Dun-dun-dun….drum roll pleaseeeeeeeee!

Guess what day it is?! Guess what DAY IT IS?!?!? (No, it’s not Wednesday) It’s my birthday!! Well soon enough it will be. And I wouldn’t be any kind of fabulous if I only celebrated my birthday on my actual birthday, now would I? I try explaining this to my husband every year, but he still compares my birthday to the summer Olympics. Which is in essence, exactly what I want him to compare it to. Now if I could only get some of those swimmers in speedos to attend…

My birthday is the most important day of the year, but before you take my word for it, give me a second to explain. I don’t think my birthday should be the most important day in your year, but your birthday should most certainly be! It’s not ‘just another day’ – it is another year that you have lived, breathed, experienced. It is a celebration of YOU and everything you have accomplished. You have come so far! Just look around! Think of all the people in the world that would do anything for ONE more birthday, or one more birthday of a loved one. Don’t take things that are so precious for granted! My birthday is no different than yours, it’s just better to me (sorry, the truth hurts sometimes).

I cannot wait to start the real celebrations, in fact, they are starting in exactly six days. I have been waiting patiently. Okay so I’ve been waiting.

I was surprised this year a little (this is very hard to do, just ask my husband about his proposal). My brother in law and his girlfriend sent me a very large box with 15 smaller boxes inside. A gift for every day of May until my birthday! Now if this isn’t exactly the kind of celebrations that scream SPARKLEPANTS, I don’t know what is.

I had the idea to put together a “Birthday Mantle.” It would be perfect, as my birthday is in May, and hubby’s is in June (and what other notable holidays could I decorate for in those two months?!). I planned on a few things, photos of the birthday girl (me! – yes, I am that vain) on previous birthdays, a vase of candles, and various little fillers. I was especially fond of the “S” for Sparklepants….

      I was pleasantly surprised when I received 15 small gifts to open! I ended up putting the gifts as the center in the mantle, and creating the piece around them. It adds excitement to the whole thing (because I get REALLY excited to open them each day!). It would be a little less cluttered without them, but they add such a fun dynamic, that I cannot remove them now!

I love my birthday mantle! Just keeps reminding me that the best day of the year is in ten days!! I plan on celebrating with the best of ’em. Then I’ll thank God for blessing me with another beautiful year!