I've Been Very Spoiled

Hey everyone!  I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who wrote such sweet and very complimentary Birthday wishes to me.  Y'all really know how to make my day!  I had a really nice birthday, and The Man spoiled me even more than he normally does.  Would you like to see?

I know some of us like diamonds and pearls, and I do like those things & The Man has given me those kinds of lovelies many times in the past.  Then there are those times that you just want practical, right?  Well, that's where I was this year.  I LOVE to cook, so I wanted "appliances!"

I really wanted a NINJA, and we had seen these at Costco for a really good price.

I love that this has one unit that sits on the counter and then has all of these other attachments.  It has a blender, food processor, & individual blender cups & travel cups for smoothies.  This Bad Boy replaced my "thirty-something" blender, Cuisinart, & a very crappy smoothie maker.

These wicked-looking blades & the ones in the individual smoothie-maker attachment can actually turn ice cubes into snow!  You know how "juicing" is the new trend in health, and this machine is fabulous for that.  My most favorite attachment so far is the individual blender-cup which makes my afternoon coffee smoothie!  Yep, I'm sold on the NINJA!

The NINJA was not a surprise, but my other present was a surprise for sure!

This is the cooktop that came with the house.  It worked fine (& I love cooking on gas), but it had been badly scratched from someone (before me) trying to clean it with something very abrasive.  Those scratches were then like magnets to any spills or spatters, and I was constantly cleaning them and making little headway.  Soooo........

On my birthday, The Man announced that we were going shopping for a new stainless steel stove top!

This "beauty" is from IKEA and got installed yesterday.  It is so beautiful!

As if all the above were not enough, The Man stopped at TJ's on the way home so I could get some flowers.  He knows TJ's is my favorite store to buy fresh flowers.

TULIPS -- they just make me so happy!

My other favorite flowers are Hydrangeas, and this sweet thing was from my son and dil.

Yep, appliances and flowers -- I could not ask for anything more!

                                         Well, okay, dinner at one of my

                                      faves -- BJ's Brewhouse!          

This was my entree, and it was DELISH!

Our marinated chicken breasts coated with Parmesan cheese and crunchy Panko bread crumbs, lightly pounded and pan fried to a golden brown. Served with white cheddar mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, and topped with a lemon Chardonnay butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

This was dessert which I chose prior to ordering my entree, but I actually took it home & savored every bite once I put some elastic-waist pants on......heehee!

Berry Cobbler w/Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Spiced Pecans

YUM! YUM! YUM!

Yep, becoming "65" was pretty darn sweet!

Thank you so much for indulging me and allowing me to share my Birthday "happies" with y'all!