It’s time for Tuesday Topics, which I host with Jenn from Runs With Pugs. This week’s topic is What habit(s) are you trying to strengthen right now? The area I need to work on most is sleep, but since I’m not currently doing anything to strengthen good habits in that area, I’d rather not discuss it. Instead, let’s talk about Valentine’s Day!
This year I tried to embrace it, a little. February 14th is also Foxy’s birthday- he turned one! I made a cake! Just to be clear- this was a cake for people, not cats (although Foxy and Muffin got a little taste of frosting). I used this recipe for Nora’s strawberry cake. Also, in full disclosure, I made the cake on Sunday, since people were busy on Valentine’s Day.
Everyone loved it! My daughter’s best friend and boyfriend came over to eat cake and celebrate, and I was grateful for quirky people who are willing to indulge my silliness (I mean- who really needs to celebrate their cat’s birthday?) Here’s a photo of the inside:
In other cat news, I was at Hallmark on Friday (my daughter needed a bag for the gift she gave her boyfriend) and saw this book:
Here’s one of the poems:
I ended up buying the book for my husband, and he was pleasantly surprised because we usually don’t exchange Valentine’s Day gifts.
Enough about Valentine’s Day! Here are some other, little FIGs from the week (joining Elisabeth in “Finding Joy in Gratitude”).
- Looking in the mirror and noticing how clear my face is! I always notice when my face looks terrible (thank you, rosacea) but somehow I usually neglect to appreciate it when it looks good. I credit this gel I bought for less than $8 on Amazon.
- Good books. I finished Sky Daddy (review coming soon!) and am enjoying the reread of The Age of Innocence for Engie’s book club. I also started and am enjoying this one:
- Sleeping later. During our “cold” spell I ran in the afternoon rather than the frigid mornings, and I’ve kept that schedule for the past week. This means I can sleep until 6 am, and I’m loving it.
- Chocolate! I didn’t eat any of the cake because I don’t eat sugar (I know- it’s sad) but I did have my favorite chocolates. I don’t get them often because they’re expensive, but I splurged for Valentine’s Day.
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What kind of poem do you think your cat would write for you?
27 Responses
I had to smile at the “sleeping later” win, because I do exactly the same thing here in Cape Town. On cooler days I immediately push my run to the afternoon and guard that extra sleep like treasure. I literally stalk the weather app to see when I can get away with it!
We’re heading into autumn soon and I’m so ready. Crisp air, later mornings, no more sweaty run-in-the-dark runs. Absolute bliss!
Oh I’m envious! We’re heading into spring, which in Florida is not a good thing!
what a lovely poem and card! I love it!!!
On sleep, unsolicited advice, I’ve been working on 3-2-1 rule, stop eating 3 hrs, drinking 2 hours, device 1 hour, before sleep. I am noticing quality to improve slowly. I used to go to bed with stuffed belly because girls come home late (6 or 7 pm) and waiting them for dinner means I go bed full belly. Now I aim to eat dinner, even alone at 5-5:30pm and definitely finish by 6pm. I want to try this for a week before coming to conclusion of it.
I do the 3 and the 1. Definitely stop eating and no devices, but I do drink pretty steadily up until bedtime. That’s probably not helping
A wonderful cake- of course cats deserve a birthday celebration! My cat did not outwardly appreciate the cake I made or collar I bought her, but I’m sure inside she loved it.
Loved the cat book! I bought my kids the newest Breaking Cat News book- and then I get to read it myself.
Ha ha… no, my cats would NOT appreciate a collar, outwardly or inwardly. Muffin is VERY interested in Foxy’s cake, because she loves frosting. She’s currently up on the table trying to get at the cake, but I have it very carefully covered up.
What I lovely gift.
I was in Florida.
My cats birthdays are July 14 and August 20. I forgot both.
Looks like things are going well. Hope it continues.
Those are hard birthdays to remember! February 14 is easy, and Muffin’s is April 1st- sometimes we remember it and sometimes we don’t.
I don’t think it’s silly to celebrate a cat’s birthday! I’ve always celebrated my dog’s birthday and for the last few years, my mom has made her a dog-friendly cake that she goes crazy for!
Sleeping later on a weekday sounds so nice! I could do that this time of year since it’s cooler but I would feel antsy not to run before work so I’m still getting up early. But maybe I’ll try it a few times just to switch things up!
I wonder if there’s such a thing as a “cat friendly” cake? Anything I can think of seems disgusting. Probably better to just make the cake for people and give the cats their favorite treats.
I do feel a little antsy not running first thing- soon it’ll be hot and I’ll probably be happy to get back to early morning running anyway.
I used to always make cupcakes for Barkley’s birthday! Not for him, although I would generally give him an extra treat on that day. Rex’s birthday is the same day as my older son’s birthday and our wedding anniversary so…that is celebratory enough. I like to think of Oct 10, the day we got him, as his big day. But then this year we were in Morocco! Ah well, every day is a special day as far as Rex is concerned.
I’m pretty sure Rex thinks every day is special! We should all be more like him.
Oooo, that Keto Bark looks good and I see that it’s gluten free! I love that you made a cake to celebrate Foxy’s birthday! We have Oscar’s birthday on our calendar. We don’t exactly know the date she was born. We know it was late April, so Phil decided her birthday would be 4/20. He would usually give her a special treat on her birthday, like some tuna. But making a cake is an even better idea!
If Oscar wrote a poem, it would be probably a snarky one because that is her vibe… she’s kind of a snarky/salty cat. Which is why it’s best that she lives with my MIL in her quiet home because her snarky personality does not jive with loud children that get in her space!
Ha, the other poems in this book are very snarky.
Phil seems like such a cat person!!! Maybe when the kids are older you can get a cat? Or two…?
I LOVE that you baked a cake for Foxy. This is so festive and fun and so very you, Jenny. It really warmed my heart. And just think: with Sylvie in the mix, you’ll get another fun cat birthday celebration <3
I don't have a cat, so I will remain poemless *sob* What a fun book. I bet it's hilarious!
Yes- Muffin’s birthday comes up soon (she’ll be six) and then we have to decide when Sylvie’s birthday is! We’ll either have to estimate and then pick a day, or just make the day we got her her birthday.
No one ever NEEDS a cake, Jenny, but Foxy DESERVES a cake. Cats are the apex family members.
Zelda would never write a poem for her people. She would only wants poems dedicated to her, about her, and proclaiming her perfection.
(I feel like I’ve given Zelda a bad reputation. She is a wonderful, sweet cat who cuddles and purrs and has zoomies and is sheer perfection. I adore her. But she is superior to humans in every way and she knows it.)
Oh, don’t worry! You should see some of the other poems in this book- they are extremely snarky and hilarious, and there’s a lot of perfection proclaiming. Cats are definitely the apex of the family.
Happy birthday to Foxy! I thought of him on Valentine’s!
That cat poem is lovely! So ultra-cute. Also so cute to make a cake for Foxy. Even if it really was for humans!
Aw, you thought of him! He’ll be touched : )
We totally have parties for mom’s cats!
I feel like my mom’s big Siamese named me “Baby” or something like that – he used to work really hard “training” my parents and brother and anyone else visiting the house how to play fetch/hunt his toy mice. Except for me. He would bring me all the mice! I think he thought I was a helpless little excuse of a cat, LOL! 🙂 He would also sleep with me, and sleep between me and the edge of the bed/pushing his whole weight against me until I was sandwiched between the wall and himself. He loves me a lot, even after I moved out – he comes running when he hears me on the phone, or if I go over 🙂
Happy Birthday Foxy!!! I approve of celebrating all the birthdays and of pet birthdays that fall on holidays.
That poem is hilarious. I love that you bought the book for your guy. My son, Lad has a dog named Ronan and Ronan’s bday is also on Valentine’s Day. He and Foxy are bday buddies. I think Ronan is like 3? Hooray for the cream for your face. Coach has that same skin condition. Hey, it’s late and I’m being lazy and will not be scrolling up to see how to spell it. I’m desperately behind on blogs and I’m trying to get caught up.
I love that cute little cat poem book AND the cake. I day celebrate everything, especially in this blah pre-spring season.
Happy Birthday to Foxie! Yesterday would have been my dog Samantha’s birthday…how old would she be…hmmm. I got her when I was 6, and now I’m 60, so I guess she would be 54. I remember learning that every human year is equal to 7 dog years, and my friend and I took the 365 days of the year, divided by 7, and figured out those dates. Then we celebrated ALL of our dogs’ birthdays. HA! We put canned dog food through her EasyBake oven. So gross. She was a good girl though.
Enough about me and my Samantha girl. I’m glad that you baked Foxie a cake, even if he only got a little taste of frosting. And I’m glad you celebrated Valentine’s Day a tiny bit. I mean, moderation in all things, right?
Your cake came out gorgeous!
And happy birthday to your sweet kitty! How cute!
I have never made a cake for my cats, but their birthdays are coming up at the end of April/beginning of May, so I should definitely do something like that to celebrate them! Once, I tried to make a “cat friendly” birthday cake for them and they were APPALLED.