Month: May 2011

Back in my early days a die cut machine was something only the scrapbook store had… And it wasn’t that great. Letter stickers were limited and rub-ons weren’t yet on the scene. If you wanted something special, you did it yourself and by hand.

Sometimes, I just like to kick it old school. Print out a title backwards and go to town with my craft knife. It’s good to keep this skill, and to remember creative cheap alternatives are out there.

Now my break is over and I’m back to work… Enjoying my creative play and making something by hand.

let the record show:  I adore rainy days. add in some hail = heaven to me  * tea parties w/girls always good  * picking 2 single-serving desserts (and sharing with J) = better than one big cake   * it was a real good day

(info on Tim’s new line that revealed on my b-day here)

Thank you to everyone for the notes, facebook, twitter, text, and other messages sent yesterday. Truly a great birthday – and aweosme start to a new year…

I embrace my age and thank people who say I look younger than I am.

I have yet to decide on a cake/dessert for my birthday.

I have only peeked at one present, as is my custom.

I read a whole book today. As it was my birthday-eve and it was a good book.

I will do what makes me smile even more than usual, and I will look forward to a great year ahead.

Oh, and I will take the day off of real blogging and leave you with a blunt card. Because 32 doesn’t = end of my sass or sense of  humor…

I was 19.

My boyfriend was going to a fire fighter graduation and invited me to tag along. On the way we saw my mom on a bridge, she had been in an accident (she was fine) that totalled the car. Then we carpooled with a crazy man and his wife… and they stayed a LONG ASS time at the lunch after the graduation so that by the time my boyfriend got me back to his house where my car was he had time to chuck a gift at me and I was heading back home.

in other words: uber romantic day date. NOT!

Once home, I expected some surprises from my family. Instead, I watched them driving off to dinner at my fave chinese restaurant while I went inside and had to fend for myself.

I didn’t just go with them because I had girlfriends coming over – we were going out to see the movie (releasing that day) called the Horse Whisperer. As horse loving country girls, we were VERY excited!!

The movie was REALLY long. REALLY boring. and I hated it with a fiery passion. The entire time watching it I was mad at this waste of my birthday.

Worst. Birthday. Ever.

My parents sucked for letting me do my thing with friends all day and not involving them.

My boyfriend sucked for not taking his own car and thus getting us stuck at a boring party where I, at tender age of 19, couldn’t even be for part of it because OH YEAH a 19yo can’t be at a bar.

Hollywood sucked for making such a bad movie.

Everyone who forgot or didn’t give me gifts sucked.

now hang on and wait a minute here.

Late that night as I lay in bed SULKING and feeling sorry for myself it hit me. *I* made all my birthday plans. I could have told my boyfriend to go without me and done something else with my day. I could have told my parents I wanted a kid-like birthday celebration. I could have researched this Redford dude and seen if I would like one of his movies. I could have planned, asked for, or otherwise made my birthday infinitely better.

The moral to this story, the reason I’m sharing up here on my soapbox is this:

If you want a good birthday, if you are needing or wishing for something you can’t expect it to just happen. YOU put on your big girl panties and take charge. Because at the end of the day? The only one with the key to your happiness, is you.

And THAT is why I actually remember my worst birthday with a smile – because I grew up quite a bit and learned a lot on that day. When I hear people whining about how NOBODY does what they are wishing for… that other people are making them unhappy by not giving them “stuff”… oh man. oh no. I don’t even think so ladies. That tells me everything I need to know about a woman… and that she doesn’t know that she can make herself a happy birthday (or mom’s day… or whatever)

I’ll step down off my box now – I was just thinking of this today and wanted to share.

I didn’t dump that fireman either. Bad date or no – I knew he was a keeper.