My Birthday Celebration

Thank you so much for the well wishes yesterday! I got my yearly wish, the one I make ever year, that there be no snow on the ground. But have decided I need to be more specific, and wish for no precipitation, because it rained and rained!

That didn't put a damper on things after all, ER still had fun playing with Grammy, Papa, and Uncle Dave, who's with us above. Brad and I still got to go on our birthday date. We didn't go to the movies, because with my sore throat and cold I didn't want to trapped in a theater when a coughing fit.

My mom made us a delicious dinner, with my childhood favorite City Chicken and a red velvet cake for dessert. My Godparents Annemarie and Chuck came by too; we haven't seen them in awhile so it was nice to catch up and hear how their grandson celebrated his first birthday away in CO.There may have been rain but the day still started with a sign of spring, pretty birthday tulips showed up at our house and more blooms are on the way. Brad made one wish came true and ordered the arrangement I asked for.
There are several new additions to the bookshelves, courtesy of my parents and brother Dave. I am huge history buff and it even spills over to the fiction I read. The top one is the third in a series I enjoy and have the first two in. The next is a reveiling look into royal relations is a spanning the ages. The Lady in the Tower is about Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII and is by my all time favorite author Alison Weir. Remember when I met her?

On the bottom is an exciting book by one of my favorite mixed media artists. I even won a giveaway from her and I enjoy reading Shona's blog for artisitic techniques and tips. I really wanted her book because it provides a guided 12 week workshop and projects for how to increase your creativity and fitting more artistic time into your life. She does a great job showing you ways to fit in bursts of work and organizes everything really well.

Brad's Aunt Cheri sent me this cute new tote bag that she sewed, perfect for shopping, beach trips, and carrying my summer reads. There are even pockets on the outside for water bottles and more inside for organizing stuff. ER has already tried stealing it, insisting that it must be for her because it's blue. That's Cinderella's color for those of you not in the know, and anything remotely related to Cinderella ER is all about.

Aunt Cheri also made me this fun and funky set of earrings and bracelet with lampwork glass beads. She hand formed the sterling silver beads and links. It's perfect for all the bright spring and summer colors I like to wear. For the past several years, Cheri has sent me something from her line of boutique jewelry for my birthday and I always look forward to adding another piece to my very special collection.
While out shopping with Brad yesterday, I redeemed a birthday coupon from the corporate Vera Bradley store I shop at for a Frannie purse in Purple Punch. I've been needing something cute and smaller for meeting moms' night out dinners with my girlfriends and date nights with Brad. My Godmother gave me the coin purse in one of my favorite patterns, Blue Rhapsody. I have the backpack in that color and love it, I used it all the time.

As you can see my obsessions all got fed: books, crafting, bags and more bags. Plus I still get to have some more fun shopping, my mother-in-law gave me a gift card to Ann Taylor to freshen up my spring wardrobe. All in all it wasn't too painful turning 33, my family spoils me so☺ Thank you everyone!