Birthday MONTH: Day 31

 

I hope this Halloween day finds you full of TREATS and hardly any TRICKS, at least not any bad ones ;)

Today is the official last day of  my Birthday MONTH and what a wonderful month it was!!! Thank you all for making it so special!

We will be entering November,

which is my POST BIRTHDAY MONTH!

I still have several more birthday gifts to open next week and then you'll be able to follow along with me as I pack and prepare for Silver Bella! I'm flying out on Tuesday (10th) and returning on Sunday (15th). I'll have soooo much to share when I return!!

I'd like to share with you my

Vintage Spooky Halloween Tag Book.

This was a swap recently hosted by Sarah (Gypsy Mermaid). Each and every tag was so delightful, they made a beautiful tag book.

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Tracy Suzanne

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Shawn Behrends

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Nerina Field

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Marilyn Butler

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Laura Vicki

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Kathy Lowry

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Jean Knee

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Mine :)

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Caitlin Thalken

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Ali Gripp

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Sarah Huckman

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Sarah Huckman

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Molly Pearce

 

 ~ Happy Halloween~

Birthday MONTH: Day 30

 

Whether Hubs likes it or NOT...

We WILL have to continue celebrating my birthday during the first week of my POST-BIRTHDAY MONTH!

I didn't realize how far behind I was in opening gifts until this morning when I saw this on the floor in my library...

There is no way I can post about all these goodies today and tomorrow, especially since it's Halloween tomorrow!

Excuse my photos...the weather here is EXTREMELY bad today. I'm using artificial light (which is a sin if you ask me) and I did the best I could.

So let's take the box on the top and see what's inside...

This sweet little gift is from Zandra. She is my personal connection to my favorite Rock Star in the world and my personal supplier of smelling salt ;)   I have to crack open one of these EVERY time she sends me a gift! Seriously!!!!

Let's unwrap, shall we?

Awe...YES her gift made it in time! Matter of fact, there really is NO time limit on MY Birthday...I could celebrate it all year if Hubs would let me! ;)  (He's so jealous!)

Zandra says in her sweet little letter that I have touched her life and have touched so many others too through this wonderful world of blogging...

Where's that smelling salt?

She also said that she was able to get an extra kit from her class that she took with my Rock Star last year. Her heart is SO big, she is sharing it with me...I am sooooo loved!

Will you pa-leeze help me find that smelling salt?

Okay, enough jibber jabber...I'm tearing into it! I LOVE surprises!!

Oh dear...oh my...look how cute!

Zandra makes the CUTEST tear bears...Look at the detail in her handmade card just for me!!!! :)   I {l-o-v-e} it!

Are you ready for this?

Seriously, I'll share some smelling salts with you if you need it...

Are you sitting down?

LOOK!

Her beautiful card opens more with photos of her creations that she shared with me!!!

The frame is precious! I love the bingo number...B 10...like Birthday month October!!! And she wrote "Happy Birthday Jodie"  in the bottom right hand corner. I just LOVE it!

The little flying heart is a pin! Perfect for my blue jean jacket that I'll be wearing to Silver Bella in a couple of weeks!!! Yay!

And the best part? Zandra personalized the back of the frame just for me! What a keepsake this is. I cannot thank her enough. She's so full of surprises!!! (thank goodness for the smelling salts)

*****

I have met some wonderful people through blogging. Each and every one of you reading this is an inspiration to me. I'd like to thank Geralyn for giving me the opportunity to meet Zandra. It's amazing how the love can spread from one blog to another.

Are you spreading the love?

Birthday MONTH: Day 29

 

I'd like to introduce you to Scotty...

He is my nephew on my husband's side of the family. Isn't he just the cutest thing? He's sure to put a smile on your face as he did to me yesterday.

LIFE was a little out of my control but today is a better day so I wanted to share a sweet gift that was given to me by his mother, my sister-in-law Belinda.

I'll let you in on a quirky tidbit about me: A way to my heart is through my tummy! Call me a dog or whatever, it's the truth.

So when Belinda called yesterday morning in the middle of Dad's surgery and said that she was cooking a birthday lunch for me, I was so excited! Thad's family loves "healthy" food but as for me, I'm a junk food junky. I have no shame admitting this. My favorite recipe is jumping in my car and heading for Taco Bell, Burger King, Wendy's, McDonald's...basically anywhere where they take your money and give you food through a window. 

She had the coolest taco spread...sort of like a taco buffet!

Salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, cabbage, green onions, lettuce, CHEESE, refried beans, soft shells, crunchy shells, jalapenos...did I mention CHEESE?

I LOVE tacos...and low and behold...I wasn't the only one who woofed down 3 tacos. Thad had TWO plates full and his mother ate pretty good too. So much for all that healthy food! haha We had a wonderful lunch and I rested on the couch with Scotty by my side giving me some sweet loving little licks on my cheek. {sigh} This was just what I needed.

So with that said, let me go back for a second here to the 1st day in October, which is my REAL BIRTH DATE ~ October 1st. (Lee, I hope you are reading this...October 1st is my real birth date! Now I've told you more than once! ha ha)

Belinda gave me this present for my birthday...

It's a sweet little accordion folder box. At first I was going to store some of my ephemera and special papers in it...but after opening ALL of my birthday presents from my sister Karen, I realized that I needed something to hold all of my recycled tissues.

Each present must have had 10 tissues in each and I wanted to save them for other gifts. {Do ya'll do this too or am I the only cheapo in the world?}

So...I decided to color code the tissues and store them for safe keeping in my new accordion folder box from Belinda!

Now I have all of my colored tissues at my finger tips...ready for wrapping!!!! I just LOVE it! My very own tissue carrying case! ;)

Oh, my Birthday MONTH has been sooooo fun, even through the trials along the way. Thank you for the sweetest of comments everyday!!!! You've made my month so special!!!! Only two more days to go after today, then a new month arrives. Who knows what November brings but I think I'm ready for it. Thanks to you!

Did you know that Linda will be celebrating her Birthday MONTH during November? Yay!!!! She is a wonderful writer/journalist and life with her daughter is such a treat to read. She was one of my first blog friends to be inducted into my blog family!!!

Also, yesterday was a trying day and I didn't mention a friend's birthday. NOT that I forgot because I sent her a special Happy Birthday email, but my post just wasn't too positive yesterday and I feel bad about that. I want to wish a "day after" Happy Birthday to Sandi, the Impatient Cajun.

And today I'd like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Stan, The Elegant Thrifter. He's a published author of his very own book and a wonderful blogger too! I always love to visit him...he's so full of thrifty surprises!

And last but not least, I'd like to hope that YOU are having a wonderful day today too. Even though it may not be your birthday, know that I'm thinking of you anyway!!!!!

You know what to do with these lemons right?

Let's make some lemonade! ;)

Birthday MONTH: Day 28

 

Are you wondering where I was today?

nope. I was not sailing in the Isle of Capri with my sister.

nope. I was not at the Myan Ruins.

nope. I was not at the casino winning $250.

nope. I was not in Pompeii with my adorable son.

nope. I was not on a Caribbean cruise with my girlfriends.

nope. I was not at the Vatican in St. Peter's square.

This day, I was at work.

But my mind was really somewhere else...

Dad had another surgery this morning. His third surgery in less than 45 days. He is recovering fine so far. However, I really don't want to be there when the anesthesia wears off and he realizes that he no longer has his right leg.

Today was a hard day.

I don't know which is worse, Diabetes or Alzheimer's OR watching someone you love suffer from both of them.

I promise to catch up with you tomorrow...I miss ya'll ;)

Don't you just wish sometimes that you could just get away???

Birthday MONTH: Day 27

 

I know it's been almost a month now so don't take this question personal. If you are anything like me, then you have a short term memory due to work, family, hobbies, life, etc ;)

The question is: Do you remember these?

The answer is: These are the 7 gifts that my sister Karen mailed to me for my birthday on October 1st.

Well, look at them good because I opened the LAST one yesterday. I am so sad. I am going through gift withdrawals. I have no more beautiful presents to open from my sister. My floor is now empty.

{I'm starting to sweat & shake}

I think I need therapy. I wonder if my insurance will cover that. I forgot what my deductible is. Maybe it would be best if I...Am I typing out loud? Oh dear...I'm so sorry! ;)

Let me share this LAST of the 7 presents with you...

Well, it can't be so bad, can it? I mean, all good things have to come to an end, right?

For instance, Halloween is at the end of my Birthday MONTH. Christmas is at the end of the year...

Ok. I'm starting to feel better. Opening presents is good therapy ;)

And knowing that my favorite holiday is only a couple of days away is so exciting!

{my heart rate is back up}

I LOVE my little vintage reproduction calendars and those bats! oh...look how cute, it's a spooky headband!!!

I still have the shakes from my withdrawals so let me lay this down on the floor so you can see the beautiful feathers.

While you are admiring my LAST present, I'm going to eat some of that chocolate she sent to help my blood sugar ;)

ummmm. yummmmy. lick fingers. smack lips. roll up the paper. rub hands together. lick the roof of my mouth. I'm done.

Oh I feel so much better now. I think I'm coming to terms that ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END. And thus, my Birthday MONTH is almost over.

I've learned a few things from writing this post today:

• Journaling IS therapy.
• Receiving is good but Giving is better.
• I love Ghiradelli chocolates.
• I still have a few more presents to open so I'm not going to worry about finding a therapist right at this moment ;)
• Reading your comments and knowing you visit me often is a present in itself!

See ya tomorrow!

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I want to wish my new friend Lee of Inspired Comblogulations a very Happy Birthday!!! Don't you just love her blog name? She's a hoot. You really need to read her post from yesterday...it's awesome! While you are there, be sure and wish her a Happy fiffffff something birthday!

Birthday MONTH: Day 26

 

Priority Mail envelope...

Two little pink tissues tied with black yarn...

No card...

No note...

Just a beautiful button "J" tag adorned with lace...

And a simple "I Love You" ...

Is all I need to know. {sigh}

Don't you think that this little French inspired birthday gift from Sandy is soooo sweet?  :)

Only 5 days left until the end of my birthday month...wow! Time does fly when there is fun and surprises involved!

Have you told someone that you love them today??? It's never too late you know...go ahead and do it, you'll be happy you did ;)

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Happiest of birthdays today to my little friend Zack in Kuwait!!! He's the sweet son of Tammy of  T's Daily Treasures

Birthday MONTH: Day 25

 

It's BRAGFEST time!!!

I told you in my last post that I'd be bragging about Payton, my little Homecoming Court niece!! So bear with me and let a proud Auntie brag her butt off!!!!

WARNING: LOTS of photos ahead...

Thad & I took off work on Friday to celebrate with her and what a FUN time we had!!!

This is the little sweetie after she returned from school Friday. She's a Junior this year and in 2011, she will most likely be graduating Valedictorian just like her brother did several years ago. (It's a sibling competition thing they have between them) Have I told you how proud I am of this little lady?

It was Black and Gold Day at the high school...

I don't think I have a photo of her without that beautiful smile!!!

Come along with us as we start the Homecoming preparations...

My sister Penny (Payton's Mom) cooked a delicious chili with all the cheese and frito trimmings. Sorry I have no photos of the delicious spread as my eyes (& camera) were hooked on this delicious chocolate chip cookie cake brought to her by her Nanny Sherry...

I was busy running back and forth from the bathroom to the driveway, trying to catch all the little details of Payton getting ready and Thad prepping my Corvette for the parade. So let's see if you can follow me back and forth. I'm warning you, it's totally exhilarating!!!! ;)

Oops, we are in her way and time is ticking...sorry Payton!

To the bathroom we go...sssshhhh, "Payton, just pretend we're not even here honey"...

Let's give her some privacy and let's go see how Thad is doing with the car...

hmm, looking good! Let's go check on Payton again. Woa, Mom's got her cheaters on, this is serious! They are doing the "brush teeth and make-up process" all at one time...now that's teamwork! sssh, we can't make them laugh! oops, we made them laugh and got kicked out...

Let's go check on Thad again as I know him and Drew are up to something, they always are! Oh my the car looks great!

Now all we need is Payton...

On TOP of the car...not IN the car silly! But doesn't she look awesome? The car would look even prettier with Payton in the driver's seat! sssshhh, don't tell Penny but Thad has already let Payton drive the car when she stayed with us for the weekend...she was in heaven!

Speaking of heaven, doesn't she look like a little angel?

Yes I agree, she sure does. WAIT! There's something...there's something weird about this pho..to...OH NO! What's that For Sale sign doing in the yard? Penny & Drew just built this house!

Is Payton in on this? I knew those boys were up to something! That's the For Sale sign from the old house! I'm sure that really got the neighbors talking. Just look at these two crazy fools...Penny is going to freak out when she finds out about this!

Okay now, time is REALLY ticking...it's almost time to go to the parade line up! Just a few more shots and we are out of here...

Close-up...check out those pretty finger nails baby!    ;)

One more indoor shot and we have to GO! Isn't this fun being Payton's private photographer??? ;)

Off to the line up! We have to finish the preparations there and fill the basket with LOTS of candy and get Penny in the car with Drew!

Now just look at this proud trio!!!!

Penny didn't want to ride in the car...she wanted to be a spectator. I said NO WAY...you are riding in the car with your husband and your daughter and that is final! She looks scared of me huh? ;)

Okay, she's IN, let's get this Homecoming Parade started!!!

Now we have to run 100 yards to our car and drive to the parade route to get a good spot...let's go!

Well, since this is a blog, and it is MY blog, I can fast forward straight to Payton, right? I mean, she IS the reason I'm posting today!!! I'm such a proud Auntie!!!!

Here they come! What? Is Penny having fun in the car?

Now Penny sees this thing in the middle of the road and tells Drew to watch out!

Oh dear...it's me Penny...not some huge road kill!

Now she's back to having fun again...LOTS of fun! Can't you tell?

And of course, Payton is still on top, looking beautiful and throwing LOTS of candy!

And they pass by. You know, right about now, I'm thinking Penny has NO idea that the For Sale sign is still in her front yard. I'm wondering if she got any phone calls about the house yet?

And now they are gone.

Oh and we are SO not finished yet. Us paparazzi have to jump in our car and go back to their house and wait for Payton to come home so we can get her ready for the Homecoming Football Game tonight!!!!

You know the plan...

• Roll her hair again...

• Get dressed in her real Homecoming outfit...

• Refresh the make up...

• Photo op outside before leaving home...

 

 

And we are heading back to the high school to get ready for the big game.

Here are all of the Homecoming Maids...

Payton and Penny (who is still has a smile from riding in the car)

And, since I don't have a ZOOM lens (pout pout), these were the best photos I could take of her being on the field. Shame on Thad for never buying me a lens yet...sorry Payton, it's all his fault ;)

 

  

 

And at the end of the night, we have one VERY happy little girl Junior Homecoming Maid and one VERY tired old Auntie who is freezing to death on the bleachers and can't keep her eyes open after half time.

I'm sure you are tired of trying to keep up, don't say I didn't warn you!!!  I hope I didn't give you a "Payton overload"!

I told you it was BRAGFEST time! ;)

Congratulations Payton...we are so proud of you and love you SO much!!!!

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Penny, inquiring minds want to know:

How many phone calls did you receive about the house for sale?

I sure hope you let Drew play with Thad again soon ;)