Z’s birthday is this Sunday, so I’ve been working on a secret project. This is a dollhouse my grandmother made for me when I was a kid. After a few years in our (now rat-free!) garage, it was filthy and needed a facelift.
Before:
After:
When she’s older I’ll tell her how I slaved over this. For now I’ll just let her enjoy it.
Holy Age-Defying Facial Moisturizer – is that another wrinkle?
As many of you know, yesterday was my birthday. It was also my little friend C’s second birthday, the birthday of my friend L, a friend of a friend, T, J’s mom’s birthday, and the birthdays of, get this: the Nugget cashier’s brother, cousin, and friend. April 3rd is a very popular day.
Because of me, of course.
So, here’s the breakdown of highlights, including getting carded by the Nugget cashier (YES!).
As a nod to my earlier years, I requested hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for my birthday dinner.
My in-laws brought princess cake from Victoria Pastry for dessert.
Princess Cake!
If you haven’t had princess cake before, I suggest you march on over to Victoria Pastry and get yourself some. It’s got marzipan icing covering triple-sec-soaked sponge cake, with whipped cream, vanilla custard, and raspberry filling. My mouth is watering. Z’s distracted. I think I’ll just sneak over to the refrigerator with my fork and…ah. Goodness. (Such goodness we couldn’t refrain from chopping it up and eating it before I could get a photo of it intact. Well, this way you can see the middle.)
Even though I thought my laptop was my Christmas-and-birthday combo present, Husband has spoiled me again, with this antique ring:
The moonstone is surrounded by the prettiest lavender gemstone…and he can’t remember what the lavender stones are called. I’m not complaining!
I even snuck some writing time into the day, and am nearly ready to submit my manuscript to my critique partners for their hawk-eyes to read and their hawk-beaks to rend to pieces. Gulp.
It was an awesome birthday, and while Husband guessed my birthday candle wish was a book and movie deal for my manuscript, it wasn’t. Because I’m not superstitious enough to stop myself, I’ll tell you what my wish was: for more birthdays just as happy as this one.
It’s a blurry shot, but you get the idea. Husband will never stop teasing me for “getting old.” That’s okay. As much as we complain about getting older, the alternative is not perfectly fabulous, either.
Happy Birthday, Everyone!
For the last six months of my twenties, I imagined I’d be learning how to start a fire, mastering the art of folding fitted sheets, and experimenting with how best to clean the house in under fifteen minutes for unexpected guests. That’s what this book thinks I should know.
It hasn’t happened. I did learn how to start a fire in our wood stove, but I haven’t applied that knowledge practically. Fires are too scary. And my lumpy fitted sheets – really, who cares? As far as cleaning the house in under fifteen minutes, well, I’ve been toying with that marathon since I had a house to clean, and I don’t think I need a book’s advice on how to throw unfolded laundry in the closet and prioritize by scrubbing the sinks and toilets. That’s instinctual, that is.
I will turn 30 on Sunday with absolutely no help at all from a book, and what I’ve learned thus far in my life will serve me just fine.
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The kids art gallery will be postponed until next Wednesday. I have some amazing pieces already to include, but would like to give the artists’ supporters a little more time to gather their masterpieces. If you’re interested, check out last Wednesday’s post for details.
Beth Hull 