Celebrating My B-day Hawaiian Style

Thanks to my hubby and my kids I was able to celebrate with some friends from church, work, and from grad school at one of my favorite Hawaiian restaurants this past Sunday night.  We got there a little earlier to set up the decorations and

place cards.  My hubby and I worked on the place cards until 1am on Saturday. We thought it would be best to have place cards so that all our friends at the party would be comfortable.

As our friends arrived we gave each of them a lei and I took a picture with them.  Benson also gave each of them a note card to write me a message on.  (When I read the messages when I got home they were all very touching and brought tears of thankfulness to my eyes.)

As we were waiting our meals to be served I took some group pictures with my guests.

We all enjoyed our ono  "Shaka Plate" dinners which includes a mac salad, rice, a musubi, chicken salad, sesame chicken, and BBQ beef.

Before we ate our dinner my hubby lead grace to thank the Lord for our meal, the people that were present to celebrate with me, and a special b-day blessing for me.  After dinner everyone sang "Happy B-day" to me before we enjoyed a delicious piece of mango cake.

As my friends were about to leave, I gave each family a bag of Hawaiian cookies with a tag that I made as their "thank you" party favor.

The party on Sunday was perfect.  I thank my hubby and our kids are giving me such an awesome party.  He not only paid for everything,  made the invitations for the party and helped emboss all the tags for the party favors. I feel very blest to have such a wonderful hubby and kids as well as such  good friends to celebrate with.  I am grateful for all the fun festivities that I have had in the past few weeks.  One more party to go.  LOL!  :)

A Delicious Post

As part of my b-day celebration my hubby and worked half day so that we can have lunch date together.  We went Olive Garden, a local Italian restaurant.  Our lunch started off with bread sticks and salad.  (Actually we had an unlimited amount of bread sticks and salad.)

Benson ordered unlimited chicken and dumpling soup

and I ordered a steak portebello panini with soup.

We had a tiramisu for dessert- a complimentary gift from the restaurant for my b-day.

Here we are before digging in to eat the yummy piece of tiramisu.

The celebrating continued with dinner with my hubby and kids at Claim Jumpers.  This is what we each ordered.

We had a red velvet cupcake for dessert.

It has been a blast celebrating my b-day for the past two weeks with different people in my life.  I look forward to a little more celebrating before my festivities come to an end for this b-day.

Administrator Assistant Day

I feel very blest to have 5 secretaries at work that are always super helpful to me and the rest of the staff.  My job would definitely be so much harder without their help.  In honor of Administrator Assistant Day today I made a tag for them using the "Two Tags" die from Stampin Up.

The flower is from a stamp set called Punch Bunch  and the words are from a set called  For Everything.  When the I was looking through my shelf to see what words to use on the tags I thought the words that I picked perfectly described how I felt.  I stamped "THANKS for everything you do." I wrote each of them a personal message on the back. I attached the tag to a bag that I put shortbread cookies and a chocolate spoon.

I thought that it was a fun, yummy treat to surprise each of them with to show them how much I appreciate them and to show them some extra "love."

A Fun Store

Awhile back when my family and I were in Maui we visited the store

I loved the store.  The next time you are on the island be sure to stop by at the store to do some shopping.  Until then be sure to check out their blog at http://www.islandpaperie.blogspot.com/ They are having a giveaway.  Be sure to stop by soon.  Thier giveaway ends this Friday.

Part 1 of My B-day Festivities

I had a sensational day today celebrating my birthday today with some of my friends.  It started off with going out to breakfast with my good friend Anna at Corner Bakery.  ( Anna was not able to make it to my party this afternoon so she wanted to treat me out for breakfast and purchase some make up for me as my b-day gift.)

Then we went Nordstroms to get my make up done at the Lancome counter. Here is a before and after picture of me.

I wanted a natural everyday look so I was very pleased with the outcome.  What you think?

After that I went home to relax for about 30 minutes.  Then I was off to my good friend Sandy's house for the party that her and two other friends (Sherri and Susanna) threw for me.

I was in awe of all the fabulous decorations,

craft projects that were prepped for us to make,

and the yummy food.

Before the party started Sherri had each person introduce themselves and to talk about how they met me.  Some of them gave me some very heartwarming comments about our friendship which got me a bit emotional.   Next we Susanna said a very touching prayer and said grace for our refreshments.  Most of the guests did their crafting before they ate. After eating and making our projects everyone gathered together to sing "Happy Birthday" to me.  (This is when Benson dropped Kylie off to join the party.)

Before everyone made their own cupcakes I gave a little "speech" to thank everyone for coming and expressed to them how much I appreciate each of them and their friendship.  At that point I of course got a bit emotional again.  I gave each person a "thank you" party favor that I put together for them.

Inside the card I stamped "A friend like you is a gift from God." I also made some flowers and attached them to a box with a gift for my three friends that threw the party for me. As everyone was finishing up their cupcakes and were about ready to leave, we took a group picture together.

We also had a raffle.  My daughter picked numbers out and Bonny, Roberta, and Wynde were the lucky winners.

Part 1 of my b-day festivities was very special to me and will forever be treasured.  Stay tune for pictures of my b-day festivities soon.  I promise that the next one won't be as lengthy.  LOL!

Out to Dinner for Mexican Food

Yikes!  I have sure been eating a lot this week.  I was fortunate enough this evening to spend some time with my friend Esther.  We became friends a few years ago through taking craft classes together and hit it off since.

We had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant called Rudy's.  She ordered a seafood enchilada and

I ordered a seafood chile relleno.

Esther has eaten at Rudy's before and suggested that I order what I did.  I am sure glad that I did.  It was very good.  The seafood that they use is very fresh.  Before going our separate ways we gave each other a RAK.  She surprised me with a flip it card made using her new Sizzix die.

Here is the card opened up.

I made this Spring treat for her using the Petal Cone die from Stampin Up and two of the punches from the company.

It was so much fun having dinner with Esther and having a chance to hang out together.  I look forward to seeing you again one day soon. Thanks everyone for stopping by.  Have a fab weekend!

March's Anything Goes Swap

My mojo must be on vacation again.  Yes, again.  I have been thinking for about a week what to make as a tag for the favors for a get together that I will be having.  I thought I had a good idea until I sat down today to make it.  My wheels in my brain were spinning and spinning for awhile trying to figure out what would be good to make.  Finally I came up with a tag.  Be sure to come by on the weekend to find out what I made.  :)  For today's post I will be sharing what I made for the "Anything Goes" swap for last month.  This is what I came up with for Cindy. I sent her a few extra items as a little RAK. 

Check out the beautiful card that Cyndi made for me with so much detail and in my favorite colors too. 

She sent along some a very thoughtful RAK too.

Thanks again Cyndi for wonderful card and RAK.  I hope that you were inspired by what I had to share today.