When running on elfin shroom-nog fumes, be very careful, because you just might end up on a rollercoaster ride like no other!! (sometimes, when being served the stuff at elfin parties, I wonder if shroom-nog really isn't just cream of mushroom soup – sure tastes like it ;)
I found myself in this glowing magical madness last night.
At this moment, I have dripping wet hair and am on my way to be blown dry by my more adult self, who is allowed to handle a blow dryer and electrical plug in items and such… So, should I be here? Probably not!!
But, I had to-had to, tell you something. I went to a beauuuuuutiful place last night, I did I did. And I have two Holiday soiree's tonight, back to back!! I have been so busy making elves and dolls and tiny theaters, that I lost track of that fact that it is indeed the full swing of the Holiday Season.
And, on top of that, my extra special same-double-digit-birthday-year-week, starts at midnight! So be prepared for a week of fun fun fun!!! 33, here I come!! Woo hoooo!
But, before I get carried away, let me focus on what I came to tell you. When I awoke from my shroom-nog haze, I was amongst (literally) half a million lights and luminaria…
Tunnels of twinkling beautiful lights… People gasping, everyone happy. Yes, a place other than Disneyland, where everyone is happy.
Don't feel sad for me, that we don't have snow (okay, maybe a little sad). But, I only needed a double shawl to keep me warm, & no gloves or hats were necessary. And, sure, we don't get to have snow men, but we do have Tumble Weed Men!! And, guess what? They think they are cooler than Snow Men. Sheesh, so competitive!! Then again, they have thorns, so they probably win on the toughness front (and last longer).
As you strolled there were carnival glass makers, painted gourd houses, and hot cider and treats…. There were also, more than enchanting and beautiful songs being sung… And a group of people playing the most blissful music on gentle bells… It took about 20 of them with different parts to make one song come together. Incredible I say!!
But the lights, oh the lights, were so magical! If only I could have brought you the moment… I am not sure who these people are, but they seemed entranced too. Well, maybe all except the teenager who was more worried about her hair.
Oh, you know, this is funny. When my parents grounded me once when I was a young teen, a teeny bopper of sorts ;) They took away something very very dear to me. Can you guess that it was? HAIRSPRAY!! Isn't that so sad? It was a good thing too. I mean, did I really need 5 inch tall bangs?
We then went to a dinner party… Where I had a prickly pear margarita, again! And probably too much butter (on my bread), but I don't really remember because I was yapping too much, and probably making Tom's head (My friend's hubby) spin…
Sooo, that is that. And I get to party s'more in an hour, for hours… Hello Holiday Season! I opened the door and fell right into it…
And while I painted my nails I glittered snowflakes and got my ornaments out…
I know, insanity. You can ask my friends, I often, really do go a mile a minute in every direction at once. Or, my polar opposite side comes out, and I hide in closets and avoid faces. I never know which one of my personalities is going to be available for the day…
And then I wonder why any greeting card or holiday card from my brother begins with "Dear Sybil…"
Oh, and on another note (yes today is a Sybil kind of day) – I conjured up another cross!! So, leave a Helooooo, and in the hat (or random number generator machine) your name shall go 😉 😉
Tomorrow I will package all day, and then be back with all sorts of fun during the week.
I was born on Thursday December 11th, 1975, at 2 a.m. And, this year, my birthday falls on a Thursday. I hope this is as fun and blessed and as wonderfully lovely a year as the others have been.
Thank you guys for being a fun filled and magically kindred perpetual party!
🖤🖤🖤, V
ps: No time to spell check, so please forgive any jibberish that may exist within this blog post 😉
Happy Birthday for Thursday! Hope it is as magical a birthday as you could wish for.
Love the tumbleweed men!
H~A~P~P~Y ~*~ B~I~R~T~H~D~A~Y!!!!!!!! (a little early, but hey, it’s never to early to start a party…hee!)
33 is such a fun year…enjoy!!!
My b-day is Dec. 18th, so we share this lovely birthday month. All the twinkling lights and pretty decorations make December birthdays seem so magical, don’t they?
I love the gorgeous lights in your photos…what a delightful fairy tale forest! And I simply must find myself one of those prickly pear margaritas….so delectably pink and luscious looking and sounding….YUM!!!
Have the hap~hap~happiest of birthdays!!!!
Hugs,
Michele 🙂
frogshell@mac.com
Hellooooooo (again)! I am so inspired by your blog, my dear! It makes me want to write poems set in sparkling wonderlands!
I will try to remember to swing by again on Thursday and say Many Happy Returns… but if I am too busy (it may happen), then accept them now, in advance — I hope you have a brilliant birthday (and be sure to tell us all about it!) xx
Beautiful pictures. Makes me wanna move on down there 🙂 Happy Birthday wishes my dear!!!!
Happy HAPPY Birthday!!! 33, that has to be a lucky birthday number.
You have my head spinning keeping up with your holiday spectacular here….cheers to you my dear!
x..x
steph
OOOhhh Pretty!!! How gorgeous are thos lights, magical indeed!! We don’t have snow either (wrong side of the world) but we don’t have tumbleweed men either and I think they are very special!!! I love the lead up to Christmas it always feels so special!! I think I had better go and string up some more lights now….or I could go back and look at your photos again…yes maybe that is cooler!
Have a wonderful day, hip horray for Thursday, kiss noises Linda Lilly Cottage!
Well ~HAPPY early BIRTHDAY~ Vanessa! I’m just imagining the post that will come of your special day…I’m sure it’ll be yummy 🙂
Do love all those lights…what a bea-u-ti-ful scene…cute tumbleweed snowman! Hope you have a blast partying tonight! I also got to enjoy a margarita last night…woo hoo! Going to check out your shop for that lovely print sale…thanks so much!
Vanessa,
H a p p y B i r t h d a y T o Y o u Early of course… I don’t want to forget…and with my pea size brain sometimes I forget. Seriously, I do hope your birthday and the coming year blesses you with all sorts of good things. It is such a pleasure to be a part of your blog and to read your wonderful fairy like stories. I never know what to expect from you!!
The cross is more beautiful than the other one!! I adore it too.
Do have fun on your soriee’s and drink a prickly pear margarita for me.
Kris
Happy Birthday early! I love your blog…such gorgeous pictures. Beautiful cross.
Holy cow! It’s like you live in some magical fairy world that doesn’t exist on my side of the street! You always find the BEST places!
I turned a double number this year too! My digit was one higher though. Have a great birthday. I love seeing all your beautiful photos of the holiday lights.
Thursday is my favorite day of the week!! So I know your Thursday birthday is going to be the best. Wow, all those pretty lights. I know in person it is beautiful. Though I love my Snow men, you tumble weedmen are cool!!
Happy Birthday (well, soon to be..)Dear Vanessa!
I was born in ’75 too, but in February. So I have been at 33 for quite a while now. It is not a very memorable number for me but perhaps if you indulge lots on shroom nog you will have a fabuluuuussshhh year! Hhhmmm.. sounds like we need some of that sshhroom- nog here in NH. Is it legal?? 🙂 It would warm us as the snow has been fluttering past my windows all day today.
Have a lovely week!
xoxo~
Abbie
Miss Vanessa,
Muy feliz cumple? Que vas a hacer ese dia?
Decime, crees en los horoscopos?
Y diste todos los datos…:o)
~ Gabriela ~
Happy Birthday Week Little Miss V!!!! Oh and Happy Double Digit- Same Day Birthday Week!! :c)I personally feel 24 hours is just not enough time to celebrate the person I am becoming!!
Pattie :c)
Mazatlan Mexico
Happy, happy birthday! 33 is a good number. I always like even numbered years best, but two threes IS indeed pretty cool! I can’t wait to visit your birthday festivities!
Erin 🙂
Have a lovely birthday week! Thanks for sharing those fantastic photos of your party. The prickly- pear margarita sounds absolutely divine right now, I don’t know if they make those in D.C. Oh well….
Hello Hello! I can’t wait to hear about your birthday. I know it will be grand. I love your lights photos. They lit me up. (-:
Hooray! I agree you need at least a week to celebrate the happy event! And you’ll be happy to know the package(s) arrived in Philadelphia safe and sound. Merci bien, mon ami! Will write you when I’m back in Paris. Love the lights – those faralitos remind me of Santa Fe amidst the snow. Beautiful – but your light shines brightest! xoxox P.S. The cross is magical!
ohh so fun..I wish I could be under the beautiful lights like taht..it would be a dreamy state of mind for me..magical..thats so cool that your bday is coming up soon..and that cross is beautiful!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!
soooooo very very magical!!! i love love love your beautiful photos… all the lights, i can feel the magic all the way over here!!! your adventures certainly sound beyond exquisite!!!
oh my gosh… it’s your birthday week!!! i for one believe that we should definitly take our time in celebrating our birthdays… a week if not a month of celebrations!!! weeeeeeee!!! i’ll be back to properly wish you the most beautiful, fabulous and magical birthday ever!!!
ps. i love love love the new cross for your giveaway!!! i always say that i will cross my fingers AND my toes… but perhaps this time i’ll have to do a “win miss vanessa’s giveaway” dance, hee hee!!! thank you!!! such a generous gal you are, isn’t fun to share treasures!!! i’m also having a giveaway, i pick a winner tomorrow evening so come and check it out!!!
have a fabulous evening
peace
The tumble weed men are so amazing! And they don’t melt, which makes it even better! I love the contrast of the lights with the Terracotta landscape.
Two great things that stood out to me the most (besides for your BIRTHDAY this week – yayy happy birthday!!)… the TUMBLE WEED SNOW MAN!!! That cracked me up!! That is so awesome! Here in Ohio we have actual snow but I have to say that I really enjoyed the tumble weed snowman so much more! And the second thing? HAIRSPRAY! Hahaha!! How cruuuellll! I think that good parents really know how to teach a kid a lesson properly. My mom used to ground me by telling me I couldn’t go to the next school dance which was always a very powerful threat. Those darn dances were the peak of social activity!
Feliz cumpleanos, mi amiga! December 3rd baby here! What a spectacle of lights…I tell you…you are da queen of photos and I find myself ooohhhh-ing and ahhhhh-ing and wishing for such a gift! Yeah! for all the festive festivities and thank you for sharing it all with us!
The lights and all photos are magical and so beautiful! Love it all! :)mendy
Happy birthday little sweetie girlie…
May this year bless you with all that is dear to you!!!
33!! What a great age 🙂 And a great time of a year to celebrate being alive and vivacious and beautiful!
Happy early birthday!!!
happy happy birthday….hope you have fun…
i am a turkey girl…so mine was november 27th…
love the cross…and all the pretty lights…i just love reading all of your stories…:)
Yeah for Birthday weeks! I say celebrate all week long! Love the lovely lights! Hurray for Christmas!
Happy Birthday to you! Today is my birthday; a bit beyond 33 but still fabulous, Dahling.
Have a wonderful birthday week. I was getting out of high school the year you were born! 1975 – it was a good year!
Isn’t being ambipersonality fabulous?! It’s like having two lives at once! THINK of how much one can accomplish! Without the other’s approval! Productivity and rebellion!
Okay, heres the thing: What if tumbleweed men tip over?
I actually graduated high school a few months before you were born. Isn’t that wonderful? Think of all the years we had no idea we existed, and BLAM! now we know. And I bet I babysat some of your closest friends!
Did that come out weird? I’m sorry. I’m going to go hide from faces, now.
Oh my gosh, Tumble Weed Men?! That is so original and awesome, and though with snowmen you have the potential of frostbite, the thorns really do seem more tough! Those lights are enchanting, I am addicted to lights, and that teenager fixing her hair? That could easily be me (except here in a different state) I know, I have issues (don’t we all?) What would I do without hairspray?? Though I hate that the unscented kind still has a scent! (Now I’m just going off on a whole other subject..)
And the countdown begins for your birthday! What a perfect time to be born, during such a magical time of year!
xoxo
~Krista
Hi, you dont know me, but youve deeply inspired me as Im sure you have so many other people. I am an artist (painter mostly) in California. Going through tough times here on this end, but catching a lovely glimpse of your blog lets me momentarily escape and return to a place of artistic magic, peace and joy. Keep doing what your doing you are a wonderful beautiful individual soul and have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, holidays and new year! Peace<3Kassi
Happy Birthday Week! Thanks for sharing the light show with us. Lovely!
Your posts are always so magical, My heart does a little skip every time I see a new one waiting to be read. The tumbleweed men are fantastic, what an amazing Christmas wonderland. Have a wonderful birthday week and an extra special day on Thursday. Your gorgeous photos are always inspiring, I wish you lots of festive cheer and a prosperous new year.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Vanessa! 🖤🖤🖤
Happiest of birthdays to you!
For some reason, I find that picture of the pink snowflake ornament so enchanting…maybe it’s just the hypnotic nature of sparkles, but I can’t stop staring at it!
big kisses are being sent your way for a happy birthday to come. the lights in your photos do look magnificant, i just adore lights. come visit my blog to see my post about your generous giveaway. xx
Reading your blog always makes me feel a bit like Alice stepping through The Looking Glass. It’s a wonderfully weird way to start the day! Thank you for holding up the slightly askew mirror for all of us to venture through. Well – I think it’s more than slightly askew, but that’s what makes your blog so blasted fun!! – Kathy in Chicago
A VERY, LOVERRRRLY HAPPY, CUPCAKE FILLED BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful time!
I love the tumbleweed men!!
Tecu’Mish
A little horoscope gift for the soon to be birthday girl:
“Your Week Ahead: Take it steady. There’s no need to drive at full throttle, regardless of how much engine power you have at your disposal. Even if the road is clear, you should set the cruise control to a nice, safe speed. When you see a reason to slow down, do so. When you get an invitation to speed up, reject it. There’s no point, no need, no advantage. Mercury and Mars are both in your sign. You don’t now have to fight, struggle, learn some hard lesson or go wild in any way. To stay on the road to success, all you have to do is stick with what you have started and keep on going where you’re headed.” forecast by Jonathan Cainer.
happy Almost Birthday Vanessa
sounds like lots of fun Vanessa!! I on the other hand did get snow yesterday and built a snowman with the boys. Do not worry in the beginning snow is great but then its highly overrated when you have it for months. I am not sure what we will get this year, hopefully just enough and not a whole bunch.
Love those twinkle lights!
Happy Birthday you beautiful gal! I am just swooning over all of those lights…I am coming to the conclusion that lights are my favorite part of the holiday season. Or the glitter. Or the food. Darn.
(and yes…you DID need 5 inch bangs! Heavens, how could you think any different…)
A tumbleweed snowman– I’d love to see that!
Sounds like a lovely evening, and those are lovely photographs. They’re kind of dream-like with all those twinkling lights.
(This is me singing)..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…HAPP BIRTHDAY DEAR VANESSA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!
A VERY Happy Birthday! We are both Sags! I was born 11/26/69. UGH-a bit older than you, but not wiser!
Happy Haaapppyyyyyy Birthdayyyyyy !!!!
Have a wonderful celebration. watch out for that shroom-nog. It always gets me !
I love that cross with a flaming heart !
wonderful, wonderful.
Happy splendiferous birthday, Vanessa! Now, pardon me while I go get lost in your post…I’m off to the land of twinkling lights! I think you need a warning at the beginning of your blog…I could just stare at your photos for hours and I don’t even need any Elfin nog with your Fairy Tale Lovin’ magic!
BON ANNIVERSAIRE VANESSA … a little early but so I am sure not to forget!!
Des étoiles, des merveilles pour toi pour tes 33 ans … I hope you will understand this.
Je t’embrasse,
marie neige
It’s about to be YOUR birthday and yet you are giving one of US a present…..aren’t you wonderful!!! Whoever wins that cross will be one lucky girl indeed! Your post today is just magical. So many twinkling lights! And I agree, aren’t handbell choirs just mesmerizing? I joined one about 9 years ago and played with them for 3 years. Now I just fill in every once in a while because I’m too busy with the stupid master’s degree. But one day…. 😀 Having chosen to live in the southwest myself, I agree, Chirstmas holidays are still wonderful without snow. I love talking to some of my family in New York and Maine on Christmas day and telling them that I’m wearing a sweatshirt and shorts and enjoying the sunshine!! Feliz Cumpleanos, mi Amiga!!
~Allie
Vanessa, what magical places you find and also live in! Hey…we need some of that magical spirit here over on the East Coast…throw us some lights and magic our way! LOL I wish you the best possible magical day on December 11th…. 33 years old…it’s only beginning Baby! I’ll toast a Martini your way with oodles of sugar plums! As always, amazing pictures and amazing post!
Cheers!
Michelle
Happy Birthday Vanessa! I hope you have a magical day on Thursday.
Where did you go for the lights event? It looks similar to an event my husband and I went to in Phoenix at the Desert Botanical Garden. That was always a highlight of the holiday season.
It took me 5 years to get used to not having snow for Christmas when we lived there. Just in time for us to return to the midwest. LOL
Ariane
That is indeed a magical place, a fairytale of sorts with all of the twinkling white lights. 🙂
Those lights are so magical.
I love your cross!
Hello, Hello and Happy Birthday! On to even better things in your new year!
The pictures of all the twinkling lights are soooo beautiful! It must have been divine to see in person.
Oh, and happy birthday~ 😀
I always love visiting your blog…lots of inspiration and lots of happiness emits from my computer screen.
money is tight this year so I am going to steal the “snowman tumbleweed” idea and put a “fanciful twist” on it and make a christmas tree!
Happy Birthday sweet one!
I love your Sybilness??? It is such a fun blog to check out!
HElloooo!! Vanessa!! Happy B-Day. May all your wishes come true. God Bless You… Lisa-Vet.
Happy Magical Birthday to you! Love the photos, lots of magical lights, thanks for sharing and enjoy your par-tays!
WOW!! That looks amazing! All those lights…too beautiful! I’m glad you had a good time Miss V., you deserved a break after all the long hours you’ve put in lately creating such wonderful things! And if some of us had a time zone chart taped to their computer monitor, they may have actually gotten some of those things… 😉
But most importantly…..HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend!!!!!! <3
Hope You Have a Delightful Birthday!! We are Sagitarian Sisters!! I just celebrated mine on the 6th of December, we are pretty close!! I’m a little older not by much (1971) No wonder we have the same Gypsy Magic in us!!
God Bless,
Kat
You are such a magical, and joyful person and would be a delight to have as a friend. Life would NEVER be boring.
The cross with the milagros is sooooooo beautiful!
~elaine~
fellow Desert spirit
BEAUTIFUL photography! (as usual) Have a wonderful birthday- can’t wait to hear about it!
A double-digit B-day for me, today! I’m 55 December 8th. I knew there was a reason I so love lurking here on your blog, you fellow Sag! Happy happy joy joy to you!
Wow! First of all have a great Birthday….you are so magical, you must have a fairy spirit. I just love your fairy tales, and love reading your blog. You are my type of person, so creative and talented. Please have a happy and wonderful week and I can’t wait to read all about it…..
I love your photos…..fairy hugs your way.
Kathy
Happy birthday my dear Vanessa, what a beautiful place you went to. Love the twinkling lights everywhere and Tumble Weed Men (how creative!)…so funny about the hairspray 🙂
There is an award on my blog for you.
Happy Birthday to YOU! My birthday is in just a few weeks so I’m a winter baby, too. Love your pictures! Magical!
So Helloooo!!! Have a great day! Hope your hair didn’t dry with the bangs straight up in the air! heehee!
OOOOO.I must pop in to wish one of my favorite artists happy birthday!!! Vanessa I am glad you were born!
“Elfin-shroom-nog fumes!! Tee-hee!
I love the pictures of the steps and door from the dinner party place. The tiles on the steps are fabulous! I adore that style. And that blue door totally rocks!
Hairspray – I would have never thought of that as a punishment. But being that we’re close in age and lived through the time of BIG bangs, I can understand the power in that. Smart and creative parents. I can see where you get it from now.
Happy pre-birthday wishes!
~Glitter~
Melissa
Unbearably beautiful, and I love the tumbleweed snowmen to bits!
Happy birthday, probably belated by now! It’s a treat to visit!
Hola!!!
Cuantas luces preciosas!!
Aqui en Argentina tenemos una navidad sin nieve y con mucho calor,me encantaria pasar una con nieve.
Que tengas un cumpleaños muy my muy feliz junto a tu gente querida.
Besitos.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Ms. Vanessa! I hope it is MAGICAL, as I know you, your friends and family will make it extra special!
I share my birthday with El Dia de Los Muertos, so that beautiful cross would be lovely displayed year ’round, but extra special for my birthday “season”.
Cupcake Fairies are winging their way to you to~wait! They are already there, sprinkling the magic of the dancing lights and the joy of Love all over you! Does it tickle?
Such perty photos!! What a lovely time it looks like…glad you had fun 😀
I too am just like you in the polar opposite thing of mile a minute or hiding away…I getcha girl, really!! Happy Birthday…I will be thinking of you!!! smooches!!xxx
77 comments?! HOLY HOLLY!!
Well, I’m missing you, so I’m commenting again.
THAT SHOP IS FABULOUS!
I so enjoy your lovely, fantastical blog. Have a great Birthday and Merriest of Christmases.
In case I dont make it back to this magical place before thursday, I wish you a Happy Birthday!
I love those Tumbleweed Snowmen!!!
~Diane
What fun you are going to have!~ A soiree, nay, TWO!!! Deux soirees. You lucky gal.
I loved the stairs, the tiled stairs with all the lovely foliage growing and the twinkle lights. It is the perfect night to sip champagne-it would match the environment. Sparkly, and effervescent!!!!
xoxox
Like you! 🙂
Happy early birthday Vanessa. I hope it’s a magical year for you.
I love how all those lights glitter up the evening. A brilliant show of festive fun.
Elizabeth
If I don’t make back on Thursday….Happy Birthday. And just think, those double digits add up to SIX….a great age! Take care and hugs to you!
Happy Birthday!!!! <3 <3
Happy, Happy Birthday !!! I loved your Thanksgiving post.Have a wonderful Birthday Day.
Sending wishes for a magical birthday!!
~ Carolee
Happy Birthday! I have only been following your blog for a while now but I absolutely love it!!
The photographs are beautiful I love all the lights! Where do you live which state? I thought I had read somewhere you lived in AZ.
Thanks for sharing.
Christine
christinedrevo@rocketmail.com
Happy Birthday dear friend xoxoo 33 so young and yet so wise 🙂
Love the photos of the lights in the cactus garden.
And the Cross…be still my heart. In this case I would be happy if my number comes up.
I have taken a page out of your book…I will have a Christmas giveaway…you however are a hard act to follow.
Happy Birthday to you!! Get some hairspray on those bangs and have fun, you wild child, you!
33 is sooo young! Sieze the day!! 🙂
Love those snowmen, btw…and the lights around the entrance to that “castle.” Nice. 🙂
Happy PRE Birthday to you VV.
You add Sparkle, Light, Joy, Good Vives, Creativity and SO much more to our world!
I am so glad you were born (and obviously I’m not alone in saying)!
You have much to look forward to.
Enjoy your day tomorrow!
Love and twinkle!
Constance
Vanessa, I know you must know la cancion “las mananitas”. I hope someone special sings it to you on Thursday. Feliz cumpleanos. Toni p.s. I don’t remember how to put accent marks on the computer. Que lastima.
happy happy birthday ms. vanessa! lovin’ that cross you made 🙂
~MaGiCaL~
Happy birthday to you!
Wonderful, sweet and magical Vanessa please add me to the drawing. Thank you for all you share.
What whimsical fun and creativity you have on your website! I was especially touched by the photos of the schoolgirls who made stockings from your template! You have a world wide audience! Glad you liked your little gifty from us! I did recognize those curls on Mister!!!! What a gem to bless you with something to enhance your photographic journey.
I just got back from 3 weeks with my daughter in Italy, Greece and Turkey! My dreams are now more vibrant, in color and with background music!!! What a joy. I am inspired by your alter ego’s daily journeys! You don’t have to leave town to travel!