a self indulgent Five on Friday

It was my Birthday on Tuesday. If I were to live to a wise old age of 90, I am perfectly middle aged now. Funny that, I was only just 22 on Monday. Alistair says so, it must be true. The celebrations started at 6:30 am. Most of our days start at this time. My Birthday is not a National Holiday. I think it should be. Breakfast was carrot cake with an inch thick layer of sweet cream cheese icing. The day ended with a walk home after a delicious meal at a Mexican restaurant, including Margeritas on the rock.

I thought today I am sharing five of my presents with you. If you were as nosy as I am you would want to know. I was lucky, as I usually am. I find giving presents quite difficult and therefore try to make it as easy as possible for those who like to give me something. I maintain a detailed and up to date wishlist on Amazon for everybody to see, annotated with comments with regards to purchase of said item and how much I really yearn for it.The good thing with the wishlist is that I can add stuff from all over the internet, not restricting myself to Amazon and associated sellers. You are probably right to think I am an egomaniac but having had 44 birthdays before the current one, I know that a) I don't like talking about my birthday/Christmas wishes, b) I worry about unwelcome surprises, c) I don't like vouchers or money and d) I get intensely upset when I receive something that is almost what I am hankering for, but not quite. 
I have received some weird and wonderful presents over the years. Countless little clay creations from children for example. I keep those in my memory box. Others quietly move from prime position to a less prominent spot to a drawer. Here is what I received this year.There is nothing destined for the drawer!


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From Richard I received a generously sized piece of beautiful beautiful fabric and a dress pattern that does not only include my size but also contains options for different bust sizes. 


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James gave me a thermometer. I am in two minds about this (but it is not going in a drawer). On the one hand it is good to know how warm or cold the house is but on the other hand, Richard can now prove me wrong every time I complain about it being freezing.



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Annie made a memory box. I was a bit worried when I got the first glimpse of the box, it was a trial Graze snack box that my children every now and then order for free (because there is not enough food in our house). To my delight it contained sheets of paper with a keyword (family, love, children etc), and a photo for each. Lovely. I noticed that Annie raided our photo albums for some of her prompts.... Still, it is sweet. 


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Alistair gave me Reese's peanut butter cups. I have eaten those quickly and secretly because they are not for sharing. I do love those sweet temptations very much.



picture borrowed from here

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This colouring pencil bracelet was presented to me over dinner. Richard has a knack of finding unusual jewelry for me. He knows me well.



Because this is Five on Friday and not a dozen on Friday I shall not show any more pictures. Sam's gift didn't feature because it still has to materialise. I know it is a bobbin box because he asked me to check if it is the right one. It is. I did get other bits and bobs, for example a generous wad of cash from my mum, to go towards something expensive in the near future. If I don't fritter it away on lattes and cinnamon buns of course, cash is dangerous like that. I already converted a voucher that Annie gave me in addition to the memory box into a book about embroidery techniques. I wish it was my Birthday once a month! Or at least twice a year.

All but the first of five were surprises! I think I coped well. I am one lucky woman. My carefully curated wish list will come in handy again next year.

Today I am linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home. If you have a moment, do go and check out Amy's own post and all the the others, too :-)

For now, I am off to work. Have a lovely Friday my friends. xx

Comments

  1. Belated birthday greetings! I think all birthday breakfasts should consist of cake. I look forward to seeing the dress made up in that fabulous fabric.

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  2. Belated happy birthday greetings, I share your day (or rather you share mine - I got there first). We are luckier than some in that every now and again we have our day on a bank holiday. For me to be middle aged now I would have to live until 134 - I guess I'll just have to keep eating the right stuff and drinking the odd Guinness. Have a great year, and if you do manage to get a birthday a month please let me know.
    Joy x x

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  3. Happy Birthday, I love the idea of a Amazon wish list I will have to look at that, I really like the bracelet how unusual, the fabric is lovely today and I look forward to seeing the dress all made up :-)

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  4. The dress pattern looks beautiful! Happy belated Birthday!
    Greetings from Austria
    Emma

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  5. Wishing you a belated happy birthday, 22 is a very good age, I'm around there myself. What wonderful presents, I'm glad you had such a good day. I'd happily vote for it to be a national holiday, can't have too many of those. I usually have carrot cake for my birthday, it's one of my favourites. Loved this post Christina, it's a very happy one! CJ xx

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  6. Happy Birthday! I'm glad you had a good day. An Amazon list is a great idea and I do like that dress pattern... wish I was a bit niftier with the sewing machine. Enjoy your weekend. x

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  7. Belated happy birthday! What lovely, colourful presents you received!
    I share your thoughts a) to d) concerning presents... well, perhaps not the c). Recently my brother gave me a voucher accepted at many kinds of shops, and I converted it all into gardening books. :)
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  8. Belated happy birthday! What lovely, colourful presents you received!
    I share your thoughts a) to d) concerning presents... well, perhaps not the c). Recently my brother gave me a voucher accepted at many kinds of shops, and I converted it all into gardening books. :)
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  9. Happy birthday for the other day, what a nice selection of gifts. Love the sewing pattern. Nice wrapping paper too. That is one attention to detail that I appreciate. Enjoy your weekend.

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  10. Belated birthday greetings, sounds like you had a good day and certainly some lovely gifts. Love the memory box idea, how sweet is that. Always wonderful to get your favourite chocolate, you are one lucky lady.

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  11. Looks like it was a grand birthday. will look forward to seeing the completed dress

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  12. Happy birthday. I love having an Amazon Wish List!

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  13. Happy birthday for last Tuesday. I like all your gifts, particularly the bracelet, is just so nice and unusual! I rather like birthday surprises, and have always been quite lucky, though have had a few howlers over the years! X

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  14. Happy Birthday!!! So glad you had such a great time and lovely gifts were received. I totally understand your list. I am happy to receive anything, but I always find it disheartening when someone has bought nearly the right thing, but it is not exactly right and is therefore often useless - such as some leather gloves I one received that were so small I couldn't even fit my fingers in! If they had been exactly the ones I asked for they would have been fine. It makes me sad for the giver! So I think that your list with reasons why or notes as to why you love something so much is a great idea because if I was the giver I would rather give exactly the right thing than near but so wrong! I hope that you have a great weekend and will enjoy spending your ££'s when you decide what to buy. Thank you so much as always for joining in and Happy Birthday again!! xx

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  15. Happy Birthday! Lovely gifts received.. I have an amazon wishlist too - it has about 300 books on it :S I don't share it, I just ask for book shop or amazon vouchers usually!

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  16. Happy Birthday Christina - you received some lovely gifts! The bracelet is really unique and the dress pattern looks really cute. Mexican and PB Cups - two of my favorites too!

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  17. Happy Birthday Christina, lovely presents!

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  18. Happy Birthday Christina! You describe a perfect birthday! What's a birthday without serious cake to kick it off?! If I had my way I'd live entirely off cake, birthday or otherwise! Enjoy all your lovely presents - so looking forward to seeing your new dress once you've sewn it - it looks enchanting and the fabric is just gorgeous ( & will go beautifully with your birthday bracelet!) E xx

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  19. Belated happy birthday Christina!! I'm glad that you were spoiled with wonderful presents and you loved them all. I've never had carrot cake for breakfast before but it sounds so good I might try it too on my birthday. The Amazon wishlist is a great idea too. And well done to Richard for finding that amazing bracelet-- he did vwry well there! X

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  20. Belated birthday greetings, Christina. Good idea to have a wishlist to reduce the risk of surprises! I'd be very happy with the pb cups as well. Have a super weekend! xx

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  21. Happy belated birthday! Carrot cake sounds like the perfect start to a wonderful day. I love your gifts, especially that bracelet.
    I turn 40 in nine days. I'm excited about getting my hair cut and going on a little holiday. I agree with you about gifts - I rarely treat myself to anything costing over a couple of pounds these days so anything more indulgent has to be just right.
    Hope you have a great weekend and that the weather's better north of the border than it is here! x

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  22. Hey Christina,
    Happy birthday to you! Forty five isn't so bad I've decided. I m totally with you on present wish lists. I have one on Amazon that I keep well stocked. I do like your new bracelet very much indeed. How lovely to be married to someone who knows what you like! You have obviously trained him well.
    Leanne xx

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  23. Happy birthday, are you really 45?! You have such great skin, so living in Scotland is clearly a good thing for youthful complexions. I had to laugh at your comment about not having enough food in the house. Children are ravenous creatures, aren't they? They give the best gifts though.

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  24. happy birthday, lovely pressies, can't wait to see the dress made up x

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  25. Happy birthday lovely! They are fabulous presents especially given that they were all surprises. I would treat the Reece's in the same way ;). Good luck with your dress, the material is lovely xx

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  26. Belated Happy Birthday! I like the idea of carrot cake for breakfast what a lovely way to start your day, lovely gifts it's always nice to receive exactly what you want but I get quite upset when I receive something that I won't use or don't like it's such a waste! for that reason I do prefer money, I put into my gift envelope and and use it for the things I really like then send a text to whoever gave it to me and thank them for the gift of whatever I've bought. Thank you for your visit to my blog I have a feeling that making socks could become an addiction. :) xx

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  27. Happy birthday! I love your gifts especially that fabric and dress pattern. I hope you'll be sharing pics of the dress after you've made it :-) x

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  28. Happy birthday a few days late, Christina! It sounds like everyone in your family gave you a thoughtful present. I love that coloured pencil bracelet! Your idea of keeping an Amazon wish list where they can go for ideas is a great one. I've resorted to buying my own presents from Jay and then handing him the parcels when they arrive to keep until the appropriate day arrives. There's a box from the UK Amazon waiting to be given to me tomorrow (it's Mother's Day here on Sunday).

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  29. Happy birthday (you young thing!). I quite agree about national holidays. This year I am going to have to attend one of our major committees on my birthday, which is not my idea of fun.
    Your gifts are all so - colourful! The fabric is gorgeous and gives off such a happy vibe.

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  30. Happy belated birthday! Your gifts are lovely. The dress will be so nice! I'm glad you had such a good day.

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  31. Happy, Happy Belated Birthday. It sounds like you were properly adored. That wad of cash need to go towards more fabric and a pattern for you so you can have two new dresses.
    Hugs,
    MEredith

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  32. Belated birthday wishes - you obviously had a wonderful one. That dress fabric and pattern is gorgeous - can't wait to see it made up. And I also love the birthday box your daughter made. Offspring-produced presents are the best aren't they? Judy X

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  33. Hope you had a happy birthday. Annie's memory box was a lovely idea and that is a unique bracelet. I like your tactic of having a wish list - perhaps an idea we could use in this family. I hate buying gifts that aren't used and made an expensive error with husband's Christmas present this year.

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  34. Happy Birthday, honey! It looks like your family spoiled you. I would have hidden out with my Reese's PB cups too. No need to share on your birthday!!

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  35. Happy Birthday, honey! It looks like your family spoiled you. I would have hidden out with my Reese's PB cups too. No need to share on your birthday!!

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  36. I'm loving the dress fabric, how perfect will that be when you're finished. And it will go perfectly with your crayon jewellery. Happy Birthday m'dear :)

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  37. Happy Belated Birthday, Christina - I think your presents are wonderful and very thoughtful. The dress pattern and fabric are lovely and the bracelet, too. The children's gifts are the sweetest. :) Karen

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  38. Christina, I absolutely understand. I hate surprises and always give a list of "suggestions" to John to give to anyone who asks. And I share your love of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (although I wouldn't share one with you, sorry). What lovely gifts you received, it sounds like it was a great day. Happy birthday to you. xx

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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