Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 356

Today's Daily 5:

1. 28th birthday.  I'm one of a very few people who actually seems to like getting older.  I don't always love birthdays, but I like getting older.  28 seems special, particularly in this year where my one word is "heal" and in this year where so much has changed dramatically.  I'm excited to begin another year of life and see what it holds!
2. spending the whole day mostly puttering and cooking.  In the last 24 hours, pinterest recipes have been my inspiration, and I've made 4 recipes that I'd never made before (muffins, a brownie cake, mango sangria, and a salad)
3. two different bouquets of flowers from a family member and a friend (fun because I actually went out to buy flowers during a different errand this morning, and couldn't find any I like, so left it!)
4. an evening spent with nine wonderful friends, laughing, talking, and sharing food.
5. cuddling the baby daughter of a friend
6. lovely and creative gifts from several friends, thinks that reflect me, and/or our relationships
7. the beauty of a dishwasher for clean-up after a big party (have I mentioned that I like house-sitting?)
8. an evening where we could sit outside on the back patio at mom and dad's to enjoy our dinner
9. hugs from a whole bunch of people I love
10. an overwhelming number of loving facebook greetings and emails from friends far and near
11. calls and texts from the family members I usually spend the day with
12. mango sangria - tiny little bit of heaven!
13. brownie cake - also a bit of heaven
14. a break from cooking midafternoon to soak in a bath and read for a bit
15. listening to some new music sent by a friend while I cooked this morning.