Hello there! It's me, Mae!
I hope you all are doing well. Waking up early on your birthday feels like a quiet blessing from above. Today, I turned 21, and the first thing I did was thank God for another year of life.
Later that morning, a few family members came to visit me — my cousin, grandma, my cousin’s mother, and my cousin’s sister that had drove 6 hours from Sipalay City😭. I was so happy they greeted me early with warm birthday wishes. We all had breakfast together, and it made my day feel even more special.
 |  |
|---|
After breakfast, my mom asked me to go to the market to buy some ingredients for the food I wanted to cook. I told her I wanted to keep it simple. I’m usually the cook in the house, so even though it’s my birthday, it felt natural for me to prepare something for everyone hahaha. Cooking is not just my task — it’s my hobby, and I enjoy doing it.
 |  | |  |
|---|
So, I went to the market with my cousin. We headed to the Libertad Public Market here in our city to start our day of shopping. I bought the ingredients for my pancit and bihon recipe — a must-have for any celebration. After that, we went to Puregold to grab ingredients for fruit salad because I was seriously craving something sweet (hahaha, birthday cravings are real!).
Once we were done there, we went back to the market to buy some chicken and fresh vegetables. It felt like a lot of back-and-forth, but I didn’t mind — I was with my cousin, and we were having fun the whole time.
When we finally had everything we needed, we went home, ready to start cooking and preparing for the rest of the day. By the time we got home, I was already feeling the weight of the day — my face was super haggard at that point (hahaha), but the excitement kept me going. I started cooking everything we bought — pancit, bihon, chicken dishes, and of course, prepping the fruit salad I was craving earlier.
 |  |
|---|
By afternoon, we finally finished all the food preparations. Thankfully, my cousin and my mom helped set up the Happy Birthday banner, balloons, and arranged the food on the table. I changed into a pink dress — not new, but I had only worn it once before. It still felt special, and besides, I love pink (hahaha).
Before we ate, we gathered to say a prayer of thanks and snapped a few photos. Then, they sang me Happy Birthday, and I was honestly so grateful and overwhelmed to be surrounded by my loved ones. It was simple, but it meant everything.
 |  |  |
|---|
What made it even more special was how satisfied everyone was with the food I cooked — myself included! I was smiling the whole time, but then something unexpected happened… there was a delivery outside our house. I was surprised!
My mom went out and came back holding a party-size pizza! I seriously thought it was just a small one, so when I saw the size, I couldn’t stop smiling (hahaha). It was a total surprise from her — and a delicious one.
Pizza loaded!!! Pizza heaven!!!😆
Just look at that pizza — it was so big, it could barely fit on the table! We laughed, took pictures, and dove into the feast we had prepared with so much love and effort.
After we ate, I asked my cousin if she was up for a little mini photo shoot in the bedroom. She agreed without hesitation. She even helped me prep my hair while I did my makeup — because aside from cooking, I also really love doing makeup. It’s one of the little things that brings me joy.
Our mini shoot turned out so cute, and I loved how the photos came out. Moments like that make simple birthdays unforgettable.
 |  |  |  |  |
|---|
I’m so happy and thankful to have a cousin like her — always supportive, fun, and thoughtful. As a small thank-you, I gave her two brand-new lippies, and she was so happy about it!
By a little past 5 PM, the celebration continued. We turned the simple gathering into a fun get-together. We sang our hearts out on the karaoke and laughed a lot. The house was filled with warmth, music, and joy.
 |  |  |
|---|
Looking back, it wasn't a grand party — but it was full of love, gratitude, and the people who truly matter. My 21st birthday reminded me that the most beautiful celebrations are the ones spent with the people you cherish, doing the things you love.
Here’s to more birthdays filled with laughter, surprises, and memories worth keeping forever. Thank you, Lord, for this day. My heart is full.💖
Hoping to see you all again! Bye bye!♥️