a fine 30th, indeed.
(be forewarned: this is a big post all about me. )
I was originally supposed to be an Aquarius, but 30 years ago, the fates got together and conspired to make me a (somewhat atypical) Capricorn , instead. My folks introduced me to the world a little bit early after running some errands around Saigon on a moped, as young Saigonese were wont to do. My mom’s water broke 2 weeks before I was due to arrive, and I had to be poked and prodded and induced to come on out a couple weeks early. So, this year, my early 30th came with a flurry of love and hugs and happy warm fuzzies. Guess what? 30 isn’t so bad after all! I don’t know why I was feeling so dreadful about it in the days leading up to this birthday, but I can honestly say all is ok in my little world today.
I am a very lucky girl. A very lucky, (now) well-adjusted 30-year-old girl.
Thank you all for your very kind birthday wishes! They warmed me in the belly, which warms me in my little gnome heart. Thank you! Special K and Yvonne, thank you so very much for your bloggy birthday wishes! Wowie Zowie!
And, I have a few Happy Birthday wishes to send out to my fellow Cappies:
Happy Birthday, Cappies!
Monkey and Casey woke me to many happy surprises. I have the most fabulous Monkey hubby in the world. He crafted me a most fantastical birthday card from Lego (!). I didn’t manage to get a good video of it, and my pic doesn’t do it justice, but I appreciated so much all the love and creativity and effort he poured into this beauty:
The ’30’ in front rotates depending on the program you select (which he programmed in!). And there are 3 cutie monkeys all around the base of this Lego ‘caketop.’ Brilliant!
And then I got spoiled rotten with gifties!
My folks and Lizzie gave me loads of cozy sweaters and snazzy trousers and a great Madeline-like coat. I should be the snazziest little corporate clone around in the coming year. I love new clothes, especially since I abstained from shopping like the fiend I am while I was on leave from work. It was all very welcome and wonderful. Lizzie also gave me the new Stitch N Bitch book and the great cake pictured above (I love the orange pinked edge on top and the polka dots all around the side of the cake). She too got in on making a sweet birthday card:
Isn’t it the sweetest thing? I love that it’s from all the family pooches as well as her and Mike. So cute.
Monkey got me a world of fabbie things (it’s going to be hard to match for his birthday…but I will try!):
- a new printer
- a lovely freshwater pearl choker
- 30-minute meals book
- practical guide to photography
- all the CD’s on my current wishlist!
- a new CD boombox for my craft room
I finally opened that fab gift Special K got for me: a gloriously gorgeous set of Murano glass bangles! Thank you, Special K!! You are exquisite.
I got a fun handmade card from Melissa, and it arrived just in the nick of time, Melissa, no worries at all. Thank you so much!! By the by, I’m trying to talk Melissa into starting her blog up! She has been regaling me with the most fabulous crafty endeavours she’s been up to since she’s left the corporate giant. I think she should show and tell! Perhaps a few notes from nice bloggers will help encourage her to get it going!
And, Birthday Night was closed out nicely with a yummy meal at Big Bowl (my goodness, is that place hopping with folks, even in the bitterest of winter nights!), all thanks to my Lizzie.
I hope the rest of the year goes as swimmingly as my first day of 30 did! Thanks to all who made me so many happy birthday wishes.
thesoulofhope said:
Happy Birthday!!! You deserve the best!
Anonymous said:
Glad to hear (and see!) that you had a wonderful birthday! Great photos, you are one lucky gal!! And double thanks for putting up that link for Big Bowl….I always love a good link on food!!!!
popsie2 said:
Many birthday wishes – it looks like you had a fantastic 30th. This is my first visit to your site, I have seen it mentioned everywhere! I loved seeing all the presents you were spoilt with. Happy Birthday 🙂
jesswolf said:
A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! I’m so glad you had a wonderful 30th. What fun!
kenenske said:
Oh I’m so glad you had a happy birthday!!! It sounds fabulous!!! What wonderful family and friends you have and so much good stuff! (I love the stitch n bitch books!) That lego card is so cool!p.s. I LOVE your balance illustration! It’s so beautiful.
ani4775 said:
Aww what a fabulous birthday indeed! Happy Birthday! Glad you are feeling better!
Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday! I hope each year is even better than the last!
la_chica_alta said:
You are blessed! Sounds wonderful! Happy birthday!
charla_thenyoublink said:
It looks like you had a fantastic time! You are such a lucky little gnome to have been blessed with a fabulous birthday celebration. I hope you have many, many more!
garlicgirl said:
It sounds like a wonderful B-Day. So many presents & that great card from Monkey. He’s very crafty! Cheers to you & the 30’s!!
bumblev said:
Happy Happy Birthday!!! You look so cute in the birthday cake pic!
justjenn13 said:
Totally freaky! We ARE on the same wavelength, cause I just sent you a cd for your birthday that has not only the Cure, NOT ONLY the Railway Children – but the Trash Can Sinatras as well? Psychic friends!!!!
Happy Bday!
Jenn
telestic_tea said:
Ooh, what wonderful birthday suprises, it looks like so much fun!!!Monkey’s 3-D lego card is so darn clever. Thanks for posting all of these goodies, I feel happy vicariously… just looking at it. 🙂
girlfactor said:
Belated Happy Birthday, Giao! Looks like you had a great one. Cheers for the big 3-0! It ain’t that bad, eh?
RubberSol said:
Giao…you are such a cutie pie (adorable through words and cutie-pie cute in pics!) I’m so glad that you had such a fantabulous birthday…see 30 isn’t so bad afterall, yes? And your monkey is such a sweetie too — my oh my. What a load of lovelies! So glad you spent your day surrounded by your seres queridos (loved ones)!Anyhoo….welcome to your 30s! The fun has just started my friend! 🙂
melly311 said:
Phew, that was a close one – glad the card made it to you in time! But, I’m even more glad your birthday was so wonderful! You lucky, lucky gnome you! Hope you enjoy many more!
rozzieland said:
Happy Birthday , pretty lady!! ~ Roz
hillarylang said:
capricorns rule! 🙂 happy birthday!!
taniahowells said:
happy happy birthday!sounds wonderful.:)tania
litlthings said:
sending the happiest of birthday wishes your way! sounds like you had a wonderful birthday… my hope is that you have a fabulous birthday year with all your birthday wishes and dreams coming true!
thank you also for the info on the font… i found it and now it is my new favorite.. thank you, thank you! you’re the bestest!
tworabbits said:
happy birthday! sounds and looks like it was fabulous. i am so glad i’ve found my way here (from hillary’s site) and have been able to follow the adventures of the gnome!
turabiangirl said:
Wow! Nice birthday haul! Congrats on being 30. It’s really not as old as it sounds. I’m half-way through with my 30 year. 31? Now THAT’S old!
You should try that cake recipe I posted. Since you like fruit cake you would probably like this one…not that it is really like fruit cake, except that it has fruit in it…
CreatureBug said:
What a grand post! You are so cute in that birthday cake picture!! It makes me feel better about turning 30 (in one year). And what marvelous things you got for your birthday! Thanks for sharing all the great pictures.
–Stephanie
yvestown said:
How sweet all this sweet stuff and all the cute goodies from your monkey :o) I absolutely love the bangle WOW! I just turned 30 last December and it’s not making a difference at all. I just lost my twenty and I don’t like that LOL.
Note to self: send birthday gifties earlier because it’s slow! Get ready for more birthday goodness Giao
jesthesweetpea said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You’re such a cutie…I can hardly stand it!!
I’m a proud Aquarian!
I LOVE the Lego art Monkey made you!! And as I was reading your gifts….I received 2 of the things you got for Christmas!! Stitch n Bitch and 30 Minute Meals! I love them both and I made Jon and I the “Sesame Chicken Salad” last night (pg. 44)…we LOVED it! Though I had sesame seeds popping all over the place….but Rudy (our lab) decided she would be helpful and licked up the ones that fell on the floor!
Talk to you soon!!
Bekmarie said:
Glad you had such a wonderful birthday (the Lego card is AWESOME, go Monkey for doing such a thoughtful & creative card); and a belated happy happy birthday to you!! You’re just adorable, you know that?
WolenZo said:
I can see you had a great day with lots of presents. Congrats to you and many happy and healthy years to follow.
thesoulofhope said:
Me again, I posted just a Happy Birthday before you posted this entry, and now i have to comment again.
Love the cake, the cards, the presents, the photos, but mostly I love the first line… “be forewarned: this is a big post all about me” which the post should be, I am so glad you had a great day and heres to a great year!
cassiatbelladia said:
Happy Belated Birthday Giao! It sounds like you had a wonderful day and are surrounded by people who love you, who could want more than that? 🙂 Cassihttp://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/
yardenxanthe said:
Sounds like a great birthday! I turn 28 on Friday.
Yeah, swapping cover CDs would be fun! I’ll be outta town until Feb 5th, but maybe after that?
amyfromgreenwich said:
you are still a hot number! Rock the third decade baby!
Anonymous said:
you are finally one of us! The thirty-somethings! Or at least thirty, well over thirty, if you count the fact that you just completed your thirtieth year.
frecklegirl12 said:
I got a little behind on my blog reading and IT WAS YOUR SPECIAL DAY and I MISSED IT!*smacks forehead*BELATED LOVE to the birthday girl!!!XO
DramaQueenIsMe said:
Happy happy birthday, Giao!! Welcome to the 30 club. It’s not as bad as it first seems. 🙂 Now, 31, that’s bad! LOL You always brighten up my day with your cheery posts so I hope you have an extra special day. I know how hard it is with the whole long distance thing… so you especially deserve it!
mipmup said:
happy 30th! sounds like it was a great one!