Winter Birthday

My birthday was nearly two weeks ago now. I waited to post anything because half of my husband's budget for birthday gifts was being saved for a trip to Ann Arbor (record stores, used book stores, thrifting, and Vault of Midnight). But for the past two weekends the snow has kept us in and we haven't been able to go. Now, it sort of feels like my birthday is over and I'm not sure we'll go before spring for a regular scheduled mini vacation.

Oh well, I did find something I may buy myself to make up for it, and if I do I'll have a whole post dedicated to it!

Here are some pictures from the Birthday-Wintery times!

Frost on the windows

I made some decorations! I didn't have a party or anyone over, so just me and the husband enjoyed the decorations. It really brightened the place up! And, made it festive. Here you can see some paper accordion-flowers and some...I don't know what to call it. I cut up papers and taped it to paper straws!

Here you can see some garlands I made, and also weird vertical garland type things. I was just having fun making festive looking stuff from what I had.

A paper hot air balloon and some colorful origami cranes in the window. I later added papermache light up lanterns, also very colorful.

I opened presents from my husband in the morning while we drank coffee. First up was Abbey Road, Beatles vinyl, which I put on and played for the rest of the morning. And then these set of plates! They match a huge cup and saucer I have. Now I have the whole set. They're so dramatic and bold and wonderful

Delicious, dense, wonderful french toast for my birthday breakfast courtesy of my parents!

After breakfast we went to Barnes and Noble and I got a book that had come out a few days before. It's the last to a series I like (and own). Plus, I had 15% off

Husband got a half day at work and came home with roses and that amazing card you see on the bottom right 'dat ass', and also champagne! 

We went to my parents house. What a lovely display of presents! My dad did the pink and white polka dot one all by himself, including the ribbon. So proud! And, see that framed Japanese doll?

My mom cross stitched her for me! What an adorable birthday keepsake! Her colors are perfect.

Butterflies from the husband

Flowers that were with my presents from my parents. They matched the wrapping and are so springy! 

An amazing coloring book that I can't stop paging through! I also got a huge pack of prismacolor colored pencils, and a special sharpener that sharpens at two different angels.

My big gift from my parents, an pink instax mini8! I love it! 

My brother got me a beautiful bracelet that we saw while shopping for Christmas presents in December. I haven't taken a picture of it. It's marcasite and onyx. After presents, we went to a chinese restaurant we all love but haven't been to in years. We got way too much food and everyone got to take home leftovers. It was amazing, I kind of want some now, actually! When we got back to my parents' house, we had cake, ice cream and played our favorite board game, Cosmic Encounter. I won! It was a goofy game, we were all acting ridiculous. And, I took my first picture with my new camera while playing, it's not a good picture, but it IS, because it's my whole family and it's badly taken. 

On the way home, the night of my birthday, we went to Target and I got this pink PS3 controller as part of my birthday, and the movie bridesmaids (my husband and I love that movie).

The day after my birthday. We were supposed to go to Ann Arbor but we got a huge snow storm. Maybe a foot of snow in a few hours? Husband and I drank the champagne he got me, midday, while watching Bridesmaids then playing a game he got for my birthady. When all of a sudden there were huge fluffy balls of snow falling from the sky outside, the size of a fist, and falling slow. It looked like  a cartoon. so we ran outside. It was too late, just regular snow, but we took a few pictures with my camera.

Sunday's Snowy Day Fun!

I put together the moss terrarium the husband got me for Christmas! It was pretty simple to put together, now if I can keep it alive! I want to get tiny adorable things to put in, like these plastic deer Michael's had over the holidays. I hope to find them again. I also want more terrariums, I'm asking for a book for Christmas!

We got over a foot of snow (and the roads have been just horrendous since Saturday), I got to go for a REAL snowshoe trek! Ugh it was awesome and my heart hurt with the workout only 20 minutes in. Maybe I should go for a walk right now! 

This picture is on a two foot mound by a road, so much float!

The wondrously snowy residential area I walked around in my snowshoes. How I long to be closer to some wooded paths or have a car to take me to the one just a mile away. I would walk but I'm to out of shape to get there in the snow and then snowshoe.

Husband building a camera! I got him a kit for Chrismtas (konstructor), an SLR 35mm camera. Of course I bought film for it, too. But, he hasn't used the camera yet. I think he's waiting for a special time to start using it. It took about 2 hours, I'm so impressed!

All built! And decorated, it came with an array of faux-leather stickers.

I'm not sure what it's called, but it's the type of camera where you look down at a view finder to see the image you take a picture of. Like the antique camera necklace piece my brother got me for Christmas!

Husband called in yesterday for a personal day so he wouldn't have to drive on roads with a foot of snow on them. He had to go in today, though, and things aren't better! The roads are completely covered in ice. Not the only thing, either. Our pipes are frozen! The kitchen trickles cold, the bathroom sink is hot, and we've got nothing for the toilet or shower! I've been trickling water from the kitchen and bathroom sink in all sorts of vases and pitchers to fill the toilet's tank. Husband will buy gallons of water on his way home. Hope the pipes thaw soon! Don't want to go long like this. At least we have power, heat, and the ability to cook!