I met up with family in Florida last month. I don’t get to see my parents often so we took the opportunity to have an early birthday celebration for my mom. Her birthday is actually today, February 11th.
On me:
Dress with belt: Annie 50
Shawl: Mary Kay (gift with purchase)
Shoes: B2
On mom:
Dress with belt: Fort Lauderdale street market
Capris: Roots Canada
Shoes: Fort Lauderdale street market
Purse: H&M via gifted (from me)
It didn’t feel like winter so it was hard to remember that we were celebrating in the right season. It was also hard to remember that she’s about to be 60. She doesn’t look it. In the words of a friend, “Did she have you before she was born?”
To celebrate such a milestone, I found what is possibly the best vegan restaurant. We made reservations at Sublime. The gourmet restaurant lives up to its name! Mom, dad, my brother, his girlfriend and I dined on brocomoli dip and flatbread, mushroom ravioli, roasted vegetables, Thai pizza, coconut cake, and apple pie.
Part way through dinner, owner Nanci Alexander stopped by to see how things were. Nanci is also the president of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, where she and others tirelessly fight for animals. She’s kind of a big deal in the animal rights community. PETA’s DC location exists to a large extent because of Nanci. It’s aptly named The Nanci Alexander Center for Animal Rights.
Bob Barker, Sir Paul McCartney, John Salley, and Pamela Anderson all dine at Sublime when they’re in town. My mom has one thing in common with these celebrities: they’re all vegan. Perhaps my mom’s healthy, plant-based diet is a contributing factor to her youthful looks and endless energy.
Happy Birthday, Mom!
jeanofalltrades 
Happy birthday to your mom. You both look lovely 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂 I had a look at your lovely purses!!!
What a heart-warming post to start my day!!
Thank you, Jean!! This is a very special birthday: Vacation in Florida, a fabulous night out at Sublime, a new heart-shaped purse that you gave me (I love it!). Wish you were here today, but this post is almost like celebrating together!
Memories to treasure!!
Happy Birthday, Carmen! Wow, that meal and experience sounds like such a meaningful and wonderful opportunity. Happy 60th, and I’m still in shock to know this. You look about 25 years younger. The last line of Jean’s post took my breath away; it struck such a chord. You know how to do it… how long have you been eating a healthy plant-based diet?
Lucky – thanks for writing. My mom can answer best. I never grew up eating pot roasts or meatloaf, so it’s been a long time 🙂
Thank you Shannon! My mom could never get me to eat meat no matter how hard she tried and she gave up. So I grew up a vegetarian. I wish I could say I have never eaten any, but as an adult, I tried to be polite at times when I got invited somewhere for dinner and meat was served. Also, I started to buy into the lie that we need it so I bought ground meat and hotdogs once in a blue moon. But I stopped altogether many years ago.
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Your Mom is 60? You’d never know it. She looks amazing!
She does! I hope it’s genetic 😉 I just added a link to her blog. I can’t belive I forgot to include it before: http://fashionableover50.wordpress.com/
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