Birthday stuff & challenges :)

I had a fabulous birthday yesterday, just what I needed!  :)  My mom made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and so did I - and we Skyped and had cake together.  hee hee   Helped with the homesickness, it really did.  Jeremy bought me this gorgeous Pandora bracelet, which I have wanted for a while now (but men need PRODDING, gentle hints don't seem to work - LOL):

Then Jeremy & the kids took me out to dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, it was delicious - here I am turning 41:

It's not so bad.  :)  You're only as young as you feel, right?  I definitely still feel young.  :)  My kids help with that - they made me the sweetest cards and commented that "Dad said we should go buy you a card, but we knew you'd rather have one that we made!"  They were right.  Trevor's said "happy birthday to the coolest hippie ever."  How awesome is that, that my 19-year-old son thinks I'm cool?  I think it's pretty great.  I love my kids.  :)  

I actually got pretty spoiled - Jeremy's mom got me a gift certificate to my favorite local spa (can you say MASSAGE???), my sister got me a Barnes & Noble gift certificate so I finally bought myself a Nook (regular Nook with Glowlight), and my friend and fellow Dilly Beans DT member Glo sent me a GORGEOUS card with the most perfect stamp - it's for the back of ATC's and it's got an angel on it!  That was just one of the sweetest and most thoughtful things for her to do - I was thrilled!  :)  You know how they say "it's the thought that counts"?  Well, it really is.  Thank you, Glo!  :) 

So anyway - I have a couple of cards to share today, my first one is for the:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Kristina's Inspiration Photo 

 

And here's my take on it:

My sweet kitty is from Saturated Canary, DP is from My Mind's Eye, ribbon is from SU!  Sentiment is a sticker from SRM Stickers.  Flower & button are from my stash.

Next is my card for:
 
and

DigiStamp Boutique - August Challenge

I used Beach Rosie from the DigiStamp Boutique, DP is from My Mind's Eye and sentiment is a sticker from SRM Stickers.

Peace.