Reality check.
I had a really nice, low-key birthday yesterday! I started off the day with a 50 minute power walk around the lake to prepare myself to eat this later that night.
My husband told me I could have whatever I wanted, but if you know me, you know I love this local restaurant. Nothing special...just relaxing dinner in a low lit mexican restaurant. The three of us. Fabulous. I had a slice of chocolate cake in the afternoon at my parent's house, but that's about it!
I managed to make you a free background...hope you like it!
And I managed the second to last page in the "Living Room". The rest of the day was pretty great! My friends Olivia and Manny sent me a really great tote bag and some gift certificates to Paper Source...Laura sent me a handmade card and cool little notebook to practice lettering in...I also got a big box of flea market treasures from my friend Michael, a couple of books off Amazon and a house. No biggie.
A HOUSE!! YEEEEHHHHAAAWWWW! I am moving into the neighborhood I grew up in. I have been under so much stress for the last 100 days or so waiting for this deal to become a reality and now it is happening! We'll have a quick escrow (as quick as they can process our paperwork) followed with a pretty extensive remodel...I'll be designing my new studio from the ground up. I can't wait! We think we'll probably move in around July 4th....we have not had an inspection yet, so keep your fingers crossed that we didn't buy the money-pit.
So now the fun whirlwinds of Mother's Day and Day of Julie are over and it's back to nomal around here. Thanks for all your birthday wishes yesterday! It was really fun to read all of your emails and I appreciate them so much!!
A HOUSE, how wonderful. Hope all goes smooth with the remodelling and the move. What a great summer this is going to be for you.
Posted by: Dymphie | May 13, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Oh, permanent place - that's wonderful! Right now I am redoing my floors upstairs and just got in trouble with my co-op board. Oy.
I am glad you got your notebook!
Best,
Laura
Posted by: Laura | May 13, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Oh my gosh, congratulations!!! You must be so excited! Can't wait to see what you do with the new studio.
Woohoo!
xo,
Carmen
Posted by: Carmen | May 13, 2008 at 06:20 AM
Congratulations! Congratulations! I have my fingers crossed and a deep feeling that everything is going to be just perfect. I'm so glad you found the house! I will start looking for one as of today... Happy birthday (one day later). I will never look at dates on eggs the same way... xo
Posted by: Zorana | May 13, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Wowza, a house! There's a great gift! Can't wait to see the pictures before AND after ~ sending good thoughts at you that the inspection turns out to be nothing but great news!
Posted by: Heather | May 13, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Now that's what I call a birthday gift! A HOUSE!!!! That's great news....and a studio to design! I'd say you had a fantastic birthday/Mother's Day celebration. Congratulations!
Posted by: Janet | May 13, 2008 at 08:14 AM
Awesome day! When you said 'a house', at first I thought it was a chipboard book of some sort... BUT a real house! AND in the neighborhood you grew up in?????? SO DARN AWESOME!!!!
What a perfect birthday!
Hey, and thanks for the background paper! It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal) | May 13, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Congrats Dude!!! Now I'll have a place to run away from home to.
Posted by: shari | May 13, 2008 at 09:42 AM
OMG those chips are making my mouth water! So glad to hear that you had a wonderful Birthday! I am so happy you found a house too!
Your pages are gorgeous!
Posted by: Kim H | May 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Julie -- Happy (albeit belated) Birthday wishes and felicidades on your new casa! Sounds like it going to be a great year. Loved your penultimate page for the Living Room. Can't wait to see what comes next. Perhaps the Day of Julie will be followed by the Year of Julie?
Posted by: JeriAnn | May 13, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Congratulations and best wishes!!!! That's for the birthday and the house!! Hope everything works out for you...
Posted by: Randi | May 13, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Some how I totally missed your birthday. Well HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and Congratulations on new house. So exciting.
Posted by: Sharon at Norah'S | May 13, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Many blessings for many more years to come!
Posted by: LebaneseExpat | May 13, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Many blessings and hugs :)
Posted by: Neda | May 13, 2008 at 06:04 PM
I'm glad you had a happy birthday. I know what you mean about local favorite restaurants. I have a great little mexican restaurant in the neighborhood too. Looks yummy indeed. What a pretty background you created. I love the colors and the peeks of music. And yes... it is wonderful you are moving to a place you'll love - and how nice it is in your old neighborhood.
Posted by: maralena | May 14, 2008 at 04:48 AM
Congratulations Julie ! That is quite the birthday gift ! Getting to plan out your studio sounds like a dream come true !!!
May all the details go through smoothly...
Cheers,
Kim
Posted by: Kimbo | May 14, 2008 at 05:16 AM
Congratulations!! And GOOD LUCK with the new home :)
Posted by: Godelieve | May 14, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Do you sell your artwork? I think you should start an Etsy shop and make them available for purchase! You are so talented!
Blessings!
Lacy
Posted by: Razor Family Farms | May 14, 2008 at 08:56 AM
what a great gift a house.....a new studio that you can design exactly the way you want it. A good post when your not quite so busy is a wish list that you would like in your studio...and it also could give others ideas, or we could tell you what we find we need in our studios...
Posted by: lee | May 14, 2008 at 01:01 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
I am so happy for you! What a relief and an excitement! And, in the neighborhood where you grew up!! What a fabulous day!
Belated Happy Birthday wishes! May all your best dreams come true!!!
Posted by: Barbara Hagerty | May 15, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Congratulations!!! I know you have really been looking forward to a house. That is great news.
Oh - and Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Cathrine StClair | May 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Thank you for that fabulous background, I saved it immediately. Love those soft colours.
Posted by: Hermine | May 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM
So sorry, forgot to mention your birthday. Hope you had a great time.
Posted by: Hermine | May 15, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Ah at last.. congrats with the new home and also with these layouts!
Posted by: Jacqueline | May 17, 2008 at 01:28 AM
Congratulations on your house! I just moved into "the money pit"(the home inspection confirmed it) (my very own first house!)but it is worth every penny!
Posted by: martha brown | May 17, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Wow. Now that's the way to celebrate your birthday!
I hope you have a great time designing your craft space. Do you have a huge list of wants and needs?
Anyways, congratulations on the house.
That's very exciting!
Posted by: Kathi | May 17, 2008 at 07:21 PM
CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS on the new house! It's so exciting! Everything new. I hope you can move in soon.
Posted by: Tania | May 18, 2008 at 01:37 PM