A Blessed Birthday Girl!

I have to say, I had a fab birthday! I felt so loved! Not just with presents, but just by phone calls, and people making the effort to say "I care." So thank you to all of ya'll who just so blessed me that day! I realize none of us are in high school any longer, but I do remember going back to school the day after your birthday, and the first question would always be, "Well, whaddya get?" And although I completely realize its not about the presents, I mean, come on, its still kind of fun...

So I thought I would share some of my most fab gifts, because I'm fairly excited about them...

Now, I've been asking Rob to buy me a new bible, I think since we moved to Alberta, 4 years ago. Rob swiped one from our old churches lost and found, and that has been my bible ever since. I think he missed the point, I wanted a new bible, not a new stolen bible! So a few weeks ago we were at The Fig Tree (a Christian book store), and I basically took him to the bible section and showed him what exactly what I wanted. He said, "well, I'll just buy it now then," I refused, "Nope, that's too easy." But I did go up to ask the cashier if they had any sales coming up. She asked me what I was looking at, I told her the Bloom bible. "Oh, well, in that case, I'll give you 20% off if you buy it right now. Its old stock." Needless, to say, the bargain hunter in me couldn't resist a deal as grand as that, and I bought it myself that very moment!

I now have a most fabulous, 20% off, Bloom bible. No more stolen Holy Books for me!
Its NIV, and also has the silver edging. Love!
My dear husband also came home with a Jack Johnson CD that day. I've only listened to it a few times, but I think its probably one of his best yet!
He also came home with a Chocolate Xtreme DQ Ice Cream cake. Now the man obviously knows me well! I was even more thrilled when I pulled it out of the freezer this morning to take a picture and realized there is 3/4's of it left! Nice!
Finally, I also wanted a Holly style shopping spree! So that means I get to go out tonight (despite the fact it is -28 outside, brr!), and shop at Value Village for as long as I need to. $100 at VV basically works out to an entirely new winter wardrobe. I did this in the summer while on the Island and stocked up on summery items. Plus, I get $50 off of that!Thanks to Airmiles we were able to get out for dinner at Milestones. Now for those of you non-Albertans, last weekend was basically a weather write off. With blizzard like conditions, the city seemed shut down. It was a bit of an adventure to get to the restuarant, but once we got there we had a really nice time.

Afterwards, we went over to Indigo and just browsed books for an hour or so. Its amazing the things you forget once you have kids. Like, wow, I can just look at books and not have to think about anything else. You don't have potty breaks, or snacks, or naptimes constantly in the back of your mind. No one is fussing, or whining, or acting up. Sigh, pure bliss I tell you!

So in addition to my husband totally spoiling me, I aso got quite a few other lovely gifts. I always like to display what we get as gifts, in this house, generally on top of our TV hutch.
So some cards and gifts...
I have this cardigan type sweater that I love, but it just hangs open (no button or snap), so I wanted something to keep it closed (other than a safety pin), so my cousin Ruth apparently just had this gorgeous brooch just "lying around the house." Um, I'm in love...
I had two lovely folks gift me with Starbucks cards. With one I plan to buy my yearly Starbucks Christmas ornament (I've collected them every year since 2004). With the other, my dear friend Nancy and I are planning on heading out to West Edmonton Mall for our yearly Starbucks birthday date (this is year #2). We had to cancel last week because of weather, so here's hoping the weather is a bit more in our coffee-loving favour this week!
*In the background are two pot holders that my dear friend Sarah made for me. She also sent me some bubble bath and some lovely hand lotion!
Rob's Mom made me a custom purse. I picked out the fabric and the pattern, and she made it up for me. Now if any of you haven't heard of Amy Butler, you are missing out. She is fab. I think she is making sewing, quilting, creating totally fashionable again for our generation.
Here is the fun, funky, fabulous, finished product...
And finally I just wanted to share probably the nicest card I think I have ever received. From my friend Trish. We have only known each other for less than a year now, but I often think I've found a long lost sister. Love you girl!
The inside reads...
And I seriously need to give Trish and her husband, Tony, a shout out. I always like to start my birthday off with a Reduced-Fat Eggnog Latte from Starbucks, but when I looked out the window on Friday morning and saw a blizzard, I knew that wasn't happening. So as my facebook status, I put "Holly Nepper thinks Starbucks should most definitely deliver on your birthday, especially when there is snow storm outside!" Not really hinting at anything, just wishing!

So I get a call from Trish not long after, telling me that she drove by Starbucks earlier and saw a sign that they do deliver. Hmm mmm. She said, "So if they would deliver, what would you want?" Ha, ha. Well, I was totally onto them. But in the end, her husband shoveled out their driveway, and she not only brought me said drink, but also stopped by Cobs, a fab bakery in town, and brought me some goodies! Yup, I most definitely felt loved!

So all in all, it was a great day! Thanks to everyone who made my day!