Celebrating another year around the sun

This month, over two gorgeous weekends, I found myself love bombed by family and friends. Here is a little photo journal of both, if you'd like to see.

The weekend before my birthday, we headed to Cork to celebrate my newest nephew's first birthday. So I was genuinely floored when the night before his celebration, my sis, her partner and my mum surprised me with a gorgeous Mexican feast of slow-cooked Barbacoa tacos, complete with splashes of Valentina hot sauce, Jarritos drinks, a divine dulce de delche for dessert and little cajeta sweets. 

I remember all too well how intense life is with a one-year-old, so the fact they made the time to create this was especially touching.

The following week, on my actual birthday, Ben and the kiddos kicked the day off with breakfast in bed and beautiful, thoughtful gifts (including gorgeous ceramic earrings from Cré Rua, these fun boob socks and How to Make a Zine by Joe Biel).

After this, we cycled in for a hang in town, followed by some solo time for me while Ben and the kiddos made me a delish lemon drizzle cake, which we blew the candles on just as these beautiful blooms from Daisy Bowl arrived.

B had then arranged a babysitter and a surprise dinner out in Ruibin with our buddies. It was an evening of good friends, amazing food, great cocktails and lots of laughs.

The next day, we headed out to Connemara and hiked Mám Éan, encountering many sheep on our route, much to Ada's delight.

All told, the kind of joy-filled merrymaking that makes you feel so grateful for the life, friends and family you have, and a reminder of the importance to taking time to celebrate.