SPOILED ROTTEN!!!!

AND IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Now I am one of those lucky people whose birthdays last for weeks!!!!

My first "appointment" for my birthday was breakfast with my friend Michelle.  We met at Mugg & Bean in Town Square on Thursday 7th and had a lovely catch up over a shared breakfast of eggs benedict and flap jacks.

She spoiled me with this beautiful summer scarf and necklace >>>

Next was breakfast with my friend Linda Le Warne on the very next day ... We met at Mon Petit Throbb on Monte Casino Boulevard ... It is a stunning little restaurant where they focus on really fresh food.  The chef bakes artisan break in the pizza oven ... I need to get back there to buy some of that bread.

Their food looks like artwork and it took us a bit long to order our breakfast because we were talking so much!  I had french toast and Linda had a Country Breakfast ...

After the bill was paid we kept seeing one of the waitresses delivering these gorgeous looking juices so we ordered one with carrot and orange ... DELICIOUS!!!!

Linda spoiled me with all these goodies and amongst them was Contempo gift card ... I am going to buy myself a white blouse with it.

Satuday 9th I met Ali at her house and we popped over the road to Mugg & Bean for a quick breakfast before our shopping trip.  She blessed me with a birthday card which contained a voucher for a meal and time out with her.  I will be redeeming my voucher on the 5th March ... All confirmed and in the diary.

We popped out to PNA at Horizon ... unfortunately the scrapbook paper was in a bit of a mess as all their focus was on the back to school stuff however she managed to get enough paper for two challenge layouts.  We then popped past Scrapbook 'n Things and I stocked up on click 'n stick ... I am sure when Lara sees me coming she cringes as she knows that her stock of click 'n stick is going to be depleted.

On my way home I popped past Tekkie Town in Blackheath Plaza to get my birthday gift from my boys ... Takkies.  I threw in a couple pairs of socks at the same time as mine are worse for wear.

13th January 2016 ... 53 years since the day I was born.

So TODAY is my birthday and my boss gave me the day off.  Connor and Steph brought me to Krispy Kreme at Rosebank and we enjoyed the most awesome donuts and I had a mega cup of coffee ...

We trawled the mall after Krispy Kreme and at lunch time I took Connor and Steph to Ocean Basket for a quick lunch.  After lunch we went into the shops in The Zone to look for a wallet for Connor ... we found one that was 40% off!!! Yipppppeeeeee!!!!!  We hit the traffic just after three and I was delighted to be home by 3:30.

Connor suggested that we try Doppio Zero at Mall of the South for dinner so he and Steph went off to fetch Talora (Connor's best friend) and we met them there.  We had a lovely relaxed evening with these gorgeous young people.  Talora gave us some insights into her recent trip to Europe with her parents.

Talora spoiled me with this lovely set from The Body Shop ... Of course it is my favourite colour!!!!

Saturday 16th ... Noleen called and asked if I would like to come round for coffee after lunch and I said I would enjoy that. Wendy had popped round so when I told her I was going to Noleen she said she would come with as she had not seen Noleen in a while.

Gordon and Noleen gave me a Sorbet Voucher ... which I need to use desperately ... THANKS!!!!!

And there was an envelope from Nicholas, Salma and the boys with a voucher from the craft shop You Inspire Me in Meyersdal.

I have truly been spoiled rotten and here are the gorgeous gifts I have been blessed with ...

Stephanie's Mom Carol made me this gorgeous necklace ... Which was beautifully wrapped.

My friend AnnaMarie made me this awesome blouse ... I can't wait to wear it but I had to try it on and send her a thank you picture.  She did not realise that my birthday is in January and was so stressed that the blouse would not be ready on my birthday that she gave me a birthday card with a little blouse cut out of the material inside the back of the card.

 My precious niece Taryn sent me this gorgeous shrug type wrap ... I LOVE it!!!!  It is ideal for cooler summer days and will be great with a long sleeved black top during winter.

My friend Susan posted me this gorgeous make-up bag with scented cupboard sachets.

 

Monday 18th ... Wendy popped round this evening and gave me a gift bag filled with goodies ... It had two of the bras I love and need, some Oh So Heavenly smellies, two fizz bombs and a packet of frutus hard candy (it's the first time I have ever seen them!) ... Yummy!!!!

 

On Tuesday 19th my friend Sam and I were meeting at Cradlestone to do an interview so we had a quick breakfast at Mugg & Bean ... She spoiled me with this gorgeous necklace, bracelet and an aromatherapy heat pad ... Connor heated it up last night while I was working at my scrapbook table ... it was heavenly!!!

 Thank you for spoiling me and making me feel so special.

Happy Birthday Jarod

It was Jarod's birthday on 23rd November (we did pop over for a cuppa coffee and to give him his gift) but due to it being on the same weekend as Toy Run, which means that Graeme is away for long hours and is exhausted when he gets home, his 'celebration' was held over until Saturday 30th November.  

We picked up some pizza's and Wendy made some dessert and we all congregated at their house for a lovely lunch.  As usual the camera was out to catch the silliness which ensues with teenage boys and to get photos of the rest of the family ...

Schatzie and his "girlfriend" 

Gordon and Wendy

Noleen and Mom

Me with the love of my life

Gordon and Noleen

Liam was very patient while I did these selfies ... He is adorable!!!!

Trying to get a serious photo of Schatzie is quite difficult ... Here I tried to get his attention away from Wendy's 'girls' ...

Norma loves to sit on her brothers-in-laws laps ...

Happy Birthday Byron!!!

This morning I was up early and worked on e-mails and caught up on Facebook before waking Connor and Liam and going to the gym for an hour ... after walking for 15 minutes, 60 back extensions, 40 abdominal crunches, 2 leg machines and 10 minutes on the bicycle we dropped Liam at home and had a quick cuppa coffee with Wendy.  We rushed home as Richard had said that he needed to go to Spaar on Spares to change a part for my car service but when we got home he said he had already done it so I took Connor for a croissant at Fego ... I had breakfast early this morning so I indulged in a Café Latte.

After a lovely soak in the tub we got ready and went through to Byron for afternoon tea to celebrate his 19th birthday ... Birthdays are special and I had a lovely afternoon.  I left Connor there when I came home to scrapbook.

Byron's Mom was VERY clever and used the 18 candle from his last birthday and added an extra one!!

18 + 1 ... Best buds always know what the other one is thinking!!!

Kayla and Byron

Before dinner we popped out to fetch him and after dinner I got straight back to my scrapbook table. I have completed 15 pages and have laid out the next 2 to do tomorrow ... I am a bit tired so didn't want to start something which I could mess up. 

I hope your Sunday has been particularly Stunning and that you are ready for the week ahead. 

23 January ... Hello

It's been 24 days since my last post ... and it's been a busy time.

We spent 31st December 2012 with Wendy, Schatzie and the kids watching the Royal Variety Show and then caught some of the fireworks going on in the area.  We got home at around 00h30 and were up again and at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens for our New Year Walk with my friend Alison followed by breakfast.  We had a lovely time.

5 January ... Connor and I rushed off to The Glen for our hairdresser's appointment and had a frustrating 1 hour wait while Bryan finished off another client who had come in for a cut and ended up having a very intense treatment on her hair.  I am not very good when it comes to appointments being late so by the time Connor's hair was but and it was my time I was highly frustrated ... That is a small thing in comparison to the BBM message posted by my Area Manager, Eddie McGilton ~ his 6 year old son was diagnosed on that very day with Lymphoma (Cancer of the Lymph nodes).  I was devastated for him.

The highlight of the day ... To be able to celebrate Taryn's 22nd birthday with her!!!  We were unable to celebrate her 21st birthday with her last year so this was an absolute pleasure.  We went to Torino's and had a lovely evening in the presence of our family ~ Norma was unable to join us as she had a 21st for one of Wesley's friends.

7 January ... Leonie and I spent an impromptu scrapping day with Alison ~ She sent us an invite and said "I'm scrapping anyways ... wanna join me?"  We had a lovely day filled with great scrapbook pages and wonderful friendship.

9 January ... Sister's Dinner ~ we went to Rossi's again ~ I wanted Taryn to experience it as we keep speaking about the place.  We had a good evening and it was wonderful to have my gorgeous God Daughter with us.

12 January ... Taryn was very good with giving individual attention to all of us ... So Saturday 12 January was my day ... I firstly took her to Sandton City to the Justine shop to get some stuff she needed to take home with her, we had breakfast at Mugg & Bean (I had a half slice of lemon meringue pie and coffee ~ the other half I saved for my friend Sandra!!!) and then a leisurely stroll through some of the shops.  We jumped into my car and popped past Thrupps in Illovo to see if we could find her some liquorice jelly beans (her favourite are Manhattan Jelly Beans but we cannot find them anywhere so we substituted them with Jelly Belly Liquorice Jelly Beans which she kinda liked) and then it was time to get to Killarney for our pedicures.  We had a wonderfully relaxed time at the beauty salon and came out with pretty toes!!!

13 January ... came rushing at me all too quickly!!!  Happy Birthday to me!!! I can't believe I am a whole 50 years young ... I can still clearly remember being 32 and pregnant with my son!!!  I got up quite early, showered and dressed and then the boys and I picked Taryn up and we drove through to Al Fresco's to make sure everything was organised for our luncheon.  I had invited 50 friends and family to join us for lunch and (in my opinion) we had a lovely time.  Unfortunately I have had some feedback that the service and food were not great but hey ... what can a girl do!!!???

I was spoiled rotten and got amazing gifts (an air fryer from my sisters, gift vouchers from Mom, Linda, Sandra, Cheryl, Gina, a beautiful lantern from the Rheinicke's, perfume (which smells really nice on me) from the Cresswell's, a beautiful blouse and fan from the Wood's and many other gifts.  We left the restaurant around 5 and went past Wendy to drop Jarod off and then dropped Byron off at home.  We spent a relaxing evening at home.  And so the 50's begin!!!

14 January ... Taryn is going home tonight and it is Wendy's first day back at work so I took my birthday day off and spent the day with Taryn.  We had breakfast at Fego's at The Glen, then popped into Crafters Market where I got her a bracelet with gorgeous charms on it, walked around a bit and popped into Boardman's and got a water bottle (for her from her Mom without her knowing about it!!!) and then back to her house so she could get ready for the airport.  I fetched Connor from school and then back to Wendy's to fetch Taryn and we drove through to the airport so she could book in early.  We had dinner at Nando's with many photos and then came the time for her to leave ... OMGoodness!!!!!  None of us were ready to let her go as we do not know when next we will get to see her.  This little lady owns a HUGE part of my heart and I can just imagine how Wendy felt seeing her walk down the line towards the security area.  I tried very hard to keep it together but eventually the tears were flowing.  We watched and waved until we couldn't see her anymore.

19 - 20 January ... It's our first official scrapbook weekend of the year.  It was Ali's birthday on Thursday 17th so it was our Capricorn Celebratory weekend.  I was up early on Saturday, packed the car and drove through to Ali.  The other girls joined us, we had a lovely cuppa coffee and then we got to open our birthday gifts.  I had gotten Ali an album and did the front page for her.

I was stunned into silence by the gift from my girls ... some lovely sweeties (fudge and coconut ice ~ which are two of my ALL TIME favourites) and a R1,200 gift voucher from Scrap-a-doodles!!!!!  I cannot wait to visit them and see what I can add to my scrapbooking stash.

We scrapped for a while and then had a light lunch of quiche and salad and then at 13h45 we drove through to The Memory Shed where we did a class and then had an early dinner at Simply Asia.  Back at Ali's we scrapped until midnight, I had a bath and then fell into bed. 

Sunday ... another day filled with scrapping, friendship and great food ~ I made a breakfast of muesli & yoghurt followed by croissants, scrambled egg and bacon.  Ali made us a gorgeous pasta and crumbed chicken breast lunch.  All too soon 5pm rolled around and it was time to pack up.  Well ... that's our birthday's for another year (or until we celebrate our half birthdays in July!!! LOL!!!!)