You've inspired me to write my own list. In looking at how simple the things are that mean the most (colors, smells, memories, sounds, etc.), I want to live those luscious words of Mary Oliver: "When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms."

happy happy!

and, don't believe too hard in sleeping 10 hours each night...

with the bebe comin' and all. ;)

Happy Happy Birthday to you gorgeous woman!
You are so SUPERFABULOUS !!
Bek

oh gosh. thankyou so much for that. you do have that superhero power already!

Good Luck with being a superhero Mamma!

Happy birthday, Andrea... really love your birthday post (I have to admit that the thought that I am going to be 35 in February next year scared me a little - but now it is all gone... I copied the part of staying curious... :-)...Thanx)
Katrin

Your posts totally ROCK, this one is especially ROCKIN!

You are such a good vibe person, not just any good vibe, but yummy scrumptious nice and cozy like hot cocoa and multi colored marshmallows hanging on the porch watchin the sunset in a ROCKIN share - good vibe person :)

Ciao Bella

I can not begin to tell you how much I love this post... so lovely Andrea, just like you. I send you tons of love and birthday hugs.

XOXO

jenn

You are such an AMAZING woman. I believe in you!

LOVE YOUR CREDO! you rock, truly. i'm touched by your firt-meeting hug philosophy and i am inspired by the idea of meeting my heros. happy, happy birthday and many blessings!

you don't know me, but i love you. *hug* i am so grateful for the universe for bringing your words to me.

I hope your birthday was as magical as you are. You rock so hard, I could just pee. Love to you, funkalicious - here is to the BEST YEAR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXO,

Knoxy

That was BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely beautiful.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

I believe....in you!
xoxo

Oh, man, I'm thinking I ought to try that vanilla ice cream and espresso thing!

Ahhh, Tennessee Valley...I used to LOVE going there when I lived in Marin. Great post!

Beautiful post. Enough said.

ding dang
thank you woman

:)

and AMEN to your 35th year!

do you ever feel like you're ahead of the game--mentally?

like, so many people around me are negative and unhappy. and i'm finally past that. and growth like this, in your entry, is a sign of power and growth.

I believe that you are going to be the best mama ever. Just look at the joy and inspiration you bring us (and we don't even live with you) :)

Happy Birthday!

You are sweet as pie and your words are straight from the heart and real. Thanks to you for your insight, wisdom, playfulness, humor, and truth. Know that these virtues are valued deeply by the many who read your blog and look forward to future Superhero happenings... Best wishes for the year ahead--your 35th!

I believe you are one of the most inspiring people I have met, and I am lucky to know you. xo, C.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday Andrea, full of health & happines... I have never posted a comment before but as I have been reading your wonderful words for a number of years now, I feel like I am peeking into your world and owe you atleast a birthday message as you seem to always give me just what I need.
Much love to you xxx

Just came across your blog and love it - your posts give me goose bumps because of their beauty and lovely truth! Thank you for sharing with the world.

Who else but a true Superhero GIVES the internet such a wonderful post on the occasion of her own birthday. The post, the goodness and the thoughtfulness of those words was a wonderful present to us, the internets, who love and admire you so much.

Happy Birthday Andrea, it's been one hella good year! Here's to many more.

I believe that when I strut through my world with my SuperHero jewelry on...life looks different thankYOU. The best birthday I ever had was my first necklace. Happy Birthday to a Supergirl!
They will never be the same. XX-OO,

and... I believe the world needs more kind and beautiful people like you. Happy Birthday! :)

this post was so yummy, i had to read it over and over again! i believe in first meeting hugs too - so wonderful :) hope your day was so, so happy!

this post was so yummy, i had to read it over and over again! i believe in first meeting hugs too - so wonderful :) hope your day was so, so happy!

Okay, everyone has said the warm fuzzies far more eloquently than I. I just want to add two things...

1. Happy birthday again!!

2. Say goodbye to sleeping 10 hours a night! LOL.

Hugs.

R/

Thank you for this.

this is wonderful. and it makes me want to make my own list. i think i just might today while sitting through classes! and it makes me want to try vanilla ice cream in espresso!!! yum!

i find magic in your blog. it brightens up my mornings, giving me more hope. thank you.

Thank you for this today, and thank you for making me feel a little less scared about turning thirty soon.

happy birthday grrrrl. i love your list of beliefs, especially about hugging people the first time you meet them and singing together....oh and good smelling bubblebaths and soaps.

cheers!

Wow, your post made me feel like it was my birthday! What beautiful sentiments and a great reminder that the seemingly little things are the most important. Thank you, and I wish you many blessings in the coming year. Aren't the 30s just the best?

Andrea I hope that y our birthday celebrations go on for at least a week. The older I get the more I want them to last!

Thousands of miles away someone is smiling. Thank you for your magical inspiration. Have a wonderful and happy birthday.

if they could bottle up the kind of love you have, i'd buy it and share it with all my friends. thank you for such a wonderful post. have a wonderful birthday. :)

Happy Birthday-- may a thousand blessings find their way to you.

love this! i've been needing new music and discovering the weepies tonite was a gift. and i still need to get to glide! i'll do that soon...

Happy birthday to you, a big girl :)

Boy, I really needed to hear that tonight. Happy (belated) birthday, superhero.

Such a wonderful post.
God bless your 35th year, superhero.

happy birthday my friend.

sorry i was away in Seattle during your special day. i see you had a YUMMY bday judging by the picture here. Jonatha??? helloooo...perfect.

you are pure magic.

love to you.

Happy Birthday Andrea! Whenever I'm surfing around and the world seems sordid or depressing, I clcik on your site and just feel better. You're a berath of fresh air! More! More!

hooray for you and baby!

Happy Birthday you! My this year be the best one EVER!

Oh, I believe in words from the heart... I believe in the power your words have to always touch and lift my heart.

I believe that the sun shines in you.

I believe in small joys like organic jasmine tea that I start my day with.

I believe that the world needs more people who fight the good fight like you and Matt to bring a healthy well loved (and oh so wanted child into this world). I believe that every child should come into the world surround by such love. I believe that it is everyone's birthright.

I believe in watching the sun rise whenever possible.

I believe in stepping in mud puddles every so often.

I believe that we are all here to save each other.

I believe we always need to create new stories while respecting the gifts and lessons from the past.

I believe that if you can just get up in the morning (even if you have to crawl) that you can always begin again.

I believe that you are a superhero because you remind us to see ourselves and how to love what we see.

Happy Belated Birthday Andrea!

with much love,

c

I have been so sad lately and reading this seemed to open a tiny window of relief and comfort in my deepest heart. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, btw, too and have a wonderful, healthy year!

and i believe in you andrea!!...an inspiration as always.

I love it! Fiesta-ware! I just registered for PEACOCK, SHAMROCK and COBALT. Color makes everything better.

What a list of blessings, how rich you are in life, and how blessed we are to receive and rejoice with you! Happy birthday to a magical baby's mama, to you, and how excited am I that you got to meet Jonatha Brooke? I mean, really! Best birthday ever!! That would like Anne Lamott plopped on my couch for some hot cocoa...

Happy, happy, happy, Birthday.

What a beautiful post.
Thank you.

i love this post; it will be one i will come back to again and again, i'm sure. one of your links went to your friend who discovered she and her husband are "better together" and i wanted to recommend, for the fellow jack johnson lovers in the world, brett dennen. i have special music that i want to hear in my most down and most happy moods, and both those artists are on that short list.

this is gorgeous, honest and inspirational...thanks for sharing. you are fabulous!

I believe you are truly an inspiration!

I believe you are truly an inspiration!

Yea!!!Hells Bells!!!! Happy Birthday Andrea!

Love,
Kristy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA! (Oh and by the way, I believe in Montreal bagels too. They're the only "REAL" bagels in this world, and won't move away from Montreal because of the bagels!) HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I needed that.
Thank you.

Happy Birthday, Andrea! I thought of you yesterday when a friend told me that this year, the year of the Dog, is supposed to bring many new lives into the world... she was marvelling at how true that is becoming, surrounded by many friends who are pregnant, expecting, etc. I am so excited for you and your husband, and for your baby for being blessed with such cool parents.
Thank you again for all the beauty and inspiration you bring.

amen to all the people here who say, thanks for the words... Happy Birthday (mine was yesterday, and it was 45) and thank you for all the things I forgot to remember in celebrating another year here...

I love Jonatha Brooke. Hearing her name reminds me of driving around in college, trying to find solace in good music on damp, fall, Midwestern days. Happy Birthday. I'm having my first baby this spring and find comfort in your baby-related posts. Thank you for that.

AMEN!! I loved this post!!
Thank you Andrea for saying something that really matters and inspires me.
I was moved to tears and couldn't stop smilimg the whole time I was reading it.
Blessings to you, Matt and the baby. :)

& i would be one of those 'easily moved to tears' b/c your post brought it on :) thank you, that is lovely...

Oh my dear. Amen thirty five! You are a beautiful writer, and my fellow big time believer and I just like you so much! To your 35th year!

THANK YOU!!!

Well said, and, even better, well lived.

Happy 35th Andrea! What a wonderful post. I am one of those who is easily moved to tears and you, my dear girl, have done it to me on more than one occasion. Thank you for being so thoughtful.

Happy Birthday, Andrea.
You are a great sharer. That is a precious gift for the future child, and (no doubt) for the husband. There is nothing more important to a child than sincerity. You have that. I have faith in you and your ability to be a loving, caring, sincere, and perfect mother.
I like you very much. Let this year bring new and manifold joy.

Wow. What an amazing, moving, beautiful post. It left me speechless and teary-eyed. You have such power in your words. I needed that today, Thanks for sharing!

Happy Birthday to you...you wonderful Superhero! Here's to a beautiful year ahead, spent making the best memories with your new little angel.

you DO have this superpower, and i am so rich and blessed because of it. sweet, sweet post. lots of love (and hugs) right back at you!

You just made my day with your post. Thank you for being so positive and uplifing!!!