12-12-12

This is the day I've been waiting my entire life for.

This is the day I've been waiting for for my entire life. 

This is the day for which I have been waiting my entire life!

You see, today is my birthday. The best birthday ever!

Being born on December 12th means that the number twelve has always been my lucky number. Remember this pinball animation from Sesame Street? I was convinced it was made for me!

 

My twelfth birthday was a pretty big deal. It was my only sleepover party. I think I was allowed to invite twelve girls. We sang the 12 Days of Christmas, and each girl picked a number out of a hat. I must have fixed it so I could sing "Five Golden Rings."

Crafty people, can you see the carolers that my mother made out of rolled polyester batting?

As fun as that party was, I always dreamed of what 12-12-12 would be like. How boring to be turning 40-something.  A few years ago, I was at the pharmacy in line to drop off a prescription. You know how you have to include your birth date on prescriptions? I overheard the mother in front of me say December twelfth. Her son has the same birthday as me. Amazingly, he was born in 2000, so he is turning twelve on 12-12-12! How cool is that?! Happy Birthday, kid from the CVS line!

Whose big idea was it to put my special day in the middle of the week? Wednesday is not exactly a big party night.  My guild has a meeting/holiday party tonight (built in party!), but my boys decided they are taking me out for dinner and a movie.  I'll have lunch with my mother and do some Christmas shopping. I hope Julia can squeeze in some Skype time between final exams.

Now off you go to read a dozen fun facts about twelve!

Happy Birthday Julia!

How is it possible that my daughter is an adult?  She's planning to buy a lottery ticket today.  She is registered to vote.  Most importantly, she'll be going to play Bingo with Grandma on Tuesday!

 Dad helped her pick out the guitar and I made the guitar strap.

I used the tutorial from One Shabby Chick to make the guitar strap.  It was pretty easy and didn't take very long.  I was happy that she went to a movie with a friend last night so I could sew while she was out!  Bill picked up an $8 strap at Wakefield Music that I disassembled for the parts.  Worked like a charm!  The fabric is a Philip Jacobs print called Tropical in her favorite blue.  It has enough dark pink to coordinate with the maroon leather pieces that attach to the guitar.

Happy Birthday, Julia!

Birthday Winner

 And the winner is...

How cool is it that Sarah won on her birthday and the giveaway post was on my birthday?!   I hope she gets the luggage, too.  She will need it for her upcoming adventure- teaching English in Asia!  Best wishes to you, Sarah!

 

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!  I had a lovely day. 

Bill brought home a dozen of these beautiful roses.

 

I've been quiet on the blog this week, but there has been some crafting going on.

I totally enjoyed crocheting this wreath from this Goodknits tutorial!  I'm not completely happy with the bow.  It looks a little 90's to me.  It's just pinned into the styrofoam, so I can easily change it out.

I bought a cheap green wreath at the grocery store and embellished it with a variety of greens from my yard. Again, not happy with my bow.  It is too white.  I found a spool of silver ribbon in the stash, so I might switch it.

I learned this technique from Martha years ago.  I make little bundles of the various greens, then wire them to the base wreath.  We cut down our white pine last spring, so I had to get some from Girl Scout camp last weekend!  The branch was already down, so it was OK.

More greens on the front porch...

and on the back deck.

I love this gold bow!

My big birthday gift was new living room furniture.  I need to help Bill dispose of the old sofa that was literally falling apart.  We're off to the dump!