No School? Now, that's a birthday gift!!!

At 5:50 this morning, I was all ready to start my day. Showered, dressed, hair done (and I do mean curled), and make-up applied, I just needed to pack the lunchbags, and wake up the rugrats. Then the phone rang...

"School will be closed due to dangerously low wind-chill temperatures."

Good: A day off from students!

Bad: It was a half day, and I was supposed to have a long overdue lunch date with a friend.

Good: It is below freezing outside...

Bad: What about the last final exams for the semester??

Good: A day to sew and finish "Eclipse" (the 3rd Twilight book)!

Bad: My sewing back story is nearly finished, but saved on my hard drive... at work!!!

Good: Tomorrow is my birthday, and a day off has been earned after 35 years, don't you think?

So, why let a good hair day go to waste? DH (I love you!) took my picture (check out the profile pic!) and I will spend the day playing hide and seek, cutting a skirt pattern (Dawn: the fabric's in the mail!), and thinking about turning 35 tomorrow... not a bad thing, really. 25 seems so young (It was my first year teaching and I was planning my wedding!), and 45 seems so far away (my kids will be teenagers... Yikes!), so 35 seems perfect to me.

Yesterday, DH was interrogating me about my (non-existent) birthday list. I had told him he could just put the money aside for my New York City trip (date to be determined, Hi Lindsay!), but he had some other ideas...

1. A Kindle, an electronic book gadget that I would love to see in person before choosing. I love to read, and this eliminates the bulk and allows you to also view newspapers, magazines, and some blogs. Really neat, but stupid expensive.

2. A remote car starter. I appreciate that he wants me to be warm, but I'll pass.

3. Leather high-heeled Harley boots that I've been coveting since last summer. Love the thicker stiletto heel and that they're ankle height.

I know it slightly frustrates him, but it really doesn't matter to me what he chooses, because I have everything I could ever want. I am blessed in so many ways, that I feel a little weird asking for more. I'm in love with and married to my best friend, have 2 wonderful, happy and healthy kids, am gainfully employed (See, Dad? Becoming a math teacher instead of an engineer wasn't such a bad plan!) and *love* my job. My family is mostly nearby (gotta love Facebook!), I am healthy (but working on the excess pounds gained since marriage and motherhood), and in the last year have established a new circle of sewing friends online (Yay! I'm not alone anymore!) I think I've finally reached that point in life when I'm not waiting for the next chapter (graduation, employment, engagement, marraige, motherhood... well, except for retirement!) and I'm pretty content with who I've become. There are a few things I need to work on, but if I could stay at this point in my life forever, I'd be just fine (been reading too many vampire stories lately)! Wow, this blog post wasn't supposed to be so deep and reflective, sorry!

So, leather boots, reading gadget, cash for NYC... it's all icing on the cake! Here, have a slice with me...

Better Than Sex Cake

(That's what my friends call it...)

1 chocolate cake mix

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

1 jar Sanders milk chocolate hot fudge

1 med. tub Cool Whip

1 bag almond toffee bits by Heath

Bake cake as directed on box. As soon as it comes out of the oven, use handle of wooden spoon to poke holes in top. Drizzle can of condensed milk into holes until gone. Pour Sanders hot fudge topping on next. Let cool, then top with Cool Whip. Refrigerate until ready to serve, then sprinkle on toffee bits, just before serving. Enjoy!