable!
Today’s lemon cake was totally fantastic and I enjoyed every bite… especially those with extra frosting.
After polishing off my cake, it was time for presents!
I am so stinkin’ excited about the main present Ryan gave to me this evening.
Get this: We’re going scuba diving with whale sharks!
Seriously.
Ryan planned a romantic weekend vacation to Atlanta in June and while we’re there, he booked quite the adventure for us. We’ll be scuba diving with whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium and I can’t wait! Yes, I’m a little freaked out, but I’m also super pumped!
Once present time was over, we took Sadie on a walk while talking about our upcoming trip.
We then did a little shopping for some Europe-appropriate clothes before picking up subs at Jimmy John’s to eat outside of a frozen yogurt shop in Baldwin Park. We picked our outdoor dining spot strategically because we had big plans to get a sizeable cup of fro yo for dessert.
We got this baby for the freezie because it was my birthday! I love it when restaurants acknowledge birthdays. They are quite special, after all!
Finally getting my fro yo fix after forgoing my favorite sweet treat throughout Lent felt good. It was the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful birthday.
Thank you to all of you who left me such kind comments today on the blog, through Twitter and the PBF Facebook page. You guys made me feel very loved and I am so grateful!
I hope you have a relaxing night!
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Surprise cake and flowers? I must say, Ryan certainly knows the way to a girl’s heart. Glad you had a good one….the diving with sharks thing sounds thrilling!!
Happy Birthday Julie!!! So good to hear it was a wonderful day for you, and good job to Ryan! That sounds awesome about scuba diving with whale sharks – I didn’t know you could do that! I live it Atlanta so I may have to steal Ryan’s idea and see what I can do for my boyfriend and I hehehe
Wow scuba diving with whale sharks – sounds scary and so flippin cool at the same time! Haha. I love getting freebies on my birthday! Glad you enjoed your day. 🙂
Glad you had a wonderful birthday, Julie! Fro-yo is the bomb!
Happy birthday Julie!
ah, i am moving to atlanta in june. i am stealing your (ryans) idea! that sounds amazing!
happy birthday 🙂
Wahoo ATLANTA, that’s my hometown, and where I’m spending the summer! The Georgia aquarium is AMAZING, you guys will have a blast swimming with the sharks!!!
What a wonderful birthday! You are so deserving 🙂 Happy birthday, Julie! xo
You are a brave soul I don’t think I could get the courage to swim with sharks. Have fun!
LOVE “do” presents. Better than “thing” presents 🙂
We are alllll about “experience” gifts!
I’m glad you had a nice birthday! Tulips are my favorite flower – I am super jealous of your beautiful bouquet.
I can’t say Im jealous about swimming with sharks. I would be way too scared.
Happy birthday!! What a wonderful day you had! I have to say that I am jealous of the scuba gift! Question– do you need to be certified or not since it’s at the aquarium? I’d love that!
There are two different options, I believe. We’re doing the one where a scuba cert. is required.
WOW what a unique gift that Ryan got you! That sounds like so much fun – and it is so not a typical gift.. making it so cool! I’d be scared too – but I know it will be so much fun and it is such a great opportunity!
First of all, Happy Birthday! And secondly, this past summer I had the opportunity to scuba dive with Whale Sharks. It was the most thrilling thing that I have ever done. Swimming next to something that is 35 or 40 feet long with gills that are taller than me is something I will never forget! So, have fun making truly amazing memories in June swimming next to the Whale Sharks!
Oh how fun! It will be such an adrenaline rush.
My hubby went shark diving in S. Africa with tiger sharks and he said it was the most amazing thing ever!
What a fun gift! The Georgia aquarium is amazing, you’ll love it! I have to admit, I get jealous about all this yummy fro-yo you post – especially when you get the red velvet flavor!
what an awesome gift! i’d be totally freaked out, but it sounds so awesome 🙂
What a fun birthday! I can’t wait to hear about the diving! Happy, happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday!! I’m so jealous and wish I was planning a European adventure! I did have Jimmy John’s for dinner last night though, so we’re even on that one!
yahooooo! a trip for your birthday present – that’s all I could ever ask for! 😀
We just moved to the Philippines and we were just talking about swimming w whale sharks too! Except here is done in the ocean (and the whole trip costs less than diving at the aquarium!). I have a feeling I’ll have a lot of fun exploring Southeast Asia!
BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! don’t you love those days where it is just full-down and jam packed full of decadent sweets like that! ahh! I can only imagine the wonderful sugar rush you were on while eating those! LIKE YUMMM! I love sugar rushs. they make me feel SOoOoO HAPPY! ahaha
Wow, swimming with sharks! Sounds so exciting, the excitement should overcome a little fear right?
My fiance and I went to Maui and swam with Manta Rays at night. I was a little scared at first but it was amazing and I’m glad I got out of my comfort zone to experience once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with huge (car size) manta rays.
Here are pictures if you are interested–> http://healthycoconut.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/swimming-with-manta-rays/
I will make you excited for your own adventures in June.
so, so cool!!!
** it will make you more excited***
Happy Birthday!!! I love getting special “perks” on my birthday too. 🙂
What a great (though intimidating) birthday present, I hope you have fun!
That is an amazing present! It is my dream to go scuba diving!
Glad you had an awesome birthday 🙂
What a wonderful birthday. What an amazing gift to go swimming with whales!! You must be ecstatic. And so many yummy treats, love the cake 😀
How fun! Have you ever been to the Georgia Aquarium? I’ve been twice and it is AMAZING! You are going to LOVE it! They just added dolphins in November. What a great gift!! Enjoy!
No I haven’t! I can’t wait!!
oh what a great surprise!
after giving up sweets for lent you must be in sugar shock! 😛
Um, seriously best present ever! What an awesome experience that will be. Happy your birthday was everything you wanted and more! Here’s to your next year being even better!
Wow!! Scuba diving with sharks? Unbelievable! I am going to Florida next month….any tips on more fab cake places or great spots to scuba dive??
What part of Florida will you be visiting?
Marco island…but we are planning on driving around to other spots.
Ah, I’m really not familiar with that area! I think it may be close to Sanibel? If so, I recommend the cakes from The Bubble Room, but that place is totally crazy inside, so I’d just get the dessert to go! 🙂
Happy Birthday!! What an awesome present from Ryan! It sounds like you are having an amazing birthday! 😀
Happy Birthday!
You defiantly inspired me to get active and moving. Thanks so much for sharing all your recipes and workouts. I even started a blog today! Lots of changes going on for me. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us!
That’s so wonderful to hear. Thank you!
I cannot even tell you how jealous I am of your diving adventure! WOWZA! Lucky lady 🙂
You deserved this amazing day, Julie!
Happy Birthday! The Georgia Aquarium is amazing and you will love it! Its one of my favorite places to go in Atlanta!
What an awesome gift!
So weird — my friend was telling me about Cheeser’s at the gym this morning. She went there for Easter and we had never heard of it. Maybe it’s a sign that I really need to go and check out their tasty treats 🙂
you definitely do!!! i’ve never had anything from there other than the cake, so i can’t speak about their food, but the cakes from that place are unreal!
Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a well deserved wonderful day! What an awesome bday gift… your hubby did good:)!
Can’t go wrong with fro-yo on your birthday, or any other day for that matter!
Happy Birthday, Julie!! 🙂 That lemon cake looks so delicious! Wish they had Cheeser’s Palace in Chicago so I could try some myself!
Aw, I’m so sad I missed your birthday. It sounds like it was great (:(: I can’t believe you are going scuba-ing with sharks… terrifying!! I went with sting rays once and I was so freaked out…. one girl got stung and I just about had a panic attack. (she was of course fine and it wasn’t a huge deal.. but I was still freaked out.)
That cake piece looks so delish! It looks like you had a great birthday. Happy Belated!!
That sounds so great! I live near downtown, where the aquarium is, so I know some really great restaurants where locals go if you want a list I’ll e-mail them to you based on where you are staying! Atlanta is such a great place!
I know Ryan had one in mind, but we are definitely open to recommendations!!
What a great boyfriend! Looks like the perfect end to the perfect day 🙂
Oh sorry I meant what a great husband. hehe oooops typing too fast. 🙂
What a cool gift! Glad you had an awesome birthday- Ryan seems like a great guy, u chose well 🙂
Swimming with sharks sounds awesome! I can’t wait to hear about that trip!
Happpppy Birthdayyy Julie!!
What a sweet hubby 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful trip to Atlanta! Hope you have a good time!
Happy Birthday! That sure sounds like you had a positively SWEET birthday 🙂
COOL birthday present-that totally rocks!!
frozen yogurt should be a given every birthday. sounds like it was a good one!
I cannot wait to hear about the shark dive! And I had a little piece of chocolate cheesecake for you! Cheesecake is hell for me usually, since I’m lactose intolerant, but I took my Lactaid and had a slice just for you, you know, to celebrate 😉