Birthday Bliss

Finding my 40th Birthday Bliss has been surprisingly easy this month.  "Surprisingly" because

1)  I wasn't searching for it to begin with...
2)  My already-busy work and family schedules actually contributed to some of my milestone revelations instead of causing me to miss or skip right past them...

and

3)  so many family members, friends, colleagues, students (and their families), new acquaintances and even strangers have shared sweet sentiments, thoughtfulness and kindness during their own hectic-yet-happy holiday preparations.  Bright smiles and extended courtesies that seem most prevalent each December always contribute to making my birthday feel special~ those who know me will also add that all the extra *~twinkle lights~* and sparkle on display don't hurt either!



*****
I'm on "winter break" for the next two weeks and have finished mailing out my Christmas cards and holiday packages.  Catching up on blog-reading and magazine-perusing is on my agenda, but I've decided that the fun projects and ideas that I've been stumbling across since yesterday afternoon will not be shared with a deadline... recipes can be tried any time of the year, and crafty ideas can certainly be modified and used during other quite suitable months in the classroom or home crafting area.

Creativity abounds, and it's time to stop obliterating the joy of it by forcing it into a must-do-or-die timeline.  Does this mean I'm mellowing with age?

*****
~ Make and Takes shares handheld jingle bells (also perfect for classrooms that don't have a set of musical instruments!)...

~ Cut and folded paper garlands appeal to me over at d.Sharp Journal...

~  NotMartha shares a tutorial on how to make *the most adorable gingerbread houses* that rest on the lid of your hot chocolate/coffee/eggnog mug:



~ ... and Bubbly Scrumptious offers a tussie mussie tutorial that has me inspired for not only Christmas but Valentine's Day as well...

*****

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Solstice to you Dear Readers~

My 40th Birthday... Yep, I'm Officially Part of a Demographic

For a few years now, I've been aware that I belong to a spending demographic.  When Ritz ran their holiday cracker commercial with Modern English's "I Melt With You" as the theme song, I knew *my* wallet was officially their target.

I was a grown up.  An adult.  Someone whose opinion mattered.  Someone who earned more than weekly babysitting money.  Or allowance.

It worked.  I'm still hooked on Ritz, especially the snowflake shaped crackers they release each winter.

But I digress.

D. and I attended an art show promoted by Odd Folies (you remember Sheila and Craig, the talented cabinetry/collectible/ephemera folks?) last weekend and encountered artist Joseph Blake, a guy who didn't try to bait us as 80's kids, but caught us, hook, line, and sinker with his flowers.  This one came home with me:




The petals are metal, cut from collected tins and containers...

... and why yes, those are Army guys, legos, scrabble tiles, game pieces, and corn cob picks surrounding the rooster!

The red is sooooo *me*.  The Army guy, Dear Husband.  The Pre-Schooler loves dinosaurs and Dear Daughter is a Dr. Pepper drinker (see the bottle cap?):

D. and I couldn't stop squealing, smiling, pointing, and laughing with delight as we looked through all of the flower wall art Joseph had on display.  Folks, he even had a Holly Hobby flower in all of her brown and yellow glory, a la the 70's!  Smurfs, religious icons, political displays, sassy flair buttons and even King Kong were well represented in Joseph's booth.

He soooooo needs a web site.  Hint.  

Until then, if you'd like to contact him to ask for photos of more of his work, he can be reached here.

My red rooster with poinsettia/plaid/Monticello/saltine cracker leaves is now hanging in my crafting nook, right where it can continue to inspire me, elicit smiles, and make me feel good about turning 40.

Monday's Random Links

Today was full of back-to-school shopping for Dear Daughter at Target and Office Depot, cute-bright-and-matchy apparently being her theme!

Target's dollar bins often turn up some goodies, and today was no different. While DD chose teen-themed pencils for school, I was thrilled to find buttons, pencils, erasers, magnets, mini notebooks, stickers and bags featuring some of Dr. Seuss' most wonderful characters (Read Across America takes place in March!):




*****

Check out your grocery store crackers/snack aisle and see if you can find these (I can't wait to use them for snacktime!):



*****

Snacks for children/students are one thing, snacks for grownups, quite another:

~ Baking Bites shares Dulce de Leche Brownies

~ My dear friend Karen once read my cards for me, years ago, identifying my animal totems. My "inner character and spirit" was a hummingbird. When CakeSpy's Primer on the Hummingbird Cake scrolled onto my read feed, I was intrigued (do you use real hummingbirds? Ew!)...thankfully, the cake is so named because it is" so sweet that people are drawn to it like hummingbirds to nectar." Whew.

~ Bakeralla shares a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe, and then turns up the temptation by adding ice cream and sprinkles....

~ Tiramisu Squares... Oh yes, the Super Star Mom or Dad that brings Sweet Paul's Tiramisu Squares to school this year will clearly be in the running for Volunteer of the Year!

*****



Is it too early to start my 40th Birthday Wish List? Here's a start:

~ The Long Thread offers a wonderful tutorial for making Miss Little Red Riding Hood (no, I don't want the tutorial, I want the doll!)...

~ Saucy made affordable and sweet Hello Kitty BLING ('d love a bracelet!)...

~ This quilt by Frazzy Dazzles (you can SOOOOOO tell I'm a kindergarten teacher!)

~ And of course, birthday dinner at Simon and Seafort's in Anchorage, Alaska!