well, it happened again...

i got another year older!  my daughter says to me last night "i was looking at that picture of us when you got me in China and you look so different then".  yes, my dear, i was 34 then and now i am 43... you look different too!
(ok, so it wasn't THIS picture because that is the back of my head, which still pretty much looks the same!  i only have a print of the picture she was looking at and i don't feel like doing confusing computer stuff, like scanning, on my birthday!)

June of 2004, in china!

i went out and ran 5 miles this morning, without the use of a motorized scooter (not too bad for an old chick),  the sun is out in MI  (so much so, that i can HARDLY see my computer screen!), i have a great husband (who is running a 5k with me saturday morning), and an awesome kid so turning 43 isn't so hard after all!!  Hope you have a great weekend and feel free to raise a glass in MY honor!  

Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest girl I know!

Today is my sweetie's 8th Birthday... where did the time go?

4

5

6

7

8

(FYI: she's holding "Sports Beans" in this picture. They are for runners, an energy blast, but she says they make her hyper and begs for them ALL the time...Ummm, NO! But for her birthday, I give her the kid-cat-nip beans.)

Feeling SOOOOO blessed that God picked me to raise this sweet, sweet girl and am so sad to see the years fly by...

Happy Birthday to my favorite girl EVER!!

It's my day....

Call me the Birthday Gal... but just don't call me late to dinner!  

Who's getting old?  

So today I am 42...FORTY TWO!  I just ran 2.5 miles and didn't die, I'm counting that as a victory.  I'm running a 5K this weekend, I hope I see the finish line.  I don't like to get old, not 1 tiny bit.  I'm going to put on my snood 

get yours here

(to make sure my hair doesn't get wind blown, of course)

grab my shoes

 and head to goodwill in my model T 

and see if I can find some candle sticks and ugly bird figurines... isn't that what most of you do on your birthdays?  I'd sit home and wait for my white Range Rover to arrive, but last year I was sorely disappointed and told the Mister to just have them park it in the garage!

I've got my rascal loaded on the back,

My purse packed

and I'm ready to go.

I think while I'm in town I'll grab some fried mush and corned beef hash and wash it down with a decaf.  If I feel crazy I might grab a tab!

Geesh, I hope I'm ok to drive.... maybe I should hitch my wagon to my mule instead?

Don't send gifts, just send metamucil

If I make it another day have I got something CUTE to show you tomorrow!  Seriously, I squealed...OUT LOUD!

February, a month to show ME your love!

Yes, yes...it's that time again: MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!  

Yes, birthday MONTH, 'cause 1 day just is NOT enough!!  And... just so you know, IF you want to band together and get me a Range Rover, I'd like WHITE, with camel colored leather interior with black trim.  I'd hate for you all to spend $83,000 on my birthday gift and then get the wrong color... I'm thoughtful like that!

IF I could use photoshop, I would totally have photoshopped my face behind the wheel, but... my "photoshop for 41 year olds" hasn't arrived yet!

Don't worry, I will use this gift for GOOD, not evil!!

Yesterday wasn't looking so good around here... I spent my day here:

I have a cold of epic proportions... that bag is full of tissues (yum, hun?) and Thank Goodness for lotion tissues else my face would look like raw hamburger!  See that blanket!!?? Run yourself to Target and get one (or 5!).  They were $30 and are now 1/2 price... the BEST $15 I've spent in a long time!!! See how much Theodore is enjoying it?  Don't be fooled, he felt fine, he just was having sympathy pains for me!  I missed my running group last night.  I called the lady I carpool with but apparently she didn't get the message, so at 6:15, there she was ringing my doorbell.  When I answered the door she said "Oh, are you sick?".  Now, why in the world do you think she knew that, the moment she saw me?

Ok, I'm feeling better today, not great, but BETTER... so I'm headed to my studio!  I'd really like to have a LOT of good stuff going on this month!  You know... 'cause it's my BIRTHDAY month!!!!

Look for DIY's, give-aways, and just good stuff in general.

Smell me later!  I'll be back!!

OH and for the love of all that is HOLY, go get some bread and milk, the blizzard of the century is coming... and why bread and milk?  Wouldn't you rather have pizza and beer?

Happy Birthday!

Today is the Mister's Birthday!!

This was 2 years ago at his 50th Surprise Party!

Just in case you didn't know... it was a 70's theme party, I don't usually break out an outfit like this for the grocery store!

Happy Birthday to the BEST husband 

and daddy ever!!

We love you!!!

Happy 52nd and here's to 52 more!!

Summer Lovin'

Is anyone even reading blogs this summer? 

I know I haven't been very much at all and am way behind on everyones going ons!  If you've been a reader for a while, you know I live in the North and I HATE the cold, so I'm soaking up every bit of this heat while I can!!

Yesterday was my BABY's birthday...

Her 7th birthday!

I told her I was going to make her wear a diaper all day and feed her by bottle, she said she'd take a bottle but the diaper was OUT!

When I adopted my sweetie she was 11 months old and kinda POTTY TRAINED! I kid you not!  In China they hold the kids over the potty, so she didn't really "like" to poop in her pants- LUCKY ME!

At 18 months she was in undies full time!

Have I mentioned she is an awesome kid and was, right from the start!!!

She's a rock star!

Well, believe it or not, my etsy shops have been busy... busy for me, that is.

I've been downstairs working on some new goods...

New Cutie Cupcakes,

New magnets, New jewelry 

 and some other goodies!

I'll be back tomorrow with some peeks!

Happy SUN Day!!

Birthday Re-cap and other good stuff!

Wednesday was the BIRTHDAY, although I like to drag it out as long as possible...

Darling was so excited for me to open my gifts she had to tear the paper just a little for me...

Do you like my birthday "do"?

My Presents:

1. Big Red Purse

2. Black onyx jewelry

3. Supper at my favorite place

4. the BEST family ever!

 I'm not really that into $300 or more purses, I'm more into lots of funky inexpensive purses.  I had a Coach bag once a few years ago & I really didn't like it, it was ok, it was just a black leather bag.... I sold it on ebay.

This bag is from Target, one of my favorite boutiques ;) haha!

Pretty faceted black Onyx jewelry set, nice pic, hun?

I don't know why my pictures always look so dark and unclear on here... Some blogs have the most BEAUTIFUL pictures, not this one...  Oh well, trust me- it's pretty stuff!

*why do my hands look strangely deformed in pictures?*

perhaps I've told you how much i LOVE this little girl of mine?!

How about that belt that my little "accountant" designed herself?  Perhaps she breaking out of her left brained self?  and this dress... she loves it!  She had to wear it Mon & Wed!  This is my girl that usually says "why do you have to dress me so cute and fancy?", she's my JEANS girl!  Anytime she wants to do something out of her little serious self, I say "go for it!".  She wore pink hair to school Monday and a few weeks ago wore her super-girl cape to school.  I love seeing this FUN childish behavior out of my 6 year old who is SO serious most of the time!!

Settle down Mister, wipe that giant grin off your face...

We went to our FAVE place, a Japanese steak house where they cook right at your table.  The food is always GREAT and most of the time you sit with other fun people.  There was a family to our right celebrating their son's 11th birthday- they were nice enough to take our picture.

Doesn't the hand hanging onto darling daughter look like a creepy skeleton claw?  Yikes! 

Thanks to all of you that left me birthday wishes- you know i love all the extra attention... is that called a narcissist? Perhaps....

Here are some of the latest I've listed on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=40775125

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=40756662

http:www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40757549

and I'm thinking that some of my crochet may make an appearance in chinamommy at some point!  Who would have thought?!

Happy Friday everyone!

Anyone going to see the movie: Shutter Island?

It's been on all the morning shows today... looks SCARY! 

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Yep, it's here, the day WE ALL have been waiting for, everyone's favorite World Holiday...

My Birthday!!

and new followers on my birthday!  doesn't get better than that... well except for the gifts I listed on yesterdays post, those would do!

This is what I'm doing today, sitting around working on crochet!  I'm not cleaning, I'm not cooking, I'm not doing laundry, and I'm NOT taking that dog out every 10 min. so he can chase cats!

See you tomorrow with the details & pray I don't look like this:

Thanks for being a part of my blog!!!

Naughty, dirty girl...

Ok, not really, just an artsy mama, but my gal-pal and I were talking yesterday about how certain posts get more views than others.  I can see if people find me by doing a search and what they were searching for.  When I posted about my granny squares the title was "Granny Square done kicked my butt" and you know how someone stumbled upon that one?.... they were searching "granny butt"!  HAHAHAHA, that killsl me!  Who wants to see a granny butt?  and.... is there a place to view those?  is that something a perv does that works at a nursing home- take pics of my granny's butt and posts them online?  Ok, so i'm not as naive as my mother, who thought a bowl full of condoms wrapped in green foil were mints (adult ed aids training meeting where she worked years ago) but, some of this stuff i don't get, nor do i want to!!!!  YIKES!

I have NO idea what prompted the above ramblings, because after all, my BIRTHDAY is tomorrow and I wanted to make sure my list got out there for all you last minute shoppers!

Clarisonic... anyone have one?  do tell what you think, i'm pretty sure I HAVE to have this!  If it's good enough for Oprah, you know I'll consider it...

Now, if you don't want to spend such a little amount on me, there's always Harry Winston:

diamond bands, YES, Please!!

earrings... you don't have to twist my arm!

Now, I realize many of you know this has been on my list for years and yet, there is still a 93 Volvo wagon in my garage, so if you REALLY love me, order WHITE!

Range Rover, be still my ❤

And because I don't want to leave out my VERY BEST friends, I've put something on the list for you too!

Maui beach front, always a welcome gift!  

Seriously, can you even imagine this life?

Ok, girls, I hope I've given everyone some great gift ideas- i'm sweet like that!

We're all pumped here, because tomorrow the celebration begins!

Happy Birthday Festivas to ME!

Happy Monday Gals!

Hey Gals, hope you all had a nice weekend!!

On Friday we met my parents at The Outback for

MY BIRTHDAY- don't worry, you still have a few shopping days left, it's not till Wednesday!

Yes, I do look worried and No, I'm not.

Enjoy this picture of the 4 of us: The Mister, Darling Daughter, Myself & my big forehead wrinkle between my eyes.

Darling daughter has a boy in her class whose Dad is a plastic surgeon, I suggested to the Mister he may want to talk to this guy and see if I could get a little "work" done for my birthday...:)

After we ate we ran over to Bed, Bath and Beyond because my Mom had a 20% off coupon and wanted to use it on a giant suction cup... don't ask.  Don't even get me started on how she lost her coupon, my dad ran back to the car to get more, she lost that one and the suction cup and how i found them both laying on a pile of hangers...

I got a coupon too but decided to use mine on something better than a $3.99 suction cup, so I got a:

SHARK

Oh, I hope i like it... I've heard everything from "I love it" to "I hate it and want to chuck it in the river"

do YOU have one??  do tell!!

Yes, darling got GLASSES!

Oh how cute do i think this girl is?  and how much does she look like Twinkie Chan's baby twin?

do you know of Twinkie?  IF NOT, google her!!  She is my crochet muse!

Speaking of darling... check out the cutie outfits I got for her:

eek, i want that dress for myself!!

denim skirt with ric-rac and ruffles!!

this cute hoodie with leggins

I want my daughter's wardrobe!

I hate mine right now...

Saturday we went out for VALENTINE'S dinner at our favorite Chinese place

I now take that wrinkle with me everywhere... we're tight like that!

On Sunday we decided to exchange gifts and then just hang out at home!

1st we went to Meijer:

and who got a little extra present for herself?!

Cricut Cartridges on sale $49.99

CUTE!

So it was a great weekend here!  Hope yours was too!!!

I'm off to steam clean my floors & find out if i heart my shark!