One Year Older

One year older, but I don't know about one year wiser! ;) [At church one of the songs that the young children sing for their birthdays has the line, "One year older and wiser too," so that's where this post's title originates from.]

Yesterday was a lovely day. I didn't do anything extravagant or exciting; I just spent the day at home doing my normal thing, but it was still great. I loved getting visits from a few friends, reading birthday cards that I got from my family and friends (especially the ones from my nieces and him nephews) and I loved reading the dozens of birthday greetings  that my family, friends, acquaintances (and even perfect strangers) sent me on Facebook. These FB greetings kept rolling in all day, so that was really fun.

Here are some of the fun things that my family and friends gave me for my birthday. (If you pay close attention you'll notice a butterfly theme this year. It was kind of ironic, but I guess people who know me well know that I love butterflies!) 

This is from my dear friend, Kate:

My sister Chandra always makes me a homemade card. She's definitely not the kind of girl that likes to craft/scrapbook, but she always makes me a homemade card every year and it's always my favorite part of the gift!

This is from Chandra: a framed (real) butterfly. She knows how much I love pretty things like this. She also gave me a photo album; it just so happens that I've been looking for just the right photo album to store my postcard collection in, and this definitely fits the bill! And also CHI's Iron Guard thermal protection spray; I love the way this product smells!

My mom knows that I've been a British kick lately and I've been enjoying watching different BBC productions of different Classic books (from authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens). She gave me these adaptations of Little Dorrit and Oliver Twist (both written by Charles Dickens). I'm glad to welcome them into my collection! Mom also gave me a perfume I've been wanting; Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture (it smells SO good!). Plus, some Irish Spring body wash that smells so nice and not at all like the bars of Irish Spring soap that my mom used to buy when I was a child. 

Above is from my friend Linda: Love Begins, the latest movie in Hallmark's Love Comes Softly series. I own all of the other movies, so this makes my collection complete (until they make another one), plus some nectar for my hummingbird feeder, one of my favorite lotions of late (Into the Wild by Bath and Body Works) and more candy that I don't need but happily accept! :)

This is from my dear friend Lacee: a gift card to Target, a picture frame and a little friendship plaque. 

Above is a scarf from my friend Katherine. I've been wearing a lot up scarves lately, so this sparkly, purple one is very me.

My friend Elizabeth brought me this huge Reese's peanut butter cup back from her recent trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania. The picture really doesn't capture just how big it is, but it's much larger than your average peanut butter cup! I've been savoring it and have just been cutting little slivers of it at the time.

And finally, these beautiful pink roses from my friend, Kellie. I love flowers; they make me happy! The picture doesn't do them justice since it doesn't capture how beautiful they are (or their lovely scent!), but that's the way it is with fresh flowers!

I had such a fantastic birthday and I look forward to what this next year brings. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful life!