sisterly love aka best package ever!

so my birthday was just over a week ago, but i have to show off the most amazing birthday package from my big sis:

i wish i could put it on display. her hubs told her she was crazy for putting so much work into a box because i would just throw it away. yeah right! i think he's the crazy one. 

"a sister's love means everything especially when i can call her friend!"

   

the most special feature- each section opens up with more goodies!

and this box is chalk full!

i love the cat artwork she made me, because let's be honest, i'm a husband away from being a crazy cat lady.

although, it's a close race between scrappy kitties and a birthday frog cookie.

of course, the art work has lasted a lot longer...

april fool's fun

last year i had a great day of pranks & goodies planned for the kiddos at school, so this year i was anxious not to disappoint! i went old school with the jokes- a water-squirting flower pin and a whoopie cushion. hilariousness ensued.

an april fool's day craft for everyone to make:

and what birthday celebration would be complete without cupcakes? these just happen to look like real food.

vegetable lo mein:

fried rice:

and fortune cookies! 

all made with caramel, cereal, frosting, and lots of candy!

 

 i wish it were my birthday every day!

no joke!

holy cow! I'm 27!

somehow i don't feel that old...

today is a holiday

while the rest of the world celebrates st. patty's day, i'm celebrating my adorable nephew's birthday! he's a bundle of pure joy and i'm sad we don't get to spend the day together, so i crammed, jam-packed-to-the-brim an envelope of goodies.

like these crayons i made:

which are to be kept in here {an old tazo tea can}:

and these fun recipe cards:

plus a handmade card and paper bunting:

and a little craft kit, zoo stickers, toy story sticker pack, coloring book, mini bottles of bubbles and easter window clings:

all topped off with origami luck stars and candy!

 whew!

i spent like a week putting it all together, and i loved every second of it! my big sister said he had a great time opening it and sent me this as proof:

added bonus: he's wearing the yo gabba gabba hat i made him for valentine's day that sis says he tries to sleep in. 

could he be any cuter??

etsy wishlist

so for the first time in 2 years husband and i are exchanging birthday gifts! yay! he got an ipad {more on that later} and i'm enjoying putting together my own wish list. i loved the simplicity of not giving gifts and the thought that went behind that decision, but i have to say that i'm excited to be getting something new this year!

so my first stop? etsy! let me share with you my budding birthday wishlist:

great lakes print

recycled silver ring

"batman" necklace

moccasins!

art print

black quartz necklace

crafty bird

what's on your etsy wishlist? any suggestions for me?? 

{i may be one step away from going wishlist crazy!}

post-birthday breaky

after partying all night long {read: staying up way past bedtime and talking} we headed to breakfast at the chef, one of my favorite manhattan restaurants.

{husband and caitlin. she came in from boston}

{hubs and i. lets not talk about how tired we all look}

the food was great, but the highlight was really caitlin's gift for josh:

some assembly required:

fresh-squeezed orange juice success!

{how i convinced my ultra camera-shy husband to take this....}

and you might not know it, but caitlin is adorable and she made these for me:

 told you, adorable!

my handsome husband has a happy birthday

today is husband's birthday.

 he's pretty adorable.

always has been, actually.

 

and even though we're not doing much to celebrate, we get to be together. 

the added bonus being that a bestie from boston is coming today and we all get to eat at the birthday boy's favorite little thai place.

so, if you're reading this, maybe you can send some good vibes his way today!

{ps- will it annoy you if i mention my giveaway every day until it's over?? i'm just excited!}

mom love!

today is a special day.

it's my mom's birthday!

{yep, she's gorgeous}

besides my hubby, she knows me better than anyone else on the planet. she is my life-long mentor and role-model. when i was a little girl, i thought that if i grew up to be half as smart as her then i'd be doing alright.

even though she's always been one of my best friends, it's really cool to see how our relationship has changed as i've gotten older. like we choose to be friends now, not just a we're-mother-and-daughter-so-we-have-to-like-it sort of thing.

and if you think i'm crafty- you should see her!

happy birthday, mom!