"I know you are trying to be good but...

...I want to wish you a happy birthday!"  She sang as she ducked her head around the corner of my kitchen.  I sat at the table opening my presents with my family looking on.  I smiled at one of my besties as she brought a freshly baked chocolate cake from behind her back.  Tears stung the back of my eyes at the thoughtfulness.  Not just the thought of being remembered on my birthday, but her remembering of my new eating habits.

What did I do?

I hug her tightly.  Grabbed a fork.  Tore into that still warm Milk Chocolate goodness.  It's my birthday.  Who am I kidding not to enjoy?  I considered every morsel that went into my mouth, until then.  My husband children looked on as I acted like a 2 year digging into the still warm gooey center of the cake.  I licked the dripping icing as it slipped down the back of my fork.  A perfect harmony of sweet confection.

I learned a few years ago that "dieting" on special occasions is a recipe for failure.  There is absolutely no reason not to celebrate the happy moments.  I ate a piece of cake.  I ate another two days later.  Funny thing... I was done with it after that.  I know what that next piece/bite is going to taste like.  I remember the warmth melting in my mouth.  No other bite is going to be as heavenly as that first one.  But, I did not do without.  I sampled so many new ideas in my "first new week" that I honestly felt I earned MY birthday cake.

Now... camping is going to be a bit more tricky.