Three Years of My Best Friend 🐾
Today my white golden retriever turned three.
Three years of early morning walks.
Three years of muddy paws on the floor.
Three years of unconditional love that has carried me through more than he will ever know.
To celebrate, I wanted to make him something special — something thoughtful, intentional, and made with the same care I put into everything that matters to me.
So I baked him pupcakes.
I used the recipe from RecipeTin Eats for easy dog cupcakes with frosting, but made one little swap — I used butter instead of oil to give a richer, more wholesome flavor. The base is simple ingredients I care about: peanut butter, organic flour, butter, and eggs — no fillers, no junk.
For the frosting, I whipped together potato, cream cheese, and just a touch of honey — creamy, soft, and perfectly safe for him. I topped each little cake with heart-shaped and bone-shaped treats because of course I did. He deserved something made with love.
The result? The cutest little dog birthday cupcakes I’ve ever seen.
And then came the photos.
I imagined him sitting sweetly beside the plate, looking at the camera with those golden eyes. Instead… he closed his eyes. Turned his head. Grabbed the blanket. Refused to cooperate. Put the party hat on crooked and immediately tried to shake it off.
It was perfectly him.
He’s not a posed, perfectly still model.
He’s joy in motion.
He’s personality.
He’s stubborn and tender and goofy and protective all at once.
And honestly, that’s what I love most.
Some of my favorite photos from today aren’t the polished ones. They’re the real ones — him on the couch with a plaid blanket hanging from his mouth, him sniffing the deck with his birthday hat sliding sideways, candles flickering behind cupcakes he’s pretending not to notice.
Three years ago, I didn’t just get a dog.
I got a hiking partner.
A couch companion.
A reason to step outside when I don’t feel like it.
A steady presence on the days that feel heavy.
He is my constant. My grounding force. My best friend in life.
There is something sacred about the way a dog loves. No agenda. No conditions. Just presence.
Today I am so grateful for every tail wag, every muddy paw print, every early morning walk, every time he leans his weight into me like he knows I need it.
Happy 3rd birthday to my sweet boy — thank you for choosing me.
Here’s to many more years of clean pupcakes, crooked party hats, and love that asks for nothing but shows up every single day. 🐾💛
