Happy Birthday... To Me!

Yes, another year has come and gone. I can definitely say that I've come into a little bit more wisdom, a lot more faith, great dreams and hopes, and a little more time that it takes to remember things…. :)

For my birthday today, I thought I’d post on things I love, would like to announce and just on whatever-the-heck I want to!

I was so pleased when Michelle from Writer-in-Transit awarded me with gifts for winning her A-Z Challenge posts. I did love her posts, which entailed making up definitions to crazy words she made up and gave her own definitions to. It was great fun that fulfilled my love of doing writing prompts.

Well, she said she had sent me a “hamper” from her hometown in South Africa. When I received the package it was a surprise and very exciting. Opening it up and seeing the numerous gifts and crafts inside was like opening presents on Christmas. Here’s a picture of all the goodies, including various note pads (what writer could have too many?), postcards, bracelets, a necklace, bookmarks, brooch, key chains, craft bags, and numerous other fun items:

Thank You Michelle! 

Speaking of the A-Z Challenge. During the “S” post, I had written about when an old friend and I got caught shoplifting candy, which encompassed us opening a bag of candy in the middle of the store and eating it. Okay, although I did say we were in elementary school, I don’t think I mentioned that we were very young. I’m bad at remembering ages, but I’d say we were probably in 2^nd or 3^rd grade.

I hadn’t seen Alison since high school. We had grown apart after about fifth or sixth grade. But I contacted her, and we met for lunch. It was great. I didn’t know if I’d recognize her, but she looked so much the same. Here are before and after pictures of us:

Since the after picture is such a scary picture of me, here's one of my favorite photos, which was during halloween a couple of years ago. I unashamedly called myself "Natural Beauty" :)

Another thing I’m announcing today is my book, Salted With Fire. Although I’ve talked about it before, I’m glad to announce that it’s now complete. Here’s the book cover! It’s a very short book of flash fiction and poetry with pictures inside. Here’s the complete cover (you can see a clearer picture of it by clicking on it). It will be available next week.

Now, a gift to myself. I just had to post a picture of something that will tempt me badly. I’m horrible because I love food competition TV shows, including, but not limited to, Top Chef, Master Chef, Bar B Q Pitmasters, Worst Cooks in America, Around the World in 80 Plates, Iron Chef America, The Next Iron Chef, Chopped, Food Network Star, Sweet Genius, Sugar Dome (although I don’t like the host), Celebrity Cook Off, The Next Great Baker, and Cupcake Wars.

You get the picture? I torment myself watching these shows, and consequences occur. I get hungry! Now, when I was younger, I never cared for cupcakes. They’re messy to eat, not as appetizing as cakes, etc. After watching Cupcake Wars, I’ve become addicted to cupcakes and try to stay away from shops where I can taste those wonderful little goodies.

But it’s my birthday, so here’s my gift of the most fantastic pictures of cupcakes I could find and put together! Oh boy! 

Thank you for coming to my birthday celebration!