I’m officially 19.5 years old. Getting up there in age, aren’t I?! Half-birthday’s have been a family tradition since I was about 5 years old. Let me briefly explain…My birthday is 5 days after Christmas and when I was little, I would feel “forgotten” by my extended family. With all the excitement surrounding Christmas and New Year’s my birthday got lost in the mix of the celebrations. Now, I realize that it’s not that big of a deal, but as a 5-year old, I was crushed. So, my brilliant mother started the tradition of half birthdays for my sister and me.

On our half-birthdays we get to pick the day’s activities, meals and get a small gift or two. Practically everyone makes fun of it and tries to be a party-pooper. We’ve kept the tradition for 14 years and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not going away anytime soon

I woke up early-ish and went for a beach run with my parents. We made it like 3 minutes on the sand before we went back to the road. Beach running is no joke!

After a breakfast of oatmeal with peanut butter and fruit I opened my gift. My mom and sister picked out the cutest yoga outfit from Lululemon and I can’t wait to try it out this week.

Then, my family and I took out the double kayaks for about an hour and a half. My mom took us the wrong way a few times so it ended up being longer than expected. That, and it was really hard paddling against the current. After kayaking and lunch, my sister and joined me at the island spa for a massage. Massages are my guilty pleasure…I just wish they weren’t so expensive! Dinner included watermelon, salmon and sweet potatoes (note the order of importance). Sunset walk on the beach to end the night.

I’ve been taking advantage of beach-life and trying to just go with the flow…staying up a little later, leaving my phone at the house and not always checking the clock. Today was just what I wanted and needed and I couldn’t really ask for more (except my dog).

Do you celebrate your half-birthday?

What is your (non-food) guilty pleasure? Massages, definitely!