Overwhelmed...

...but in a good way. In the past few weeks, with the anticipation of my 30th Birthday and all the surprises of last weekend, I just haven't been quite myself. I am the one usually planning these types of events for others, so to be in the spotlight {although cool} made me feel a bit out of place. This weekend has allowed me to re-group and settle into my groove again. So to all the readers I have out there, thanks for being so patient with me. And I can't express enough how special my friends have made me feel lately...thanks so much!

Today my best friend Dee-Ann made my day! She did a top-ten list all about ME! Wow does she know me and we have so much in common, thanks Dee for this great treat. Your list is absolutely scrapbookable! Dido back to you...except your household makes the greatest ribs (refer to #9 on the list) Check it out here: Dee's BLOG.

Check below for my 'catch-up' of the Year of Color Challenges. And remember, if you'd like to join, it's fun & free. All you have to do is contact Dee-Ann.

Chestnut Brown: A Year of Color - Week 7

Chestnut Brown is our daughter Scarlett's eyes.

And coffee grounds.

Black: A Year of Color - Week 6

Black is my iCAT.

Apple Green: A Year of Color - Week 5

Granny Smith Apple Green is Ace's old room in our last house. Since we didn't know his sex before he was born, we had an 'apple' theme going on in the nursery...we didn't want a babyish room, so this was a nice twist for a baby boy or girl.

Flower Crazy

For my birthday I picked up some supplies from my local scrapbook store, Scrapbookers Paradise. They sang me Happy Birthday and gave me 20% off of my purchase that day. I kinda went a bit overboard with the flowers...I guess that means I'm stocked up.

Spa Day Goodies

I had fun hand-stamping these goodies for my girlfriends...thought I'd share them with you!

Spa Day invitation (details printed on back)

Gift bags for my girlfriends...shockingly easy to make!


Goodies inside: card, stamp and magnet


Just love this card and 'yes' those are real bon-bon cups

Jenny & her goodies

Kim displaying her gift bag

Details of 30

Well, it’s about time that I share with you the details of my 30th!

Those that know me well know that nothing makes me happier than being surrounded by family and friends. And that’s exactly what the weekend entailed! Most notably, my family traveled from Saskatchewan for the weekend; Mom, sister Christa, niece Kyra & nephew Kelby. They surprised me Friday night around suppertime! I had no idea at all that they were coming.

There are many people I would like to thank for making my birthday weekend special…especially my beautiful sister Amber for coming to my husband's aid and helping with the party planning...my husband Cory…our friends who were all in cahoots about the surprise…everyone at the Newbury Spa for our lovely morning on Saturday...Mom for babysitting the children...and each & every person who attended the party! I had a wonderful time and felt so special.

I could go on and on, so I’ll post the rest of the photos below which speak for themselves. The smiles and laughter that were captured say it all — 30 can’t be too bad if it starts out like this, right?!Photo of me & my '30' cookie baked by my Mom and iced using my Grandmother's antique icing kit...which is very special to our family.

Spa Day with my Girlfriends

To start the birthday celebrations, I invited my girlfriends to join me at the Newbury Spa on Saturday morning for some relaxing together. Joining me that morning were: my Mom, sisters Christa & Amber, niece Kyra, Jenny, Tara, Kim, Christa & Cheryl. We had an amazing time and I will definitely go back. During our visit we nibbled on cupcakes from Crave and sipped champagne mimosas. The Newbury Spa treated me very well and would not let me pay for any of my services that day (I enjoyed a 60 minute hot stone massage and pedicure)...gasp!

Blowing Out the Candles

My sister had the most beautiful cake made. It had a chocolate brown ribbon and pink flowers around it, just gorgeous. The kids helped me blow out my candles.

Limo Night

Limo nights are always a blast! We had alot of fun travelling in our sweet ride.

Heather, Amber, Christa, Starr, Christa, Kim, Cheryl, Tara & Jenny

The Surprise Party

It was exciting not to know where we would end up after the limo ride...it happened to be a new martini bar in Calgary: BLINK. Here are some fun photos from the night. I was so overwhelmed with excitement from all the surprises! I had an amazing time for my 30th...thanks everyone who was there and helped make it happen.

Yummy martinis!

The secret location of the party (I loved that it was smoke-free).

Secret guests already at the location...what a great surprise!

My husband, Cory & I...he was in on it the whole time. My Mom babysat the kids...thanks Mom!
The food was amazing!

Check out those oysters...so good.

Pam & I


Tara, Cam & I

Scott & I...one of my old dancin' buddies

(Adam over the shoulder) Amber & Heather

Our 'INK'...my other two sisters & I share the same tattoo.

The planners: Amber & Cory

The party just would not be complete without dancing!

Everyday Beauty Album

Just bought this kit...can't wait to get it in the mail!

My 30th Birthday!

So I made it....to 30 years old yesterday! I had a wonderful day on my birthday. First, my husband stayed home from work, due to weather so we were able to spend the day together as a family. We did some shopping including a scrapbook store and the workers sang me Happy Birthday. Then at the end of the day my sister Amber came over after she was done work. When she came in she told me to go to the door to get my present....it was the rest of my family from Saskatchewan (Mom, sister Christa, niece Kyra & nephew Kelby). What a wonderful surprise...my husband and family were in on it for weeks. They spoiled me with a new camera (Rebel XTi), picture frame, dust buster, balloons and other goodies. What a great day!

I'm off to the spa today and will report back with more birthday details soon!

CARDS Tin Class Tonight

Tonight I'm hosting a class where the guests will make & take this cute little tin. I was so excited to use the Polka Dot & Paisleys paper from Stampin' Up! on this project...so fun and spring-like. Thank you to Kendra for inspiring this tin!

She's Back in Black

Yes, she's back! Cathy Zielske, one of my favorite bloggers/scrapbookers/personalities. She took a hiatas from blogging and is now back...her new blog is Bits & Pieces. So glad you're back Cathy!

Happy Birthday Cory!

Here's my husband, working on his birthday (I know it's not a great photo, but shows that he'll do anything for our company...even on a Saturday)! Happy Birthday sweetie, love you!

And the winner is....

Kristine who said:

I found you on Donna B.'s blog! :o) WOW!! That's some really terrific stuff girl! My favorite stamp set is Roses in Winter by Stampin' Up! Although I love lots of individual stamps by Penny Black (the HEDGIES) but they aren't a "set" just individuals. :o)

Congratulations! Please send me your snail mail address via email and I will send your new goodies out on Monday.

Thank you everyone for posting comments. It was great to see who you all are and I read every single comment you left. I'm so touched that alot of you like my blog! I didn't realize that the BLOG CANDY was so generous until many of you commented on it. I've been part of a Stampin' Up! bootcamp with my upline (trying to boost my stamping business) and part of one of the challenges was to do a 'clean sweep' of supplies...that's where the candy came from. Just wanted to unload on some stuff to make room for fresh goodies. Don't worry, I have lots of stuff left to work with...I swear I could open a scrapbook store in my house.

This was so much fun and I can't wait to do it again when I hit another blog counter milestone.
Happy Stamping!
Starr

Ahhhhh!

Self portrait from today of my first blended cream chai frapp of the season.

I will be drawing for the blog candy tonight just after midnight...since it's my dh's birthday, he will be helping me.

Have a great weekend everyone!