Behind The Butter

A Surprise Party For Me

You guys.

Last night I had the surprise of my LIFE!

I just have to tell y’all about it! Adam and I had spent the day visiting with some good friends of mine who were in town from Tampa, and then were supposed to go out to dinner with my yoga teacher and her husband after (or I assumed we were going out to dinner…). Well, around 5:30 I get a text message from Anna saying there was an issue at the studio and could we just meet them there and ride together to the restaurant? Of course I said no problem, and as Adam and I walked into the yoga studio I was shocked to find about 40 of my friends there, shouting surprise!

I’ve never had a surprise party in my life!!

It was a surprise book launch party, and was themed “What Would Jenna Do?” All of my sweet friends had made recipes of mine at their houses and brought it to the party! There was kale salad, couscous tabbouleh, gluten-free cookies, chocolate chip cookies, mini spicy black bean burgers topped with avocado, vegan chocolate stuffed scones, quinoa salad, blackberry margaritas and more! After the initial wave of surprise and shock passed, I had another surprise! ROCKY actually driven five hours to be there, too! I have the best friends ever.

I’m telling you this today because I just feel so ridiculously blessed right now.

Happy Sunday!

{p.s. If I would have known a party was happening, I would have at least attempted to do my hair! sheesh.}

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  • Laurie {Simply Scratch}
    September 2, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Oh I just got choked up! So happy for you Jenna! The book is as amazing as you are! XO

  • Dawn F.
    September 2, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Yeah! What a fun thing … love how your friends loved on you through the party … I love hearing those kinds of stories!

  • Sonal
    September 2, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Jenna this sounds amazing! πŸ™‚ You deserve to celebrate your new book after you’ve worked so hard on it! As a long time reader, I’m so happy for you!

  • Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
    September 2, 2012 at 8:35 am

    What a fun and delicious event!! The menu couldn’t be more perfect. Can’t wait to get my hands on your book- so happy for you.

  • Molly @RDExposed
    September 2, 2012 at 8:37 am

    How fun!
    By the way I think your book leaves off right were a second book could begin. Tell me I’m right. And got a family beagle picture to share??

    • Suzanne de Cornelia
      September 4, 2012 at 8:29 pm

      Molly, That was my thought immediately with where it left off–book two.

  • Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama
    September 2, 2012 at 9:15 am

    I saw this last night on instragram. what a great night, Jenna! You deserve it!

  • Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama
    September 2, 2012 at 9:16 am

    lol not instragram, but instagram πŸ˜‰

  • Sarah
    September 2, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Yay, Jenna! Thanks for sharing this with us! What a thoughtful group of friends you have πŸ™‚ So happy for all the good things coming your way!

  • kim@hungryhealthygirl
    September 2, 2012 at 9:32 am

    That is so awesome!!! Sounds like you DO have wonderful friends. And your hair looks beautiful, as always! πŸ˜‰

  • Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
    September 2, 2012 at 9:45 am

    Wow! You are blessed with amazing and super-supportive friends! Very cool–what a terrific surprise!

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy
    September 2, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Wow! What a great surprise! You are blessed with good friends :).

  • Rebecca
    September 2, 2012 at 10:01 am

    I’m so happy for you! I cannot wait to read your book but I’m practicing what I preach to my daughter about sometimes having to wait for what you want so it will be a wonderful Christmas present. It is such an accomplishment, you should be proud!

  • Jessica @jessicafarrulla.com
    September 2, 2012 at 10:05 am

    You deserve every single second of it!! Soak it all in…congrats!!

  • Christine
    September 2, 2012 at 10:14 am

    I’m so happy for you! What a great idea – a surprise party! You really have best friends ever.

    Totally like the kind of your writing and telling stories. Thank you. So happy that I found your blog.

  • Rachel Cooks
    September 2, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Aww, you more than deserve it! How fun! Enjoy every second! How blessed you are to have such amazing friends πŸ™‚

  • Mom
    September 2, 2012 at 10:25 am

    This makes me so happy πŸ™‚

  • Soma the mexigarian
    September 2, 2012 at 10:48 am

    Congrats. πŸ™‚ such a wonderful surprise.such sweet friends! Very happy for you!

  • JulieD
    September 2, 2012 at 10:51 am

    So very cool!!! You deserve it. πŸ™‚ xoxo

  • Urban Wife
    September 2, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Aren’t surprise parties the best?! You are blessed with some amazing people in your life. And your hair looks fab, so I’m not sure what you meant. πŸ˜‰

  • Kathleen @ KatsHealthCorner
    September 2, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    How fun! πŸ˜€ Surprise parties (no matter how big or small) are always the best. πŸ˜‰

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks
    September 2, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    That is so awesome, Jenna!!! I’ve never had a surprise party either and it would take a lot to surprise me and probably you too since you seem like you’d be hip to any shenanigans in the works πŸ™‚ Oh I am so happy for you and what a FUN FUN night!

  • Jessica
    September 2, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    I had my own surprise party on Friday, for my recent masters degree graduation. I forgot how much fun they can be! It’s so great to have people who love and support you in life and it makes me happy to see you have the same. I have been trying to get to your book all weekend-I think it’s going to be the best part of my Labor Day πŸ™‚

  • ash
    September 2, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Looks lile a great time, cobgrats on the book!

  • Addy
    September 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    Yay! That’s so exciting – you must be so proud of your book! I bet it feels like a real accomplishment to see all that work come to fruition. Enjoy it!

  • Carol-Dee
    September 2, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Just finished reading your book (cover to cover) and I loved it!!! I could be your mother (I have a daughter (31) and son (29) ) but I could really relate to your story and I can’t wait for your next book…follow up about Adam?! God bless John….lots of tears shed through that portion of your story. Keep up the good work.

    Carol-Dee

  • Jenn
    September 2, 2012 at 5:32 pm

    You deserve it for being true to you and following your dreams!

  • Michelle
    September 2, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    Congrats Jenna! Just started (and finished) your book today. What an excellent read. So inspiring! I’m looking forward to trying all the recipes in the book!

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    September 2, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    How exciting! So happy that your friends took time to throw this fantastic party for you to honour and celebrate the awesome and talented lady you are. ; )

  • Elisabeth
    September 2, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    What awesome friends you have! Congratulations on all your successes these days. I just can’t wait to read your book – it’s preordered on my Nook so all I have to do on Tuesday is start reading πŸ™‚

  • Kim
    September 3, 2012 at 12:35 am

    Surprise parties are the best!!! Last year, my best friend and sister decided to throw me a surprise party for my birthday. The day of the surprise party, I had been out in the woods looking at some property, so I was in sweats, tshirt and baseball cap. Upon returning, I thought I was going to help a friend organize some stuff for a yard sale, so I decided not to change. My friend came and picked me up and was acting a little weird and continually texting and checking her phone…. I thought we were going by our church to pick up some tables, but when I walked in…. there stood about 20 of my closest friends. I looked like a “HOT” mess. I found out later from my sister, that my best friend was suppose to try and get me to change clothes…. Oh, I forgot to mention, the sweat pants and a few holes in them too…. LOL

  • Laura
    September 3, 2012 at 6:04 am

    You have awesome people in your life! That is so sweet πŸ™‚

  • Leslie Means @ Her View From Home
    September 3, 2012 at 6:47 am

    How fun! Can’t wait to read your book!!

  • Caroline L.
    September 3, 2012 at 7:39 am

    Awh, you have the sweetest friends πŸ™‚ Congratulations again on your book!!

  • Joelle (on a pink typewriter)
    September 3, 2012 at 11:29 am

    That’s so awesome!!! What a great surprise. πŸ™‚

  • Rachel - A Southern Fairytale
    September 3, 2012 at 11:44 am

    This makes me so happy πŸ˜‰ <3

    You deserve it girlie xoxox

  • jessicaisbaking
    September 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Congrats! Surprise parties are terrifying yet the sweetest thing. You deserve all the support, I can’t wait to read the book!

  • Elisabeth
    September 4, 2012 at 1:48 am

    Congratulations on your BIG DAY, Jenna! I preordered it on my Nook last week, but unfortunately it still hasn’t ‘dropped in’, so to speak. I noticed it’s not listed as available in Nook format on the BN site anymore. Any idea what’s going on with that?

    Congratulations again πŸ˜€

  • Carissa
    September 4, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    Congrats! That’s so exciting. I’m impressed that 40 people could hold a secret surprise so well!

  • Nicole
    September 5, 2012 at 4:56 am

    How exciting! My high school boyfriend threw me a surprise 16th Bday party and I looked like total crap–very casual clothes, no makeup, unwashed hair. It was embarrassing, but I consider it the sign of a successful surprise party!

  • Delishhh
    September 10, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    wow how fun! that is awesome!