Stuff I'm Loving Right Now.

• Silk + Sonder. I started my subscription to this monthly journal/planner hybrid. It comes with membership to a supportive, inspiring Facebook group. People share their creative pages and give each other ideas for how to use the blank Notes pages. I'm almost done using my first month's janner! I also got the Annual Supplement, which I'll work on throughout the year. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the janner and my journal, but it's been fine. Once I finish February, I'll post some of my pages. 
• Long-stem strawberries. These are huge and sweet. I've never enjoyed strawberries so much, and I'm not even eating them with whipped cream. 
• Francesca Lia Block's Rose and the Beast. I'm rereading this. It's the first Block book I read. I found it completely by accident at the Arboretum Barnes. The cover is so gorgeous. I love fairy tale retellings. It's fulfilling my fairy-tale-a-day goal right now. Her language just drips with sparkle. Next month, I'm taking a writing and healing class with Block! I can't believe it. I've just finished reading her Thorn Necklace, a memoir/book on writing. I'm trying to get reacquainted with her work. I've also gathered some of the books she's discussed in Thorn Necklace. I want to get as much as possible out of this class. How many people get to take a class with their favorite authors? Care to join in? 
• Fairy Tales from Hans Christian Anderson, with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. My mom sent me this as a gift to help with my fairy-tale-a-day habit. Tasha Tudor is one of our favorite artists. The vintage book even has a snowflake on it. I love snowflakes.
• Dreams about snow. We only gotten a glimpse or two of snow here, but I've been dreaming about beautiful, non-destructive snow. I've seen huge, intricate snowflakes that show off their designs and stick to windows and branches. Usually, my dreams are complex and stressful, so this was a nice change. 
• PrismaColor pencils. I discovered these when I took a homeschool art class at thirteen. I've loved them and bought them for others ever since. I chose seven colors (violet, medium purple, pink, deep rose, silver, forest green, and bright blue) to use in my janner this month. I've used them not just for the included coloring page but also for habit and mood trackers. 
• Madame Alexander dolls. I just can't get over them. I finally got the two 10-inch dolls I've wanted so much (one of them I've wanted for about twenty years): Jo Goes to New York Trunk Set and the lovely Jane Eyre. I've set up the Anne of Green Gables doll I got from my parents for my eighth birthday as well. A couple of years ago, my mom gave me a 10-inch Cinderella--gorgeous. Most of my dolls are 20+ years old, but they're all beautiful. I have them atop bookcases and my dresser in the study and my bedroom. I'm having surgery week after next, and those dolls will keep me company and give me something beautiful to look at while I recover.
• Paperblanks journals. My favorite journal brand is Peter Pauper Press, but Paperblanks is up there. The journal covers usually feature antique designs with metallic details. The journals come in Ultra, Midi, Mini, and Slim sizes. I have a couple of each. 
• Papier journals. These are new to me. They feature designs from various artists and include personalization. One of mine is titled, "Becky Nicole's Notes on Love." The pages are thick enough to take a fountain pen with no bleeding and only mild ghosting. 
• Zazzle.com. My mom hesitantly introduced me to this site. You can search for an image and buy just about any product you can think of (notebooks, stickers, labels, light switch covers, posters, wooden signs, pens...) with that image. While searching for fairies and mermaids, I discovered...
• Molly Harrison's fairies and mermaids. If you like Amy Brown, you'll like MH. 

My 34th Birthday.

I used to be particular about my birthday: celebration had to happen on the actual day. I've gotten over that, so my birthday spread into mid-June, both ways.

I get a beautiful card in the mail every year from my grandparents. They sent me a Target gift card for fun. Some time soon, I'll go on a spree and remember to tell Nanna and Grandpa what I bought.

Bruce and I have birthdays two days apart (and he's 3 years younger), so we celebrate once together. I focused on writing and Broadway's The Lion King for Bruce's gifts. He gave me a few journals (roses and mermaids) and several books he believed I'd like. I can't wait to read them all.

Josh gave me what I requested: an Urban Decay (my favorite fancy makeup brand) birthday. He gave me gel with large and tiny lilac glitter. He gave me UD's Game of Thrones eye shadow palette. I don't care much about G of T, but the palette is one of my favorites; only 3 of 20 shadows are matte. He gave me a Heavy Metal glitter liner in a new Christmas green. And he gave me two eyeliners--Viper, metallic purple with fuchsia glitter and Electric Empire, a sparkly emerald shade. I'm excited to try everything. I have used the palette and the eye pencils so far.

Mom mailed me a piece of sewing with a dark-haired fairy, a hydrangea in her hand and wild violets at her feet. I have it propped up on the bookcase by my bed. A couple of years ago, Mom gave me a framed drawing of a mermaid with dark hair and green eyes like mine. When we arrived in Charlotte, Mom gave me a gorgeous clear box with rainbow-haired mermaids. I wish I could find more. And heavy seahorse bookends. I love how seahorses just pop up in my life.

After our quiet trip, we saw Dad and Michelle, who gave us gift cards on top of giving us our first getaway. Michelle had a gift she kept forgetting to give me. It' a medium-length silver necklace with a silver circle with amethyst crystals hanging from it. My taste!

So I'm 34 now, some great new books and new makeup to play with along with other sweet objects and fun future shopping. It's a good start.